Diploma in Agriculture: Course Details, Duration, Eligibility, Fees, Admission

Sakshi Chaudhary

Updated on - Jan 12, 2024

A Diploma in Agriculture is a two-year diploma course that deals with studying agricultural science to enable farmers to grow better crops by developing tools to assist them with crop planting and harvesting. The course prepares students for various job opportunities including Researcher, Agriculture Consultant, Food Production Professional, etc. 

About Diploma in Agriculture Course

The Diploma in Agriculture imparts technical expertise to students in areas such as crop production, animal husbandry, soil science, and agricultural economics. The Diploma in Agriculture course duration is two years spread across four semesters. 

Diploma in Agriculture Admission 2024 requires students to have a minimum of 50% in 10th grade. The candidate needs to qualify with the required cut-off marks in entrance exams such as AP POLYCET, TS POLYCET, etc. The Agri Diploma syllabus covers various aspects of agricultural science, including genetics, plant breeding, soil science, plant pathology, etc.

After completion of the Diploma in Agriculture degree, graduates can pursue careers in food production, fertilizer manufacturing, etc. The average salary of a Diploma in Agriculture graduate is in the range of INR 1.8-3.5 LPA.

Also Read: Science Courses after 10th

Why Choose the Diploma in Agriculture Course?

A diploma in Agriculture focuses on understanding the latest techniques in agriculture and being able to apply them in the agricultural sector. Below mentioned are points regarding why one should pursue an Agriculture Diploma course:

• Due to the shift towards sustainable agriculture practices,  the sector has seen a steady growth of 4% in GDP contribution as of last year.
• Graduates of the Diploma in Agriculture program can work as Crop Scientists, Fertilizer Sales Representatives,  Soil surveyors, etc.
• This course also offers students employment opportunities with companies like National Seeds Corporation Limited, Argos Agrilink, NTN Agro Products, etc.
• With globalization, agricultural producers have more options to grow their operations and enhance exports.

Who Should Pursue a Diploma Agriculture Course?

 Below are the points regarding who should pursue the Diploma in Agriculture course:

• Individuals who are passionate about the advancement, research, and study of many elements connected to agriculture can pursue this course.
• Individuals who want to work in farm management, agricultural research, and agricultural extension services.
• Individuals who want to become subject matter experts in agriculture can pursue this course.

Diploma in Agriculture Eligibility Criteria

Admission to Diploma in Agriculture program is determined by eligibility requirements established by specific universities/colleges. Below mentioned are the Diploma in Agriculture eligibility criteria:

• Students must have passed their 10th examination with at least 50% from a recognized board.
• The candidate should have studied English, Science, and Mathematics as mandatory subjects.
• The candidate should also clear cut off for entrance exams such as AP POLYCET, TS POLYCET, etc. 
• Diploma in Agriculture minimum age limit of 17 years.

Diploma in Agriculture Admission 2024

The admission procedure for the Agriculture Diploma course is done on a merit or entrance basis. Listed below is the procedure to get admission for the course:

• The applications for Diploma in Agriculture admissions are available through both online and offline procedures
• The candidate also needs to clear the entrance exam cut-off as per the college requirements.
• The colleges also conduct interviews or counseling sessions before they publish the final merit list.
• The candidate needs to submit the necessary document and pay the course fees before the deadline.

Diploma in Agriculture Entrance Exams

Diploma in Agriculture entrance exams are conducted at the national, state, and institute levels. The popular Agri Diploma entrance exams are listed below, along with application details:

Diploma in Agriculture Fees in India

The average Diploma in Agriculture course fee is in the range of INR 10,000- 1 LPA. Below is a list of the best Diploma in Agriculture colleges along with a breakdown of their fees:

Diploma in Agriculture Specialization

Diploma in Agriculture specialization provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry. Students can gain practical knowledge and domain expertise in the following specializations:

• Seed Technology
• Food Processing
• Organic Farming
• Animal Husbandry
• Poultry Farming

Types of Diploma in Agriculture Courses

The course offers full-time, part-time, and distance learning options. The following Agriculture Diploma course details are provided below:

Distance Agriculture Diploma Course

Below mentioned is the distance Diploma in Agriculture course details:

• The distance Diploma Agriculture course can be pursued at colleges like Sri Balaji Correspondence College, IGNOU, etc.
• A diploma in Agriculture through distance mode is a two-year course that can be extended to a maximum of four years based on student course completion.
• The course covers the same aspects as the full-time courses such as crop production, soil science, and agricultural economics.
• The average fee ranges between INR 10,000- 25,000 PA. 

