CAREER PROSPECTS IN SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The total world market for seed is estimated to be around US$30 billion. If Indian seed industry is compared with the global scenario, the Indian seed programme is still in its nascent stage, because the estimated turn over (US$900 million) of India is less than 2 per cent of the global seed business of US$25 billion. With world trade expected to reach US$75 billion by 2020, India can easily walk away with a major portion of seed business by planning carefully and implementing at the right time.
The seed industry has now grown hugely in its size and performance after independence of India. The public sector and private companies are involved in production of quality seed. The public sector companies in seed production include National Seed Corporation (NSC), State Farm Corporation of India (SFCI) and 13 State Seed Corporations (SSC). Apart from this, there are 21 State Seed Certification Agency, 105 Seed Testing Lab (68 had been notified includes a central seed testing lab) & 36 Breeder Seed Unit (BSU). The private sector comprises of more than 200 organized seed companies include national, multinational and other seed selling companies. In addition to this many other cooperative organization involved in seed multiplication and distribution of certain crop seeds.
Agriculture and non-agriculture universities conduct entrance examinations for students in various disciplines in their colleges. There are two ways for the students to take admission in various agricultural colleges. The first is through all India ICAR entrance examination and the second is through the examination conducted by the State Agricultural Universities. The entrance examination conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) provides scholarships to the students in the form of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Ph.D. in the form of Senior Research Fellowship (SRF). The number of seats in JRF and SRF varies according to the availability of seats in different universities during counseling and admission by time to time. There are 34 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), 4 Deemed Universities and 3 Central Universities, which offer undergraduate programme in agriculture in our country. Most of the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Deemed Universities don’t offer the Seed science and Technology at Masters level becomes a limiting factor for the students to pursue the course. However, it is important to note that there are some agricultural universities offering Seed Science and Technology at Masters and Ph.D. level in our country. So a Masters or Ph.D in Seed Science and Technology has bright prospects in Central Government, State Government and Private agencies of India and abroad.
Essential Educational Qualification
Only those candidates having passed their Bachelor’s degree or appearing in final examination in agriculture or in the biological sciences under 10 + 2 + 4 or 10 + 2 + 3 are eligible to apply for admission in the postgraduate programme of Seed Science and Technology. The universities, which have been offering the masters in Seed Science and technology are given below.
SL. NO NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY
1. Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad – 500 030 Andhra Pradesh Email : angrau@ap.nic.in, Website: http://www.angrau.net/
2. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (BCKV), Haringhatta Post, Mohanpur, Nadia – 741 246 West Bengal Email : root@bckv.wb.nic.in
3. Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAUT), Kanpur – 208 002, Uttar Pradesh Email : csauknp@up.nic.in, Website: csauk.ac.in
4. Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar – 125 004 Haryana,
Email : root@hau.pnp.nic.in. Website: hau.nic.in
5. Dr. Punjab Rao Deshmukh Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (PKV), Krish Nagar, Akola – 444 104 Maharastra
Email : vc@pdkv. mah.nic.in Website: pdkv.mah.nic.in
6. Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pant nagar – 263 145 Uttaranchal Email : root@gbpuat.ernet.in, Website: http://www.gbpuat.ac.in
7. Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV),
Jabalpur – 482 004 Madhya Pradesh
Email : root@jnau.mp.nic.in
8. Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellanikara, Trichur- 680 654 Kerala, Email : kauhqr@hub.nic.in
Website: http://www.kau.org/
9. Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneshwar–751001 Orissa Email : root@uat.ori.nic.in Website: bhub.ori.nic.in/ouat
10. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana – 141 004 Punjab Email : root@pau.chd.nic.in
11. Rajendra Agricultural University (RAU), Pusa, Samastipur– 848 125 Bihar Email : rau@bih.nic.in
12. Tamilnadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore– 641 003 Tamilnadu Email : root@tnau.tn.nic.in
Website: http://www.tnau.ac.in/
13. University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore – 560 065 Karnataka Website: uasbng.kav.nic.in
14. University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Krishi Nagar, Dharwad – 580 005 Karnataka Email : root@uasd.kar.nic.in aris@uasd.net Website:
http://www.uasd.net/
SL.NO DEEMED UNIVERSITY
1. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Pusa Road, New Delhi -110 012 Website: http://www.iari.res.in
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
There are various avenues existing in Government and Private industry (Research & Marketing sections) for those who opt for Seed Science and Technology as a career. Some of the job opportunities offered for Seed Science and Technology are listed below.
Government Jobs
Ø Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Recruitment conducted by Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board, (ASRB), ICAR, New Delhi.
Ø Assistant Professor/Junior Research Officer/ Subject Matter Specialist/Lecturer in Agricultural Universities, Deemed Universities & other colleges.
Ø Training Associate/Subject Matter Specialist in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) controlled by ICAR, State Agricultural Universities, Non–Governmental Organizations and other Voluntary Organizations.
Ø Seed Production Officer (SPO)/ Seed Testing Officer (STO)/ Seed Inspector (SI)/ Seed Certification Officer (SCO) in National Seed Corporation (NSC), State Seed Corporations (SSCs), Central Seed Testing Lab (CSTL), State Seed Testing Lab (SSTL) & Breeder Seed Units (BSUs).
II Private jobs
Ø Research and Development Section
Ø Production Director (Certified Seed)/Production Director (Foundation Seed)/Chief Production Officer (CPO)/ Zonal Officer (Seed Section) / Quality Control Officer/Production Manager/Production Coordinator/ Production Officer/Plant Supervisor/Farm Supervisor/ Production Assistant/Field Assistant
Ø Marketing Section
Ø Zonal Manager/Area Manager/ Marketing Manager/Sales Executive/Territory Sales Executive