• To carry out research and development activities, advisory and support services and technology transfer to farmers in crops development including fruits, vegetables, rice and field crops and crop protection;
• To increase production of crops using quality planting materials;
• To provide supportive and specialist services through appropriate application of crop production and crop protection technology;
• To regulate the introduction of dangerous pests and diseases of imported plants and plant materials as well as regulate the issuance of permit for crops import and export.

The main functions of the Units under Crop Development Division are:

• Fruit Development – to carry research and development activities, advisory and support services and transfer of technology to farmers/entrepreneurs, to multiply planting materials or quality fruit clones and manage bud woods of potential and good quality, to plan, coordinate and evaluate the development fruit industry projects.

• Vegetable Development – Provide expertise and technology transfer, conducting studies and research on agronomic aspects, collecting and conservation of selected indigenous vegetables,market potential and adaptability of introduced varieties of tropical and temperate vegetables.

• Rice Development and Field Crops – Implement research activities such as observation, monitoring and evaluation of rice varieties, tuber crops, spices and sugar cane of local and introduced varieties of species. Transfer of modern paddy farming technology and monitor and stimulate interest of paddy farmers to boost their production towards comercialisation scale and regional self sufficiency. Strengthening collaboration or joint ventures with international institutions with highly emphasized on paddy farming and field crops activities.

• Plant Pest – Support the development of the crop industry through effective, economic, ecologically friendly pest management technology. Providing advisory services, pest monitoring and surveillance, insecticide screening and recommendation and promoting the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes.

• Plant Diseases – Provide support services such as diagnostic and identification services, advisory service through field visits, recommending control measures, conducting research and disease monitoring and surveillance to the farmers and entrepreneurs. To serve as a source of knowledge and advice by conducting training and road shows, producing fact sheets on important diseases and establishing culture collections and plant disease herbarium.

• Plant Quarantine – To issue import Permits and crops health Certifications, to enforce rules and regulations for crops quarantine, checking on crops produces including taking samples of pests and diseases, vegetables and fruits at the control posts for analysis of chemical residue contents.