Over the years it has developed to be the premier national Institute in the field of socio-economic research relating to agrarian sector in Sri Lanka and has also developed the requisite skills and infrastructure for providing relevant training to farmers, field workers and managers in both state and non-state sectors. The institute also provides up to date market information to the farmers, traders and policy makers. The name of the Institute was changed to Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute in February 1995.