MSc Agriculture

MSc Agriculture is a two-year post-graduate course that covers topics such as plant biology, agricultural machinery, plantation management, industrial fertilizers, and biochemistry. Pursuing an MSc in Agriculture may be helpful for people who want to work in the agricultural industry. For those with a keen interest in biochemistry and plant biotechnology, an MSc in Agriculture may be particularly fulfilling. Nonetheless, working on a range of agriculture-related research projects is one of the benefits of getting an MSc in Agriculture. 

The primary focus of the course is on agricultural studies and the different scientific methods used in agriculture. The MSc in Agriculture syllabus covers topics such as plant genetic resources and seed technology, agricultural statistics, basic plant breeding, plant biochemistry, crop production concepts, dryland farming, watershed management, and water management principles. To be eligible for the course, students must hold a BSc degree in forestry, horticulture, or agriculture from an accredited university. After completing a four-year BSc in Agriculture, the course can be taken. The MSc in Agriculture offers numerous specialisations, such as Entomology, Plant Physiology, Agronomy, Biotechnology, Agricultural Economics & Farm Management, and more.

MSc in Agriculture admission will be granted either directly or on the basis of the applicant's entrance exam results. Nonetheless, most colleges and universities require entrance exams as an criteria of admission. Candidates with an MSc in Agriculture can find numerous job roles in both the public and private sectors. In addition to furthering their education in the field, candidates can pursue career profiles such as Agriculture Officer, Production Manager, and Farm Manager. The average salary that an MSc Agriculture graduate earns ranges between INR 2 LPA and INR 5 LPA.

Check out some of the highlights of the MSc Agriculture course in the table below:

MSc Agriculture is a highly prosperous course in India as the country is an agro-based country.  Due to this, agricultural courses have always been in great demand in various universities across India. Here are some of the most important reasons for pursuing an MSc Agriculture degree:

• The students will get to know about the various modern techniques involved in farming that will greatly help in the development of the farming industry.
• Subjects in MSc Agriculture revolve around the scientific study of agriculture. This helps to improve the quality of the yield and also increases the production rate. MSc Agriculture course also provides an integrated understanding of economic and social considerations in the agricultural systems.
• MSc Agriculture graduates will get excellent job offers from various popular countries. Some of the important job areas include Agriculture/Dairy Industries, Fertilizer Industries, and Food Processing Units.
• The average salary earned by an MSc Agriculture fresher is around 1 LPA - 3.2 LPA. However, the salary will increase with experience.
• The students may also go on to pursue research activities in various fields related to Agriculture.

Various colleges in India conduct their own entrance examinations for admission to MSc agriculture. However, there are a few popular entrance examinations conducted at a national level for admission to MSc agriculture. Candidates can check the most popular entrance examinations for MSc agriculture course mentioned below:

• AGRICET:  AGRICET is the common entrance test conducted by Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University for admission to the MSc Agriculture course. 
• ICAR AIEEA: ICAR is an all-India entrance examination for admission to the Agriculture courses of the country. 
• MCAER PG CET: The Maharashtra Council of Agriculture Education & Research conducts an entrance test for admission to the various postgraduate courses of Maharashtra colleges and MSc Agriculture is one of them. 
• CUET UG 2024: CUET (Central university common entrance test) is a national-level test conducted for admissions into the various central universities under MSc Agriculture course available across India. 
• PAU MET: Punjab Agricultural University admits MSc agriculture students every year through the PAU MET exam.  

MSc agriculture admission process is both merit-based and entrance-based. However, the admission process for merit-based and entrance-based admission is conducted separately. The admission process consists of few rules and procedures that are to be followed by the students in order to secure their admission. 

To be eligible for MSc Agriculture admission 2024, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria mentioned below

MSc Agriculture Eligibility Criteria

MSc agriculture eligibility criteria are defined as a set of parameters that must be met by the students in order to be eligible for the admission process. The eligibility criteria for MSc agriculture is based on various factors such as previous academic scores, age limit, nationality, previous courses of study, and more. Candidates are advised to check the MSc Agriculture eligibility criteria before applying since candidates who do not meet the requirements are directly disqualified from admission. 

Therefore, the following eligibility criteria should be fulfilled:

• The students must complete their graduation in courses like Horticulture, Forestry, or Agriculture from a recognized university to purse MSc Agriculture course.
• The student must also have a minimum of 50% marks in their graduation. Relaxation of marks is given to the SC/ ST/ OBC/ PwD candidates in order to take admission in MSc Agriculture.
• In case of admission based on entrance exams, the candidate must clear the cut-off marks in order to be eligible for admission in MSc agriculture course.

MSc Agriculture Admission 2024

MSc agriculture admission process is mentioned below:

For Entrance Based MSc Agriculture Admission

Candidates can apply for MSc Agriculture courses by following the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Check into the MSc Agriculture admission form requirements and deadlines listed by various colleges and universities if you want an admission to a MSc Agriculture programme.

