The horticulture field is quite vast and offers a wide range of career paths. It is the most prominent field of agriculture that deals with cultivating plants, vegetables, fruits, flowers, maintaining nurseries, fruits, etc. There is a huge scope in horticulture with multiple job opportunities. Horticulturists apply their knowledge to grow plants that can be used for human food and nonfood, personal, and social needs.
Courses
After completing 12th, students can opt for Bachelors of Science (B.Sc) Horticulture. It is a 3 years graduation program which is divided into 6 semesters. The course fee is around INR 5000 to 2 Lakhs. The program will guide students about the basis of Horticulture, like starting from seed-related study to scientific study of cultivation, plant diseases, genetics of plants, etc. It teaches the application of scientific knowledge in plant cultivation and increases the yield productivity.
Top Colleges to pursue a career in Horticulture
· Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
· St. Xaviers College, Mumbai
· Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune
· DG Vaishnav College, Chennai
· S.S. Jain Subodh P.G. College, Jaipur
· Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata
· Mount Carmel College, Bangalore
· Tezpur University
· BU, Bhopal
Eligibility and Admission Process
The academic qualifications require a minimum of 50% aggregate in the subject combination- Science Stream ( Physics, Chemistry and Maths/ Biology/ Agriculture) in Class 12th with
Entrance Exams: Candidates need to give the entrance exam for different colleges such as Horticulture Common Entrance Test (HORTICET), Vellanikkara College of Horticulture Entrance Exam, the rest depending on the institutes. The admission is finalized after the counseling process.
Career Prospects
There are multiple job opportunities available after gaining the required knowledge in the field, such as:
Floriculturist: They focus on the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens, the floral industry, and exports.
Olericulturist: They deal with the production, storage, processing, and marketing of vegetables.
Pomologists: They study the cultivation of edible nuts and fruits and are responsible for the cultivation of the same.
Technical Assistant: Their job is to manage data and prepare reports about the events going on and off the field. They are needed in each sector.
Horticultural Supervisor: Their job is to oversee the cultivation, planting of different crops, plants, shrubs, and turf.
Horticulture Specialist: They prepare seedbeds, transfer the plant to containers, and unload shipments of packaged soil, etc.
Horticulture Consultant: They have to advise farmers about crop choices, fertilizer options, and soil usage.
Plantation Manager: They oversee the operations and develop strategies to increase production at a minimal cost.
Various renowned companies provide the above-mentioned jobs, like Green Decor, Greater Texas Landscape, Iffco Kisan Sanchar, Sun Valley Landscaping. There is a scope of full-time as well as part-time jobs. As a fresher, one can earn around Rs. 1.8 to Rs. 2.5 lacs per annum. It is not important to have a piece of land to pursue this field. People can make a decent living without owning their land.
Graduates can apply in the Government as well as the Private sector. Students can also go for further studies to get a better package and deep knowledge in Horticulture.
By Swaranshi Chhabra
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