Kerala Agricultural University KAUMAT 2014 - MBA Agribusiness Management

Kerala Agricultural University,

Vellanikkara, Thrissur,

Mobile: 09387111989.

KAUMAT 2014 - MBA Agribusiness Management

Kerala Agricultural University has issued notification inviting applications for admission to MBA Agribusiness Management for the academic year 2014-15. The MBA programme is offered by College of Co-operation, Banking and Management situated in the main campus of the University at Vellanikkara, Thrissur.

The last date for receiving the filled in application form at the University headquarters is 7th April 2014.

Unique Features of KAU MBA

The MBA Agribusiness Management programme of KAU is built to transform agriculture into agribusiness by meeting the managerial human capital needs of the fast growing food and agribusiness sector in India. Within a span of eight years, KAU MBA has become a visible brand admired and esteemed by the industry and aspiring student community. The MBA, offered by the best Agricultural University in the country, has become an attractive destination for foreign students also. Students from Kenya, Malavi, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Rowanda, etc have done the course.

The vision of the programme is to build and sustain a unique management institute of international standards capable of churning out a new breed of agripreneurs and agribusiness managers kindled with fire and endowed with state-of-the-art management technology to serve the nation devoutly in a climate that fosters personal and group creativity and excellence.

The courseware and hardware of KAUMBA is benchmarked with the best-in-class institutions in the domain to meet the dynamic and challenging expectations and standards of the industry. Industrial/farm exposure visits are regularly organized to expose the students to real life situations and to impart hands-on-experience.

The students are placed in selected agribusiness enterprises during the second and fourth semesters to instill practical management experience. Breaking away from the beaten path, the course pursues pedagogy anchored on Case Analysis, Role Play, Group Discussion and Simulation Exercises which fosters co-learning and lateral thinking. The faculty is cherry picked from the industry and reputed management institutions to ensure a harmonious blend of expertise, experience, ethos and empathy for the mentees.

Eligibility for Admission

Any graduate, professional or general, from a recognized University can apply for the course. Applicants must have secured 60 per cent marks for all courses from SSLC onwards. Candidates appearing for the final examination of the qualifying degree can also apply for the course, provided they secure their degree on or before the date prescribed for the GD and Interview.

Annual Intake

Every year 40 students are offered admission. Out of which 5 seats each are reserved for candidates selected by ICAR through an All India Competitive Examination and in-service candidates sponsored by Govt. Departments/Agribusiness Enterprises/Agencies including KAU respectively. Over and above the maximum, 5 seats are earmarked for international candidates nominated by GOI. Vacancies in the reserved categories will be filled in from the open merit list.

Selection Criteria

Admission shall be based on the total score the candidates obtain in the KAUMAT, Group Discussion and Personal Interview to be conducted by KAU and Academic Performance in the qualifying degree examination. Candidates short listed on the basis of the KAUMAT score will be called for GD and Interview. The cut off score of KAUMAT will be fixed by the University before the GD and Interview.

Time Line for Admission

The KAUMAT will be held on 28th April, 2014. The select list of candidates qualified for the GD and Interview prepared on the basis of KAUMAT score will be published on 7th May 2014. The GD and Interview will be held on 19th, 20th and 21st May, 2014 at the Conference Hall of College of Co-operation, Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, Thrissur. The final list of candidates selected for admission will be published in the websites (www.kau.edu  and www.kaumba.in  ) on 28th May, 2014 and the classes will commence from 11th June, 2014.

Fee Structure

The tuition fee payable in each semester is Rs. 25,000/-This is exclusive of hostel fee, examination fee and admission fee. The total amount payable in the first semester including the contribution to PTA fund and Placement Fund is Rs. 51,500/-

Submission of Application

The application form and prospectus can be downloaded from the websites: www.kau.edu  or www.kaumba.in  in  Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The downloaded application form should be printed on A4 size paper and used.

The filled in application form along with the application fee of Rs.750/-(Rs.375/- in the case of SC/ST candidates) is to be submitted to the Registrar, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU P. O., Thrissur-680 656, Kerala.

