Bachelor of Science in Agriculture or B.Sc. in Agriculture is a 4-year undergraduate degree awarded by Indian Universities for 10+2 students preferably with Science stream. Like BE/B.Tech or MBBS, B.Sc. in Agriculture is considered as a professional degree by Government of India. The course is not so popular among students but the demand of trained professionals in agriculture is very high.
Know More About Agriculture Course
Admission to the course is mostly entrance exam based. KEAM, EAMCET are a few entrance exams conducted for admission to the course. There are 42 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), 1 Central Agricultural University (CAU), 5 Deemed Universities (DUs) and 4 general Central Universities with Agriculture faculty in India.
There are large numbers of private colleges and general universities too which admit large number of students in B.Sc. Agriculture course few of which are:
- Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
- Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
- Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
- University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
B.Sc. Agriculture involves study of agriculture sciences and use of modern scientific equipment and techniques in agriculture, land surveying, soil science, water resource management, animal and poultry management, basics of biotechnology etc. The objective of the course is to use these concepts to train students to improve agricultural productivity.
B.Sc. Agriculture graduates can find jobs in both public and private sectors. Agriculture officer, Assistant Plantation Manager, Agricultural Research Scientist, Agriculture Development Officers, Agriculture Technician, Agriculturists, Business Development Executive, Marketing Executive etc. are some of the job profiles associated with the course. The average annual salary offered to these professionals ranges between INR 2 to 4.5 lacs.
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: Course Highlights
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Examination Type | Annual |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in Science stream from a recognized educational board |
| Admission Process | Entrance exam based |
| Course Fee | Starts with INR 5,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2 to 4.5 lacs |
| Top Recruiters | DuPont India, Rallies India Limited, Advanta Limited, National Agro Industries, Raasi Seeds, ABT Industries and others such. |
| Job Positions | Agriculture officer, Assistant Plantation Manager, Agricultural Research Scientist, Agriculture Development Officers, Agriculture Technician, Agriculturists, Business Development Executive, Marketing Executive etc |
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: What is it about?
B.Sc. in Agriculture course equips students with all-round knowledge of sector and normally includes the following:
- Agronomy: Basics of Agronomy, Kharif and Rabi Crop, Crop Protection, Weed Management, Irrigation Techniques, Water Resource Management, Organic Farming, Sustainable Agriculture.
- Plant Genetics: Botany, Basics of Genetics, Plant Breeding, Seed Technology, Basics of Biotechnology.
- Soil Science: Introduction to Soil Science, Soil Fertility, Soil Chemistry, Fertilizers, Agricultural Chemistry.
- Entomology: Pest Management, Beneficial Insects, Grain Storage and Management.
- Agricultural Economics: Market prices, Trade prices, Marketing, Finance, Agribusiness Management, Farm Management.
- Agriculture Engineering: Agriculture Machinery, Power and Tools, Harvest Technology, Environment Science and Engineering, Renewable Energy.
- Agricultural Meteorology: Climate patterns, Climatic hazards on Agriculture, Climatic Zones, Weather forecasting.
- Plant Pathology: Crop Diseases, Nematology.
- Horticulture: Fruit Crops, Medicinal Plants, Aromatic Plants, Flower Production, Spices, Plantation Crops.
- Agricultural Extension: Dimensions of Agricultural Extension, Extension Methodologies, Entrepreneurship Development program.
In all the above areas of study, practical sessions related to theoretical knowledge are also built into the course. There are some elective courses, study tours, field trips, in some semesters. These vary from university to university.
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: Admission Process
Admission to the course is either done either based on the marks obtained in the qualifying examination (Direct Admission) or written exam conducted by the university/institution that offers the degree.
The details on how to apply for B.Sc. degree in Agriculture can be collected from the authorized website of the institution along with the information on course details and available number of seats. The application forms can be obtained either through the college office or from the concerned web portal.
Some entrance exams conducted for admission to B.Sc. Agriculture course are as follows:
- ICAR Entrance Exam (ICAR-AIEEA)-
- EAMCET- Conducted for admissions in Agriculture colleges and universities in Andhra Pradesh
- PAU Entrance Exam- Conducted by Punjab Agricultural University
- KEAM- Conducted for agricultural colleges in Kerala
- IGKV CET- Conducted by Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya
Some colleges offer B.Sc. Agriculture admission simply on the basis of marks obtained in qualifying exam.
Eligibility for Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Interested aspirants for the course are required to fulfil the below-mentioned eligibility criteria.
- Completion of Intermediate (12 years of school education) in Science stream
- Physics, Chemistry, Biology and/or Mathematics as the subjects of study
| BSc Agriculture Eligibility | BSc Computer Science Eligibility | BSc Biotechnology Eligibility |
| BSc Psychology Eligibility | BSc Microbiology Eligibility | BSc IT Eligibility |
Apart from this, candidates possessing Intermediate in Agriculture stream (limited states) are also eligible to apply. Depending on the university, the eligibility varies in terms of a combination of subjects. Eligibility criteria also vary for reserved categories as per the reservation guidelines of GOI.
