Paper-I of the Agriculture optional subject syllabus: Overview

1. Agrometeorology and Crop Weather Relationships:
- Introduction to agrometeorology and its importance in agriculture.
- Weather elements and their effects on crop growth and development.
- Relationship between weather parameters and crop yield.

2. Farm Power and Machinery:
- Types of farm power and their sources.
- Classification and selection of farm machinery.
- Principles of operation and maintenance of farm machinery.
- Mechanization in agriculture.

3. Soil and Water Conservation:
- Importance of soil and water conservation in agriculture.
- Techniques and methods of soil and water conservation.
- Watershed management and its components.
- Soil erosion and its control measures.

4. Irrigation and Drainage:
- Importance of irrigation in agriculture.
- Water requirements of crops.
- Sources and methods of irrigation.
- Drainage and its importance in agriculture.

5. Agricultural Structures and Process Engineering:
- Farm structures and their importance in agriculture.
- Design and construction of agricultural structures.
- Post-harvest technology and processing of agricultural products.
- Food processing and value addition.

6. Agricultural Machinery, Equipment, and Energy Sources:
- Classification and selection of agricultural machinery and equipment.
- Principles of operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery.
- Energy sources in agriculture.
- Renewable energy technologies in agriculture.

7. Agricultural Finance and Cooperation:
- Importance of agricultural finance and its sources.
- Role of cooperatives in agricultural development.
- Agricultural credit and its institutions.
- Agricultural insurance and its significance.

8. Agricultural Marketing, Trade, and Prices:
- Marketing of agricultural produce and its importance.
- Agricultural marketing channels and their functions.
- Government policies and interventions in agricultural marketing.
- Price determination and market integration in agriculture.

9. Agricultural Extension Education and Communication:
- Importance of agricultural extension education.
- Methods and approaches in agricultural extension.
- Role of communication in agricultural extension.
- ICT in agricultural extension and e-learning.

10. Agricultural Economics:
- Basic concepts and principles of agricultural economics.
- Production economics and farm management.
- Agricultural finance and investment analysis.
- Agricultural policy and its implications.

11. Agricultural Statistics:
- Role and importance of agricultural statistics.
- Collection and analysis of agricultural data.
- Sampling techniques in agricultural statistics.
- Interpretation and presentation of agricultural data.