The ministry oversees provincial government activity in agriculture, agri-food, and the agri-product sector, as well as natural resource development.
[1] The current Minister of Agriculture is Ron Kostyshyn of the New Democratic Party.
[2][3] He was appointed following the inauguration of the government led by Wab Kinew after the NDP's victory in the 2023 Manitoba general election.
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) was created on 4 November 2003, under the NDP government led by Gary Doer, when the Department of Agriculture and Food was merged with Rural Initiatives and Cooperative Development (both from the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs).
On 3 May 2016, the new Progressive Conservative government, led by Brian Pallister, renamed the cabinet position as the "Minister of Agriculture".