- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS (continued)
- DECLARATIONS DES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
- MANIFESTACIONES DE LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)
CHAIRMAN: Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the Seventh Plenary Meeting. I call the meeting to order. Before we proceed with the speakers I would like to make two announcements. One, is that you have received the report LIM/18 from your pigeon holes. I would ask you to read it because at 2.30 today we will be adopting it. This is an advance notice and I would like to ask you to be ready at 2.30.
The delegations of Brazil and Ethiopia have asked that their reports be inserted in the records. Therefore, they will not get the Floor.
Kutaiba M. HASSAN (Iraq) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, on behalf of the Iraqi delegation I would like to begin by expressing our thanks to you, the Director-General of FAO and to all heads and members of Delegations for their condolences and all their expressions of sympathy upon the death of the Minister of Agriculture of Iraq. May God spare you and your families all sorrow. Now I will read out the statement prepared by our Minister of Agriculture.
In the name of God the Compassionate, the merciful, I have pleasure in presenting to the participants of the Conference our very warmest greetings and best wishes for the successful outcome of the session so we may achieve its objective. We are convinced that as a result of the active participation and contribution of all attending the session, constructive results will be achieved which will be in the interests of all the members countries of the Organization.
I also have pleasure in paying tribute to the Director-General and his assistants for their ideas and endeavours in developing agriculture and agricultural production throughout the world, and also for the assistance they have given member countries to help those countries overcome their problems in ensuring food security for their citizens as well as rural agricultural development. They have been helpful in assisting us in overcoming the obstacles which must be overcome if we are going to meet the growing demand for production and productivity and for achieving the goal of food security.
Mr Chairman, everyone knows that FAO works diligently and continuously and has done so ever since it was first established in order to meet the expectations of the international community and ensure world food security. It follows that this is the responsibility of all mankind. It is a responsibility which calls for international cooperation and commitment. Therefore, we support the initiatives taken by the Director-General to give top priority to the food production programme in order to guarantee food security in low-income food-deficit countries, and also in order to prevent the spread of transboundary diseases amongst animals and plants.
We pay tribute to the Director-General for his initiative to convene a World Food Summit, which will adopt coordinated policies and measures at international, and regional national levels in order to guarantee food security. In this context, we support the budget level proposed by the Director-General in order to implement these programmes and encourage him to pursue this initiative designed to increase the efficiency of the Organization, and to make savings without affecting the technical and economic programmes.
Mr Chairman, ever since the revolution of 17 July 1968 the government of my country has been interested in guaranteeing the human and material infrastructure required as a sound basis for social and agricultural development. This is necessary if we are to improve our people's living conditions, their social welfare and their health. Nevertheless the total embargo that has been placed upon my country for the past five years is the reason why we lack everything we need in order to respond to the legitimate food requirements of our Iraqi citizens. This was confirmed by the FAO mission which visited my country in September 1995 subsequent to the completion of a similar previous mission in 1993. This recent mission confirmed that the situation in my country portends catastrophy due to economic deterioration and the government's difficulties in ensuring health services and in feeding its population. Malnutrition is widespread and has affected all social levels, particularly children. Twelve percent of our children are wasting away, and 20 percent are suffering from stunted growth. This is in Baghdad the capital, without mentioning all the other sovereignties of the country. In this report, the mission recommended that the only lasting solution for the food crisis in Iraq, a prosperous country, is to use its resources to attract foreign earnings and thus feed itself in order to save the sick and the hungry.
We must pay tribute to FAO for the emergency assistance offered to us, especially in the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, this is a small proportion of the actual needs of the Iraqi people. This sector lacks a production infrastructure which can be achieved only through imports, and we cannot import because of our lack of foreign currency and funds required.
I wish to express my thanks to all brothers who have taken a firm stand, and urge others to do the same, a stand in the right direciton, thus alleviating the suffering of my people. It is a matter of justice and equity for human beings, surely this is the objective of this Conference. In the light of the economic embargo imposed on my country we have a number of questions which need to be addressed. First, is the Iraqi farmer able to engage in agricultural and farming activities?
POINT OF ORDER
POINT D'ORDRE
PUNTO DE ORDEN
I. RUFF (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom delegation believes this is not an appropriate forum for the discussion of Security Council Resolutions. We do not believe sanctions should be lifted until Iraq complies with those Resolutions. Iraq is not complying and therefore sanctions must be left in place. Iraq can help its own population by implementing Security Council Resolution 986. Until now Iraq has refused to implement Security Council Resolution 986. We urge Iraq to reconsider this view. The international community has no quarrel with the ...
CHAIRMAN: This is not a Point of Order. This is a statement you are making. At the same time, I would like to point out to the delegate of Iraq that this is a technical forum, and he should stay within this spirit.
