Diploma in Horticulture: Admission Process, Entrance exams, Syllabus, Salary and Scope 2023

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Sounak Banerjee

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Diploma in Horticulture may have an average duration of two years. The course is equivalent to the graduate degree in agriculture dealing with the study of crops, plantation, flower farming, etc. 

The candidates who are seeking admission to Diploma in Horticulture must have passed class 10th with a minimum of 35%marks. The aspirants must have an interest in gardening, pomology, and agriculture. This is why some colleges prefer or have special reservations for the candidates belonging to a farmer family. 

The candidates can apply after visiting the website of the college/institute they like online. The admissions to this course are majorly provided based on merit in the last qualifying exam. 

Diploma in Horticulture is a specific field of agriculture that involves plantation and the management of the plants. However, agriculture is a broad area where the candidates study crops and animals and their management. Diploma in Horticulture teaches about plant cultivation, flowers, trees, gardening, and different insects and worms which affect the plants. 

The top colleges for DIploma in Horticulture are Dr. YSR Horticultural University, University of Mumbai, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, and Tamilnadu Agriculture University. The average fee for the course is INR 15000/-. 

Diploma in Horticulture prepares the students for handling their jobs as a professional. The candidates after completing the diploma courses may build their careers in different sectors of agriculture horticulturist, florist, pomologist, agriculture inspector, etc. 

Candidates can get a good package of around INR 2LPA to 4LPA on an average.

Diploma In Horticulture: Course Highlights

Course Diploma
Full form Diploma in Horticulture
Level Undergraduate Diploma
Duration 1 Year
Eligibility 10+2
Admission Process Entrance based/Merit based
Average Fee INR 30,000 - INR 75,000
Job Positions Field Operator, Asst Manager Well Testing, Process Operator, Geologist/Petroleum Geologist
Average Salary INR 2,00,000 - INR 4,00,000

Diploma in Horticulture: What is it about?

The duration of a diploma in Horticulture is from one year to two years. Horticulture Diploma is all about plant cultivation and the management of plants. Horticulture is a specific branch of plantation in which the students study the methodologies and techniques involved in the cultivation of plants, flowers, and crops. The Horticulture field can be divided into three categories: Pomology, ornamental horticulture, and Olericulture. The candidates pursuing the diploma in Horticulture make their career in the fields of home gardening, arboriculture, urban gardening, and floriculture.

Why Study Diploma in Horticulture?

Diploma in Horticulture is a short duration undergraduate graduate diploma course varying in duration from one year to two year at different institutes. The course has so advantages, some of them are discussed below:

  • The candidates having this diploma course can make their move into different career fields of horticulture. 
  • The need of the horticulturists has caught the momentum as the government has been taking more steps to control the increasing pollution level in the cities.
  • In India, most of the people are not aware of how to increase the production of the crops by using the scientific methods of horticulture. Hence, there are lots of opportunities in India to fulfil the need of horticulturists. 
  • The candidates holding the diploma in horticulture are provided with special reservation during the admission in B.Sc. course.

Diploma in Horticulture: Admission Process

The Colleges/Universities have different criteria for admission into Diploma in Horticulture course. 

  • Some Colleges/Universities provide the admission to Diploma in Horticulture course the performance in the qualifying exam. 
  • Some Colleges/Universities offer direct admissions based on the overall academic performance. 
  • Some Colleges/Universities offer admission based on the performance in the Entrance Exam.

Diploma in Horticulture: Eligibility Criteria

The candidates must go through the eligibility criteria of the college before they apply for Diploma in Horticulture course. 

  • The candidates who are seeking admissions to Diploma in Horticulture course must have completed class 10 from a Govt. recognized college. 
  • The candidates are required to achieve at least 35% marks in the qualifying exam. 
  • Some colleges offer a special reservation for the candidates who are from a farmer family. 
  • The candidates must be between the age of 15 years to 22 years.
  • The candidates below the minimum age can also apply for the horticulture diploma course after producing an age relaxation certificate.

Diploma in Horticulture: Entrance Exam

There is no specific Entrance exam to get admission into the Diploma in Horticulture course. The Colleges/Universities conduct their Entrance exams to offer admission into the diploma course. The HORTICET exam is conducted to offer admissions into the B.Sc. Horticulture course and the candidates having the Diploma in Horticulture get 15% seats in the course.

