Agriculture encompasses not only all areas of farming and all kinds of crops but also includes horticulture, floriculture, sericulture, and the manufacture of agri-products. The agro-industry includes units that sell raw or processed farm products and also the ones processing farm products for further commercial use. Marketing of chemicals and fertilisers for farm use and manufacture of fibre and forest products come under the agro-industry as well. Research and training, developing new species, high-yielding varieties and new agri-products and processes are other areas of work. If you think you have good management and administrative skills, then with a degree in agriculture or another related field, you can get a postgraduate degree or diploma in agri-management, rural management or forest management. You should make a choice depending on your aptitude for a career option and your interest in that field. There are many government jobs for those with a degree in agriculture. Every state department of agriculture takes in trained people to provide professional support to farmers and handle development schemes relating to crops, seeds and yields. Other government organisations such as the National Seed Corporation, State Farm Corporation, Warehousing Corporation, Food Corporation of India and dairy development boards employ agriculture graduates, as non-gazetted officers. For the gazetted cadre, you would need a Master’s degree. Nationalised banks and rural banks such as NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) recruit technically-trained agricultural graduates as field officers, rural development officers and agricultural probationary officers. Selection is through a written competitive test. Although industries dealing in food processing and marketing of agricultural products also employ agriculture graduates, for greater career enhancement, it is advisable to follow up your degree with post graduation in agriculture or an allied field, and rural management. There are openings in the non-government sector and with international agencies, too. If you are interested in teaching, you can do so at agricultural universities. If you have strong writing skills, you can take up agricultural journalism for specialised publications or cover the agriculture sector for business dailies. Usha Albuquerque

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