M.Sc Agriculture is a two-year postgraduate course pursued by students after completing their three-year graduation degree or bachelor’s in Agriculture, Horticulture, or Forestry with 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA from a recognized university. As agriculture-related is one of the job types worldwide, students with a degree can find employment in many international job sectors. For example, they can fulfill the role of an Agriculture Officer, Production Manager, Farm Managers, etc.
| Degree | Masters |
| Full Form | Master of Science in Agriculture |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Age | No age limit |
| Minimum Percentage | 50% in Under Graduation |
| Average Fees | ₹50K – 1.5 LPA |
| Similar Options of Study | M.Sc (Horticulture), M.Sc (Agronomy) |
| Average Salary | INR 1.5 – 2.5 LPA |
| Employment Roles | Research Officer, Agriculture Assistant, Agriculture Officer, District Superintendent of Agriculture |
According to Wikipedia,” Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities.”
The specialization falls under the umbrella of M.Sc. The M.Sc Agriculture course is a gratifying career for those with high communication, analytical, and language skills. Postgraduates with an M.Sc Agriculture are hired in Agriculture/Dairy Industries, Academic Institutions, Fertilizer industries, Food Processing Units, Agricultural Products Marketing firms, and many more, thus showing off its high job scope.
Table of Contents
Admission for the M.Sc Agriculture Course in India begins with checking the course’s eligibility criteria, including a minimum aggregate of 45-50% in a B.Sc Agriculture Course or an equivalent degree in any reputed University or university Institution. If not percentage, there must be an equal CGPA. A passing score is required on AGRICET, ICAR AIEEA, MCAER PC CET, CUCET, PAU MET, or the necessary entrance exams. This course is open to all ages. Currently, M.Sc Agriculture in India is a top-rated and high-demand course and offers a high job scope for aspirants after immediately passing out.
The M.Sc Agriculture admission process begins with the student having a minimum aggregate score of 45% to 50% in B.Sc Agriculture or any other equivalent degree from any recognized college or institute, along with passing marks on entrance exams conducted by national bodies, institutes, or a group of institutes. Then, aspirants are called to write a written test, participate in group discussions, and have a personal interview after passing these exams. Students are selected for final admission based on their performance in these rounds. Students are also admitted to private colleges through management quota, seats of which are limited in numbers.
Though the admission process varies from college to college, below mentioned are the steps that one should go through generally to get admission:
The online portal/offline network must be used to get the application form first. It has to be filled. Because of covid, online is the only option available right now. Once done, the aspirant has to upload/attach the required documents per the guidelines and the specifications mentioned. Apply for a loan if necessary and pay the fee if selected.
The selection is based on the M.Sc Agriculture eligibility criteria of the minimum scores in the listed exams. Once that is done, there might be an entrance test in colleges. After passing those with a decent score, the aspirant is selected. Either with/without the loan, the fee has to be paid depending on the ones quoted by the institution.
Some universities and institutions or even states may conduct their entrance examinations for M.Sc Agriculture admissions. The exam includes topics Tillage, crops stand establishment, Planting geometry and its effect on growth and yield cropping systems, and many more subjects, helping them get an overview of the course. The exams are:
The students must qualify for the national or state level M.Sc Agriculture entrance exams such as BHU PET, JNUEE, IPU CET, OUCET, DUCET, etc. Aspirants can choose B- schools or coaching institutes that prepare students for the entrance exams. The entrance exam gives a glance at the entire course, thus giving an overview of the topic.
India has a variety of colleges offering a course in M.Sc Agriculture. Since it’s a form of specialization, it requires a practical and theoretical study which helps them get in-depth knowledge on the course. These are the top 10 colleges in India, according to the updates given in 2021.
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SI.No. |
Name of the College |
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2 |
Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Chennai |
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3 |
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5 |
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6 |
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8 |
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10 |
The M.scAgriculture course fees may vary based on colleges. A government-based institute charges less than a private institute because of its infrastructure and facilities. The average price of an M.scAgriculture course in a private institute is about INR 20 – 50K/Annum.
