Govt moves to stem agro brain-drain
The government plans to increase incentives for scientists to stem a 'brain drain' from agriculture research institutes.
The incentive is meant to help agriculture scientists work to introduce new seeds and farm technologies through research in an effort to ensure sufficient food for the growing population.
“We want to give our scientists a fair deal. So we are planning to increase benefits and facilities for them. We are doing it for the sake of the nation,” said CQK Mustaq Ahmed, agriculture secretary.
The move comes after several hundred agriculture scientists have left the agriculture research institutes over the last two decades. They were frustrated by a lack of incentives and recognitions at home for innovations of new seeds and farm technology.
In 1997-1999, 137 scientists quit various research organisations under the National Agricultural Research System (NARS), which is comprised of 10 institutes and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, according to the Agriculture Commission Report 1999.
Insiders, however, said the number of scientists who left the agriculture institutes such as BRRI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute) and BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute) might be 400.
Many of them, including breeders, entomologists and soil experts, went abroad for higher studies but did not return from countries such as Canada, Australia and the USA.
A section of the scientists has also joined international organisations and private sector firms, according to officials at the agriculture ministry.
Insiders said such a massive brain drain has created a shortage of experienced and skilled agriculture scientists in the public sector agencies at a time when there is a growing need for research to innovate and introduce new and improved seeds and farm technologies to combat climate-change fallout and help feed the ever-growing population of the country.
The swelling population along with the gradual depletion of croplands, especially accentuate the need for introducing improved and various stress-tolerant seed varieties with higher yield potentials urgently.
The scientists were frustrated by factors such as retirement at the age of 57, vacant position-based promotion policy, lack of scope for higher studies in modern agriculture and an absence of recreation.
As to pension benefits, among the autonomous research bodies, scientists of BARI only enjoy such benefits. Scientists employed by agencies such as BRRI and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) are not yet entitled to pension following retirement.
There is also no provision for awards for outstanding contributions of the scientists for such feats as introduction of improved seeds, the insiders said.
Scientists in countries like India retire at the age of 62. They get various special benefits including incentives for higher studies, awards for outstanding innovation and promotion on merit and performances.
Ahmed said the farm sector faces challenges of ensuring food security for the people against a backdrop of diminishing croplands. “We can address the challenges and boost production through scientific innovation. We are going to increase the benefits and incentives for the scientists.”
The ministry has already developed a proposal for increasing incentives and benefits for around 1,800 scientists at NARS, he said. “The report with the recommendations is being carefully scrutinised. It will soon be placed before the higher authority for approval.”
The ministry framed the proposal months after the prime minister vowed to increase benefits for the agriculture scientists.
The report also suggests retaining scientists till the completion of their research works.
It proposes that the service tenure of the scientists engaged in research into introduction of improved breeds be extended by 3-5 years from the current retirement age of 57, where necessary.
The extension may be based on evaluation by an independent body, Ahmed said, adding that they have also suggested giving pension and recreation benefits to the scientists.
The proposal also includes promotion of scientists to higher grades even if there are no vacant positions, increments for higher degrees and extraordinary performances.
Ahmed said it might take a couple of months to implement the increased benefits and incentives as a number of ministries are involved in the process. “I hope we will be able to make it happen this year. It has to be done. It is a commitment of the prime minister.”
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