Author(s): Ritu Mittal Gupta, Sukhdeep Kaur Mann and Kiranjot Sidhu

Abstract:
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for rural society in India. Establishment of SAU’s and untiring efforts of agriculture scientists had resulted in green, blue and yellow revolutions. Today, the Indian council of Agricultural research through different state agricultural universities is imparting agriculture education at the level of diploma, degree, master’s and doctoral level with a total intake capacity of approximately 35,000 students per year. The success of universities not only depends upon number of graduates or postgraduates enrolled but also on the professional attainment of their graduates and post graduates. Therefore, the present study was planned to study the enrolment and employment status of the agriculture graduates of Northern SAU’s. Survey questionnaires were developed to collect primary and secondary data so as to elicit structured responses in quantifiable terms. Questionnaire was mailed to all these passed out students to know about their academic profile and career progression after the degree programme. In total, response of 2035 students was received. So, the sample size for the present study was 2035 agriculture graduates. Data indicated that all the universities were offering admissions in B.Sc. Agriculture programme through entrance exams. Findings further revealed that during the five years (2009-10 to 2013-14) out of total admission of 3969 students in B.Sc. Agriculture programme in selected Northern SAUs, 87.04 per cent passed out while 12.95 per cent dropped before completing their degrees and only 6.02 per cent students were admitted through ICAR-AIEEA (UG) in SAUs against 25% reserved seats. As far as educational progression of agriculture graduates is concerned 43 and 28 percent opted for master’s and Ph.D. programme respectively after graduation. Nearly 52 percent of the agriculture graduates were found to be employed in public and private sector.