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The Food Department was re-designated as Ministry of Food on 29^th August 1947. As per available records, the Directorate of Sugar and Vanaspati was part of Food Ministry in 1947. On 1^st February 1951 the Ministry of Agriculture was combined with the Ministry of Food to constitute the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, for greater administrative efficiency and economy. Over time as the work expanded significantly, two separate ministries, namely Ministry of Food and Ministry of Agriculture were formed in October 1956 but they were again merged on 17^th April 1957 as Ministry of Food and Agriculture. On 30^th December 1958, the work related to the Central and State Warehousing Corporations was transferred to the Department of Food, in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

In 1960 the Ministry was made into two departments, namely the Department of Food and Department of Agriculture. Department of Food was given the responsibility of procurement of food grains for civil and military requirements, distribution of imported food grains to States, co-ordination, planning and guidance of national food policy and regulation of import and export of food grains. Directorate of Sugar and Vanaspati remained with Department of Food. Department had various schemes for development of sugar and vanaspati industries. The National Sugar Institute was actively engaged in teaching, training and research for the development of this critical sector.

In 1962 some subjects related to Fisheries, Fruits and Vegetables were transferred from Agriculture to the Department of Food. Subsequently some items related to ‘sugar’ were also transferred to the Department of Food from Agriculture. These included Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore and Indian Central Sugarcane Committee.

In 1965, under the Food Corporation Act, 1964, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was set up in the Department, as the country was facing major shortage of food grains, especially wheat.

In January 1966, the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperation was merged with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to form a Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Community Development and Cooperation. Also in 1966 the subjects related to Fisheries, Wildlife Preservation, Prevention to Cruelty to Animals, Movement of Fertilizer, Intensive Agriculture District Plan etc were transferred back from the Department of Food to the Agriculture.