CAREERS

There are several interesting careers open to graduates in agricultural economics and management, for example:

Agribusiness Management

Innovative opportunities exist in the agribusiness and food industry fields. Management issues include the following:

• Developing and designing supply chains for specific industries and products,
• Co-ordination, organisation and linkages of resources,
• Managing the value system in specific industries and sub-sectors

Financial services

• Agricultural Economist at Financial Institutions or Agribusinesses
  
  Tasks include; valuations, risk analysis and strategic planning, feasibility studies, cash-flow planning and profit management as well as financial needs analysis

• Commodity Futures Trading
  Trading in commodities such as maize and wheat, acting as an interface between farmer and the market.

• E-commerce
  Managing the online sale of agricultural goods & services in a global environment

Resource Economist

Manage the use and preservation of the country's natural resources.

Academic and Research

• Agribusiness firms have to ensure competitiveness by investing in Research and Development (R&D) An agricultural economist normally carries out this type of research.

• Research is also needed on an economy- wide basis. Agricultural economists at research institutions identify and analyse international strategies and policies for meeting world food needs in ways that conserves the natural resource base.

Rural Development

A number of agricultural economists are employed by non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and by the international donor and aid agencies

Activities include:

• support & capacity building for resource poor farmers,

• business planning,
• extension and training

Marketing

Agricultural economists are also involved in the field of domestic and international marketing.

Tasks include:

• market research studies,
• brand management,
• consumer trend analysis and surveys,
• import and export management.

Production Economists

Manage resources used in the production, processing and distribution of products.

Government

Management and specialist positions in the civil service at the following institutions:

• National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture,
• Land Bank,
• Development Banks,
• International Economic Development Organisations like the World Bank and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)