Agriculture Courses - Careers, Salary, Jobs, Scope

Why Agriculture?

India is largely an agriculture-based economy and due to its large population, there is always a high demand of products in the food sector which the country is unable to meet. To match the supply with the demand, research in the field of agriculture is required and so agriculture courses are largely gaining importance.

Agriculture courses are offered at Bachelors, masters and even diploma level. The duration can range between 6 months to 4 years, depending on the course.

One basic advantage of the agriculture industry is that it is never going to face the recession as there would always be a demand for food and agriculture students will have multiple career opportunities available.

The amount of travel required in these jobs largely depends on the nature of the job. While some jobs would require work in labs or plantations, some others may require more travel. On an average, these professionals may be required to work 40 hours a week.

Agriculture Courses

Degrees offered at diploma, undergraduate courses, and postgraduate level are as follows:

Jobs and career opportunities in Agriculture Industry

Some of the popular job roles in this field are:

Agriculture Research Scientist

These professionals are responsible for finding new methods of improving the quality and quantity of agricultural produce in order to meet the demand of growing population.

They need to be hardworking and passionate and must possess analysis and interpretation skills required to conclude the findings. They are employed in research agencies in public as well as private sectors.

The scope of this career is high and the average salary offered to graduates from top institutes is 3 to 4.5Lac and to others tier-2 colleges it is around 2 to 2.25Lac.

 Floriculturist

These professionals cultivate foliage flowers and plants and are responsible to market them. They are the ones responsible for planning and designing landscapes for parks, shopping malls, and such projects.

They can also work as plantation experts or supervisors. They need to be hardworking and good stamina for this work as it is mostly an outdoor work.

The average salary is INR 15-20,000 for government services but can go beyond INR 50,000 per month for private contracts and self-owned business.

Plant Pathologist

These professionals take care of the plants and are responsible for developing integrated and environmentally sound approaches to manage crops and their pests along with plant breeders and weed specialists.

They are employed in R&D agencies in both government and private sector. A fresher earns around INR 15-22K whereas with experience their pay may increase to INR 45-60K/month.

 Agricultural Manager

These professionals are the ones responsible for planning, organization, supervision, and administration of farm-related activities such as raising animals, tending crops, maximizing produce, organize related business and manage staff.

They may work in small businesses or large facilities and are required to travel and work for long hours. They initially earn around INR 20,000 per month but this increases with experience. 

Agricultural Engineers

These professionals design and develop new processes, system, and tools for agricultural production and processing. They integrate technology with farming and thus make farmer’s work more effective.

They may be employed in agrochemical companies, forestry companies, educational institutions and government departments. Their monthly salary may range from INR 15-25,000 in the government sector and INR 35K and above in the private sector. 

Other Job roles:

• Fish farm manager
• Plant breeder/geneticist
• Rural practice surveyor
• Soil scientist
• Agricultural consultants
• Aquaculturist

Salary in Agriculture Industry

The salary of professionals pursuing agriculture courses largely depends on the job role, skill portfolio, and their institutions. The starting salary of graduates is around INR 18-25K per month. There are numerous job opportunities and with experience, one can earn INR 6-10 lakhs per annum. For professionals with higher qualifications, handsome packages are given. Research professionals may earn INR 55-80K per month. A Master degree holder may initially get INR 3.6 lakhs but with experience can earn INR 9-16 lakhs in a year.

Thus the salary for these professionals increases with their experience and is on the rise considering the ultimate requirement of the Indian economy to match the supply with the demand. There is also high demand for students with these specializations and there are multiple career opportunities available.

Agriculture Recruiters

Among the top recruiters are FMCG companies, College and Universities, Banks, Agriculture sector, Food processing companies, Dairy farms and Fertilizer companies. There are recruiters in both private and government sectors. Some of them are:

• Reserve Bank of India
• State Bank of India
• ICAR
• ICRISAT
• Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
• National Seed Corporation
• State Farm Corporation
• Warehousing Corporation
• Food Corporation
• Government agencies

Specializations offered

• Agriculture Engineering- Under this specialization, scientific principles and technologies are used to improve agricultural production. Agriculture engineers are involved in designing and building of equipment for better processes to increase the efficiency of farming activities.

