Aligarh Muslim University

Agriculture

Agriculture courses involve the study of various technical and scientific subjects related to agricultural technology, food technology, dairy industry, food science, plant science, horticulture, and even forestry. The main difference between these fields is their area of focus.

Apart from these, there are numerous agriculture courses online offered by websites like Udemy, Coursera, and edX. Students can pursue Agriculture Courses After 12th as well as 10th, mostly in the form of certificate and diploma courses. The duration of Agriculture Certificate Courses varies depending upon the course and the institution. It usually varies from a few hours to a few months.

Agriculture students have a high chance of getting jobs in the government sector such as UPSC (Indian Forest Services), Staff Selection Commission, IBPS Specialists Officer (AO), and also jobs in government organizations such as Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and National Dairy Development Board. The average salary after Agriculture courses in India ranges from INR 8,00,000 to 13,00,000 per annum.

Horticulture

BSc horticulture

B.Sc. in Horticulture is a 3 years full time under graduate course which is divided into 6 semesters. Horticulture is the branch of Agricultural Science that deals with the cultivation of vegetables, plants, flowers, herbs, fruits, shrubs, bushes, gardens, and landscaping for gardens, ornamental trees, maintaining nurseries, green houses, orchards and plantations and also floriculture or cultivation of flowers. 

B.Sc. Horticulture program is all about cultivation of plants, starting from seed related study to scientific study of cultivation, plant diseases, genetics of plants etc. It is all about the application of scientific knowledge in plant cultivation and thus increase productivity and yield .

Eligibility

Entry to this field starts from undergraduate level. After completion of 10+2 in Science stream (class 12th) with chemistry, physics, and maths/ biology/ agriculture as the subjects one can opt for Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture as a separate discipline or as a subject of BSc Agriculture Science.

Career Prospects

Government sector jobs , and Officer level posts are available for these Graduates in:

• State wise Forestry Departments,
• State wise Agriculture Departments
• Boards like Spice or Coir or Rubber boards etc.

Private Sector job opportunities are available in areas such as

• Private Plantations
•  Ornamental plants
• flowers businesses
• Agricultural Products marketing firms
• Agricultural Machinery
•  Equipment manufacturing firms
• Food Production and Technology Industry etc.

Career options

• Production and Sales. Operating a business or managing an orchard, vegetable farm, greenhouse, flower or plant shop, nursery, landscaping service, garden center, or food processing firm.
• Public Gardens
• Marketing
• Research
• Teaching
• Industry Support
• Inspection
• Landscape Construction and Management

Syllabus

There are 4 major subjects in Horticulture i.e.

• Fruit science ( Pomology)
• Vegetable Science ( Olericulture)
• Floriculture and Landscaping
• Post-Harvest Management. Besides these, one more subject Spice and plantation crops also teaches in some universities.

Jobs

• Landscape Foreman Supervisor Warehouse Manager
• Groundskeeping Maintenance Landscape Labour Plumbe
• Crew Foreman Foreman Operations Manager
•  Landscape Technician Technician Field Supervisor
• Maintenance Foreman Electrician Service Manager

Average annual course fee

• The average annual course fee ranges anywhere between INR 5,000 to 2 lakhs depending upon the institute offering the course

Average salary offered 

• The average salary offered for this course in India to successful postgraduates of the course ranges between INR 2 to 10 lakhs depending upon the candidate’s expertise in the field

Community/Home Science

BSc community science

B.Sc in Home Science is a three-year undergraduate program that offers professional knowledge in the field of science which deals with nutrition, health and to bring everyday life in sync with the changing surroundings. B.Sc. Family and Community Science or Bachelor of Science in Family and Community Science is an undergraduate Medicine program.

Family and community science is an area that focuses on scientific knowledge in the lifestyle of families and communities.

Generally, the undergraduate course (BSc) in home science comprises of major study topics such as physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, hygiene, sociology, rural development, economics, child development, family relations, community living, arts, food, nutrition, textiles, clothing and home management.

Eligibility

The minimum criteria of eligibility needed to be fulfilled for admission to the course is thet the student should  pass 10+2 or equivalent qualification from a recognized Board.Preferably Science as the stream of study.Qualification of a relevant entrance test in the case of some institutes

Syllabus

Career Prospects

Home Science opens doors for job opportunities for successful graduates in fields such as

• Schools and colleges
• Welfare organizations
• Hospitals
• Apparel merchandising
•  Fashion journalism
•  Restaurants
•  Service sectors
•  Cafeterias
•  Counseling

Researches are hired as

• Food Scientists,
• Demonstrators,
• Nutrition Consultants, 
• Research Assistants,
• Sales promotion companies involved in baby foods, food stuffs and adult food products also employ Home Science graduates, as do manufacturing companies.

Some of the popular professional avenues open to such graduates are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Scope for Higher Studies 

• Masters of Science in Nutrition and Food Processing.
• Master of Science in Textiles and Fashion Apparel.
• Master of Science in Social Work.
• Master of Science in Plant Physiology & Ecology.
• Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Master of Science in Human Development
•  

Average fee

• INR 4,000 - 65,000 per annum

Average salary  

• 5.5L per annum

Sericulture

B.Sc Sericulture

• The duration of the course is 3 years and is divided into 6 semesters.The course that deals with the rearing of silkworms and the production of raw silk is called Sericulture.
• While there are UG and PG courses in the field, the UG programme, i.e., B.Sc Sericulture is most popular, and the competition for the limited seats available in this course are high.
• The duration of the course is three years. Most universities in India offer a Hons course in B.Sc Sericulture while some universities offer the same with subject combinations such as Botany, Zoology, Sericulture.
• The course covers topics related to various processes of Sericulture and Silk Farming. Through this course, students study techniques related to the rearing of silkworms to produce raw silk which is further used to manufacture silk clothes and products.

