What is AgFE?
This branch combines two closely linked fields. The agricultural side covers land and water resources, farm machinery and power, irrigation, drainage and rural energy. The food side covers unit operations such as drying, milling, refrigeration, freezing, extrusion and thermal processing, plus packaging, food quality and plant design.
In India the best-known programme with exactly this name is at IIT Kharagpur, whose department has a long history in farm and food engineering research. Several agricultural universities run B.Tech Agricultural Engineering with a processing and food engineering stream that covers similar ground.
Compared with Food Technology, which leans towards food chemistry and microbiology, this degree is more engineering-heavy. Compared with plain Agricultural Engineering, it gives more weight to food processing plants and the post-harvest supply chain.
Who is this course for?
- JEE aspirants who want an IIT branch connected to food and sustainability
- Students who enjoy both machines and the science of food
- Those interested in reducing post-harvest losses and food waste
- Future engineers for food processing plants and cold chains
- Students aiming for research or MS abroad in biosystems engineering
- Aspiring founders of agri-food or food-processing start-ups
What you study
- Year 1
- Mathematics
- Physics and Chemistry
- Programming and Data Structures
- Engineering Mechanics
- Engineering Drawing
- Basic Electrical and Electronics
- Year 2
- Fluid Mechanics
- Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
- Soil Mechanics
- Hydrology
- Farm Power and Machinery
- Biochemistry and Microbiology of Foods
- Year 3
- Food Engineering Unit Operations
- Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
- Refrigeration and Cold Storage
- Soil and Water Conservation
- Machine Design for Agricultural Equipment
- Instrumentation and Process Control
- Year 4
- Food Plant Design
- Food Packaging Technology
- Precision Agriculture and Remote Sensing
- Renewable Energy in Agriculture
- Electives
- B.Tech Project
Specialisations and electives
Food Process EngineeringFarm Machinery and PowerLand and Water Resources EngineeringPost-Harvest Technology and Cold ChainFood Packaging and QualityPrecision Agriculture and Remote SensingAquacultural EngineeringBio-energy and Renewable Energy
Eligibility & admission
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
- For IIT Kharagpur: qualify JEE Main, rank in JEE Advanced, and score 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD) or be in the top 20 percentile of your board.
- For agricultural universities: usually 50% aggregate (40% for SC/ST/PwD) plus CUET-UG or the state test.
- JEE Advanced has a limit of two attempts in consecutive years and an age rule; check the current information brochure.
How admission works
- Appear for JEE Main in January/April; top performers qualify for JEE Advanced
- Write JEE Advanced (for IIT Kharagpur) or CUET-UG/state CET (for agricultural universities)
- Register for JoSAA counselling (IIT) or ICAR/state counselling and fill branch choices
- Accept the seat allotted in each round and complete online document upload
- Pay the fee and report to the institute for physical verification
Entrance exams
JEE Advancedfor B.Tech and dual degree in Agricultural and Food Engineering at IIT Kharagpur
JEE Mainqualifying exam for JEE Advanced; also used by some state universities
CUET-UG (ICAR-UG)for ICAR-quota B.Tech Agricultural Engineering seats in state agricultural universities
State CETs (KEAM, KCET, MHT CET, TNEA)for state agricultural university seats
Planning to study AgFE?The AISEE merit scholarship can cover up to 100% of tuition fees at participating colleges. One online exam, results by rank.
Apply for AISEE-2027
Top colleges for AgFE
| College | City | Why it stands out |
|---|
| IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur | flagship B.Tech and dual degree in Agricultural and Food Engineering |
| GBPUAT College of Technology | Pantnagar | post-harvest process and food engineering department |
| Punjab Agricultural University | Ludhiana | processing and food engineering department |
| Tamil Nadu Agricultural University | Coimbatore | B.Tech Agricultural Engineering and Food Technology |
| MPUAT College of Technology and Engineering | Udaipur | processing and food engineering stream |
| KCAET, Kerala Agricultural University | Tavanur | agricultural engineering and food technology programmes |
| University of Agricultural Sciences | Bengaluru | processing and food engineering department |
| VNMKV College of Agricultural Engineering | Parbhani | Maharashtra state agricultural university |
Ranks are from the NIRF 2025 India Rankings where shown. Check each college’s official website for this year’s seats, fees and cut-offs.
Careers & salary
Food Process EngineerDesigns and improves processing lines for dairy, bakery, beverage and snack plants.
Cold Chain / Storage EngineerPlans cold stores, warehouses and refrigerated transport to cut food losses.
Farm Machinery EngineerDevelops and tests equipment at tractor and implement manufacturers.
Water Resources EngineerWorks on irrigation, drainage and watershed projects.
Quality and Food Safety EngineerEnsures FSSAI and international standards are met in food factories.
Product / Analytics EngineerIIT graduates often join tech, consulting or analytics roles in agri-food firms.
Research ScientistWorks at ICAR institutes such as CIPHET or CIAE after higher studies.
Top recruiters & sectors
ITCHindustan UnileverPepsiCo IndiaNestlé IndiaAmul (GCMMF)MaricoMahindra & Mahindra Farm EquipmentJain IrrigationCargill IndiaICAR institutes (CIAE, CIPHET)Food Corporation of IndiaAgri-tech and consulting firms
Salary
Freshers from agricultural universities typically start at ₹4–7 LPA (approx.) in food companies and equipment makers. IIT Kharagpur graduates can get higher offers, including non-core roles in analytics or consulting. After 6–10 years, plant managers and senior process engineers often earn ₹12–25 LPA (approx.).
Pay rises with plant-level experience, food-safety certifications and a master's degree. Figures vary; check current placement reports.
Scope & higher studies
India is one of the world's largest food producers, yet a sizeable share of fruits, vegetables and grains is lost after harvest. The government's PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, production-linked incentives for food processing and mega food parks are expanding processing capacity, which needs engineers who understand both the farm and the factory.
Packaged-food demand, quick-commerce delivery and exports are growing, and so is the need for cold chains, automated grading and sustainable packaging. Graduates who combine process engineering with data and automation skills are especially well placed in 2026.
After this course
- M.Tech in Food Process Engineering or Agricultural Engineering via GATE (AG/XE/XL)
- Dual degree M.Tech at IIT Kharagpur
- MS abroad in Food Engineering or Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- MBA or PGDM in Agri-business or Food Business
- PhD and ICAR scientist recruitment (ASRB)
- UPSC Engineering Services or Civil Services
AgFE FAQs
What is the difference between Agricultural and Food Engineering and Food Technology?
Agricultural and Food Engineering is an engineering degree covering farm machinery, water resources and food process engineering. Food Technology focuses more on food chemistry, microbiology and product development.
Which IIT offers Agricultural and Food Engineering?
IIT Kharagpur offers a four-year B.Tech and a five-year dual degree in Agricultural and Food Engineering through JEE Advanced and JoSAA. Check the current JoSAA seat matrix for exact seats.
Is placement good in this branch?
Core food and agri companies hire, but numbers are smaller than for computer or electrical branches. Many IIT students also take non-core roles in analytics, consulting or software.
Can I do this course without JEE?
Yes. Agricultural universities offer B.Tech Agricultural Engineering with a food engineering stream through CUET-UG for ICAR seats or state entrance exams.
What can I study after this degree?
Common options are an M.Tech through GATE, an MS abroad in food or biosystems engineering, or an MBA in agri-business. Research careers usually need a PhD.
AISEE - 2027 Online Scholarship Application Available 
