Agriculture

Agricultural studies uses the knowledge of science and maths to negotiate the problems of agriculture. Apart from the regular farming activities of sowing, harvesting and marketing farm products, there are other areas of specialisation like aquaculture, forestry, sericulture, dairy technology, veterinary science, soil science etc. Broadly the field of agricultural studies can be mapped into agricultural science and agricultural engineering. Agricultural science is interested in finding ways of improving farm output by improving the quality of seeds and the efficiency of fertilizers and pesticides. Agricultural Engineering is concerned with the engineering aspects such as the manufacture of equipment forincreasing output.Job Market: The qualified personnel can find jobs at various levels in the government and private sector in companies manufacturing machinery, marketing farm inputs like seeds and fertilisers and producing farm products. They can also work in estates and plantations as agricultural experts. Opportunities are available in R & D labs and in the teaching sector also. Farm experts can also seek self employment by setting up nurseries and greenhouses.Educational Inputs: A number of universities offer graduate and post graduate programmes in agriculture and allied fields.The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) is a premier organisation monitoring R & D activity in the field of agriculture. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) promotes science and technology programmes in agricultural research and training. The ICAR organises the national level entrance examination for filling 15% of seats in State and Central Agricultural Universities for their 4 year undergraduate programme. The examination is announced in January-February and conducted in May.

Eligibility

Course Qualification DurationB.Sc. (Agri.) 10+2 (Science) 4 Years+ Pass in Entrance TestM.Sc. (Agri.) B.Sc (Agriculture) 2 YearsOther specialisations offered for the 4 year B.Sc. Programme in Agriculture include – Horticulture, Fisheries Science, Forestry, Home Science, Sericulture, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Engineering, Dairy Technology, Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Banking, Marketing and Cooperation, Rural Management etc.

Future Prospects

Future Prospects for trained personnel in agriculture are excellent. For a country like India, with its vast land resources, the potential for growth is infinite. India has also made much headway in poultry production, livestock and fisheries. Horticulture is today an invaluable source of income for women. The export of farm products has also increased many fold in recent years thus generating a healthy demand for the same. In the final analysis this industry is set for steep growth.

Agricultural Universities

1. Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar,Hyderabad-500 030, Andhra Pradesh2. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785 003, Assam3. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, PO Krishi VishwaVidyalaya, Mohanpur-741 252, West Bengal4. Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi-834 006, Bihar5. Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology,Kanpur-208 002, Uttar Pradesh6. Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University,Hisar-125 004, Haryana7. Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra8. Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture andForestry, Nauni Dist. Solan-173 230, Himachal Pradesh9. Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,Pantnagar-263 145, Uttar Pradesh10. Gujarat Agricultural University, Sardar Krishinagar, Dist.Banaskantha-385 506, Gujarat11. Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur-176062, Himachal Pradesh12. Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh13. Jawaharlal Nehru Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur-482 004,Madhya Pradesh14. Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Dist. Thrissur-680 654, Kerala15. Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli-431 712, Maharashtra16. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-431 722, Maharashtra17. Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani-431 402, Maharashtra18. Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology,Faizabad-224 001, Uttar Pradesh19. Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar-141 004, Orissa20. Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana-141 004, Punjab21. Rajendra Agriculture University, Pusa, Dist. Samastipur-848125, Bihar22. Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences andTechnology, In summer (May-October) Srinagar (Jammu& Kashmir)-190 001. In winter (November-April): JammuTawi (Jammu & Kashmir)-180 00423. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003,Tamil Nadu24. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,Chennai-600 007, Tamil Nadu25. University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore-560 065,Karnataka26. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad-580 005,Karnataka27. West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences,Belgachia, Kolkata-700 037, West Bengal

Deemed Universities

1. Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Uttar Pradesh-211 0072. Central Agricultural University, Imphal-795 001, Manipur3. Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Jaiprakash Road,Seven Bungalow, Mumbai-400 061, Maharashtra4. Forest Research Institute, PO. New Forest, Dehra dun-2481955. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi-1100126. Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, UttarPradesh7. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, Haryana