Step 2: Register for the entrance exams required for MSc Agriculture admissions at the colleges and universities you want to attend

Step 3: Once confirmed, save the application process for future use. Also, for admission and other important notifications, keep an eye on the exam or the university's official website

Step 4: After appearing and passing the MSc Agriculture entrance examination, candidates must fill out an application form for their desired university with personal information such as academic details, entrance examination results, and so on

Step 5: Candidates who successfully meet the university's eligibility requirements are shortlisted for the counselling round (if any) to finalise the admissions process

Step 6: After clearing the counselling session, candidates must pay the university's entrance fee in order to be confirm their admission to the MSc Agriculture course

For Merit Based MSc Agriculture Admission 

Candidates can apply for MSc Agriculture courses by following the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Fill out the online MSc Agriculture admission application form

Step 2: Pay the registration fee and any additional fees if admission is granted based on merit

Step 3: The shortlisted applicants will receive invitations to the subsequent phases of the hiring process, such as individual interviews or counselling

Step 4: Candidates must submit all the required documents and fee in order to confirm their admission to MSc Agriculture course

Required Skillset for MSc Agriculture

Before pursuing a career in agriculture, candidates have to acquire certain basic abilities. Students enrolled in the MSc agriculture degree programme must have both scientific and critical thinking skills. MSc agriculture students must understand MSc agriculture, which necessitates having hold of a number of skills that will assist them in their success as agricultural graduates. The MSc Agriculture course can help people advance their careers in agriculture and plant development. It opens up a wide range of career opportunities for aspiring agriculturists at various international organisations. 

Candidates can review the list of top skills required below:

• Observation skills
• Critical Thinking skills
• Numerical Skills
• Interest in agriculture and farming
• Analytical skills
• Knowledge of plant biology
• Problem Solving Ability
• Communication skills
• Team Player
• Leadership skills

MSc Agriculture has a number of specializations like Agronomy, Horticulture, Forestry, Genetics and Plant Breeding, etc. Here are some of the important specializations in MSc agriculture:

MSc Agronomy

MSc in Agronomy is a postgraduate agriculture course that mainly focuses on providing sustainable agricultural methods for the betterment of the environment as well as for human beings who consume agricultural products. 

MSc in Horticulture

MSc in Horticulture is another specialization for the agricultural course that deals with the cultivation of plants, management techniques, quality assurance, marketing, etc. The program is designed to produce a deep knowledge of horticultural sciences in students. 

MSc in Forestry

MSc in Forestry mainly revolves around the different types of forests and forest ecology. You will also be learning about forest inventory models, wood harvesting, and the proper utilization of forest resources. 

MSc in Genetics and Plant Breeding

MSc in Genetics and Plant Breeding is about various methods of improvement in the quality of production of crops. It teaches students how to apply genetics to protect the environment. Check the top MSc Genetics & Plant Breeding Colleges in India.

Students can choose to pursue MBA Agri-business as well for their higher studies. There are a few key differences between MSc Agriculture and MBA in Agri-Business that are mentioned in the table below. Comparisons in MSc Agriculture and MBA Agri-Business are made on the basis of qualification, eligibility, admission process, course fees, salary, job options, recruiting companies, and colleges offering these programs.

There are numerous colleges and universities in India that offer an MSc Agriculture degree. We have listed some of the best MSc Agriculture Colleges in India based on NIRF rankings, along with their MSc Agriculture fees.

Candidates can also look at Top Colleges in Delhi University (DU) Based on NIRF Ranking 2024 here!

Now that you are familiar with the basic details pertaining to the MSc Agriculture course, let’s take a quick glance at some of the popular universities offering MSc Agriculture abroad.

• University of Hull
• University of British Columbia 
• The University of Queensland
• University of Glasgow 
• University of Nottingham
• The University of Western Australia
• Lincoln University
• University of Canterbury 
• The University of Adelaide 
• Macquarie University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Curtin University
• The University of Otago 
• The Australian National University

The MSc agriculture fee structure is different for every college. The average fee structure for MSc agriculture degree is between INR 20K - INR 5L for the entire course. The fee structure for MSc agriculture course is decided on the basis of the types of facilities provided by the university such as lodging, food, industrial training, and more.

MSc Agriculture course is a two-year program consisting of 4 semesters. It covers Agronomy, Biotechnology, Agricultural Economics & Farm Management, Plant Physiology, Entomology, Extension Education, etc. However, the MSc agriculture curriculum is more or less the same for every university and is designed on the basis of industrial requirements and academic requirements. MSc agriculture syllabus contains core subjects from the field of agriculture and farming. Candidates can find the complete MSc agriculture course curriculum mentioned in the table below:

MSc Agriculture syllabus may differ from college to college. However, the main topics will remain the same. These are some of the main topics of the MSc Agriculture course:

MSc agriculture graduates have several career options. Educational institutes provide several kinds of research programmes in the agriculture department, as well as higher education opportunities. MSc Agriculture graduates can also prepare for government jobs in the agriculture department or as private actors. There are numerous companies dealing with agricultural products and marketing. To obtain government jobs, students must pass a variety of government-sponsored entrance exams, including UPSC, State Forest Exam, UGC NET, and others.

Here is list of some of the most popular MSc Agriculture job profiles, including their descriptions and average salaries.

Note: The salary mentioned above is subject to change.

MSc Agriculture Salary 

MSc Agriculture is a course that helps with specialisation in the field of agriculture. The salary for an MSc Agriculture qualification varies depending on the sector (government or private), the type of job, and the aspirant's skills. For a candidate with less than one year of experience, the average annual salary ranges from INR 2 lakh to INR 5 lakh. The salary increases gradually as one gains experience in this field. MSc Agriculture graduate salaries in India are:

Note: The salary mentioned above is subject to change.

MSc Agriculture Top Recruiters 

MSc Agriculture graduates can find jobs in India's public and private sectors, depending on their interests, abilities, and preferred fields of employment. Both have advantages in the workplace.

Some of the top recruiters that employ MSc Agriculture graduates are listed below:

MSc Agriculture graduates can pursue a career in education, teaching at various educational institutions. He/she may also pursue a Ph.D. in a chosen specialisation. Students may also seek employment in various government and private sectors. Numerous companies offer high-paying jobs to MSc in Agriculture students. Students who want to work in government sectors must take a variety of entrance exams. They will also sit for the UPSC. Government banks are also looking for MSc in Agriculture students to work on agricultural loans for farmers.