Remittance of Fees

Candidates residing in Kerala shall remit the application fee at any branch of SBT in Kerala to The Comptroller, KAU (SB A/C No. 57006546701 kept with State Bank of Travancore, KAU Campus Branch, Vellanikkara) or by Demand Draft drawn in favour of The Comptroller, KAU payable at SBT, KAU Campus Branch, Vellanikkara and the counterfoil of the pay-in-slip must be attached to the application form. Candidates outside Kerala shall remit the application fee by Demand Draft drawn in favour of The Comptroller, Kerala Agricultural University, payable at State Bank of Travancore, KAU Campus Branch, Vellanikkara.

• Harrisons Malayalam Ltd.

• Dhanlaxmi Bank Ltd.

• Reliance  Retail Ltd.

• Sutherland Global Services

• Pantaloon Group of Companies

• Aditya Birla Group of Companies

• Federal Bank Ltd.

• Geojit BNP Paribhas Ltd.

• South  Indian Bank Ltd.

• ICICI Bank Ltd.

• Sitaram Ayurveda Pharmacy Ltd.

• JRG Securities Ltd.

• Samsung

• ESAF Micro Finance and Investments Ltd.

• Manappuram Finance Ltd.

• RVJ Eurasia

• INTAS Pharmaceuticals

• Century Plyboards Ltd.

Relevance of MBA Agribusiness Management

The agriculture and allied sectors in India are on the path of a structural make over. The Green Revolution flagged off in the 60’s leveraged by breakthrough technology has virtually lifted India to self sufficiency in food grains production from a ‘ship to mouth situation’. Today India is the first or second largest producer of several major agricultural commodities in the world. However, we trail behind the developed countries in the domain of agro-food processing. Our level of food processing is as low as six per cent compared to 60-80 per cent in developed economies. India possesses the critical mass to emerge as a dominant player in the world agricultural commodity trade and processed food market. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched a plethora of schemes to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the sector and to make the sector an attractive haven for investment.

Unlike the developed economies, agriculture in India is the umbilical chord for the small and marginal farmers who constitute 75 per cent of the rural population. The millennium development goals of India will remain a pipe dream unless and until the living standards of the 117 million small and marginal farm families are improved. Farmers being unorganized, less educated and marketing skills often are exploited by the middlemen in the fractured and protracted commodity value chains. Sustainable growth of agriculture calls for farmer owned and managed commodity value chains integrating all operations from input supply to output marketing.

The ‘Farmer Producer Companies’ which combine the good features of co-operatives and joint stock companies are expected to take up this critical role. In order to strengthen the financial base of these new generation companies GOI has decided to contribute Rs. 10 lakh to the share capital each such company. The National Advisory Council has directed the Central Govt. to start Agribusiness Management courses at the U G and P G levels in all Agricultural Universities to meet the managerial human capital needs of these farmer companies.

The food and agribusiness sector in India is all set for a leap frog. Sensing the infinite growth potential of the sector, domestic and foreign corporates are making a beeline to make huge investments in the various verticals of agribusiness like contract farming, input manufacturing, food and agro processing, export of agricultural commodities, supply chains, mega food parks, organized wholesale and retail trade, online spot and future markets and the like. The Central Govt. has also allowed 51% FDI in multi-brand retailing. The new verticals call for the grooming up of a battery of professionally bred agribusiness managers endowed with domain knowledge, management expertise and experience and social commitment.

Enquiry

1.Director, MBA Agribusiness Management, College of Co-operation, Banking and Management. KAU P. O., Thrissur, Kerala-680 656.    Land Phone: 0487-2438530, 2438529, 2438515. Mob: 09387111989, 09447887888, 09495884527.

2.Associate Dean, College of Co-operation, Banking and Management, KAU P. O., Thrissur, Kerala-680 656.

3.Director, Academic & P. G. Studies, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU P. O., Thrissur, Kerala-680 656.

Prof. Philip Sabu,

Director,

MBA Agribusiness Management,

Kerala Agricultural University,

Vellanikkara, Thrissur,

Mobile: 09387111989.