How to Become a Farmer: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Jobs, Scope, Salary

Types of Farmers

Below listed are some types of Farmers based on the job roles and the area of specialization they have expertise in.

• Agricultural Equipment Operators: An agricultural equipment operator uses a variety of farm equipment for sowing seeds and operates machines such as conveyor belts, separators, cleaners, and dryers. A Farmer also operates machines such as conveyor belts, cleaners, separators, and dryers and they may make adjustments and minor repairs to equipment. The average salary of an agricultural equipment operator ranges from INR 1.5 LPA to INR 1.95 LPA.
• Animal Breeders: An Animal Breeder uses their knowledge of genetics for selecting animals that will produce offspring with desired traits and characteristics. Along with this, Animal breeders keep detailed records to know which animals to breed and when to breed them and they also note animals' health, size, and weight, as well as the amount and quality of the product they produce and also track the traits of animals' offspring. The average salary of an Animal Breeder ranges from INR 1.6 LPA to INR 2 LPA.
• Crop, nursery, and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers: These farmworkers and laborers perform tasks such as harvesting, growing vegetables, and other crops. These workers also plant, irrigate, harvest crops, and load them for shipment.
• Greenhouse workers prepare greenhouse beds for growing trees, plants, and flowers. The responsibility of these crop nursery workers is to cut, roll, and stack sod, stake trees and move field-grown shrubs and trees. The average salary of Crop, nursery and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers is around 1.6 LPA.
• Farm and ranch animal farmworkers: The work of Farm and ranch animal farm workers is to care for animals such as goats, horses, poultry, shellfish, cattle, and bees. All these animals usually are raised to supply fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, or honey. Many animal workers clean and maintain animal housing areas every day. The average salary of Farm and ranch animal farmworkers ranges from INR 1.8 LPA to INR 2 LPA.

How to Become a Farmer in India

To become a Farmer, you need to start inculcating skills like irrigation, farming, have knowledge regarding greenhouse effect, pest control, herbicides, farm equipment, etc. 

Below mentioned are the level-wise preparations that a candidate must do from class 12th onwards to become a Farmer.

• School Level Preparation: Students who wish to become Farmers must have a science subject combination such as physics chemistry biology at a higher secondary level as it will be a great advantage to them afterward. To become a Farmer, a student needs to choose the subjects properly and should start preparing accordingly.

How to Become a Farmer after the 12th

• UG preparation: To get admission in Farming courses, a candidate has to complete a high school diploma. A candidate can also pursue a bachelor’s in agriculture. The duration of the undergraduate course in India is 3 years to become a Farmer.
• PG Preparation: After graduation, a candidate can pursue further education to become a Farmer. A candidate can go for a master's degree or postgraduate diploma (PGD) in agriculture. They need to prepare for the entrance exam. Few colleges give admission based on merit too.

Farming Courses

Some of the top courses that can be pursued to become a Farmer are listed below for your reference,

BSc Agriculture

BSc in Agriculture is a 3 year UG level bachelor degree made in such a way that the candidates can work in the future as an agricultural officer, plant breeder, and animal breeder in different setups in both Government and private sectors. The syllabus and the course curriculum of the BSc agricultural courses include class lessons, lab sessions, field trips, practical training, cattle training, etc.

Admission Process: Some colleges give admission based on merit while some colleges conduct entrance examinations to get admission in BSc Agriculture courses. 

• Merit-based: Candidates are selected based on the marks obtained at 10 + 2 level. 
• Entrance-based: Few colleges conduct an entrance examination for BSc Agriculture courses. There might be subsequent counseling sessions after the conduction of the entrance exam and the selected candidates will then be called for document verification but it totally depends on the college.

Eligibility Criteria: For the AP EAPCET 2023 entrance examination, a candidate should fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the conducting body. These include:

• Age Limit: candidate must be 16 years of age. There is no upper age limit.
• Exam Qualification: A candidate should have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board.
• Nationality: A candidate needs to be an Indian/ Persons of India Origin (PIO)/ Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card Holders.

MSc Agriculture

MSc in Agriculture is a postgraduate level degree course of 2 years that includes various scientific processes that are involved in agriculture. The course helps the students to master various latest technologies and deals with various advanced farming techniques and the scientific study of agriculture.

Admission Process: Some colleges give admission based on merit while some colleges conduct entrance examinations to get admission in MSc Agriculture courses. 

• Merit-based: Candidates are selected based on the marks obtained at 10 + 2 level. 
• Entrance-based: Few colleges conduct an entrance examination for MSc Agriculture courses. There might be subsequent counseling sessions after the conduction of the entrance exam and the selected candidates will then be called for document verification but it totally depends on the college.

Eligibility Criteria: For the ICAR AIEEA entrance examination, a candidate should fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the conducting body. These include:

• Age Limit: A candidate must be 16 years of age as of August 31, 2023. There is no upper age limit.
• Exam Qualification: A candidate should have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board and need to secure 50% aggregate marks in 10 + 2 examinations.
• Nationality: A candidate must be a citizen of India.

MTech Agricultural Engineering

MTech Agricultural Engineering is a two-year postgraduate program that covers topics such as food processing, food production technologies, agricultural processes, and so on. The course deals with the theory applications and techniques of the agriculture field in order to enhance the productivity of particular crops with great innovations.

Admission Process: Admission is strictly done via entrance examinations such as GATE or university level entrance examination followed by a personal interview round.

• Entrance-based: Candidates are offered admission based on their entrance examination score in GATE or some University level examination. Candidates who are shortlisted are then called for the Personal Interview round.
• Age Limit: There is no maximum age limit to appear in the test.
• Education Qualification: A candidate must have completed a bachelor's degree course in Engineering or equivalent from a recognized University with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks.