Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture Eligibility, Top Colleges, Syllabus, Duration, Salary

Ph.D. (Agriculture) is a minimum 3-year full time Doctorate course. The minimum eligibility for pursuing a Ph.D. program is a MSc degree in Agriculture. The program is usually spread over 6 semesters, with the final semester based on the candidate’s chosen stream of study.

The Ph.D. program prepares students to undertake teaching & research activities and delve deeper into the field of land, farm and animal production. All the enrolled candidates need to undertake and complete research projects in specific field as well as present their dissertation before academic committees appointed by the universities,

Some prominent institutes offering Ph.D. in Agriculture are mentioned below:

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute - [IARI], New Delhi
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University - [TNAU] Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
• Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University - [ANGRAU] Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
• Punjab Agricultural University - [PAU] Ludhiana, Punjab
• Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute - [IASRI], New Delhi

Admission to the course is based on the candidate’s performance in interview. The interview may be supplemented by a written test, if necessary and subsequent round of counseling.

Some colleges and Universities also conduct screening test for admitting candidates in Ph.D. in Agriculture like BHU RET Banaras Hindu University Research Entrance Test, Bharathidasan University PhD Entrance Exam, GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering), Osmania University PhD Entrance exam, etc.

Doctorates in Agriculture are hired in capacities such as Agronomists or Crop scientists, Agricultural economists, Animal Scientists, Food Scientists and Technologists, Soil and Plant Scientists, Agricultural Research, Agricultural Journalists, and such.

The average tuition fee charged for the course in India ranges between INR 20,000 and 1.5 Lacs for a span of 3 years while on average salary offered to such professionals usually range between INR 6 and 7.5 Lacs, increasing with experience and expertise.

Ph.D. (Agriculture): Course Highlights

Aspirants will find a brief overview and scope of the doctorate program in India.

Ph.D. (Agriculture): What is it About?

Ph.D. in Agriculture is designed to offer eligible candidates’ specialization in a wide range of research and training in agriculture. Specializations could include but is not limited to animal husbandry, biotechnology in the field of agriculture, or sustainable farming.

Successful Doctorates in Agriculture interested in pursuing further studies in the discipline can join universities or research organizations as research fellows or academic scholars.

Ph.D. in Agriculture aims to build in students’ competent business acumen through advanced study of general subjects such as plants, animals and farming, later allowing them to specialize in a chosen area. The curriculum involves intensive study, culminating with the completion of a research-based dissertation.

One of the principle objectives of the course is to prepare students to improve crop yields, as also for pursuing advanced research in the discipline. The course’s curriculum integrates theoretical and practical components of study.

Top Institutes offering Ph.D. (Agriculture)

Listed below are some of the top institutes in India that offer Ph.D. program in Agriculture and average fee charged for the course by the institute.

Eligibility for Ph.D. (Agriculture)

1. Candidates who wish to apply for the course should have completed the M.Sc. Agriculture from a recognized university, with Science and Biology subjects.
   or
   M.Sc. in a relevant discipline form a recognized university.
   or
   M.Tech. or ME in with relevant specialization in the field of Agriculture.
2. The minimum aggregate percentage required in the qualifying examination varies from 60% to 55% depending upon specialization of the program and the institute.

Ph.D. (Agriculture): Admission Process

Most of the institutes offering the Ph.D. (Agriculture) course admit students based on their performance in a relevant entrance test, followed by a round of Personal Interview. Some institutes conduct their own entrance tests for offering admission. Admission process generally varies across institutes. A few institutes also provide direct admission based on the candidate’s score at the 10+2 or 10+2+3 level. Following are the entrance exams that are conducted by some of the Ph.D. (Agriculture) colleges in India: 

• BHU RET Banaras Hindu University Research Entrance Test (RET)
• Bharathidasan University PhD Entrance Exam
• GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
• Osmania University PhD Entrance Exam

Ph.D. (Agriculture) : Syllabus and Course Description

The syllabi for Ph.D. in Agriculture would differ offered by the courses A semester-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated here.

Ph.D. (Agriculture): Career Prospects

As Agronomists, or crop scientists, successful Doctorate of the course specialize in producing and improving food crops through conducting experiments and developing methods of production.

They may also work as Agricultural economists, Animal scientists, Food scientists and Technologists, Soil and plant Scientists, Agricultural Research, Agricultural Journalists and other related fields. Such doctorates may later pursue advanced courses in the subject such as plants, animals and farming in preparation for expert or academic positions.

Some of the popular professional avenues open to successful Doctorate of the course are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Master’s degree in Science/Agriculture (M.Sc./ M.Sc (Ag.) in the concerned subject with at least 55% in aggregate or equivalent grade point average.