Palghar Agriculture Employees Oppose New Staffing Structure, Submit Memorandum To Guardian Minister
· Free Press Journal
Palghar: Representatives of various employee associations from the Agriculture Department in Palghar district met Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik on Friday, 21 August and submitted a memorandum opposing the department’s newly approved staffing structure, alleging that the revised framework is not in the interest of farmers or officers and employees in the technical cadre.
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The associations expressed concern that the new structure reduces the number of field-level officers who directly visit farms and provide technical guidance to farmers, while giving greater emphasis to office-based posts. They claimed that such a shift could adversely affect agricultural extension services and reduce direct support available to farmers.
The delegation met the Guardian Minister at the District Collector’s Office. Those present included Anil Nargulwar, Palghar District President of the Agriculture Officers’ Association; Jagdish Patil, Treasurer; Hemant Adhikari, District President of the Assistant Agriculture Officers’ Association, along with representatives of associations of Assistant Agriculture Officers, Deputy Agriculture Officers, Agriculture Officers and Taluka Agriculture Officers.
According to the associations, Naik assured them that the matter would be taken up with the Chief Minister and that efforts would be made to address their concerns.
The employee organisations have demanded that the newly approved staffing structure be reconsidered and either withdrawn or modified to retain the existing strength of key field-level posts. They have also warned that if the revised structure is not withdrawn, agriculture department associations across the state will launch protests in phases, followed by an indefinite work stoppage from September 4.
The State Government approved the new staffing structure for the Agriculture Department on August 11, 2026. The associations alleged that employee bodies were not adequately consulted before the new framework was finalised.
They further claimed that the revised structure reduces posts of officers responsible for providing technical guidance directly to farmers while increasing the number of posts at the administrative and office level.
Field officers of the Agriculture Department routinely visit farms and advise cultivators on crop management, pest and disease control, adoption of modern agricultural technology, government schemes, productivity enhancement and financial assistance programmes. The associations argued that any reduction in field-level technical manpower could weaken the agricultural extension system and affect the effective delivery of services to farmers.
They also pointed out that Maharashtra has a significant presence in the country’s registered food-processing sector and said Agriculture Department officers and employees play an important role in ensuring that various agricultural and allied schemes reach farmers effectively.
As the department’s staffing pattern is being revised after nearly 15 to 20 years, the associations have demanded that the government take into account the increased workload and expanding scope of agricultural programmes. They have sought an increase in sanctioned posts, upgradation of existing positions, creation of new posts in line with responsibilities and adequate promotional opportunities for officers and employees.
The memorandum also seeks parity in status, authority and administrative powers for key Agriculture Department posts at the taluka, district and divisional levels with equivalent positions in other government departments.
The associations maintained that, instead of reducing field-level manpower, the government should strengthen it so that farmers continue to receive direct access to technical guidance, modern agricultural practices and the benefits of government schemes.
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