Occupational perception of agricultural undergraduates of PAU, Ludhiana and PJTSAU, Hyderabad towards agriculture. A comparative study

India is primarily concerned with agriculture and majority of the people depend upon agriculture for livelihood. Inappropriately, the significant role of agriculture as a basis for safe and durable civilization is not superficial to people outside of agriculture. Indeed, present generation kids and youth often see agriculture in terms of a farmer, a cow and tractor. As we know present generation youth will represent future of our country and they are the future leaders on whom we shall depend to regulate, support and advocate agriculture. Hence, the study was undertaken to access, the occupational perception of undergraduate agricultural students towards agriculture in both the universities. A sample of 120 students of final year B.Sc. Agriculture was drawn by following random sampling method from PAU, Ludhiana and PJTSAU, Hyderabad. Data were collected by distributing questionnaire to the respondents. Regarding occupational perception 20.83 per cent had negative perception towards agriculture as an occupation, whereas 40.83 per cent were having neutral perception and 38.33 per cent were having positive perception towards agriculture as an occupation. As we know present generation youth will represent future of our country and they are the future leaders on whom we shall depend to regulate, support and advocate agriculture. Government should undertake various programmes to attract agricultural graduates towards agriculture as they are the future of Indian agriculture.