Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering (Agri & Irrigation Engg.)

What is Agri & Irrigation Engg.?

Irrigation uses most of India's fresh water, and much of it is wasted. Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering trains engineers to manage that water better: measuring rainfall and runoff, designing canals and pipelines, planning drip and sprinkler networks, draining waterlogged land and building check dams and farm ponds.

A standalone undergraduate degree with this exact title is rare. Most universities teach it within B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, where departments such as Irrigation and Drainage Engineering and Soil and Water Conservation Engineering run the core courses (GBPUAT Pantnagar is a good example). Specialised titles such as M.Tech in Soil and Water Engineering or Irrigation and Drainage Engineering are common at postgraduate level.

Compared with Civil Engineering, which handles large dams and city water supply, this field focuses on the field, the farm and the watershed. Compared with general Agricultural Engineering, it spends less time on tractors and food processing and more on hydrology and water management.

Who is this course for?

• PCM students who care about water scarcity and climate change
• Those who enjoy surveying, mapping and outdoor field work
• Students interested in government water and agriculture departments
• Anyone curious about drip irrigation, solar pumps and smart water sensors
• Students who want to work with farmers and rural communities
• Future researchers in hydrology and watershed management