Scope of Horticulture in India: Career Options, Jobs and Salary

Scope of horticulture in India offers career opportunities in agriculture, research, farming, food processing and agribusiness. This article provides job roles, career paths, future prospects and opportunities. This helps students interested in horticulture and sustainable agricultural practices.

Scope of Horticulture in India

The scope of horticulture in India is expanding. Interest in fruit and vegetable production, sustainable farming and agricultural innovation is growing. Horticulture is a branch of agricultural science. It focuses on cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices and ornamental plants. It has opportunities in agriculture, research, farm management and agribusiness.

India is one of the leading producers of horticultural crops worldwide. It has significant contribution to global fruit and vegetable production. The country also produces many fruits and vegetables. India creates opportunities in cultivation, processing, storage, marketing and research. Many universities have specialised horticulture courses for students who want to build a career in this field.

This article provides career scope of horticulture in India. Check job opportunities, popular career paths and future prospects for students considering horticulture as a profession.

Branches of Horticulture

• Floriculture: So, what is floriculture? It is a study of efficient production of those plants which produce colourful, showy as well as edible flowers and foliage.
• Olericulture: This is a branch of horticulture which deals with vegetable growing and the culture of non-woody plants for food. Plants in this science are grown for use of their edible parts. Potherbs and greens are examples of such plants.
• Pomology: It is a branch of botany to study fruits and their cultivation. Main focus is on the development, enhancement, cultivation and physiological studies of fruit trees.

Scope of Horticulture in India

Horticulture Jobs and Career

Horticulture is an extremely diversified field with limitless career opportunities in a variety of job settings. The level of training for jobs may differ; it could range from a vocational to a proper college degree or KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra created by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, abbreviated as ICAR).

If you want to grow in the field of horticulture, you must be certified with a degree to validate that you have been formally trained. As you get advanced level training, your chances to progress to get jobs at managerial and supervisory positions, also increase. A higher degree such as doctorates will allow you to get into academia and research.

Let us talk about job opportunities as per the branches:

• Floriculturists are specialized in the planning and design of exterior/interior landscapes for parks, recreational areas, campuses, industrial sites, institutional grounds, shopping malls, and other large projects.
• Olericulturists can kick-start their career in almost every industry, research institutes, universities and other organizations at different levels. These personnel have more demand in the private sector as the vegetable growers have a good future, especially in the seed industry.
• Pomologists are well acquainted with breeding technology, tissue culture techniques, integrated nutrient management (INM), integrated pest management technique (IPM) and protected cultivation techniques of fruits. They hold a bright future in the ICAR, State Agricultural Universities and other organizations.

Sector-wise Horticulture Jobs in India

There is ample scope for people wanting to be full-time/part-time horticulturists, whether one has their own piece of land or not, this line is open to all. If one needs to know sector-wise jobs available in India, read on to check the same -

In Government and Public Sector:

• Civil Servants ( IAS/IFS) - For this, candidates have to appear for competitive exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

• Scientists -, For this one has to take examinations organised by the Agriculture Scientist Recruitment Board, ICAR, New Delhi

• Lecturers, Assistant Professors or Training Associates in Agricultural Universities and Colleges

• Horticulture/Agriculture Officers or Assistant Agriculture Officers - For this, candidates need to appear for competitive exams conducted by State Public Service Commissions

• Technical/ Training Assistant in SAU, ICAR, DRDO, IARI and CSIR

• Horticulture/Food/ Marketing Inspector/Agriculture Development Officer in DSSSB/HPSC

In the Private Sector:

One can work as a Horticulturist or Landscape Supervisor in golf courses, hotels, industries, and construction companies. With enough experience, a person can also analyse marketing positions in pesticide and insecticide companies.

Self-employment in Horticulture:

With a degree in Horticulture or Agriculture, beginning an agriculture clinic is pretty straightforward. One can also make a nursery to grow fruit and ornamental plants using methods like tissue culture, budding, layering, grafting, and vegetative propagation.

Fellowship in Horticulture Sector by UGC:

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) Scheme allows fellowship opportunity for SC/ST students looking forward to enrol in full-time PhD in Horticulture Science.

Fellowship in Horticulture Sector by ICAR:

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi offers Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowships (SRF) to candidates who successfully pass the exams conducted by ICAR at regular intervals.

Horticulture: Course-wise Eligibility Criteria

Check the programme-wise eligibility before applying for courses offered under Horticulture.

Bachelor’s Courses: Graduating Class 12 in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Maths/ Biology/ Agriculture as main subjects. With this, an aspirant can opt for a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture as a separate discipline or as a subject of BSc Agriculture Science. Listed below are popular undergraduate Horticulture programmes with their duration-

Master’s Courses: The minimum qualification to enrol in various PG programmes is to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% aggregate.

Note: Interested candidates can also pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in horticulture for advancement in knowledge, job and salary.

Popular Colleges & Universities offering Horticulture Programmes

Around 30 agricultural universities in India are offering courses and programes in Horticulture and advanced research. We have curated a list of colleges and the programmes that they offer in this field:

Note: An aspirant must pass the entrance exam conducted by respective colleges and universities.

Also Check:

• Other Colleges offering Horticulture Programs
• BSc Horticulture: Scope, Career Options and Employment Areas