G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
4 January  2023 
(23-0047) Page: 1/11 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 04 January  2023, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia . The notification concerns domestic support commitments 
(Table  DS:1 and the relevant supporting tables) for the Calendar Year 2019 . 
 
 
 
_______________  
 
 
 
  
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 2 - Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2019  
Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support  
Total AMS commitment level  Currency  Current Total AMS  
(from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule)  (from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule)  (from attached Supporting Tables)  
1 2 3 
3,218.28  SAR/million  2,117.64  
 
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 3 - Supporting Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2019  
Measures exempt from the reduction commitment - "Green Box"  
Measure Type  Name and description of measure with reference to criteria in Annex 2  Monetary value  
 
SAR,  million  Data Sources  Note  
1 2 3 4  
2.General Services      
2 (a). Research  Agricultural Research Stations, Plant tissue cultures lab, Operation and maintenance, 
Regional lab, Agricultural Research Centres and Distance sensors centres.  237 MEWA  (1) 
Subtotal:  237   
2 (b). Pest and disease control  Securance of veterinary, Vaccine production, Veterinary labs, Air spray pest and 
disease control, and Veterinary services.  464.6  MEWA   
Subtotal:  464.6    
2 (c). Training services  Saudi Chinese Cooperation, FAO Agreement and Veterinary training centres.  65.5 MEWA  (2) 
Subtotal:  65.5   
2 (d). Extension and advisory services  Agricultural Extension Expenses, Programmes of nurseries and Extension and 
development of Honeybees.  40.7 MEWA   
Subtotal:  40.7   
2 (e). Inspection services  Operation of stations of sorting and purification of seeds and Establishment and 
equipping of veterinary quarantine.  105.8  MEWA   
Subtotal:  105.8    
2 (g). Infrastructural services  Construction of dams, maintenance of dams, Irrigation and drainage systems, 
Prevention of moving sand and Planting and development of forests.  759.7  MEWA   
Subtotal:  759.7    
 Subtotal General Services  1,673.3    
3. Public stockholding for food security purposes  SAGO, among other things, fulfils a public stockholding role for food security purposes 
by managing and controlling the storage and distribution of grains.  16.3 SAGO  (3) 
Subtotal:  16.3   
Grand Total Green Box  1,689.6    
General Note:  
MEWA = Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.  
SAGO = Saudi Grains Organization.  
Notes:  
(1) See methodological note number 2.  
(2) See methodological note number2.  
(3) This meets the criteria of footnote to paragraph 3 of Annex 2 of the Agreement o n Agriculture.     
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 4 - Supporting Table DS:4  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2019  
Calculation of the Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support  
Description of basic products (including 
non-product specific AMS)  
 
 Product specific AMS  
(from ST DS:5 to DS:7)  
 
 
SAR,  million  Product -specific 
EMS  
(from ST DS:8)  
 
SAR,  million  Total  
(2 + 3)  
 
 
SAR,  million  Value of production  
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Support as a 
% of value of 
production  
 Current Total AMS  
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Note  
 
1 2 3    4  
Wheat  119.63   119.63  478 25.03%  119.63   
Barley  0  0   0 (de minimis )  
Dates  79.44   79.44  15,750 0.5%  0 (de minimis )  
Livestock  281.4   281.4  8,576 3.28%  0 (de minimis )  
Poultry  1,998.01   1,998.01  12,870 15.52%  1,998.01   
Non-product -specific AMS(from ST/DS:9)  368.62  66,204 0.56%  0 (de minimis )  
TOTAL  2,117.64   
 
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 5 - Supporting Table DS:5  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2019  
Product -Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support: Market Price Support  
Description of basic 
products  Reporting Year  Measure Types  Applied 
administered 
price  
 
SAR External reference 
price (generally 
from AGST)  
 
