Areas of the ministry's responsibility included agriculture and environmental issues relating to agriculture, fishery, consumer affairs, animal husbandry, horticulture, animal welfare, foodstuffs, hunting and game management as well as higher education and research in the field of agricultural sciences.

In 2007, the MOA issued a regulation on the protection of agricultural geographical indication products.

[1]: 54 In 2015, the MOA issued the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Going Out, providing state subsidies to enterprises that invested in various overseas locations.

[3]: 157 In 2016, MOA and Alibaba Group signed an agreement to promote rural e-commerce development.

[4]: 129 Its responsibilities were assumed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on March 19, 2018.