Who Can Opt for Agriculture Course?

The study of agriculture courses or agricultural science is important for humankind and other living beings as the world is counting on the agriculture sector for nutritious food. Moreover, this sector has one of the highest growth projections and it has shown exponential growth in the past decade. As the narrative of the agriculture sector is changing for good, more and more passionate students are choosing it as their career path. The entrepreneurs also realise the potential offered in this sector and invest their time, efforts and money towards agribusiness. The students interested to learn about food processing, physiology of plants, water resource management, physiology of plants, food chemistry, etc may opt for an agriculture course.

Agriculture Course Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility for agriculture courses varies for different program levels and depends on criteria set by different partner institutes. However, general eligibility criteria for different program levels of agriculture degree courses are given as follows:

Eligibility for UG Agriculture Course

Undergraduate agriculture course is a full-time course with a duration of 3 or 4 years. The students interested in learning about food production, eco-friendly tech-aided farming practices, animal welfare, etc, can take up UG agriculture courses after completing their 10+2.

Eligibility for PG Agriculture Course

Postgraduate agriculture course is a full-time course with a duration of 2 years. The course curriculum revolves around various scientific processes that are involved in agriculture field. The students can pursue them after completing their undergraduate degree in fields like agriculture (or related subjects), forestry, horticulture, etc.

Eligibility for PhD Agriculture Course

PhD is a doctorate level degree and the students can pursue it after their post-graduation. The students interested to carry out research work and making new developments in this field can go ahead with PhD agriculture course.

**Note: The eligibility for different agriculture courses differs across different institutes. Therefore, students should check the eligibility requirements at the time of applying through ‘Courses’ tab.

Agriculture Courses

The Study in India partner institutes offer Agriculture courses across 3 levels, namely - Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD.

UG Level

The 3-4 years undergraduate focuses on aspects of natural sciences, biology, environmental sciences, chemistry and economics. This agriculture degree course curriculum is a combination of theory classes, lab sessions, field trips and practical training as well. Additionally, during the entire course duration, topics like Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agronomy, Soil Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Post Harvest Technology, Agricultural Economics, etc are taught to students.

PG Level

The 2-year postgraduate course focuses on subjects such as Plant Biology, Plantation Management, Biochemistry, Agricultural machinery, etc. The students are also taught about the marketing aspect of the agricultural sector.

PhD Level

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in a particular subject (of Agriculture) is a doctorate level course and the highest academic degree in this regard.

Agriculture Branches:

The agriculture courses continue to attract the interest of students around the world. It is a vast field of study and has many branches/ sub-branches that might confuse the students. To make their choice for branches it is recommended that the student research about each of them extensively. Having an insight into each of the branches will make it easy for the students to choose the agriculture course of their interest. Given below are some of the many agriculture branches students can choose to study in India.

Agriculture Subjects & Syllabus

The subject and syllabus of the agriculture course differs across various partner institutes. However a general overview of the same is as follows:

UG Level:

During the 3 or 4 years duration of the course, students are taught a number of topics and the main focus of the course is to teach the students about ways/ practices to improve productivity and maximise the yield of crops. Some of the topics covered in the UG agriculture course syllabus include

• Introduction to Plant Biotechnology
• Livestock Production and Management
• Agricultural Meteorology
• Fundamentals of Soil Science
• Principles of Crop Production
• Elementary Crop Physiology
• Introductory Plant Physiology
• Principles of Plant Breeding
• Elements of Genetics
• Crop Improvement
• Introduction to Forestry
• Principles of Organic Farming, etc

PG Level:

The 2-year PG course in agriculture imparts scientific knowledge regarding farming and agriculture, focussing on plant biology, plant management and agricultural machinery, and agricultural developments/intentions, etc. General topic for study covered during the PG agriculture course include

• Entomology
• Horticulture
• Biotechnology
• Agricultural Chemistry
• Food Science and Technology
• Agronomy
• Agricultural Economics
• Farm Management
• Forestry, etc

Admission Process for Agriculture Courses in India

The international students can pursue agriculture courses across three disciplines (UG, PG and PhD) in top Indian institutes through the Study in India Programme. The step by step process to apply for the same is as follows:

The students can find a detailed explanation for filling out the SII Application here.

Most Popular Courses in Agriculture

As per the trend from the past couple of years here are some of the most popular branch choices of the agriculture discipline under Study in India:

A. Soil Science

The branch of soil science holds a significant place because it is directly related to nutrient supply and plant growth. The study of soil science is concerned with the use of soil and its management, classification of soil, and the properties of soil fertility. Apart from this students are taught a wide range of topics such as soil chemistry, soil biology, soil mineralogy, soil genesis and classification, soil physics, soil fertility, soil salinity, soil survey, soil conservation, and soil microbiology.

B. Plant Breeding and Genetics

Plant breeding and genetics is a part of agricultural science that involves the study of modifying or traits of the plants to produce required characteristics. This branch is useful in producing crop varieties that have improved and unique traits related to biomass yield, biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, taste, ease of processing (like baking, milling, malting, blending, etc), and the concentration of specific biological molecules (like proteins, vitamins, sugars or fibres).

C. Plant Pathology

Plant Pathology is yet another branch of agricultural science that is concerned with the study of diseases caused by pathogens (such as fungi, viruses, protozoa, etc) or environmental conditions in plants. In addition to all this, it is also concerned with the study of identifying pathogens, the cycle of plant diseases, the impact of plant diseases on humans/animals, and the management or treatment of plant diseases.

D. Agroforestry

Agroforestry implies the interaction between trees and agricultural practices. This agriculture covers a wide range of fields such as farming in forests, growing trees on farms or other agricultural landscapes, and tree-cropping (such as coffee, rubber, cocoa, and oil palm). The concept of agroforestry is used in the production of trees for timber or other commercial purposes and to ensure the protection of the environment.

E. Agronomy

Agronomy is the branch of agricultural science that deals with the cultivation of food, fibre, forage, crops, sugar, oilseeds, etc. So, the main focus of this branch revolves around improving cropping techniques and food production. Agricultural practices such as organic farming, poly-house farming, aquaponics, permaculture, weed sciences, etc, are included under agronomy. Furthermore, people working in the field of agronomy are known as agronomists.

F. Horticulture

The term horticulture originated from two Latin words, ‘hortus’ and ‘cultura’ which means ‘garden’ and ‘cultivation’ respectively. It is an interesting branch of agriculture that is concerned with plant cultivation (like flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, or nuts) in gardens. Moreover, horticulture also includes the practice of soil management, plant conservation, garden or landscape design, and arboriculture.

Popular Agriculture UG Courses in India

After the students have decided to pursue their bachelor's in agriculture discipline, they might get confused about the branch to choose. From undergraduate courses in Animal Husbandry, Agriculture Economics and Farm Management, Genetic Plant Breeding, Fisheries, Soil and Water Management to Horticulture, etc there are many options available. However, to help the students, given below is the list of popular specialisation/branch options available for agriculture UG courses.

Popular Agriculture PG Courses in India

Students opting for PG courses in agriculture discipline are generally taught cutting-edge farming methods, techniques to improve yield and increase the overall rate of production. Students also gain an in-depth understanding of the social and economic aspects of the agriculture field/ ecosystem. Lastly, a PG agriculture course is ideal for students who are interested in taking up academic research in this field. Here are popular branches for agriculture PG courses offered in India and students can specialise in the branch of their choice by applying through the Study in India programme.

**Note: Before applying to the SII Programme, students must confirm if the concerned agriculture course of their choice is offered in the current academic year or not.

Career Options

Some of the popular career options that students can take up after obtaining a degree in agriculture discipline are mentioned in the table below.

Agriculture Courses: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the importance of Agriculture?

Contrary to popular belief, agriculture is not only limited to the production of crops but also involves the processing and distribution of produced materials. It is important due to following reasons:

• It provides food to human beings and animals
• This field ensure food security
• It is the source of livelihood for many people around the world
• Source of raw materials for many products
• Ensures economic development as well

2. Which are the branches under the Agriculture discipline?

The popular branches of Agriculture include Agronomy, Agroforestry, Horticulture, Floriculture, Soil Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Agroforestry, Environmental Science, Poultry Farming, etc.

