Summary
A Plant Breeder works with land, crops, livestock or food systems, applying scientific method to production, quality and supply. In India this work sits inside the Agriculture and Allied Sciences stream: students usually take Science with Biology or Mathematics (PCB / PCM) in Class 11–12, qualify through B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Technology or allied, and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Applied biology and field observation
- Data recording and analysis
- Extension work and farmer communication
- Practical, outdoor working ability
Where you can work
- State agriculture and horticulture departments
- ICAR institutes and agricultural universities
- Agri-input, seed, dairy and food-processing companies
- Cooperatives, FPOs and own agri-enterprise
Professional Opportunities
State agriculture and horticulture departments
ICAR institutes and agricultural universities
Agri-input, seed, dairy and food-processing companies
Cooperatives, FPOs and own agri-enterprise
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Science with Biology or Mathematics (PCB / PCM) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Technology or allied | 4 years |
| After Graduation | M.Sc. (Ag.) in the specialisation | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | Ph.D. for ICAR scientist roles (ARS exam) | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Technology or allied.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand | GBPUAT-CEE | gbpuat.ac.in/index.html |
| 2 | Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana | HAU-ET, HAU-AAT, JEE-Main | www.hau.ac.in/ |
| 3 | University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka | KAR-CET Agri | uasbangalore.edu.in/ |
| 4 | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu | 12th Merit with TNAU Counseling, ICAR-AIEEA | tnau.ac.in/ |
| 5 | Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 12th Merit with TNVASU Counseling, AIPVT, ICAR-AIEEA | tanuvas.ac.in/index.php |
| 6 | Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana | TS-EAMCET | www.pjtsau.edu.in/ |
| 7 | University of Horticulture Science, Bagalkot, Karnataka | KAR-CET Agri | www.uhsbagalkot.edu.in/ |
| 8 | Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala | NEET-UG, KEAM, ICAR-AIEEA | www.kau.in/ |
| 9 | ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana | ICAR-AIEEA | ndri.res.in/ |
| 10 | Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology, Jammu | SKUAST-Jammu CET, ICAR-AIEEA, NEET-UG | skuast.org/ |
| 11 | Maharashtra Animal & Fisheries. Sciences University, Nagpur, Maharashtra | NEET-UG, AIPVT, MHT-CET | www.mafsu.in/ |
| 12 | Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh | MP-PAT, ICAR-AIEEA | www.jnkvv.org/# |
| 13 | Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana | NEET-UG, JEE-Main | www.luvas.edu.in/ |
| 14 | Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat | GUJCET | www.aau.in/ |
| 15 | Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat | GUJCET | nau.in/index |
| 16 | Indira Gandhi Krishi Viswa Vidhyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh | ICAR-AIEEA | igkv.ac.in/ |
| 17 | Ch. Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh | ICAR-AIEEA, AIPVT | hillagric.ac.in |
| 18 | Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar | BCECE,ICAR-AIEEA | www.bausabour.ac.in/ |
| 19 | University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Maharashtra | KAR-CET Agri | uasd.edu/ |
| 20 | Dr. YSRHU (APHU), Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh | AP-EAMCET | www.drysrhu.edu.in/ |
| 21 | Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh | ICAR-AIEEA, AGRICET, AP-EAMCET | angrau.ac.in/ |
| 22 | West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata | NEET-UG(BVSc & AH), WBJEE (DT) | www.wbuafsce.org/# |
| 23 | Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat | GUJCET | jau.in/ |
| 24 | Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh | SOETAP (only for Agri/Horti/Agri Engg), SHUATS Counseling | shuats.edu.in/default.asp |
| 25 | Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanand, Kerala | NEET-UG, KEAM, ICAR-AIEEA, KVASU-ET | www.kvasu.ac.in/ |
| 26 | Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat | CETUG-AAU | www.aau.ac.in/ |
| 27 | Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra | MHT-CET, JEE-Main, NEET | mpkv.ac.in/ |
