SRINAGAR : Unemployment among agriculture and forestry graduates dominated discussions as the three-day Gongul Kisan Mela concluded at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir), Shalimar on Monday, with scholars raising concerns over limited job absorption despite years of specialised education and research.
The mela was inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, Health and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo and Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister appreciated the university’s research and extension contributions, stating that under its present leadership, SKUAST-K has emerged as a leading agricultural institution in the region. He highlighted that the university has generated more than 100 startups and patents and continues to develop improved crop varieties annually to enhance farm productivity and income.
Officials said the university’s research output is regularly transferred from laboratories to farmers’ fields through extension services, contributing to greater self-reliance among farming communities. The annual Kisan Mela serves as a platform to showcase new technologies and improved seed varieties.However, alongside these achievements, scholars and graduates voiced concern over mounting unemployment in the sector. A PhD scholar typically spends 10 to 11 years in higher education and research, contributing to innovations that support agricultural growth. Despite this, many remain unemployed or underemployed after completing their degrees.
According to scholars, each year thousands of graduates and postgraduates pass out from streams including Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Sciences, Fisheries, Sericulture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering. They estimate that only 2–3 per cent are absorbed into relevant government departments, while the majority await recruitment opportunities.
The situation is reported to be particularly acute in Forestry. Graduates stated that no major recruitment has been completed through the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) since 2010 for several referred posts. They also expressed concern over eligibility criteria in certain forest department posts, alleging that subject-specific qualifications are not always prioritised.
Graduates have urged the government to fill pending vacancies in agriculture, forest and allied sectors through the recruitment of specialised degree holders, create additional posts in line with rising graduate numbers, ensure subject-specific recruitment policies, and establish structured career pathways for research scholars.They said that while the government may not be able to provide employment to all graduates, long delays in recruitment and unresolved court stays on certain posts have contributed to uncertainty among professionals trained in specialised domains.
The Gongul Kisan Mela concluded with participation from farmers, scientists and students, featuring exhibitions of crop varieties, farm technologies and interactive sessions.
