What are the job opportunities in India and abroad for students interested in Msc. agriculture in Plant breeding, and Biotechnology? what are the respective salary ranges and posting scenarios for these two subjects? What other specialization in Msc. Agriculture has opportunities abroad?

Hello student

Agriculture is a big industry, and most of the careers are related to science and/or business. The agriculture industry plays a major role in the Indian economy. Hence, if you have the passion, skills and knowledge, there are several opportunities.The study of agriculture is called agricultural science or agricultural technology. The field combines the natural and social sciences, along with economics, engineering and management (particularly natural resources management and business management) of biological systems to practice, development and understand the fields of agriculture and forestry. Being related to the field of life and biological sciences, agricultural science is multidisciplinary and inter-related to Food Science & Technology. Agricultural Science uses the fundamentals of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics to solve the problems of agriculture-food industry. But, students also need to study economics and business management at the undergraduate level. With a degree in agricultural science, you can have careers in the agricultural sector. Major domains within the agricultural sector include agribusiness, R&D organizations, public and private agencies, government and policy making agencies, and private consulting companies. Agricultural science involves research and development on production, processing, productivity of crops and end products for consumers. Agricultural science professionals play a vital role towards maintaining food supply of the society. Major activities include improving the quality and quantity of farming, improving crop yield, minimizing labor, conservation of soil and water, and pest control.

The career scopes in foreign countries like US, Australia, New Zealand and few European countries like Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Norway are excellent. Between 2015 and 2020, the US expects to see 57,900 average annual openings for graduates with bachelor’s or higher degrees in agricultural science and related disciplines. According to the USDA projections, almost half of the opportunities will be in the business and management domains. Around 27% will be in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Jobs in sustainable food and bio-materials production will make up 15%, while 12% of the openings will be in education, communication, and governmental services.

Best of luck