If you are planning to pursue BSc in Agriculture after your class 12th and want to know what this course entails, the article will help you provide insight on BSc in Agriculture course in depth. Agriculture is the backbone of the economic system of the country, which is a source of livelihood for most of the people not only in India but around the world.
Today, the term ‘Agriculture’ is beyond farming and includes dairy, fruit cultivation, poultry, forestry, beekeeping, etc. Apart from providing raw material and food, Agriculture has provided a plethora of employment opportunities to a very large population of people in India and around the world.
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Table of Contents
BSc Agriculture Objective
Generally offered as a 3-4 year undergraduate program, B.Sc Agriculture aims to ingrain the students with knowledge of agricultural sciences by using modern techniques and scientific equipment.
The principal objective of the BSc Agriculture is to acknowledge the students with agricultural methods to improve the productivity of agriculture (farmland productivity) by implementing methods such as Credit Management, Efficient Irrigation, Land Surveying, Soil Rotation, Natural Resource Management, Field Analysis, Soil Sciences etc. The course aspires to develop problem-solving skills in the students by practical applications and research.
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BSc Agriculture Eligibility Criteria
For B.Sc Agriculture, students need to fulfill certain eligibility criteria set by the specific institution. Here is a list of general eligibility conditions that you must qualify in order to apply for a B.Sc in Agriculture:
- The candidate must complete their higher secondary education (10+2) in the Science Stream from a recognized board with good GPA scores.
- English language proficiency tests such as IELTS/PTE/TOEFL is also required if applying to abroad Universities and colleges.
- SAT or ACT scores are to be submitted as subject proficiency tests to apply for BSc in Agriculture if applying to abroad Universities and colleges.
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Top Universities Offering BSc Agriculture
There are numerous educational institutes in India, as well as abroad, which offer BSc Agriculture and related courses to its students. Given below is a list of top universities and colleges providing BSc Agriculture to students in India and around the world:
| Top Universities abroad | Top Universities in India |
|---|---|
| University of Alberta, Canada | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu |
| The University of Melbourne, Australia | Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab |
| Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany | Chandigarh University, Chandigarh |
| Lincoln University, New Zealand | Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Pune |
| University of Nottingham, UK | Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi |
| The University of Adelaide, Australia | University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun |
| McGill University, Canada | University of Calcutta, Kolkata |
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BSc Agriculture Career Prospects
B.Sc in Agriculture is one of the lesser-known fields of the Bachelor in Science family, but on the contrary, an array of job opportunities branch out of the field. The students of this field enjoy a plethora of career opportunities after the course.
Reasons for this being that food is one of the basic necessities that each human tends to have, due to this agriculture industry doesn’t face recession or slowdown, as it is the manager of one of the basic necessities of life.
The key job roles for which students are recruited are:
- Agriculture Research Scientist
- Research Officer
- Officer in Quality Assurance in Related Fields
- Agriculture Loan Officer in Banks
- Assistant Plantation Manager
- Agricultural Research Scientist
- Marketing Executive
- Plantation Manager
- Production Manager
- Business Development Executive
B.Sc in Agriculture Course
B.Sc in Agriculture is a 4-year graduation program in the agriculture field which focuses on agricultural sciences and practical applications of modern techniques and equipment in agriculture.
Since agriculture is referred to as the primary industry in India and a large part of the economy itself depends on agriculture in India, therefore, the importance of this course can be understood by each aspirant at a professional level.
There are numerous job opportunities available for the B.Sc in agriculture graduates who can work in India as well as in foreign countries. Different sectors like FMCG, food processing, etc. and agro-based industries offer the best employment opportunities relevant to the agriculture field.
- 10+2 examination is the minimum qualification criteria for entrance in B.Sc Agriculture.
- Higher secondary education in science stream including physics, chemistry, or biology is mandatory for qualifying the entrance level in B.Sc Agriculture.
- Aspirants should have crossed the minimum age limit of 18 years for pursuing this course and should have also scored at least 50% of aggregate in their respective qualifying exams.
- The program consists of a wide range of courses with specialization in agronomy, horticulture, animal husbandry, etc.
- One internship program is a compulsory part of this curriculum to have work experience in the agriculture field.