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College Name |
Fees Per Annum |
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IARI, New Delhi |
INR 43.15K |
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Khalsa College, Amritsar |
INR 93K |
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DBSKKV, Ratnagiri |
INR 19.1K |
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Punjab Agriculture University |
INR 1.4 LPA |
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Tamil Nadu Agriculture University |
INR 90K |
The M.Sc 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. Depending on the course modules, each college may have its topics and subjects. A few of the subject topics are:
Read More About M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus and Subjects
M.scAgriculture is a highly demanding course for aspirants trying to work in the agricultural/ plant science/ production field. It is a course that provides a wide range of opportunities. This program emphasizes the importance of research for developing students’ understanding and furthering their learning. It even offers a high job scope abroad because of the language proficiency. The course itself is a highlight in one’s CV, thus emphasizing its enormous job scope.
M.scAgriculture or Master of Science in Agriculture is a two years Post Graduate course. Graduate students with a BSc. Agriculture or graduation degree from a recognized university can pursue this program. This course helps students develop analytical and critical thinking skills for producing original insights in science and thinking/communication. M.scAgriculture course list extensively covers topics from advanced techniques of farming and the scientific study of agriculture. Considering it to be such a broad topic, students have the opportunity to select elective courses and specialize as they wish. Postgraduates with an M.scAgriculture are hired in Agriculture/Dairy Industries, Academic Institutions, Fertilizer industries, Food Processing Units, Agricultural Products Marketing firms, and other fields, thus showing its enormous job scope.
M.scAgriculture graduates have various job roles and career-related plus points because of their excellent knowledge of the most needed language. The aspirant chooses to work with an academic or agricultural or do research and pursue further education. Some of the options are:
Further studies: Graduates of the M.scAgriculture programs have several career options to choose from but even have an option to study further. If they wish to pursue higher education, they can enroll in a program of M.Phil or Ph.D. in any branch of Agriculture.
Teaching Profession: Graduates can pursue teaching positions in educational and research institutions to share their knowledge and expertise with younger students.
Job role: M.scAgriculture aspirants have various job roles and are hired in Agriculture/Dairy Industries, Academic Institutions, Fertilizer industries, Food Processing Units, Agricultural Products Marketing firms, etc. Some of the designations are Corporate Sales Manager, Research Scientist, Lecturer/Professor, Field Officer, etc.
M.sc Agriculture is an accredited master’s program and provides the aspirants with high career opportunities and other benefits. Since agriculture is a significant factor nowadays, being a master’s in it is a plus that one would carry. Any firm would accept a person with language knowledge. The benefits of the course are:
High Pay: The job offers a good starting salary for freshers and a well of ones for senior or experienced graduates, thus marking it as a good one in the economy.
Exposure: A M.scAgriculture degree gives good communication skills, thus having a good effect as a part of CV and gives a good job scope even abroad, because of the language skills. It even helps a person become a public figure.
Opportunities: It gives a broad job scope in various sectors as agricultural knowledge is the most basic requirement. It even has a high job scope abroad.
Read More about M.Sc Agriculture Jobs
M.scAgriculture entrance exams involve both an aptitude and a knowledge testing type of questions. So being well prepared with it would be of use. Since the exams themselves brief the course, it would be of more use to get into an in-depth study. Below are some preparation tips made by experts for aspirants who want to pursue M.scAgriculture.
Time Management: The aspirant should be capable of answering all the questions in the specified time. Since it involves science, it would be lengthy.
Reading Newspapers: General knowledge and current affairs questions are often asked in entrance exams and sometimes in personal interviews and group discussion rounds.
Skills: Trying to focus more on Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Reasoning, Descriptive Types, Data Interpretation, etc., which are all included in the questions.
Having an M.Sc Agriculture degree opens up a wide range of career options. It is even possible to study further after completing the course. The most commonly followed path in this aspect is the Doctorate degrees, which can be obtained in different specializations involved in the course module. When higher education and the MSc degree are put together, it gives the students a high job scope. A few of the courses are:
The starting salary of an M.Sc Agriculture graduate would be around INR 3.5 – 4 LPA. As skills and experience increase, so will the salary increment. The salary varies depending on whether it’s a private or a public sector and the firm’s popularity. Even the job role of the aspirant is a factor that is noted while the salaries are discussed. For instance, an editor might get paid more than a writer at times.
Read More About M.Sc Agriculture Salary
After completing a course in M.Sc Agriculture, the aspirant can work in public and private sectors depending on the type of work they prefer or the skills they have. They even have further specialization by doing a postgraduate degree like a doctorate or further extension by other full-time courses. But even the MA degree has a high job scope because of the demand and the industrialization and development happening.
