The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA; initials pronounced as 'Dare-aa') (Irish: An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe; Ulster Scots: Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers) is a government department in the Northern Ireland Executive, the devolved administration for Northern Ireland.

[4] The department has responsibility for food, farming, environmental, fisheries, forestry and sustainability policy, and the development of the rural sector in Northern Ireland.

A separate Ministry of Agriculture was established at the foundation of Northern Ireland in 1921, with Sir Edward Archdale as its initial minister.

Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the department came under the responsibility of direct rule ministers from the Northern Ireland Office i.e. between 12 February 2000[8] and 30 May 2000;[9] on 11 August 2001;[10][11] on 22 September 2001;[12][13] and (most significantly) between 15 October 2002[14] and 8 May 2007.

The main changes relating to its remit were as follows: Devolution continued until all ministerial offices were vacated on 26 January 2017, due to a political dispute between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin.

During direct rule, ministers of the Northern Ireland Office were responsible for the department, including Lord Rooker and David Cairns.