Professional Aspirations of Indian Agriculture Graduates: An Analysis of Correlates with Personal and Socio-Economic Attributes

Abstract

Professional aspirations play a pivotal role in shaping the career trajectories and socio-economic mobility of agriculture graduates. Understanding the factors influencing these aspirations is essential for strengthening agricultural education and aligning it with employment opportunities. The present study was undertaken to analyse the professional aspirations of Indian agriculture graduates and to examine their relationship with selected personal and socio-economic characteristics. The study was conducted among 175 final-year Bachelor of Science (Honours) Agriculture students using an ex-post facto research design. Data were collected through a structured and pre-tested interview schedule and analysed using appropriate statistical tools, including correlation analysis. The findings revealed that a majority of the agriculture graduates (68.00%) aspired to pursue higher education after graduation, while 27.40 per cent intended to take up employment. Educational aspirations showed that most respondents preferred higher education within agriculture (76.40%), indicating strong academic orientation towards the discipline. Socially, nearly half of the graduates aspired for social recognition (48.00%), whereas economically, more than half (55.40%) aspired to earn a monthly income between Rs. 50,000 and 60,000. Professionally, becoming a renowned scientist (42.30%) and a well-known administrator (28.60%) emerged as the dominant aspirations. Overall, a majority of the respondents (68.50%) exhibited a medium level of professional aspiration. Correlation analysis revealed that academic performance, annual family income, and mass media exposure were positively and highly significant in influencing overall aspirations, while parental occupation and participation in allied activities also showed significant associations. The study highlights the need for strengthening skill-oriented education, career guidance, and exposure to diverse professional avenues to enhance aspiration levels and employability of agriculture graduates. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and extension institutions to design responsive curricula and youth-centric agricultural development strategies.