FAO Representative in China
Beijing
In accordance with a decision taken by the Second Advisory Committee Meeting held in December last, we are gathered here again today to review the achievements made by this important Regional Project and advise on the follow-up action to be undertaken by each of us to continue the important activities initiated under this project.
We have all received copies of the reports made by the NACA Project Coordinator containing valuable information on how the work has been proceeding in the four Aquaculture Centres, the details of which, I am sure, are going to be given in the course of the coming few days by each of the Directors in charge of those centres. I would like, however, in the light of what has been given to us up to now, to underline the achievements made by this project in the following; in less than two years, NACA has:
The Regional Lead Centres are continuing their tasks with production oriented research activities using the system approach and obviously promising results have been reached.
The three major activities of the NACA project are currently being followed-up, strengthened and a consistent feedback system between research, training and information has been established. The total number of trained specialists in the course of the years 81/82 to 83/84 appears to be impressive; 108 persons have been, or are to be completely trained by mid-1984 in our Centres, between Senior Aquaculturists and Integrated Fish Farming Specialists. Research, as indicated earlier, is pursued with all the necessary efforts while dissemination of information is occurring on a scale as wide as our means permit.
The installation of two computers in the Regional Centres are precious inputs and one of them in China, is expected to be followed by a training course during the forthcoming days. Such a new input will strengthen the self-supporting mechanism of our centres.
At the present juncture of the project life, we would like to pay a special tribute to all the Governments in the area who have, or are about to contribute to the creation of new centres, and in particular the Government of China and the Government of Thailand who are sparing no efforts in providing substantial inputs to the lead centres established in their countries. This does not under all circumstances, minimize the efforts made by other countries in supporting the lead centres in the region.
Concerning the future, we would like to suggest that a closer view should be taken as regards the kind of self-supporting mechanism recommended by the last Tripartite Review, as well as to the activities undertaken, or suggested for implementation.
We are also keen to hear about:
the type of proposed adaptive and production-oriented research activities and the progress made in this line,
the progress made in modelling the Integrated Fish Farming System and new proposals, if any in this respect,
expanding on the Economics of research production oriented activities.
Mr. Chairman, Dear Colleagues, I need not tell you that the project has reached a point of no return by its achievements and it is about time that we remind each other that the project was designed to last four and a half year, and as indicated by the FAO/ADCP and recommended at the last Tripartite Review, Regional Centres were designed to carry out multidisciplinary activities, the result of which could not be derived before five years. Now more than ever, the project time frame appears too short to prepare the programmes, set up the facilities and particularly prepare and implement the training programmes, the research areas and the computerized dissemination of information.
I think that this brings me to speak about the most crucial item in the agenda of this meeting, which is the funding needed for the future operation of NACA. The last Advisory Committee indicated that, in view of the high priority placed on Aquaculture Development by Governments and the satisfactory progress made in the implementation of NACA activities, the project should be extended beyond December 1983, with contributions from UNDP, other interested Donor Agencies and participating Governments. FAO has had discussions on this very essential matter and has initiated negotiations for a possible consideration of the participation of a number of Governments who would provide assistance under the FAO Government Cooperative Programme.
It has also been determined in our earlier discussions in the course of this year and in discussing the FAO/UNDP inter-country programme for Asia and the Pacific, that NACA is to be considered as high priority for additional IPF funds in view of successful activities and that savings within the FAO Regional Programme be explored to support the project beyond December 1983.
Although one of the major objectives of this project is to train Senior Aquaculturists needed to implement Aquaculture Development Programmes in the countries of the Asia and Pacific Region, the broad practical multidisciplinary courses in Aquaculture provided by the Regional Lead Centres in Asia and the Pacific and particularly those dispensed in China which have attracted a number of requests from Third World countries outside the Region who would like to share and participate in the knowledge and know how acquired by China in this field. I do not know whether at this stage this topic should be raised and discussed, but I would like you to bear in mind that, as the FAO Representative in China, I have already received a number of verbal requests from African countries heads of missions who are asking whether China could lend them a helping hand in training their specialists in the field of Aquaculture and assist their countries at a later stage in the setting up of similar production-oriented centres.
I cannot before closing down my statement refrain from mentioning that I have earlier this year had the opportunity to be the witness of the remarkable achievements made here in this field and in view of the outstanding and recognized realization made by the RLCC, it is imperative to maintain the momentum of this project implementation until the centre can become financially fully self-supporting.
I look forward, Mr. Chairman, like every-one among us present here, to attending the proceedings of this important meeting and its results.
