• To be a centre of excellence in socio-economic research into agrarian questions;
• To liaise closely with planners and policy makers in the government, business and research communities;   
• To make policy process more effective through knowledge generation and timely dissemination;
• To keep the public informed by providing independent assessments on national policy issues;
• To strengthen the capacity for socio-economic policy analysis by investing in the capacities of its staff and the institute's knowledge base;
• To increase the capacity of rural development stakeholders through training;

• Timely dissemination of market information to policy makers, farmers and traders;
• Identification of agrarian policy perspectives;
• Research planning-priority setting in agrarian issues;
• Building relationships with public/private sector organizations, universities and regional & international research institutes/agencies;
• Widen and strengthen the scope of agrarian database;
• Acquiring the required skills individually and collectively; and
• Having a committed, competent and contented team of employees.

• Strengthen the Research and Training Committee (RTC);
• Agree on thematic areas;
• Ensure uniformity of different types of publications - layout, cover page, pagination, fonts and styles;
• Improve literature review in preparation of research proposal;
• Arrange external review after peer review of all research reports before publication;
• Assign the responsibility for each issue of the institute journal to the respective Division;
• Obtain donor assistance to secure the services of a professional editor;
• Increase research outputs in local languages;
• Recruit researchers at senior level;
• Explore possibility of getting research expatriates through the UNDP;
• Establish linkages with universities;
• Disseminate research findings at the end of the year colloquium;
• Introduce measurable performance based evaluation system;
• Organize faculty retreat;
• Improve the quality of the printing of the publications.

• Collecting, analyzing and disseminating of market information;
• Investigation on marketing issues;
• Analysis on consumer behaviour;
• Evaluation of government development programmes;
• Impact assessment of agrarian and rural development projects and programmes;
• Conducting surveys to establish bechmark conditions;
• Analysis of agricultural policies;
• Conducting feasibility studies on proposed development projects;
• Researching on problems related to the input supply and support services;
• Conducting research on water resources management and irrigated agriculture;
• Studying environmental and natural resources management issues;
• Undertaking research on irigation institutions and institutional policies;
• Organizing training programmes/workshops/seminars based on national priorities;
• Meeting outside demands by undertaking training programmes on specific subjects;
• Providing services of experts to the training programmes organized by outside agencies;
• Improvement of library facilities and audio visual resources;
• Strengthening use of information technology for dissemination of research findings;
• Development of the skills and competencies of the staff; and
• Recruitment, evaluation, rotation and promotion of personnel based on competency requirements and individual capabilities;

The institute is administrated by a Board of Governors that includes representatives from various Ministers, Developments and other Organizations concerned with the development of the rural and agrarian sectors in the country. The Secretary of the Ministry Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services serves as the Chairman of the Board. The Board of Governors is resposible for the overall policy matters of the institute. The Director acts as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute. The Deputy Director (Research) and the Registrar assist the Direcor to manage research and training activities and administrative work respectively.

Each division is headed by a Senior Research Officer who is responsible for administrative activities and the overall co-ordination of activities of the respective division. Researchers and the supporting staff attached to the division assist the Head of the division to implement the division's annual plan.