Agricultural Economics & Farm Management

The Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management came into existence as one of the constituent departments of the erstwhile Assam Agricultural College established in 1948. Initially, the department had supported the under graduate degree programme in agriculture with very few faculty members. However, it expanded rapidly after the introduction of faculty development programme under IDA Education Project in 1973. First batch of M.Sc (Agri) students in Agril. Economics and Farm Management passed out in 1974 and the department started Ph.D. programme from 1984-85 academic session. Subsequently, the department introduced postgraduate courses in MBA (Agri-Business) from 2002-03 academic session on self sustained basis and in the mean time, fourteen batches of students completed post graduate education in Agri-Business Management. Till today as many as 170 students obtained M.Sc.(Agri), 28 students obtained MBA (Agri-Business) and 21 students obtained Ph.D. in Agril. Economics and Farm Management. The alumni of the department are presently serving in different capacities and calibre in various institutions, organizations, government and non government bodies such as Central and State Universities, State Dept. of Agriculture, Banks, Corporate Bodies. Civil Service, ICAR organizations etc. including the overseas establishments.

The department is actively engaged in number of activities such as given under:

COURSES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT

The department offers courses for both under graduate and post graduate students in the Faculty of Agriculture within the definite academic year. Under graduate students are to attend Experiential Learning and Rural Agricultural Work Experience Programme (RAWEP) with sufficient exposure in the area of Agril. Economics and Agri Business Management. Post graduate students may undertake research work in any area of their choices conform to the various branches of Agril. Economics and Agri Business Management. MBA (Agri-Business) courses are open to students having degree in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Home Science, Agril. Engineering etc.

The trimester system was in practice in the University till 1970-78 academic session and subsequently the University had switched over to semester system. The courses had to be thoroughly revised to match with the growing demands of agricultural education and agricultural development. From 1977-78 onwards, the under graduate and post graduate courses had been modified as per Deans’ Committee recommendation. The latest revision of courses had been effective from 2017-18 academic session as per 5^th Deans’ Committee recommendation. 

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

The department has completed 124 M.Sc.(Agri), 14 Ph.D. and 18 MBA (Agri-Business) PG research projects. The faculty members of the department completed 26 research projects funded by ICAR., World Bank, NABARD, IRRI and State Government etc. One NABARD Chair Professor Scheme was continued in the department for five years.

THRUST AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT

Major thrust areas of research have been on issues pertaining to Farm Management and Production Economics, Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis; and Agricultural Finance and Agri Business Management. In addition, certain new thrust areas of research in Farm Management, Resource Economics, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Finance, Impact Assessment, Rural Development, Food securities and Gender issues have been identified for broad based research and developmental activities of the department.

FUTURE PLAN OF THE DEPARTMENT

(A) Short term

(A) Long Term

Some long term projects would be taken up in the department on priority basis as given under:

1. State level project on farm mechanization and multiple cropping.

2. Risk analysis and management on whole farm business under different agro-ecological situations.

3. Farm diversification under climate change situations.

4. Projects on production and marketing of pulses, oilseeds and tuber crops.

5. Feasibility studies on agro- processing of various agricultural products.

6. Projects on sustainability of conservation agriculture.

7. Priority sector lending and financial inclusion

8. Opening of Farm Management Extension Wing in the department

Seminar & Workshop organized in the Department:

1.The department organized 38^th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Agril. Economics during January 18-20, 1979.

2.The department organized national seminar during November 25-26, 1988 on “Marketing of Perishable Agricultural Produce”.

3. One workshop was organized during on “Prioritization of strategies for Agricultural Development in NE India” on February 27-28, 2001 with the financial and technical support of NCAP, New Delhi.

4.The department organized ICAR sponsored short course on “Agricultural Management under New Economic Environment” during September 12-21, 2001.

5. A regional workshop on “Accelerating Growth in the Horticultural Sector- Challenges and Opportunities for North East India” sponsored by Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Mumbai was organized in the Department on August 19-20, 2008.

6. A National seminar was organized by the department on “Emerging trends and Opportunities in Grain Processing Sector with reference to North Eastern States” on August 26-27, 2008 in collaboration with Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu and Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

7.The department organized a short course on “Agribusiness and Marketing- its Challenges and Strategies under Changing Economic Environment in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi during Nov. 1-10, 2008.

8. On February 8-9, 2010, the department organized a training course on "Commodity Futures Market" in collaboration with Forward Market Commission (FMC), Mumbai and NCDEX Ltd.