MBA in Rural Management: Everything You Need to Know

It is often said that India lives in its villages. For the country to have equitable growth in both the corporate and rural sectors, it is inevitable that we find a confluence between tech-led business growth and its impact on India’s rural communities. 

The MBA course in rural management is a highly specialised course that deals with planning, organising, directing, and controlling rural areas, cooperatives, agri-business, and allied fields. 

In the last few years, there has been a lot of dialogue around climate change and its impact on marginalised and rural communities. In light of this, many corporates have decided to focus more on the rural sector and diverted efforts towards both CSR and marketing activities aimed at this sector. A professional with an MBA in rural management, therefore, has a lot of choices in terms of the role they want and the impact they can have on the community at large. 

What is the scope of this course?

In simpler terms, an MBA in rural management can be described as a course that helps someone work on projects for the betterment of rural communities. It is definitely a niche subject that has immense potential in the coming years but may not be as widely known as other courses. 

A candidate who does an MBA course in this field can aim to get a job at local and global social research agencies or corporates that work for rural development. There are many voluntary agencies and NGOs that work hand-in-hand with rural communities, including social advisory agencies. Rural-centric banks like NABARD and Grameen Bank, and agribusiness enterprises are also good avenues for getting jobs. 

What is the admission criteria?

The minimum eligibility criteria required for students wishing to apply for a Master in Business Administration in Rural Management are listed below:

1. i) The student must have completed their graduation in any stream from a recognised university.

1. ii) The minimum aggregate percentage required for graduation is 45% for general candidates and 40% for reserved category students (SC/ST).

What is the MBA in rural management syllabus like?

The 2-year course deals with the understanding and application of management principles in the rural sector. Students are expected to learn about the planning, organisation, and control of social and rural cooperatives. They are also required to gather hands-on knowledge in the field of management, planning, organising, and leadership skills.

Some of the core topics covered in this program are as follows:

• Management of Social Empowerment
• Business laws
• Watershed Management
• Global Business Environment & Rural Management
• High Tech Horticulture
• Rural Infrastructure
• Management of Sustainable Agriculture

What are the colleges offering this program?

Some of the top universities in the country offer an MBA in rural management. Below is a list of some of the top MBA colleges for rural management in India that offer a full-time course in this field or related fields:

How is an MBA in rural management different from an MBA in agribusiness?

Both the courses focus on marginalised communities in rural zones, but while an MBA in rural management is more holistic in nature, the course in agribusiness is slightly more focussed on the agricultural sector and its products. Either course has immense scope if you have the diligence and will to impact the lives of rural people. 

Conclusion

The larger dialogue about climate change and sustainable growth happening on the world stage has started to trickle down to the grassroots. The new generation of product makers and management professionals now have the opportunity to put their academic credentials to good use in the real world and contribute to a global cause. Pursuing an MBA in rural management can open up many avenues for those individuals who are keen to work with remote communities and use new-age technologies and practices to solve their problems. 

If you are looking for ways to upskill yourself and learn more about rural management, then Sunstone is a definite choice. Sunstone is a leading higher education services provider working with academic institutions, and offering career-oriented training interventions for undergraduate and postgraduate students at 30+ institutions across 25 cities. Sunstone’s training programs are curated to help you understand more about a specific industry and enhance employability. They have an unparalleled focus on soft skills and personality development, thus offering a holistic educational experience.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the scope of an MBA in Rural Management?

Doing an MBA in rural management can help you land a job in the social impact sector, where you can work with corporates in their CSR division, with NGOs and social agencies working hand-in-hand with rural communities, or with global organisations that work for the betterment of rural folks. 

• What is the future of doing an MBA in Rural Management in India?

There has been a consistent rise in managerial opportunities in this field in recent times. Corporates and public agencies alike have realised that the next wave of change and technological evolution has to focus on India’s rural sector if we are to find sustainable means of growth while battling climate change and food security. Hence, educated and creative professionals who wish to be a part of this new revolution are in high demand right now. 

• Which is better – rural management or agribusiness management?

The agricultural and rural communities are intertwined and have many of the same issues. While an MBA in rural development gives the student a more holistic view of village life, the course in agribusiness is more focused on the agricultural community, which is a subset of the rural sector in India.