09/09/2026
K 'ble CM J&K
We, the Agricultural Engineering community of Jammu & Kashmir, respectfully submit this representation seeking your kind intervention to expedite the long-pending process for creation of a dedicated Directorate of Agricultural Engineering in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
The proposal has already undergone several important stages over the past four years. The major milestones are as follows:
1. 28 June 2022: The Hon'ble Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, recommended the creation of the Directorate to the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor, J&K, vide Letter No. AEngg.2/11/2018-AE/768.
2. 31 August 2022: The Agriculture Production Department, Government of J&K, initiated further action regarding the establishment of the Directorate vide Letter No. Horti-Gaz/2/2022 (251167).
3. 31 December 2024: The Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, issued a reminder urging the Government of J&K to expedite the establishment of the Directorate.
4. 29 January 2025: The Government of J&K constituted a committee through Government Order JK(APD) of 2025 to finalize the proposal for establishment of the Directorate.
5. 25 March 2025: The Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture Production announced the proposed creation of the Directorate on the floor of the J&K Legislative Assembly.
6. 08 December 2025: The Finance Department communicated queries regarding the proposal vide Reference No. 10411: Agri-CAD/4/2021.
7. 04 June 2026: The Agriculture Production Department directed the concerned Directors to finalize the draft Recruitment Rules for the non-gazetted cadre vide File No. Agri-CAD/4/2021 (10411) 992–93.
8. 14 July 2026: The Directors of Agriculture and Command Area Development submitted their respective responses and recommendations regarding the finalized Recruitment Rules and related proposals.
In view of the above, it is evident that the proposal has already undergone substantial administrative processing, committee examination, inter-departmental correspondence, and submission of clarifications and preparation of Recruitment Rules.
We therefore respectfully request the Government to kindly clarify the reason for the continued delay and expedite the remaining formalities so that the proposal can be taken to its logical conclusion at the earliest.
The matter is particularly important from the perspective of employment. Agricultural Engineering has been taught at SKUAST-K for nearly two decades; however, there has been no regular recruitment against dedicated Agricultural Engineering posts in J&K during this period.Consequently, generations of qualified Agricultural Engineering graduates and postgraduates have completed their education but have had extremely limited opportunities to serve in government departments in their own specialized field.
This prolonged absence of recruitment has created a serious gap between specialized agricultural education and employment opportunities. Thousands of qualified Agricultural Engineers are waiting for an opportunity to utilize their knowledge and technical skills for the development of J&K.
Agricultural Engineering has an essential role in irrigation and drainage, soil and water conservation, farm mechanization, watershed management, groundwater management, climate-resilient agriculture, renewable-energy applications, precision agriculture and post-harvest technology. Considering the diverse agricultural and geographical challenges of J&K, strengthening this technical discipline is essential for modern and sustainable agricultural development.
Another serious concern is the approaching maximum age limit for many qualified candidates. Because regular recruitment opportunities in Agricultural Engineering have remained absent for nearly two decades, many candidates who completed their degrees years ago are now approaching, or may have already reached, the maximum age prescribed by the Government for recruitment. These candidates have been deprived of an opportunity to compete not because of any lack of qualification or merit, but largely because suitable posts and an appropriate institutional framework were not created during their eligible years.
We therefore humbly request that, while initiating recruitment after creation of the Directorate, the Government may also consider granting a one-time age relaxation to eligible Agricultural Engineering graduates and postgraduates, keeping in view the exceptional delay in establishing the Directorate and the prolonged absence of regular recruitment in the discipline. Such a measure would provide a fair opportunity to those candidates who have patiently awaited recruitment in their specialized field for years.
After nearly 20 years without regular recruitment, the matter has now become extremely time-sensitive. Every further delay may permanently exclude many qualified candidates from competing for government positions due to the prescribed age limits.
We, therefore, earnestly appeal to the Government to expedite the creation of the Directorate of Agricultural Engineering, complete the remaining administrative formalities, sanction appropriate technical posts and initiate recruitment at the earliest, while sympathetically considering appropriate one-time age relaxation for eligible candidates.
We sincerely hope that the Government will treat this matter as a priority and that the creation of the Directorate will mark the beginning of a new chapter for Agricultural Engineering, technical development and employment opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah Office of LG, Nasir Aslam Wani - Sogami
