WHAT IS HORTICULTURE
B.Sc. Horticulture Highlights
Candidates can check the key points related to B.Sc. Horticulture is in the table below.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 3-4 years |
| Course Fee | Up to INR 3 lakh |
| Average Salary | Up to INR 8.4 lakh |
| Top Recruiters | State Forestry Departments, State Agriculture Departments, Prasad Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Vaibhav Pariwar India Projects Ltd., National Research Centre for Grapes, Parakh Agro Industries Ltd., Narendra Group of Industries |
| Job Positions | Horticulturist, Farm Manager, Agriculture Officer, Food Inspector |
B.Sc. Horticulture Eligibility Criteria
- Students who want to apply for this course will need a class XII passing certificate from the Science stream with Chemistry, Physics and Biology.
- In order to be eligible to appear for the entrance examination, candidates need to have minimum marks of 55% in their Senior Secondary or XII.
B.Sc. Horticulture Courses
The duration of a B.Sc. in Horticulture course is three to four which is divided into six semesters. There is also a diploma course that can be taken up before going for the B.Sc. Horticulture course. Mentioned below in the table are the courses along with their duration and fees.
| Course | Duration | Annual Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science in Horticulture | 3 years | 30,000 – 40,000 |
Bachelor of Technology in Horticulture | 3 years | 84,000 – 3,00,000 |
B.Sc. Horticulture Entrance Exam
There are few entrance examinations that are conducted by universities which offer B.Sc. Horticulture as a course for candidates. In order to pursue this course, candidates must make sure that they have passed these entrance examinations successfully, without which the admission will be deemed incomplete. The entrance examination required for B. Sc. Horticulture is discussed below in the table.
| Name of entrance examination | Details |
|---|---|
| HORTICET | For admission to all horticultural courses provided by the university and its affiliated colleges, the YSR Horticultural University administers the HORTICET exam. Telugu is the primary language used to administer the test. The exam lasts for two hours and is made up of MCQ questions. |
| MCAER UG CET | The Maharashtra Council of Agriculture Education and Research Undergraduate Common Entrance Test is referred to as MCAER UG CET. It is a state-level entrance exam that is used to admit students to agricultural universities’ undergraduate programs. |
| CG PAT | For those seeking admission to undergraduate agricultural and horticultural programs, the Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board administers the CGPAT. The exam lasts three years and consists of PCMB MCQs. |
| UPCATET | The UPCATET exam, which is administered by Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture Technology Kanpur, governs admission to all agricultural and horticultural programmes given by practically all universities in Uttar Pradesh. |
B. Sc. Horticulture Skills Required
Here are some skills that can help you excel in your workplace if you decide to pursue this course and want to join the profession related to it.
- Analytical thinking
- Communication skills
- Teamwork
- Physical fitness
- Research capability
- Analytical skill
- Technical knowledge
- Record-keeping skills
B.Sc. Horticulture Syllabus
There are a total of six semesters available in the course and listed below are the topics that will be taught during each semester.
Semester I
Each semester will have some important subjects that students will have to cover. In semester I topics such as Introduction to soil science, Crop Physiology, Fundamentals of Horticulture, and Fundamentals of Extension Education will be the most important topics.
- Introduction to soil science
- Crop physiology
- Fundamentals of horticulture
- Plant propagation
- Fundamentals of extension education
- Growth development of horticulture crops
- Tropical and subtropical vegetables
- Communication skills
Semester II
The important topics to be covered here are the Fundamentals of Statistics, Plant-parasitic Nematode, Fundamentals of Food Technology, and Principles of Genetics.
- Fundamentals of Statistics
- Elements of Computer Application
- Plant-parasitic Nematode
- Tropical and Subtropical Fruits
- Fundamentals of Food Technology
- Principles of Genetics
- Fundamentals of Food Technology
- Introductory Microbiology
- Water Management in Horticulture Crops
Semester III
The important topics of this semester are Ornamental horticulture, Biochemistry, and Fundamentals of entomology.
