The Department of Vegetable Crops, Landscaping and Floriculture was established in 1974. It was renamed as the Department of Vegetable Crops in 1995 and then as the Department of Vegetable Science in 2012.

Mandate of the Department include genetic enhancement of vegetable crops for higher yield, better quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses; improved production and protection technologies; and to collaborate with public and private sector institutions, food and processing industry, farmers groups and other stake holders for research, development and adoption of the new technologies. The Department offers courses to UG and PG students in vegetable breeding, crop production, seed science and post- harvest technology.

Till date, the department has evolved 201 improved cultivars of vegetable crops. Of these, 37 cultivars have been identified at the national level. The department did pioneering work in the country by developing cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses; and by developing and commercially exploiting male sterility in chilli and muskmelon. Research on vegetable production is focused to enhance farmer's incomes through increased vegetable productivity and improved input use efficiency. The unparalleled work done by the department was acknowledged by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi with national awards and special research grants