SFI has said that the move to modify the minimum qualifications for appointment to the post of agriculture officer in the Agriculture Department will have far-reaching consequences.
The present qualification for Agriculture officer is BSc (Hons) Agriculture. However, there is now a move to appoint candidates who have passed other courses, SFI office-bearers said in a statement. The post of Agriculture officer is the main avenue for getting a job for those who passed the BSc (Hons) Agriculture course, they said.
Those who join the BSc (Hons) Agriculture course are admitted based on entrance examination. BSc Agriculture graduates are those who pass out after extensive studies in the field and they are also trained to scientifically asses the problems faced by farmers.
Persons who have studied other courses do not have any practical knowledge and they will not be able to assess the issues related to agriculture, the SFI office-bearers said. They said that the move to add new courses other than BSc (Hons) Agriculture course in the list for applying to the post of Agriculture Officer would have a far-reaching impact on the agriculture sector in the state. This would create a situation which could ultimately harm the agricultural sector and also create ecological imbalance in the state because some new recruits in the post of agricultural officer would not have the required proficiency tackle issues related to agriculture effectively, they said.
SFI said that they would organise agitations if the government goes ahead with the proposal.