When the government have been working reluctantless to make the country self sufficient in producing safe food for the nation, as well as export additional produces to some countries, the field level activities in remote areas have been hampered badly for want of adequate manpower in the fields for years together.
Non recruitment of manpower, especially, sub assistant agriculture officers (SAAOs) was main obstacles in the department when the positions went vacant due to retirement of SAAOs for a long time. Further, the activities at some upazilas went abandoned when the supervision authorities like upazila agriculture officers (UAOs) or agriculture extension officers (AEOs) are not moving in the fields for monitoring or supervision saying that the positions are vacant there.
Not only that some of the district level deputy directors are not so much interested to make the deficiency caused due the lack of filed staff shortage. It has been making dissatisfaction among the farmers who have been deprived off services as promised by the government.
Department of agriculture extension (DAE) authorities in Dhaka saying that they had already started the recruiting process which is being delayed for the global havoc corona virus in past few years throughout the country. They are not sure how much time it will take to complete the recruitment process.
Some farmers in Jhenaidah and Jashore when contacted said they cannot see the SAAOs in their blocks for years together. Finding no other alternatives, either they have been working as they feel better, or follow the advices of the fertilizers and pesticides dealers and sellers in the locality. DAE sources said the number of sanctioned position of the SAAOs in six Jashore region districts is 977, while a total of 785 persons have been working in the fields. Remaining 192 sites, known as blocks are vacant where either some one discharging additional charges or lying untouched when the respective SAAOs went on retirement for a long.
Sources said 266 SAAOs have been working in Jashore as against 287 positions, 135 as against 207 positions in Jhenaidah, 83 as against 109 positions in Narail, 190 as against 206 positions in Kushtia, 55 as against 56 in Meherpur and 96 as against 112 positions in Chuadanga.
DAE deputy director administration in Dhaka Khamarbari Joynal Abedin when contacted, said the aged SAAOs have been availing retirement after a certain period of services and the positions lying vacant immediately. But the recruitment process takes enough time.
The global havoc corona virus has been hampering faster recruitment of the positions in time that was liable for huge positions vacant in the country.
Deputy Director Joynal Abedin however said they have started the process and hoping the positions will be fulfilled within a few couple of months if the covid 19 situation was not worsened any more.