Kutaiba M. HASSAN (Iraq) (Original language Arabic): The important point is that I am talking only about the food and nutrition situation in Iraq. I do not think anyone has the right to interrupt the head of a delegation when he is making his country's statement.
In the light of the embargo imposed on my country we have to ask a number of questions at this Conference. Is the Iraqi farmer able to engage in his legitimate activities?
POINT OF ORDER
POINT D'ORDRE
PUNTO DE ORDEN
Ms Fatimah HASAN J. HAY AT (Kuwait) (Original language Arabic): I apologize for interrupting the statement, but the delegate of the United Kingdom raised a Point of Order. If the Head of the Iraqi delegation wishes to pursue this question of the embargo I would remind him that we are here at a technical and not a political conference. Political matters have no place in our debates, so I would request the delegate of Iraq to restrict himself to matters that lie within the competence of FAO.
CHAIRMAN: I will ask the representative of Iraq again to stay within the technical spirit of this forum and to avoid political issues.
Kutaiba M. HASSAN (Iraq) (Original language Arabic): I was not raising a political problem. I was just talking about the food and nutrition and food security situation in my country.
I should like to continue with my statement uninterrupted because it is not right that a speaker be interrupted. Points of order are used surely only for the right of reply and not in order to make comments on a statement.
Is the Iraqi farmer able to engage in agricultural activities and improve his production in the absence of an agricultural infrastructure, whose absence is due to a ban on imports from certain influential Security Council members, and this at a time when FAO is making every effort to improve the health and living conditions of peoples throughout the world and support them in their efforts to bring world poverty and hunger to an end? Do not we have the right to ask the following question:
What does the USA want from Iraq and why is it adamant on its stance in all international fora, persistently calling for the continous economic embargo on Iraq?
We see that democratic rights and international legitimacy to which the USA pays lip service have solely one single explanation namely that of subjecting all countries of the world to its own will, hence using them to acheive its declared and undeclared goals, looting their natural wealth and leaving them prey to all forms of underdevelopment.
It is necessary for FAO Member Nations to stand beside Iraq to help it overcome the plight fabricated by the USA and its allies.
The American persistant objection to the lifting of the embargo aims at killing an entire people. How can this be right when we are gathered here to discuss and examine the issue of the food and nutritional situation in the world, whereas Iraqi children, women, the sick, the old and the handicapped are suffering from the shortage of food and medicine?
Mr Chairman, having submitted to your Excellencies this overview on the food and agricultural situation in my country, I should like to call upon this august gathering to use all ways and means in order to put an end to the suffering of the Iraqi people, to call for the lifting of all economic sanctions imposed on Iraq in order to recover its natural right to export basic products and commodities and thus enable it to secure its urgent food and medical requirements.
Thank you.Ms Fatimah HASAN J.HAYAT (Kuwait) (Original language Arabic): I should like to keep the tone of the Organization's debate in accordance with its regulations. This is why I ask for the right of reply to the statement by the Head of the Iraqi Delegation at the end of this morning's session.
CHAIRMAN: Yes, you can do it at the end of this morning's session.
Ms Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES (United States of America): I would also request the right of reply at the end of the session.
Ms Therese STRIGGNER SCOTT (Ghana): On behalf of the Ghana delegation, I join previous speakers in congratulating you on your election as Chairman of this Conference, which coincides with the historic 50th anniversary of the birth of FAO.
Before I proceed, I wish to express the regret of Mr Ibrahim Adam, Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture for his inability to be present at this Conference. An equally important assignment to join the delegation of Ghana's Head of State on a US visit after Quebec is the reason for his absence. He has however asked me to convey to this Conference his committed and full support for the philosophy and objectives of FAO.
I wish to assure you of the fullest cooperation of my delegation to ensure the success of this Conference. I would also like to commend the Director-General and the FAO Secretariat for initiating and pushing through cost-effective programmes for the benefit of the entire developing world.
As FAO celebrates its 50th anniversary, we pause to ask ourselves the question what would the world food situation be today if we did not have a Food and Agriculture Organization with all its interrelated activities from several other agricultural support agencies? Yet despite FAO we are still faced with the grim statistics of 800 million chronically undernourished people in developing countries, of widespread environmental degradation, and of inequitable commodity pricing, the consequences of which are unfair resource flows and poverty.
Thanks to the Food and Agriculture Organization, we have very positive programmes such as the Harmonization of Plant Genetic Resources, Codex Alimentarius - which ensures our safety when we buy food from the shelves - the Special Programme on Food Production in Support of Food Security in Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) - the Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries and many other important programmes that we conceive as a matter of course.
For these programmes and the wide range of services given to developing countries, FAO deserves the support of both developed and developing countries. Budgetary constraints, however, impede the goodwill of governments in developing countries to provide adequate support to the agricultural sector. The international donor community and other agricultural support agencies creditably fill the critical gaps in support of food security and general agricultural and rural development in developing countries.
