Agricultural Science

What is Agricultural Science

As the culture of agriculture has prevailed in India for so long, the study about agriculture could help in the development of new variations of crops like pest-resistant crops. These variations could help in the better productivity of agriculture and hence better income for the people residing in the country. To get the deeper understanding about it, aspirants can study agricultural science.  

Agricultural science, as the name suggests, revolves around the learning about the methods and the techniques that are involved in the farming and the cultivation of the crops of various kinds.

Studying Agricultural Science will enhance the chances of the production of better variations of crops that yield more and take less time in growing. Agricultural science involves a variety of subjects that include the aspects of science, technology, and business altogether. It teaches to invent and to work on better quality of yield and crops and also to run a business based on agriculture. Candidates can take up this field of education at the undergraduate as well as the postgraduate level.

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Agricultural Science

The eligibility criteria defined for admission to the agricultural science courses are different for the different colleges and different degree levels.

For undergraduate Agricultural Science Courses

• The applicants are required to complete their 10+2 or equivalent education from an established educational institution in the country.

• They are required to study Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology in Class 11 and Class 12.

• They must obtain at least 55 percent aggregate in their class 12 to get admission in a good college.

For post-graduate agricultural science courses

• The candidates are required to complete their graduation in a related field from a recognised institution in the country.

• They must obtain at least 45-50 percent aggregate in their graduation and will also be required to sit through several entrance exams.

Agricultural Science Entrance Exam

Admission to the courses of agricultural sciences can either take place depending on the entrance exams that are conducted at the national, state or university level or can also be done by qualifying for the merit list as per the cut-off decided by the university depending on your scores of 10+2 or equivalent certificate. The following are some of the entrance exams that are carried out in the country to accept students at different universities for their agricultural courses.

ICAR AIEEA (All India Entrance Examination for Admission): This is a national-level entrance test that is conducted to proceed with the admission of students in various agricultural programs offered at different universities.

KEAM (Kerala Engineering, Agriculture and Medical): This is an entrance exam that is conducted in Kerala state to select the candidates for the Agricultural Engineering programs in the state universities.

MP PAT (Madhya Pradesh Pre-agriculture Test): This is an entrance test conducted in Madhya Pradesh to choose the candidates for the various different agricultural undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Required Skillset for Agricultural Science

The field of agricultural sciences is not only restricted to studying about the effective methods and techniques of the production of crops or crop patterns, but it also includes the inculcation of some special skills into the people before they can step into the work industry related to agriculture.

Adaptability: The most important skill set for any job regardless of the field of work that you are applying is the ability to adapt. Whatever you learn in the class might not be directly applicable to the work scenario because the real situations are a far cry from the situations described in the books. Thus, you need to apply your brain to your work and adapt according to the climate, and soil type. to do your job properly.

Time management and organisation: When you work in the agriculture field, you need to cater to a lot of jobs like arranging the raw materials, checking the irrigation, distribution of crops, sowing of seeds, harvesting, etc. You can cater to so many jobs altogether only if you are organised and have a plan according to time management for different activities. These will help you to work properly in the right amount of time to yield the maximum crop in the right weather.

Interpersonal Skills: When you step into the field of agriculture, you will have to have interpersonal skills imbibed in you because when you have to cater to a lot of activities together on your own, and you are the one who is there to give direction to the labourer, workers and the machines. You need to have good interpersonal skills to communicate properly with the people that are involved in the job with you.

Versed with technology: As technology is advancing and taking over most of the activities to reduce the manpower used in agriculture, you need to be well-versed with the new technology that comes into the market. The integration of technology in the agricultural field has proved to bring about a boom in the production of crops and has resulted in better yields and thus more income.