Entry Level Qualification 

12

Career Fields 

Engineering & Technology

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

JEE MAIN BE/BTECH, MHTCET, KCET, ICAR UG

About Career 

Agricultural Engineers work in the area of agriculture to solve agricultural problems through designing, construction and improvement of machinery and tools and equipment used in farming and agriculture. As an agricultural engineer, you will also solve problems related to power supplies, the efficiency of machines used in farming and food processing, use of agricultural facilities and structures, pollution, environmental issues and storage and processing of agricultural products.

As an agricultural engineer, you will also work towards soil management, food engineering, waste management, bio-resource development, etc. You will be responsible for planning, supervising and managing farms. You will also solve problems related to irrigation, drainage, and flood water control systems.

Key roles and responsibilities

As an Agriculture Engineer, depending on your field of specialisation, you would have the following roles and responsibilities:

1. You will be required to prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, budgets, proposals, for the farming sites.

2. You will use computer software to design equipment, machines, structures and systems.

3. You will work to modify and make changes to the environmental factors that may affect crop production. Some of the factors are airflow in the barn, etc.

4. You will ensure the safety and reliability of equipment by testing them.

5. You will manage and supervise construction and production work.

6. You will meet clients, contractors, consultant, etc. to evaluate the necessary change in products, processes, etc.

7. You will work with farmers to understand their needs and solve them.

8. You will work towards pollution management by providing advice on water quality and issues. You will also work towards river water, ground and surface water management.

9. You will work towards the construction of the rural electric system, irrigation systems, drainage systems, flow control systems and water conservation.

10. Some of you will be working in Agri related fields like aquaculture (seafood farming), food processing and forestry also.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Agriculture Engineering

After your secondary level of schooling, you can study Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies in your higher secondary school and then study for an undergraduate degree in Agriculture Engineering.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Agriculture Engineering – PG in Agriculture Engineering

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies in your higher secondary school and then study for an undergraduate degree in Agriculture Engineering followed by a master’s degree in Agriculture Engineering.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Agriculture Engineering – PG in Agriculture Engineering – Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies in your higher secondary school and then study for an undergraduate degree in Agriculture Engineering followed by a post-graduate degree in Agriculture Engineering. Further, you can take Agriculture Engineering in Ph.D. and complete the doctoral degree.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Diploma in Agriculture Engineering – UG in Agriculture Engineering

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Diploma in Agriculture Engineering and then study for a lateral (from 2nd year) undergraduate degree in Agriculture Engineering.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

You study for a Bachelor degree in Agricultural Engineering. After Bachelor’s, you may opt for a Master’s in Agricultural Engineering with any of the following specialisations:

1. Agricultural and Farm Machinery

2. Agricultural Biotechnology (Engineering)

3. Agricultural Materials & Post-Harvest Technologies

4. Agricultural Soil Mechanics

5. Agricultural Structures & Processing

6. Agricultural Systems and Management

7. Agrochemical Engineering

8. Aquaculture Engineering

9. Farm Machinery & Power Engineering

10. Food Engineering

11. Irrigation Engineering

12. Land & Water Resources Engineering

13. Post-Harvest Engineering & Technologies

14. Soil & Water Conservation Engineering

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Occupational Interests

1. Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.

2. Realistic: You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

3. Conventional: You should have interests for Conventional Occupations. Conventional occupations involve repetitive and routine tasks as well as fixed processes or procedures for getting things done. These occupations involve working more with data, systems, and procedures and less with ideas or creativity.

Abilities

1. Abstract Reasoning: The ability to understand ideas which are not expressed in words or numbers; the ability to understand concepts which are not clearly expressed verbally or otherwise.

2. Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

3. Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

4. Inter-Personal: The ability to build and maintain good relationships with others at workplaces and elsewhere.

5. Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

6. Mechanical Reasoning: The ability to apply basic physical principles and theories to understand how mechanical objects such as tools and machinery works and the ability to understand the rules or laws governing the work of machinery, tools and bodies in motion.

7. Numerical Reasoning: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and perform other basic numerical calculations correctly.

8. Spatial Ability: The ability to visualise three-dimensional objects by looking at the objects in paper or visualise objects mentally in three dimensions.

9. Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

10. Verbal Reasoning: The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.

11. Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

1. Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of various applications of one or more branches of Engineering Science & Technology to manufacture and produce various goods or construct or erect various structures. This includes knowledge about design, development, prototype testing, manufacturing, construction, installation, repair and maintenance.

2. Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, statistics, and other mathematical disciplines and their applications.

3. Physical Science: Knowledge of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understand fluid, material, earth, ocean, atmosphere, and space dynamics, as well as mechanical, electrical, atomic and subatomic structures, properties and processes.

4. Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production machinery, production systems, production processes, quality control, and other techniques for manufacturing or construction and distribution of goods.

