Telangana: Demand for agriculture studies on rise

Hyderabad: With the increase in job opportunities in industries related to agriculture, and greater awareness about agricultural courses, BPC students are making these the next option after medicine. Agricultural universities are trying to introduce new courses to meet the demand.

Dr V. Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor of the Professor Jayashankar Agricultural University, said students were showing interest in addressing issues like poor soil structure, methods to increase crop output, the lack of mechanisation. 

The state government has taken up several initiatives in the agricultural sector like Mission Kakatiya for improved irrigation, constructing major irrigation projects and taking up micro-irrigation schemes, schemes for soil health management and encouraging polyhouses. All these require skilled professionals.

Dr Praveen Rao said, “Before the formation of the state we had only agriculture colleges but now we have three more. We are planning to increase the number of colleges keeping in mind the demand.”

He said the university had introduced a new curriculum from last year which was designed to train entrepreneurs. “Students have to work on projects and earn. We have different types of courses keeping in view recent farming trends like organic farming, hi-tech agriculture, soil health management and integrated farming system’’, he said.

Ms N. Sneha, who intends to join an agriculture course if she does not make it to medical college, said, ‘‘There is lot of research in agriculture which has lot of demand and also interests me. Many of my friends who were interested in MBBS are now planning to take up agricultural courses’’.

Ms K. Ramsha, 17, who wants to join Bsc Agriculture said, “I for opted agriculture as it’s very different and interesting.”However, due to limited seats in the Telangana state, many students are looking at colleges in other states for pursuing agricultural and allied courses.

Apart from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra also offers university undergraduate courses in horticulture, agri-biotechnology and animal husbandry.

Future with agri courses
    Courses                                                      Seats

• BSc Honours in Agricultural             478
•  Agricultural Engineering                  62
•  B.tech — Food Technology             40
•  BSc Honours Community Science  59

Opportunities available after pursuing the courses 
 Agricultural consultant 
 Farm management 
Fish farm manager 
 Plant breeder/geneticist
 Rural practice surveyor
 Soil scientist
 Academics 
 Seed fertiliser companies
 Farm production distribution networks 
Agriculture Finance
Agricultural Research