Everything you should know about career opportunities in Agritech

• Feb 20, 2024
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India's agricultural sector has expanded significantly over time. The nation has succeeded in achieving food independence. The main problem, global food scarcity, continues despite agriculture becoming one of the most lucrative industries in the world.

By 2050, the world's population is projected to have increased significantly to 9.7 billion people. The food business is currently facing a fight to stay afloat. As of FY 2021, India had around 152 million people working in the agriculture sector, which employs more than 27% of the world's workforce.

The agricultural scene in India is no longer portraying a depressing picture or being limited to the ignorant, especially with the emergence of the agritech business and the rise of young people, IIT, management, and engineering graduates pursuing their career interests in the field. Here, new agricultural technologies (AgriTech) are creating favorable conditions for the agriculture sector to prosper in India and around the world while assisting in meeting the demands of the continuously expanding population.

Continue reading to learn about some of the most recent agritech advances that are opening the door for a new career module.

Agritech: An overview

Agriculture Technology (AgriTech) is a subset of cutting-edge agricultural technology created to boost productivity and production in agricultural processes.

The goal of agritech is to increase food production while using fewer resources, cutting costs, and shortening production time. Agritech includes a variety of technologies including AI and IoT with a variety of applications.

Increasing market and demand

With a CAGR of 12.1%, the global AgriTech market is predicted to increase from almost $17,500 million in 2019 to more than $41,000 million by 2027. The nation's AgriTech sector has seen a sharp increase in activity. The AgriTech market potential in India, which was more than $2.4 billion, is anticipated to reach a value of $24 billion by 2025, with more than 1000 start-ups contributing a GVA of 56% in FY2020. Another study estimates that by 2025, the potential will be $35 billion.

Over the years, the agri-tech sector has attracted several entrepreneurs, engineers, and venture investors. The AgriTech industry in India has also witnessed investments climb at a CAGR of 53% between 2017 and 2020, rising from $91 million in 2017 to about $330 million in 2020. Building efficient teams and systems is in great demand in the agriculture area (Agri space). With numerous start-ups luring in a lot of talent, agritech is generating new employment opportunities. To close the technological gap between farmers and technology, agritech businesses are looking to develop a variety of vocations.

New Career Opportunities in the Agri Sector

Technology and science now form the basis of everything. Nowadays, technology and inventions have advanced agriculture. Even agriculturally based nations like India are realizing and recognizing the immense potential in agritech. Other than merely being a traditional farmer, there are other options and pursuits one might pursue. The first thing aspiring entrepreneurs may do is look into areas that haven't been fully explored and identify and capitalize on those areas. The following are a few of the AgriTech jobs that will be in high demand soon.

1. Food Scientist/Analyst

Food scientists work to find new foods, evaluate the nutritional content of meals that already exist, and create strategies for making processed foods healthier and safer. Simply said, food scientists use technical advancements and scientific theories to generate both new and improved food items.

2. Agronomists

They are the ones who link technology with agriculture. Crop doctors are another name for agronomists. Agronomists serve as a point of contact between agricultural researchers and farmers. They collaborate closely with "plant geneticists," which is another well-paying job for botany/science graduates. They are specialists in enhancing or developing new crop kinds. Regarding recent advancements in crop-producing techniques, a plant geneticist offers farmers a variety of choices. They strive to offer workable, scientific solutions that will improve soil management, agricultural yield, and soil control. They also conduct studies to improve plant nutrients and assess the condition of the soil.

3. Hydrologists

Hydrologists are particularly concerned with surface water. In addition to providing people with clean, safe water, they research the physical characteristics, distribution, and circulation of surface and subsurface water. Environmental sustainability and protection are additional duties of a hydrologist.

4. Drone Technologists

Robotics, sensors, and aerial photography have made it simpler to increase efficiency. Farmers can get guidance from drone specialists on how to reduce crop damage and increase yield.

5. VLEs (Village Level Entrepreneurs)

They approach farmers and persuade them to adopt technology. Given that it would provide work for young people in rural areas, India can particularly benefit from this project's success.

6. Activists and communicators for agriculture

Every sector requires someone to develop, create, and share tales to build connections, exchange ideas, and do so much more. Science communicators who work primarily on discussing matters linked to agriculture with agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders are known as agriculture communicators and advocates.

7. Land Architects

Planning, developing, and constructing lands to accommodate dynamic crop patterns is a crucial task for land architects as it guarantees the best possible use of the available land. These architects can also create infrastructure amenities that will be useful when harvesting crops. 

Precision agriculture specialists, tech seed specialists, pedologists, environmental engineers, climatologists, food microbiologists, soil and water conservationists, supervisors, and data scientists are additional career paths that might be explored. They all have a significant impact on the pre-harvest management system.

Warehouse managers are required to manage supply chain requirements such as distribution, coordination, operations, and logistics after crops are harvested. Therefore, managing a warehouse is an equally attractive profile. A crucial part of the post-harvest process is also played by sales agents and management. An effective salesperson should, however, have a fundamental understanding of how technology benefits farmers. People who excel in managing sales are those with a keen sense of empathy, the ability to provide solutions that add value, and strong communication skills with farmers.

The organization also needs digital marketers to have a strong social media presence online, as well as web, app, and software developers to create online apps or e-commerce storefronts. Agritech companies can also hire people for operations and customer service that are available around the clock.

In addition to these choices, it is difficult to find professionals who are familiar with AI, blockchain, modern machines, drones, sensors, GPS technology, and remote monitoring, all of which can be used to effectively manage the entire agri-value chain. Therefore, the field of agritech has a bright future for tech experts.

Because the potential of those outside the agricultural discipline is underutilized, many companies in the agri sector are still having trouble putting together strong teams. The emphasis on obtaining formal degrees is important, but social and professional development programs can also encourage innovation and job success.

In reality, job postings in the agriculture sector frequently strike people as less desirable. I believe that altering popular beliefs and writing captivating job ads can improve both the quantity and quality of luring a more varied pool of talent. Agritech businesses offer a great deal of promise to close the technological gap between farmers and new technologies while also providing access to a variety of job opportunities.