The Director General is the Chief Executive Officer exercising all the powers vested on him/ her by establishment proclamation of the institute. The office of the Director General is organized by a secretary who assists him/her to carry out responsibilities of management matters related to research for development, personnel affaires, finance and procurement and property management, information and communications, audit, building and maintenance, legal, planning monitoring and evaluation and internal and external relationships. The office also follows up matters and reports achievements to the Ministry of Agriculture and the relevant committees of the Council of Representatives.

The Director General seeks the collective advice of the Core and support processes as well as research center directors on matters related with research and support matters of strategic nature.