Introduction to Career in Agricultural Engineering
If you are a person with interest and knowledge in agriculture along with engineering skills, agricultural engineering is a good option for you. Here we discuss about career in agricultural engineering.
What is Agricultural Engineering?
Agriculture engineering is an engineering discipline deals with creation and development of agricultural tools to improve farming techniques. That is applying engineering principles in the field of agriculture to improve the productivity of agriculture industry.
Agriculture is considering as a business now, so it is highly competitive also. In this era of technology, it is important to apply latest technologies available to agriculture. That is engineering principles are applied in agriculture. It is also called biological engineering.
Agricultural engineering is a combination of agriculture, biology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, mathematics and science. So the wide scope available in this field. The scope of agricultural engineering is in production, processing, transportation and storage of agricultural products. The four main branches of agricultural engineering are (i) farm equipment (ii) rural structures (iii) soil conservation, drainage, and irrigation and (iv) rural electricity.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Agricultural Engineer
The roles and responsibilities of agricultural engineers are to design agricultural equipment and agricultural structures by means of better engineering methods, inventions and new technologies. That is they have to solve problems related to agricultural methods by various means of engineering skills and technologies. Other than improving agricultural equipment and structures they are also dealing with rural electrification, biogas, conservation of soil and water, new technologies and design, etc.
Educational Qualification Required
The basic qualification to become an agricultural engineer is to get a bachelor’s degree (B.E./B. Tech) in agricultural engineering or at least a diploma in agricultural engineering. A master’s degree (M.E. / M.Tech) is an added advantage.
Skills and Knowledge Required for Career in Agricultural Engineering
The basic skills and knowledge an agriculture engineer possess are related to product engineering, equipment research and design. Other skills like communication skills, logical thinking, patience, interpersonal dealing, flexibility, work under pressure, drawing structure, computer knowledge, and adaptability to new technologies, etc.
How to become an Agricultural Engineer?
To become an agricultural engineer one has to opt for science stream with PCBM (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and/or Mathematics) in 10 + 2 or equivalent examination. After that he / she has to get bachelor’s degree (B.E. / B.Tech) and further can go for a post graduate degree and Ph. D in engineering. The entrance to B. E / B. Tech or M. E / M.Tech are through different entrance exams (like JEE and GATE). Some IIMs like IIM-Ahmadabad offers Postgraduate Diploma in Agribusiness Management which is a course with high demand in this field.
Where do I get the Job?
Jobs are available with private and public firms, government and companies. Agricultural related companies’, food processing and retail industry, agricultural research and laboratories, banks and financial corporations, etc. offers good job and opportunity in this field.