New criteria aim to end NARC’s dysfunction, Kathmandu-based staff to sent to remote areas

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment is introducing strict new criteria to end years of dysfunction at the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and stop transfers and promotions based on political access.

To establish good governance at NARC and expand research work across the country according to geographic need, Agriculture Minister Gita Chaudhary has approved and is implementing the “Employee Transfer and Posting Management Criteria, 2083.”

With this new criterion in place, the tendency of NARC employees to remain stationed in Kathmandu for years on end through influence and connections will now come to an end.

The criteria fully prohibit the discriminatory situation in which well-connected employees secure postings in Kathmandu and retire from there, while those without access are perpetually left in remote areas.

Minister Chaudhary said this step was taken to break the sluggishness in NARC’s research. Under the new system, employees will now be required to be deployed to remote offices as well, based on geographic need and vacant positions.

“The acute shortage of staff in remote offices, while many employees pile up only in Kathmandu through access, has created serious anomalies in the institution’s research work,” Minister Chaudhary said. “Since this has created a major obstacle to research suited to Nepal’s varying geographic regions, we have made this necessary decision.”

Stricter leadership selection, performance as the basis

Office chief positions will now be assigned mainly based on performance, not just seniority.

From now on, responsibility will be given only on the basis of leadership capacity, the status of irregularity clearance, and progress toward set targets. Likewise, employees facing departmental action proceedings will not be given chief responsibilities, and those currently holding such positions will be immediately removed.

Newly appointed employees will now be given priority for posting to vacant positions outside Kathmandu. The ministry believes this will help address the staffing shortage at research centres in remote areas.

“These criteria will give the institution a new direction. Our main responsibility is to make employees committed to delivering research services to remote areas and to bring research results out of the lab and into farmers’ fields,” she added.

Previously, there were widespread complaints that, in the name of the “deputation” practice at NARC, well-connected employees stayed in accessible areas and focused on administrative running-around rather than actual research work.

Minister Chaudhary’s decision is expected to bring greater recognition of professionalism and merit at NARC.