Unearthing a passion for agriculture

Tushar Ramesh was travelling around rural Australia on a motorbike when he discovered agronomy – the science of crop production and soil management – and decided to pursue a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Melbourne.

“A friend I met while travelling brought up agronomy, and it was the first time I’d heard of it. It sounded like the perfect mix of practical hands-on work and cerebral thinking,” Tushar said.

“I had fantastic encounters with people and businesses in rural and regional Australia and was inspired to work in an industry that benefited the local and international community. I’ve always been fascinated with the importance of crops to our culture and civilization.”

Tushar, who grew up in India and New Zealand, realised a Bachelor of Agriculture was the only way to acquire the technical knowledge needed. He says the University of Melbourne stood out due to its Dookie campus – a dedicated teaching and research facility between Shepparton and Benalla.

Situated on 2,440 hectares, Dookie campus houses students, staff, sheep, cattle, an orchard, robotic dairy, winery, and a natural bush reserve.

“The opportunity to spend six months of my degree on a farm and gain hands-on experience of agronomy and crop science was not offered by other institutions,” Tushar said.

“The staff and student community at Dookie was a highlight, and I’ve made friendships and mentors for a lifetime.”

Now in the final year of his bachelor’s degree, Tushar recently completed a summer internship at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), applying his knowledge to a real-world challenge.

“CBA has a significant involvement with the Australian Carbon Credit Unit market. I learned a lot about financing sustainability, soil carbon, hydrogen and the renewable transition our energy grid will have to undergo – not things you’d expect at a bank,” Tushar said.

“What I took away from the internship is that agriculture, through sustainable land-management practices, has an incredibly important role to play in Australia’s transition to a truly green economy.”

Tushar is considering an Honours year but is also interested in entering the agronomy or agribusiness workforce – he’ll decide later in the year.

His dream job? “One where I’m able to use my skills to make a practical, lasting impact on the community,” Tushar said.

This article first appeared in The Weekly Times 2023 Education magazine.