Agricultural Scientist

Agriculture is the backbone of India. Scientific and technological developments and growing economic activity have substantially changed the landscape of Indian agriculture. As a result, employment opportunities are rapidly increasing in this field.. Globalization, commercial liberalization, future marketing, etc. have also contributed to the increase in activities in the area.. In such a scenario, the job of an agricultural scientist becomes very important.

Eligibility
One must have physics, chemistry, biology or agriculture-based subject as his/her core subjects in the XI and XII standards.. If one wishes to go in the engineering field, then a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology, or at least a diploma in agricultural engineering, is needed. For admission in professional courses, specialization in related subject along with graduation in Agricultural Science or Engineering is required. In non-farm sector too, admission can be taken in certain specific courses. For this, graduation with any science subject along with a good understanding of social sciences is essential.

Scope
After completing the course jobs can be found in various sectors, from academic institutions to corporate houses. Agriculture science candidates are also appointed in banks that deal with advance credits, loans and agro-based projects. State Bank of India, Reserve Bank of India and other nationalized banks regularly advertise vacancies for the posts of field officers, rural development officers, agricultural and probationary officers for postgraduate candidates.
Indian Forest Service examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission is also an exciting career prospect. In terms of appointment of agricultural scientists, Indian Council of Agricultural Research is the biggest employer. Here appointment is done through Agricultural Scientist recruitment Board (ASRB). One can also become lecturer or assistant professor by clearing the NET examination.
Agricultural Science graduates are also highly sought out in the corporate sector. Here better job opportunities are available in Agricultural Co-operatives, agricultural equipment manufacturing entities, fertilizers and irrigation related companies, farming companies,  sugar industry etc.

Admission
Often entrance examinations are held for admission into Agricultural Science or Engineering courses. Some states conduct common entrance tests for admission to engineering, medical and agriculture courses. Indian Agricultural Research Council conducts all India level entrance tests. This test is held in April each year.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute also conducts a joint entrance examination. This examination is held for Agricultural colleges in different states like Central Agricultural University, Imphal ( Manipur) and for Masters' Degree and Junior Research Fellowship in some deemed universities.

Course
Veterinary Science, Animal Husbandry (Animal Products Technology), Fisheries, Horticulture, sericulture, and Forestry,  are the main branches of agriculture sciences. Its allied branches include Agro Physics, Plant Fertilization, Aquaculture, Genetic Engineering, Environmental Science, Food Science, Irrigation and Water Management, Soil Science, and Agrology . Besides, Home Sciences is now considered an important part of Agricultural Education.
In most of the Agricultural colleges in the country BSc or BSc Hons in Agriculture, PG and PhD level courses are offered. Some universities offer only postgraduate level or PhD courses. At the postgraduate and doctoral level  specialisation can be done in a particular area. An interesting fact is that in certain universities non-farm (??) graduate students can also get admissions in some specialized areas.
These areas include, Agricultural Physics, Biotechnology, Plant Pathology, Plant Breeding and Genetics. Management courses can also be done in agriculture related areas.

Institutes
 1. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
 2. Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur
 3. Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur
 4. Govindvallabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
 5. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
 6. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner
 7. Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur
 8. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal
 9. Chaudhary Charan Singh University of Agriculture, Haryana
 10. Allahabad Agriculture Institute, Gujarat
 11. Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi, Jharkhand
 12. Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubneshwar
 13. Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture, Jammu
 14. Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad