Agriculture engineer Job Description
Agriculture engineer Job Profile and Description
An agriculture engineer uses his knowledge of biological sciences as well as engineering technology and implements them to various problems in the field of agriculture related to machines, irrigation, power, electrification, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products. Through the application of the engineering principles, he visualises, designs and constructs equipment, structures, and facilities which will aid farmers and improve the quality of agricultural produce.
Duties and Responsibilities
- An agricultural engineer deals with problems faced by farmers related to effects of weather conditions like temperature, humidity, and light, and the procedure or effectiveness of using insecticides
- He designs and uses various testing equipment for sensing, measuring, and recording different challenges faced by farmers
- He also needs to make and direct the construction of machinery for land tillage, irrigation, fertilization, harvesting, and tackles plant and animal disease, insect control etc
- He prepares and looks for the construction of structures for storage of crops, animal shelter, water supply, and waste disposal
- He has to plan and supervise the construction of power distribution systems, drainage, flood-control measure for soil and water conservation
- Some also conduct radio and television educational programmes for farmers, local groups, farm cooperatives and give advice on better farming practices
Skills and Specifications
- Candidates should be willing to work hard as this kind of jobs may take one to the interiors or countryside too
- They need to be observant and have good research skills
- They need to be experimental and be innovative
Education and Qualifications
People interested in this field require at least a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering, where universities or colleges offer four- and five-year courses. For research or teaching positions one needs to have a master’s or doctoral degree. In some countries, one also needs a state license to work.