Madhya Pradesh Congress President, Jitu Patwari, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the significant number of vacant positions in various state government departments, including agriculture. Despite the declaration of 2026 as the ‘Krishi Kalyan Varsh’ (Farmers Welfare Year) by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, the agricultural system is reportedly struggling due to the state government’s neglect. Official figures reveal that out of 14,537 sanctioned positions in the Agriculture Department, 8,468 are vacant, representing a substantial absence of staff.
Patwari pointed out that the issue extends beyond agriculture, with vacancies also prevalent in departments like Fisheries and Horticulture. For instance, out of 1,290 positions in the Fisheries Department, 722 are unfilled, while 1,459 out of 3,079 posts remain vacant in the Horticulture department. Moreover, he highlighted that key positions in agricultural administration, including Additional Director and Deputy Director, are among the 113 vacant out of 182 sanctioned roles.
The situation is dire even at the grassroots level, with nearly 60% of Rural Agricultural Extension Officer positions vacant. These officers play a crucial role in implementing government schemes and providing technical guidance to farmers. Experts suggest that this staff shortage is adversely affecting essential initiatives such as crop loss surveys and the distribution of soil health cards. The scarcity of personnel is also evident in various agricultural institutions across the state, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
