Agriculture is the essential thing for human beings to survive. It is the oldest occupation of humanity. Agriculture also plays a critical role in India’s economy, it contributes about 20.2 percent to India’s GDP.
Since Agriculture places a Crucial role in India’s economy it is necessary to increase crop production, which can be done through different techniques. Here BSc Agriculture comes into the picture, BSc Agriculture is a 4-year undergraduate course in which the students are taught about the disciplines like Plant Breeding, Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil science, etc.
In this article, I will try my best to provide you with the knowledge you should have about BSc Agriculture. We are going to see what BSc Agriculture is, Its Syllabus, Admission Process, eligibility criteria, Scope, Salary, Top institute, etc.
What is BSc Agriculture?
As we discussed above BSc Agricult is a 4-year undergrad course. It consists of 8 semesters during these semesters the students go through different topics related to agriculture like Basic Science and Humanities, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Entomology, Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural statistic, and Agronomy.
Why should I choose BSc Agriculture?
As I had mentioned above Agriculture contributes around 20.2 percent to India’s GDP, therefore there is a very high demand for individuals who have good Knowledge about agriculture both in the public sector as well as in the private sector.
The average salary of a BSc Agriculture Graduate is around 5 Lakhs per annum.
What are the eligibility criteria for BSc Agriculture?
For taking admission to BSc Agriculture the candidate should fulfill the following criteria.
- The candidate must have completed his/her 10+2 with a minimum score of 50%.
- The candidate should have Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in 10+2.
- Some universities/institutes conduct their entrance for BSc agriculture so to get admitted to those universities/institutes, the candidate must qualify for the entrance exam.
- Candidates who have completed their intermediate in the agriculture field are also eligible for this course.
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What is the admission process for BSc Agriculture?
Admission for BSc agriculture is generally made through two methods some universities/institutes do admission on a merit basis and some universities do it through entrance exams. Some of the universities also have an interview round after shortlisting the candidates.
What are the different entrance exams for BSc Agriculture?
Below are some of the entrance exams for BSc Agriculture with application dates and Exam dates.
| Exam | Application Dates | Exam Date |
| SAAT 2022 | 7th April 2022 to 7th June 2022 | 9th-12th June 2022 |
| AP EAMCET 2022 | 11th April 2022 to 10th May 2022 | 11th and 12th July 2022 |
| CG PAT 2022 | 22nd April 2022 to 15th May 2022 | 5th June 2022 |
| OUAT 2022 | 21st May 2022 to 27th June 2022 | 1st week of August 2022 |
| BHU UET 2022 | 6th April 2022 to 22nd May 2022 | 1st June 2022 |
What is the Syllabus of BSc Agriculture?
The course syllabus may vary from university to university but the core topic is generally the same. The student also has to go through lab sessions, field trips, Practical training, etc during the course. The semester-wise syllabus of BSc agriculture is as follows.
Semester 1:-
- Introduction to Biology
- Basic Agriculture 1
- Basic Agriculture 2
- Introduction to Computer Application
- Plant Biochemistry
- Communication Skills
- Fundamentals of genetics
- Fundamentals of horticulture
- Fundamentals of Forestry
- Fundamentals of Soil Science
- Introduction to Animal Husbandry
- Agricultural Heritage
- Fundamentals of Agronomy
- Elementary Mathematics
- Rural sociology
- Educational Psychology
Semester 2:-
- Soil and Water conservation Engineering
- Fundamentals of Agricultural Economics
- Principle of Organic Farming
- Food Processing and safety issues
- Production technologies
- Human Values and ethics
- Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry
- Fundamentals of Plant Pathology
- Fundamentals of crop Psychology
- Fundamentals of Entomology – I
- Agricultural Finance and co-operation
- Agricultural Marketing
- Fundamentals of Agribusiness Management
Semester 3:-
- Farm Power and machinery
- Principle of soil and water Engineering
- Energy sources and their Application in agriculture
- Protected cultivation Structure and agro-Processing
- Principles of integrated disease management
- Fundamentals of Entomology – II
- Environmental studies and Disaster management
- Agricultural Microbiology