5. Technical and Engineering Design: Knowledge of various techniques, methods, specifications and tools for creating, developing and laying out designs of various machines, equipment, devices, manufacturing plants, structures, systems and processes. This includes developing blueprints, drawing and models.

Skills

1. Active Learning: Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

2. Communication in English: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as well as verbally with others in the English language.

3. Coordination: Skills in working together with other people to get things done.

4. Critical Thinking: Skills in the analysis of complex situations, using logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.
Judgment and Decision Making: Skills in considering pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.

5. Operations and Process Analysis: Skills in the analysis of operations and processes such as industrial manufacturing, chemical processing, etc. so as to device better and more efficient operational processes and systems.

6. Problem Solving: Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.

7. Process and Operation Controlling: Skills in controlling processes and operations of various machines, equipment, devices and systems using different types of electrical and electronic control instruments and systems.
Reading Comprehension: Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

8. Supervising: Skills in Supervising and monitoring the performance of others, businesses, and different projects.

9. Technical: Skills in using various technologies and technical methods to get things done or solve problems.

10. Technical Design and Drawing:  Skills in creating and developing designs and drawings for various structures, machines, equipment, and devices.

11. Troubleshooting: Skills in determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Personality

1. You are always or mostly organised in your day-to-day life and activities.

2. You always feel secure in your surroundings and in most situations.

3. You are imaginative sometimes.

4. You prefer to experience new things and have new experiences sometimes.

5. You act independently sometimes but do not do so in some other times.

6. You are friendly and outgoing sometimes, but not always. You prefer the company of people sometimes but not always.

7. You are always practical or in most situations.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

After your Bachelor’s degree, you can get a job as a Graduate Engineer Trainee in a firm engaged in agricultural industry. After your Post Graduate degree, you can get a job as an Assistant Engineer. If you have a particular specialisation in Master’s such as in Seed Technology or Biotechnology, then you will be designated similarly. You may get a job in Sales and Marketing too in the agriculture and food processing industry.

You may join an agricultural research institution as a Scientist after your Master’s degree or PhD. You may also get opportunities as a Research Fellow after your Master’s degree or as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow after your PhD.

After your Ph.D., you may join an agricultural university or college.

You can find job opportunities at the following facilities:

1. Companies manufacturing various equipment and machinery used in agriculture and food processing.

2. Companies manufacturing seeds, fertilisers and various other products used in farming and food processing.

3. Agricultural Research Organizations and institutes like the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, National Institute of Plant Research Genome, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, etc.

4. University departments and colleges such as GB Pant University of Agriculture.

Work Environment

As an agriculture engineer, you will be mostly involved in research and development work. Most of your research will be in the field especially farms. You will have a regular 8-9 hours job that will require a peer to peer work. While working in the field is safe, you will need to wear proper accessories to prevent any damage while contacting pesticides. You will be working in a field that has immense pressure due to the type of work and potential results. Also, the chances of failure of work are higher, so you need to maintain your composure and avoid tiredness, lack of interest, etc.

SPECIALISATION TRACKS IN THIS CAREER

1. Post-Harvest Technologist

Agricultural Post-Harvest Technologists are the agricultural specialist who works in food and food processing technologies, skills and infrastructure speciality in canned, dairy packaging, frozen food, thermal processing, etc. As a Post-Harvest Technologist, you will be working on food processing of fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and dairy products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, grain processing, fisheries, poultry, etc. As post-harvest, fruits, vegetables and meat tend to go through several chemical and physiological changes that lead to their deterioration, as a post-harvest technologist you will work on reduction of moisture, denaturation of microorganism, packaging etc. to reduce the perishability of food and elongate their life. You will work to reduce spoilage while maintaining the quality of food.

2. Agricultural Soil Mechanics Engineer

Agricultural Soil Mechanics Engineers are the specialist who design the type of equipment, machines and structures required for cultivating crops in a given type of soil based on the understanding of the soil and what kinds of crops can be grown in the soil type. Thus, as a soil mechanics engineer, you will understand the mechanics of soil and recommend solutions in terms of designs, processes, equipment to farmers to increase productivity. As a soil mechanics, you will analyse the rock mechanics, the flow of fluids, soil constituents, soil physical and chemical properties, etc.

3. Food Engineer

Food engineer is a specialist who uses the knowledge of microbiology, agriculture and engineering to food and food-related industries. As a food engineer, you will work to produce and commercialize cost-effective food products. As a food engineer, you will be involved in food processing, food machinery, packaging, ingredient manufacturing, instrumentation, and control. As a food engineer, you will also work on food processing plants, consult food agencies, work with food licensing agencies of government, etc.

