Seedy side of the crop research institutes – An incisive analysis

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Minister of Plantation Industries Ramesh Pathirana

The scientists of the crop research institutes are an important cog in the productivity chain of the plantation sector and their contribution to generate foreign exchange and industrial development can’t be overemphasised at a time when the country is saddled with a severe shortage of foreign forex. Hence, there is a compelling need to have the required minimum scientific cadre on the board in all the crop research institutes and they are the bedrock of the research institutes to find quick fixes to the burning crop-related issues. This incisive analysis is made after studying the severe shortage of scientists in the research institutes in general and the vexed issues that threaten the survival of the rubber sector in particular.

If one were to examine the dearth of the scientific personnel in the Tea Research Institute (TRI), Rubber Research Institute (RRI), Coconut Research Institute (CRI) and Sugar Research Institute (SRI), one would no doubt shudder to think whether there would be imminent closure of all vital crop research institutes due to the absence of qualified scientists. Hence, the Ministry of Plantations (MPI) and the respective crop research institutes have an inalienable duty to provide the required scientific personnel so that value-addition, disease control aspects, etc. could be more authoritatively carried out.

One would undoubtedly witness a more alarming situation, given the sheer number of vacancies in the aforesaid institutes. RRI and the CRI are the most affected institutes, as these research stations operate less than 50% of the approved cadre. In almost all these research stations, more vacancies are available in the cadre of Heads of Departments, Principal Research Officers and Senior Research Officers, and research officers who are the most experienced and competent hands to undertake onerous research projects. 

In the case of Agronomy Department of the RRI where the Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant Science, Soil and Plant Nutrition, Plant Pathology, Bio Chemistry and Physiology, Advisory Services, Agriculture Economics and Adaptive Research Units function, the total number of vacancies has risen up to 29 thus crippling the most vulnerable research projects. Raw Rubber Process, Polymer Chemistry and Rubber Process and Analysis of the Rubber Technology Department of the RRI which liaises with the manufacturing industries, the number of vacancies has unprecedentedly reached 14. 

It is doubtful whether this issue has received the highest priority and attention of the agendas of the respective institutes. It is only a wishful thinking that the research programs could be satisfactorily undertaken in the absence of qualified scientists. Admittedly, that that the Ministry of Plantation Industries (MPI) and the aforesaid crop research institutes alone are not alone blameworthy for this unfortunate situation, as some of the root causes that led to the exodus of qualified scientists are beyond the control of the MPI and the research institutions. 

Monumental blunders by the Salaries and Cadre Commission 

If one were to examine the salary structures of the research institutes prior to year 2000, one would recall that the scientists of the crop research institutes were the second highest institutions that received enhanced emoluments next to Central Bank. The academic staff of the universities relentlessly launched an aggressive agitation seeking higher salaries with the backing of newly formed trade union – Federation of Universities Teachers Association (FUTA). This monolithic trade union’s aggressive campaigns and strikes for two years in fact paralysed the academic sessions of the universities and there was a backlog of students seeking entrance to the university for three years. The Government succumbed to the pressure of FUTA and granted an obnoxious threefold salary increase to the university academic staff overriding the salary scales of the scientists of the crop research institutes on the recommendations of the Salaries and Cadre Review Commission. 

Cascading effect 

Admittedly, the scientists of the TRI, RRI, CRI and SRI did not have a powerful trade union to agitate for the same enhanced salary scales. The cumulative result of this monumental blunder had a cascading effect on the entire scientific community attached to crop research institutes in that the scientists joined the academic positions of the universities in lock, stock and barrel, creating an irreconcilable void in the research universities. The agitation of the scientists of the research institutions sought the same salary structures and their grievances escaped the attention of successive governments due to poor bargaining, despite reams of papers highlighting their grievances were submitted.

Adding fuel to the fire, the present Government acceded to the salary anomaly demands of the Teachers and Principal’s Trade Union at a staggering cost of Rs. 265 billion to the national coffers because the government was unable exert the trade union muscle of the teacher’s union. Contrary, the same yardstick has not been applied to the scientists of the research institutes covering an insignificant staff of less than 250 scientists. It would not cost the Government billions and billions to accede to the request of the scientists for the rectification of this salary anomaly and I am unable fathom as to why the Government is soft-peddling the issue. All in all, the annual financial commitment arising out of this revision would not exceed 1% of the teacher’s salary revision.

Unrealistic recruitment policies

Unrealistic recruitment policies adopted by some of the research institutes in recruiting and promoting research officers too have aggravated the shortage of scientists in the research institutes. The research institutes recruitment criteria, scheme of recruitment (SOR) specifically stipulates that the young graduates passed out from the universities should possess either a 1st class or 2nd upper degree in the relevant field to join as research officers. Newly appointed chairperson of RRI has made desperate attempts to deviate from the time-tested SOR that had been in existence for well over six-seven decades with some ulterior motives, resulting in undue delays in filling these vacancies. This Chairperson has pathetically failed to hold interviews for the last one year. 

