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Agriculture has always been the mainstay of the Indian economy, although its share has been declining in recent years. This sector employs more than two-thirds of the labour force and has vital supply and demand links with the industrial sector. It is the source not only of food, clothing and housing, but also of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. While the farmer cultivates the land and grows plants, industries process, distribute and transport farm produce. Farming, one of the oldest professions known to man, has somehow been relegated to the position of non-interest for the educated middle classes. It is widely believed that farming requires no formal training, and is therefore only suitable for the uneducated and illiterate. However, agriculture is a vast and diversified field encompassing so many areas, that there are numerous careers for young people to consider in this field. Agriculture today has become highly scientific and technical and lucrative too. With the opening of the economy, the potential for growth in this sector has also witnessed an increase. With the increasing demand , better profitability and potential global market for processed foods, fruits and flowers, there should continue to be a demand for qualified people in this all-important sector. While agriculture brings to mind the simple farmer growing crops, it also broadly covers a range of activities which include horticulture or the cultivation of fruits, floriculture or the cultivation of flowers, sericulture or the production of raw silk by raising silk-worms, tea and coffee farming, - all of which are lucrative professions. Farming includes activities such as sowing, harvesting and other aspects of work in the fields, and marketing of farm produce. Moreover, a farmer can opt to grow food crops such as grains and vegetables, cash crops such as cotton, tobacco and sugarcane, commercial crops such as mushrooms or special tomatoes for processing, or speciality plants for nurseries. Horticulturists and floriculturists can grow special fruits and plants for export, handle landscaping and maintaining of gardens, provide a range of gardening services, and cultivate ornamental and herbaceous plants and trees. Agro-industry is a large and growing sector that requires farm products for further commercial use. The food processing industry sells raw or processed farm products, and requires a range of professionals. Other vast areas requiring specialized agricultural knowledge are that of the production of machinery and equipment for use in farming, and production, and areas of agro-business which include farm banking and credit, insurance, farm management, land appraisals and so on, as also marketing of chemicals and fertilizers for farm use, and the manufacture of fibre and forest produce. Imparting of education in agriculture, agricultural extension service and college instruction in agriculture also require knowledge and training in the subject, as does agricultural reporting for newspapers, magazines and other publications, and for television, advertising and exhibitions. And finally giving agriculture the edge in developing new and better varieties of seeds and plants which are high yielding and have greater resistance to pests and disease is research. Scientists applying the principles of biochemistry, genetics or micro-biology provide the technical support for the growth of agriculture and the development of agricultural by-products, and new methods of processing, preservation and conservation. Agricultural engineering is another area which deals with agricultural machinery and power, soil and water conservation, rural electrification and other technical aspects of farming. Given the range and scope of this career, it is obvious that formal training is essential for success, particularly for those entering areas of research and in agro-industry.
Eligibility:
For admission to the M.Sc. in agriculture, candidates should have completed their graduation in agriculture or related fields.
Selection:
Duration:
While most agricultural universities offer programmes for graduate and post-graduate studies in agriculture, there are also two institutes which offer post-graduate programmes in rural management, namely the Institute of Rural Management (IRMA) at Anand, Gujarat and the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University at Hissar. Some of the more prominent institutions for the study of agriculture include;
GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, UP.
Farming and other areas of agriculture require a great amount of physical stamina ; patience ; dedication ; ability to work in disagreeable conditions, subject to the vagaries of the weather ; a practical bent of mind ; and an interest in scientific developments.
The "Green Revolution " has ushered in numerous job opportunities in this field. The Government is the largest employer of agricultural graduates. Job Opportunities are available to agriculturists in the following areas :
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