Huge vacancies in TNs Agriculture sector stall progress

chennai: in tamil nadu, 26 districts currently lack joint directors of agriculture, creating a leadership vacuum in critical agricultural operations. the absence of regular appointments has delayed promotions, leaving lower-level officers overburdened with additional responsibilities.the post of joint director of agriculture, responsible for overseeing all agricultural programs and initiatives in a district, is vacant in 26 out of 36 districts across tamil nadu. these senior officers coordinate the efforts of deputy directors for central and state programs, as well as assistant directors, agricultural officers, and other staff.despite the key role joint directors play in addressing farmers' concerns and liaising with district administrations, only 10 districts have permanent appointments.according to officials, these vacancies are rooted in an outdated promotion system. in the 1980s, agricultural officers recruited via the tnpsc exam were split into research and extension divisions. while both divisions merged in 2008, promotions continued to follow the original departmental lines. as a result, officers in the research division advanced more quickly due to staffing shortages, leaving many deputy directors of extension without promotions.the issue is further complicated by a pending court case, as officers from the research division are contesting the promotion system, delaying any advancement for deputy directors of extension. the court has given the tamil nadu government three months to resolve the issue, but in the meantime, five senior officials have retired without receiving their due promotions.if the matter is resolved promptly, it would allow promotions across the hierarchy, easing the current burden on lower-level officers, many of whom are handling additional responsibilities due to these vacancies.