Course Code: AEC 405
Course Title: Agribusiness Management
Credit Hours: 3 (2+1)
Full Marks: 75
Theory: 50
Practical: 25
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the concept, scope, and importance of agribusiness management.
- Analyze constraints and opportunities of agribusiness in Nepal.
- Gain practical knowledge of organizational management, financial analysis, investment appraisal, and value chain approaches.
- Apply production planning, risk management, and international trade concepts in agribusiness.
- Evaluate the impacts of agricultural policies on agribusiness enterprises.
I. Course Syllabus
- Concept and definition of agribusiness management.
- Concepts of firm, plant, and industry; interrelationships with agricultural production.
- Agribusiness environment and management systems.
- Organization, business management functions, and managerial decision-making.
- Human behavior and resource management in organizations.
- Financial management of agribusiness: financial statements, analysis, and financing.
- Investment appraisal: techniques and methods of analysis.
- Leadership, motivation, and capital acquisition principles.
- Agribusiness control programs and evaluation.
- Value chain analysis: concepts, mapping, and approaches.
- Production planning and risk management.
- Implications of international trade in Nepal’s agriculture sector.
- Agricultural policies of Nepal and their impact on agribusiness enterprises.
II. Course Breakdown
A. Lecture Plan
| S.N. | Topics | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concept, definition, and scope of agribusiness management in Nepal | 2 |
| 2 | Basic concepts of firm, plant, industry, and their interrelationships in agricultural production | 1 |
| 3 | Agribusiness environment and management systems | 2 |
| 4 | Organization and business management functions; managerial decision-making | 2 |
| 5 | Human resource management in organizations | 2 |
| 6 | Preparation of financial statements, analysis, and agribusiness financing | 2 |
| 7 | Investment appraisals using discounted and appraisal measures | 3 |
| 8 | Leadership and motivation; principles of capital acquisition | 3 |
| 9 | Agribusiness control programs and evaluation | 2 |
| 10 | Value chain analysis: concept, mapping, and approaches | 3 |
| 11 | Production planning in agribusiness and risk management | 2 |
| 12 | Implications of international trade in Nepal’s agriculture sector | 3 |
| 13 | Agricultural policies and their impact on agribusiness enterprises in Nepal | 3 |
| Total | 30 |
B. Practical Plan
| S.N. | Topics | No. of Practicals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review of organization and management structure in agro-industries | 1 |
| 2 | Assessment of demand and supply of agricultural commodities in agro-industries | 1 |
| 3 | Analysis of backward and forward linkages of major agricultural products | 1 |
| 4 | Preparation and analysis of balance sheet (case study) | 1 |
| 5 | Preparation and analysis of profit and loss statement (case study) | 1 |
| 6 | Cash flow analysis of agro-industries | 1 |
| 7 | Ratio analysis and forecasting techniques | 1 |
| 8 | Investment appraisals using discounted cash flow measures | 1 |
| 9 | Visit to an agribusiness unit for problem, performance, and prospects analysis (case study) | 1 |
| 10 | Value chain mapping of major agricultural subsectors | 2 |
| 11 | SWOT analysis of major agricultural subsectors | 1 |
| 12 | Preparation of a business plan for agricultural firms | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
References
- Downey, W. D. & Erickson, S. P. (1987). Agribusiness Management. McGraw Hill Inc.
- Rhodes, V. J. (1983). The Agricultural Marketing Systems. John Wiley & Sons, Singapore.
- Gittinger, J. P. (1982). Economic Analysis of Agricultural Projects (2nd ed., revised & expanded). The Johns Hopkins University Press, London.
- Fae, A. N. (1981). Crop Management Economics. Granada Publishing, London.
