Competitive Job Market for Agri Graduates, Say TNAU Faculty

In a notable trend observed among agricultural graduates, a majority of students passing out of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and its affiliated colleges have been opting for salaried jobs in agricultural companies, surpassing their counterparts from B.Sc. Agriculture programmes offered by deemed universities in the employment market.

According to senior faculty members at TNAU, agricultural graduates from other higher educational institutions, operating outside the purview of TNAU, are at a disadvantage due to perceived shortcomings in specific infrastructure and research ecosystems. While these institutions have secured approval from the University Grants Commission to offer B.Sc./B.Tech Agriculture programmes, and recognition from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are considered vital for higher educational institutions.

A. Raviraj, Dean of Agricultural Engineering at TNAU, highlighted the importance of ICAR approval, which seems to have an impact on the employability of agricultural graduates. As a result, TNAU graduates hold an edge in the job market, even among their peers from the same university.

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The employment competition is fierce, particularly for government jobs, forcing many students to seek opportunities in the private sector. Placement data reveals that the majority of students find positions in seed companies, large farms, irrigation firms, banks, and other similar entities.

Private sector companies typically offer a training period of three to six months, with a starting monthly remuneration of around ₹15,000. After the initial training period, salaries are increased to upwards of ₹25,000 per month.

Despite the array of opportunities available, students are mentally prepared for jobs that require extensive outdoor work, such as interacting with farmers, conducting surveys, and holding meetings. Placement officers report that there is a noticeable sense of hesitancy among students when it comes to taking up such challenging roles.

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While some students explore higher study options in research institutions supported by ICAR, the number of candidates showing interest in entrepreneurial ventures in agriculture is relatively low, constituting less than 10%.

Last year, a study conducted by a team of TNAU faculty on agripreneurs highlighted that these aspiring entrepreneurs often lack the necessary support system to succeed and sustain their ventures in terms of turnover and scalability.

As the demand for skilled agricultural professionals continues to rise, stakeholders in the educational and agricultural sectors are considering measures to enhance the infrastructure and research ecosystem in higher educational institutions outside the purview of TNAU. By addressing these concerns, they hope to level the playing field and provide graduates from all institutions with equal opportunities to thrive in the agricultural job market and encourage more students to explore aagripreneurial endeavors.

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