Agriculture Education and Career Opportunities in Agricultural Sector in India

Agricultural education and research in the India is promoted and coordinated by the Department of Agricultural Research And Education (DARE). Admissions of foreign students in various Indian agriculture universities/ ICAR Institutes are also coordinated by the DARE as it acts as a nodal agency for International Cooperation in the area of agricultural research and education in India and provides the necessary government linkages for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, are two autonomous bodies under the administrative control of DARE. There are four deemed to be universities (DU’s) under the ICAR that awards post graduate degrees in the field of agriculture, dairy, fisheries and veterinary sciences.These deemed to be universities are listed below.

1. Indian Agricultural Research institute, New Delhi

2. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal

3. Indian Veterinary research Institute, Izatnagar

4. Central Institute on Fisheries Education, Mumbai

With an objective to maintain high quality of education in agriculture, Indian Council of agricultural Research has long back formed "Education Division" at its headquarters in Delhi which is headed by a Deputy Director General (Education). Deputy Director General (Education) is assisted by three Assistant Director Generals (ADGs) responsible for three sections in the division namely, human resource development, education planning/development and educational quality assurance/reforms. Education division of ICAR achieves its objectives through partnership with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Deemed to be Universities, Central Agricultural University and Central Universities with Agriculture faculty.A complete list of State Agricultural Universities with complete details is available for download. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, is the lone IIT that have a separate agriculture department known as Department of Agriculture & food Engineering. This department offers few courses at UG & PG level and also Ph.D. degrees in various agricultural subjects. Several traditional universities have affiliated agricultural colleges that used to impart agricultural education in India before establishment of Agricultural Universities. Colleges in Agra, Baraut, Varanasi and Kanpur were few famous colleges to name in the past. Education Division of ICAR provides regular financial and professional support to SAUs, CUs and DUs for modernization and strengthening of academic facilities, infrastructure and faculty improvement. It also has a National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research and a management academy known as National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) at Hyderabad for imparting management training to scientific staff of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in India. Education Division of ICAR conducts examination for admission in different agricultural universities for quality up-gradation and every year about 1350 (15% of total seats) meritorious candidates are admitted through these tests in UG programmes and 1600 (25% of total seats) in PG programmes.

State Agricultural Universities offer UG courses such as B.Sc (Ag)& AH, B.V. Sc &AH, B. Tech (Agl. Engg.), PG courses in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Seed Technology, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, Soil Microbiology, Soil Chemistry, Agric. Biotechnology, Agriculture Extension etc. Students having interest in research may pursue higher studies in these subjects as most of these courses are available in almost all universities. ICAR offers scholarships to meritorious students at all levels of study. Scholarships for pursuing higher studies are offered by other organizations as well. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research also supports post graduate students opting for courses in agriculture.

Job opportunities:

Agriculture in India contributes 29.4% of Gross domestic Product (GDP). Agriculture employs about 64% of the work force for different activities. Agriculture graduates are offered jobs in both public as well as private sector. Agro-industries, public and private sector banks, state and central government departments offer job opportunities to agriculture graduates. Agriculture Assistant and Agriculture Field Officers are recruited by different banks to help them disburse loan to farmers and small entrepreneurs. Qualifications to these posts vary from graduate to post graduate. Central and State Agriculture Departments offer posts of Block Agricultural officers, District Agriculture Officers and District Horticultural Officers etc. Seed certification agencies offer post of Certification Assistant and Certification Officers. Agriculture graduates can compete for posts like Block Development Officers (BDOs), Forest rangers and other posts advertised by Public Service Commissions of different states. Research Assistants are hired by research units of ICAR, SAU's and different multi-national companies (MNC's) involved in manufacturing of seed, insecticides. pesticides and fungicides. Agriculture graduates have plenty of opportunities as an agricultural journalist, radio reporter, extension specialist or subject matter specialist. Opportunities also exist in Tea Gardens, call centers and community centers in the villagers.

Vast opportunities are available to those who wish to pursue higher studies and have an aptitude towards research. ICAR recruits Scientific staff conducting an all India level test. Service is known as Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Minimum qualification for Scientific posts is a post graduate degree in concerned subject. However, one should aspire to ARS after acquiring a doctorate degree as promotion is faster than having minimum qualification. Agriculturists with doctorate can apply for professorship in colleges and universities.

Acquiring an MBA or PGDM after graduation may help in getting a job in MNC's. It may also help in establishing an agri-business.

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