B.Sc in Agriculture Colleges
B.Sc in Agriculture is a graduation degree which itself has a really good and valuable career ahead. Therefore, no matter whether pursuing a government college or a private college, this degree has its own importance. The only thing to be remembered is to check whether the private college for pursuing this degree is recognized by UGC or not.
- Punjab Agriculture University
- Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidhyalaya
- Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidhyalaya
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University Of Agriculture And Technology
- University of Agricultural Science
- Sam Higginbottom University Of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences
- Lovely Professional University
- Guru Kashi University
- Agriculture University
- Vellore Institute of Technology
B.Sc in Agriculture Colleges in Karnataka
Karnataka is located in the southwest region of India which has an average literacy of 75.36% as per Census 2011. Karnataka colleges and universities are the popular ones throughout the country and it is renowned as the most prominent learning center of India. Below are the top colleges for B.Sc Agriculture in Karnataka.
- USAD – University Of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
- College of Agriculture, Raichur
- University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
- The University Of Agricultural And Horticultural Sciences – Seed Unit
- College of Horticulture Mudigere
B.Sc in Agriculture Government Colleges in Tamilnadu
Tamilnadu is known for having one of the oldest agricultural universities in India, which is rated as the best university of agriculture in India by ICAR. Therefore, it is considered a really good place for education in the agricultural field. Below are the top 5 colleges for B.Sc Agriculture in Tamilnadu.
- Tamilnadu Agricultural University (TNAU)
- Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI)
- Agricultural College and Research Institute (ACRI)
- SRM Institute of Technology (SRM IST)
- Karunya Institute of Technology and Science
Jobs for B.Sc Agriculture
After course completion, there are numerous job opportunities for the graduates in the public as well the private sector. Rapid growth in agriculture is leading to a rise in job prospects in the agriculture field.
By providing a wide range of agriculture and farming projects in different agricultural-related departments and organizations, this curriculum has a wider scope and future prospects.
The agricultural professionals are offered an average annual salary ranging between INR 2-8 LPA and professionals in the government sector might get even higher pay. Some of the job opportunities are listed below:
| Job Profile | Job Description |
| Agriculture Officer | An agricultural officer’s main role is to guide and work with agricultural-related companies and farmers for increasing agricultural productivity. |
| Assistant Plantation Manager | Assistant Plantation Manager’s responsibility is to manage the crop and vegetable plantation related operations and harvesting effectively and efficiently. |
| Agricultural Research Scientist | Agricultural Research Scientist is responsible for the research work in the lab as well as on the field. Their main concern is conducting research works for the biological processes of various things. |
| Plant Breeder | Plant breeders are responsible for improving the yields of major crops by innovating new strategies and developing new tools and techniques. |
| Seed Technologist | Seed Technologist’s job is to help the seed growers by providing them support with seed equipment operations, seed planting as well as seed scouting. |
B.Sc Agriculture Subjects
B.Sc Agriculture is a 4-year graduation program conducted as per the semester system which divides the course curriculum and syllabus into 8 semesters (2 in each year) including class hours, field works, lab activities, practical sessions, and many more. B.Sc Agriculture syllabus includes different subjects such as Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Agronomy, etc. B.Sc Agriculture subjects are listed below:
- Basic Science & Humanities
- Comprehension and Communication Skills in English
- Fundamentals of Science and Humanities
- Rural Sociology and the Constitution of India
- 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
- Dimensions of Agricultural Extension
- Fundamentals of Rural Sociology and Educational Psychology
- 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
- Other Subjects :
- Plant Biochemistry
- Fundamentals of Information Technology
- Applied Mathematics
- Principles of Analytical Chemistry
- Principles of Environmental Sciences
- Introduction to Computer Applications
- Educational Psychology
- Production Economics and Farm Management
- Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Prices
- Crop Pests and their Management
- Principles of Plant Biotechnology
- Breeding of Field and Horticulture Crops
- Irrigation Water Management
B.Sc Agriculture Admission 2020
Different institutes follow different admission procedures. Some colleges admit students directly on interview and merit basis, while some colleges conduct entrance examinations at national, state, and university levels for the students willing to take admission in B.Sc Agriculture.
