Remuneration

In government departments, the starting salary is approximately Rs 2,000-Rs 3,000, exclusive of allowances. In the private sector, the equivalent could be Rs 3,000 and above, depending on the job and the organization.

The most obvious difficulty would be that of living in rural or semi-rural conditions, possibly without the conveniences of urban life. It could also mean long hours of sometimes-strenuous work. Moreover, as all horticultural produce is perishable, there are the pressures involved in maintaining quality under all kinds of climatic conditions.

The satisfaction of nurturing and working with plants can be one of the major rewards this career offers. There is also the knowledge that one is directly contributing to the country's economic development.