Agriculture Jobs In India and Related Courses

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE JOBS IN INDIA

The following content is all about ‘Agriculture Jobs In India‘.

Agriculture as a subject is a department of applied sciences, which deals with all the aspects of crop production, horticulture, livestock management, fisheries, forestry, etc. Agriculture, unlike other subjects is an area which deals with the economy directly and needs skill, technology and business for its existence. Agriculture as an art which requires knowledge and skill to perform many operations of farming. Also agriculture in the present scenario needs technology for the development and improvement of certain traditional methods such as breeding, production, crop protection and economics. The biggest contribution of agriculture is towards the improvement of livelihood of the rural population in the country, thereby becoming a part of the commercial business practices.

Education related to agricultural practices, land management, handling natural resources, etc. has become important these days due to its positive impact on the lives of people. Education in agriculture is for those who want to prepare themselves for employment in the agricultural sector. The programs involve the development of technical skills to handle a successful career in this sector. The entire education on agriculture has three divisions, a basic level where theory is taught with some laboratory experience; the supervised programmes which help the students to practically implement the learnt theory and the last important division, which develops leadership skills in the students by making them able to cope up with the changes occurring in this sector.

AGRICULTURE JOBS IN INDIA – SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

In India agriculture is the backbone of its economy because it contributes around 18.1% to the gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture is also a major source of employment to its population in the rural areas and is believed to provide 52% of jobs in the sector. The total land occupied under agriculture is estimated to be 43% and the total dependence of the rural population on agriculture is around 70%. Agriculture also accounts for some percentage of total exports of the country and is the major sector, which guarantees food security in the country. It is extremely worthy to note that with so much importance given to agriculture in the country, it is necessary to maintain ecological balance and use sustainable means of developmental equipment in this sector.

Modern agriculture has now become a knowledge based practice and needs high expertise, which is not very easy for the rural population. Therefore educating the farmers as well as the youth of the country (the future agriculturists) is an important step to handle the threats of globalization.

Agricultural education on different levels is intended to provide:

  • Employability skills to have a career in agriculture.
  • Knowledge of globalization in agriculture as a solution to the present demands, food security and safety, protection of natural resources and urbanization.
  • Creates future entrepreneurs.
  • Some courses also help students handle projects in the real life through which they learn money management, budgeting and maintaining a proper financial record of work.
  • Students with an environment where people from diverse cultures come together to work for a common cause.
  • Research prospects so as to bring in multiple reforms into the sector.

AGRICULTURE JOBS IN INDIA – BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE

There are seven main branches of agriculture and the description of which are given below:

  • Agronomy – a department which deals with all types of crops, their production and management.
  • Horticulture – branch which deals with fruits, flowers, spices etc.
  • Forestry – branch dealing with commercial trees as timer, teak, rubber etc.
  • Animal Husbandry – branch which deals with practices related to breeding and raising animals.
  • Fishery Science – deals with rearing practices related to fish and other marine animals.
  • Agricultural Engineering – deals with technology related issues for farming such as machinery and other post harvesting techniques.
  • Home Science – this branch of agriculture is related to proper utilization and application of agricultural products such as value addition, food preparation etc.

AGRICULTURE JOBS IN INDIA – DEGREES ASSOCIATED WITH AGRICULTURE

Degrees Associated With Agriculture.
Degrees Associated With Agriculture.

Other than the above mentioned branches in agriculture, studies related to this area can be taken in other closely related subjects also. Basically, there are three main qualification levels associated with agricultural studies. They are:

The Bachelor degree program in agriculture:

  • There are many courses at the undergraduate level (the first step), but it can either be with an engineering background known as B.tech in agricultural sciences or it can be a normal B.Sc programme.
  • If it’s a B.Sc, then the duration of the course is 3 years and if it is a B.tech then the duration is 4 years.
  • Every institute has its own selection criteria for the candidates, but in general it is necessary for a student to have cleared 10+2 in science with a PCB/PCBM/PCM/10+2 in agriculture and have secured minimum 50% of marks are eligible for this degree level.
  • There can be an entrance for the admission process based on the institute chosen.

Subjects taught in Bachelor’s programme of agriculture may differ for colleges and universities chosen, but some common subjects are agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, soil science, genetics and plant breeding, agricultural economics, horticulture, agriculture microbiology, live stock and poultry production, dairy science, applied statistics, food science and post harvest technology, crop and stored pest management, agri-business management, agro informatics, farm machinery, seed production practices, disease management etc.

