Home >> News & Articles >> Top Agriculture Colleges in India

Top Agriculture Colleges in India

Jan 02, 2023 by Admin
Top Agriculture Colleges in India

Most of the best agriculture colleges in India offer agriculture courses for UG, PG, Ph.D or various certifications in full-time, part-time, or distance education online and offline. More than farming, agriculture is a discipline that contributes to ecological balance, provides food, and stimulates the economy. An applied science that includes features involved in the production of crops, raising livestock, or various products.

Disciplines under Diploma, B Tech, B.Sc, M.Sc, and Ph.D. in Agriculture include Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Agronomy, Horticulture, Soil Science, Pathology, Fishery Science, Animal Husbandry, and many more. Discover the benefits and guidance with the best faculties, professionals, and facilities to start a career in agriculture. You can check out the curated listings placed among the best agricultural institutes in India, which fall within the rankings of reputable courses like NIRF, The Week, India Today, and others.

NIRF Top Agriculture Colleges In India

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), run by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), adopts a methodology using certain characteristics to compute a score-based ranking of the various institutes in India.

The following are the standard criteria used in practice to rank various colleges:

  • Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR) - 30%
  • Research and Professional Practice (RP) - 20%
  • Graduation Outcomes (GO) - 20%
  • Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) - 10%
  • Peer Perception (PR) - 10%

According to the NIRF ranking system, the table below consists of the top agriculture colleges in India

NIRF Ranking

College Name

NIRF Score

1

Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Kharagpur

75.85

2

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

68.76

3

Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi

59.85

4

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh

52.54

5

Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam

51.24

6

University of Madras, Chennai

50.76

7

Amity University, Noida

46.88

8

Tezpur University (TU), Tezpur

46.83

9

Kashmir University, Srinagar

44.67

10

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar

43.81

Top Agriculture Colleges In India By The Week

Given below are the top agriculture colleges in India by The Week ranking system as follows:

Ranking

College Name

Composite Score

1

Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi

392

2

Andhra University College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam

292

3

Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science, Chennai

260

Zone-Based List Of The Top Agriculture Colleges In India

Check out the information below to see the list of Indian schools organized by zone, according to the rankings published by NIRF and the WEEK.

Some of the best colleges in North India are listed below:

  • Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
  • Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
  • Amity University, Noida
  • Top Agriculture Colleges in South India

Here is the list of the top colleges in South India are:

  • Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam
  • University of Madras, Chennai
  • Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT), Kochi
  • Top Agriculture Colleges in East India

A few of the top colleges in East India include:

  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
  • Tezpur University (TU), Tezpur
  • Centurion University of Technology & Management (CUTM), Bhubaneswar
  • Top Agriculture Colleges in West India

The top colleges in West India are as follows:

  • College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
  • Mewar University, Chittorgarh
  • BIRSA Agricultural University, Ranchi

Specialisations-Wise Top Agriculture Colleges In India

After earning a bachelor's degree in agriculture, you might specialize in the M.Sc. Agriculture program. Several specializations are available, including agronomy, nematology, agricultural chemistry, horticulture, forestry, plant physiology, genetics and plant breeding, agricultural economics, and biotechnology. Agricultural management, entomology, etc.

Students can select from various specializations to gain knowledge in the desired sector while considering their career prospects. The income and career prospects differ depending on the specializations chosen.

The following are a few of the well-liked specializations offered by India's best agriculture institutions that have strong employment prospects and pay:

Top Agronomy Colleges in India

Agronomy deals with researching methods and approaches utilized to improve the production of food and its security. You can work as an agronomist, crop consultant, crop scout, agriculture chemical representative, and others. Given below are the top agronomy colleges in India:

  • Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
  • Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Top Horticulture Colleges in India

Producing foods like vegetables, fruits, flowers, spices, and drinks is the main goal of horticulture. Horticulturists, agriculture forest officers, assistant professors, and other professionals are among the alternatives. The best horticultural schools in India are as follows:

  • Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
  • Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Top Genetics and Plant Breeding Colleges in India

Studies that use genetics to enhance plants under various environmental circumstances with improved quality are under the category of genetics and plant breeding. Plant breeders, project associates, farm managers, etc., are all possible career paths. The leading universities in India for genetics and plant breeding are listed below:

  • Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
  • Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Fee Structure For Top Agriculture Colleges In India

The agricultural fees in India vary depending on the kind of college, degree programs, facilities, infrastructure, and employment chances, among other factors. The information below demonstrates the different pricing schedules of the top public and private institutions for major agriculture programs.