Courses in Sericulture

Eligibility:

Agricultural Engineering

B. Tech agricultural engineering

B. Tech Agricultural Engineering is a 4-year undergraduate course in agricultural studies. B. Tech Agricultural Engineering syllabus is divided into 8-semester.Agricultural engineering is the engineering of science that studies agricultural production and processing.

Agricultural engineering combines the disciplines of mechanical, civil, electrical, and chemical engineering principles with knowledge of agricultural principles according to technological principles. 

Course Eligibility

• Passing in Higher Secondary (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics higher with 50% marks will make a student eligible for this course. The admission is provided on the basis of an entrance test conducted by the respective institutes.
• Selection to all Agricultural Engineering courses will be on the basis of the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for the IIT's and separate state level and national level exams for other institutions.

Syllabus

Semester 1:

• Engineering Drawing
• Basic Electrical Engineering
• Principles of Agriculture
• Basic Electronics
• Elementary Mathematics
• Engineering Physics
• Computer and Languages

Semester 2:

• Soil Science
• Engineering Mechanics
• Engineering Thermodynamics
• Engineering Chemistry
• Horticultural and Field Crops

Semester 3:

• Farm Implements
• Surveying and Leveling
• Introductory Biotechnology
• Strength of Materials
• Electrical Machines
• Engineering Mathematics
• Statistical Methods
• Database Management and Internet Applications

Semester 4:

• Fluid Mechanics
• Farm Machinery
• Engineering Hydrology
• Unit Operation in Food Engineering
• Soil Mechanics
• Heat and Mass Transfer
• Soil Physics
• Theory of Machines
• Environmental Studies

Semester 5:

• Refrigeration and Air-conditioning
• Building Materials and Structural Design
• Machine Design
• Agri-business Management
• Field Operation and Maintenance of Tractors
• Farm Machinery
• Engineering Properties of Biological Materials, Wells and Pumps
• Environmental Studies

Semester 6:

• Instrumentation and Control Engineering
• Operation Research
• Post-harvest and Storage Engineering
• Tractors and Power Units
• Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
• Crop Process Engineering
• Irrigation Engineering

Semester 7:

• Renewable Energy
• Farm Machinery Design and Testing
• Drainage Engineering
• Dairy and Food Engineering
• Entrepreneurship Development on Agro-industries
• Hydraulics and Design of Irrigation Systems
• Soil and Water Conservation Structures

Job opportunities

• Agriculture Research Scientist
• Food Safety Applications Engineer
• Soil and Plant Scientist
•  Conservation Scientist and Forester
• Agriculture and Irrigation Engineer
• Lecturer/Professor,
• IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO)
•  Indian Forest Service- IFS Officer
• Agriculture Officer
• Quality Assurance Officer
• Farm Manager, Research Engineer
•  Process Manager,
• Purchase Manager

Job Profiles

• Agricultural Sales Engineer,
•  Manager - Manufacturing Agricultural Tractors,
• Program Manager - Agriculture and others.

The graduates can apply for jobs in the research field, pursue higher studies, work in agricultural industries, or pursue a career in banking, biotechnology, rural business management, etc.

Course Fees

• The average course fee for the B.Tech Agricultural Engineering curriculum ranges between 30k-1.2 lakhs per annum.

Average Salary​​​​​​​

• The average B.Tech Agricultural Engineering salary of an aspirant is approximately INR 7.9 lakhs per annum.

Food Technology

BSc Food Technology

Bachelor of Science [B.Sc.] Bachelor of Science or BSc in Food Technology is a full-time undergraduate program which is of 3-year duration. This program involves an advanced study of techniques and activities which are involved in preserving, processing and manufacturing of food. It is a universal industry and offers career opportunities worldwide.

 Food science and technology is topical, interesting and satisfying and offers scope for expression, innovation, growth and personal development

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates seeking admission to the program need to fulfill the following BSc Food Technology eligibility criteria.
• Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in relevant discipline with an aggregate of at least 50% (45% for candidates belonging to SC/ ST Category) marks from a recognized board. Students must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Home Science in Class 12.

Syllabus

Career Prospects

A graduate in Food Technology can easily get numerous entry-level jobs in

• Marketing or Quality Assurance Companies
• Production Management Firms
• Logistics Department
• Research and Development Centers
• Hotels and Restaurants
• Colleges and Universities
• Food Technologist
• Organic Chemists
• Production Manager

Those who wish to pursue higher studies in the field of Food Technology can also pursue M.Sc.

Job Areas

• Hospitals,
• Restaurants
• food processing companies
• Catering establishments
• Soft drink manufacturing firms
• Spice, cereal and rice mills
• Quality control organizations
•  Food research laboratories
• Packaging industries.

Some of the topmost career choices after completion of B.Sc. Food Technology program are provided below:

• MSc Food technology : After pursuing B.Sc. Food Technology program, one can also opt M.Sc. Food Technology program. It is always recommended to go for further studies after pursuing this program as otherwise, it won’t be that fruitful. 
• M. Tech Food Technology : Candidates can also pursue M.Tech program in Food Technology if they wish to pursue a technical higher education.

Average Fee

• The average fee to pursue B.Sc. in Food Technology program from colleges/ universities in India ranges between INR 20,000 and INR 5,00,000

Average Salary

• As a fresher, a Food Technologist can earn INR Rs  2 to 3 lakh per annum (average) in India. Within 5 years, you can reach INR 500,000 – 640,000 per annum. With an experience of 10 years on your CV, you can expect annual package of INR 900,000 – 1,180,000.