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From the earlier days of human civilization to this date and even in the future, the role of agriculture is noteworthy. For any society, it is a source of food and raw materials. The agricultural sector has evolved from its earliest days to the modern day where different new techniques and technologies are being used.
A Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSc AG) is an undergraduate education that covers these topics. It is an extremely important degree if we want to enhance the agricultural process in the future.
Nepal is an agro-based country. Most of the citizens based their livelihood and source of income on their own agro-based productions. The rich natural environment and farmlands in the terrains of Nepal are the foundations of agro-based products that go to the common kitchen of households, local markets, suppliers and distributors, and finally the consumers.
The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agriculture is a full-time undergraduate study that covers a wide range of knowledge in the field of agriculture science in Nepal and other various challenges in this area and possible solutions and techniques to boost the agriculture sector of Nepal.
This program intends to train agricultural development personnel in areas such as teaching, research, and management. It also provides its students with knowledge about the application of contemporary agricultural equipment and technology.
It is a known fact to every individual that Nepal is an agricultural country. The recent census shows that more than 7 million of the total population are engaged in agro occupation, forestry, or fishery.
Provided below is the graph byMPDI that showcases the Contribution of agriculture, and other various sectors to the gross domestic product (GDP). It proves that this sector plays an important role in contributing to the economy of the country.
If we consider this fact, the importance of the BSc Agriculture course in the context of Nepal is evident. Agriculture contributes 26.5 percent to our national GDP. Sixty percent of the Population in Nepal consider agriculture as their primary income source. In 1957, the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) was established. It started providing Intermediate Agricultural Science (I.Sc.Ag.) and eventually an undergraduate degree, BSc AG.
A separate institution by the name of Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) was established back in 2010 AD.
Currently, there are seven Universities that provides BSc Agriculture courses, namely Tribhuvan University (TU), Agriculture and Forestry University(AFU), Kathmandu University (KU), Purbanchal University (PU), Madesh Agriculture University (MAU), Far-west University (FWU) and Mid Western University (MWU) of Nepal.
It largely focuses on agricultural science research and practice. There are a total of 8 semesters in the degree.
7 universities in Nepal provide BSc Agriculture courses through their affiliated colleges, which is more than 30.
More than 2,000 seats are allocated by these universities for those students who are interested in studying for a BSc AG degree.
Now let us look at the table below. It provides a comparative insight into the number of seats affiliated to respective universities and the seats available. The credit hours of the BSc AG degree in the respective institution are also included.
Universities/Institutions |
No. of Seats |
No. of Colleges |
Credit Hours |
AFU |
1040 |
17 |
165 |
TU |
506 |
9 |
167 |
PU |
242 |
3 |
166 |
FWU |
100 |
1 |
166 |
MU |
48 |
1 |
~165 |
KU |
30 |
1 |
~165 |
MAU |
50 |
1 |
~165 |
The curriculum of the BSc Agriculture in all the universities is vast covering different aspects required in the sector. Some of the areas that this course covers are listed below:
Besides these, some of the other areas that this program covers are: Agrobiodiversity, Farming systems, Agribusiness, and Pest Management. The BSc AG program comprises these subjects and also includes work experience programs, lab work, field visits, and internships in some cases.
Graduates of the BSc Agriculture program are well informed and equipped with skills and techniques in areas of agriculture like soil testing, crop science, horticulture, food and non-food systems, biodiversity, consumers, and relatable branches of agricultural field and management.
The main objective of the study of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program offered by Agriculture and Animal Science institutions in Nepal is to produce competent and practical-oriented agriculturists with modern technicalities to manage this industry in Nepal. It focuses on nurturing those individuals throughout its duration.
Some other purposes of the BSc Agriculture course are:-
Agriculture and Forestry University: Must have passed SEE or equivalent exam, and have passed ISc/Plus2 Science with 50 percent aggregate and studied English, Chemistry, and Biology. Should appear and pass the entrance exam for BSc Agriculture with a 50 percent score and should be a citizen of Nepal.
Madhesh Agricultural University: Should have passed ISc in Agriculture Science or Plus 2 in Science with English, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, with 50 percent marks and CGPA 2.0 with C in aggregate scores.
Mid-Western University: Should have passed I.Sc Agriculture or Veterinary Science, Plus2 in Bio, Physics and take part in defense and give their verdict to be screened and selected from Mid Western University in BSc Agriculture program.
Kathmandu University: Should have passed Plus2 or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.4 or C+ in PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) or (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) with C+ and rest C grades each in other subjects.
Tribhuvan University: Should have studied ISc Basic Science or ISc in Agriculture with English, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology and have 50 percent marks minimum from TU or a recognized University. Should appear and pass the entrance exam conducted by Tribhuvan University on a merit basis.
Purbanchal University: Should have passed Plus 2, A level with Biology and Mathematics, or three years Diploma in Forestry with 50 percent marks or GPA 2.4 aggregate. Go through and pass the entrance exam of Purbanchal University on a merit basis.
BSc AG graduates have ample job opportunities across different agricultural related fields. They can work for the government, private firms or NGOs and INGOs.
Some of the scopes are listed below:-
Besides these, there are some other job prospects for the BSc Agriculture pass-out students. They are:-
Some key details about the entrance examination
If you are selected for a BSc Agriculture course you might have to submit the following documents for the admission procedure.
The fee structure for the BSc Agriculture can vary depending on the university and the type of college.
Generally, private colleges are more expensive than the government-funded colleges. Agriculture Forestry University and Tribhuvan University are comparatively cheaper than the expensive Kathmandu University for BSc Agriculture studies in Nepal.
However, the table below provides an approximate fee for different universities.
Universities |
Approximate fee structure (IN NPR) |
|
Minimum |
Maximum |
|
AFU |
2,50,000 |
8,00,00 |
TU |
2,50,000 |
9,00,000 |
KU |
8,00,000 |
9,00,000 |
MU |
3,50,000 |
5,00,000 |
PU |
3,00,000 |
11,00,000 |
FWU |
3,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
MAU |
3,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Please note that the fee for studying a BSc Agriculture course in Nepal can fluctuate depending upon the college and the cost aforementioned is just an approximate value.
Out of more than 2000 seats available for the BSc Agriculture course, 741 are allocated for the scholarships.
The scholarships are provided according to the government and the college’s policies. Its two types are, open and quota (reservation).
There is also provision for full and partial scholarships. All the tuition fees of the students will be waived in the first one while in the later one they might have to pay a certain amount.
Let us look at the table below to determine how the scholarships are distributed across different universities in Nepal.
Type of Seats |
AFU |
TU |
PU |
FWU |
MU |
KU |
MAU |
Total Available |
1040 |
506 |
242 |
100 |
48 |
30 |
50 |
Total Scholarship |
497 |
168 |
25 |
25 |
6 |
1 |
19 |
Open Scholarship |
312 |
116 |
13 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
Quota Scholarship |
185 |
52 |
12 |
25 |
5 |
0 |
9 |
Paying |
543 |
338 |
217 |
75 |
42 |
29 |
31 |
The above table is converted into the chart below.