Academic Teaching

Prof. Vidya Vemireddy’s teaching portfolio at IIM Ahmedabad spans critical areas of agricultural finance, food systems, and applied microeconomics, equipping students with the analytical and strategic skills necessary for leadership in the agribusiness sector.

Through courses like Agricultural Finance and Food Systems Approach to Indian Agribusinesses, MBA students gain insights into the financial landscape of agriculture, risk management, and emerging innovations shaping the sector. PhD courses such as Applied Microeconomics for Food and Agribusiness provide an advanced foundation in economic theory, empirical analysis, and policy applications, preparing students for research-driven careers. Additionally, Agricultural Management I & II cover essential topics including consumer behavior, supply chains, and development economics, fostering a deeper understanding of agricultural markets.

Teaching

Courses for MBA students:-

1. Global value chain management in the transitioning world:

In recent times, the global economy faced unprecedented challenges, inflation, labour and resource shortages, price shocks, geopolitical risk and breakdown of logistics. These shocks have become the new normal and far more frequent. As we enter a future of constant disruption – fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions and the global impacts of climate change – it has become clear that companies need to rewire and will not be able to go “back to normal”. Continuous navigation of the new environment filled with turmoil and volatility is the need of the hour. Global Value Chains (GVCs) are the backbone of modern international trade and business operations. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of GVCs, with a strong focus on international trade, policies, and geopolitical impacts. Students will learn to analyze GVCs across various industries, understanding their implications for firms, countries, and policymakers in a complex global environment. The course will equip students with the tools and knowledge to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by GVCs in today’s interconnected and transitioning world.

2.Agricultural Finance:

This course is a compulsory course offered to the final year MBA graduates in IIMA’s flagship Food and Agribusiness Management Program. This course seeks to develop an understanding of the agricultural finance environment, the major institutions involved, and the strategic financing issues. Besides introducing the agricultural finance environment, students get exposed to various new innovations in financial instruments and agribusiness valuation. Topics of risk management are also included within this course specifically designed for the agricultural context in India.

3. Food Systems Approach to Indian Agribusinesses:

This course is an elective offered to final year MBA graduates at IIMA. Given the issues related to malnutrition that plague India, connecting agriculture and nutrition is critical. This course introduces students to this framework and presents various existing and potential agribusiness opportunities. This course intends to develop systems thinking among students of agribusiness.

4.Food and Agribusiness (FAB)

Courses for PhD students

5. Applied Microeconomics for Food and Agribusiness:

The course focuses on advanced microeconomic theory and applications within the domain of food and agriculture. It aims to develop the understanding of the core concepts in consumer and producer theory and applications. Topics such as estimating demand and production function, welfare analysis, interdisciplinary applications etc. are discussed through a mix of lectures, empirical exercises and presentations. Students are exposed to current topics in the literature and equipped with tools to analyse (experimental, quasi-experimental, panel data methods etc.) complex empirical problems across different contexts. This course is an advanced level course and designed for students from second year onward with a background in microeconomics and econometrics.

6.Agricultural Management I & II

The objective of this course is to introduce advanced concepts of consumer behavior, demand, supply, economic systems, water and input management, agricultural marketing, risk analysis, development and institutional economics.

Prof. Vidya Vemireddy

(Faculty member at IIM Ahmedabad)