Government College agriculture course fees

Public College Name

Agriculture Total UG Fee (in INR)

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

1,65,000

BIRSA Agricultural University, Ranchi

54,000

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur

90,120

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh

85,570

Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur

30,850

Private College Agriculture Course fees

Private College Name

Agriculture Total UG Fee (in INR)

Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture, Pollachi

94,152

Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Noida

3,80,000

Dr. DY Patil College of Agriculture Business Management, Pune

2,21,000

Ramkrishna Bajaj College of Agriculture, Wardha

40,070

Mewar University, Chittorgarh

2,40,000

Entrance Exams Accepted By Top Agriculture Colleges In India

Common entrance exams conducted by the different top colleges for agriculture course at the national/state/university level are given below:

  • BCECE (Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination)
  • ICAR (All India Competitive Examination-Junior Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow)
  • MHT CET (Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test)
  • KEAM (Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical Entrance Examination)
  • OUAT (Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Entrance Examination)
  • LPUNEST (Lovely Professional University National Eligibility and Scholarship Test)
  • AAU VET (Assam Agricultural University Veterinary Entrance Test)
  • AGRICET (Agriculture Common Entrance Test)
  • BHU UET (Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Examination)
  • BBAU Entrance Exam (Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Exam)

Admission and Eligibility Criteria For Best Agriculture Colleges In India

The eligibility criteria and admissions process for multiple programs differ for each institution. First, every candidate has to meet the eligibility criteria of the respective course, followed by the whole admission process, to get a place in the desired college or university.

Admission is based on the marks/ranking obtained in the entrance examination or direct admission based on previous results, face-to-face interviews, etc. There is also a category fee and a management fee for seat reservations.

Following are the steps involved in the eligibility criteria and admission process among the best agricultural institutes across India:

Eligibility Criteria for Best Agriculture Colleges in India

The following points are the general eligibility criteria for various agricultural programs within top colleges across India:

  • UG Level: An applicant must pass Standard 12 with a minimum of 50% marks with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects by a recognized board in India. A candidate must be at least 17 years old.
  • PG Level: Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture/ Forestry/ Horticulture/ related disciplines from a recognized institution with the required overall grade (grades determined by preferred institutions).
  • Doctoral/Ph.D. Level: Applicants must hold a Master's Degree in Agriculture from a recognized institution with the required percentage (percentage determined by the institutions).

Admissions for Best Agricultural Colleges in India

More than 400 agricultural colleges offer admissions for different courses. Applicants who have met the admission criteria may attempt a school-administered test or direct admission based on academic merit. On this basis, candidates will be shortlisted for the final selection. Also, applicants can research the course, register, download, and submit an application form from the college's official website.

Some of the important eligibility criteria for the best agriculture colleges in India are:

  • Candidates belonging to a specific category are entitled to reserved places.
  • Applicants must submit a valid score or ranking for the placement test.
  • All documents and application fees (if applicable) must be submitted within the indicated deadlines (online/offline) as outlined in the guidelines.

Cutoffs for Top Agriculture Colleges In India

Students should always look at the final score or qualification ranking for the specific course set by the institution. University officials would call an applicant for the counseling process after the admission limits are exceeded.

BCECE Cut Off

The Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) is a state-level entrance examination for undergraduate programs organized by the BCECEB. See the latest BCECE Cut off category wise in the table below:

Type of Category

Overall Cutoff Percentage

General

50%

General (PwD)

45%

Reserved PwD

40%

ST

40%

SC

40%

OBC

40%

ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PGS) Cut Off

A nationwide admission test for doctoral (Ph.D.) programs into a variety of programs, including agricultural, allied sciences, veterinary, and others, is held by the ICAR and is known as the All India Competitive Examination-Junior Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow (PGS) (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).