- Temperate Fruits
- Ornamental Horticulture
- Biochemistry
- Fundamentals of Entomology
- Principles of Plant Breeding
- Temperate Vegetables
- Tuber Crops
Semester IV
Some important topics of this semester are Commercial Floriculture, Orchard Management, Breeding of Fruits, and Soil Science I.
- Spices
- Commercial Floriculture
- Plantation Crops
- Orchard Management
- Breeding of Fruits
- Mushroom Culture
- Environmental Science
- Insect Ecology
- Soil Science I
Semester V
The important topics of this semester are Organic Farming, Introductory Agroforestry, Post-harvest Management, and Principles of Plant Biotechnology.
- Organic Farming
- Introduction of Major Field Crops
- Introductory Agroforestry
- Apiculture
- Post-harvest Management
- Principles of Plant Biotechnology
- Breeding and Seed Production
Semester VI
Some important subjects this semester include Entrepreneurship Development, Seed Production, and Horticulture business.
- Remote Sensing
- Entrepreneurship Development
- Seed Production
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
- Processing of Horticulture Crops
- Horticulture business management
Career in B.Sc. Horticulture
Once you acquire a B.Sc in Horticulture, you can apply for different jobs. Some of them are mentioned in the table below.
| Area of Profession | Description | Average Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Horticulturist | A specialist in field crops in agriculture is called a horticulturist. He or she typically continues to be involved in caring for and growing ornamental plants, soft fruits and vegetables, and nursery flowers. | 2,20,000 – 8,00,000 |
| Farm Manager | The management and supervision of farm operations fall within the purview of a farm manager. He or she is in charge of financial management, employee scheduling, agricultural and livestock planning, and financial planning. A farm manager keeps an eye on the well-being of the livestock, the state of the soil, and product sales. | 6,20,000 |
| Agriculture Officer | Assuring that agricultural practices adhere to state and federal laws and regulations is the job of an agriculture officer. He or she examines, researches, and tests seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural supplies. | 20,000 – 8,40,000 |
| Food Inspector | The task of checking food manufacturing and processing facilities falls on the food inspector. After being processed or produced, he or she inspects the food’s quality and makes sure it is safe to consume. Additionally, he or she examines the cleanliness of the machinery used in the food processing sector. | 2,90,000 – 3,70,000 |
B. Sc. Horticulture Top Recruiters
Numerous agricultural businesses provide B.Sc. horticulture graduates with career chances. The following is a list of the top B.Sc. Horticulture employers.
- State Forestry Departments
- State Agriculture Departments
- Prasad Seeds Pvt. Ltd.
- Vaibhav Pariwar India Projects Ltd.
- National Research Centre for Grapes
- Parakh Agro Industries Ltd.
- Narendra Group of Industries
Helpful Books for B.Sc. Horticulture
There are some really helpful books students can read while preparing for the entrance exam. These include:
- Introductory Horticulture – H. Edward Reiley, Carroll L. Shry, JR.
- The Fundamentals of Horticulture – Chris Bird
- Applied Principles of Horticultural Science – L.V. Brown
- Handbook of Horticulture -by K.L. Chadha
- Control of Crop Diseases by W.R. Carlile
FAQs Related to B.Sc. Horticulture
Q. What is the duration of a B.Sc. Horticulture course?
Q. Is passing the entrance examination necessary for pursuing B.Sc. Horticulture?
Q. Can I do B.Sc. Horticulture after Class XII?
Q. What are the eligibility criteria for B.Sc. Horticulture?
Q. What is the course fee for B.Sc. Horticulture?
Q. What is the average salary of B.Sc. Horticulture graduate?
Q. What are the required skillsets for B.Sc. Horticulture candidates?
Q. What are the top recruiters of B.Sc. Horticulture graduates?
Q. What are the job profiles of a B.Sc. Horticulture graduates can get?
Q. Who conducts MCAER UG CET?
Q. What are the best books for B.Sc. Horticulture?
