Agricultural Engineering Education, Career and Scope

Agricultural Engineering is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines engineering principles with knowledge of the biological and physical sciences to design and develop systems and equipment for agriculture, food processing and distribution, and environmental conservation. It deals with designing, constructing, and maintaining the equipment, structures, and systems used in farming, as well as optimising agricultural processes to improve efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. 

This field encompasses a range of topics, such as irrigation and water management, soil and crop management, machinery design and automation, and food processing and storage. Pursuing a B.Tech degree in agricultural engineering is a great choice for students who want to build a career in this field.

If you are interested in agricultural engineering courses, keep reading this blog. We will give out information about the B.Tech admission process into top private engineering colleges.

[Also read: why choose B.Tech?]

Career and Scope of Agricultural Engineering

The demand for agricultural engineers is growing due to the need for improving agricultural productivity, water management, and environmental conservation. Agricultural engineers can work in government organisations, such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Department of Agriculture, or in private companies involved in agriculture, food processing, and the development of agricultural equipment.

In the global market, the demand for agricultural engineers is also growing in countries facing food security and environmental challenges. Agricultural engineers can work in research and development organisations, agricultural equipment companies, food processing industries, and consulting firms. They can also find employment opportunities in international development organisations and government agencies that are involved in agriculture and food security programs.

These are some of the job profiles where candidates can expect to work after completing their agricultural engineering degrees - 

• Agriculture and farming
• Food processing
• Government organisations
• Consulting and research
• Environmental conservation
• Renewable energy
• Teaching and academia

Many companies also hire agricultural engineers in the following roles:

• Junior Agricultural research analyst (Average annual salary ₹2.25 lakhs)
• Senior Agricultural research analyst (Average annual salary ₹5.5 lakhs)

The government also recruits many agriculture engineers with good salary packages. 

Eligibility for Agricultural Engineering

The eligibility for pursuing a career in agricultural engineering typically involves obtaining a Bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering from an accredited top private engineering college.

In India, an individual must have completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects to be eligible for a Bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering. Some institutions also conduct entrance exams for admission to their agricultural engineering programs.

Admission Process for Agricultural Engineering

The admission process for agricultural engineering typically involves the following steps:

1. Choose an institution: Research and compare various colleges and universities offering agricultural engineering programs and select the one that best fits your needs and preferences.
2. Check eligibility criteria: Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria set by the institution, such as minimum educational qualifications and age limits.
3. Entrance exams: Some institutions in India conduct entrance exams for admission to their agricultural engineering programs. Be sure to check if the institution you have selected requires you to take any entrance exams.
4. Fill out the application form: Obtain the application form from the institution or its website and fill it out accurately and completely.
5. Submit required documents: Along with the application form, you may need to submit transcripts, reference letters, and other relevant documents as specified by the institution.
6. Attend an interview or counselling session: Some institutions may require you to attend an interview or counselling session as part of the admission process.
7. Wait for the result: The institution will review your application and notify you of the result. If accepted, you will need to pay the admission fee and complete any other enrollment requirements.

Agricultural Engineering Syllabus

Semester 1	Semester 2
Engineering Chemistry 1 Engineering Drawing Engineering Mechanics Mathematics 1	Engineering Mechanics Mathematics 2 Physical Chemistry Science of Soils
Semester 3	Semester 4
Basic of Agricultural Engineering Engineering Physics 1 Agricultural Process in Industries Surveying and Labelling Methods	Engineering Physics 2 Horticulture and Field Crops Farm Machinery Soil Mechanics
Semester 5	Semester 6
Biotechnology Statistical Methods Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Environmental Studies	Soil Physics Unit Operations in Food Technology Operation Research Tractors and Power Units
Semester 7	Semester 8
Tools and Control of Machines Open Elective Renewable Energy	Bio-Agricultural Crop Processing Engineering Agricultural processing Technology

Top Colleges Offering Agricultural Engineering Degrees

More than 200 colleges in India offer Agricultural Engineering Degrees. Here is a list of some of the top private agricultural engineering colleges.

Name of the college	Course fee to be paid (₹)
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar	45.05 thousand
College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur	1.91 lakhs
College of Technology, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar	2.28 lakhs
Integral University, Lucknow	3.20 lakhs
NIMS University, Jaipur	3.20 lakhs
OPJS University, Rajgarh	1 lakh
Poornima College of Engineering, Jaipur	3.08 lakhs
Rajasthan Technical University, Kota	3.80 lakhs
Sharda University, Greater Noida	6.36 lakhs
Shivdan Singh Institute of Technology and Management	3.40 lakhs

Conclusion

When pursuing a B.Tech degree in agricultural engineering, students develop a strong foundation in science and engineering and have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects. This also opens up avenues to collaborate with a diverse range of professionals in fields such as biology, economics, and mechanical engineering. With all that said, once you complete your agricultural engineering program, you will need a job. The easiest way of ensuring you get placement assistance after course completion is by registering with Sunstone. It offers skill development programs focusing on upskilling students to make them ready for the industry. Also, Sunstone offers dedicated placement assistance and internship opportunities. 

FAQ - Agricultural Engineering

Should I get a job after completing agricultural engineering?

Many companies hire agricultural engineers in India. This field also has great potential in the global market as well. However, many students who want to try their knowledge in the field of agriculture and technology start their own farms. So, agricultural engineering is a great education discipline if you want to become an entrepreneur. 

What are the benefits of agricultural engineering?

Agricultural engineers can design and build agricultural equipment. Their profound knowledge in the field of agriculture and technology allows them to experiment with processes to improve productivity.