Updated October 18, 2022
Agriculture plays a chief role in the economy of any country as its root connects with the majority of industries. So, the growth and development of the agriculture sectors are very crucial. And with the introduction of Science and Technology into this field, tremendous growth has been observed. As agriculture is a chief contributor to the economy of any country, various courses are provided related to it that teaches the integration of science and technology with it. And one such course is MSc Agriculture.
MSc Agriculture full form Master of Science in Agriculture is a two-year postgraduate course. The program mainly revolves around agricultural studies and imparts scientific knowledge related to agriculture and farming. One who wants to pursue the program must have completed a BSc degree in agriculture from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks.
Admittance to MSc Agriculture may either be made based on the merit of the candidates in graduate degree or marks scored in the entrance test. However, institutions conduct an entrance test for providing admission to the program. The fees charges of the program may range between INR 0.5-1.5 LPA, depending on the reputation and authority of the institute.
Top MSc Agriculture Specializations
The discipline of Agriculture doesn’t only concern imparting knowledge regarding growing foods but much more than that. It is a vast domain that includes specialization from Animal Husbandry to Plant Pathology. Here we have tabulated listed some of the essential specializations of MSc agriculture.
- MSc in Fisheries Science
- Master’s in Poultry Science
- MSc in Organic Agriculture
- Master of Science in Forestry
- Master of Science in Horticulture
- MSc in Plant Breeding & Genetics
- Master’s in Agricultural Microbiology
- MSc in Farming System Management
- Master of Science in Agricultural Botany
MSc Agriculture Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who want to apply for the MSc agriculture course must fulfill the eligibility criteria listed below. However, the eligibility criteria for the program may differ from institution to institution, but the below mentioned are accepted in most institutions offering the program.
- Aspirants must be the bachelor’s degree holder in Agriculture or Horticulture or Forestry from a recognized university.
- They should have qualified their bachelor’s degree with not less than 50% of Marks
- Relaxation of marks is also given to the SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates as per the norms of the institute.
MSc Agriculture Admission Process
The admission made to MSc Agri. Program is based on the Merit of the aspirants acquired in their graduation and performance in the entrance test. Shown below are the processes process involves in either mode of admission.
The following processes are involved if the candidates apply for the institute where an entrance exam is conducted to provide admission to the program.
- Aspirants need to apply and appear for the entrance test.
- After completing the entrance test, institutes release the merit list of the shortlisted candidates.
- The shortlisted candidates are called for the further selection process, including a round of personal interviews and counseling sessions.
- Based on the overall performance of the candidates, the institutions allot the admission to them.
- And at last, the selected candidates need to submit the required documents and the admission fee for registering for the academic session.
The following processes are involved if the candidates apply for the institutions where direct admission is provided based on the Merit of the candidates acquired in their BSc Degree.
- Candidates need to fill the admission form accurately with all required information through modes (online or offline) instructed by the respective institution.
- They need to attach all the required documents with the admission form.
- After that, the institutions shortlist the candidates who fulfill the required criteria and allot admission seats.
- And at last, the selected candidates need to submit the admission fee for registering themselves for the academic session.
MSc Agriculture Entrance Exams
Several universities and state-level entrance tests are conducted to provide admission to the program. Here is a list of entrance exams that aspirants need to qualify for applying to MSc Agriculture in India.
- AGRI-CET (Agriculture Common Entrance Test)
- CU-CET (Central Universities Common Entrance Test)
- PAU-MET (Punjab Agricultural University Master’s Entrance Test)
- ICAR-AIEEA (Indian Council of Agricultural Research-All India Entrance Examination for Admission into Postgraduate Program)
- MCAER-PGCET (Maharashtra Council of Agriculture Education and Research-Post Graduate Common Entrance Test)
Year- Wise MSc Agriculture Syllabus
Tabulated below is the year-wise break of the MSc Agriculture syllabus. However, the syllabus for the program may differ from college to college, but the essential subjects and topics will remain the same in most institutions.
