Agricultural engineering,
like all other branches of engineering uses scientific
principles and technology to solve problems relating to
sustainable
agricultural production.
Agricultural Engineers
may perform tasks such as planning, supervising and managing the
building of dairy effluent schemes, irrigation,
drainage, flood and water control systems, perform
environmental impact assessments and interpret research
results and implement relevant practices.
Agricultural engineers also specialize in other aspects
like power system and machinery design; structures and
environmental science; and food and bioprocess engineering.
They discover the ways to conserve soil and water and to improve
the processing of agricultural products.
For making a bright career in
agricultural engineering
one should have enough logic and practical thinking ability for
inventiveness and innovation. The career is interesting,
challenging as well as rewarding.
Courses & Eligibility
A candidate aspiring
for career in
agricultural engineering
must complete his/her +2 Science with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
and/or Biology. Most agricultural institutes/universities conduct
entrance examination for admission to BE/BTech program in
agricultural
engineering. Some may consider the marks obtained in + 2
qualifying examination for selection.
For doing ME/M.Tech programs in
agricultural engineering
one should have completed BE/B.Tech in the same discipline. For this
purpose, one needs to qualify the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
(GATE) examination.
Career Prospects
There are excellent
career opportunities in Agricultural sector for engineering
graduates in India. The profession is now far from the traditional
perception of the people towards agriculture.
Agricultural engineering
graduates have ample options in their hand. Apart from joining
manufacturing industries they can also opt for water resource
management, forestry, mining and rehabilitation, food processing,
peri-urban and rural development, machine development and many more.
Agricultural engineers can also work in NGOs under various
schemes and projects.
They are now working as specialists in private consultancies, large
corporations, government and non-government organisations, and some
have become engineering managers of large farms or estates.
Sectors where
agricultural engineers
find employment :
Public Sector :
Department of Agriculture (State as well as central
government)
Development organizations
Universities/Institutions/Labs
Private Sector :
Agricultural co-operatives
Manufacturers of agricultural equipment
Fertiliser and irrigation companies
Farming companies
Industry service organisations such as the sugar industry
NGOs
Pay-Package
Remuneration of
agricultural engineers is
not less than engineers of other branches. A fresh graduate of
agricultural engineering can expect a salary of between Rs 10,000
and Rs 15,000 per month at the entry level. After three or four years’
experience on good projects, one can earn up to Rs 30,000 per month.
There is no limitation for the right candidates to progress in this
field.
Institutes/Universities
India has as many as
43 agricultural universities under the status of central, state and
deemed universities. These universities offer regular full time
programs in
agricultural engineering
both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Apart from these
universities few other universities and technological institutions
like the IITs also offer programs in
agricultural engineering.
Here is a list of agricultural universities in various states which
are offering BE/B.Tech and ME/M.Tech programs in
agricultural engineering.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Ch. Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Hisar, Haryana
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