G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
31 March  2020 
(20-2581) Page: 1/11 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 30 March  2020, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation 
of India . The notification concerns domestic support commitments ( Table DS:1 and the relevant 
supporting tables) for the marketing year  2018 -2019 . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to the Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes 
(WT/MIN  (13)/38) and the General Council Decision (WT/L/939), India wishes to notify the 
Committee on Agriculture that it has exceeded the de minimis level for rice for the marketing year 
2018-2019. India 's breach of commitment for rice, a traditional staple food crop, under Article 7.2(b) 
of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) arises from support provided in pursuance of public 
stockholding programmes for food security purposes which were in existence as of the date of the 
Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockh olding for Food Security Purposes (WT/MIN (13)/38). India 's 
public stockholding programmes for food security purposes (covering rice and a number of other 
commodities) have been consistently reported in its Table DS:1 notifications since 1995. The 
programm e is consistent with the criteria of paragraph 3, footnote 5, and footnote 5&6 of Annex 2 
to the AoA. Further, the stocks under the programme are acquired and released in order to meet 
the domestic food security needs of India 's poor and vulnerable populat ion, and not to impede 
commercial trade or food security of others. For these reasons, the breach of the de minimis limits 
for rice is covered by the peace clause set out in the Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding 
for Food Security Purposes (W T/MIN (13)/38) and the General Council Decision (WT/L/939).  
 
India's domestic support notification for 2018/19 as well as additional information pursuant to 
paragraph 3 of the Bali Ministerial Decision is provided hereunder.  
 
  
  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 2 - Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: IN DIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MARKETING YEAR FROM 1 OCTOBER  2018 TO 3 0 SEPTEMBER  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  
  5,004.97 
 
India has no specific total AMS reduction commitments in its schedule. Domestic support to agricultural producers was provided through operations of the Ministry 
of Agriculture and Farmers ' Welfare and other government departments. The attached supporting tables provide details of agricultural measures.  All support for 
2018/19, except the produc t-specific AMS for rice, is covered by the domestic support categories which are exempt from reduction commitments under the 
Agreement on Agriculture. The attached supporting tables provide details of support measures for 2018/19.  
  
  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 3 - Supporting Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: IN DIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MA RKETING YEAR FROM 1 OCTO BER 2018 TO 3 0 SEPTEMBER 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  
 
USD, million  Data Sources  Note  
1 2 3 4  
2.General Services      
2 (a). Research   1,010 Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare 
& various boards   
Subtotal:  1,010   
2 (b). Pest and disease control   55.96  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare 
& various boards   
Subtotal:  55.96    
2 (c). Training services   35.59  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare 
& various boards   
Subtotal:  35.59    
2 (d). Extension and advisory services   894.9  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare 
& various boards   
Subtotal:  894.9    
2 (e). Inspection services   23.51  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare 
& various boards   
Subtotal:  23.51    
2 (f). Marketing and promotion services   569.5  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare 
& various boards   
Subtotal:  569.5    
2 (g). Infrastructural services   947.79  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare 
& various boards   
Subtotal:  947.79    
 Subtotal General Services  3,537.25    
3. Public stockholding for food security purposes  Allocation for distribution and buffer stock  17,212.05  Ministry of Consumer 
Affairs, Food & Public 
Distribution (FCI)   
Subtotal:  17,212.05     
  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 4 - Measure Type  Name and description of measure with reference to criteria in 
Annex 2  Monetary value  
 
USD, million  Data Sources  Note  
1 2 3 4  
6. Decoupled income support  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)  852.7 0 Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare   
Subtotal:  852.7 0   
8. Payments for relief from natural disasters  Payments (made either directly or by way of government financial 
participation in crop insurance schemes) for relief from natural disasters  879.56  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmer's Welfare  (1) 
Subtotal:  879.56    
Grand Total Green Box  22,481.56    
(1) Government subsidies on premiums of agricultural insurance for production loss exceeding 30% of the average of production.   
  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 5 - Supporting Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: IN DIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MA RKETING YEAR FROM 1  OCTOBER  2018 TO 3 0 SEPTEMBER 2019  
Measures exempt from the reduction commitment – Special and Differential Treatment – "Development Programmes"  
Measure Type  Name and description of measure with reference to 
criteria in Article 6.2  Monetary value  
 
