The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is a ministerial-level component of the State Council.

The Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Work is in the Ministry.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is responsible for implementing the guiding principles, policies and decisions of the CPC Central Committee on work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers. It follows and endeavors to strengthen the Party’s overall leadership over the above work in the course of discharging its responsibilities. Below are the Ministry’s main functions:

I. Take the lead in preparing and implementing strategies, mid- and long-term plans and major policies related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers: draft laws and regulations on agricultural and rural affairs, formulate related norms and rules, and direct related law enforcement; and participate in formulating policies on finance and taxation, pricing, purchase and storage, financial insurance, and import and export, etc. that have agricultural dimensions.

II. Make overall arrangements to promote social programs, public services, culture, infrastructure and governance in rural areas: take lead in organizing efforts to improve rural living environments; and guide development of rural ethical culture and a fine farming culture as well as workplace safety in agricultural sectors.

III. Draft policies for furthering the reform of the rural economic structure and consolidating and improving the underlying rural management systems: take charge of work related to reform of and regulation over farmland contracted by farmers and rural homesteads; reform the system of rural collective property rights, and guide the work concerning rural collective economic organization development and collective asset management; direct the establishment and development of farmers' economic cooperatives, specialized agricultural services, and new types of agricultural business entities.

IV. Give guidance on development of distinctive rural industries, agricultural processing, entertainment farming and township enterprises: put forward guidelines on circulation of agricultural commodities, and nurture and protect famous brands; release agricultural and rural economic information, and monitor and assess the performance of agriculture and rural economy; and carry out work related to agricultural statistics and IT application in agriculture and rural areas.

V. Conduct supervision and regulation over agricultural sectors, including crop production, animal husbandry, fisheries, state farms, and mechanization: give guidance on production of grains and other produce; organize efforts to develop the agri-business system, production system, and management system in modern agriculture, and guide standard-based production; negotiate and implement bilateral and multilateral fishery agreements; and regulate offshore fisheries and exercise supervision and regulation over fishery administration and fishing ports.

VI. Regulate and oversee the quality and safety of agricultural products: organize work to monitor, trace and evaluate agricultural products in terms of risk, quality and safety; propose technical measures to trade; participate in formulating national standards on agri-product quality and safety and implement them together with other government departments; and guide the establishment of inspection and testing systems.

VII. Conduct zoning of agricultural resources: guide protection and management of agricultural land, fishery waters and biological species related to agriculture; protect aquatic, plant and animal wildlife, as well as the quality of arable land and permanent basic farmland; guide environment protection at place of origin and clean production; give guidance on development of protected agriculture, ecologically sustainable agriculture, and water-saving practices as well as the comprehensive development and utilization of rural renewable energy and the production of agricultural biomass; and be responsible for conducting management of alien species.

VIII. Conduct oversight over and regulation of production of agricultural supplies and inputs: promote market systems development for agricultural supplies; set and ensure compliance of national standards for agricultural supplies; set national standards for veterinary drug quality, residue limits and residue testing methods and release such standards as required; conduct work related to veterinary services as well as veterinary drugs and drug-testing; and exercise regulation over veterinarian services as well as livestock and poultry slaughtering.

IX. Conduct disaster prevention and mitigation in agriculture and prevent and control major crop pests and diseases: guide development of the plant and animal epidemic prevention and quarantine system; organize and oversee work on plant and animal epidemic prevention and quarantine; and release information on such epidemics and mobilize efforts to eliminate them.

X. Assume responsibility for making investment in agriculture: make proposals for reforming institutions and mechanisms involved in agricultural investment and financing; formulate plans for undertaking agricultural projects funded by the central government; make proposals concerning the scale and direction of agricultural investments as well as proposals on undertaking government funded projects to promote agricultural and rural development; review on behalf of the State Council applications for undertaking agricultural investment projects; and allocate funds for agricultural investment projects and oversee their use.

XI. Promote reform on the system of agricultural science and technology and development of the innovation system: guide development of the technology system for agriculture sectors and the extension network; organize research on advanced and applied technologies, translation of findings and extension of technologies; and ensure agricultural GMO safety and protect new varieties of agricultural plants.

XII. Give guidance on work related to human resources in agriculture and rural areas: formulate and execute plans for building agricultural and rural talent pools; guide agricultural education and development of vocational skills; and guide work related to development of new professional farmers and training of agricultural scientists and technicians as well as rural talents with practical skills.

XIII. Lead international cooperation in agriculture: handle inter-governmental foreign affairs related to agriculture; promote agricultural trade and related exchanges and cooperation; participate in formulation of foreign assistance policies and agricultural trade rules and related negotiations; and implement agricultural assistance projects and honor relevant international conventions and agreements.

XIV. Perform other tasks assigned by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.