Scope of Horticulture in India
Horticulture is a field that involves the cultivation, production, processing and marketing of fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture and Arboriculture are major types of horticulture.
Horticulture is an field in agricultural science which is growing at a very fast rate. Since pandemic, more people are adapting to healthier and cleaner choices that will maintain sustainable ecosystem. At present, India is the second largest country after China in terms of land area and production of fruits and vegetables. This production is around 10% of the world's fruit and 14% of the world's vegetable production. Due to such elaborate numbers, many renowned universities in India are offering specialized courses in Horticulture.
India’s Horticulture Quick Facts:
- Leads the world in the production of mango, banana, sapota, acid lime and cauliflower
- Occupies the second position in the production of onion and third in cabbage production globally
- Produces nearly 70 different varieties of vegetables
- It is the largest producer and exporter of rice in the world
- Branches of Horticulture
- Horticulture Jobs and Career
- Sector-wise Horticulture Jobs in India
- Horticulture: Course-wise Eligibility Criteria
- Popular Colleges & Universities offering Horticulture Programmes
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 the 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:
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Civil Servants ( IAS/IFS) - For this, candidates have to appear for competitive exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
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Scientists -, For this one has to take examinations organised by the Agriculture Scientist Recruitment Board, ICAR, New Delhi
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Lecturers, Assistant Professors or Training Associates in Agricultural Universities and Colleges
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Horticulture/Agriculture Officers or Assistant Agriculture Officers - For this, candidates need to appear for competitive exams conducted by State Public Service Commissions
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Technical/ Training Assistant in SAU, ICAR, DRDO, IARI and CSIR
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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 the 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-
| Programme Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Horticulture | 3-year |
| Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Horticulture | 4-year |
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.
| Programme Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Masters of Science (M.Sc.) in Horticulture | 2-year |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening | 1-year |
| MSc Ag. - Horticulture (Floriculture and Landscaping) | 2-year |
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:
| Institute/ University |
Programme(s) |
|---|---|
| MSc (Horticulture) |
|
| MSc (Horticulture) |
|
| BSc |
|
| BSc (Horticulture) |
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| MSc (Ag.) Horticulture (Vegetable Science) MSc (Ag.) Horticulture (Floriculture & Land Scaping) MSc (Ag.) Horticulture (Fruit Production & Post Harvest Technology) |
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| BSc (Horticulture) BTech (Horticulture) |
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| Diploma in Horticulture BSc (Hort) MSc (Horticulture) |
Note: An aspirant must pass the entrance exam conducted by the respective colleges and universities.
Also Check:
Other Colleges offering Horticulture Programs
BSc Horticulture: Scope, Career Options and Employment Areas