Under the ICAR test, each school has its cutoff standards. Use the chart below to get a general sense of the prior year's ICAR cutoff and estimate a ballpark score for passing the exam.

Category-wise

Cut Off Score

Cut Off Rank

General

450

400

OBC

430

680

Scheduled Caste

365

2550

Scheduled Tribe

310

4550

Scope Of Agriculture In India

The agricultural sector will always play a significant role in the Indian economy. In India, more than half of the population's livelihood depends on agriculture. India is one of the world's major producers of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. The reach is huge in the country and internationally. The agricultural sector needs professionals as the emergence of causes related to hunger increases every day with the increase in population.

Many qualified batches are recruited annually to maintain food safety, food processing, and plant production improvement in the agricultural sector. B.Sc Agriculture, M.Sc Agriculture, and Ph.D. candidates can obtain jobs in the central/state or public sector or take exams such as ARS (Agricultural Research Service) and National Eligibility Test of University Grants Commission (UGC NET). The higher the qualification, the higher the salary package. Additionally, income varies by type of business and job title.

Graduates can view the different job profiles and their areas of employability as follows:

Areas of Employment

  • Planning Commission
  • Agri-Tech Companies
  • District/State Agriculture Department
  • Educational Firms
  • Research and Development
  • Fertiliser companies
  • Commercial Farming
  • Banking
  • Insurance
  • Marketing and Sales, etc

Job Profiles

  • Agriculturist
  • Agriculture Development Officer
  • Agricultural Technician
  • Agricultural Research Scientist
  • Agricultural Officer
  • Plant Breeder
  • Food Quality Manager
  • Plantation Manager
  • Production Manager
  • Farm Manager, etc.

Agricultural Placements In India

Internship opportunities at agricultural colleges are indeed lucrative. Many students are employed in various industries after completing their agricultural studies. Agriculture is huge and competitive. Therefore, the college aims to develop students with analytical skills, business ideas, interaction, and marketing skills ready for any job or to continue their education after graduation through internship options and in internships.

Refer to below details of selected lists of some top agricultural college recruiters across India:

Top organizations hire Agriculture graduates

As per the college's official website, some of the popular recruiters from India's top agriculture colleges are highlighted in the following table:

Name of College

Top Recruiters

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur

TAFE, Agrevolution, Aditya Birla Group, Kribhco, Dr Reddys Foundation, YARA, Agrovet Brighter Farming, Dhanuka, TechnoServe, Rasi Seeds, PAN, NCML, DCM Shriram, Virbac, Crystal, Syngenta, C.P.S India, Jain Irrigation Inc, Monsanto, Excel Crop Care Limited, Basix,  Axis Bank, Khistiz Agro Tech Pvt Ltd., Aga Khan Foundation, etc.

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh

Altret Biotech Ltd, Sura, Biostadt, Ahmedabad, Dept. of Horticulture, Gandhinagar, Dena Bank, KRIBHCO - New Delhi, RML Information Service Private Limited - Pune, Gujarat Agroseeds LTd. Ahmedabad, Gujarat State Seed Corporation, Gandhinagar, HDFC Bank, Pest Control India Ltd. Mumbai, Vaishnavi Biotech Ltd., Siho, etc.

Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Allahabad

Amdocs, Aditya Retail, Era group, Hindustan Construction Company, HCL, IFFCO, Indian Army, ITC, Infosys,  John Deere, Jain Irrigation, Lupin Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Netafim, NETA firm, Parle, Reliance, ThoughtWorks, Tech-Mahindra, United Phosphorus Ltd, Union Bank of India, etc.

Lovely Professional University (LPU), Jalandhar

Acadecraft, Crimson Interactive, Cactus Communications, DCM Group Of Schools, Darrick International School, Education Culture Pvt Ltd, Freyr Solutions, IDS Infotech Limited, IVY World School, Kashmir Herbal Remedies, Shree Krishna Pranami Public School, Siwani Keva Industries, Toppr, YS Group, etc.

National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management

Ballarpur Industries Limited [BILT], Canara Bank, Cargill India Ltd, Dow Chemical, Dabur India Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Limited,  KRIBHCO, Olam International, UPL Limited, etc.