Bachelor of Science Horticulture Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary

B.Sc. in Horticulture is a 3 years full time under graduate course which is divided into 6 semesters. Horticulture is the branch of Agricultural Science that deals with the cultivation of vegetables, plants, flowers, herbs, fruits, shrubs, bushes, gardens, and landscaping for gardens, ornamental trees, maintaining nurseries, green houses, orchards and plantations and also floriculture or cultivation of flowers. 

The branch of study now has direct and indirect applications in food technology industries as production, cultivation, harvesting and storing of vegetables have all become highly mechanized. These plants are grown under strictly controlled conditions using sophisticated sensors, and biological control of pests and diseases. It is of the utmost importance for all commercial as well as resource-limited farmers to plant deciduous fruit crops, some fruit crops and rootstocks that are adapted to their specific climatic and soil conditions.

The average annual course fee ranges anywhere between INR 5,000 to 2 lakhs depending upon the institute offering the course. The average salary offered for this course in India to successful postgraduates of the course ranges between INR 2 to 10 lakhs depending upon the candidate’s expertise in the field.

B.Sc. Horticulture: Course Highlights

Shown below are some of the major highlights of the course.

B.Sc. Horticulture Top Institutes

Some of the institutes or colleges offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by the respective colleges are listed below.

Eligibility for B.Sc. Horticulture

Entry to this field starts from undergraduate level. After completion of 10+2 in Science stream (class 12th) with chemistry, physics, and maths/ biology/ agriculture as the subjects one can opt for Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture as a separate discipline or as a subject of BSc Agriculture Science.

B.Sc. in Horticulture: Admission Process

The candidates those desire to take admission in UG in Horticulture has to appear in HORTI CET  Entrance Test conducted by itself have to qualify this exam by securing at least minimum qualifying marks to get the admission. The candidates will get the admission through a counselling a process just after the result announced.

B.Sc. in Horticulture: What is it all about?

B.Sc. Horticulture program is all about cultivation of plants, starting from seed related study to scientific study of cultivation, plant diseases, genetics of plants etc. It is all about the application of scientific knowledge in plant cultivation and thus increase productivity and yield. From achieving the said goal of improved productivity, this study makes use of concepts of Biochemistry, Biology, and Genetic Engineering etc.

The markets for deciduous fruit, from both locally and overseas, are becoming increasingly competitive, because of the marginal climatic conditions for the production of high quality deciduous fruit. Many local fruit producers are in search of alternative crops to reduce their risk. These crops include persimmons, olives, berry fruit, dates, figs, cactus pears and various nut crops. Many of these crops are more adaptable to marginal areas and require less water. 

Some are suited to developing agriculture, if they do not require the same level of inputs as the main deciduous fruit crops and some require much labour, they presenting job creation opportunities for less skilled people.

B.Sc. in Horticulture: Syllabus and Course Description

A Semester - wise syllabus of the course is tabulated below.

B.Sc. in Horticulture: Career Prospects

Horticulture is a field that holds ample scope. Whether they want to be full-time or part-time horticulturist, whether they have your own piece of land or not, they can take up this line and make a decent living out of it. Some advances in horticultural technology, increases product demands, and a growing export industry are making this an extremely lucrative career. Opportunities are being created in fields such as research and journalism, in both the sectors public and private, and they also work within and outside of our borders.

Job opportunities are available for Graduates in Government as well as Private sector. Government sector jobs, and Officer level posts are available for these Graduates in State wise Forestry Departments, State wise Agriculture Departments, as well as Boards like Spice or Coir or Rubber boards etc. Private Sector job opportunities are available in areas such as Private Plantations, Ornamental plants and flowers businesses, Agricultural Products marketing firms, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment manufacturing firms, Food Production and Technology Industry etc.

Some of the top professional avenues open to such postgraduates are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Candidate must have passed 10+2 in science stream from recognized board.