From past years there has been rise in the agriculture field and also in line with that there has been rise of corporate as well as with the passion of being Agri entrepreneur in India, many of the students after there bachelor’s wants to opt for a program which will not only help them to secure a good job but also helps them to make fast money, but students often find themselves in a big dilemma that weather they should go for MBA or PGDM? Candidates seems to be confused in between the title as well as the content which MBA and PGDM in ABM provides. To know the real and unbiased difference we have to delve ourselves in deep.
MBA in ABM which is Master of Business Administration in Agri Business Management which means it offers a “degree”, and PGDM in ABM that is Post Graduate Diploma in Management in Agri Business Management which offers “diploma”, they both have many similarities. When it comes to industry acceptance MBA(ABM) and PGDM(ABM) are like identical twins.
Both of these programmes offers students with agri management skills and most importantly nowadays recruiters are more concerned with the quality that a student bring to the table and not just a mere name. Recruiters do not distinguish between PGDM and PGPM(Post-Graduate Programme in Management) students in b-Schools which provides a 1-2 year certificate programme in Agri Business Management. Hiring mostly depends on the type of institution you are doing your MBA or PGDM(ABM) from. To decode the real difference between these two we need to look much deeper into both of these.
MBA(ABM) vs. PGDM(ABM): Major Differences
| Course | MBA(ABM) | PGDM(ABM) |
| Institution | Colleges are affiliated with a university that offers the MBA(ABM) degree | An autonomous institute, which gives a little less stability |
| Accreditation | Accreditated by the university | Accreditated by AICTE |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Curriculum | Curriculam is not changed very frequently | Curriculum is changed very frequently |
| Validity | It is a valid Post Graduate Degree and recognized in corporate | It is valid diploma |
| Placements | Most MBA(ABM) institutions have good placements | Depends on the institution |
| Innovative Practices | MBA(ABM) is considered theoretical than other which have strong academically focus. | PGDM(ABM) aimed to provide education in a more balanced way across all fields. |
MBA(ABM) vs PGDM(ABM): Accrediation and Duration
MBA(ABM) are regulated by an university and are much stable and in the end that university provides a degree whereas PGDM(ABM) are not regulated by the universities instead they are an offered by an autonomous institutions. PGDM(ABM) is a diploma and it is not a degree so that is why many student choice is MBA over the PGDM courses. MBA(ABM) is a more popular choice for the students aiming at a corporate carrer and also for those who are aiming to enter in the job market.
| Parameters | MBA(ABM) | PGDM(ABM) |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Accreditation | UGC(University Grants Commission) | AICTE( All India Council for Technical Education) |
Cases of Fraudulence
Since PGDM is offered by an autonomous institution there are somewhere chances that there claim something went wrong or they are falsely advertising there course as PGPM or PGDM, because it is an autonomous institution. Whereas in case of MBA(ABM), since it is offered by Universities the possibility of a fraud is very less.
What is PGPM?
Apart from MBA(ABM) and PGDM(ABM), this is considered to be the third category of the post graduate management education and it is called as PGPM(Post Graduate Program in Management), it is a flexible certification programs. In this the institutes collaborate with other institutes to put together a specialized offering. The features of this type of course are:
It is a certification program
It is more Budget friendly opinion compared with the MBA and PGDM
It does not create any ground for further academics or fellowship
Entrance is the combination of entrance examination and experience cut-off as specified by the institute
MBA(ABM) vs. PGDM(ABM): Eligibility Requirements
If we dig deeper into the requirements, an MBA requires a Bachelor’s degree and a work experience if possible then it is great, work experience in MBA is mostly required by the international Universities. PGDM does not require any work experience but having a prior experience is always a plus point. Another important criteria to differentiate between PGDM and MBA, is the entrance exams you need to qualify to apply for an MBA or PGDM will vary depending upon where you are going to pursue your MBA(ABM) or PGDM(ABM) from (INDIA OR ABROAD).
| Exam | Conducted By | Exam Pattern |
| GMAT | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | Analytical Writing Assessment Integrated Reasoning Quantitative Section Verbal Reasoning |
| CAT | IIMs | Quantitative Ability Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
| MAT | AIMA | Language Comprehension Mathematical Skills Data Analysis and Sufficiency India and the Global Environment Intelligence and Critical Reasoning |
| ATMS | Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) | Analytical Reasoning Skills I Verbal Skills I Quantitative Skills I Analytical Reasoning II Verbal Skills II Quantitative Skills II |
| XAT | Xavier School of Management (XLRI Jamshedpur) | Verbal and Logical Ability Decision Making Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation General Knowledge |
| NMAT | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | Quantitative Skills Logical Reasoning Language Comprehension |
| SNAP | Symbiosis International University | General English Quantitative Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
PGDM(ABM) vs. MBA(ABM): Salary Structure
The most important aspect of both of the courses is differentiating between Salary Structure. Usually the salary level depends on the college from where you are pursuing it from and how much experience you are carrying in the field. Usually the average salary is 3 to 10 LPA for an MBA(ABM) fresher graduate while for PGDM is 2-8 LPA in India.
There are several other program like MBA IN Food and Agri Business Management (FABM) also which is offered by many institutions in India other then ABM, MBA(FABM) is a rising field which offers many opportunities and is in demand among many big giants in the agri industry. The major difference between MBA(ABM) and MBA(FABM) is explained below:
Conclusion:
Choosing between MBA in ABM and PGDM in ABM can be a tough decision for students. Both programs offer similar industry acceptance and aim to equip students with management skills in agriculture. However, there are key differences to consider. MBA provides a degree regulated by universities, offering stability and broader recognition, whereas PGDM is a diploma offered by autonomous institutions, providing more flexibility but with potentially less stability. Factors such as curriculum, accreditation, duration, and eligibility requirements also play a role in decision-making. Ultimately, students should weigh their career aspirations, preferences, and the reputation of the institution before making a choice. Regardless of the path chosen, both programs can lead to rewarding career opportunities in the agricultural sector.