The three broad areas of scope for the Ministry are agriculture, food processing and co-operation.

During the Siad Barre era this ministry was referred to as the Department of Natural Resources.

Somalia is a largely agrarian economy, It accounts for about 65% of the GDP and employs 65% of the workforce.

[4] In December 2014, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that it would commence a new water management project on the Shabelle River in 2015 in order to assist small scale cultivators.

The initiative will in part see additional water channels dug so as to more effectively control river flows on farms.