• Agricultural Economics- This specialization deals with economic issues related to food and fiber supply and demand. It includes crop and livestock sciences, policy analysis, agribusiness etc. Professionals in this field may predict market trends, monitor trade patterns, consumer preferences and production methods for agricultural goods.

• Agronomy- It is a branch in agricultural science that deals with work in the field of plant physiology, soil science, meteorology and plant genetics. It is the science of producing and utilizing plants and agronomists focus on enhancing the production by improvement of techniques.

• Horticulture- It is an applied science which studies plants, gardening and natural growth. It deals with growing and cultivating fruits, vegetables, herbs, ornamental trees, and decorative flowers. Through this specialization, students can develop skills in controlling plant growth and development.

• Animal Science- This specialization deals with the breeding, growth, behavior, and management of animals and livestock. Through this specialization, one can pursue a career working in the business, animal care or food production fields. This includes Poultry Science, Dairy Science, Fisheries Science etc.

Courses & Subjects

The course content for some courses are mentioned below:

Top colleges offering Agriculture courses in India

Below is a list of some of the popular colleges in India offering agriculture courses–

Let’s look at some renowned colleges that provide this course in detail:

Some of the top colleges offering this specialization are:

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) was established in 1905 and is the leading body for several ICAR Institutions. It is a renowned institution for agricultural research, education, and extension in the country. It aims to promote excellence through its educational programs and fulfill future needs and opportunities.

Recognition: ICAR- Rank 2, UGC

Course: M.Sc. in Agriculture, M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Agriculture

Fees: Rs 7,280 for M.Sc. and Rs 6,830 for M.Phil./Ph.D.

Eligibility: Candidate must have Bachelor’s Degree and Post-Graduation in Agriculture discipline for M.Sc. and Ph.D. respectively.

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru University was established in 1969 and is an internationally reputed center for teaching and research. Its strength, energy, and reputation is a result of its belief that ideas are a field for adventure, experimentation, and unending quest.

Recognition: NAAC-A

Course: M.Sc. in Agriculture

Eligibility: Graduation in Agricultural discipline.

Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab

Punjab Agricultural University was established in1962 and has a globally renowned excellence in agriculture. It pioneered the Green Revolution in India and is considered one of the best agricultural universities in India. At present, the university has 28 departments in the four constituent colleges offering 31 Master’s and 30 Ph.D. programs.

Recognition: UGC approved, member of AIU, ICAR- Rank 3

Course:B.Sc. Hons in Agriculture

Fees: Rs 34,638 per year

Eligibility: 10+2 with Science stream

Placement: Aries Agro, Chambal Fertilizers, CMC, Nestle etc.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was established in1971 and provides high-quality agricultural education in India through 11 component colleges in 7 campuses and 6 affiliated colleges. It is a leading agro-technology provider of India and has been approved by the AICRE.

Recognition: UGC approved, ICAR- Rank 7

Course: B.Sc. in Agriculture

Fees: Rs 36,900 Annually

Eligibility: 10+2 with Science stream

University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

University Agricultural Sciences was established in 1964 with an aim to establish a dynamic system of agricultural education in order to train manpower and meet the challenges in emerging areas of research, industry, and extension. It aims to make agricultural education more responsive to the growing needs of the society.

Recognition: UGC Approved, ICAR- Rank 6

Course: B.Sc. in Agriculture

Fees: Rs 12,875 per year

Eligibility: 10+2 with Science stream

Requirements for Agriculture course

The requirements for agricultural courses vary according to the degree courses and institutes. In most institutes, the requirements are:

• For Undergraduate courses, the candidate should have completed 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board with science stream.
• For Postgraduate courses, the candidate must have done graduation in agriculture discipline.
• For Diploma courses, the candidate must have done 10^th with a minimum required percentage.

Scope of Agriculture in India

Agriculture is a big industry and contributes 15-20% of the GDP in Indian economy. 65% of our population still relies upon agriculture for employment and livelihood. Moreover, the society needs food and agriculture is an industry, therefore, a downfall is hardly expected in the coming decade which makes agriculture a lucrative career option and a major source of employment.

The agriculture sector is also backed by the Indian government and new schemes and reforms are being introduced with the passing time. There are various career opportunities available in this specialization if one has the passion, skills, and knowledge. Thus the job outlook for this field is growing with more opportunities to work in areas of science & technology, food industry, business & management and entrepreneurship.