USD, million  Data Sources  Note  
1 2 3 4  
(b) Input subsidies available to low -income or resource -poor producers  Other input subsidies  24,184.46  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers ' Welfare, 
Ministry of Chemicals 
and Fertilizers, 
Ministry of Power, 
Ministry of Statistics 
and Program 
Implementatio n (1) 
Subtotal:  24,184.46    
Grand Total Development Programmes  24,184.46    
(1) Includes support for irrigation, fertilizers, and electricity. As per the Agricultural Census, 99.43% of farmers are low -income or resource poor in 2015-16.  
  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 6 - Supporting Table DS:4  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: IN DIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MA RKETING YEAR FROM 1  OCTOBER  2018 TO 3 0 SEPTEMBER 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)  
 
USD,  million  Product -specific EMS 
(from  ST DS:8)  
 
 
USD,  million  Total  
(2 + 3)  
 
 
USD,  million  Current Total AMS  
 
 
 
USD,  million  Note  
 
1 2 3  4  
Coarse cereal  9.56  9.56 0 (de minimis )  
Cotton  261.41   261.41  0 (de minimis )  
Groundnut  133.00  133.00 0 (de minimis )  
Pulses  952.54   952.54  0 (de minimis )  
Rapeseed / Mustard  76.25   76.25  0 (de minimis )  
Rice 5,004. 97  5,004. 97 5,004. 97 (1) 
Soyabean Yellow  4.99  4.99 0 (de minimis )  
Sunflower  0.71  0.71 0 (de minimis )  
Wheat  -30.53  -30.53 0 (de minimis )  
Non-product -specific AMS(from ST/DS:9)  3,317.13  0 (de minimis )  
TOTAL     5,004. 97  
 
(1)  Value of production of rice was USD 43,673.29 million for 2018 -19. 
  
  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 7 - Supporting Table DS:5  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: IN DIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MA RKETING YEAR FROM 1  OCTOBER  2018 TO 3 0 SEPTEMBER 2019  
Product -Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support: Market Price Support  
Description of basic 
products  Reporting Year  Measure 
Types  Applied 
administered 
price  
 
 
USD External 
reference price 
(generally 
from AGST)  
 
USD Eligible production  Associated 
fees / 
levies  
 
 
USD, million  Total market 
price support 
((4-5)*6) -7 
 
 
USD, million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  
Coarse cereal  MY 01-10-18 30-09-19 Price support  285.17/Tonne  238.57/Tonne  0.2 million  Tonnes   9.56   
Total Coarse cereal          9.56   
Cotton  MY 01-10-18 30-09-19 Price support  1,781.25/Tonne  1,292.64/Tonne  0.54 million  Tonnes   261.41  (1) 
Total Cotton          261.41   
Groundnut  MY 01-10-18 30-09-19 Price support  699.34/Tonne  514.58/Tonne  0.72 million  Tonnes   133   
Total Groundnut          133   
Pulses  MY 01-10-18 30-09-19 Price support  782.15/Tonne  345.66/Tonne  2.18 million  Tonnes   952.54   
Total Pulses          952.54   
Rapeseed / Mustard  MY 01-04-18 31-03-19 Price support  600.66/Tonne  513.39/Tonne  0.87 million  Tonnes   76.25   
Total Rapeseed / 
Mustard          76.25   
Rice MY 01-10-18 30-09-19 Price support  375.41/Tonne  262.51/Tonne  44.33 million  Tonnes   5,004.97  (2), (3) 
Total Rice          5,004.97   
Soyabean Yellow  MY 01-11-18 31-10-19 Price support  486.11/Tonne  229.77/Tonne  0.02 million  Tonnes   4.99   
Total Soyabean 
Yellow          4.99   
Sunflower  MY 01-10-18 30-09-19 Price support  770.56/Tonne  513.39/Tonne  0.003 million  Tonnes   0.71   
Total Sunflower          0.71   
Wheat  MY 01-04-18 31-03-19 Price support  263.15/Tonne  264/Tonne  35.8 million  Tonnes   -30.53   
Total Wheat          -30.53   
(1) Applied administered price is announced for raw cotton. For calculation, a co -efficient of 2.35 has been used for conversion from raw to lint cotton.  
(2) Applied administered price is announced for common paddy. For converting to the equivalent price of rice, a coefficient of 1. 5 has been used.  
(3) Other support for rice, that is, other than public stockholding for food security purposes, will be notified subsequently.  
Note:  
 Exchange rate for :  
 1986-88: Rs.13.409/USD;  
 2018-19: Rs. 69.9229/USD  
 Support for each of the listed products is below the relevant "product -specific" de minimis level (Article 6.4(b) refers), except for rice.   
  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 8 - Supporting Table DS:9  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: IN DIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MA RKETING YEAR FROM 1  OCTOBER  2018 TO 3 0 SEPTEMBER 2019  
Non-Product -Specific AMS  
Measure Types  Reporting Year  Non-product -
specific 
budgetary 
outlays  
 
