WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4 
10 October 2011 
 (11-4907) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of Seychelles Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF SEYCHELLES 
Domestic Support and Export Subsidies in the Agricultural Sector 
 
 The following submission, dated 19 September 2011, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Seychelles. 
  
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 WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4 
Page 2  
 
  NOTE 
In respect to the request for submission of the Domestic Support Table for Seychelles as per 
WT/ACC/SYC/10, Seychelles is pleased to attach herewith its submission for the years 2008-2010. 
Seychelles would like to confirm that all required information is thereby in cluded with the exception 
of data on one support measure which is classified under DS:2 -  Measures exempt from the reduction 
commitment - Special and Differential Treatment - "Development Programmes: 
(i) Financial incentives to develop economic activities of farms under the umbrella of 
"Investment subsidies generally  available to agriculture"   
Seychelles currently provides non-discriminatory indi rect financial incentive to the sector through a 
concession-based Agricultural and Fisheries Incentives Act (available through document 
WT/ACC/SYC/9/Add.1).  Such incentives take the form of tariff concessions on imports by the 
agricultural sector and as thus reflect revenue forgone for the Government. 
Seychelles has best endeavoured to compile these co ncessionary based statistics, however, the country 
does not have a system in place for registeri ng those specific transactions which has made it 
problematic to obtain accurate figures. 
It is to be noted, that the review and improvement of  trade statistics is part of a wider Customs reform 
programme, currently being undertaken with the assi stance of the International Monetary Fund, the 
World Bank, the African Development Bank and the World Customs Organization.  Seychelles shall 
keep the Working Party informed on the progress. 
Seychelles reaffirms its commitment on providing periodical review of information through the 
Domestic Support Tables as required by the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. 
 
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   WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4
 Page 3Supporting Table DS:1 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD: 2008-2010 
 
Measures exempt from the reduction commitment - "Green Box" 
 
Measure type Name and description of measure with reference to 
criteria in Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture Monetary value of measure in year in question  
(million Seychelles Rupees) Data sources 
2008 2009 2010 Average 2008-2010 
1 2 3 4 5 6 = (3+4+5)/3 7 
(a) General services  
  (i) Research1 Budgetary allocations for the operation of agricultural 
research institutions and agencies. 2.5 3.1 4 3.2 SAA budget figures 
 (ii) Training 
 services2 Expenditures to set up, maintain and develop 
agricultural training institutions and centres.  0.5 0.6 0.6 0.56 Ministry of 
Education budget 
figures
 (iii) Extension and 
advisory 
services3 Budgetary allocations to establish and maintain a 
nationwide network of agricultural extension and advisory services from centr al to district level, and 
projects funded by national or local budget to develop 
plant varieties and animal breeds under national programs. 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.37 SAA budget figures
 
 (iv)  Infrastructure 
services4 Budgetary allocations to c onstruct and upgrade farm 
irrigation systems as well as other infrastructural 
development. 1.25 1.6 1.5 1.45 SAA budget figures  
 (v)  Pest and disease 
control, 
inspection 
services5 Budgetary expenditures on plant and animal health 
protection (e.g., epidemic alert, pest and disease 
surveillance, prevention and eradication), border and 
cross-region control, and development of relevant legal instruments. 0.8 1.1 1.1 1 SAA budget figures
 
                                                      
1 The Government provides budget to the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) which in turn disburses towards its sub units, the Vegetable and Evaluation Research 
Section and the Plant Protection Unit.  Both of which are involved in research related issues. 
2 Training services are provided by the Seychelles Agricultural and Horticultural Training Centre which falls under the Ministry  of Education. 
3 This measure is given through the Seychelles Agricultural Agency which has a unit dedicated entirely to Extension and Advisory  Services. 
4 Measure is provided by the Government budget dependent SAA through its respective disbursement of its allocated budget for the  planning section. 
5 Measure provided by the SAA through its plant and animal protection units.  
  WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4 
Page 4 Measure type Name and description of measure with reference to 
criteria in Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture Monetary value of measure in year in question  
(million Seychelles Rupees) Data sources 
2008 2009 2010 Average 2008-2010 
1 2 3 4 5 6 = (3+4+5)/3 7 
(b) Public stockholding 
for food security 
purposes6 Budgetary expenditures on activities related to 
stockholding plant varieties/seeds of vegetables, etc., 
for food security purposes as well as other essentials for the agricultural sector such as fertilizers, 
pesticides, vet drugs, etc.  0.27 0.33 4.34 1.65 SAA budget figures 
and funds dispersed 
from the consolidated 
accounts
(c)  Domestic food aid  0 0 0 0 SAA budget figures  
(d)  Decoupled income 
support  0 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(e)  Income insurance and 
income safety-net 
programmes    
0 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(f)  Payments for relief 
from natural disaster  0 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(g)  Structural adjustment 
assistance provided through producer 
retirement programmes  
0
 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(h)  Structural adjustment 
assistance provided 
through resource 
retirement programmes  
0 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(i)  Structural adjustment 
assistance provided 
through investment aids  
0
 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(j)  Environmental 
programmes  0 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(k)  Regional assistance 
programmes  0 0 0 0  SAA budget figures  
(l)  Other  0 0 0 0 SAA budget figures  
Total   7.42 9.13 14.14 10.23  
 
 
                                                      
