window._taboola = window._taboola || [];_taboola.push({mode: 'thumbnails-a', container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' });Latest News
The Karnataka Agriculture Department is facing a 40 per cent staff crunch.
Of the total 9,614 seats sanctioned (under group A, B C, D) only 5,935 seats have been filled.
This shortage is hampering the implementation of various schemes and has increased the workload of the existing officers.
Even as the state is facing drought situation every third year and despite presenting separate agri-budget, the state has failed to tackle this scenario to help farmers and boost the agriculture sector.
“Human resource is a part of the infrastructure.
The officials are responsible for checking spurious seeds and ensuring that farmers get certified seeds.
Also, they need to ensure that fertilisers are issued on time.
But with such shortage, the government cannot be of any help to the farmers,” said Dr Abdul Aziz, former member of Karnataka State Finance Commission and consultant to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Swedish International.
To meet the growing demands of the farming community in pursuit of the latest technologies, 747 Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSK) have been established, one in each Hobli.
The RSKs are headed by an Agricultural Officer supported by Assistant Agricultural Officers and Agricultural Assistants.
However, it has been noted that 65 per cent of the post of Agriculture Officers and Agriculture Assistants, who are responsible for extending technological benefits to the farmers, are lying vacant.
And also, 45 per cent of the Assistant Agriculture Officers are lying vacant.
Interestingly, the department does not have anybody for the sanctioned post of senior programmer (computer) and Sr computerists, which has halted the e-governance in the department.
The government has even failed to find a replacement for even the retired officials.
When contacted, Bharat Lal Meena, Principal Secretary of Agriculture Department, failed to explain the reason for not being able to fill the vacant post.
He said that the government has implemented alternate plans wherein farmers are trained to do the job the these officers.
“We have selected around 10,000 farmers under the Suvarna Bhoomi scheme and they will do the service.
So, there is no hindrance as such,” Meena added.
“Economists are linking the issue to the declining agricultural growth in the state.
The government cannot keep citing drought as a reason for decline in the agriculture sector,” said Azis and added, “these are the hidden facts which are not highlighted by the government.
They only highlight the increase in production which actually is because of the increase in area under cultivation.
So the government cannot take credit.
” In reality, Agriculture growth in Karnataka has remained at a dismal 0.
5 per cent in the past decade.
Agriculture and allied sectors in Karnataka grew in 2009-10 by 3.
4 per cent and 12.
9 per cent in 2010-11.
In 2011-12 it was -3.
9 per cent.
It is expected to further come down this year
Comments
0 comment