The Nepal Agriculture
Research Council (NARC), the apex body of agricultural research in Nepal,
posted a job announcement sometimes ago in which it offered 72 scientist
positions (S1) -only for those who have a Master-. However, hardly two third of
the vacancies were filled.
According to the
latest Economic Survey of Nepal (2013/14), the total number of students
enrolled in agriculture, livestock and veterinary studies was 1,453 in the
academic year 2012/13 (just in Nepal). According to which, 100 postgraduates
enter the job market every year. Based on these figures, there should be a
higher number of applicants for the said positions, but young professionals in
agriculture are not attracted to the public sector.
Lack of enthusiasm
& creativity
About 10-15% of young professionals that apply for vacancies to work in public institutions like the
Nepal Agriculture Research Council, the Department of Agriculture or
the Department of Livestock Services quit the job in their early years after
having been recruited. This could become a serious problem not only for Nepal
but also for other Least Developed Countries’ (LDC) agricultural development.
A bureaucratic chain
made of people with conventional minds has been established in such a way that:
first, it reduces the work effectiveness; and second, creates a great setback
for those who really dream of transforming the established patterns, who is most
of the times the youth. As a young professional, it is very difficult to fit in
such environment. Enthusiasm, eagerness to work and creativity, all them can
drain out little by little, as you get used to that environment and you risk
becoming a reluctant manager towards new young employees afterwards.
To work or not to work
in the public sector !
On the one hand,
sometimes, I’d love to form part of one public institution, where you are
rewarded for what you did good and punished for what you didn’t do correctly.
On the other hand, I refuse myself as those with innovative ideas to be blamed
for not being a conventional follower.
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| Picture taken from http://bit.ly/1odOMod |
An internal report
done by the Ministry of Agricultural Development shows that more than 50% of
agricultural research time is invested in administrative procedures in Nepal.
Hence, in most of the cases in public organizations in LDC, an agriculturist
has to play an administrative role. Moreover, the global market of agronomists
has broadened with new challenges to increase food production to feed the
growing population. This has created many opportunities although the salary for
agriculturists is very low in Nepal. That is why the public sector cannot stand
the pressure and has to release the manpower quality day after day.
In the end, the number
of options for agronomists who work in the public sector is reduced to : 1-whether you follow the established patterns;
2-you search other options;
3- you
struggle and try to change the system.
This last may be the best as it would
make you more mature, it makes you learn how to cope with problems and it can
make you become a really transformer.
Which option do you
choose?
Badri Khanal
Agriculture economist
Ministry of Agricultural Development, Nepal
The blog was originally published in YPARD (Young Professionals For Agricultural Development) and published here with permission.
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