The Ministry of Agriculture currently has over 200 unfilled positions and is actively developing job descriptions and recruitment strategies to address the challenges associated with these vacancies. This information was provided by Andrew Tukana, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, during a public presentation regarding the 2022 Audit Report on the Economic Sector.
Mr. Tukana discussed the ongoing issue of staffing shortages, stating that while efforts are being made to recruit for these positions, the ministry is also facing a wave of staff resignations. He noted that one significant factor contributing to this trend is salary disparities, as employees often leave for more lucrative offers elsewhere.
To mitigate this issue, Dr. Tukana explained that the ministry is reviewing job descriptions to ensure they align with its strategic objectives and to help retain critical skills within the workforce. He mentioned, “We are reviewing all these job descriptions and making submissions to the Ministry of Civil Service to retain scarce skills, which will help us keep officers who may be considering resigning. Our aim is to place the right people in suitable roles and explore opportunities for salary advancement.”
Additionally, he indicated that internal recruitment is an option for qualified staff wishing to advance into higher positions, acknowledging that many employees with appropriate qualifications have remained in low-level roles for an extended period.