- Dairy Science
- Crop Production Technology – I
- Practical Crop Production – I
- Fundamentals of Plant breeding
Semester 4:-
- Renewable and green Technology
- Entrepreneurship Development and Business Communication
- Principle of Seed Technology
- Crop Production technology – II
- Practical Crop Production – II
- Production Technology for Ornamental Crops, MAP, and Landscaping
- Problematic soils and their Management
- Introductory Agro-meteorology & Climate Change
- Sericulture
- General entomology
- Economic entomology
- Poultry Production & Management
Semester 5:-
- Geo-informatics and Nanotechnology
- Communication Skills and Personality Development
- Protected Cultivation and secondary Agriculture
- Crop Improvement – I
- Agricultural Marketing Trade and prices
- Production technology for Fruits and Plantation Crop
- Intellectual Property rights
- Stored grain and their Management
- Diseases of field
- Rainfed and dryland Agriculture
- Horticultural Crop and their management
- Extension Methodologies for transfer of Agricultural Production
- Electives – I
Semester 6:-
- Crop improvement – II
- Watershed and Wasteland Management
- Field Visits
- Farm Management, Production and Resource Economics
- Post-harvest Management
- Beneficial insects and pests for Horticultural crop and their management
- Horticultural Crop and their Management
- Framing System
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Precision Farming
- Manures, Fertilizers, and soil fertility management
- Elective – II
Semester 7:-
- General Orientation and on-campus training by different faculties
- Fundamental of Agricultural Statistics
- Project report preparation, presentation, and evaluation
Semester 8:-
- Commercial Beekeeping
- Seed Production and technology
- Soil, Plant, Water, and seed testing
- Production Technologies for Bioagents and Biofertilizers
- Mushroom Cultivation Technology
- Weed Management
- Integrated livestock farming
- Natural resource management
- Genetics and Biotechnology
- Experimental technology in Agricultural research
- Irrigation water management
There are Some Electives Subjects in the 5th and 6th Semesters. The students have complete freedom to choose any of the Elective Subjects. Some of the Electives subjects offered by most of the universities are as follows.
- Commercial Plant breeding
- Agrochemicals
- Protected Cultivation
- Agricultural Journalism
- Hi-tech Horticulture
- Landscaping
- Agribusiness Management
- Food Safety and Standard
Top Institutes For BSc Agriculture in India:-
| College Name | Fees |
| University of Agricultural Sciences | Around Rs. 18,900 |
| Chandigarh University | Around Rs. 1,44,000 |
| Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology | Around Rs. 41,800 |
| Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology | Around Rs. 53,000 |
| Annamalai University | Around Rs. 1,02,000 |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research And Education | Around Rs. 1,40,600 |
| Siksha O Anusandhan University | Around Rs. 1,65,000 |
| Junagadh Agricultural University | Around Rs. 29,500 |
| Shivaji University | Around Rs. 7,500 |
| Ramkrishna Bajaj College of Agriculture | Around Rs. 40,000 |
| Mewar University | Around Rs. 60,000 |
| Vivekanand College of Agriculture | Around Rs. 65,000 |
| Dolphin PG Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences | Around Rs. 75,000 |
| Rai Technology University | Around Rs. 1,50,000 |
| DCAST | Around Rs. 60,000 |
| TRIARD | Around Rs. 40,000 |
| Sai Nath University | Around Rs. 58,000 |
| LMK | Around Rs. 75,000 |
| RKDF University | Around Rs. 70,000 |
Government colleges for BSc Agriculture in India:-
| College Name | Fees |
| Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology | Around Rs. 41,000 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya | Around Rs. 58,000 |
| Shivaji University | Around Rs. 7,500 |
| Anand Niketan College of Agriculture | Around Rs. 12,000 |
| ADAC & RI | Around Rs. 71,000 |
| Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya | Around Rs. 15,000 |
| Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya | Around Rs. 4,000 |
| Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology | Around Rs. 53,000 |
| Junagadh Agricultural University | Around Rs. 29,000 |
| SDAU | Around Rs. 29,000 |
What are the career options After BSc in Agriculture?
After graduating with BSc in Agriculture the candidate has several job opportunities both in the public as well as the private sector. Today Agriculture industry in India is growing at a very high pace and to keep up with the pace there is a huge demand for Individuals who have In deep Knowledge in the field of Agriculture.