Diploma in Horticulture: Top colleges

Colleges City Name Average Course Fees
Dr.YSR Horticultural University Andhra Pradesh INR 7,395
University of Mumbai Mumbai INR 26,667
Yashwant rao Chavan Maharashtra Open University- [YCMOU] Nashik INR 6,000
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology - [OUAT] Bhubaneswar INR 9,517
Guru Kashi University Bhatinda INR 31,541
Singhania University Jhunjhunu INR 12,500
Annamalai University Chidambaram INR 1,685
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University - [TNAU]- Coimbatore INR 19,200
Madhav University - [MU] Sirohi INR 51,667

Diploma in Horticulture: College Comparison

Parameter Dr. YSR Horticulture University  University of Mumbai Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology
Overview Dr. YSR Horticulture university is located in Venkataramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh.  It offers various UG, PG, Diploma, and Research programs.  University of Mumbai which is also known as Mumbai University offers a variety of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs. Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.   Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology was established in 1962 and is the second oldest university in India known for offering various diploma, UG, PG, and doctoral courses. 
Location Venkataramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh Mumbai, Maharashtra Bhubaneswar, Orissa
Admission Process Entrance Exam Entrance Exam Entrance Exam
Average Fees NA INR 45,000 INR 5,000
Average Salary Package INR 4,70,000 Lakhs INR 3,00000 to INR 3,50,000 INR 2.8 LAKHS
Top Recruiters A.P. Horticulture University, Industry and In Banks as Scientists, Consultancies, government Organization, etc.   Accenture, Flipkart, HDFC BANK, Deloitte, TCS, Bank of America, Tech Mahindra  DuPont, Dhanuka, Nagarjun, Syngenta, Pesticide India, and Bayer 

Distance Education in Diploma in Horticulture

The candidates who want to pursue the distance course must go through the notification of the particular course. To apply for the Horticulture diploma, the candidates must have completed class 10. However, the aspirants having higher education are also eligible to apply for this course. 

The candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria can proceed with the application form. They are required to submit the required documents at the time of admission.

The aspirants can pursue the diploma in Horticulture course through the distance mode. Some of the Universities/Colleges offering diploma in Horticulture course are mentioned below:

Diploma in Horticulture: Course Syllabus

Semester I Semester II
Basics in Horticulture Dry Land Horticulture
Plant propagation practices Fruit crops Production Technology
Fundamentals of Agronomy Ornamental gardening and Landscaping
Soil and Fertility Management   Medicinal and Aromatic crops production technology
Farm Machinery Agroforestry
Livestock Management and Poultry Production Silvi Horticulture
Physical Education Weed management
Communication Skills Irrigation
Semester III Semester IV
Vegetable crops Production Technology Protected cultivation
Spice crops Production Technology Plantation crops Production Technology
Crop Pests Management Practical training
Flower crops Production Technology Seed production Technology of Horticultural crops  
Crop Diseases and its management Post Harvest Handling
Commercial Agriculture           Farm Management and Marketing

Diploma in Horticulture: Course Books

The students need to get all kinds of knowledge about the Horticulture practices. Be it practical or theoretical knowledge. The books and study material can help in achieving this goal. Here are some of the popular coursebooks the students can find for themselves.

Book Name Author 
The Fundamentals of Horticulture Chris Bird
Handbook of Horticulture K.L. Chadha
Control of Crop Diseases W.R. Carlile
Seed Storage of Horticulture Crops  S.D. Doijode
Introductory Horticulture H. Edward Reiley, Carroll L. Shry, JR.

Diploma in horticulture V/s BSc in Horticulture: Which is Better?

Parameters Diploma in Horticulture  B.Sc. in Horticulture 
Type Diploma  Degree
Duration  One or two years  Three years 
Admission process  Entrance based  Entrance based 
Avg course fee  INR 20,000 to INR 75,000 INR  20,000 to INR 50,000
Avg salary package INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 INR 1,80,000 to INR 2,50,000

Diploma in Horticulture: Job Profiles

The candidates having a diploma in Horticulture have a lot of career options to choose from. They can work at Universities, Government organizations, and urban gardening. With the advancement in the Horticulture field, the candidates with Horticulture Diploma have lucrative career options in the future. 