USD,  million  Other non -product 
specific support 
(include calculation 
details)  
 
USD, million  Associated 
fees / levies  
 
 
 
USD, million  Total non -
product -specific 
support  
(3+4 -5) 
 
USD, million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7  
Insurance Premium Subsidy  MY 01-10-18 30-09-19 1,673.08    1,673.08  Ministry of 
Agriculture 
and 
Farmers' 
Welfare  (1) 
Interest subsidy  FY 01-04-18 31-03-19 1,644.05    1,644.05  Ministry of 
Agriculture 
and 
Farmers' 
Welfare   
TOTAL  3,317.13   
(1) Government subsidies on premiums of agricultural insurance for production loss not exceeding 30% of the average of production.  
 
 
 
 
 
 G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 9 - 
 
  ANNEX  
PURSUANT TO THE BALI  MINISTERIAL DECISIO N OF 7 DECEMBER 2013  ON PUBLIC 
STOCKHOLDING FOR FOO D SECURITY PURPOSES  
INDIA  
General information  
1. Factual information confirming that DS:1 notifications and relevant supporting tables for the 
preceding 5 years are up -to-date (e.g. date and document details) . 
The DS:1 notification deta il for preceding 5 years are as follows:  
 
2018-19 G/AG/N/IND/18  31 March 2020  
2017-18 G/AG/N/IND/15  29 March 2019  
2016-17 G/AG/N/IND/13/Corr.1  30 July 2018  
2016-17 G/AG/N/IND/13  20 July 2018  
2015-16 G/AG/N/IND/12  1 May 2018  
2014-15 G/AG/N/IND/12  1 May 2018  
 
2. Details of the programme sufficient to identify food security objective and scale of the 
programme, including:  
a. Name of the programme:   
1. Minimum support price (MSP) programme  
2. In order to achieve the food security of the country, the Government of India and various State 
Governments implement, welfare schemes such as the Public Distribution System and National Food 
Security Act, 2013 through various agencies.   
b. Traditional staple food crop(s) covered  
Rice, Wheat, Coarse  Grains and Pulses  
c. Agency in charge of implementation  
These programmes are implemented jointly by the Central Government (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food 
and Public Distribution, Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Agricultural Cooperative Fed eration of India 
(NAFED) ) and State governments  
d. Relevant laws and regulations  
National Food Security Act, 2013; various Public Distribution System (Control) Orders and their subsequent 
amendments issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955; and various State legislations/orders.  
e. Date of commencement of the programme  
Public Distribution System: Since 1960s  
National Food Security Act: 2013  
f. Officially published objective criteria or guidelines  
The main objectives of food security program mes are – 
1. ensuring Minimum Support Price to the farmers;  
2. equitable distribution of available foodgrains  at affordable prices to the marginalized and vulnerable 
sections of society throughout the year;  
3. to maintain stability in foodgrains prices throughout the country during the year; and  
4. to maintain an adequate buffer stock of foodgrains to deal with fluctua tions in production and to 
meet unforeseen exigencies and natural calamities.  G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 10 - 
 
  3. Practical description of how the programme operates, including:  
a. Provisions relating to the purchase of stocks, including the way the administered acquisition 
price is determined  
b. Provisions related to volume and accumulation of stocks, including any provisions related to 
pre-determined targets and quantitative limits  
c. Provisions related to the release of stocks, including the determination of the release price and  
targeting (eligibility to receive procured stocks)  
3 (a-c): The Government policy of procurement of foodgrains has the objectives of ensuring Minimum Support 
Price (MSP) to the farmers and the availability of foodgrains to the marginalized and vulnerable sections at 
affordable prices . It also ensures effective market intervention thereby keeping the prices under check and 
also adding to overall food security of the country . 
  
Before the harvest during each Rabi / Kharif Crop season , the Governme nt of India announces the minimum 
support prices (MSP) for procurement on the basis of the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural 
Costs and Prices (CACP) which along with other factors , takes into consideration the cost of various agricultural 
inputs and a reasonable margin for farmers for their produce . 
  
