www.agridept.gov.lk

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and the DOA is one of the largest government departments with a high profile community of agricultural scientists and a network of institutions covering different agro ecological regions island wide.

The objectives of the DOA are focused on maintaining and increasing productivity and production of the food crop sector for the purpose of enhancing the income and living condition of the farmer and making food available at affordable prices to the consumer. The major functions of the DOA include research, extension, production of seed and planting material, regulatory services related to plant quarantine, soil conservation and pesticides.

The management structure of DOA consists of three research institutes; Rice Research and Development Institute. Field Crops Research and Development Institute, Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute and six technical service centers; Seed Certification and Plant Protection Centre, Seed and Planting Material Development Center, Extension and Training Centre, Socio Economics and Planning Center, Natural Resource Management Center, Progress Monitoring and Evaluation Unit together with three support services; Engineering Division, Finance Division and Administration Division.

Vision
Achieve excellence in agriculture for national prosperity.

Mission
Development and dissemination of improved agricultural technology and providing related services to all stakeholders with emphasis on farmers, to achieve an equitable and sustainable agricultural development to ensure food and nutritional security for the nation.

Mandate
Development and dissemination of improved agricultural technology required to increase productivity in rice, other field crops, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and ornamental crops suitable for different agro-ecological regions.

Main functions

• Development of appropriate agro technology through the conduction of research for various agro-ecological regions of the country
• Dissemination of agro-technology to the farming community
• Production and distribution of quality seed and planting material
• Enforcement of Acts on Plant Protection, Control of Pesticides, Seed and Soil Conservation
• Agricultural education leading to two year Diploma and training of officers and farmers
• Socio economic surveys related to food crop production