Some of the best job designations for the graduates after the course of M.Sc Agriculture in the government sector are as follows:
Some of the best M.Sc Agriculture career options in the private sector are:
The M.scAgriculture course provides a career boost for people seeking jobs in agriculture/ plants development fields. It opens a variety of career opportunities for aspiring agriculturists at various international agencies.
Some of the skills required for the M.Sc Agriculture graduates are as follows:
The MSc Agriculture syllabus covers topics such as advanced techniques of farming and the scientific study of farming, agribusiness, and husbandry. M.Sc Agriculture subjects include topics such as Water & Nutrient Management, Seed Technology, Horticulture, Agricultural Statistics, Plant Biochemistry, etc.
The MSc Agriculture subjects and syllabus is divided into four semesters, spanning a period of two years. The M.Sc Agriculture syllabus pdf can be downloaded from the official website of the colleges offering the course.
The MSc Agriculture syllabus provides in-depth study and research work during the entire course period that helps graduates at building job-specific skills in contemporary agricultural practices, making the M.Sc Agriculture job scope substantially extensive and broad.
Table of Contents
The MSc Ag syllabus aims to cover all the foundation areas in agricultural science and provides comprehensive knowledge in mixed farming, plantation agriculture, Subsistence farming, dryland & wetland farming, etc. A common structure of the semester-wise M.Sc Agriculture syllabus is given below:
Below is the list of M.Sc Agriculture subjects in the first year.
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Semester I |
Semester II |
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Soil Chemistry |
Soil Physics |
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Modern Concepts in Crop Production |
Soil Mineralogy, Genesis AndClassification |
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Principles and practices of Soil fertility and Nutrient management |
Principles and Practices of Weed Management |
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Principles and Practices of Water Management |
Dryland farming and Watershed management |
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Agrometeorology and crop weather forecasting |
Agronomy of Oil Seeds, Fibre, and Sugar Crops |
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Electives |
Electives |
Practical Topics in the First Year M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus
The practical topics in the first-year MSc Agriculture syllabus are given below:
The subjects in the second-year MSc Ag syllabus are given below:
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Semester III |
Semester IV |
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Agronomy of Major Cereals and Pulses |
Soil Biology |
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Principles and Practices of Organic Farming |
Agricultural Biochemistry |
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Soil Survey And Land Use Planning |
Principles Of Plant Physiology |
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Agricultural Pesticides |
Electives |
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Electives |
Research Project |
Practical Topics in the Second Year MSc Agriculture Syllabus
The practical topics in the second-year MSc Agriculture subjects are given below:
Note: Depending on the university/college, the syllabus may differ slightly. Students can access the MSc Agriculture syllabus pdf by visiting the college website.
The M.Sc Agriculture subjects aim to provide theoretical and practical insight into agriculture and plant science along with the study of soil cultivation techniques, crop harvesting, animal husbandry, and manufacturing edible products from plant or animal resources. Some of the core & Elective M.Sc Agriculture subjects are given below:
Core M.Sc Agriculture Subjects:
The M.Sc Agriculture course consists of core and elective subjects. Following is the M.Sc Agriculture subject list consisting of core topics:
Elective MSc Agriculture Subjects:
Some of the elective MSc Agriculture subject list in the MSc Agriculture syllabus are given below.
The subjects in the MSc Ag syllabus are dynamic and spread across various domains such as Economics, Environmental Science, Horticulture, Statistics, etc. A detailed view of some of the M.Sc Agriculture subject list is given below:
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M.Sc Agriculture subjects |
Topics Covered |
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Soil Physics |
Soil water behavior-infiltration, Soil physical environment & soil fertility relationship, Soil compaction processes, soil texture, soil structure-genesis |
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Soil Chemistry |
Chemical composition of soils, Soil reaction, Chemistry of acid & salt-affected soils and their reclamation, clay-organic matter interaction in retention |
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Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management |
Soil fertility and productivity, Essential plant nutrients, crop response to different nutrients, residual effects and fertilizer use efficiency, fertilizer mixtures, and grades |
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Water Management |
Water and its role in plants, water resources of India, major irrigation projects, Soil water movement in soil and plants, Water management of the crops, and cropping systems |
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Weed Management |
Weeds, Crop weed association, competition & allelopathy, Concepts of weed prevention, control & eradication, Physical, cultural, chemical, biological & integrated weed management |
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Organic Farming |
Organic farming – concept and definition, Organic farming & water use efficiency, earthworms & vermicompost, Green manures & biofertilizers, Labeling & accreditation procedures |
The subjects and syllabus offered by M.Sc Agriculture colleges can differ reflecting their unique educational objectives. To access and download the M.Sc Agriculture syllabus pdf, students should visit the official website of their selected university. The following sections provide a general outline of the syllabus of the M.Sc Agriculture colleges in India.
