PhD in Agriculture- Course Details, Eligibility, Duration, Fees, Syllabus, Scope, Jobs and Salary

Updated October 18, 2022

PhD in Agriculture full form Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture is a doctorate course in the agriculture field. It is a full-time research-based program, and the course duration lasts three years. The program involves the study of plant genetics, plant physiology, soil sciences, crop management, etc., where candidates get to learn how to produce food, fiber, and fuel.

To be eligible for applying to Ph.D. in Agriculture course, the candidates must be a Master’s degree holder in agriculture or a related field with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks. Every institution has its own eligibility criteria for admission. Some provide access to the program based on the entrance test score, and some on the performance of the candidates in Master’s degrees.

Numerous renowned colleges/Universities in India offer Ph.D. Agriculture courses, and some of them are the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Lovely Professional University, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, etc. The average tuition fee charged for the program at different institutions ranges from INR 5K to 2 LPA, depending on the authority and education quality of the institute.

PhD in Agriculture Course Details

Tabulated below are the highlights of the Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture course. So, check out below to know the essential aspects of the program at a glance.

PhD in Agriculture Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for any PhD courses, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria. Below we have listed the eligibility criteria for the Ph.D. Agriculture course followed by most institutions offering this doctorate program.

• The aspirants must have completed a Master’s in agriculture or any other relevant discipline with a minimum of 50% marks.
• They should have also secured at least 50% marks in higher secondary and bachelor’s degree courses.

PhD in Agriculture Admission Process

The admission process for the PhD Agriculture course is more or less similar to any other program in agriculture. It is made either based on the candidate’s score in the entrance test or merit obtained in their Master’s degree examination.

Before admission, colleges that provide direct access to the program conduct a counseling process. After completing the counseling session, they prepare a merit list based on which admission seats are allotted. And the colleges which conduct an entrance test provide access based on cut-off marks. However, there is no specific cut-off for admission, and the cut-off is determined each year by the respective college or university.

Listed below are some of the essential steps involved in the different processes for admission to the program.

Merit Based Admission

• The candidates need to apply for admission before the deadline.
• After applying for admission, candidates have to appear for a counseling session.
• And at last, a merit list is prepared by the institutes based on which admissions are offered.

Entranced Based Admission

• The candidates need to apply and appear for the entrance test of the colleges/universities they have chosen for admission.
• Candidates who secure the cut-off marks or above are invited for a personal interview which may be optional.
• And last, the candidates who have cleared all the previous stages of the admission process will be allotted the admission seats.

Popular Ph.D. Agriculture Entrance Exams

Admission to the Ph.D. Agriculture program is usually made based on the academic performances of the candidates in their Master’s degree. However, some institutions also grant access to the program based on the entrance test score of the candidates. Listed below are some of the popular entrance tests for this doctorate program.

• UGC NET (UGC-National Eligibility Test)
• AAU VET (The Assam Agricultural University Veterinary Entrance Test)    
• OUAT EE (Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology Entrance Exam)
• CSIR-UGC-NET Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-UGC-National Eligibility Test)

Top Ph.D. in Agriculture Colleges in India

This course is taught in some of the most popular agricultural colleges and universities in India. Here we have listed the best Ph.D. Agriculture colleges in India.

• Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
• National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
• Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
• Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur
• Veterinary College and Research Institute, Chennai
• Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal
• Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi

Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture Syllabus

The duration of the Ph.D. Agriculture Course may last 3 to 5 years. And candidates go through various vital subjects and topics related to Agriculture while pursuing the program. We have tabulated below the most relevant topics that the Ph.D. Agriculture syllabus incorporates.

Particulars of PhD in Agriculture Syllabus

Scope after PhD in Agriculture course

India is primarily an agricultural country, and students with a PhD degree in agriculture must have a bright future. The course offers numerous job options to the candidates like farm manager, research scholar, lecturer, etc. So, they need not have to worry about jobs.

After pursuing the degree, the candidates may either work at agricultural labs & industries, fertilizer companies, educational institutes, and many more or conduct research in agriculture-related fields. They may also invest their time in discovering new ways and techniques of farming to improve farm production.

Opting for an academic career path can also be an option for Ph.D. Agriculture students. They may offer lectures and classes at various prestigious educational institutes in the country and can dedicate their time to imparting agriculture-based knowledge to the students.

Popular PhD in Agriculture Jobs

The PhD in Agriculture course offers numerous job options to the candidates in the workforces like Agricultural sectors, fertilizer companies, Food Processing Industries, educational institutes, etc. Listed below are some of the most popular jobs candidates can aspire to after pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture.

• Farm manager          
• Animal scientists
• Agriculture Officer
• Research associate                
• Production Manager             
• Academic Professional
• Agricultural Journalists
• Agricultural economists
• Soil and plant Scientists
• Food scientists & Technologists

PhD in Agriculture Salary in India

The average salary earned by the Ph.D. Agriculture candidates ranges from INR 3 to 8 lakhs Per Annum. The candidates’ salary depends on their Job Profiles, experience, and college from which the degree has been obtained. Listed below are some of the top Job profiles after PhD in Agriculture with their average salary range.    

• Agronomists:- INR 7 to 8.5 Lakh Per Annum
• Farm manager:- INR 3 to 4 Lakh Per Annum         
• Agriculture Officer:- INR 5 to 6 Lakh Per Annum
• Research associate:- INR 5 to 6 Lakh Per Annum                
• Production Manager:- INR 6 to 7 Lakh Per Annum
• Academic Professional:- INR 6 to 7 Lakh Per Annum
• Agricultural Journalism:-  INR 4 to 5 Lakh Per Annum       
• Soil and Plant Scientists:-  INR 7 to 8.5 Lakh Per Annum

FAQs on Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture

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