Some of the companies hiring for the Horticulturists are Government organizations, Green Decor, IFFCO, Sun Valley Landscaping, real estate.   

The Govt. is focussing on creating greenery in both rural and urban areas. Hence, the diploma in Horticulture is going to be a worthy diploma certificate. 

The Horticulture diploma holders can make their career in the fields mentioned below along with the salary package.

Job Profiles Job Description Average Salary 
Horticulturist He uses scientific knowledge to propagate and cultivate the plants. He uses the knowledge he gained to provide the same to farmers and professionals in the field. INR 2 lacs
Horticultural Technician He works with parks or recreation departments, nurseries, golf courses, greenhouses and so on. He can also be employed by lawn service, gardening and landscape services. INR 1.5 - 2.5 lacs
Tree Expert A tree expert is a member of the larger field of grounds maintenance. A tree expert has the job responsibility of pruning and trimming trees. INR 2.25 - 3.5 lacs

Diploma in Horticulture: Future Scope

The field of horticulture is growing in demand as it is everything about Plants and Plants Management. 

  • Today, everything we eat is not pure, and people are becoming aware of organic foods. They are going to be inclined towards organic food. Horticulturists will be in demand, not only in India but also in other countries of the world. People love pure, organic and vegetables that are grown with organic farming.
  • Pollution has become a complex problem in urban areas due to smoke from vehicles and factories. But now the only way to control it is by growing more and more plants in these areas. The Govt. has felt the need for parks/gardens, and to fulfill these projects, it will hire the horticulturists in the country. 
  • Floriculture and pomology are the fields of horticulture where the candidates can find opportunities.

Diploma in Horticulture: FAQs

Ques. Which are the sectors in which a Horticulturist can make his career?

Ans. A Horticulturist can make his career in the following preferred branches of Horticulture:

  • Food Corporation
  • Agriculture product selling
  • Gardening
  • Agriculture research
  • Irrigation department

Ques. What are the average fees of private and Govt. colleges which offer a Diploma in Horticulture course?

Ans. The average fees of the Govt. and private colleges differ in the different parts of the country. 

The average course fee of the government colleges is approx. INR 22,000, and the average Fee of the private colleges is INR 88,000.

Ques. Are there any Cons of the Diploma in Horticulture course?

Ans. There are a lot of opportunities in Horticulture Diploma. However, some Cons are also involved in the field. 

They remain exposed to chemicals and toxic substances. 

They have extensive limited jobs in research areas.  

Ques. Can diploma holders pursue higher education?

Ans. Yes, they can opt to pursue higher education. In fact, some of the colleges offer a certain number of seats reserved. The candidate who has a diploma in Horticulture can head up towards both jobs and higher studies. 

Ques. What is the job of an ornamental horticulturist?

Ans. As the name suggests, an ornamental horticulturist works for the decoration of plants and flowers. The role of an ornamental horticulturist is at the shop of florists, home to design the Bouquets, Corsages, and other home plants.   

Ques. Who Should Opt for a Diploma in Horticulture?

Ans. The candidates interested in gardening, planting, growing flowers, and agriculture practice should apply for this course to enjoy their job future. 

The candidates who have finished class 10 with the requisite percentage marks

The candidates belonging to farmer families have some added advantages. 

Ques. How does a Horticulturist make a difference in crops or gardening?

Ans. A Horticulturist applies science practices during the entire period of farming. He knows the methods which can help in producing the desired crops or plantation. He has complete knowledge of destroying plant worms and insects. 

Ques.How can students pursue the Diploma in Horticulture through distance?

Ans. The candidates pursuing it through distance need to complete the required credits points. For practical knowledge, they need to go for field research.  

Ques. What are the steps involved in applying for a diploma course?

Ans. The aspirants must check the eligibility criteria before they apply for the course. 

The aspirant ensuring the Eligibility Criteria can visit the website of the college.

Click on the apply link and proceed with your application.  

Ques. When is a student considered qualified?

Ans. A student is considered qualified for the diploma in Horticulture based on the overall performance during the course. He should cover the minimum required credits in the Diploma course. He should make the minimum required attendance of the Diploma course.   

Ques. What is/are the difference (s) between the diploma and degree in Horticulture?

Ans. The main difference between a degree and a diploma in Horticulture are eligibility, course level, and career prospects. 

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