- Requirements for direct admission:
- Filling the college application form online/offline.
- Checking of the cut-off list.
- If qualified, then students have to go for the counseling session for the admission.
- Requirements for entrance based admission:
- Filling the entrance examination application form online/offline.
- Appearing for the entrance exam.
- If qualified, then students have to undergo a GD/PI session and counseling session for the admission.
B.Sc Agriculture Fees
The fee structure for B.Sc in agriculture varies from institute to institute and it may change on an annual basis. The fees for B.Sc agriculture ranges between Rs.7000-Rs.40,000 approximately. Below is the fee structure of some of the agriculture universities and colleges;
| University/College | Annual Fees |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidhyalaya | Rs. 16,700 |
| Punjab Agriculture University | Rs. 67,500 |
| Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agricultural and Technology | Rs. 50,000 |
| Tamil Nadu Agricultural University | Rs. 36,900 |
B.Sc Agriculture Counseling 2020
Candidates have to follow the below procedure for admission in B.Sc Agriculture on each specified date for every event which takes place in the counseling procedure.
- Result declaration
- Opening of option form
- Depositing the online option form fee
- Editing the online option form
- Display of 1st provisional admission list
- Accepting and submitting a request for further assessment
- Display of 2nd provisional admission list
- Accepting and submitting a request for further assessment
- Display of 3rd provisional admission list
- Accepting allotment and depositing fee
- Reporting with all required documents in the respective college
If seats remain vacant
- Opening and filling of options form for online counseling
- Display of 1st provisional admission list
- Depositing the college fees
- Reporting in the college.
B.Sc Agriculture Exam Date 2020
Different entrance examinations are conducted at the national level, state level as well as at university level for the admission of candidates in B.Sc agriculture. Below is the list of entrance exams along with their examination dates:
| Entrance Examination | Application Date | Examination Date |
| ICAR Entrance Exam (ICAR-AIEEA) | 1st March 2020 to 30th July 2020 | Postponed |
| TS EAMCET | 1st March 2020 to 31st May 2020 | 9th, 10th, 11th, 14th September 2020 |
| MP PAT | Closed | 15th, 16th September 2020 |
| AP EAMCET | 26th February 2020 to 15th June 2020 | Postponed |
| IGKV/IGAU | To be notified soon | To be notified soon |
| BCECE | 20th February 2020 | Postponed |
B.Sc Agriculture Books
Below mentioned is the list of some common books as a part of the course material which are considered for this course.
| Name of the Book |
| History of Agriculture |
| Land and Water Management Engineering |
| Plant Physiology |
| Principles of Agronomy |
| Principles of Plant Breeding |
| Principles of Vegetable Production |
| The Future of Indian Agriculture |
| The Insects: Structure and Function |
| The Nature and Properties of Soil |
FAQ
Ans. 1. The candidate must complete their higher secondary education (10+2) in the Science Stream from a recognized board with good GPA scores.
2. English language proficiency tests such as IELTS/PTE/TOEFL is also required if applying to abroad Universities and colleges.
3. SAT or ACT scores are to be submitted as subject proficiency tests to apply for BSc in Agriculture if applying to abroad Universities and colleges.
Ans. At the starting stage when you complete BSc Agriculture the minimum salary is around Rs. 15,000-30,000. You can earn upto INR 3-8 LPA after getting experience. Salary can be more if you are working in the government sector.
Ans. Here is the list of job opportunities after BSc agriculture:
1. Research Officer
2. Quality Assurance Officer
3. Agriculture Officer
4. Agriculture Loan Officer (in Banks)
5. Production Manager
6. Operations Manager
7. Farm Manager
Ans. Here is the list of Subjects under BSc Agriculture:
1. AgronomyPlant Breeding and genetics
2. Soil Science
3. Entomology
4. Agricultural Economics
5. Agricultural Engineering
Ans. No, BSc agriculture is not an easy course at all, their are lots of subjects in the course of 4 years. These subjects include Biotech, Agronomy, Statistics and Maths, Agril. Engineering, Plant Genetics, Entomology, Dairy Chemistry, Livestock Production, and more.
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