With the ever increasing population of the earth the demand for the food, medicines and other consumable is increasing at a fast rate whereas on the other hand the recourses of the earth are depleting with every new day. Thus to keep pace with the demand within the limited recourses there is a great need to improve the quality and quantity of the existing recourses so that they could be used up to optimum level to fill the gap between demand and supply of the consumable biological recourses on the earth. For making this a reality a lot of research work is needed throughout the world generally and in India particularly as we are one of the leading agricultural countries in the world and one of the biggest sources of its wealth is its produce from land. Indian agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the economic development of the country. It contributes nearly 30% of GDP and employs about 65% of the work force. Agriculture is science –based, high tech and offers an array of career opportunities in the research work. Agricultural Research scientist is one such profession. These professionals plays an important role in maintaining and increasing the Nation’s agricultural productivity. They study farm crops and animals and responsible in developing ways of improving their quality and quantity. These professionals use the principles of Biology, Physics, Chemistry and other applied sciences in tandem to solve problems in agriculture. Depending upon the area of Specialization, the Agricultural Research Scientist’s nature of work varies.

Considering the importance and need of Agricultural Research the Job of an Agricultural Research Scientist has become one of the hottest career options available to today’s Indian Agricultural science graduates. It is an apt career for those who have a passion for improvement in the existing agricultural products

Although it demands a lot of hard work and effort but at the same time offers enormous scope for the building of one’s career. But on the other hand this profession is such a profession which demands hard work and high level of patience along with many years in the study.

To discharge his duties with efficiency an Agricultural Research Scientist should have good interpretation skills, be confident of accepting challenges and an ability to understand things as they come before him. They have to look into every minute details of the facts to conclude as precisely as possible.

Young people with desire and capacity for hard work can get both money and satisfaction in this profession.

To be a Agricultural Research Scientist one has to undergo the following Courses

1. Graduate courses
(i) B.E/ B.Tech in agricultural Engineering
(ii) Diploma in Agricultural Engineering

Eligibility

1. Educational Qualification
Candidates who wish to apply for above given Under Graduate degree/Diploma courses should have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination, with physics, chemistry and mathematics/Biology with a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate in the subjects concerned.

2.More advanced courses such as Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research in Agriculture can also be pursued.

Eligibility

1. Educational Qualification
Graduates in relative fields are eligible for the postgraduate and Doctorate courses.
Process to become an Agricultural Research Scientist

Step 1
Interested candidate has to apply for the entrance tests conducted by the various Universities and independent institutions like IIT, etc providing above given graduate and undergraduate course of varying duration (usually 3 to 4 years for the graduates, 2-3 years for the Post Graduate and 5 years of the integrated M.Tech Programmes )

Step 2
Selection to the graduate courses ( BE / B.Tech ) is based on merit i.e the marks secured in the final exams of 10+2 and through entrance test.
Entrance to the IIT's is through JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) and for other institutions through their own separate entrance exams and other state level and national level exams. Apart from the IIT's, some other famous institutes also recognize JEE scores for selection.
Selection to the postgraduate courses in different universities is through Entrance exam conducted by respective educational institutions providing these courses,

Step 3
After completion of his studies the aspiring candidates has to sit in the Combined entrance conducted by various state and centre recruitment agencies from time to time to join as an Agricultural Research Scientist in the various concerned departments of the state and Centre Governments .
Besides the aspiring candidates can also take ARS NET exam to work as Lecturer in various agricultural universities and their affiliated collages.

Career options
As there is increasing popularity and explosive growth, there is plenty of opportunities available in Agricultural field. You can be an Agricultural Research Scientist or a lecturer or Production in-charge in the processing Food and allied industry.

Area of Scope and remuneration for the persons adopting this career.
Enormous employment opportunities are available for Agricultural Research Scientist in private as well as public sector organisations. Agricultural Research Scientist can find employment in the International organization working in this field, public sector, government agencies, and many private organization’s R & D agencies

Remunerations and Monetary Gains
The amount of remuneration to these professionals depends largely upon their academic qualification, institute or university from which the degree is attained and the level of work experience they have achieved. To start with the fresh Graduates from the prestigious institutes like IIT’s etc can get anything between 1,00,000-1,50,000 as annual income in the corporate sector with rapid growth with a little of experience lime wise the B.Tech. graduates from other universities can get anywhere near 1,00,000 to 1,25,000 with a lot of increment in the future to come.