What is Agricultural Engineering?
As the name suggests this branch of engineering deals with the field of aAgriculture.It basically is concerned with the designing and development of agricultural machinery and equipment to minimize time and energy and to simplify and better the technique of agriculture. It creates a fine blend of concepts of modern technology and traditional techniques of agriculture to improve the efficiency in production and processing. In agricultural engineering we can find an amalgam of various other disciplines of engineering and science like mechanical engineering,electrical and chemical,civil engineering,environmental science, plant and animal science,soil mechanics etc. It also involves surveying and land profiling and also provides solution for various problems that we encounter in field of agriculture like soil erosion. It is also useful for waste management which may include animal and agricultural waste. On the basis of challanges that agriculture presents agricultural engineering can be classified into further four types
Farm Power and Machinery engineering: It is concerned with the machinery and its equipment like tractor, cultivator,rotator etc. to improve farming techniques.
Rural structures: It deals with the problem of providing shelter to animals and crop storage.
Soil conservation: It deals with the problems of soil erosion,soil drainage, irrigation, floods etc.
Electric Power: It focuses on the different applications of electricity in agriculture.
What does an Agricultural Engineer do?
Basically agriculture engineers help in improving the farming techniques by improvising the machinery used in it.They may have to work both onfield and off field.However their skills and duties are not limited just to the machines and its equipment. They also provide the solution for various other problems that agriculture face like pollution, waste management, power supplies etc. These days they must also have good knowledge in computers as today’s world is a technology driven world and it plays an important role in the development of agriculture. Here are some of the duties that an agriculture engineer may perform
To test the machinery and ensure its safety.
They are also engaged in bio-fuel production.
Energy conservation.
To design natural resource management system.
To maintain ground water quality.
To access the impact that various agricultural techniques are having on environment.
Seeding, harvesting and processing of crops.
Livestock production.
Surveying and land profiling.
Academic programs in Agriculture Engineering Colleges:
It is a four year long undergraduate program, divided into eight semesters. Duration of each semester is about six months.Academic sessions include both theory and practical sessions. Workshops are also arranged in order to enhance the knowledge and skill of students. As already mentioned it is a mix of different disciplines of science. Here are some of the topics that one has to study while pursuing a degree in agriculture:
Food Processing and Quality
Computer Programming and Utilization
Soil Mechanics
Environment Science
Biological Materials
Agriculture Machinery
Fluid Mechanics
Engineering Graphics
Thermodynamics
Land Surveying and Leveling
Agriculture Engineering
Agriculture Business and Marketing
Engineering Graphics
The eligibility requirement to become an Agriculture Engineer :
What it takes to become an Agriculture Engineer?
A candidate who wish to built a career as an agriculture engineer must have cleared his/her class 12th examinations from a recognized board with science stream. Students with both PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) and PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) can apply for the course.
Career Path to become an Agriculture Engineer
STEP 1-Take ENTRANCE TEST:
One must also clear state or national level entrance exams for engineering.
Admissions are made on the basis of ranks scored in such entrance tests.
STEP 2- Get a Bachelor degree in Agriculture engineering from a good college
STEP 3-Get licensed as a professional Engineer if you want to take on public projects. You have to clear fundamental engineering exam organised by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). To appear for that exam one must need a Bachelors degree in engineering and at least four years working experience.
Entrance Exams for an Agriculture Engineer:
List of B.E/B.Tech Entrance Exams in Agricultural Engineering
All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE)
Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University CET
Bharath University Engineering Entrance Examination
Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Exam (BCECE)
Common Engineering Entrance Test (Haryana CET)
Delhi University Combined Entrance Test
Engineering, Agriculture and Medicine Common Entrance Test (EAMCET)
GGSIP University Combined Entrance Test (CET)
Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GCET)
Indian Institute Of Technology Joint Entrance Exam
Institute Of Technology (BHU) Entrance Exam
Jammu & Kashmir State Level Entrance Test (SLET)
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Engineering, Agriculture and Medicine Common Entrance Test (CET)
Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Exam (JCECE)
Joint Admission Test (JAT)
Kerala Engineering Agricultural Medical (KEAM)
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHCET)
National Institute of Technology Combined Pre-Entrance Test
Punjab University Common Entrance Test (CET)
Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Exam (TNPCEE)
Uttar Pradesh State Engineering Admission Test (UPSEAT)
M.Tech in Agriculture Engineering :-If you want to apply for M.tech in Agriculture Engineering then you should have completed your Bachelor degree in the same field.
List of M.E/M.Tech Entrance Exams in Agricultural Engineering
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) All India Entrance Examination
Indian Institute of Technology – Join Admission Test (IIT – JAM)
North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) entrance examination
Top Agriculture Engineering Schools/Colleges in India:
Department of Hydrology – Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
Chaudhary Charan Singh (CCS) Haryana Agricultural University : College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Hisar
Anna University: College of Engineering, Chennai
Andhra University (A.U.) College of Engineering, Vishakapatnam
Punjab Agricultural University : College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana
Govind Ballabh (GB) Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
College of Dairy Science and Technology, Thrissur
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University: College Of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla
Dr. AS (Annasaheb Shinde) College of Agricultural Engineering, Rahuri
Pad. Dr. DY Patil College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and Padamashree Dr. DY Patil College of Agriculture, Kolhapur
College of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), Gangtok
College of Agricultural Engineering, Tiruchirappalli
Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Coimbatore
Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner
Gujarat Agricultural University : College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh
Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara
Dharmsinh Desai University, NadiadJunagadh Agricultural University : College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh
Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Malappuram
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
Vision Institute of Technology (VIT), Kanpur
National Institute of Technology (NITH), Hamirpur
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology : College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneshwar
Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya : College of Agriculture, Jabalpur
College of Technology and Agricultural Engineering, Udaipur
Career Prospects in Agriculture Engineering
The growth rate in this field is not as fast as in some of other fields, however,there are enough job opportunities for people who wish to make their career in this field especially in an agro based country like India. One can apply for various posts in different state agriculture departments. They may also get jobs in various other government departments such as food and research departments.Agriculture engineers can also work in private sector with the industries related to agriculture.They can find jobs in machinery firms and food processing and manufacturing companies.They can also work as engineering managers in large estates. One can also work in laboratory as researchers. Here are some of different job posts an agriculture engineer can relate to
Agricultural Engineer
Agriculture Officer
Agricultural Inspector
Process Manager
Controls Engineer
Agricultural Crop Engineer
Research Engineer
Microbiologist
Quality Assurance Officer
Soil Scientist
Farm Manager
Agriculture Engineering jobs in India
Rallies India Limited
Lemken India Agro Equipments Private Limited
Godrej Agrovet Limited
National Agro Industry
Advanta Limited
Poabs organic Estates
Monsanto India
Nuziveedu seed limited
DuPont India
Salary Packages after Agriculture Engineering Courses:
Freshers can expect a salary between Rs 10000-Rs 15000 per month. With a fair bit of experience one can expect high rise in their salary package. For a right candidate in any field salary has no limits.