Horticulture is a branch of agricultural science that deals with the cultivation of ornamental trees, bushes, shrub, herbs, fruits, flowers, vegetables, plants and landscaping for gardens, maintaining of plantations, orchards, gardens, green houses and nurseries. Nowadays, horticulture has indirect or even direct application in food technology industries as harvesting, production and storage of vegetables are merging into food technology.

Bachelor of Science in Horticulture is a degree level course being offered by many agricultural colleges in India and the names of colleges offering B. Sc Horticulture course, under the control of different state governments in the nation are given below:

• College of Agriculture, Dapoli

• College of Agriculture, Pune

• College of Agriculture, Akola

• College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar

• College of Horticulture, Vallanikara

• Horticulture College & Research Institute, Periakulum

• College of Agriculture, Hebbel

• College of Horticulture & Forestry, Arunachal Pradesh

• College Of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth

• College Of Agricultural Engineering, Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth

• College of Horticulture, Rahuri, Maharashtra

• College of Agriculture, Mysore

• College of Horticulture, Mysore

Higher studies after B. Sc Horticulture:

After completion of B. Sc Horticulture course, candidates are having the following higher studies options:

• Master of Science in

o Post-harvest technology

o Horticulture

o Fruit Science

o Fruit Breeding

o Entomology and Apiculture

Further, after completion of any of these PG courses, candidates can go for the following higher studies options:

• Doctor of Philosophy in

o Post harvest technology

o Plant pathology

o Fruit Science

o Fruit Breeding

o Floriculture & Landscaping

o Entomology & Apiculture

o Genetics, plant breeding and horticulture

Subject offered under B. Sc horticulture course:

Most of the colleges working under agricultural universities in India offer Bachelor of Science in Horticulture with some of the following subjects:

• Fundamentals of Soil Science

• Applied Physical Sciences

• Crop Physiology

• Livestock and poultry production technology

• Principles and production technology of field crops

• Fundamentals of horticulture and plant propagation

• Principles of plant biotechnology

• Principles of agricultural sciences

• Nutrient Management and Fertilizer technology

• Production technology of spices and plantation crops

• Soil conservation, water management, farm machinery and renewable energy

• Agricultural and industrial microbiology

• Applied agro informatics

• Agri business management

• Agricultural finance, marketing and international trade

• Principles of seed production and quality control of horticultural crops

• Pest management in horticulture crops

• Fundamentals and application of nanotechnology

• Ornamental gardening, landscaping and turf management

Job prospects after B. Sc Horticulture:

Horticulture is a specialized field that offers wide range of job opportunities and the course of B. Sc horticulture is highly suitable for candidates who have great passion for gardening and plants. Horticulture offers job opportunities not only to candidates with Ph. D in horticulture, even B. Sc horticulture graduates can find job placements or they can also begin their own business as well. Professionals in the field of horticulture are called as horticulturists and they can find employment opportunities in the following areas:

• Teaching

• Research & Development

• Marketing and public relations

• Sales and management

• Nurseries

• Landscape construction and management

• Grounds management

• Green houses

• Garden centres

• Fruit and vegetable production on their own

• Food chemistry

• Floral design

• Arboriculture

• Agribusiness

• Agriculture

Pay package:

When it comes to government jobs for B. Sc horticulture graduates, they can find job placement as horticulture inspector in state and central government organizations with a basic pay of Rs.7000, which will increase as they gain more experience. As district horticulture officers, they can get around Rs.20000 per month.

Thus, B. Sc horticulture graduates can find lucrative job prospects after successful completion of their course.