Agriculture is concerned with cultivation, processing and marketing of crops. It also deals with agro-industry, food industry, horticulture industry, biotechnology, animal hubandary, etc. Most of the specialisations in agriculture have a strong focus on the innovative use of technologies for higher productivity and optimal use of natural resources. India is one of the leading agricultural countries in the world, agricultural sector contributes 29.4% of GDP and employs about 64% of the work force.      

Branches of Agriculture:

• Agriculture Engineering
• Agriculture Economics
• Dairy industry
  
• Fishery farming
• Forestry
• Horticulture
• Plant Pathology
• Poultry farming
• Rural Management
• Veterinary Science and animal husbandry. 
• Food technology

 Myths about careers in agriculture:

• It is about cows, buffalos and crops and there is no need to apply latest technologies: It requires cutting edge technology and lateral thinking for improving the productivity and profits.
• It is a career for country bumpkins and it is not for the individuals who are residing in cities: It's a great career for people who want to work in the villages or the city. Many green houses and hydroponics centre provides job opportunities even in cities.
• Agriculture is only useful if you want to be a farmer:  The basic knowledge and skills of agricultural science is the passport to a career in research, business, production, management or marketing.
• There are very less return in the agriculture field as compared to inputs provided: If the latest technologies biotechnology, information technology, green house, advanced agronomy practices are used then agriculture provides good return.

Agriculture sector provides numerous career oppportunities in the field of agricultural finance, insurance, transportation, storage, grading and marketing. Many business firms viz. insurance companies, banks, public utilities and food chains employ the persons who have specialized knowledge of the agriculture. The career aspirants who have good knowlege of agricultural science, economics and business administration get lucrative jobs. There are growing opportunities in agriculture sector especially natural resource management, food and wine, aquaculture, biotechnology, pest management, forestry, etc. Recent surveys has revealed that Agrobase industries and Agro-biotechnology would provide enormous job opportunities in near future.

It depends on the academic qualification and experience. Remuneration in private sector is higher than government organizations. The salary may range from Rs.10, 000 to 1,50000. The jobs in agrobase and biotech industries are highly remunerative.

Graduation and Post-graduation in the field of agriculture. M.Sc. Biotechnology/Botany/Zoology/Microbiology/Horticulture also eligible for many jobs related to agriculture field. 

• Ability to work hard.
  
• Ability to work in different weather conditions.
  
• First-hand experience field experience.
  
• Ability of making good decision making.
  
• Good managerial skills
  
• Strong social skills.
  
• Ability to learn new things.
  
• Ability to apply gained knowledge into the field.
  
• Good physical fit-ness.
  

 If you record “Yes” for maximum questions then it indicates that you have potential for perusing career in the field of agriculture field.

• Do I have any field experience of agriculture?
  
• Do I any technical knowledge of plant sciences?
  
• Do I like to work in farm?
  
• Do I have ability to work hard?
• Do I have ability to take appropriate decision?
  
• Do I have innovative ideas to implement in the agriculture field?
  
• Do I like the systematic way of working?
  
• Do I like to work for several hours (8-12hrs or more) per day in farm?
  
• Do I have ability to work with a team?  
  
• Do I have better statistical, computing and interpreting skills (especially for advanced farming)?
  
• Am I ready to learn and adopt new techniques?

• Agro-idustry Sector: Provides jobs to scientists, engineers, technologists, sales and marketing people.
• Services Sector: This sector provide jobs to graders, agricultural technicians, agricultural consultants, agricultural statisticians, veterinarians, etc. Banks, finance and insurance companies also provide jobs to agriculturist.
  
• Corporations: Various corporations viz. National Seed Corporation, State farm Corporation, Warehousing Corporation and Food Corporation, etc provide job opportunities to agriculturists.
  
• Agricultural Engineering: This field better job prospectus as compared to other fields. 
  
• Agriculture Management: This is a new field. Requires knowledge of management and agriculture.
  
• Estates and tea gardens: Many job opportunities are available in estates and tea gardens.
  
• Self-employment: agriculture firms, agro-base industry, agriculture product shops, etc.

• Agricultural Research Scientists (ARS)
  
• Agriculture Development Officers (ADO)/Farm Technicians (after class X)/Lab Technicians/ Workshop Staff).
  
• Field Officers/Rural Development Officers/Agricultural and Probationary Officers (post-graduates in agriculture are appointed by banks)
  
• Natural Resource manager.
  
• Agriculture engineer
  
• Agriculture representative.
  
• Agri-statistician.
  
• Agronomist.
  
• Aqua culturist
  
• Agri-business analyst
  
• Executive (Agriculture)
  
• Food technologist
  
• Dairy technologist
  
• Machinery operators
  
• Manager (Organic farming)
  
• Plant controller.
  
• Plant supervisor
  
• Plantation manager
  
• Sales Consultant
  
• AgriSales manager
  
• Seed technologist
  And many more
  

• Agriculture Departments
• Agriculture colleges and Universities
• Banks
• Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). 
  
• Corporations viz. National Seed Corporation, State farm Corporation, Warehousing Corporation and Food Corporation, etc
  
• Owners of big tea estates and gardens.
  
• Agrobiotech institutes and companies.
  

• Allahabad Agricultural Institute (Uttar Pradesh) www.aaidu.org
• Indian council for Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi www.icar.org.in
• Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Lzatnagar (Uttar Pradesh) www.ivri.nic.in
• Central Agricultural University, Imphal (Manipur) www.cic.nic.in
• Forest Research Institute, PO. New Forest, Dehra Dun. www.fri.icfre.gov.in
• Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai (Maharashtra) www.icar.org.in
• National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana) www.ndri.res.in  
  

• Agricultural Research Scientists (ARS) and Agriculture Development Officers (ADO) is recruited on the basis of ARS NET entrance. Further details: www.ugc.ac.in
• Graduate Test for Engineering) Biological sciences. www.iitk.ac.in/gate
  
• Public Services Examination: UPSC (IAS) and MPSC. www.upsc.govt.in : www.mpsc.maharashtra.gov.in 

Abilities essential for Public service examination: 

• Interest in a variety of subjects.
• Good intellect in order to be able to tackle any subject or situation.
• Ability to inspire others and to channelize available talent.
• An ability to sift, weigh and apply differing opinions from various people.
• Leadership qualities.
• Tact and diplomacy and
• Integrity
• Mental alertness