6 Measure provided by the SAA through its various respective sub-units.  Measure is complimented by a revolving budget for agric ultural requisites.  
   WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4
 Page 5Supporting Table DS:2 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Measures exempt from the reducti on commitment - Special and Differential Treatment - "Development Programmes" 
Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Article 6:2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture Monetary value of measure in year in question (million Seychelles 
Rupees) Data sources 
2008 2009 2010 Average 2008-2010 
1 2 3 4 5 6 = (3+4+5)/3 7 
(a)  Investment subsidies generally 
available to agriculture Investment loans with a preferential interest 
rate of 2.5%.7 
0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 Documentation 
of the 
Concessionary Credit Agency 
of the Ministry 
of Finance 
Financial incentives to develop economic 
activities of farms8 - - - -  
(b)  Input subsidies generally available 
to low-income or resource-poor 
producers Lease of land at preferential rate of 
SR 6.50/m2 (9) 
26.5 26.5 26.5 26.5 Information 
from the 
Ministry of 
Land Use and 
Habitat 
(c)  Support to encourage diversification 
from growing illicit narcotic crops  0 0 0 0  
Total  26.9 26.8 26.7 26.8  
 
                                                      
7 Loan managed by the Concessionary Credit Agency under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, disbursed through the Developme nt Bank of Seychelles at a 
preferential rate of 2.5%.  The figures represent the revenue fo rgone in administering the preferential rate as opposed to the prevailing commercial rate of 8.5%.  
8 Support reflected through the Agricultural and Fisheries Incentives Act of 2005, which provides for Trades Tax and Goods and S ervices Tax (GST) exemptions on 
agricultural imports by registered farmers. Seychelles is unable to provide the exact measurement of support in terms of the re venue forgone at this point in  time (refer to attached 
information note). 
9 Support reflected through a preferential rate of SR 6.50/ m2 for lease of land for agricultural activities. The figure s provided express revenue forgone in administering 
the preferential rate as opposed to the commercial rate of SR 30.00/m2 over the last 3 years.  
  WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4 
Page 6 Supporting Table DS:3 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Measures exempt from the reduc tion commitment - Direct Payments under Production- Limiting Programmes - "Exempt Direct Payments"  
Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Article 6:5 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture Monetary value of measure in year in question Data sources 
1 2 3 4 
(a) Payments based on fixed area and 
yields 
NIL (b) Payments based on 85% or less of 
the base level of production 
(c) Livestock payments made on a 
fixed number of head 
 
  
   WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4
 Page 7Supporting Table DS:4 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Calculation of the Total Aggregate Measurement of Support  
Description of basic products Product-sp ecific AMS Product-specific measurements of  support Current Total AMS (aggregate) 
1 2 3 4 
 
NIL 
 
 
  
  WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4 
Page 8 Supporting Table DS:5 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Product-Specific Aggregate Measuremen ts of Support: Market Price Support 
Description of 
basic products Calendar 
year Measure type(s) Applied  
administered price External  
reference price Eligible 
production Associated 
fees/levies  Total market  
price support  Data 
sources 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 = ((4-5)*6)-7) 9 
 
NIL 
 
  
   WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4
 Page 9Supporting Table DS:6 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Product-Specific Aggregate Me asurements of Support: Non-Exempt Direct Payments 
Description of 
basic product Calendar 
year Measure type(s) Applied  
administered price  External  
reference price Eligible 
production  Associated 
fees/levies  Total direct 
payments  Data sources 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 = ((4-5)*6)-7) 9 
 
NIL 
 
   
  WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4 
Page 10 Supporting Table DS:7 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Product-Specific Aggregate Measuremen ts of Support: Other Product-Specific  Support and Total Prod uct-Specific AMS 
Description of 
basic product Calendar 
year Measure 
type(s) Other 
product-
specific 
budgetary 
outlays Other 
product 
specific 
support Associated 
fees/levies Total other 
product-
specific 
support Market 
price 
support 
(Supporting 
Table DS:5) Non-exempt 
direct 
payments 
(Supporting 
Table DS:6) Total AMS Data sources 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 = (4+5-6) 8 9 10 = (7+8+9) 11 
 
NIL 
 
   
   WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4
 Page 11Supporting Table DS:8 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Product-Specific Equivalent Measurements of Support 
Description of 
basic product Calendar 
year Measure 
type(s) Applied 
administered 
price Production 
eligible to 
receive the 
applied 
administered 
price Market 
price 
support 
budgetary 
outlays Equivalent 
measurement 
of support Non-
exempt 
direct 
payments Other 
product-
specific 
support Associated 
fees/levies Total 
monetary 
value of 
equivalent 
commitment Data 
sources 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 =  
(7+8+9-10) 12 
 
NIL 
 
 
  
  WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4 
Page 12 Supporting Table DS:9 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Non-Product-Specific AMS 
Measure type(s) Calendar year Non-product-specific budgetary 
outlays Other non-product-specific 
support Associated 
fees/levies Total non-product-
specific support Data sources 
1 2 3 4 5 6 = (3+4-5) 7 
 
NIL 
 
 
  
   WT/ACC/SPEC/SYC/4
 Page 13Supporting Table ES:1 
EXPORT SUBSIDIES:  Seychelles 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008-2010 
 
Export Subsidies: Outlay and Quantity 
Description of 
products Direct export 
subsidies Sales of 
stocks Producer 
financed 
subsidies Cost 
reduction 
measures Internal transport subsidies Total product specific 
export subsidies Quantity of subsidized 
exports Data 
sources 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 
 
NIL 
 
 
 
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