The qualified young graduates who applied in response to the advertisements by now would have found lucrative positions elsewhere and only residuals and misfits may now be available, even if interviews are held at this belated stage. Hence, my advice to the Chairperson, RRB to re-advertise these vacancies strictly in accordance with the SOR and recruit them as a high priority without further delay before research programs come to a standstill.

Illogical recruitment drive by the RRB

To be more precise, the (RRB) – statutory body of Rubber Research Institute (RRI) called for fresh applications for 54 vacancies in the newspapers for Research Officers, Principal Research Officers and Senior Research Officers as far back as 27 January 2021 to which approximately 600 applicants have responded. The Chairperson, an immature nominee of “Viyathmaga”, wanted to be too smart and decided to have a written test initially by entrusting the assignment to SLIDA at a cost of Rs. 2.6 million to which the Board objected on the ground as it was a superfluous measure and the Board did not have the funds to meet this unnecessary expenditure of magnitude. Further, the Board pointed out that the recruitment of research staff right-throughout was handled by the Director, RRI for well over 100 years and a trivial task of this nature should be entrusted to the Director RRI as hitherto done.

Lopsided approach

The Chairperson was adamant to change her rigid stance. Then she decided to entrust the written examination to the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM) again at a tremendous cost. She should have borne in mind whoever who conducted the written examination, the ultimate responsibility of setting the question papers befall on the shoulders of the RRI scientists. However, the fact remains the recruitment process is still held in abeyance. 

When the question of undue delay in holding the interviews was raised by a Board member last year, she is reported to have misled the board by pointing out that the management division of the General Treasury has not given the approval, which is a totally misleading and diabolic lie. Equally, she should have realised that it is totally ridiculous for her to have a written test for senior and principal research officers armed with in the eight years’ post-graduate qualification and industrial experience. 

Her illogical approach to have written tests for senior research officers tantamount to testing the virginity of a woman who has had several marriages. It appears that RRI has fallen from fire pan to the fire with the Finance Minister’s decision to stop all new recruitments at the 2022 budget presentation. Now the Chairperson of RRB is placed in a quagmire by her short-sighted and management incompetence. But the rubber industry suffers. 

Key performances of the rubber sector

If one were to have a glance at the Statistical Information Book on Plantations Crop – 2017 issued by the Ministry of Plantation Industries, one would find a rapid deterioration trend on all the aspects of the rubber industry. At the present rate of declining trend, one could reasonably question whether the rubber sector could be resuscitated from this bottomless abyss.

The annual rubber production has recorded an appreciable decline during the five years from 130.4 kg to 83.1 kg recording an annual downward trend of over 10%. Similarly, the yield which stood at 1,245 kg per hectare in 2013 has plummeted to 842 kg by 2017 recording an annual decline of 80%. The present situation appears to be more precarious. It is regrettable that the performances of this vital sector have not been published for the last four years. Can we honestly be complacent over this downward trend? Definitely No. What has the RRB, let alone other players, done to arrest this declining trend?

Has the Board of Directors intensively discussed this unhealthy development and devised ways and means of resurrecting this destructive pattern and come out with a cohesive short term and long-term plan with the collective support of the relevant stakeholders by attacking vital and vexed issues without fingering on trivial issues similar to that of recruitment raw graduates? Has the Chairperson been resting on the laurels of the RRI and taken a complacent attitude that everything is hunky-dory, when the industry is drifting towards a precipitous calamity?

Ignorance of the complexity role

It is pity that the RRB apparently has not realised the pivotal role they have to play in the context of the declining scenario. Let them be told in plain language that the future of the rubber industry rests on industry-wide productivity growth from smallholder rubber cultivation and production to large scale manufacturing operations. 

Achieving sustained global competitiveness would depend on our ability to shed old unproductive practices and adopting of new technologies coupled with enhancing effectiveness in man ignorance aging value chain activities. As a versatile material demanded by makers of numerous products and applications, rubber can never be erased from inventories of industrial ventures. The rubber material would become an entirely different offering within the next few decades due to technological advances and innovations. 

Has the RRB kept pace with the changes envisaged and formulated a succession plan to face these indomitable changes. Research findings do not reach the smallholders through the extension arms, as the Rubber Development Department (RDD) embark on the subsidy payment rather than extension services. What has the Chairperson done to find answers to this million-dollar question? 

We are eager to know what kind of changes RRB intends bringing about and how to affect such a beneficial and revolutionary change. Has the RRB identified the unseen gaps and major pitfalls in this endeavour? What should be the strategies and critical measures to gain global competitiveness. Does the RRB have the necessary strengths, if not, can the RRB build those strengths. These are the myriad questions which RRB alone cannot provide straight answers, unless she wins the whole-hearted support of the experienced scientists of the RRI. What leadership role has the Chairperson given to the scientists without killing their morale and enthusiasm for work.

