Agriculture as a career avenue

Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Agriculture ? This section features Agriculture as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training
involved, premier institutions and future prospects.


Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy. It provides food to our millions and raw materials for our industries. India also has enormous potential as an exporter of agricultural commodities. The variety of climatic types and natural conditions offer a conducive environment for the cultivation of a large variety of agricultural produce.

Work in agricultural sectors ranges from the totally academic pursuits of research and teaching to inspaction and other supervisory work to commercial activities of establishing farms, plantations, orchards and carrying on exports of produce from them.

Agriculture is no longer practised by rule of thumb, instead it has become highly scientific, sophisticated and mechanised and consequently, very profitable too. Horticulture, dairying and poultry farming are allied agricultural activities that have become economically viable opportunities today.

The impact of agriculture is not only on the production of food grains, vegetables and fruits, but on so many agriculture dependent industries which get its raw material from agriculture sector. A good monsoon would drive the sensex raging as bull, while floods or other such calamities would bring it to a grinding halt.

Nature Of Work

Following are major career areas in the field of agriculture:

* Agricultural Research
* Agri-Business
* Agro Industry
* Agricultural Education
* Agricultural Journalism
* Services in Agriculture
* Banking
* Farming
* Conservation
* Agricultural Engineering
* Management


Personality Traits


Ability to work on one's own as well as part of a team, good health, a strong back for frequent bending, indifference to unpleasant weather conditions, sometimes to dirty work, practical ability, good powers of observation to detect early signs of disease in plants, animals and poultry, ability to deal with the unexpected calamity and interest in scientific developments.

Advisory or supervisory work requires, in addition, ability to get on well with people, as also tact and diplomacy. Teaching requires the ability to communicate and the interest in doing so, ability to provide practical and factual information in simple language, patience and ability to infuse enthusiasm for learning in students.

Researchers should have the ability to work for long periods with intense concentration, a keen analytical mind, and a strong scientific bent.


Courses/Training


Basic training in agriculture is offered as a Bachelor's degree course of three to four years duration at all the agricultural universities in the country. The minimum eligibility required for admission to B.Sc.(Ag.) course is a pass in the plus two or equivalent examination with science or agriculture. Many universities fix a minimum aggregate of 50% marks to be obtained in the qualifying examination.

Admission to the different universities may be based on merit or performance in an entrance examination. Notifications of the courses at various places appear from January onwards, while the sessions usually start off between July and September.

More than 40 colleges offer the B.Sc.(Ag.) course, as also the M.Sc.(Ag.) course. Specialisations in agriculture include agricultural economics, agricultural chemistry, animal husbandary and dairy, horticulture, farming system management and agricultural marketing management. ALso there are around 20 institutions offering BE Agricultural Engineering Courses.


Placements And Prospects


India's typographical diversity, variety of climate and abundant cheap labour give it a natural advantage in agriculture and teh agro-buisness. Its greatest strategic asset is land.

India is among the largest producers of vegetables and fruits in the world and has an equally strong floriculture base. Today India's agriculture has become globalised and the idea of integrating Indian agriculture with the world economy is getting government support. India has enormous potential as an exporter of agricultural commodities ranging from mushrooms to flowers, spices, cereals, oilseeds and vegetables.

The spurt in government support for export of agri-products has evoked considerable interest among the large business houses which have worked out agreements for technology transfer, marketing tie-ups, and management and trading contacts with leading foreign counterparts.

Horticulture with its offshoot floriculture has become a focus of export activity. India's exports of roses, carnations, gladioli, chrysanthemums, jasmine and other tropical plants and flowers are touching new heights.

In the field of fruits and vegetables too, India has tremendous export potential. With the commercialisation of agricultre and horticulture there are varied opportunities for salaried jobs as well as entrepreneurship. While salaried jobs with various government and private concerns provide a regular income, entrepreneurship can generate handsome profits.

Landscapers and horticulturists are hired by hotels, health farms, and holiday resorts to beautify their surroundings. Florists and nursuries are doing lucrative business especially in the metropolitan cities. Suburban farmhouses have become important suppliers for the domestic market.

Research openings are also increasing as research institutions gear up to accept the challenge of the export market with the combined support of the government and the corporate sector. Agricultural Research Service/National Eligibility Test Examination is conducted by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board or ASRB for filling up vacancies of Scientists of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes.