How to become a Horticulturist

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A beautiful garden, a field of flowers, and greenery are a great backdrop for a perfect Instagram picture. It holds to most natural landscapes. And here’s why you should pay attention. 

We have all heard about how important plants are and how we need to conserve them. And there are a group of people who not just work on conserving them, but also making the most out of it! They are  Horticulturists. 

Want to extend your love for plants and flowers into a career? Read the article on how to become a horticulturist, the courses and colleges you can apply to in India and abroad, the job prep required, and the salary insights.

Who is a  Horticulturist? 

A horticulturist is a specialist who has a thorough understanding of plants and soils and applies that understanding to the cultivation, propagation, improvement, or conservation of ecosystems for either commercial or environmental goals. 

They also understand the physiology of fruits, flowers, insects, etc., and apply it to the field.

Learn more: How to become a Geologist

How to Become a  Horticulturist

To become a  Horticulturist, one needs to choose the science stream and acquire an undergraduate degree. Though a postgraduate degree isn’t mandatory, one can pursue it to gain further specialization. 

Step 1: Stream to select 

After the completion of Grade 10, one will have to choose the science field with subjects- Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB). While choosing an undergraduate program, one can choose horticulture, botany, chemistry or related fields. 

Step 2: Certification Courses & Project Courses 

Certificate courses are a good way to show that you have mastered a certain skill. Many certificate courses are important for entry-level positions and employment purposes. 

Certificate courses are provided on topics such as nursery, production horticulture, floristry, etc. Kindly note, that some of the certifications are provided on different levels and require some prerequisites before opting for them. 

Here are a few courses you can try:

Name of the courseDuration
Nursery/Greenhouse Technician certificate by Oconee Fall Line Technical College17 hours
Wine Studies Certificate by East Durham College4-6 months
Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting2 years
Certificate IV in Production Horticulture by Technical Institute Of Victoria2 years
Certificate III in Floristry2 years

Also read: How to become a Botanist

Step 3: Educational Qualifications

One can choose to do a bachelor’s in agriculture, horticulture, botany, or related fields. Post which they can do internships for practical knowledge and experience to become a horticulturist.

How to become a  Horticulturist after 10th

Name of the courseDuration
Diploma in Horticulture2 years
  • Colleges that offer Diploma:
  1. Agro-Polytechnic Centre
  2. Himalayan University
  3. Eklavya University
  4. Anand Agricultural University – AAU
  5. Annamalai University
  6. Dr YSR Horticultural University

How to become a  Horticulturist after 12th (UG Courses) 

During the bachelor’s program, you will learn about plant physiology, growth, and development of horticultural crops, biochemistry, agronomy, fundamentals of food technology, etc. 

To become a horticulturist in India –

A minimum of 55% in 10 + 2 or equivalent from a recognized board and university is required to apply for undergraduate courses. A few universities have their specific entrance exams for which you are expected to qualify. (Example: HORTICET, CGPAT, UPCATET, etc.)

  • UG courses In India 
Name of the courseDuration
BSc/ BTech in Horticulture3 -4 years
BVoc Horticulture Sciences3 years
BSc (HONS.) in Agriculture3 years
BSc Agribusiness Management3 years
  • Top colleges
Name of the CollegeLocation
Horticultural College and Research InstituteTamil Nadu
Annamalai UniversityTamil Nadu
Lovely Professional UniversityJalandhar
Chandigarh University – [CU]Chandigarh
Shri Guru Ram Rai UniversityDehradun
Anand Agricultural UniversityGujarat
University of Horticultural SciencesBagalkote
Indra Gandhi Agricultural UniversityRaipur
DY Patil Agriculture & Technical UniversityKolhapur, Maharashtra
Banaras Hindu UniversityVaranasi

To become a horticulturist abroad 

Candidate should have a minimum of 55% in Grade 10 + 2 or equivalent in science stream from a recognised board and university. 

They should also have a minimum of 2 references, and language proficiency tests such as TOFEL, IELTS, SOP and LOR. 

