SRINAGAR, September 24, 2026 – Frustration among agricultural professionals continues to mount as unemployed agriculture graduates held their protest for the third consecutive day at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir’s (SKUAST-K) Wadura Campus in the Baramulla district. Organized under the banner of the Agriculture Graduates Association Jammu and Kashmir (AGA-JK), the protesting youth raised slogans demanding a clear employment roadmap and an immediate overhaul of the recruitment framework within the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Production Department. The demonstrators highlighted that despite spending years pursuing professional degrees, including doctorates and post-doctoral research, they are being denied entry-level opportunities in their own specialized fields. They strongly objected to the fact that there has been no regular recruitment advertisement issued for key departmental posts in over two decades, leaving highly qualified candidates in a state of deep uncertainty regarding their career prospects.
The crux of the agitation revolves around controversial amendments made to the recruitment rules over the years, which the graduates claim have systematically eroded direct employment opportunities. The protesters specifically demanded the revocation or review of SRO-442 of 2017, a notification that altered the recruitment structure for Junior Agriculture Extension Officer (JAEO) posts, converting the earlier 60 percent direct recruitment provision into an entirely promotional avenue. Furthermore, they pointed out that the direct recruitment quota for Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) positions, which originally stood at 50 percent, was drastically reduced to a mere 20 percent through SRO-433, a provision that has also remained largely unutilized. Students leading the protests, including Aadil Wani and Zobia Khannum, stressed that agriculture professionals are desperately needed on the ground to transfer scientific research and modern technologies directly to the farmers, which is currently being hindered by the flawed employment policy.
Pressing for urgent administrative intervention, the protesting graduates urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Jammu and Kashmir government to initiate a meaningful dialogue to resolve the crisis. Their charter of demands includes the immediate disclosure of sanctioned and vacant posts across the department, clarification on pending and proposed recruitments, and the restoration of robust direct recruitment quotas. Additionally, they are seeking necessary age relaxation for candidates who have been adversely affected by the prolonged recruitment delays, alongside the implementation of a predictable and transparent annual recruitment calendar. Asserting their fundamental right to employment, the students have made it clear that their peaceful agitation will continue unabated until the government thoroughly reviews the existing framework and responds favorably to their legitimate demands.
Published by True Roots Media Network