The land of Nanjing has a variety of geomorphic features and is rich in natural resources, suitable for growing many different crops and forestry products, and for raising domestic animals and aquatic products. In recent years, the agriculture and rural economy in the suburbs has been developing steadily. Thanks to the successive bumper harvests and increasingly diversified agricultural economy, the peasants have gained a substantial increase in their earnings.

Drastic adjustments have been made in the agricultural structure, bringing about a big rise in the per hectare output. The process of operating agriculture as an industry has been quickened continuously. A batch of modern agricultural enterprises like the Yurun Food CO. and the Weigang Milk Products CO. have emerged, which are Super-large enterprises and regarded as nationally leading enterprises 0f the industry in the country.

With quick development of the export-oriented agriculture, two agricultural development zones have been established, namely, the Jiangning export-oriented agricultural development zone (classified at the state level),and the Gaochun export-oriented agricultural development zone (at the provincial level).Over 100 joint venture projects have been established in the areas of crops growing, livestock raising and products processing. The traditional agricultural products such as bee honey products and tea products have been sold in the international market.

In 2002 Jiangsu Yurun Food Company was established, which was based on the Yurun Group set up in Nanjing in 1993,with its general company in Nanjing and 28 branch companies in 17 provinces. 1t is a large modern corporation, ranking the 2nd in China's meat food industry.

The industrialization of agriculture has been promoted, which is demonstrated by quick development 0f the agricultural bases and the increase in the number and strength of the major agricultural enterprises, the improvement of the distribution system of the agricultural products, and multiple sources of investment. Upgrading of agricultural technology has been quickened. In implementing the strategy of "developing agriculture through education and science and technology", the city government has taken vigorous measures to spread the important and suitable advanced agricultural technology by organizing task-forces for scientific and technological researches on important projects, and by carrying out the state "spark program", and at the same time, strengthening the projects of upgrading "seeds, breeds, technology and knowledge": as a result, great progress has been made in agricultural science and technology in the suburbs.