The Ministry of Agriculture was established during the colonial period of Southern Rhodesia.

It retained the same structure when Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965.

The Ministry of Agriculture employed more black Africans than any other branches of the Rhodesian civil service.

[1] Many black Africans served as Ministry of Agriculture extension officers and conservation officials.

The first minister of agriculture following the UDI was the Duke of Montrose, and the last was Mark Partridge.