Staff shortage hampers farm extension services

Agricultural extension services in Daudkandi, one of Cumilla’s major farming upazilas, are being hampered by a prolonged staff shortage, leaving many farmers without timely technical support.

According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, nearly 39,649 farming families cultivate about 27,802 hectares of cropland. However, only 18 agricultural officers and sub-assistant agriculture officers are currently serving 46 agricultural blocks, forcing many officials to oversee multiple blocks.

The shortage has disrupted regular advisory services, pest and disease management, the dissemination of modern farming technologies, demonstration programmes, farmer training and emergency agricultural support.

Speaking to The New Nation Daudkandi Upazila Agriculture Officer Nigar Sultana said no new recruitment had been made for nearly three years, resulting in a severe manpower crisis.

“Despite our best efforts with limited staff, it is difficult to ensure timely services across such a large farming area,” she said, adding that the matter had been brought to the attention of the higher authorities and that similar staff shortages existed across the country.

Agriculture expert and four-time National Agricultural Important Person (AIP) award recipient Matin Soikat said the vacant posts should be filled without delay and field-level agricultural extension services strengthened to ensure higher productivity, food security and the effective transfer of modern farming technologies to farmers.