Centre and State  Governments , through  their agencies such as Food Corporation of India (FCI), National 
Agricultural Cooperative Federation of India (NAFED) and others, procure foodgrains from f armers at the 
Minimum Support Price in order to meet the overall demand of different welfare schemes.   
  
To meet the operational requirements of foodgrains and exigencies at any point of time , Government of India 
maintains stock of foodgrains in the Centra l Pool stock . The Stocking Norms comprise: (a) Operational stocks 
- for meeting monthly distributional requirements under food security programme; and, (b) Food Security 
stocks/reserves - for meeting shortfall in procurement.   
  
In order to achieve food security in the country , the Government is implementing the National Food Security 
Act, 2013 (NFSA) which provides for coverage of 75 % of rural and 50% of urban population at the all -India 
level, to receive foodgrains at subsidized price of Rs.1/2/3 per kg for coarse grains/ wheat/rice . The subsidized 
prices are determined by the Government keeping the objective of food security of people in view. The 
coverage under NFSA is under two categories - (a) households  covered  under Antyodaya Anna Yoiana (AAY) 
and, (b) the remaining households as priority Households . AAY covers 2 .5 crore poorest of the poor 
households  across the country and have been identified by State Governments on the basis of guidelines 
prescribed by the Central Government. Priority ho useholds have been identified  using State -specific criteria 
evolved by the State Governments. In addition to rice, wheat and coarse cereals, the Centre and State 
Governments also distribute pulses to eligible households under the public distribution system  (PDS).  
4. A description of any measures aimed at minimising production or trade distortive effects of the 
programme  
Government does not undertake exports on a commercial basis from public stockholdings. Additionally, open 
market sales of food grains from  public stockholding are made provided the buyer gives an undertaking of 
not exporting from such purchases.  
5. Statistical information (as per the Statistical Appendix below)  
6. Any other information considered relevant, including website references  
Department of Food and Public Distribution: http://dfpd.nic.in  
Ministry of Women and Child Development: http://www .wcd.nic.in  
Ministry of Human Resource Development: http://mhrd.gov.in  
Ministry of Rural Development: http://rural.nic.in  
Ministry of Defence: http://mod.nic.in  
 G/AG/N/IND/18  
 
- 11 - 
 
  STATISTICAL APPENDIX ( RICE )  
PURSUANT TO THE  BALI MINISTERIAL DE CISION OF 7 DECEMBER  2013, ON PUBLIC 
STOCKHOLDING FOR FOO D SECURITY PURPOSES  
INDIA  
 
Unit 2016 -17 2017 -18 2018 -19 
Rice     
a. Opening balance of stocks  Million Ton  28.811  29.784  30.043  
b. Annual purchases under the programme (value) (c*f)  Billion US D 12.53  13.75  16.64  
c. Annual purchases under the programme (quantity)  Million Ton  38.11  38.13  44.33  
d. Annual releases under the programme (value)  Billion US D 1.50 1.59 1.48 
e. Annual releases under the programme (quantity)  Million Tons  33.52  34.20  34.40  
f. Purchase prices  USD/Ton 328.75  360.72  375.41  
g. Release prices  USD/Ton 44.73  46.54  42.90  
h. End -year stocks  Million Ton  29.784  30.043  29.39  
i. Total production (quantity)  Million Ton  110.15  112.91  116.48  
j. Total production (value)  Billion US D 37.86  42.23  43.67  
k. Information on population benefiting from the release 
of this crop and quantities released:      
- Estimated number of beneficiaries at national 
level and, if possible, at sub - national level  Percentage  75% of rural population and 
50% of urban population at the 
all India level  
- Quantity released to the beneficiaries at the 
national level and, if possible, at the sub -national level  Million Tons  33.52  34.20  34.40  
- Other  
Open market Sale (Domestic)  Million Ton  0.19 0.46 0.85 
l. In the case of government aid to private storage, 
statistics on the support granted and any updated 
statistics  Godowns  being constructed by private investors 
under the Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee 
Scheme (PEG) are eligible for getting subsidy 
from NABARD under Gramin Bhandaran Yojna, 
promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture.  
m. Total imports (value) *  Million US D 0 0 0 
n. Total imports (quantity) *  Million Ton  0 0 0 
o. Total exports (value) *  Million US D 0 0 0 
p. Total exports (quantity) *  Million Ton  0 0 0 
* Only export and import from public stockholdings have been considered.  
 
 
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