| 28 | Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu | 12th Merit with TNJFU Counseling | tnjfu.ac.in/index |
| 29 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University,Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar | ICAR-AIEEA | www.rpcau.ac.in/ |
| 30 | University of Agriculture & Horticulture Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka | KAR-CET Agri | uahs.edu.in/ |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Wageningen University & Research | Netherlands | www.wur.nl/en.htm |
| University of California, Davis | United States | www.ucdavis.edu/ |
| Cornell University — CALS | United States | cals.cornell.edu/ |
| University of Queensland | Australia | www.uq.edu.au/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET UG | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test | Various Courses in Agriculture Sciences across colleges in India | neet.nta.nic.in/ |
| JEE Main- Paper 1 | Joint Entrance Examination | B.Tech. in Agriculture, Biotech, Food Tech., Dairy Tech. courses offered by State Engineering Colleges for Participating States and Other Participating Institutions. | jeemain.nta.nic.in/ |
| CUET (UG) | Common University Entrance Test | Agriculture and Allied Science courses at Central, Public and Private Universities who have opted to take UG admissions through CUET across India | cuet.samarth.ac.in/ |
| AP-EAPCET (E Category) | Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture &Pharmacy Common Entrance Test | B.Sc. Agri./ Horticulture/ B.Tech. in Biotech./ Agriculture Engineering/ Food Tech./ Dairy Tech. across Agriculture Universities in Andhra Pradesh | cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/EAPCET |
| AP-EAPCET (AM Category) | Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture & Pharmacy Common Entrance Test | B.Sc. Agriculture/ Horticulture, B.Tech. Biotech./ Food Tech. across Agriculture Uni. in Andhra Pradesh | cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/EAPCET |
| GUJCET | Gujarat Common Entrance Test | Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Forestry/Food Nutrition & Dietetics/ Biotech, B.Tech. in Agri./ Dairy/ Food Technology programs across Agriculture Universities in Gujarat | gujcet.gseb.org/ |
| KEAM | Kerala Engineering, Architecture and Medical Entrance Exam | B.Sc. Agriculture, Forestry, B.Tech. Dairy Tech., Food Tech., Agriculture Engg., Biotechnology Courses in various colleges in Kerala | cee.kerala.gov.in/ |
| KEA-CET | Karnataka Examination Authority Common Entrance Test | B.Sc. Agri., Seri., Horti., Forestry, Community Sc., B.Tech. Bio Tech., Agri. Engg, Food Tech., Dairy Tech, Food Sci. &Tech., in all Govt. & Affiliated Colleges in Karnataka | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
| MHT-CET | Maharashtra Technical Common Entrance Test | B.Sc. (Hons) Agri., Horti., Community Sci., and B.Tech. in Agri., Biotech., Food, Dairy Tech. across Agri. Uni. in Maharashtra | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| WBJEE | West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam | B.Tech. Agriculture Engineering Program at various colleges in West Bengal | wbjeeb.in/ |
| VITEEE | VIT-Engineering Entrance Exam | B.Tech. Biotechnology at VIT-Vellore. | viteee.vit.ac.in |
| SRMJEEE (UG) | SRM-Joint Engineering Entrance Exam | B.Tech. Biotechnology at SRM Group of Institutes, Multicampus | www.srmist.edu.in/ |
Work Description
- 01Assess soil, water, breed or crop conditions and plan the production cycle.
- 02Apply scientific practices for inputs, disease control and yield improvement.
- 03Monitor growth, quality and compliance with food-safety and export norms.
- 04Advise farmers, cooperatives or company teams on better practice.
- 05Record data, costs and results for the next cycle.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Government scientist and officer routes through ICAR and state services
- Growing agri-tech and food-processing industry
- Strong scope for own enterprise on family land
Cons
- Field work in heat, rain and remote postings
- Outcomes depend on weather and market prices
- Corporate pay is lower than in urban sectors at entry
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Plant Breeder matches your interests and aptitude.
Sources
© HBK Careers. Compiled in-house from official regulators, exam bodies and institute websites. Exam and institute records on this page are the same records used across the HBK handbook and exams pages.