Talk to an agriculture graduate today and you’ll hear more about soil chemistry and gene mapping than crop planning or mandi realities. It’s like we’re preparing them for a Nobel Prize and not the paddy field.
Agriculture education was designed during a time of food scarcity — when science had to lead the charge. But 40–50 years later, the crisis has shifted. Now it’s about farm economics, market linkages, value chain leaks, and logistics chaos. So here’s the mismatch: our UG students — who should be learning how to manage farms, optimize operations, and run supply chains — are buried under biochemistry and molecular biology.
We say we want professionalization of agriculture, but we’re still feeding students a curriculum meant for lab coats, not field boots. With NEP allowing dual degrees, flexible curricula, and internships — this is the moment to pivot. From petri dish to procurement desk.
If every agri graduate is trained to be a scientist, who will manage the business of food? We can’t keep growing talent that has knowledge but no job fit.