  • UG courses Abroad 
Name of the courseDuration
BSc (Hons.) in Horticulture (Commercial)3 years
FdSc Horticulture: Garden Design4 years
BSc in Horticulture: Food and Farming3 years
Bachelor – Horticulture & Business Management4 years
Bachelor in International Horticulture & Management3 years
  • Top colleges 
Name of the CollegeLocation
University Of GreenwichUK
Durham CollegeCanada
Nottingham Trent UniversityUK
Aeres University of Applied SciencesNetherlands
University College DublinIreland
University of AlbertaCanada
McGill University Canada
The University of MelbourneAustralia 
Arizona State UniversityUS
Illinois State UniversityUS

Know more: SAT Exam Sample Papers & Practice Papers – How to prepare

Step 4: Job Prep

  1. Internships

One can apply for an internship during or after the undergraduate program. Companies or sectors offer internships to study floriculture, urban gardening, landscape design, etc. This would be a good time to identify your niche in horticulture. 

Owing to the diversified growth of the field, one can choose multiple sectors to work on and build their profile around it with internship experience and certifications. 

  1. Portfolio creation

The portfolio would include your personal and professional projects, sample case studies, skillsets related to the area of specialization, images, etc. 

  1. Freelance

Freelance opportunities are mostly provided by commercial and designing firms on a project basis. After gaining substantial experience as a horticulturist, you can continue to work as a freelance consultant Horticulturist. 

Skills to become a  Horticulturist

  • Technical knowledge
  • Communication skills
  • Planning and Management Skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Innovation
  • Analytical skills
  • Time management

    If you want to develop such extraordinary skills and stand out from the crowd, try Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA Data Analytics program and improve your personality to stand out in the skills you enjoy.

Salary for a  Horticulturist

Based on the role and experience the salary of a Horticulturist differs from one to another. Apart from this, the pay scale may also differ from region to sector of employment.

Salary in India for a  Horticulturist  

RoleHorticulturistAgronomistHorticulturist TechnicianFloriculturistOlericulturist
Avg. Salary p.a.₹19 lakhs₹20lakhs₹4.1 lakhs₹4.3 lakhs₹5 lakhs

Salary abroad for a  Horticulturist

CountryUSUKCanadaAustraliaNetherlandsFrance
Avg. Salary p.a.$41,454 £23797$40,950 $63,205 €52,120€47,195

Top recruiters in India 

  1. Godrej Agrovet Limited 
  2. National Agro-Industry 
  3. Kaveri Seed Company Ltd 
  4. JK Agri Genetics Ltd
  5. Nath Bio-Genes (India) Ltd
  6. Raghuvansh Agrofarms Ltd
  7. Goodricke Group Ltd
  8. HPC Biosciences Ltd 
  9. Nath Bio-Genes (India) Ltd 
  10. Dhunseri Tea & Industries Ltd  

Top recruiters abroad 

  1. Harp Renewables Limited
  2. Royal Eijkelkamp
  3. Delta-T Devices Ltd.
  4. Spectrum Technologies, Inc
  5. Cleveland Biotech Ltd.
  6. British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA)
  7. Pacon Waste & Recycling Ltd
  8. Nasco
  9. Hill Court Farm
  10. Organica (UK) Limited

It is one of the jobs that offer a good pay scale and gives scope for innovation. Apart from the economical benefits, it’s a profession that truly contributes to society and provides great job satisfaction. If you are someone who loves nature and believes in nurturing and protecting it, you should definitely become a horticulturist.

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FAQs about how to become a Horticulturist

Who is a horticulturist?

A horticulturist is a specialist who has a thorough understanding of plants and soils and applies that understanding to the cultivation, propagation, improvement, or conservation of ecosystems for either commercial or environmental goals.

How much does a horticulturist earn in India?

The average annual salary of a horticulturist in India is ₹19 lakhs.

Can I become a horticulturist after Class 12th?

After Class 12th one can enrol for a bachelor’s program in horticulture, botany, chemistry or related fields. 

What are the skills required to become a horticulturist?

Technical knowledge, Communication skills, Planning and Management Skills, Problem-solving skills, Innovation, Analytical skills, and Time management.

Do I need a master degree to become a horticulturist?

To become a  Horticulturist, one needs to choose the science stream and acquire an undergraduate degree. Though a postgraduate degree isn’t mandatory, one can pursue it to gain further specialization.

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Your love for plants and flowers can become a career? Read the article on how to become a horticulturist, the courses and colleges, the job prep required, and the salary.
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