Organization : Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission
Designation : Agriculture Officer
Announcement : Syllabus
Home Page : https://psc.ap.gov.in/(S(2obdf0ou22svsc4uwmgw5e5t))/Default.aspx
Download Syllabus : http://www.syllabus.gen.in/uploads/835-Agriculture-officer.pdf
Agriculture Officer Exam Syllabus :
Paper-I : General Studies And Mental Ability
1. Events of national and international importance.
2. Current affairs- international, national and regional.
Related : Syllabus For Superintendent Mizoram Public Service Commission : www.syllabus.gen.in/831.html
3. General Science and it applications to the day to day life Contemporary developments in Science & Technology and Information Technology
4. Social- economic and political history of modern India with emphases on Indian national movement.
5. Indian polity and governance : constitutional issues, public policy, reforms and e-governance initiatives.
6. Economic development in India since independence.
7. Geography of India with focus on Andhra Pradesh.
8. Disaster management : vulnerability profile, prevention and mitigation strategies, Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in the assessment of Disaster
9. Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
10. Logical reasoning, analytical ability and data interpretation.
11. Data Analysis : Tabulation of data Visual representation of data Basic data analysis (Summary Statistics such as mean and variance coefficient of variation etc.,) and Interpretation
12. Bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and its Administrative, Economic, Social, Cultural, Political, and legal implications/problems, including
a). Loss of capital city, challenges in building new capital and it’s financial implications.
b). Division and rebuilding of common Institutions.
c). Division of employees, their relocation and nativity issues.
d). Effect of bifurcation on commerce and entrepreneurs.
e). Implications to financial resources of state government.
f). Task of post-bifurcation infrastructure development and opportunities for investments.
g). Socioeconomic, cultural and demographic impact of bifurcation.
h). Impact of bifurcation on river water sharing and consequential issues.
i). AP REORGANISATION ACT, 2014 on AP and the arbitrariness of Certain provisions.
Paper-II : Agriculture
(Degree Level)
01. Introductory Agriculture and Principles of Agronomy :
Basic elements of crop production; Factors affecting crop production; History of Agricultural Development; Chronological Agricultural Technology development in India.
Indian Agriculture, balance sheet, liabilities; Assets and Contrasting trends (DATA), Agril. growth, contrasting food chains, Diversity in physiography, Soil groups, marine, livestock and water;
Liabilities : Soil factors, weather factors, Economic ecology, dry and irrigation agriculture, Farming Systems approach, value addition, requirements in new technology;
Women in Agriculture: multifaceted roles and tasks, work stress factors, Nutritional and rural life standards, role in house hold design making, drudgery reduction for farm women, women friendly agricultural technology;
Empowerment of women; Group dynamics for farm women, rural women; The nucleus of Agricultural Extension and Training.
Meaning and scope of Agronomy: National and International Agricultural Research Institutes in India, Agro-climatic zones of India and Andhra Pradesh. Tillage, crops stand establishment, Planting geometry and its effect on growth and yield cropping systems, Harvesting.
02. Field Crops (Kharif) :
Origin, geographic distribution, economic importance, soil and climatic requirement, varieties, cultural practices and yield of kharif crops, Cereals – rice, maize, sorghum, pearl millet and minor millets;
Pulses : pigeonpea, mungbean and urdbean; Oilseeds: groundnut, sesame and soybean; Fibre crops : cotton, jute and sunhemp; and Forage crops: sorghum, maize, cowpea, cluster bean and napier.
03. Field Crops (Rabi) :
Origin, geographical distribution, economic importance, soil and climatic requirements, varieties, cultural practices and yield of rabi crops; Cereals: wheat, barley; Pulses : chickpea, lentil, peas, french bean; Oilseeds: rapeseed and mustard, sunflower, safflower and linseed;
Sugar crops : sugarcane and sugarbeet, Medicinal and aromatic crops such as citronella, palma rosa and isabgol; Commercial crops: potato and tobacco, Forage crops: lucerne and oat.
04. Weed Management Weeds :
Introduction, harmful and beneficial effects, classification, propagation and dissemination; Weed biology and ecology, crop weed association, crop weed competition and allelopathy.
Concepts of weed prevention, control and eradication; Methods of weed control: physical, cultural, chemical and biological. Integrated weed management; Herbicides: advantages and limitation of herbicide usage in India, Herbicide classification, formulations, methods of application;
Introduction to Adjuvants and their use in herbicides; Selectivity of herbicides; Compatibility of herbicides with other agro chemicals; Weed management in major field and horticultural crops, shift of weed flora in cropping systems, aquatic and problematic weeds and their control. Herbicide resistant crops.
05. Water Management Including Micro Irrigation Irrigation :
definition and objectives, water resources and irrigation development in India and Gujarat; Soil plant water relationships; Methods of soil moisture estimation, evapotranspiration and crop water requirement; effective rainfall, scheduling of irrigation;
Methods of irrigation: surface, sprinkler and drip irrigation; Irrigation efficiency and water use efficiency, conjunctive use of water, irrigation water quality and its management.
Water management of different crops (rice, wheat, maize, groundnut, sugarcane, mango, banana and tomato); Agricultural drainage.