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

Sharad Pawar, serving from 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014, has held the office of Minister of Agriculture for the longest continuous period till date.

Until this ministry was established, matters related to agriculture were within the portfolio of the Home Department.

A leading program of the Ministry is the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, which was launched in 2007 on the recommendations of the National Development Council of India.

[9] The Ministry publishes an annual report titled "Agricultural Statistics at a Glance".