Though some people take it for granted, feeding the people worldwide is a big challenge. And we aren’t talking about the organizations which can fill aisle after aisle with food at a big box store. Before food products are assembled (or cooked), an intricate science that looks into the development of new foods, the sourcing of raw food products from around the world, and the assurance of proper yields is performed. That science is agribusiness. 

MBA in Agribusiness Management 

An MBA in Agribusiness programme is intended to fulfil the necessity of students who are interested in careers with agricultural input supply, agricultural production and distribution, product assembly and processing, and agricultural marketing organizations. A specialized MBA in Agribusiness Management programme comes up with golden opportunities to be engaged in various areas of agriculture such as agri-finance, production and distribution, and land management. Let’s find out more about MBA in Agribusiness Management, its pre-requisites, scopes, and career opportunities in depth.

Agribusiness management: Scope, Functions & Tasks

Today, the national and international financial markets anticipate adequate performance in agriculture, comparable to that in other industries if they are going to dispense the agribusiness sector with the funding needed for expansion, growth, consolidation, technological advancement, and modernization. The absolute amounts of funds needed to execute the future needs of a company will continue to increase dramatically. For most agribusinesses, financial management will be an essential component of agribusiness management. There are nearly eight key factors which differentiate the Food and agribusiness markets from other markets. 

Food as a product

 Food is indispensable to the survival and health of every individual. Food is one of the most basic needs of humans, and supplies the foundation for economic growth — nations first worry about feeding their people before turning their attention to higher-order needs. Thus, food is contemplated as a critical component of national security. And, as a result, the food system entices attention from governments in ways other industries do not.

Biological nature of production agriculture 

 Studies showed that the biological nature of crops and livestock makes them particularly susceptible to the forces beyond human control. The variations and extremes of weather, pests, disease, and weeds exemplify factors that considerably impact production. These factors affecting crop and livestock production necessitate careful management. Yet in many cases, little can be done to affect them completely. The gestation cycle of sowing or the weather requirements of wine grapes provides examples.

Seasonal nature of business 

As a result of the biological nature of food production, firms in the food and agribusiness markets can be affected by seasonal variations. Sometimes this seasonality is driven by challenges in supply — massive amounts of corn and soybeans are harvested in the fall. Sometimes this seasonality is directed by demand — the market for ice cream has a series of seasonal peaks and valleys, as do the markets for turkey and cranberries. Such drawbacks and flows in supply and demand create specific problems for food and agribusiness managers.

Uncertainty of the weather 

 Food and agribusiness firms must be capable of dealing with the vagaries of nature. Drastic weather changes like drought and flood, insects, and disease are a constant threat for most agribusinesses. All market participants, from the banker to the crop producers, the chemical manufacturer is highly concerned with the changes in weather conditions. A late spring can create severe logistical problems for firms supplying inputs to the crop sector. Bad weather around a key holiday period can destroy a food retailer’s well-planned promotional event.

Scope of MBA professionals in Agribusiness 

Agribusiness is the business of agricultural production. It comprises crop production (farming and contract farming), food processing and marketing, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, distribution, and retail sales. They assist the farming system by supplying high valued seeds, novel chemical and biological solutions for crop protection, solutions to control plant pathogens, for sustainable growth and yield. Hence it helps in ensuring a sufficient supply of high-quality food, feed, fibre and enhance the world’s food security.

 Agribusiness

The agribusiness companies/manufacturers are committed to improving the productivity of Indian farmers by innovating products and services that sustainably increase crop and livestock yields. They could have heeds in supplying high valued seeds to farmers, innovative agrochemicals like pesticides, plant growth promoters, soil conditioners, herbicides, hybrid seeds business, processed foods like fruit purees/concentrates, frozen fruits etc, breweries, sugar mills, edible oil production, plantation business, poultry, Marine Products (Shrimps and Prawns), Dairy, animal feed (Cattle & Poultry) etc.

Some of the areas of agribusiness are described below.

An Agrochemical Industries concerned with Pesticides (Insecticides, Fungicides, Herbicides), Seeds (hybrid/research varieties of cereals like maize, paddy, fibre like cotton, Fertilizers & Seed Treatment Chemicals (insecticides for controlling pests, fungicides). 

An on-line agricultural commodity exchange concerned with online trading of agricultural commodities like cereals and pulses, fibres, Plantation crops like rubber, oil and oil Seeds (e.g. castor seeds, cotton, soya bean, refined soya oil, mustard seed, cottonseed), sugar, jaggery, spices (e.g. pepper, turmeric, cumin chilli, coriander etc.). 

Some agribusiness companies concerned with manufacturing enzymatic pesticides and fertility enhancers like food & beverage enzymes, feed and other technical enzymes, and other agricultural solutions. The enzymatic pesticides and fertility enhancers aid farmers to grow healthier crops and higher yields. Food & beverage enzymes consist of products for the baking, brewing, beverage alcohol, fruit juice and wine industries, and other food industries such as the dairy industry and the oils & fats industry. In the field of animal nutrition, enzymes make it possible to magnify the digestibility and nutritional value of animal feed. 

Online Course at JLI

James Lind Institute has launched an MBA in Agribusiness Management. James Lind Institute is an approved post-secondary higher educational Institution with the authority to award private degrees in Switzerland.

For more information please visit: www.rushford.ch

Eligibility criteria MBA (Agribusiness Management)

Graduation in Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural and Food Engineering, Agribusiness management, Forestry, Botany, Zoology, Plant pathology, Biochemistry or Graduation in any Life sciences course from a recognized University.