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Careers in Agriculture Overview: Agriculture deals with the cultivating soil, producing crops, raising livestock and farming. The diverse branches of modern agriculture include agronomy, horticulture, entomology, animal husbandry, agricultural engineering, soil science, food sciences and technology, crop pathology and agricultural economics etc. Area of Study: I. Agronomy: Agronomy is a branch of agricultural science that deals with the study of crops and the soils in which they grow. Agronomists work to develop methods that will improve the use of soil and increase the production of food and fibre crops. They conduct research in crop rotation, irrigation and drainage, plant breeding, soil classification, soil fertility, weed control, and other areas. II. Plant Breeding and Genetics: Plant breeding and genetics is the science of altering the genetic pattern of plants in order to increase their value. It mostly covers the area of Plant Breeding, Evolution, Genetics, Cyto genetics, Biodiversity and Biotechnology. III. Plant Pathology/ Phyto pathology: Phyto pathology or plant pathology is the science of diagnosing and managing plant diseases. It covers all infectious agents that attack plants and cause biotic disorders. IV. Entomology:  Entomology is the scientific study of insects. Insects are studied because of their importance as pollinators for fruit crops; as carriers of bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases; as parasites of livestock; as destroyers of economically important plants; or as predators of other destructive insects. V. Agricultural Economics: Agricultural economics applies the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock. Specific areas of study in agricultural economics include: Community and rural development International trade Natural resource and environmental economics Production economics Risk and uncertainty Consumer behaviour and household economics Analysis of markets and competition Agribusiness economics and management VI. Crop Physiology: Plant physiology is the study of the function, or physiology, of plants. Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration are studied by plant physiologists. VII. Soil Science: Soil science deals with soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils per se; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils. Agricultural soil science studies the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to agriculture. VIII. Agribusiness: In agriculture, agribusiness is a generic term that refers to the various businesses involved in food production, including farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales. The programme in agribusiness focuses on agricultural management and marketing. IX. Forestry and Range Management: Forestry is the art, science, and practice of studying and managing forests and plantations, and related natural resources. Silviculture , a related science, involves the growing and tending of trees and forests. The courses in the forestry and Range management covers principle of forestry and water sheds, range management, forest ecology, silviculture X. Horticulture Science: Horticulture science is of gardening and of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. Horticulture involves five areas of study. These areas are; Floriculture (includes production and marketing of floral crops), Landscape horticulture (includes production, marketing and maintenance of landscape plants), Olericulture (includes production and marketing of vegetables), Pomology (includes production and marketing of fruits), Post harvest physiology (involves maintaining quality and preventing spoilage of horticultural crops). XI. Agricultural Engineering: Agricultural engineering is the discipline of engineering in agricultural, food, and biological systems. Agricultural engineers design agricultural machinery and equipment and agricultural structures. Some specialties include power system and machinery design; structures and environment; and food and bioprocess engineering. They develop ways to conserve soil and water and to improve the processing of agricultural products. XII. Food sciences and Technology: Food science is a discipline concerned with all technical aspects of food, beginning with harvesting or ripening, and ending with its preparation and consumption. Some of the sub disciplines of food science include: Food microbiology - the causes and prevention of food borne illness Food preservation - the causes and prevention quality degradation Food engineering - the industrial processes used to manufacture food Product development - the invention of new food products Food chemistry - the molecular composition of food and the involvement of these molecules in chemical reactions Food technologists generally work in product development, applying the findings from food science research to the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and use of safe, nutritious, and wholesome food. XIII. Animal Husbandry:  The branch of agriculture concerned with the care and breeding of domestic animals such as cattle, buffalos, sheep, and horses. The science of animal husbandry is called animal science. Veterinary medicine, poultry husbandry, diary production, animal nutrition, animal breeding and genetics, livestock management all comes under animal sciences. XIV. Veterinary Medicine: The branch of medicine that deals with the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals, especially domestic animals. Educational Institutions: NWFP University of Agriculture, Peshawar (http://www.aup.edu.pk) Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam (http://www.sau.edu.pk) University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (http://www.uaf.edu.pk) University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi (http://www.uaar.edu.pk) University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore (http://www.uvas.edu.pk) University of Karachi, Karachi (http://www.uok.edu.pk)

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