How to Pursue a Career in Agricultural Engineering? Check Eligibility Criteria, List of Colleges & Other Details

As India is an agro-based economy, it has great scope for agricultural engineering. Agriculture is the largest and most important sector for survival of the growing population. Unlike all other branches of engineering, ‘agricultural engineering’ also uses scientific principles as well as technology to solve problems relating to sustainable agricultural production.

In this article we will tell you as to how you can pursue a career in agricultural engineering.

What is Agricultural Engineering?

Agricultural Engineering is the area of engineering, which is concerned with the design, construction & improvement of farming equipment & machinery. Agricultural engineers put together technology with farming.

It covers areas like;

• irrigation and drainage

• flood control

• development & management of dairy schemes

• environmental impact assessments

• food and bio-engineering

• environmental science

• soil and water conversation

• machine and power technology

In order to have a bright career in agricultural engineering, a person must have enough logic and practical thinking ability for ingenuity and innovation. The career is interesting, rewarding and also quite challenging.

Eligibility Criteria for Agricultural Engineering

A student aspiring for a career in agricultural engineering should have completed 10+2 in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology. Many agricultural universities/colleges conduct entrance exams for admission to BE/B.Tech programs in agricultural engineering.

For ME/M.Tech programs in agricultural engineering, students should have completed BE or B.Tech in the same discipline. He or she also needs to qualify in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) exam.

Top Agricultural Engineering Colleges in India

The college/institution listed below offers BE/B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering;

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi

• Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara (Kerala)

• Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal

• College of Agricultural Engineering, Ludhiana

• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

• Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth College of Agriculture, Pune

• College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh

• Center of Biotechnology Anna University

• Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh

• Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

Job opportunities for Agriculture Engineers

Agricultural engineers work in different sectors such as farming, food processing, forestry etc. They also work on a wide variety of projects.

• Agricultural Engineer

• Agricultural Inspector

• Agricultural Specialist

• Plant Physiologist

• Environmental Controls Engineer

• Microbiologist

• Food Supervisor

• Survey Research Agricultural Engineer

• Researcher

• Agronomist

• Soil Scientist

• Agricultural Crop Engineer etc…

They can job opportunities from both private as well as public sector;

Public Sector

• Department of Agriculture (State & Central Government)

• Universities/Institutions/Labs

• Development organizations

Private Sector

• Agricultural co-operatives

• Fertilizer and irrigation companies

• Manufacturers of agricultural equipment

• NGOs etc

Salary of Agriculture engineer

After completing agriculture engineering a person gets good salary. It is something around 4 to 5 lakh per annum (depending upon department, company and job role)