The Shanghai Municipal Agricultural and Rural Committee is a government department responsible for overseeing agricultural, rural, and farmers’ affairs in Shanghai, under the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

Main responsibilities are as follows:

1. Implement laws, regulations, rules, guidelines, and policies pertaining to agricultural and rural affairs. Study and draft local regulations and rules concerning agricultural and rural work, formulate development strategies, mid- and long-term plans, and major policies for agricultural, rural, and farmers’ affairs, and ensure their effective implementation. Provide guidance for comprehensive law enforcement in the agricultural sector. Participate in the formulation of financial support measures, agricultural product pricing, rural finance and insurance, policies related to agricultural import and export, and other policies with regard to agriculture.

2. Strategize and drive the comprehensive development of rural infrastructure, rural social undertakings, rural public services, rural culture and sports, and rural governance. Take the initiative in organizing the enhancement of the rural human settlement environment. Provide guidance for the construction of rural spiritual civilization and the cultivation of an exemplary farming culture. Facilitate and steer the continuous increase in farmers’ income, while coordinating and promoting comprehensive assistance programs in rural areas. Moreover, ensure oversight and supervision of initiatives aimed at alleviating burdens on farmers.

3. Formulate policies to deepen the reform of the rural economic system and strengthen the consolidation and improvement of the basic management system for rural areas. Manage land contracting among farmers and administer the work related to rural homesteads in accordance with relevant regulations. Facilitate the reform of the rural collective property rights system and provide guidance for the development of rural collective economic organizations and the management of collective assets. Support the establishment and growth of farmers’ cooperative economic organizations, socialized service systems for agriculture, and new agricultural business entities. Oversee agricultural and rural standardization efforts based on relevant division of labor.

4. Guide the development of distinctive rural industries, agricultural product processing industries, leisure agriculture, and township enterprises. Conduct research and offer suggestions to promote the circulation of bulk agricultural products while fostering and protecting agricultural brands. Monitor and analyze agricultural and rural economic operations and disseminate agricultural and rural economic information. Oversee agricultural statistics and the advancement of agricultural and rural informatization.

5. Supervise and administer farming, animal husbandry, fishery, agricultural mechanization, and other agricultural industries. Provide guidance for the production of grains, vegetables, and other agricultural products. Coordinate the construction of modern agricultural industry, production, and management systems, and promote standardized agricultural production practices. Foster the development of agricultural industries related to agricultural reclamation. Oversee safe production initiatives in the agricultural industry.

6. Oversee and regulate the quality and safety of agricultural products. Organize and conduct monitoring, evaluation, and risk assessments for agricultural product quality and safety. Ensure the implementation of national standards concerning the quality and safety of agricultural products. Provide guidance for the establishment of an agricultural inspection and testing system. Supervise and administer organizations involved in testing the quality and safety of agricultural products in accordance with relevant regulations.

7. Coordinate the regionalization of agricultural resources. Guide the protection and management of farmland, fisheries areas, and agricultural biological species resources. Preserve aquatic wildlife and plants while ensuring the quality of cultivated land and maintaining permanent basic farmland. Promote the construction of high-standard farmland. Provide guidance for environmental management and cleaner production in agricultural producing areas. Drive the development of agriculture, ecological recycling agriculture, and water-saving agriculture. Encourage comprehensive utilization of rural renewable energy sources and the growth of the agricultural biomass industry. Supervise and manage the presence of alien species.

8. Supervise and administer relevant agricultural production materials and inputs. Provide guidance for the supervision and administration of fishery operations and fishing ports. Organize the establishment of a market system for agricultural production materials and enforce national standards regarding such materials. Guide the development of a modern seed industry market system. Oversee the production, management, use, and quality of pesticides. Administer and regulate fertilizers, crop seeds, and seedlings. Implement national standards for veterinary drug quality, maximum residue limits, and residue detection methods. Supervise and administer veterinary drugs, fodder, and feed additives. Organize veterinary medical and drug administrations to test drugs and manage the practices of veterinarians and the livestock slaughtering industry.

9. Safeguard against and mitigate agricultural disasters while controlling major agricultural pests. Provide guidance for the establishment of an animal and plant epidemic prevention and quarantine system. Organize and supervise epidemic prevention and quarantine measures for animals and plants, proactively identify and address outbreaks within the committee’s authority, and organize appropriate measures to eliminate such epidemics.

10. Manage agricultural investments. Conduct research and propose recommendations for the reform of agricultural investment and financing systems and mechanisms. Develop construction plans for agricultural investment projects, considering municipal investment arrangements. Study and provide suggestions on the scale, direction, and financial support for agricultural and rural development projects. Allocate, supervise, and manage funds for agricultural investment projects within the authorization granted by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

11. Promote the reform of the agricultural science and technology system and the establishment of an agricultural science and technology innovation system. Guide the development of an agricultural industrial technology system and an agricultural technology promotion system. Organize research activities on high and new technologies, applied technologies, and the transfer of scientific and technological achievements in the field of agriculture. Facilitate the dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies. Oversee the safety of agricultural genetically modified organisms and ensure the protection of new agricultural plant varieties.

12. Provide guidance for the development of agricultural and rural talents. Formulate plans for the construction of agricultural and rural talent teams and oversee their implementation. Direct efforts towards cultivating new professional farmers, developing agricultural science and technology talents, and providing training for frontline talents in rural areas.

13. Take a leading role in foreign cooperation in the agricultural area. Manage inter-governmental agricultural foreign affairs and organize domestic and international exchanges and collaborations related to agriculture. Specifically, implement foreign aid projects in the agricultural sector.

14. Fulfill any additional tasks assigned by the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.