The Lucknow University curriculum covers fundamental subjects like soil chemistry, plant nutrition, and soil management. It also delves into more specialized areas like soil mineralogy and agricultural biochemistry. The semester wise MSc AG syllabus is detailed in the table below:
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Semester I |
Semester II |
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Soil Chemistry |
Soil Physics |
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Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition |
Soil Mineralogy, Genesis and Classification |
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Management of Problem Soils and Water |
Manures and Fertilizers |
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Principles and Practices of Soil Fertility and |
Statistics and Computer Application |
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Semester III |
Semester IV |
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Seminar |
Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
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Agricultural Biochemistry |
Principles of Plant Physiology |
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Soil Survey and Land Use Planning |
Project Work |
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Agricultural Pesticides |
The Guru Nanak Dev University M.Sc Agriculture syllabus emphasizes on modern concepts in crop production, weed management, and sustainable agriculture. It also covers topics related to soil fertility, nutrient management, and experimental research techniques. An overview of the detailed MSc AG syllabus is provided below:
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Semester I |
Semester II |
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Modern Concepts in Crop Production |
Principles and Practices of Weed Management |
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Soil Fertility & Nutrient Management |
Agronomy of Oil Seeds, Fibre and Sugar Crops |
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Principles and Practices of Water Management |
Field Plot Techniques |
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Soil Chemistry and Biochemistry |
Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use |
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Statistical Methods for Research Workers |
Experimental Designs for Research Worker |
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Weed Management |
Farming Systems and Sustainable Agriculture |
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Crop Production under Special Situations |
Production Technology of Spices, Aromatic, Medicinal and Plantation Crops |
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Semester III |
Semester IV |
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Agronomy of Major Cereals and Pulses |
Cropping Systems and Sustainable Agriculture |
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Principles and Practices of Organic Farming |
Dry Land Agriculture and Watershed Management |
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Fertilizer Technology / Physiology of Growth & Development/ Fundamentals of Agroclimatology |
Research Work |
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Credit Seminar |
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Research Work |
For admissions to the MSc Agriculture course, colleges may follow either entrance-based or merit-based selection criteria. Specific universities may have variations in their MSc Agriculture entrance exam syllabus. Listed below is a general outline of the syllabus for MSc agriculture entrance exam:
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MSc Agriculture Subjects for Entrance Exam |
Topics Covered |
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Agriculture Science |
Questions covering agronomy, horticulture, soil science, and plant breeding. |
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Science |
Questions encompass biology, chemistry, and physics, forming the foundation. |
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Agricultural Engineering |
Topics include machinery, irrigation, and sustainable practices. |
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General Knowledge |
Awareness of agricultural policies, trends, and issues. |
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Aptitude and Reasoning |
Logical and analytical questions. |
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Mathematics |
Questions covering arithmetic, algebra, and quantitative reasoning |
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English |
Assess proficiency in reading, grammar, and vocabulary. |
The M.Sc Agriculture course structure is pragmatic. Seminars, labwork, field trips, projects, and other certifications are essential elements under the M.Sc Agriculture course structure. The standard course structure is given below:
M.Sc Agriculture includes unique learning methodologies. Interactive classroom sessions, case studies, and research projects are part of the teaching approach. Some of the teaching methods and practices associated with the M.Sc Agriculture course are given below:
Projects under the MSc Ag syllabus act as mini-thesis which is a compulsory project for the students to complete at the end of their 4th semester. Some of the project topics under the MSc Ag syllabus are given below:
Students who want to obtain in-depth knowledge of agricultural science can review the reference books. These books will help them to perform better through the course and understand the concepts in an effective way. Some of the Reference Books under the MSc Agronomy syllabus are given below:
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MSc Agriculture Subjects |
Books |
Authors |
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Crop Production |
Principles and Practices of Agronomy |
P Balasubramaniyan and SP Palaniappan |
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Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management |
The Nature and Properties of Soils |
NC Brady and R.R Weil |
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Weed Management |
Principles in Weed Management |
RJ Aldrich and RJ Kramer |
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Organic Farming |
Organic Farming – Theory and Practice |
SP Palaniappan and K Anandurai |
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Water Management |
Irrigation and Drainage |
D. Lenka |
