G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
23 November  2021 
(21-8816) Page: 1/11 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 22 November  2021, 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 2018 . 
 
_______________  
 
 
  
  G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
- 2 - Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2018  
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  
3,317.02  SAR/million  1,668.32  
 
  
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
- 3 - Supporting Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2018  
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.  143.6    
Subtotal:  143.6    
2 (b). Pest and disease control  Securance of veterinary, Vaccine production, Veterinary labs, Air spray pest and 
disease control, and Veterinary services.  320.6    
Subtotal:  320.6    
2 (c). Training services  Saudi Chinese Cooperation, FAO Agreement and Veterinary training centres.  72.4 See methodological 
note number2.   
Subtotal:  72.4   
2 (d). Extension and advisory services  Agricultural Extension Expenses, Programmes of nurseries and Extension and 
development of Honeybees.  14.3   
Subtotal:  14.3   
2 (e). Inspection services  Operation of stations of sorting and purification of seeds and Establishment and 
equipping of veterinary quarantine.  64.6   
Subtotal:  64.6   
2 (g). Infrastructural services  Construction of dams, maintenance of dams, Irrigation and drainage systems, 
Prevention of moving sand and Planting and development of forests.  603.2    
Subtotal:  603.2    
 Subtotal General Services  1,218.7    
3. Public stockholding for food security purposes  GSFMO, among other things, fulfils a public stockholding role for food security 
purposes by managing and controlling the storage and distribution of grains.  13.5 This meets the criteria 
of footnote to 
paragraph 3 of 
Annex  2 of the 
Agreement on 
Agriculture.   
Subtotal:  13.5   
Grand Total Green Box  1,232.2    
General Note:  
MEWA = Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.  
SAGO = Saudi Grains Organization.     
  G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
- 4 - Supporting Table DS:4  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2018  
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 (f rom 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  0  0   0 (de minimis )  
Barley  0  0   0 (de minimis )  
Dates  81.13   81.13  15,390 0.53%  0 (de minimis )  
Livestock  874.2   874.2  8,760 9.98%  0 (de minimis )  
Poultry  1,668.32   1,668.32  9,700 17.2%  1,668.32   
Dairy  0  0 8,375 0% 0 (de minimis )  
Non-product -specific AMS(from ST/DS:9)  353.08  65,609 0.54%  0 (de minimis )  
TOTAL  1,668.32   
 
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
- 5 - Supporting Table DS:5  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2018  
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  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  
Wheat  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18 market price 
support  0/Tonne  658.29/Tonne  0 billion Tonnes   0 SAGO   
Total Wheat          0   
Barley CY 01-01-18 31-12-18 market price 
support  0/Tonne  685.22/Tonne  0 billion 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/23  
 
- 6 - Supporting Table DS:6  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2018  
Product -Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support: Non -Exempt Direct Payments  
Description 
of basic 
products  Reporting Year  Measure Types  Applied 
administered 
price  
 
 
 
 
SAR External 
reference 
price 
(generally 
from 
AGST)  
 
SAR Eligible 
production  Total pric e 
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 01-01-18 31-12-18 fixed ammount of 
subsidy      81.13   81.13    
Total Dates            81.13    
General Note:  
MEWA = Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. The MEWA replaced the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).  
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
- 7 - Supporting Table DS:7  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2018  
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 
support 
(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  
Total 
Wheat          0  0   
Total 
Barley          0  0   
Dates  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18 Target subsidy for 
palm trees   0  0    MEWA  (1) 
Total Dates         0  81.13  81.13    
Livestock  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18 Input subsidy   874.2   874.2     Annex 2  (2) 
Total 
Livestock         874.2    874.2    
Poultry  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18 Fixed amount of 
input subsidy for 
feed (imported 
corn and soybean)   1,668.32   1,668.32     MOF  
Poultry  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18 Fixed amount of 
input subsidy for 
equipment   0  0    ADF  
Total 
Poultry         1,668.32    1,668.32     
  G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
- 8 - Description 
of basic 
products  Reporting Year  Measure Types  Other 
product -
specific 
budgetary 
outlays  
 
 
 
SAR,  million  Other 
product 
specific 
support 
(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  
Dairy  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18 Fixed amount of 
input subsidy for 
production 
equipment and 
transportation 
costs  0  0      
Total Dairy         0   0   
General Note:  
MEWA = Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.  
MOF = Ministry of Finance.  
ADF = Agricultural Development Fund.  
Notes:  
(1) To encourage producers to use drip irrigation for water conservation.  
(2) For calculation, see methodological note (Annex 2).  
   
  G/AG/N/SAU/23  
 
- 9 - Supporting Table DS:9  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 2018  
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 01-01-18 31-12-18  70.54   70.54  ADF (1) 
Opportunity cost for interest -free agricultural 
loans  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18  15.04   15.04  ADF (2) 
Bad debts for agricultural loans  CY 01-01-18 31-12-18  267.5   267.5  ADF (3) 
TOTAL  353.08   
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/23  
 
- 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 Coop eration: In the context of this programme, specialists from 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 t hese 
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 determined 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 S AR 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 (Alex andria) + 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 calc ulated as the annual average 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, vegetables 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 f or agricultural loans represents the amount 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 Agricultura l 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 imported 
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: Imp orted feed barley subsidy;  
• P: Price paid 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/23  
 
- 11 - 
 
  ANNEX 1  
THE OPPORTUNITY COST FOR THE INTEREST FREE TOTAL LOANS  
GRANTED BY THE AGRICU LTURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND  
Reporting period: Calendar year 2018  
Year  Amount of Total loans Million Saudi 
Riyals  Average Interest Rate 
% Opportunity cost Million Saudi 
Riyals  
2018 613.50  2.451  15.04  
Source: Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) and Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA).  
ANNEX 2  
CALCULATION OF LIVESTOCK FEED SUBSIDY  
Reporting period: Calendar year 2018  
Description of 
Basic products  Calendar 
year 
2018 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:         MOF 
Input subsidy          
Imported  barley    900 800 8,742,000   874.20   
Domestic barley    -  -  0  0  
Total              874.20    
 
 
__________