Agricultural Engineer

Agricultural Engineer

As the world’s population continues to rise, demand for food will also grow. Hence there will always be a need for agricultural engineers.

They have a variety of duties, but they essentially combine mechanical, civil, electrical, and chemical engineering principles with agricultural principles to develop and design new equipment and methods to make farming safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

Their work takes them both indoors and outdoors. Not only will they need to draw up plans and manage projects from the comfort of their offices, but they will also need to make site visits and inspections to monitor and ensure that all technical and management issues are sorted. Other places of work include research laboratories and classrooms. Travelling is part of the job, as is putting in long hours to take advantage of good weather outdoors.

The first step to becoming an agricultural engineer is to excel in mathematics and sciences in high school. Follow through with a bachelor’s degree, preferably in agricultural engineering or biological engineering.

 

Hassan Ibrahim Al-Asmakh

Head of Plant Research, Agricultural Research Department

Ministry of Municipality and Environment

The best thing about a job in this industry is that it is not office-bound. The nature of the work is not routine; rather, it entails moving between laboratories, stations and departments, attending interviews, meetings, lectures and seminars.

With the recent blockade, we have become an integral part of the food security project in Qatar, as we are part of the National Self-Sufficiency Plan. The industry as a whole has gained a lot of attention and there is now a high demand for agricultural engineers, experts, and skilled labor in the agricultural sector. The future in this field is promising. The current requirements are to find more modern techniques that are more effective.

Students interested in this field should obtain a university specialization related to agriculture, whether in agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, plant physiology, or irrigation specialties. All specialties are currently required. A student cannot be expected to become an expert in all disciplines within two years, but after joining us here in the ministry, we refine their skills and enrich their information and talents, through both internal and external lectures. We have several initiatives to attract students and offer courses. For example, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is ready to receive university graduates to complete a full course in Vienna, where students learn about the fields of atomic energy related to agriculture. We also have experts and engineers who are really useful in hands-on training.

A profession in agriculture requires someone who is willing to work in the field, because the nature of the work often involves going on field trips or working in a laboratory.”

Learn more about the agricultural industry by logging on to https://www.iaea.org, http://www.fao.org or http://www.icarda.org