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Publish 9th April, 2023
By Publisher Raisoni
MSc agriculture is one of the career options available for students after completion of their four years degree in agriculture. A master's degree in agriculture gives students a broad overview of various practices adopted by agriculturists to increase crop yield, improve soil fertility, manage pests, improve the livelihood of people and conserve water. MSc agriculture degree can be pursued in a variety of specializations such as agronomy, horticulture, entomology, plant pathology and agricultural extension and communication.
After completion of the MSc agriculture degree, students can find widespread carrier opportunities in agriculture and allied sectors. They can work in different sectors in various capacities such as Project Managers, Agriculture officers, Quality Analysts, Agricultural consultants, Research scientists, and Professors or even start their business and become an agro-entrepreneur.
MSc agriculture is a two-year (divided into 4 semesters) post-graduate course that can be pursued after completion of graduation in agriculture. During the course tenure, students get acquainted with different topics such as Plant Biology, Agricultural Machinery, Plantation Management, Industrial Fertilizers and Biochemistry. In addition to this, the course syllabus also trains students on various management and marketing aspects of the agriculture sector.
A number of universities in India offer MSc agriculture degree programmes. Some of the top Agriculture universities from where you can pursue this course are Tamil Nadu agricultural University, University of Calcutta, Punjab Agricultural University, RTMNU Nagpur University, G.H. Raisoni University, Saikheda, College of agriculture Nagpur, Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, just to name a few. In order to get admitted to the MSc agriculture course, one has to successfully complete a BSc agriculture degree in a respective field from a university recognised by UGC.
MSc agriculture is a very vast domain. From agronomy to entomology, to plant pathology, to agricultural extension and communication number of specializations fall under the umbrella of MSc. Here are some of the most popular specializations in MSc agriculture.
Among all specializations, agronomy occupies a pivotal position. In fact, it is considered the mother of all specializations. MSc Agriculture in Agronomy primarily focuses on developing sustainable agricultural practices that are beneficial for both environment and the people who consume the goods produced on farms. This post-graduate level course teaches students different methods of cultivation, soil management, physiology of crops, advanced irrigation methods, pest management strategies, application of fertilizers, drought mitigation practices etc.
MSc in Horticulture is another popular specialization offered by MSc agriculture. This post-graduate program is designed to give students a thorough understanding of horticultural science and deals with topics such as plant cultivation, plant breeding, management techniques, quality assurance, marketing etc. A candidate pursuing an MSc Agriculture in horticulture also learns eco-friendly practices of producing fruits, vegetables and crops.
In terms of popularity, MSc Agriculture in entomology is no less than MSc in agronomy or horticulture. This two years specialization course revolves around the study of insects and their interaction with the environment. It also provides advanced knowledge on subjects like insect morphology, physiology and nutrition, pest management strategies, insect pathology, managing soil arthropods etc. It is considered as one of the best PG courses for insect enthusiasts and students who are interested in studying insect ecology, different species of insects and arthropods and their impact our environment and ecosystem.
It is one of the core branches of agriculture that deals with the causes, diagnosis and management of plant diseases. The two years MSc Agriculture in Plant Pathology specialization course familiarizes students with issues related to crop protection, environmental problems caused by overuse of pesticides, microbes that cause illness in plants, different types of plant diseases, various factors that are responsible for plant epidemics and the application of environmentally friendly methods for plant protection.
This newly introduced specialization in an agricultural domain is becoming widely popular among Indian students. This two years PG course encourages students to come up with innovative methods and practices that will boost agricultural productivity, increase food security and improve the livelihood of rural people. MSc Agriculture Extension and Communication is most suitable for those students who want to go for research.
The MSc agriculture course is offered by several colleges across the country. In order to apply for this course, the students must meet the following eligibility criteria.
To meet the future food demands of the burgeoning population agriculture sector in India is evolving and adopting modern practices of farming and agriculture. This has led to a huge demand for qualified and experienced agricultural specialists. Here are some popular jobs profiles that BSc agricultural graduates can take up after completion of their degree.
Admission to the MSc agriculture course varies from college to college. Some college admits students on the basis of their marks scored in the last qualifying exam i.e. BSc agriculture or its equivalent while others consider the marks scored by students in the entrance exam.
The application forms for admission in agriculture colleges are released by colleges in the month of May/June. So, once the student has selected the college to which they wish to apply for, they are required to apply online through the college’s official website. After that, the date of the entrance exam will be announced by the college and if the candidate qualifies for the entrance exam, he or she will be qualified for admission to that college.
Filling up the Agriculture Application form is the first and foremost step in the process of admission. The admission forms are released by the college in both online and offline mode. The candidate will have to fill up the application form and submit it to the respective college along with the application fee.
This is the second step in the process of admission. If the students meet the eligibility criteria laid down by the college, he/she will be called to appear for an entrance exam. The college entrance exam is mostly based on topics covered in the BSc agriculture course. The minimum qualifying marks for admission are decided by the college authority. If the candidate obtains the minimum qualifying marks set by the college, he/she will be called for further admission procedure.
This is the final step in the process of admission. The selected candidate will be invited for a face-to-face interview. The candidate will have to submit all the mandatory documents such as the mark sheet of the last qualifying exam, entrance test result and other relevant certificates in order to get admission in agriculture college of his/her choice.
Some of the top colleges in MP from where you can pursue an MSc agriculture course are:
The notification for admission will be published by the university/college in the newspaper as well as other media. The same would also be available on their official website. Admission to these institutions is based on both merits as well as entrance exams conducted by the respective college/university.
Admission to the MSc agriculture programme in the agricultural colleges of Nagpur is done on the basis of marks scored by students in the MCAER PGCET (Maharashtra Council of Agricultural Education and Research Postgraduate Common Entrance Test) conducted by the Maharashtra Agricultural Universities Exam Board (MAUEB). It is a paper-pencil-based examination conducted in the month of June every year.
MSc agriculture graduates are in high demand in Nagpur, and elsewhere in the country. Both government and private sectors are eager to hire MSc agricultural graduates for various positions depending on their skill sets, interests and type of jobs. Some of the top recruiters of MSc agriculture graduates are:
Some of the top positions relish by MSc agriculture graduates are:
The average salary drawn by MSc agriculture graduates in India ranges from 5 LPA to 8 LPA which gradually increases with time and experience.