The Department of Agriculture was created in 1882 as the Department of Agriculture, Assam. However on attaining statehood it was bifurcated and renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Meghalaya.

        The Department of Agriculture, Meghalaya has been functioning as an integrated entity comprising the various spheres of development in Agriculture, Horticulture and Minor Irrigation. The mandate of the department is to bring about increased crop production and productivity. However, for effective administration in streamlining the developmental activities, the Directorate of Horticulture was created in 1995 and the Directorate of Irrigation in 2001. The three directorates were in operation within the same administrative control of the Department till the Dec 2010 where the Directorate of Irrigation was carved out as a Water Resources Department.

Vision of the Department

        To promote holistic, sustained and equitable intervention for attaining food security; conservation, management, protection and sustainable use of natural resources for improved livelihood; generating gainful rural employment opportunities to alleviate poverty and striving towards an overall balanced economic development of the farming community.

Mission of the Department

        To propagate modern agricultural production techniques and scientific methods of farming for increasing crop output; making our farmers self reliant and to accelerate the economic growth of the State.

Goals of the Department

• Attaining Food Security and Sustainable Growth by increasing production of food grains and improving productivity.
• Augment Farmer’s Income through growing of suitable horticultural crops
• Promote Commercial Agriculture through low volume high value crops
• Creation of need based Marketing Infrastructure including institutional support and supporting facilities
• Popularise Participatory Approach to agriculture management through watershed programmes and Self Help Groups at village level.