Particulars of Master’s in Agriculture Syllabus
| Years | Syllabus |
| First Years | Biotechnology |
| Plant Physiology | |
| Extension Education | |
| Plant Breeding & Genetics | |
| Food Science & Technology | |
| Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry | |
| Second Year | Forestry |
| Agronomy | |
| Entomology | |
| Horticulture | |
| Plant Pathology | |
| Farm Management | |
| Agricultural Economics |
MSc Agriculture Colleges in India
Colleges/Universities that offer M.Sc. agriculture in India are innumerable. Among these institutes, some of the bests are listed below.
- Shivaji University, Kolhapur
- Christ University, Karnataka
- Chandigarh University, Punjab
- University of Madras, Chennai
- University of Calcutta, West Bengal
- Anand Agriculture University, Gujarat
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
- Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana
- Junagadh Agriculture University, Gujarat
- Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University, Guntur
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka
- Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University, Chennai
Master’s in Agriculture Career Scope
The M.Sc Agriculture program promises enormous career opportunities for the candidates. After pursuing the program, the graduates may seek jobs in the government and private sectors. High-paid jobs are offered to the graduates in employment sectors like Fruit Orchards, Fertilizer Companies, National Seed Companies, FMCG Companies, Pesticide Control Centers, Research and Development Centers.
Apart from that, post pursuing the program, the student may opt for research projects in various fields related to education. If someone is interested in acquiring a higher degree, may also go for MPhil and Ph.D. in Agriculture or related course. These advanced courses turn the career profiles of the candidates into more lucrative.
MSc Agriculture Jobs Prospectus
MSC Agriculture encompasses huge career opportunities for the candidates. Numerous firms offer high-paid jobs to MSC Agriculture graduates. Listed below are some of the top job profiles after the MSc agriculture course.
- Breeder
- Agronomist
- Field Officer
- Agriculturist
- Rice Breeder
- Farm Manager
- Research Scientist
- Seed Technologist
- Agriculture Scientist
- Marketing Executive
- Agriculture Technician
- Corporate Sales Manager
- Senior Research Associate
- Senior Agriculture Specialist
- Business Development Executive
Graduates in MSc Agriculture Salary
After completing MSc Agriculture, the average salary package candidates can expect between 2 to 7 Lakh Per Annum, depending on Job profiles experience and recruiters. However, their earnings may vary for those who set up a business in the related field. The data presented below regarding the salaries of different job profiles after the MSc Agriculture program is only for reference, and the actual data may differ.
- Breeder:- Rs. 3 Lakh Per Annum
- Agronomist:- Rs. 7 Lakh Per Annum
- Field Officer:- Rs. 3 Lakh Per Annum
- Farm Manager:- Rs. 4 Lakh Per Annum
- Research Scientist:- Rs.5 Lakh Per Annum
- Corporate Sales Manager:- Rs. 7 Lakh Per Annum
- Academic Professionals:- Rs. 4 to 6 Lakh Per Annum
Mostly Asked Questions on Master’s in Agriculture Course
Ans:- Yes, pursuing M.Sc. in Agriculture is an excellent career option. It has a wide job scope in today’s developing world. Candidates are offered high-paid jobs in various firms after completing the course.
Ans:- Some of the top designations for M.Sc. Agriculture graduates are Senior Research Scientist, Senior Plant Breeder, Credit Manager, Literature Researcher, Agricultural Operations Manager, Crop Management Specialist, etc.
Ans:- Every discipline is best for some specific purpose and reason. But, for job purposes, MBA Agriculture is better than MSc Agriculture, while for research and further studies related to the course, the latter is best. From a fee expense perspective, MSc is better than MBA as the study of the latter one costs much higher than the former one.
Ans:- Yes, you can apply for the MSc Agriculture post pursuing any of these three disciplines, including Botany, Zoology, and Chemistry. These are three basics subjects that every biological stream requires at most minuscule for qualification.
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