Agronomist

Who is an Agronomist?

Agronomists study the various ways through which plants can be genetically altered, cultivated and utilized to our advantage. They perform various experiments on plants to improve their endurance, durability and harvest yield.

What does an Agronomist do?

Agronomists work in a variety of different environments depending on the job and role assigned. They observe and research plant life in either a greenhouse or a farm and also perform experiments in agricultural labs. They experiment and learn about plant meteorology, physiology, genetics, and soil science.

What are the skills required?

The job role of an agronomist requires an avid interest in plant life and agriculture. The skills required by an agronomist include:

• Problem Solving Capacity

• Interest in Agriculture

• Communication skills

• Organization and planning skills

• Management Skills and Commercial Acumen

• Technology skills

Agronomy is one of the most rewarding careers because you will be giving guidance and helping farmers and various organizations to harvest crops effectively and preserve plant life. We have given you in-depth so that you can assess your standing and choose the best institute for higher education.

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Career Scope

An Agronomy who has strong scientific knowledge and preparation skill may initially proceed from consultancy to an administration position. You can be a product manager who assesses and evaluates the plants and then you can run a farm, livestock or nursery on your own. Agronomist is expected to grow around 9% in the next 10 years and with increasing population, the demand for food supply will continue increasing.

An Agronomist can also be a Research Scientist, studying crop genetics, productivity, or strategies for Agri and packaged food products. They can also be a specialist in advancing and improving agricultural methods and process such as planting and sowing, irrigation and harvesting or develop methods which are both sustainable and profitable for farmers. So, agronomy is a great choice for aspirants as their subject after 12th. Some of the job roles of Agronomist are as follows:

• Agronomist Sales

• Research Assistant

• Environmental Scientist

• Soil and water conservationist

• Crop Production Specialist

How much does an Agronomist make?

An early career agronomist with less than a year experience makes an average of Rs 37,000/month (including bonuses and overtime). An experienced Agronomist with more than 10 years of experience will make an average of Rs 57,000 per month. The estimates are based according to payscale.

Major Recruiters

Agronomists are hired by both private companies as well as State governments. The major recruiters for agronomists are:

• DuPont India

• Rallies India Limited

• Nuvizeedu Seeds

• Godrej Agrovet

• Monsanto

Top colleges offering courses on Agronomy

A mandatory qualification to become an agronomist is a professional diploma or degree in Environmental Science, Agricultural Science, Agricultural biotechnology or Food technology and sciences. The areas that will be covered during agricultural sciences will include agrarian geology, forestry science, animal husbandry, plant eugenics, climatology, chemistry, and hydraulics.

Agronomy can be your preferred field if you have an interest in plants and would like to help farmers and organizations harvest crops sustainably and efficiently.

The major colleges in India offering courses in Agronomy are:

• Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

• Swami Keshwanand Agriculture College, Rajasthan

• College of Agriculture, Pantnagar

• Central Institute of Fishing Education, Maharashtra

• Agriculture College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu

• College of Agriculture, Pune

The top colleges abroad offering a course in Agronomy are:

• Iowa State University

• University of Worcester

• University of Georgia

• Cornell University

Agronomy is not like any other typical job and most of your time will be spent on the fields. Agronomy is for those who love nature and wants to learn and research plant life. If you love nature and want to help farmers and food technicians then agronomy should be your first choice.

What are the books and study materials available?

The role of an agronomist includes dealing with plant and animal life so you need to have knowledge of agriculture and plant biology. The books and study materials required for agronomy are:

• Principles of Agronomy, S.R Reddy

• Textbook of Field Crop Production, Rajendra Prasad

• Weed Science: Basic and Application, T.K Das

• Introducing to Agronomy, Craig C

We have provided in-depth career guidance of a career financial analyst so that you can excel at that.

Interesting Facts

Farming started in around 10,000 B.C during the First Agriculture Revolution when nomadic tribes started settling and began to farm.