Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) today urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in addressing the restrictive recruitment policies within the Agriculture Production Department (APD) that have left young, qualified professionals without career opportunities in the field.
In a statement, the Association’s National Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, raised serious concerns over the limited recruitment pathways for Junior Agriculture Extension Officers (JAEOs) and Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) due to policy changes that heavily favour promotions over direct recruitment. He highlighted how these restrictive policies are limiting career opportunities for qualified agriculture graduates.
He said, “Agriculture remains a cornerstone of J&K’s economy, with the potential to drive both economic growth and employment. However, current recruitment policies within the APD have created significant obstacles for qualified graduates hoping to contribute to the sector. The absence of entry-level roles and the policy changes favouring promotions over fresh recruitment are preventing the agricultural sector from evolving to meet new challenges.”
Khuehami emphasized that, in recent years, recruitment opportunities for JAEOs and AEOs have been systematically restricted. SRO-442, introduced on October 23, 2017, altered the recruitment structure for JAEOs from a 60:40 direct-to-promotional ratio to a 100% promotional basis. This shift removed entry-level positions for recent graduates, severely limiting their opportunities to join the department.
He further noted that the policy regarding AEO recruitment has seen a similar decline in direct recruitment opportunities. “Initially, under SRO-179 (1988), the AEO positions were split equally with a 50:50 direct-to-promotional ratio, ensuring a balanced intake of fresh talent. However, this ratio was later revised under SRO-433 (2004) to an 80:20 split, favoring promotional appointments. As a result, no AEO positions have been advertised for direct recruitment in over 17 years, despite the pressing need for skilled personnel in the sector and hundreds of vacancies remaining unfilled.”
The Association has called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to immediately address these longstanding recruitment issues. Khuehami urged a repeal of SRO-442, a resumption of direct recruitment for JAEO and AEO positions, and the re-advertisement of the previously withdrawn AEA posts to ensure equitable opportunities for aspiring agriculture professionals.
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