In the beginning the research and development work of institute was related to farm machinery, post harvest technology and energy utilization in agriculture. During VII year plan two additional division of Agro Industrial Extension and Instrumentation were added. Later an additional division of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering was created.

The CIAE Bhopal conducts its Research & Development activities in close cooperation with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), state and central universities and many other organizations working in the field of agricultural advancements. The R & D activities of CIAE Bhopal are well supported with European, American, African and Other Asian Countries. The AIT, CIRAD, FAO, IDRC, IRRI, RNAEM – ESCAP, SAREC, UNIDO and USAID provides full support for study program and exchange of prototype etc to CIAE Bhopal.The CIAE has many well equipped Research & Development Laboratories for agricultural and allied research. It has 6 laboratory sheds, 1 threshing yard, 1 Agro Business center, and 2 workshops and prototype production center.