Agriculture

Agricultural courses involve the study of various technical and scientific subjects related to agricultural technology, food technology, the dairy industry, food science, plant science, horticulture, and even forestry. These courses can be done at different levels – certificate, diploma, or degree. However, one must keep in mind that the duration and eligibility requirements at each level are different. With a bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture, students can secure high-paid jobs in both government and private sectors. They can be appointed as agricultural research scientists, agriculture officers, production managers, farm managers, and so on. Interested students can also opt for jobs in the fields of teaching, banking, and insurance.

There are various Agriculture colleges in India and abroad. The Agriculture fee structure, however, may vary from college to college and institute to institute. Apart from this, some of Agricculture courses can also be completed on online platforms like Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, edX, etc. Some of the specializations offered under agriculture courses at masters or doctorate level are Agronomy, Horticulture, Floriculture, Agriculture Economics, Forestry, Plant Breeding, Agriculture Genetics, Hydroponics, Weed Sciences, Agriculture Entomology, Agriculture Microbiology, Soil science, and Agro chemistry.

After completing agriculture courses, a student can expect to earn an average salary of INR 800,000–1500,000 per annum. Hence, the scope of a career in agriculture has grown tremendously in recent times, and it is an excellent career option for students who are interested in this field.

Agriculture Course Overview

Agriculture is an academic branch of science that deals with the study of various scientific, technical, and business subjects associated with horticulture, agriculture, farming, poultry farming, farm management, dairy farming, animal husbandry, agricultural biotechnology, and similar other subjects. The course of agriculture has gained a lot of importance and is one of the most popular courses because of increasing job opportunities in the agriculture sector. The developments in technology have elevated the scope in the agricultural sector. The scope in the agricultural sector has grown multiple folds as compared to the recent past. There have been enormous opportunities in the agricultural sector for the researchers. 

Several cutting edge innovations are being done in the agricultural sector. The students can opt for doing either bachelors or masters in agriculture. The agriculture admission are being done on the merit and entrance basis. The students of agriculture can get high paid jobs after doing graduation or post-graduation in both private and government sectors. The students of agriculture can work for different profiles and can be appointed as Agriculture Officers, Production Managers, Agriculture Research Scientists, Farm Managers, Food and Supply Inspector, Probationary Officers, and many other related fields. They can also choose to work in the banking and insurance sector. They also have an option of opting for higher education after masters and can do a PhD in the field of agriculture science.

Agriculture Course Highlights

The students can check the quick facts about the Agriculture degree course. Some of the major highlights of the Agriculture course are given below. 

Benefits of Choosing Agriculture Courses

The demand for Agriculture courses has been increasing for many years. Over the years it has increased a lot. It is one of the most popular courses after completing class XII from science stream. The reason for choosing Agriculture courses is the enhanced growth and career opportunities after doing Agriculture courses. There are various benefits of doing an Agriculture course. The candidates can check the main benefits of choosing the Agriculture course mentioned below.

• Endless opportunities - The agricultural industry offers a diverse and interesting range of career opportunities with a vast array of quality employers. Although, there’s a misconception that the agricultural sector is just for people who want to run or work on a farm and that there’s little or no money there, the misconception is gradually changing. This means there are a huge number of opportunities further up – and down – the supply chain too.
• Agriculture is everywhere - Agriculture isn’t only limited to rural areas. Many job seekers assume agriculture careers entail working on farms with crops and animals. However, there are many job opportunities that don’t involve getting your hands dirty. For example, manufacturers, suppliers, and other agriculture companies occupy the cities.
• Growing industry - The agriculture industry is growing at an incredibly rapid pace and so does the demand for qualified candidates. The job market is booming, which presents a unique opportunity for college graduates to find work quickly, pursue different areas of expertise to discover the niche that best suits them, and ultimately, grow their careers much faster than they might in other industries.
• Technology - Technology is everywhere, even on farms and fields. Since advancements in technology are continuously evolving to improve productivity, more technology-savvy candidates are needed. If you’re interested in helping to feed the world and have an interest in technology, then agriculture is the perfect space for you to find a meaningful job that will allow you to help shape the future of the industry.
• Competitive salary - In the current agriculture job market, employers are struggling to find high-quality talent. The shortage in labor has forced employers to keep their salaries competitive in order to attract the highest quality candidates and retain their top employees. This means you’ll likely discover a significant difference in salary for an agriculture job compared to that of the same job in another industry.
• Job security - Agriculture isn’t going anywhere any time soon. And with the constant demand for qualified candidates across many areas of the industry, you can feel secure in knowing that you’ll always be able to find the next opportunity.

