AGRICULTURAL ENG.

The Green Revolution ! so profoundly symbolic of what modern technology can achieve. The eternal anxious frown on the farmer’s face as he looks towards the sky waiting for the elusive monsoon clouds, his worry over the increasing barrenness of his fields- all these are images from a bygone era - made passe by the field of Agricultural Engineering.

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Agricultural Engineers (AE) are primarily concerned with applying modern technology to improve agriculture. They are also responsible for applying scientific techniques to the production, processing, transportation and preservation of agricultural products. Other activities falling within the career scope of an AE include irrigation, conservation of soil and water, drainage and resource planning and also designing and construction of farm buildings.

To become an AE, you need to take the B.Tech (Agriculture) course, which is of 4 years duration. And if that doesn’t satisfy your quest for improving the lot of Mother Earth, you can go for the M.Tech course, which is of 5 years duration. There is also a Ph.D. degree of three years duration offered at IIT Kharagpur and at IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute).

Once you have qualified as an AE (that means passing your exams, not just doing a course), it’s time you got back to more earthly matters (pun intended!) like finding a job. AEs can find employment in the various fields of ... agricultural engineering, water management, agricultural machinery manufacturing organizations, tea gardens, etc.

Food Corporation of India, National Dairy Development Boards, National Bank for Rural and Agricultural Development (NABARD) and other banks, agricultural universities and non-government voluntary organizations, besides private and public enterprises are some of the institutions that regularly employ AEs. And if the entrepreneur inside you is driving you crazy, setting up your own production unit for manufacturing agricultural implements, a farm consultancy firm, an R&D center for testing of seeds, soil conditions, etc. are only some of the options.

Whatever the field of work you choose, the AE has to be in constant touch with the land and its many facets. He can expect to be resident in a rural or semi-urban area and even if he is stationed in a city, frequent trips to farms, etc. are indicated. In case of Tea Gardens, a luxurious but somewhat solitary lifestyle is to be expected. Ditto for those who take up soil or water conservation as their field of specialisation. Remuneration varies depending on whether you are employed  in Government

organisations or private enterprises with the latter obviously giving more lucrative salaries & perks. And if you are in self-employment, then your dedication & intelligence are the only limits.

So if rustic scenes of rural life entice you, you are not too finicky about getting your hands dirty occasionally, and if you are motivated by the mission of reconstructing rural India, this one is for you. Of course, you will also need to study hard and be good at subjects like chemistry, industrial design, mechanics, botany, etc. to get that B.Tech degree.

Remember the lines from that song sung by Manoj Kumar "Mere Desh Ki Dharti Sona Ugle, Ugle Heere Moti"  As an AE, you can really make those lines come true. Go ahead..  become a true son of the soil !