But there is a huge gap between the Demand and Supply of Candidates with good Agricultural knowledge. The Average Annual Salary of a BSc Agriculture Graduate ranges from INR 2 to 8 Lakh, the salary may be higher in the Government sector.
Private Sectors jobs after BSc Agriculture:-
Below are some of the Private Job Available for BSc Agriculture graduates.
1) Agricultural Engineer:-
An Agricultural Engineer is responsible for Designing and Developing new techniques and equipment to improve the efficiency of Agriculture in terms of sustainability, safety, and eco-friendly. Agricultural engineers are the ones who build water reservoirs, dams, warehouses, and different structures related to Agriculture.
The average annual salary of an Agricultural engineer in India is INR 4.4 Lakhs.
2) Business Development Executive:-
The major role of a Business Development Executive is to improve the sales of the company. He/She has to make different strategies to increase the revenue of the Company.
The average annual salary of a Business development executive in India is Around INR 5 Lakhs.
3) Agriculture Development Officer (ADO):-
An Agriculture Development Officer has to ensure that all the Agriculture activities are under state and local regulations. He/she also has to audit, investigate, analyze and test the Agricultural Products, and make a report of it.
The average annual salary of An Agriculture Development Officer ranges from INR 6 to 8 Lakhs
4) Agricultural Scientist:-
The Agricultural Scientist is the one who has specialized knowledge in analyzing farming methods and food production methods. He/She is responsible for enhancing the safety and the yield of the crops. An Agricultural scientist has to constantly research on new and innovative ways to increase the quality as well as quantity of agricultural production.
The average annual salary of an Agricultural Scientist in India is around INR 7 Lakhs.
Public Sector job after BSc Agriculture:-
To get a job in the public sector after BSc in Agriculture the candidate have to clear a different competitive exam. Below is the list of some of the Government jobs available for a BSc Agriculture Graduate.
List of Government jobs:-
- Agriculture forest officer
- Agriculture junior engineer
- Agriculture Development Officer
- Agriculture Field Officer
- Forest Officer
- Agriculture Graduate Trainee
- Lab Assistants
- Technologist
- Researcher
Competitive exams for getting Government Jobs:-
Candidates have to give different competitive exams for different jobs and also there are different exams for State Government Jobs and Central Government Jobs. Below are some of the most popular competitive exams for a BSc Agriculture Graduate.
- UPSC-IFSC (Indian Forest Services) Exam
- IBPS SO Exam
- UGC-NET Exam
- NABARD Grade-A Exam
- State Forest Exam
What should I do after my BSc Agriculture?
After a BSc in Agriculture, one can go for a job or can go for further studies in Agriculture. I will suggest that you should go for further studies which will not only help with your knowledge but also get a good salary. There are several Master’s degree programs some of them are listed below.
- MBA in Agriculture
- Master’s in Agroecology
- MSc in Plant Pathology
- Master of Food Science and Agribusiness
- MSc in Agriculture
- Masters in Sustainable Agriculture
- Master’s in Agricultural Engineering
- MBA in Agribusiness
- MSc in Agricultural Economics
- Master in Plant Science
- Master’s in Environmental Agrobiology
- MScAgric in Genetics
Top institute for Master’s in Agriculture in India:-
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute(IARI), Delhi
- College Of Agriculture, Junagadh
- Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Chandigarh University
- Integral University, Lucknow
- Aligarh Muslim University
- Shree Guru Govind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurgoan
- Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur
- Galgotias University, Noida
Conclusion:-
As we had seen in the introduction agriculture is a very important part of the Indian economy. If we want to make India a 5 Trillion dollar economy then the Agriculture sector will play the most crucial part. So to reach their need the individual with deep knowledge of Agriculture.
All of this makes BSc in Agriculture a good and smart career choice. After a BSc in Agriculture, the candidate has tons of job opportunities in the private as well as public sectors. We had also discussed what are the different options for the students after graduating with BSc in Agriculture.
So if you have an interest in Agriculture and want to play an important role in making India a 5 Trillion Dollar economy. If you have any doubt regarding the topic feel free to comment below our team will try to solve it as soon as possible. All the best for your journey.