Types of  Agriculture Courses

There has been massive growth in the Agriculture sector over the years because of the development in science and technology. The number of candidates who are willing to pursue Agriculture course have also increased tremendously over the years. Looking at the popularity of the Agriculture courses, the courses are offered by different colleges as Certificate, Diploma and  Full Time Degree course Mode. The candidates can check the course type in details mentioned below.

Certificate Courses in Agriculture

 Agriculture certificate programmes are available in both online and offline modes. Online certificate courses are becoming more popular and are being updated on a regular basis to keep up with the trend. They typically range in duration from a few hours to a few months. Certificate programmes can also help people who are already working and want to expand their knowledge of the agricultural field. Online certificate programmes provide the benefit of having flexible hours that do not interfere with your daily schedule.

There are basically two categories in certificate courses as well. Below we have provided a list of online and offline certificate courses in agriculture along with fees and duration.

Online Certificate Courses in Agriculture

Offline Certificate Courses in Agriculture 

Diploma Courses in Agriculture 

Diploma courses can be pursued after completing class 10th or 12th, depending on the course's eligibility criteria. Following the completion of a Diploma or Graduation, a PG Diploma is pursued. Admission will be granted based on merit and the results of the previous qualifying examination. A diploma in Agriculture enables you to learn about a variety of career-related topics such as agribusiness management, agricultural management, natural resources, soil condition, livestock production, and many more. Diploma courses are typically offered for two years, while PG Diploma courses are typically offered for three years.

Diploma and PG Diploma courses in agriculture

Degree courses in agriculture 

Students who want to pursue a full-time degree should enroll in Bachelor of Agriculture courses. Bachelor Agriculture programmes last three to four years. Bachelor and Undergraduate courses are available in both general and specialised formats. The college determines the admission method. Admission to most colleges is done through state and national level entrance exams. Bachelor courses provide students with a solid foundation and a solid understanding of fundamental concepts. 

Postgraduate Agriculture courses last two years. The master's degree broadens and refines students' knowledge and skills in their chosen field. The college determines the admission method. Admission to most colleges is done through state and national level entrance examinations. 

Students who want to work in research pursue a doctorate in agriculture courses. The doctorate courses have a minimum duration of two years and can be extended depending on the needs of the research. Agriculture students who have completed doctoral programmes can work as teachers or lecturers in colleges.

Undergraduate Courses in Agriculture

The candidates who want to opt for full time degree course and choose Bachelor of Agriculture course can definitely choose undergraduate course in agriculture The course duration will be 3-4 years. The candidates can check the list of bachelors course that they can opt for in the table given below.

The eligibility criteria for agriculture courses may vary according to the type of course chosen. Below we have provided the list for eligibility requirements for different types:

Students can apply for admission in agriculture courses through the entrance exam organized at national, state and university level. Candidates can apply for this course after completing their 10+2 education. Some colleges also offer admissions on the basis of the merit list of the qualifying exam. Some agriculture entrance exams are ICAR AIEEA entrance exam, MHT CET, BCECE exam, CUET exam, etc.

The candidates will find out the different ways through which admissions are offered into different agricultural courses from the following table - 

Agriculture Entrance Exams in India

The agriculture entrance exam is conducted by the respective authorities in charge for each state. And the exam focuses on admission of students who wish to pursue different agricultural courses like UG and PG courses of the field. There are different top agriculture entrance exams that candidates can try and they are as follows:

Agriculture Top Colleges in India

There are many prominent colleges that offer Agriculture courses for the aspiring students. The students who have successfully completed their class XII examination from a recognized board are eligible to apply for Agriculture admission to these colleges for UG, Diploma, Certificate, PG or for PhD programmes. The students can check the list of top Agriculture colleges in India mentioned below. The average annual Agriculture fees is also mentioned against these  Agriculture colleges for the knowledge of the students. The students can decide the college for Agriculture course of their choice after checking the details and  Agriculture courses fee structure and apply to these colleges subsequently. 

The Agriculture subjects taught in an agricultural programme depend on the candidate's chosen course and branch. There are many agriculture subjects are being taught in the different collges. The candidates can check the following table that contains the syllabus for various agricultural courses.

Skills Required for Agriculture Courses

The students of agriculture science in the current scenario must possess all the desired skills to excel in their field. Some of the common skills that every student must have are mentioned below. 

• Leadership Skills
• Teamwork
• Professional Communication
• Project Management
• Critical Thinking
• Global Perspective
• IT Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Numerical Skills
• Practical Skills
• Business Acumen
• Data Analysis and Interpretation 

Agriculture has various scope these days and Agriculture students have ample of job opportunities after completing Agriculture courses. The following table gives various job options along with average annual salary available for students who completed Agriculture courses.