According to the information provided by the city’s leading team in agricultural work, the income of Shanghai’s farmers has continued to increase, the per capita disposable income of rural citizens exceeding RMB10 thousand yuan for the first time in 2007, an increase of over 10% compared with the preceding year. In the recent 4 years, the annual income growth of Shanghai’s farmers has exceeded 10% every year, reaching RMB7,000 yuan, 8,000 yuan, 9,000 yuan, and 10,000 yuan respectively.

However, according to the Shanghai Municipal Agricultural Commission, the government will always keep a clear mind about the increase and will consider the needs of the relatively disadvantageous group. It is learned that Shanghai has made a relatively thorough survey of rural residents with an annual income of less than RMB4,000 yuan and has worked out supportive measures geared specifically for these people. The survey shows that over 80% of the financially difficult administrative villages are located in the basic farmland protection area and the water resources conservation area on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River as outlined in the overall planning of Shanghai. The locations are relatively remote and the infrastructure and social undertakings are rather backward, which restrict the development of the secondary and tertiary industries. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct comprehensive planning between urban and rural areas and balance their development.