Retaining the services of experienced scientists 

Hence, the need of the hour is to retain the services of the few scientists, since the Cabinet has given a blanket approval to retain their services beyond 60 years, which was a manna from the heaven at this critical juncture. The Chairperson to set aside her bloated ego and render the maximum support to the President, Minister of Plantation Industries and the State Minister of Rubber Industries and the Secretary to the Ministry without causing any embarrassment to them, if she is genuinely interested in developing the rubber industry. It appears that the Chairperson herself has been lulled into the mistaken belief that Viyathmaga appointees are more powerful than the Minister and override the decisions of the Minister with the support of the Viyathmaga movement!

Regretfully, her cavalier attitude and arrogance of power are bound to be undoing of all the scientists and harbinger of doom for the rubber industry. To say the least, RRB had most incorrigible square pegs as Chairmen for the last 30 years under successive governments who ruined the rubber industry. But in fairness to them, they did not instigate the fellow scientists against each other as we witness today. 

Extension of services given to scientists

The attention of the readers was drawn over the last two-week ends on trivial issue that it has been blown out of proportion by interested parties probably with some ulterior motives. This, I believe, is a part of the campaign cleverly engineered by the management to create a division among the scientists. Readers would recall that on the basis of the recommendations of the cabinet, the Parliament took a decision to grant an extension to all public servants on 10 December 2021 for five years from 60 to 65 years, with effect from 1 January 2022 to which it received the approval of the Speaker on the same day. However, the Public Enterprise Division of the Treasury issued a circular on the 14 December 2021 restricting the duration of the extension of services for two years with effect from 1 January 2022. 

It appears that a senior scientist had retired from service of the RRI with effect from 18 December 2021, on attaining the age of compulsory retirement of 60 years. Technically, the decision was effective from 1 January by which this scientist had already retired. Had the Government implemented the decision on the day that the Speaker signed the decision with retrospective effect from 10 December 2021, no issue would have arisen and the scientist in question would have continued her services till 62 years. The point to be stressed here is that in any case the extension of services of public servants on the verge of retirements would inevitably block the promotional avenues of all public servants not only the scientists of the RRI. This, of course, is the home truth. 

However, the Secretary of the MPI appears to have acted on the advice of the Plantation Minister and Kanaka the State Minister and has sought the approval of Cabinet for the extension of this scientist, well-knowing the severe shortage of scientists of the RRI and the unblemished service record of this intrepid scientist and noteworthy contribution to the rubber industry in good faith. The victim’s statement to say that she is one of the scientists who has published research publications in local and foreign journals and papers, which itself is a testimony to qualify her for a service extension. 

Is the Chairperson a misogynist to harass female scientists? After all, all public servants hold offices at pleasure at the mercy of the Cabinet of Ministers and they have the ultimate authority to appoint, retire and terminate the services of public officers. It is ridiculous for the RRB to make a hue and cry on trivial issue as the cabinet has approved the extension in question. Let the Chairperson be urged to concentrate far-bigger vexed issues where project breakthroughs are required when the very survival of the rubber industry is threatened, without poking her fingers into trivial pies. 

An act of mud-slinging in the offing

After all, the Minister of Plantations, the State Minister in charge of the rubber sector and the Secretary of the Ministry, I would say, are well decent and highly reputed, disciplined persons. Certainly, they would have known the exemplary and the unblemished service record of this scientist having worked with this officer for well over 40 years. It appears to me that there is a sinister insidious move to discredit these highly respected politicians and the Government led by the President. 

My question is how come that a cabinet directive addressed to the Chairperson extending the services of this scientist fell into the miscreants to galvanise a smear campaign against this intrepid officer while slinging muds at the President, the Minister and the State Minister. She is becoming increasingly defiant openly by sabotaging a government directive the President and the Cabinet has arrived at for the greater benefit of the country, as far as the extension of the services of public officers is concerned. The Chairperson cannot abdicate her responsibility for leaking a sensitive information to unauthorised person/s and her failure to implement her service extension for the last few weeks constitute a major misconduct which warrants disciplinary action. 

It appears to me that the inter-rivalry and internecine culture that has not prevailed upon in this prestigious research institute for the known history has now been deep rooted after the assumption duties of the new Chairperson. From the pattern of inter-rivalry clashes, it is crystal clear that few misguided scientists appear to have entrapped themselves in this vicious smear campaign against their own brother scientists. 

Exclusive university for the plantation sector

The present Government with the full backing of the President and the two plantation ministers have taken a far-reaching decision to establish an exclusive university for the plantation sector, which was a long-felt need. The establishment of the proposed university undoubtedly finds several answers to the exodus of scientists from the research institutes in addition to the amelioration of their grievances of the scientists. The President as well as the two ministers deserve the plaudits of the nation for this bold step and they should not deter from establishing the proposed plantation university.

(The writer is a Productivity and Management Specialist.)