The Master’s program in agriculture:

  • Again specialization can be offered in different streams related to agriculture based upon one’s interest. It could either be a M.Sc or M. Tech in agriculture sciences.
  • The candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from an institute accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) so as to proceed in the master’s program in agriculture.
  • The selection of candidates entirely depends on the performance in the admission tests conducted by the institutes or organizations for the program.
  • The duration of the course is typically 2 years.

The specializations for a post graduate degree in agriculture can be achieved in the following subjects such as agronomy, sericulture, water conservation, soil science, microbiology, Nematology, plant physiology, seed technology, farming system management, plant protection, etc. All the subjects in the bachelor program are available for specialization in a Master’s course, but it is important to check with the University Details and eligibility.

The fellowship and research programs in agriculture:

  • This program refers to the future developments in agriculture on specific subjects and streams.
  • The duration of the course may range from 3-7 years.
  • A master’s degree in agriculture related subject is mandatory for pursuing Ph.D in the required area.
  • The admission for this programme to various premium institutes is possible through NET/GATE qualification or through their respective selection procedures.

Management courses in agriculture are also offered by various universities, such as:

Bachelor of Business Administration in Agriculture:

  • Duration of the course is 4 years and it categorized as a bachelor’s degree.
  • The minimum eligibility criteria are a 10+2 with physics, chemistry and biology as the major subjects.
  • The course deals with topics like agricultural marketing, finance, management, accounting, HR management, retail management and business management.

Master of Business Administration in Agriculture:

  • It is a two year course offered in various disciplines related to agriculture as a master’s degree
  • To opt for this course, student need to have a prior bachelor’s degree in agriculture with minimum aggregate of 50%.

Apart from these major studies there is a possibility for students to undertake diploma and certificate courses in agriculture. The entrance exams to all the above mentioned programmes may be on an all India basis or may depend upon the university hosting the programme. One of the entrance exams in India is All India Entrance for Undergraduate Programmes, J.R.F and admission to the Master’s degree in agriculture, veterinary and allied sciences is conducted by ICAR.

AGRICULTURE JOBS IN INDIA – UNIVERSITIES OFFERING AGRICULTURE DEGREES IN INDIA

The following is the list of top agricultural universities offering courses in related subjects.

Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University (Guntur, Andhra Pradesh)

  • Offers undergraduate and post graduate courses in various disciplines of agriculture
  • Also offers MBA in agribusiness management and polytechnic (diploma) courses in agriculture, agriculture engineering, organic farming, and seed technology.
  • The university also supports research projects, details of which can be found on the university website.

Assam Agricultural University

  • The courses offered are B. Sc agriculture, M. Sc agriculture, M. Sc food technology, MBA agriculture business and Ph. D.
  • There are three colleges working under this university.

Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (Nadia, West Bengal)

  • Has four departments as faculty of agriculture, faculty of horticulture, faculty of agricultural engineering, and directorate of research.
  • Offers UG, PG , Ph. D programmes on different subjects.

Birsa Agricultural University (Ranchi, Jharkhand)

  • The university has a few colleges working under its supervision; faculty of agriculture, faculty of veterinary science and animal husbandry, faculty of forestry, college of bio-technology and center of agribusiness management.
  • Offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph. D courses in agriculture.

Central Agricultural University (Imphal, Manipur)

  • There are many colleges functional under this university and it offers UG, PG courses in agriculture and allied sciences.

C.S Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh)

  • The university has colleges of agriculture, home science, agricultural engineering and technology, forestry, horticulture, dairy technology and fisheries.
  • All the colleges offer UG, PG and Ph. D on various disciplines in agriculture.

All the universities mentioned here do offer graduate, postgraduate and research facilities for students in various disciplines of agricultural studies. The subjects or specializations dealt with may vary for different universities and it is advisable to please refer the university website for the entire course details. Outlined here are some of the agricultural universities offering courses and research possibilities in India.

  • Punjab Agricultural University
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
  • Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology
  • Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (Uttar Pradesh)
  • CSS Haryana Agricultural University
  • CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University
  • Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (Pantnagar, Uttarakhand)
  • Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (Raipur, Chhattisgarh)
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh)
  • Kerala Agricultural University
  • Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (Udaipur, Rajasthan)
  • Maharashtra Animal Science and Fishery University
  • Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (Pune, Maharashtra)
  • Marathwada Agriculture University (University of Parbhani, Maharashtra)
  • Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (Faziabad, Uttar Pradesh)
  • Rajasthan Agricultural University
  • Sher- E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
  • Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University
  • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
  • University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwar (Karnataka)
  • Uttar Ganga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (Pundibari, West Bengal)
  • West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences

AGRICULTURE JOBS IN INDIA – JOB SPECIFICATION BASED ON QUALIFICATION

People with a bachelor’ degree in agriculture can probably apply for the following job titles and the salary could be typically range between Rs 18000-40000 per month. The salary structure and the job opportunities may vary depending on the subject selected in the agriculture course and the host college or university.