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: Syllabus and Course Description
The B.Sc. Agriculture degree in India is typically a 4-year course under credit based semester system. The program also includes a compulsory 1 semester of internship (Rural Agricultural Work Experience). Most of the courses are infused with practical with emphasis on 'hands on experience and learning by doing'.
| Department | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Basic Science & Humanities | Plant Biochemistry, Applied Mathematics, Fundamentals of Information Technology, Principles of Analytical Chemistry, Principles of Environmental Sciences |
| Agricultural Economics | Principles of Agricultural Economics, Fundamentals of Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Finance |
| Agricultural Engineering | Principles of Soil and Water Engineering, Energy Resources and their Application, Agro processing |
| Agricultural Entomology | Fundamentals of Entomology, Pests of Field Crops and their Management, Pests of Horticultural Crops and their Management |
| Agricultural Extension | Fundamentals of Rural Sociology and Educational Psychology, Dimensions of Agricultural Extension, Extension Methodologies and Transfer of Agricultural Technology |
| Agronomy | Principles of Agronomy and Agricultural Heritage, Fundamentals of Agricultural Meteorology, Irrigation Management, Agronomy of field Crops, Crop Production, Principles and practices of cropping and Farming System |
Top Institutes Offering B.Sc.(Hons.) Agriculture
Mentioned below are some of the top colleges along with the city they are located in and average annual fees charged by them for providing admission into the course.
| Name of Institute | City | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu Agricultural University | Coimbatore | 36.9K |
| Quantum University | Roorkee | 78k |
| Punjab Agricultural University | Ludhiana | 67.5K |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya | Jabalpur | 16.7K |
| Mewar University | Chittorgarh | 88K |
| Sardar Vallabhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology | Meerut | 50K |
| Bharti Vidyapeeth University | Pune | 95K |
| Sivaji University | Kolhapur | 77K |
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: Career Prospects
B.Sc. in Agriculture is considered a professional degree. The graduates from this degree can find jobs in both public and private sectors. The importance of agriculture is growing rapidly and thereby is increasing the job prospects in the field of agriculture. Today graduates with B.Sc. in Agriculture are readily accepted in the government projects. Agricultural departments, Extension services, Research organizations, Commercial farming etc. are some of sectors where graduates of this field can find job opportunities in.
Following are some government sectors which have job opportunities for B.Sc. Agriculture graduates:
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute
- National Seeds Corporation Limited
- State Farms Corporation of India
- Food Corporation of India
- National Dairy Development Board
- NABARD and other banks
- Agricultural finance corporations
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- North Eastern Region Agricultural Marketing Corporation
Following are the private sectors which offer jobs to agriculture graduates:
- Agro industries
- Agriculture Marketing
- Financial sector with focus on agriculture
- Micro-finance institutions
- Fertilizer companies
- Agri-biotech organizations
Following are some job profiles that are offered to B.Sc. Agriculture graduates:
- Agriculture officer
- Assistant Plantation Manager
- Agricultural Research Scientist
- Agriculture Development Officers
- Agriculture Technician
- Agriculturists
- Business Development Executive
- Marketing Executive
- Rice Breeder
- Seed Technologist
- Junior Agriculture Specialist
- Junior Associate – Research
Average salary offered to a B.Sc. agriculture graduate depends on area or industry he is working for. Following are some salary breakdown based on multiple factors like- industry wise, profile wise etc.
Some of the best agro based product companies that offer jobs to B.Sc. Agriculture graduates have been mentioned below.
- DuPont India
- Rallies India Limited
- Advanta Limited
- National Agro Industries
- Raasi Seeds
- ABT Industries
- Phalada Agro Research Foundation Limited.
The average salary after completion of course offered to these graduates ranges from 15K to 20K per month depending upon various factors like profile, industry etc. Following graph shows the growth in agriculture sector as one gets experience in the field.
| Job Position | Job Description | Average Annual Pay Scale in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural business managers | Agricultural business managers oversee the business operations of a firm by providing leadership and organization during the production process. From contacting creditors to selecting seeds for the planting season and buying new farming equipment, it is their responsibility to ensure that the production and distribution of produce, grain or livestock abides by government and environmental regulations at the best rate of profit. | 912,032 |
| Agricultural equipment salespeople | Agricultural equipment sales people sell the equipment used for growing food and raising animals on farms and ranches. Products include tractors, reapers and related equipment. Each agricultural equipment sales representative is responsible for covering a certain geographical territory to maintain and develop new accounts with agricultural businesses and individual farmers. Agricultural salespeople typically work for the manufacturers of tractors, columbines, planters and other equipment, although some are self-employed. | 378,705 |
| Agricultural graders | Following sorting, Agricultural Graders label each product according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grade. Some products are graded entirely on their visual characteristics, while others must be analyzed for nutritional content. | 3,00,000 |
| Agriculture inspectors | Agriculture inspectors ensure that agricultural entities comply with government regulations. These workers may review and audit logging, fishing or farming operations to ensure that all procedures, goods and equipment comply with safety and health regulations. They are the individuals responsible for ensuring meat safety and often inspect meat at meat-processing facilities. Agriculture inspectors also may check the quality of shipments before they leave or enter the country at ports and border crossings. | 264,000 |
| Animal control officers | Animal control officers enforce local and regional laws concerning the care and treatment of animals. They patrol public areas looking for potential signs of distressed animals and work directly with citizens concerning animal control issues. Some officers also educate the public about animal control safety. Most entry-level positions require a high school diploma at the minimum, while some require an applicable certification or undergraduate degree. | 2,95,573 |
| Agricultural managers | They may manage the daily operations of commercial agricultural operations, such as nurseries and large farms, or they may look over farming operations for absentee landowners or farmers in need of management assistance. | 264,000 |
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