SAR Eligible 
production  Associated 
fees /  
levies  
 
SAR,  million  Total market 
price support  
((4-5)*6) -7 
 
SAR,  million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Typ
e From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  
Wheat  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Market price support  1,250/Tonne  658.29/Tonne  202,179 Tonnes   119.63  SAGO   
Total Wheat          119.63    
Barley  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Market price support  0/Tonne  685.22/Tonne  0 Tonnes   0 SAGO   
Total Barley          0   
General Notes:  
External reference price: World prices CIF Jeddah.   
SAGO: Saudi Grains Organization. The SAGO replaced the Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization (GSFMO).  
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 6 - Supporting Table DS:6  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2019  
Product -Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support: Non -Exempt Direct Payments  
Descript ion 
of basic 
products  Reporting Year  Measure Types  Applied 
administered 
price  
 
 
 
SAR External 
reference 
price 
(generally 
from AGST)  
 
SAR Eligible 
production  Total price 
related 
direct 
payments 
((4-5)*6)  
 
SAR,  million  Other non 
exempt 
direct 
payments  
 
 
SAR,  million  Associated 
fees / 
levies  
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Total direct 
payment 
(7+8 -9) 
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11  
Dates  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Fixed ammount 
of subsidy      79.44   79.44  MEWA   
Total Dates            79.44    
Livestock  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Fixed amount of 
input subsidy      104.5   104.5  MEWA   
Total 
Livestock            104.5    
General Note:  
MEWA: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. The MEWA replaced the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)   
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 7 - Supporting Table DS:7  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2019  
Product -Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support: Other Product -Specific Support and Total Product -Specific AMS  
Description 
of basic 
products  Reporting Year  Measure Types  Other 
product -
specific 
budgetary 
outlays  
 
SAR,  million  Other product 
specific 
supp ort (with 
calculation 
details)  
 
SAR,  million  Associated 
fees / 
levies  Total other 
product -
specific 
support 
(4+5 -6) 
 
SAR,  million  Market price 
support 
(from  ST DS:5)  
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Non-exempt 
direct 
payments 
(from  ST DS:6)  
 
 
SAR,  million  Total AMS  
(7+8+9)  
 
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11  
Dates  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Target subsidy for 
palm trees   0  0    MEWA  (1) 
Total Dates         0  79.44  79.44    
Livestock  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Fixed amount of 
input subsidy  176.9    176.9     MOF  
Livestock  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 input subsidy for 
imported barley   0  0    Annex 2  (2) 
Total 
Livestock         176.9   104.5  281.4    
Total 
Wheat          119.63   119.63    
Total 
Barley          0  0   
Poultry  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Fixed amount of 
input subsidy for feed 
(imported corn and 
soybean)  1,998.01    1,998.01     MOF  
Poultry  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19 Fixed amount of 
input subsidy for 
equipment  0   0    ADF  
Total 
Poultry         1,998.01    1,998.01    
General Notes:  
MEWA: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.  
MOF: Ministry of Finance.   
ADF: Agricultural Development Fund.   
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 8 - Notes:  
(1) To encourage producers to use drip irrigation for water conservation.  
 
(2) For calculation, see methodological no te (Annex 2).  
 
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 9 - Supporting Table DS:9  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2019  
Non-Product -Specific AMS  
Measure Types  Reporting Year  Non-product -
specific 
budgetary 
outlays  
 
SAR,  million  Other non -product 
specific support 
(include calculation 
details)  
 
SAR,  million  Associated 
fees / levies  
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Total non -
product -specific 
support  
(3+4 -5) 
 
SAR,  million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7  
General agricultural subsidies  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19  65  65 ADF (1) 
Opportunity cost for interest -free agricultural 
loans  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19  49.62   49.62  ADF (2) 
Bad debts for agricultural loans  CY 01-01-19 31-12-19  254  254 ADF (3) 
TOTAL  368.62   
General Note:  
ADF: Agricultural Development Fund. The ADF replaced the Saudi Arabian Agricultural Bank (SAAB).   
Notes:  
(1) Agricultural subsidies are paid by ADF. See methodological note number 7.  
(2) For calculations, see methodological note number 8.  
(3) For calculations, see methodological note number 9.  
 
