Your cup of tea

• Q: I am pursuing BSc in agricultural science. Could you please tell me what sort of job opportunities can I expect in the tea industry in India?

F. Bhowmik

• A: India’s 150-year-old tea industry comprises over 13,000 gardens, averaging 300-350 hectares each, spread across the northeast, mainly in Assam and West Bengal, and the south, in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and to some extent, in Karnataka. Among the largest in the world, it employs over two million people, not all of whom are tea-plucking labourers or shop-floor level workers in tea processing factories on estates.

At a higher level, other positions include those of garden managers, assistant garden managers, welfare officers, research scientists, tea-tasters, tea brokers, consultants and many others.

A garden manager usually requires a background in agricultural sciences with specialisation in botany. Under the Plantation Labour Act, a plantation with more than 1,000 workers must have a welfare officer.

Numerous processes are involved in the cultivation and processing of tea. Evidently, research plays a pivotal role in evolving the product. Hence the tea industry employs scientists or researchers with postgraduate degrees, preferably a PhD, in botanical sciences.

Tea-tasters taste, blend, evaluate, brand and price tea in auction centres. They undergo years of specialised training to develop their palates to discern the mildest differences in colour, aroma or flavour. Tea brokers with knowledge in plantation management act as a link between the planter or producer and the buyers. They should be familiar with market trends, prices and possess well-developed tea-tasting skills. Like several other industries, there are consultants in the tea industry too.

A lucrative alternative

• Q: If I can’t make it to a medical college, what sort of scope would doing BPharm offer?

Jivanshu Vyas

• A: Jobs in the pharmaceutical industry range from those in sales and marketing to high-end research.

Pharmacy graduates are appointed by the government as drug inspectors and drug analysts. Hospitals also hire pharmacist consultants to advice physicians on the precise dosage schedules and possible side effects of the various drugs. Teaching is another option after a masters degree.

Pharmacists are also employed in the chemical industry and food and drug control organisations. R&D labs of pharma majors are manned by postgraduates and PhDs in pharma.

However, if you are enterprising, you can open your own chemist shop or even go into manufacturing of drugs.

A rare passion for number crunching

• Q: Unlike most of my classmates I just love maths. I have a genuine knack for understanding and solving complicated math problems. Please tell me how I can develop my skills further

Joy Das

• A: The ability to enjoy mathematics is a gift not everyone is endowed with. For starters, I suggest you participate in the 16th Mathematics Training & Talent Search (MTTS) Programme funded by the National Board for Higher Mathematics.

The mechanics of this three-tier programme is as follows:

The -level is for second year BSc / BStat /BTech students who have mathematics as one of their subjects.

Level I is for final year UG students with the above mentioned qualifications.

To participate in level II you need to be in first year PG (MSc / MStat / MTech etc) with maths as one of the subjects.

The intention of the programme is to train students to work independently, gain perspective and confidence in learning and understanding mathematics. The faculty is drawn from reputed teachers of leading institutions in the country. Each course is taught by a single expert for better interaction (over four weeks). Teachers identify the difficulties of individual students, which is one of the unique features of this programme. Reading material is also provided.

The programme also provides a platform for students with varied backgrounds to come together and interact with peers and experts in the field. This serves two purposes: First, you come to know where you stand academically and what you have to do to attain your full potential and secondly, you get to establish a rapport with other participants and teachers which will help shape your career in mathematics. It’s an opportunity to see for yourself how you compare with other students.

The emphasis is on pure mathematics and includes subjects like algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory and topology.

Unless you are really interested, please don’t apply for the programme. But if you are seriously interested in pursuing a career in mathematics, this programme will be of immense value to you. The medium of instruction is English.

Address: MTTS, D/ Maths & Stats, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad. Website: http://mathstat.uohyd.ernet.in~mtts/and www.geocities.com/mttsprogramme.

The last date for submitting applications for the programme is February 23, 2008.