Agri-Business Course to be Launched at National Institute of Post-Harvest Technology

 by Pranita Kurani 

*- Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal*

Mumbai, Date: April 17:- With the objective of developing trained and capable manpower for the cooperative, marketing, and agri-business sectors, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Agri-Business undergraduate course will be launched at the National Institute of Post-Harvest Technology (NIPHT) in Pune. The course has been approved by the Tribhuvan Cooperative University, and admissions for 60 seats will begin from the academic year 2026–27, said Maharashtra Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal.

The Marketing Minister was speaking at a review meeting of the NIPHT held at Mantralaya. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary of Cooperation and Marketing Praveen Darade, Joint Secretary Vijay Lahane, Executive Director of Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board Sanjay Kadam, NIPHT’s Director Milind Akare, MAGNET Project Director Vinayak Kokare, Additional Project Director Dr. Amol Yadav, and other officials.

Shri Rawal said that this new course will help produce trained youth for sectors such as cooperation, agri-processing, market management, supply chain, agri-industry, and rural entrepreneurship. There is a growing need for youth with modern management skills in the marketing and cooperative sectors, and NIPHT should provide quality training in line with global technologies. He also instructed that various training programs be conducted throughout the year.

The Tribhuvan Cooperative University has approved this course for a duration of three years with an intake capacity of 60 students, thereby opening new avenues in agri-business management for students in Maharashtra.

*Institute to be Developed as a World-Class Training Centre*

On this occasion, the Marketing Minister also directed that the NIPHT be developed into a world-class training centre. A detailed development plan should be prepared through the Asian Development Bank, and short-term courses related to agri-business should be introduced while upgrading institutional facilities,he said. Shri Rawal also said that women from self-help groups in the state will be roped in processing industries to enhance the value addition of agricultural produce.

He also stated that seminars should be organized with the participation of experts from the agriculture sector, and that special training programs should be conducted in view of the growing demand in the seed production sector. The Marketing Minister further assured that the government will extend all necessary support for the expansion of the institute and the enhancement of its facilities.