  • Agriculture farming assistant
  • Sales executive
  • Agriculture field officer
  • Field officer
  • Fertilizer sales representative
  • Horticulture supervisor trainee
  • Landscaping engineer (minimum 3 years of exp with an agriculture degree)
  • Agriculture advisor
  • Lab assistants in milk bluk collers or chilling centres
  • Technical coordinator for production units
  • Nursery manager
  • Customer service representative for Kisan call centers
  • Soil quality officer
  • Land Geomatics surveyor
  • Social forestry officer
  • Grafting expert/ plant breeder
  • Budding /tissue culture expert

Students with a post graduate degree in agriculture can opt for the following positions. Jobs for these positions can also be applied by people with some minimum experience after a bachelor’s degree. The salary structure for these jobs ranges from Rs 5-6 lakhs per annum as higher remuneration is possible with an extra experience in the area.

  • Crop specialist
  • Food microbiologist
  • Food researcher
  • Plant geneticist
  • Soil surveyor
  • Farm manager
  • Assistant manager (for various plantations)
  • Agriculture extension specialists
  • Irrigation specialist
  • Fisheries officer
  • Animal nutritionist
  • Procurement manager
  • Farm engineering trainee
  • Livestock researcher
  • Crop science manager
  • Project officer
  • Agriculture engineer
  • Farm finance manager
  • Agricultural educator
  • Research officers
  • Quality assurance officer
  • Agriculture loan officer in banks

The research prospects for agriculture industry are on the rise due to the innumerable challenges it faces from various sectors. The salary for a person after completing his/her Ph. D in agriculture can depend on what path they choose to travel. They either take up research positions or start teaching. The possibility of getting a decent salary of Rs 50K-100K per month is high, but again, it depends on what institute, country and area of specialization they work for. Some common titles they can work for are;

  • Teaching associate
  • Research associate
  • Manage fellow
  • Junior research fellow
  • Soil scientist
  • Research scientist
  • Assistant professors
  • Project assistants for agricultural projects

Apart from the above mentioned job prospects based on graduate or post graduate qualification, career in agriculture can be classified into seven major areas as listed below.

Agriculture Jobs In India – Agricultural communication – deals with promotion and marketing of produce. Some job titles associated with this area are:

  • News reporters (farm and market)
  • Public relations representative
  • Regional sales officer
  • Accounts manager
  • Specialist in advertising.

Agriculture Jobs In India – Agricultural economics – associated with the analysis of the price of produce on an annual basis. Some job positions may be:

  • Broker for grains
  • Food distribution manager
  • Agricultural policy analyst
  • Insurance agent
  • Farm and land appraiser

Agriculture Jobs In India – Agriculture education – area related to imparting knowledge to the farmers and people into agriculture business. Job titles associated with it are:

  • Education specialist, supervisor, etc.
  • Farm management
  • Soil conservationist
  • Extension advisor

Agriculture Jobs In India – An agricultural engineering – area which deals with agricultural buildings, machines, waste management and safety. Possible jobs could be:

  • Irrigation engineer
  • Food engineer
  • Machine design engineer
  • Sanitation engineer
  • Structural engineer
  • Bio processing engineer

Agriculture Jobs In India – Agronomy – deals with soils and crops. Job titles possibly could be.

  • Soil scientist
  • Crop specialist
  • Sales representative (fertilizers)
  • Plant breeder
  • Soil surveyor

Agriculture Jobs In India – Animal sciences – livestock management jobs are available in this area and they are:

  • Feed sales management
  • Livestock manager
  • Animal scientist
  • Feedlot operator
  • Animal geneticist

Agriculture Jobs In India – Food sciences – deals with managing food safety and security. The possible job titles from this are for agriculture students are:

  • Product research and development officer
  • Food chemist
  • Food researcher
  • Food microbiologist
  • Food manufacturer
  • Quality assurer

It is believed that a right choice of university and course can land agriculture students into most promising jobs in the future due to the ever increasing demand of this sector. People who have already had their degree in agriculture can take a step forward for an internship or certificate programs to add value to their knowledge and to also find themselves into a right career track.

Read: SUGARCANE FARMING PROJECT REPORT.

Read: ORGANIC FARMING BUSINESS PLAN.

4 COMMENTS

  1. I Completed my B Sc Agriculture and worked in Olam International as Senior Associate for six months.
    And I vsitited your website i am interested to join the organisation.

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