Career as Agricultural Scientist
Agricultural Science is an important branch of science that deals with study and research on plants, animals to improve the productivity of farms and agriculture-related industries. It includes research and development on plant breeding, plant genetics, horticulture, soil science, production techniques like irrigation, minimization of effect of pests and animals, food production, food preservation and minimization of adverse environmental effects. Smart farming which involves the incorporation of the latest communication technologies and artificial intelligence into agricultural production is one of the recent developments in Agricultural Science. Infertile lands, shortage of rainfall, lack of labour supply and greenhouse gas emissions are the main reasons why Agricultural Science is gaining importance these days. A career in agriculture is always a lucrative option because it is one of the largest industries playing a vital role in economy and job opportunities.
- About Agricultural Scientist :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
There are four major areas where there is a
heavy demand for Agricultural Scientists.
1. Food Science – With the rapid
growth of urbanization lifestyle is undergoing a dramatic change.
The need for healthy and nutritious but easy-to-prepare foods is
increasing drastically. So the demand for Agricultural Scientists
in the field of food science is high. The roles for an Agricultural
Scientist in food science are:
-
Food Scientist and Product Developer in research and development
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Food Chemist, Toxicologist and Food Inspector in Quality Control.
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Food Processor and Food Production Manager in Food Processing
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Dietician, Nutritionist and Diet Counselor
The salaries may range from 30K to 50K per month
for a fresher.
2. Plant Science – Agricultural
Scientists conduct research to increase the productivity and yield
of plants and to create sustainable food sources and plants that
can survive drought. They have to apply modern technology to
improve the quality of seeds and the nutritional value of crops.
The average salary at the entry-level is around 4,00,000 INR per
annum.
3. Animal Science – Foods of animal origin like
meat, fish, dairy and poultry are dealt with by Agricultural
Scientists in Animal Science. They conduct research to improve the
production of animal origin food without jeopardizing the safety of
animals and the environment. The average salary at the entry-level
is around Rs 5,00,000 per annum.
4. Soil Science – An Agricultural Scientist has to
study the composition of various types of soil and the impact of
fertilizers on them. They have to do research and find ways to
improve the fertility of soil, productivity and usage of land. The
average salary at the entry-level is around 5,00,000 INR per
annum.
Others:
1. With the growing awareness of the health benefits
of organic food, Agricultural Scientists are needed in
Horticulture.
2. Agricultural Scientists are of great demand in Agronomy as Crop
Consultants and Production and Sales Managers in Seed
Companies.
3. Agricultural Economics – Agricultural Scientists have to apply
the principles of Economics in the agricultural field to improve
international trade and to analyse policies of the government and
give suggestions to agribusinesses for their growth.
Future Growth Prospects
Pros and Cons of being an Agricultural Scientist
Pros
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You are a part of a field without which none in the world can live. The feeling that you are part of something global will give you job satisfaction.
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There are challenging and interesting jobs waiting for you because of the exponential growth of consumer demand for food and food products.
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You have the option of going for diverse career selection to suit your interests.
Cons
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The salary at the entry-level is not very high.
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You have to put up a lot of hard work and effort to succeed.
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You cannot succeed unless you have lots of patience and a passion for agriculture.
How do I get there?
To become an Agricultural Scientist one has to
complete with an undergraduate and postgraduate in Agriculture.
1. A student needs to clear XII Board exam with Physics,
Chemistry and Maths (PCM) or Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology
(PCMB) or Physics, Chemistry, Biology to learn Agriculture at UG
level.
2. Agricultural entrance exams are conducted at the national and
state level for admission in UG and PG programs. The national level
entrance exam is ICAR and the state level exams are AGRICET
(Andhra), MP PAT, CG PA(Chhattisgarh)), IGKV CET(Chhattisgarh),
MCAER CET(Maharashtra), OUAT(Orissa), JET(Jharkhand),
EAMCET(Telangana), UPCATET(Uttar Pradesh), and GBPUAT
(Uttarakhand).
3. For 4-year courses in Agriculture, a student needs to clear XII
exam with a minimum of 50% (40% for SC/ST students). Candidates
should be Indian nationals only. There are two streams available. A
student can select one of the streams.
The courses available for Stream A (Agriculture, Biology) are: Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Food Science, Agricultural Marketing, Sericulture and Forestry.
Eligibility – The candidate should have completed Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Agriculture in Class XII.
The courses available for stream B (Mathematics) are: Agricultural engineering, Dairy Technology, Forestry, Food Technology and Biotechnology.
Eligibility - The candidate should have
completed Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class
XII.
4. After UG in Agriculture, you can go
for M.SC in Agriculture where you can specialize in Agronomy, Agri
Botany, Social Forestry, Ecology, Plant Physiology, Seed
technology, Farming System, Sericulture, Soil Science, Soil
Conservation, Plant Protection, Plant Pathology and MicroBiology.
M.SC in Agriculture is a 2-year course.
5. After M.SC the candidate can pursue a PhD. You
can also become an Agricultural Scientist after completing
post-graduation. You have to appear for the Agriculture Research
Services (ARS) exam. This is conducted by Agricultural Scientists
Recruitment Board at three levels, Preliminary, Mains and
Interview. If you clear the exam at all three levels you will be
posted as an Agricultural Scientist in one of the Agricultural
Research Institutes.
How much does it cost?
What are the Top Colleges to study to become an Agricultural Scientist?
Getting admission in a reputed college with good faculty, good infrastructure and other facilities is important if you want to gain maximum benefits. Here is a list of the Top 5 colleges to pursue Agriculture as a career.
|
Rank of College (ICAR Rank) |
Name of College, City |
Programme Fees (in Rs) |
|
1 |
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal |
Fee will be charged as prescribed by ICAR. The fees given here are tentative based on previous years. B.Tech – 11,000 M.SC – 16,000 PhD – 15,000 |
|
2 |
Indian Agricultural Research Institute , New Delhi |
Fee structure is liable to changes with the approval of ICAR Master Program – 21000 Doctoral Program – 23000 |
|
3 |
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana |
B.Sc – 47000 per semester B.Tech 1,00,000 per semester M.SC – 51,000 per semester PhD – 54,000 per semester |
|
4 |
Chaudhary Charan Singh University , Haryana |
B.SC – 8000 per semester B.Tech – 36,000 per year M.Tech - 28500 per year PhD – 63000 |
|
5 |
IVRI, Bareilli |
BVSC – 24000 per semester M.VSC – 15550 per year PhD – 16000 per year |
Books and Study Material for Agricultural Scientists
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Growing A Revolution – Bringing Soil Back to Life by David.R.
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Genetics and Plant Breeding by The Indian Society of Genetics
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Agricultural Science and Technology by Adriana Winkler
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Transforming Food Systems For a Rising India by Palgrave Macmillan
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Agricultural Science Digest – A research journal
What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
Other careers of your interests
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |