It has been said many times that the real India resides in its villages. It is a well-known fact that about 70% of the population in India live in villages and earn their livelihood through agriculture. India’s most important economic sector is agriculture. Even Jawaharlal Nehru once said, “Everything else can wait, but not agriculture.”
Agriculture has been a major occupation since times immemorial. Before 1947, Indian Agriculture suffered from droughts, famines, etc. In colonial India, the efforts to improve agriculture depended directly on the needs of the British government.
Indian economy is totally an agrarian one. Let’s look at the various career opportunities in the field of agriculture.
Director-General of Agriculture
There are many institutes of the central government whose DG AGRI an individual can become. It is the job of the Central government. The basic role includes research, promoting agricultural education in the rural areas, etc.
- The eligibility for this job is a Ph.D. along with ARS.
- The average salary is 2,25,000.
- One needs to give the exam of Agriculture Research Service.
Professor / Assistant Professor in Agriculture
The profession of a Professor or an Assistant professor in Agriculture is the same as that of other professions. They deal with the various sub-topics of agriculture including agronomy, fisheries, horticulture, etc.
- The minimum eligibility for the job of a Professor in agriculture is Ph.D. An individual is also required to clear the NET exams.
- The minimum eligibility for an Assistant Professor in agriculture is MSc. along with the qualification of NET exams.
- The average salary is about 85,000 to 1,25,000.
Agronomy Sales Manager
These are the experts of the farming business. They instruct teams to go to various farmers and make them aware of the land use, land productivity, agricultural produce, etc. They provide knowledge of agronomic products to the customers.
- The minimum eligibility is graduation in agriculture-related fields such as dairy science, farm management, agricultural economics, etc.
- The average salary is about 4,00,000.
Agriculture Officer
An agricultural officer ensures that all the agricultural practices should be done according to the regulations. He checks every sample and tests the various samples. It is a state-level job.
- The minimum eligibility is a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.
- The minimum age limit is 18 years and should not exceed 42 years of age.
- The average salary is between 40,000 to 80,000.
Agriculture Extension Officer
The basic work of an AEO includes bridging the gap between farmer and scientist. They render the various new government schemes, technology, seeds, etc. to the farmers. They help the farmers in knowing the basic benefits as well as the work of rural development.
- The minimum eligibility is BSc. Agriculture or B.tech agriculture.
- The age limit varies. The Minimum is 18 and the maximum is 44.
- One needs to give the exam of MPPED
- The salary is between 42,000 to 66,000.
District Horticulture Officer
A Horticulture Officer is an officer appointed in the district. He / She looks after the implementation of farm-level sub-projects. They keep a check on the use and maintenance of on-farm investments. They also look after the marketing of agricultural produce.
- It requires a UG or PG degree in horticulture.
- The age limit is 21 to 40 years.
- The exam consists of Prelims and Interview.
- The average salary is 39,000 to 1,00,000.
Agricultural Lawyer
The Agricultural lawyers look and try to solve the disputes. These lawyers deal with various issues such as seed issues, labor, marketing, etc. They ensure that all the guidelines of the government are followed.
- The minimum eligibility is a degree in law.
- One should specialize in the field of agriculture.
- Agricultural lawyers need a good score on the LSAT exam.
- The average salary is about 3,00,000.
Agricultural Economist
The Agricultural Economist works as a scientist as well as a market examiner. He / She examines patterns and trends in economic activity. They help in improving the business decisions of clients and other organizations.
- A bachelor’s degree in agriculture is required along with a master’s degree.
- The age limit is 21 to 30 years.
- Those with master’s service can apply for Agricultural Research Service.
- The salary of an agricultural economist is 6 lakhs per annum.
Some other jobs in the agricultural field include Agricultural Engineers, Environmental Engineer, Animal Geneticist, etc.
Agriculture is the base of India’s economy. A large population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. With proper guidance, good knowledge, and good quality of education one can excel in this stream of agriculture. Hope this article gave you a good knowledge of the various career options in agriculture. India is a country of opportunities to go and try your luck.
All the best!!!
By – Anshima Shrivastava