 G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 10 - 
 
  ANNEX  
METHODOLOGICAL NOTE  
The Basis of Calculation of Agricultural Domestic Support  
This is an explanatory note to be read in conjunction with the current Saudi domestic 
support notification.  
 
1. Thefigures are expressed in Saudi Riyals, where the exchange rate has been fixed 
at USD  1 = SAR 3.75 since 1986.  
2. Saudi Chinese Cooperation: In the context of this programme, specialists fro m China 
are contracted with in order to work in the Ministry of Agriculture. Similarly, Saudis 
are sent to this country to gain experience. In addition, laboratory equipment is 
provided to support these programmes.  
3. In determining eligible production for wheat, it excludes 5% impurities and 5% 
Zakat from total production. The ratio of 5% impurities represents a general average 
based on samples analysis drawn randomly from wheat and barley received by 
GSFMO. The ratio of 5% Zakat is determine d according to Islamic Rules (this 
percentage of Zakat is limited only on farming and differs from the normal Zakat on 
all kinds of money which is 2.5%).  
4. The applied administered price of wheat has been reduced to SAR 1,000/tonne (or 
USD 266.67) since 2004 . 
5. External reference prices of wheat are expressed as CIF Jeddah. These reference 
prices are determined as a sum of (Export price of US Hard Winter Ordinary Protein, 
FOB US Gulf Ports) + Ocean Freight to Egypt (Alexandria) + USD 3/tonne as 
estimated freight from Alexandria to Jeddah (2001 -2003 Base Year). (Source: Food 
Outlook of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, No. 5, December 2002 
and No.1 April 2005).  
6. The external reference price for barley is calculated as the annual aver age of 
effective import prices for barley imported by GSFMO during the period 2001 -2003 
(Base Year).  
7. Agricultural subsidies which are included in Supporting Table DS:9 are provided to 
all agricultural projects: wheat, poultry, dairy, sheep, greenhouse, veg etables and 
fruits, etc. These subsidies can be disclosed as follows: 25% of the price fixed by 
the Ministry of Agriculture for farm machinery; and the cost of poultry and dairy 
farms equipments.  
8. The opportunity cost for agricultural loans represents the a mount of total loans 
granted by the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) multiplied by the average 
commercial interest rates because ADF does not charge interest on the granted 
loans (Annex 1).  
9. Bad Debts for Agricultural Loans represent due balances carried  forward for several 
financial years divided by ten. These amounts are based on a ten -year average 
because medium -term loans are extended for a period of ten years.  
10. Calculation of livestock feed subsidy (Annex 2): the amount of subsidy per tonne on 
importe d barley is the difference between the reference price and the price paid by 
the domestic livestock producers. The calculation of this subsidy is as following:  
 
For imported barley: IFBS = (E - P) * I, where:  
• IFBS: Imported feed barley subsidy;  
• P: Price pa id by livestock producers for barley;  
• E: External reference price (= world price C.I.F Jeddah); and  
• I: Quantity of Imported barley.  
 
 
  G/AG/N/SAU/24  
 
- 11 - 
 
  ANNEX 1  
THE OPPORTUNITY COST FOR  THE INTEREST FREE TOTAL LOANS  
Granted by the Agricultural Development Fund  
Reporting period: Calendar year 2019  
Year Amount of Total loans Million 
Saudi Riyals  Average Interest 
Rate %  Opportunity cost Million Saudi 
Riyals  
2019 1,886  2.631  49.62  
Source: Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) and Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA).  
ANNEX 2  
Calculation of livestock feed subsidy  
Reporting period: Calendar year 2019  
Description of 
Basic products  Calendar 
year 2017  Measure 
Type (s)  Reference 
price  Price paid by 
livestock 
producers  Quantity  Associated 
fees/levies  Total 
support  Data 
sources  
   (SAR/Tonnes)  (SAR/Tonnes)  (Tonnes)   (SAR,  Million)   
1 2 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 
Livestock:         SAGO  
Input subsidy          
Imported  barley    771 800  5,175,060   -150.08   
Domestic barley    - - 0   0  
Total              -150.08    
 
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