Horticulture is the art of plant propagation. The word Horticulture is developed from the Latin word hortus which means garden and cultus which means to cultivate. Those individuals who practice this are known as horticulturists. They study all types of plants and experiment on it for the breeding of plants, crop farming and production, plant biochemistry/physiology and genetic engineering etc. They also farm fruits, vegetables, flora and berries along with shrubs and trees. There are many colleges in India that offers courses in Horticulture.

Courses and Entrance Exams

List of Courses

Diploma courses

• Diploma in Horticulture Nursery Management
• PG diploma in horticulture and floriculture
• Diploma course in Greenhouse Vegetable Production
• Diploma course in greenhouse cut flower production

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who wish to join the Diploma course in horticulture must have finished their 12th with Physics and Biology. They must also have studied Chemistry as a subject.

Postgraduate Courses

• M.Sc Horticulture
• M. Sc. Ag. -  Horticulture (Floriculture and Landscaping)

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who aspire to join the Masters course in horticulture must hold a degree in B.Sc. (Forestry), B.Sc. (Agri.) or in B.Sc. (Horti.). They should also clear the entrance exams that are conducted by individual universities.

List of Entrance Exam

• Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry entrance exam
• Maharashtra Council of Agricultural Education & Research entrance exam
• Common Entrance Test in Horticulture
• Vellanikara College of Horticulture Entrance Exam

Career Prospects

Students of horticulture can find employment in institutes of Horticulture, in plantations, vegetable farms as well as fruit groves. They can also find jobs as farming specialists in vineyards, agriculture estates and fruit orchards. The services of horticulturists are also required by perfume companies and luxury resorts. Several home owners hire skilled horticulturists as well for creating terrace gardens. Professionals in this field can also find jobs as teachers, therapists, scientists and managers. They can also be hired as landscapers or as assistants in garden art. The initial salary of Assistant horticulture inspectors will be around Rs 7000 each month and it may rise up to Rs 17, 000 per month. This will depend upon their experience and total years of service. The income of a District Horticulture Officer is above Rs 20, 000 every month. Those who are employed as scientists will get a pay of approximately Rs. 18, 000 – Rs. 25, 000 per month. The salary of an individual who is employed in the private sector is more when it is compared to that of a person working in the public sector. As the expertise and skill of a person increase, his/her remuneration will also be raised.