Flawed hiring

Agricultural engineering is a specialized field encompassing a curriculum that covers thirteen courses related to irrigation, drainage, hydrology, hydraulics, water management, soil & water conservation, and management. In stark contrast, civil engineering graduates typically cover only five to six courses pertaining to irrigation and drainage during their undergraduate studies. This stark contrast implies that agricultural engineers are equally, if not more, equipped to apply engineering knowledge, principles, tools, and techniques to the realms of irrigation, drainage, soil and water resource management, and crop production.

The irrigation department is entrusted with the vital responsibility of distributing and managing water resources for agriculture. The department recruits professionals possessing the requisite skills and expertise to conceptualize, develop, and execute efficient and sustainable irrigation systems. Agricultural engineers undeniably possess the necessary skills and knowledge to meet this requirement. Regrettably, agricultural engineering graduates are not allowed to compete with civil engineers for positions within the irrigation department despite having the required qualifications and expertise.

Dr Altaf Siyal

Hyderabad