Protest in Shivamogga by agriculture students over KEA job notification

Students of agricultural faculty affiliated with Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (KSNUAHS) in Shivamogga staged a protest on July 15 against the move of the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to allow private college students and engineering graduates to apply for the posts of Agriculture Officer (AO) and Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO).

KEA had invited applications for AOs and AAOs. In his notification, the official stated that B.Sc. allowed students. Those who have a degree from Rai University of Technology (Agriculture), a private university, and those who have a BE degree in biotechnology can apply for the posts.

The protesting students argued that KEA should allow only candidates who have degrees from institutions recognized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Allowing private university students and engineering graduates to compete for these positions would take away opportunities from students pursuing degrees in agriculture and horticulture at agricultural colleges affiliated with public universities, they said.

They argued that AO and AAO positions require knowledge of crop management, soil health maintenance and pest control, among other agriculture-related subjects, which engineering graduates do not study as part of their coursework.

They demanded that KEA withdraw the notification and allow only agricultural university graduates to apply for these positions. They warned that if their demands are not met, there will be an indefinite protest.

Undergraduate and graduate students also participated in the protest. They submitted a memorandum to HK Veeranna, Dean (Agriculture).