3. Which are the popular job profiles in Agriculture?

Popular job profiles in the Agriculture field are agricultural scientist, farm manager, soil and plant scientist, crop specialist, food researcher, soil surveyor, arborist, plant geneticist, agriculture scientist, agronomist, forester, etc.

4. Do Agriculture Courses have a scope in the future?

The field of agriculture is one of the growing sectors of the economy and is becoming more technology-oriented and modern. Therefore, pursuing higher education in agriculture courses in India opens up a world of possibilities and there is a huge range of job opportunities present in both private and government organizations. Career options in the field of agriculture include agricultural scientist, farm manager, soil and plant scientist, food researcher, soil surveyor, arborist, plant geneticist, agriculture scientist, agronomist, etc

5. What subjects are taught under the Agriculture course?

The subjects covered in agriculture courses differ across institutes. However, in general, these courses involve the study of fields like agronomy, plant breeding, soil science, entomology, farm machinery, irrigation and drainage engineering, daily and food engineering, etc.

6. What are the skills required to have a good career in Agriculture?

The set of skills required to pursue a career in agriculture is technical skills, problem-solving skills, eye for detail, patience and tenacity, analytical skills, etc.

7. Can a Commerce student pursue a Agriculture course?

No, to pursue a Agriculture course the students must have completed their 10+2 in the Science stream.

8. What is the eligibility criteria for pursuing agriculture courses?

The eligibility criteria for pursuing agriculture courses in India differs across various institutes. For undergraduate courses, it is 10+2 (in Science stream), for pursuing a postgraduate degree, it is a bachelor's degree and for a PhD degree, you must have completed your masters. However, you are advised to check the specific eligibility criteria for different agricultural courses at the time of applying.

9. What is the duration of Agriculture courses?

The duration of popular agricultural courses depends on different program levels. For undergraduate courses, it is 3-4 years, for post-graduate courses, it is 2 years and for doctorate courses, it ranges from 3-6 years.

10. What is the eligibility to pursue post-graduation in Agriculture?

If you want to pursue a PG course in agriculture then the eligibility for the same is UG (in agriculture). However, the eligibility criteria differ across different institutes. We recommend you check and confirm the same at the time of applying.

11. What are the skills required to do well in the agriculture field?

You will need the following skills if you choose to take a job in the agriculture field:

• Technical skills include knowledge of various agro-technology such as irrigation, use of pesticide, improving methods and techniques of cultivation, the process of harvesting, storage and transport.
• After completing higher education in the agriculture field, you should have analytical skills to interpret the issues (like addressing consumer demands, adapting to changing nature of weather, etc) and provide needed solutions.
• Organizational and management skills to ensure transportation of raw materials, storage and delivery from the producer to the wholesaler.

12. Reasons to study Agriculture?

Some of the reasons to opt for agriculture courses are:

• A degree in Agriculture discipline offers knowledge and management of plant cultivation.
• There are many good job opportunities in the agriculture field.

13. What are the steps involved in agriculture?

The process of farming involves a set of steps called the crop lifecycle and they are: crop selection, preparing of land, seed selection, sowing, manure and application of fertilizer, irrigation, management of pests and diseases, harvesting and sale of the production.

14. What are 4 specialization areas under agriculture?

The 4 specialization areas included under agriculture are:

Seed Technology: Concerned with the study of improving genetic and physical characteristics of the seed. It involves activities such as seed production, seed processing and seed storage.

Food Processing: Involves the study of different food processing procedures, machinery units involved in food production, etc.

Organic Farming: Involves the study of farming practices done without the use of any fertilizers and pesticides.

Animal Husbandry: Field of agriculture concerned with animal rearing for meat, fibre, milk, or other products. It includes selective breeding, livestock raising and day-to-day care of the animals.

15. What is a farming course?

Farming courses focus on the study of different crops, livestock management and ways to provide high-yielding farm crops. Some of the common topics taught under this course include- food crop management, organic certification requirements, livestock care, plant disease identification and control, farm business management, irrigation and soil maintenance, etc