In a move aimed at boosting skilled manpower for the cooperative sector, the National Institute of Post-Harvest Technology (NIPHT), Pune will introduce a BBA in Agribusiness from the academic year 2026–27.
The programme, approved by Tribhuvan Cooperative University, will offer 60 seats, Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal announced during a review meeting at Mantralaya.
The initiative is expected to address the growing demand for professionally trained youth in cooperatives, agri-processing, and rural enterprises. With a focus on supply chain management, market linkages, and value addition, the course aims to equip students with modern management skills tailored to the cooperative ecosystem.
Emphasising the need to modernise cooperative institutions, Rawal directed NIPHT to align training with global standards and conduct year-round capacity-building programmes. He also called for developing the institute into a world-class training hub with support from the Asian Development Bank.
Importantly, the programme is set to strengthen grassroots participation by integrating women self-help groups into agro-processing activities, enhancing value addition and expanding the cooperative movement’s reach in rural economies.