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Kamaldeep
26 June, 2024
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India has an incredible history of marvellous progress across all its industries. What remains at the core of this humongous economy that has managed to take the Indian flavours forward is its agriculture sector- a sector that is the backbone of our economy. About 45.76% of India’s workforce is involved in the agricultural sector. Throughout these years, rapid industrialisation and technological advancements have transformed several industries, yet no such invention could replace the agriculture sector. This is one such area of our country that not only offers employment but also significantly contributes to the GDP and ensures that food is never scarce. Most of the workforce in this sector hails from rural areas.
India is home to some of the most remarkable spices that not even the West has been able to collect. This is why we have been recognised for our farming and agricultural practices and the authenticity of the produce we supply to many overseas countries. Let me take you through some impressive numbers that will help you understand India’s supply of its agricultural produce:
| Food Grain/ Produce | Statistics |
| Non-Basmati Rice | 17,786 million metric Tonnes (MMT) |
| Wheat | 4693.3 MMT |
| Groundnuts | 668.9 MMT |
| Pulses | 775.0 MMT |
| Processed vegetables | 410.4 MMT |
India has given the world what its agriculture sector can offer the best. However, there are several barriers that this industry has to struggle with constantly. For example, the problem of disguised unemployment A state of employment where the number of people or employees working on a particular task is more than the number of people actually needed. The extra employees cannot appropriately channel their knowledge, skills, or productivity in such cases. This is true for a large population, and unfortunately, it leads to the exploitation of several people. Agriculture, much like the other industries, needs innovation and technological assistance that can guide its future.
The Indian education system has also recognised the value of this sector and the need for change and innovation. Several courses have been offered in the field of agriculture. Let us understand one such course: B.Sc in Agriculture.
| Programme | B.Sc – Bachelor of Science in Agriculture |
| Type | Undergraduate Bachelors degree |
| Duration | Typically four years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Class 12 in Science with PCM/B (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) subjects with a minimum of 50%. |
| BSc Agriculture Entrance Exam | CUET, ICAR AIEEA, CG PAT, MHT CET, AGRICET, KCET, etc. |
| Admission Process | Common and College-specific entrance exams. |
| Average Salary | INR 29,188 to INR 35,000 per month |
| Job profile | Agricultural Officer, Agricultural Research Officer, Assistant Plantation Manager. |
| BSc Agriculture Top Recruiters | Big Basket, JK Agri Genetics Limited, Raghuvansh Agrofarms Limited, Kaveri Seed Company Ltd., etc. |
Flexibility: A B.Sc. in Agriculture offers a versatile curriculum that opens several career avenues. It enables you to explore diverse opportunities in the tech industry. An online course makes this even more convenient, allowing you to study at your own pace and schedule. You can easily balance your work and personal life commitments without hassle.
Cost-Effective: The course can be slightly expensive if you prefer to pursue your degree from a renowned college or university. Tech courses in India are usually expensive. Therefore, studying through an online course can save time and additional hassle and your expenses, making it more affordable. Even though a field like agriculture may require you to be physically present and understand how the operations are carried out, you can still get to the fundamentals online, making it efficient.
Ease & Accessibility: Agriculture can be slightly new and different for you to understand. You need time to understand and grasp the course content as a fresher. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that you manage your time smartly. A course pursued online can help you save time, maximise accessibility to the required material, and make it easy to learn the concepts. The additional travel time can be utilised here.
Variety: Once you embark on this journey, you can also find other agriculture-related courses that you can pursue in a short period to enhance your skills. This will allow you to study and explore beyond the curriculum.
Here is a list of eligibility criteria you may have to cross-check to be admitted to the Online/Distance B.Sc Agriculture course:
The aspirants must have cleared 12th in Science with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
A minimum of 50% is required on the 12th to be eligible for admission.
The aspirants should be aged between 17 to 22 years.
The list of documents may vary and depend on the specific college. However, here is a list of general documents required at the time of admission:
Passport Size Photograph
Address Proof
Graduation Certificate
Income Certificate
Transfer Certificate
Graduation Mark sheet
Here is a step-by-step process for taking admission in the Online/Distance B.Sc Agriculture course:
Students applying for the B.Sc agriculture course must first take the OUAT entrance exam. This exam is specially designed for courses in agriculture, horticulture, veterinary science, and other fields for their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
After the application, they must select the course of the desired programme, fill out its application form, pay the application fee, and submit it.
After submitting the form, the student is expected to appear for the OUAT examination, which will judge the student’s capabilities concerning the course. After this, the results will be displayed, and the merit list will be made available with all the names of those students who have qualified for this course.
If the students have cleared the released cut-off, they can accept and secure admission to the college they clarified for.
All these colleges are graded by NAAC & approved by AICTE.
| College Name | Course Fee |
| Cognitive Institue of Interdisciplinary Studies | INR 21500.00 per Semester Total Fee: INR 1,72,000 |
| IMTS – Institute of Management & Technical Studies | INR 30,000 to INR 50,000 |
| Uttranchal University Dehradun | INR 1,22,116 to INR 1,58,116 |
| Lovely Professional University | INR 1,20,000 per semester |
| Semester 1 | Agriculture Heritage |
| Fundamentals Of Agricultural Economics | |
| Fundamentals Of Agronomy | |
| Fundamentals Of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology | |
| Semester 2 | Fundamentals of Crop Physiology |
| Fundamentals of entomology | |
| Agricultural Microbiology | |
| Fundamentals of genetics | |
| Semester 3 | Agriculture finance and cooperation |
| Crop production technology- 1 | |
| Agriculture informatics | |
| Environmental studies and disaster management | |
| Semester 4 | Agricultural marketing trade and prices |
| Crop production technology – 2 | |
| Elective 1 | |
| Farming system and sustainable agriculture | |
| Semester 5 | Elective -2 |
| Educational Tour | |
| Crop improvement | |
| Entrepreneurship development and business communication | |
| Semester 6 | Agro-industrial Attachment |
| Unit Attachment | |
| Village Attachment | |
| Plant Clinic Attachment |
The pay scale for job profiles in B.Sc. in agriculture varies based on educational qualifications and experience. The information provided offers a general overview of the salaries companies typically offer for these roles.
| Jobs | Average Pay |
| Agricultural Officer | ₹ 95,000 per month to ₹ 1,00,000 |
| Agronomist | ₹1,15,667 to ₹2,00,000 per month |
| Farm Manager | ₹41,625 to ₹ 50,000 per month |
| Agricultural Consultant | ₹31,655 to ₹ 50,000 per month |
| Soil Scientist | ₹25,111 to ₹ 50,000 per month |
| Agricultural Inspector | ₹31,631 to ₹ 50,000 per month |
Source:Glassdoor
Here are the following subjects:
Agronomy
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Soil Science
Entomology
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Engineering, and others.
Compared to the other courses that involve science, yes, a B.Sc in agriculture can be called an easy course. However, it can also get technical and overwhelming if you are unfamiliar with biology, economics, and other science-related subjects.
No, NEET is not a required entrance examination for the course of B.Sc Agriculture. There are other entrance examinations for which you are expected to appear if you desire to pursue this course. These examinations can be common or college-specific.
There are many such professions. The salary may also depend on your experience and educational background. Here is a general list of professions that are considered high-paying in the field of agriculture.
Environmental Scientist
Water Treatment Specialist
Food Technologist
Biostatistician.
Farm Manager
Agricultural Equipment Technician
Operations Manager
The scope also depends on the work experience you choose. Your educational background plays a key role. In this industry, you can find jobs in government as well as private sectors:
Agricultural research
Agribusiness management
Agricultural education
Farm management