4. Aquaculture Engineer

Aquaculture engineer is a specialist who aims to solve technical problems associated with aquaculture farming, i.e. aquatic animals farming. As an aquaculture engineer, you would be working to optimize processes of aquaculture related to sea cages, ponds, recirculating systems, etc. You will design solutions to solve wastewater treatment, fisheries, etc.

 CAREER GROWTH

1. From a Graduate Engineer Trainee, you can get promotion into a position of an Assistant Engineer, then an Engineer, and finally as a Senior Engineer. You can then grow into a Principal Engineer or Plant Engineer or Project Engineer. You can grow into senior leadership roles as a General Manager/ Vice President/ Executive Engineer/ similar roles.

2. In Sales and Marketing, you can start as a Sales Engineer and then become a Senior Sales Engineer, Area Sales Head, Regional Sales Head, and finally, National Sales Head. You may move into Marketing as a Marketing Manager and then grow into further leadership roles.

3. Research laboratories will hire you as a scientist/scientist officer with the lowest grade and the grade changes from low to high. In India, grades are “Scientist “C” as the joining level and then D, E, F, G, H, etc. A senior-level scientist can also get into administrative positions like Principal Scientist, Assistant Director, Deputy Director, Director, etc.

4. The career growth in university and college states from Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor, Professor and Professor Emeritus. Professors can also get administrative positions such as Director/Dean/Vice Chancellor, etc.

5. If you are hired as a research associate (JRF and SRF), then you will go on to become a Doctoral Research Fellow, then Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and then Scientist in Progressive Grades.  

Salary Offered  

1. As a Graduate Engineer Trainee, you will get about Rs. 30,000 – 50,000 a month. As an Assistant Engineer, you will earn about Rs. 40,000-65,000 or more per month. In Sales and Marketing too, you will get similar salaries plus incentives.

2. As a Research Fellow, you will earn about Rs. 35,000 – 38,000 a month. As a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, you will earn about Rs. 40,000 – 50,000 a month.

3. At the entry level, as a Scientist (grade C) you would be earning around Rs. 80,000 to 100,000 per month.

4. As an assistant professor, you would be earning anything between Rs. 65,000 to 70,000 per month.

5. At the junior level with a work experience of 2-6 years, you would be earning anything between Rs. 70,000 to 1,40,000 per month.

6. At the middle level with an experience of 10-12 years, you would be earning anything between Rs. 1,40,000 to 1,90,000 per month as a scientist and Rs. 1,20,000 to 1,60,000 as a professor. As a sales/ marketing executive, you might earn anything between Rs. 50,000 to 1,50,000 per month.

7. At the senior level of over 15 years of work experience, you would be earning anything between Rs. 1,60,000 to 2,00,000 per month as a professor and Rs. 2,10,000 to 2,50,000 per month as a Scientist. As a sales/ marketing executive, you might earn anything between Rs. 70,000 to 2,00,000 per month.

MONTHLY EARNINGS IN INDIAN RUPEE

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience

3. Mid Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job).

Famous Personalities 

Information not available.

Work Activities 

1. Analysing and interpreting data and information: Analysis of data and information to find facts, trends, reasons behind situations, etc.; interpretation of data to aid in decision making.

2. Calculating and computing: Calculating or computing using various mathematical formula and functions using computers or otherwise; doing financial or commercial calculations or computations.

3. Communicating with co-workers and others:  Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large.

4. Decision making and problem-solving: Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

5. Drawing, drafting, laying out and specifying objects, equipment, devices, tools, and systems: Creating and developing designs, drawings, layouts and specifications about how to construct, manufacture, assemble, build, use, and maintain various equipment, devices, tools and systems.

6. Estimating quantity, cost, time and resources: Estimating sizes, volumes, distance, and quantity; estimating and determining the time, costs, and resources; estimating materials required to perform a task.

7. Getting Information and learning: Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

8. Inspecting equipment, systems, structures, and materials: Inspecting equipment, systems, structures, and materials to ascertain quality, performance, defects, causes of errors, etc..

9. Leading: Inspiring and motivating co-workers to work to achieve specific goals; enabling and facilitating others to perform tasks effectively; addressing issues and solving problems in order to help people perform well.

10. Managing and supervising: Managing and supervising work of others; setting goals; giving instructions; monitoring work performance, etc.

11. Organising, planning and prioritising tasks: Planning and organising tasks in order to achieve work goals; prioritising tasks to achieve goals and making the best use of the time available.

12. Scheduling tasks: Scheduling project timelines, tasks and activities.

13. Updating and using relevant knowledge: Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and use of the relevant knowledge in getting things done.

14. Using computers for work: Using computers for day-to-day office work; using computer software for various applications in day-to-day professional work; entering data and process information; for writing.

15. Working in a team: Working in a team of people; developing a team; maintaining professional relationships among team members.