Top Diploma in Agriculture Colleges in India

Diploma in Agriculture scope in India is vast as with increasing demand for food and the need for sustainable agricultural practices the demand for agriculture graduates has increased. Various prominent colleges in India offer the course, and the candidate can get admission based on merit or entrance exam scores.

Top Diploma in Agriculture Government Colleges in India

Below listed are government colleges offering Diploma in Agriculture course:

Also, Check: Government Agriculture Colleges in India

Top Diploma in Agriculture Private Colleges in India

Below listed are private colleges offering Agriculture Diploma course:

Also, Check: Private Agriculture Colleges in India

Agriculture Diploma Syllabus and Subjects 

The diploma in Agriculture course aims at the study principles of agronomy, fundamentals of entomology, diseases of field crops, etc. Students who take the Agriculture Diploma course gain skills for managing in a global environment, as an agriculturally oriented curriculum gives them the opportunity to apply specialized knowledge. 

The following are some of the subjects that students will study in this course:

• Biomathematics
• Principles of Horticulture
• Economic Botany
• Fundamentals of Entomology
• Fundamentals of Soil Science
• Field Crop Production
• Principles of Agronomy

Read More: Diploma in Agriculture Syllabus & Subjects

Diploma in Agriculture Course Comparison

A Diploma in Agriculture course is typically catered to students interested in and inclined towards an understanding of agricultural sciences. Below is a comparison of the Diploma in Agriculture course with other courses:

Diploma vs B.Sc Agriculture

The table below showcases the differences between Diploma in Agriculture and B.Sc in Agriculture:

Read More: BSc Agriculture

Courses After Diploma in Agriculture

There are various courses that students can pursue after Agriculture Diploma, to enhance the knowledge, experience, and skills required to further excel in their careers. Below mentioned are a few courses which students can pursue after the course:

• B.Sc
• M.Sc
• Ph.D
• MBA
• PGDM
• M.Phil

Career Options After Diploma in Agriculture Course

Graduates with a Diploma in Agriculture have various range of career options. The course is intended to provide students with the necessary practical and theoretical skills to advance their careers. The following positions are available to graduates of the Diploma Agriculture course:

• Researcher
• Distributor
• Agriculture Consultant
• Food Production Professionals
• Horticulturist
• Poultry Farming
• Food Scientist
• Farm Manager
• Water/Wastewater Engineer
• Environmental Officer

Diploma in Agriculture Courses Salary in India

Diploma Agriculture courses in India offer a salary package ranging from INR 1.8-3.5 LPA. The salary students receive varies depending on their skills and experience in the agriculture sector, as well as their course progress. In order to increase the salary slab students can go for higher education options and gain more practical exposure.

Read More: Agriculture Diploma Salary

Diploma in Agriculture Scholarships

Graduates pursuing agriculture courses get various scholarships from private and government organizations that act as financial aid to students. Some of the scholarships are listed below:

• India Agri Fellowship
• Netaji Subhas-ICAR International Fellowships
• Profugo Field Fellowship
• UAS Bangalore Sharan Vedanth Scholarship
• Shri. R.N. Lakshmipathi and Smt. Nagarathnamma, Gauribidanur Merit Scholarship
• Smt. Swarnamba. T.K. Gurusiddappa Scholarship
• Late Sri. A. Gopal Endowment Scholarship
• Bihar Agricultural University SERB-DST Senior Research Fellowship

Also, Check: Agriculture Scholarships

Skills to Excel as an Agriculture Diploma Graduate

Diploma in Agriculture graduates are required to have a particular set of skills in order to excel in their careers. Below mentioned are the skills required for a Diploma in Agriculture graduate:

• Communicate well
• Influencing and leadership 
• Numeracy skills
• Initiative
• Organizational skills
• Research Skills
• Teamwork
• Project management skills