Assessment index system is considered to be a useful evaluation tool and technical system guidance for sustainable agricultural development. The general procedures and methodologies for the establishing of assessment index system were elucidated based on widely literature reviews, and a present situation analysis of the framework building, research level along with the index selection and empirical evaluation of the system at home and aboard were conducted comprehensively. In term of framework building, the hierarchical structure were adopted by most of existing domestic methods in accordance with the methods abroad. As to the research level, many fields involving region, crop, as well as farm and farmer were involved in the researches abroad, whereas attentions were paid to the regional level in Chinese, simply. Thereafter, in regard to index selection, the researches abroad focused on the eco-index such as balance of nitrogen and phosphorus and risk of pesticides among economics, social and ecological index (e.g., agricultural output, irrigation water as well as application of pesticide and fertilizer) which were attached equal importance in our Country. In the case of empirical evaluation, researches were carried out on the objectives of both the policies and farming practices guidance abroad, which was different from the domestic researches concentrated on the aspect of policies guidance.