Becoming an agriculture officer is one of the most respected and well-paid roles in the agricultural industry. These experts analyse and test forming Items to help ensure safe food production.
Contents
To Become an agriculture officer
Knowing more about this career and its necessity will help you decide if it’s right.
This article will show you how to become a forming officer and provide important information about this career, including everyday duties, average salary, and supporting skills.
What is Agricultural Officer?
Agricultural officers are specialists who assist farmers in growing successful crops such as soybeans, wheat, corn and cotton.
Agricultural officials use chemistry, biology, economics, geology, ecology, and genetics knowledge to test agricultural products. Farmers strive to ensure the quality of the crops grown.
Agricultural officials are also responsible for ensuring that all farming operations and items comply with state and municipal laws.
Agricultural officers may help audit, investigate, analyse and test forming items. With specialised training, they can even become a regional manager for a region.
Role and Responsibilities of the Agriculture Officer
The primary mission of the Agriculture Officer is to inspect, research, sample and test agricultural items to ensure they meet state and municipal standards. Some of the primary responsibilities of a farming officer are:
- Inspecting gardens and livestock for diseases, pests and growth rates.
- Analysing animals to assess their health.
- Monitoring Agriculture practices to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Gathering samples from plants, soil, animals and other agricultural products.
- Storing collections and shipping them to laboratories for testing.
- They are collaborating with scientists to prevent animal diseases.
- Investigating animals and farming products.
- Making reports based on their observations.
- Advise farmers on various policies based on their findings.
- Evaluating crop-growing practices and safety standards.
- Maintaining machines and materials.
- Monitors agricultural profitability.
How to become an agriculture officer after the 12th?
If you are interested in learning how to become an agriculture officer, follow these simple steps:
1. Meeting the eligibility criteria
To begin your career by meeting the eligibility criteria, first, review the eligibility criteria to ensure that you meet the minimum requirements. Generally, candidates for Agriculture Officer posts should be Indian citizens between 18 to 40 years of age.
If you are under 18, you can continue your education by focusing on courses such as biology and chemistry. It will help you develop your industry knowledge before meeting the minimum age need.
2. Complete your secondary school education
You can complete your 12th standard in secondary school before applying for the relevant bachelor’s program to become Agriculture Officer.
Consider focusing on physics, chemistry, and biology courses to help you qualify for relevant college schedules. If your school shows an elective course in agricultural science, take it to help you develop advanced skills.
3. Earn a bachelor’s degree
After your secondary school education, you can apply for a bachelor’s degree program in a related field to become an Agriculture Officer. Consider studying one of the following subjects:
- Agriculture
- Biology
- Horticulture
- Dairy Science
- Forestry
- Soil Science
- Plant Science
4. Consider a Certificate Program
After completing your education, apply for an optional certificate program. These additional credentials help improve your employability and skills and allow you to increase your salary. You can apply to programs online or find one in your local area.
5. Apply for an entry-level role
After earning a bachelor’s degree, you can take up an internship or work in an entry-level position where you can gain exposure to a related field.
It will help you build industry knowledge and experience and help you start your career as an agricultural officer. Consider roles that involve a specific agricultural discipline, such as agriculture or horticulture.
6. Determine your career goals
Before conducting specialised training and exams, consider your career goals. You may work in a specific position with its guidelines and requirements.
If you want to work in a specialised field of agriculture, such as agricultural financial management, you may need to complete another exam after earning your bachelor’s degree. Research the area and sector you want to work in to ensure you meet the specific requirements.
Here are some standard tests you can complete to help you become an agricultural officer:
ICAR AIEF:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research All India Entrance Examination (ICAR AIEF) helps aspiring agricultural professionals to start their careers.
This exam will help you enter the field as a Technician, Senior Research Fellow or Junior Research Fellow. Developing your skills in these roles can lead you to an agricultural officer position.
IBPS SO:
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Specialist Officer Exam (IBPS SO) is an annual examination conducted by the Government of India to select applicants for the post of Agricultural Field Officer.
The eligibility criteria for appearing in this exam should be Bachelor’s Degree in a related field like Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Animal Husbandry and Horticulture.
SSC:
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examination offers a wide range of opportunities for graduates in agriculture under the ministries and departments of the Government of India.
After taking this exam, you can apply for Scientific Assistant, Foreman or Laboratory positions. SSC can also offer this exam to candidates interested in agriculture officer roles depending on their location.
FCI:
Food Corporation of India (FCI), you can register for FCI’s online exam for technical or non-technical occupations. This exam may help you find a position as a Technical Manager, Technical Officer or Assistant Officer in Agriculture. From here, you can develop essential skills for your agricultural officer career.
NABARD:
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) conducts its examination through which it provides opportunities for vacant roles in agriculture. They can offer the posts of Assistant Officer, Office Attendant and Agriculture Officer.
7. Apply for Positions
You can apply for positions after passing your exams and completing the eligibility requirements. Revise your CV to reflect your recent experience, training and certifications. You can directly apply for private roles or complete the exam processes for government jobs.
Types of an Agriculture Officer
- Agriculture Inspector
- Agricultural Manager
- Farm manager
- Agricultural Engineer
- Agricultural Technician
- Agricultural Scientist
How much does an agriculture officer earn?
On average, agricultural officers, sometimes called agricultural specialists in specific locations, earn Rs 31,955 per month. Salaries depend on position, education, training and knowledge.
Also, your employer or business can affect your salary. Central government agencies may pay better than state government departments.
Essential Skills for Agriculture Officer
You can develop various hard and soft skills to help you succeed as an agriculture officer. In addition to practical knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology, there are many other skills you need to become an agricultural officer, including the following:
Decision-Making Skills:
Decision-making skills help you analyse a situation and develop a productive solution regarding agricultural practices and technologies.
Computer Skills:
As an agriculture officer, you may work on various reports, and to prepare those reports, you may use a basic understanding of computer software programs, including word processing and spreadsheets.
Interpersonal skills:
The skills will help you analyse data while tracking biological and chemical processes. Interpersonal Skills Agricultural officers often interact with others, and strong interpersonal skills will help you build relationships with various shareholders.
Communication Skills:
Agriculture officers often share their ideas with others, participate in discussions and provide constructive comments on various topics. Promising communication talents will help you express your ideas more clearly and concisely.
Technical knowledge:
To become a competent agricultural officer, you can use knowledge of crops, grass, soil types, and agricultural and cultivation chemicals.
Is becoming an agriculture officer a good career?
Whether becoming an agriculture officer is a good career depends upon your career goals. This might be a good option if you are interested in analysis and food production.
Conclusion
As we have discussed, a career in becoming an agriculture officer is exciting and promising. The job also offers an excellent salary package and many benefits. There are multiple openings and positions for Agriculture Officer posts in various government sectors.
So, for many people who dream of getting into a government job with a good salary package, it is seen as one of the best careers for students interested in agricultural science. So, make a good choice!
FAQs
The highest salary that an Agriculture Officer can earn is Rs 5.5 Lakhs per year (Rs 45.8k per month).
Agriculture is a very scoring optional subject in the UPSC civil services Mains exam. Aspirants with an academic background in Agriculture, Zoology, Botany and related fields can opt for this for the UPSC IAS Mains Exam.
Agricultural engineer, Agricultural economist, Farm manager, Soil and plant scientist.
Agricultural Operations Manager, Food Scientist, Agronomy Sales Manager