All you need to know about BSc Agriculture programme

BSc Agriculture is an amazing experience where students perform practical besides theoretical knowledge. Agriculture is a vast field to know about as approximately 58% of the Indian population depends on agricultural activities for survival. Agriculture does not mean farming alone but it includes various other branches like poultry, animal husbandry, plant breeding, genetics, dairy farming, apiculture, sericulture etc. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy; it provides food security to the people of the nation. As the whole world is suffering from the pandemic situation agriculture is the only sector that stands still with the highest GDP amongst all other sectors.

BSc Agriculture consists of eight semesters that means it is a four-year professional course offered by various colleges and university campuses. The fee of the course is quite reasonable in comparison to other professional degrees and some meritorious students may also get the scholarships on the basis of their marks. In this course, students will get to study subjects like biochemistry, Agri. Informatics, Remote sensing, Biology, Statistics, Agri. Economics, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant tissue culture, Pathology, Entomology, Geo-Informatics, Math’s, Languages, computer science, extension, genetics, plant breeding, physiology, rural Sociology etc. The syllabus followed by the Department of Agriculture (Swami Vivekananda Faculty of Technology and Management) is recommended by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). BSc Agriculture is the most interesting subject because students themselves work in the field and can experience the joy of growing the crop from sowing to harvesting and able to learn the things very deeply and properly from their own efforts.

Course Overview

The condition applicable to get admission into this course depends upon the eligibility criteria of the student. The student must have secured a minimum 55% marks in the senior secondary with the medical or non-medical stream. As this course consists of eight semesters out of these last semester contains RAWE programme (such as an internship). The students conduct a survey by visiting the farmers and collects the data on a specific topic given to them by their mentor and in the end of the semester they must compile the data in form of a report and submit it to their respective guides along with this the guide organizes various visits to the industries, KVKs, research centre, agricultural universities etc.

Pedagogy

Our institution provides brilliant teachers & Infrastructure to equip the students in the various fields related to agriculture. In agriculture, bookish knowledge is not enough but the field knowledge also plays a vital role in developing one’s skills. Each and every student is provided with a particular mentor and a small piece of land to learn that how to grow a crop according to the guidance of the mentor. Our department has well-equipped laboratories, where students can perform various practicals to learn in a better way.

Aim of BSc Agriculture

1. It sharpens the memory of the student as introducing him/her with a new subject in every semester.
2. To strengthen the backbone of our economy.
3. To develop hands-on agricultural skills.
4. It enhances mental growth and boosts self-confidence by making the person independent.
5. It acts as a building block for successful researchers.

Academic Pursuit After BSc Agriculture

After a bachelor’s degree, one can pursue two years Master’s in science or can also choose a master’s in business administration. It further has a lot of option to continue with the M.Sc. in forestry, agronomy, soil science, breeding, fruit science, floriculture, olericulture, extension education, animal husbandry, agriculture economics etc. Students also have the option to explore foreign country to pursue your master’s degree. 

Career Opportunities

BSc Agriculture graduates have numerous opportunities for jobs in both government and private sector and they can start up their own business by opening seed store and pesticide/ insecticide store by getting the license from the authorities on their graduation certificate. The following are the opportunities to be grabbed by the BSc agri. Graduate:

Career options in agriculture
Seed production firms	ADO (Agricultural development officer)
Agro-chemical industries	BDO (Block development officer)
Lab attendants in private colleges	Food inspector
Agri-preneurship	AFO (Agriculture Field Officer)
Private banks	Technical assistant
Food processing firms	Extension Officer
Farm manager	Field assistant
IFFCO	Soil technician
Forest officer	NABARD

 

Note: The views expressed in this article are that of Swami Vivekanand Group of Institutes and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha