The agricultural sector has immense job potential for professionals. The undergraduate Bachelor of Science course in Agriculture is the most important course in the sector.
The basic qualification for BSc Agriculture is higher secondary (Plus Two or Class 12) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as subjects. The admission is through the entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (CUET-UG), or directly by certain institutions and states.
Candidates can obtain jobs in Research, Teaching, Banking, and Government sectors upon successful completion of the course. They can also opt for higher studies. Many students don’t have much idea of the courses conducted in agriculture and allied sectors. Here are the basic details of such courses.
B Tech in Agricultural Engineering
Students can also pursue a BTech Agricultural Engineering programme which trains Agriculture Engineers required for the design of agricultural tools, prevention of soil erosion, irrigation and food processing and the like.
Physics, Chemistry, and Maths during Plus Two is the eligibility for this programme.
BSc Horticulture
Horticulture which deals with the study of Forestry, Fisheries, Flowers, and Vegetables is a sub-division of Agriculture. There are BSc programmes in this sector as well.
There are also allied subjects like Food Technology, Bio Technology, Meteorological Science, Agricultural Economics, Agri-Business Management, and Agricultural Statistics.
Major institutions
Major institutions offering courses in agriculture and allied subjects in the country are: Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Annamalai University, Chidambaram; Punjab Agricultural University; University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru; Aligarh Muslim University; Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture & Technology, Allahabad; and G B Pant University, Pant Nagar, Uttarakhand.
Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), Bengaluru; National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal; Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; Forest Research Institute, Dehradun; and IGNOU too conduct programmes related to the sector.
Courses and institutions in Kerala
• Kerala Agriculture University: BSc/MSc Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, B Tech Agriculture, Climate Change, Dairy Technology etc.
• Regional Agricultural Research Centre, Pattambi, of Kerala Agriculture University: Diploma in Agricultural Sciences (Qualification; SSLC)
• Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi; and Kannur University.