Agricultural Engineer

Agricultural Engineers work in the area of agriculture to solve agricultural problems through designing, construction and improvement of machinery and tools and equipment used in farming and agriculture. As an agricultural engineer, you will also solve problems related to power supplies, the efficiency of machines used in farming and food processing, use of agricultural facilities and structures, pollution, environmental issues and storage and processing of agricultural products.

As an agricultural engineer, you will also work towards soil management, food engineering, waste management, bio-resource development, etc. You will be responsible for planning, supervising and managing farms. You will also solve problems related to irrigation, drainage, and flood water control systems.

Key roles and responsibilities

As an Agriculture Engineer, depending on your field of specialisation, you would have the following roles and responsibilities:

• You will be required to prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, budgets, proposals, for the farming sites.

• You will use computer software to design equipment, machines, structures and systems.

• You will work to modify and make changes to the environmental factors that may affect crop production. Some of the factors are airflow in the barn, etc.

• You will ensure the safety and reliability of equipment by testing them.

• You will manage and supervise construction and production work.

• You will meet clients, contractors, consultant, etc. to evaluate the necessary change in products, processes, etc.

• You will work with farmers to understand their needs and solve them.

• You will work towards pollution management by providing advice on water quality and issues. You will also work towards river water, ground and surface water management.

• You will work towards the construction of the rural electric system, irrigation systems, drainage systems, flow control systems and water conservation.

• Some of you will be working in Agri related fields like aquaculture (seafood farming), food processing and forestry also.

Occupational Interests

Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.

Realistic: You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

Conventional: You should have interests for Conventional Occupations. Conventional occupations involve repetitive and routine tasks as well as fixed processes or procedures for getting things done. These occupations involve working more with data, systems, and procedures and less with ideas or creativity.

Abilities

Abstract Reasoning: The ability to understand ideas which are not expressed in words or numbers; the ability to understand concepts which are not clearly expressed verbally or otherwise.

Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

Inter-Personal: The ability to build and maintain good relationships with others at workplaces and elsewhere.

Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Mechanical Reasoning: The ability to apply basic physical principles and theories to understand how mechanical objects such as tools and machinery works and the ability to understand the rules or laws governing the work of machinery, tools and bodies in motion.

Numerical Reasoning: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and perform other basic numerical calculations correctly.

Spatial Ability: The ability to visualise three-dimensional objects by looking at the objects in paper or visualise objects mentally in three dimensions.

Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Verbal Reasoning: The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.

Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of various applications of one or more branches of Engineering Science & Technology to manufacture and produce various goods or construct or erect various structures. This includes knowledge about design, development, prototype testing, manufacturing, construction, installation, repair and maintenance.

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, statistics, and other mathematical disciplines and their applications.

Physical Science: Knowledge of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understand fluid, material, earth, ocean, atmosphere, and space dynamics, as well as mechanical, electrical, atomic and subatomic structures, properties and processes.

Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production machinery, production systems, production processes, quality control, and other techniques for manufacturing or construction and distribution of goods.

Technical and Engineering Design: Knowledge of various techniques, methods, specifications and tools for creating, developing and laying out designs of various machines, equipment, devices, manufacturing plants, structures, systems and processes. This includes developing blueprints, drawing and models.

Skills

Active Learning: Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

Communication in English: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as well as verbally with others in the English language.

Coordination: Skills in working together with other people to get things done.

Critical Thinking: Skills in the analysis of complex situations, using logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

Judgment and Decision Making: Skills in considering pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.

Operations and Process Analysis: Skills in the analysis of operations and processes such as industrial manufacturing, chemical processing, etc. so as to device better and more efficient operational processes and systems.

Problem Solving: Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.

Process and Operation Controlling: Skills in controlling processes and operations of various machines, equipment, devices and systems using different types of electrical and electronic control instruments and systems.

Reading Comprehension: Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Supervising: Skills in Supervising and monitoring the performance of others, businesses, and different projects.

Technical: Skills in using various technologies and technical methods to get things done or solve problems.

Technical Design and Drawing:  Skills in creating and developing designs and drawings for various structures, machines, equipment, and devices.

Troubleshooting: Skills in determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Personality

You are always or mostly organised in your day-to-day life and activities.

You always feel secure in your surroundings and in most situations.

You are imaginative sometimes.

You prefer to experience new things and have new experiences sometimes.

You act independently sometimes but do not do so in some other times.

You are friendly and outgoing sometimes, but not always. You prefer the company of people sometimes but not always.

You are always practical or in most situations.