This essential life-saving support is being threatened and could lead the world to other types of man-made tragedies that would again call for various fora and conferences in search of solutions. The solution is right here with us: to maintain a sound FAO.
My delegation has followed the proceedings of several conferences and meetings of the Organization. It has come to realize the sad dwindling levels of resources that have been with us for some time. To re-focus on resources under these critical conditions, for the plight of developing countries in general and Africa in particular, my delegation would recommend that the Director-General adopt a wide range of cost-saving mechanisms without seriously sacrificing ongoing major programmes. As part of the cost-saving measures, my delegation supports the reduction in cost for servicing technical assistance personnel by resorting to the use of National Professional Officers (NPOs).
As a further measure of cost-saving, my delegation observes that though large volumes of technical materials on improved agricultural practices already exist, these have not been implemented. Of immediate relevance are those related to soil water management, irrigation, drought-resistant crop varieties, soil fertility, and pest management. If we implement these programmes from pilot to expanded levels on a majority of food deficit areas, I am confident that there will be no more need for the publication entitled "Food Crops and Shortages".
In Ghana today, improved agricultural output has become an economic imperative to maintain the projected overall 6 percent growth of the economy. Donor-assisted schemes such as the World Bank Extension and Livestock projects, the CIDA Grains Project, GTZ Agricultural Extension project and a number of IF AD projects are contributing significantly to increased agricultural output. Paradoxically, the need to obtain more from the land and forest has led to rapid degradation of both. Serious efforts to balance harvesting and planting have yet to make a significant impact. It is in the light of this that my Government is grateful to the Director-General for approving recently a TCP grant for "Assistance in Forestry, Policy and Legislation". I have no doubt that a follow-up of this assistance will help address the decline of our forest resources.
Many of the opinions expressed and to be expressed in this forum and elsewhere will continue to argue that agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa has been greatly constrained by external environmental factors and by poor incentive systems. However, what is technologically effective and how policy incentives are applied by producers depends on how much production and marketing are coordinated.
My delegation endorses the recommendation of the last session of the Committee on Commodity Problems that donor assistance in improving storage, packaging and marketing, including financing, is as important as providing assistance for production. It is therefore urgent that FAO and donor organizations redirect their efforts in emphasizing post-harvest technology transfer with encouragement given to the private and public sectors to develop facilities for storing, processing, transporting, preservation and distribution.
The Secretariat and the Technical Committee on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries have done a commendable job and have come out with a generally acceptable version of the code. Although it is not legally binding, some level of enforcement is essential. Most developing countries, however, lack the capacity to carry out any level of enforcement and would be grateful to FAO and the donor community for help in surveillance and enforcement of the code to preserve the dwindling fisheries resources of developing coastal states.
Ghana fully supports the efforts made by the Director-General to move FAO closer to the field where its activities are most needed. This principle, as manifested in the decentralization programme and the use of National Professional Officers, has our full support.
In furtherance of this objective, my Government is happy to announce that suitable offices have been found for the expanded Regional Office for Africa based in Accra. I wish on behalf of my Government formally to invite the Director-General to commission the new offices during his visit to Ghana this year.
The meeting was suspended from 10.10 to 10.25 hours
La séance est suspendue de 10 h 10 à 10 h 25
Se suspende la sesión de las 10.10 a las 10.25 horas
Tseveenjavyn UULD (Mongolia): Mr Chairman, I am greatly honoured to have this opportunity of representing the Government of Mongolia at this 28th Session of the FAO Conference in the company of the distinguished delegates from the other FAO member countries.
I would like to offer you my congratulations on your election as Chairman. I am convinced that, with the benefit of your guidance, this session will yield fruitful results. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude and respect to the Director-General and the Secretariat for all the preparatory work and arrangements they have made.
The 28th Session of the Conference coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Organization, which is respected all over the world. The efforts of FAO aimed at eliminating poverty and hunger amongst the world's population and improving its food supply and security have always been highly appreciated by the Government of Mongolia.
The Government of Mongolia considers that in collaboration with the Organization and some of the member and donor countries, it has achieved better results in developing the country's agriculture sector and in enhancing the food supply since Mongolia became a member of the Organization more than 20 years ago. FAO TCP Projects including Agricultural Statistics, Agricultural Marketing Development, Livestock Gene-Bank and Weeds and Rodent Control being implemented in Mongolia during the last four years of transition from a centrally-planned economy into a market-oriented economy have had an important value for upgrading and improving the agricultural management and data processing capacity in the country.
Taking this opportunity, may I thank those donor countries and international organizations which have been providing and continue to provide assistance to my country, in the form of financial support, transfer of know-how, and supply of material goods, during the critical period of transition.
Since the start of the democratization process and economic transition of the country into the market system which took place five years ago, several results have been achieved. These are stabilization of the overall economic decline and economic growth of some sectors of the economy, liberalization of the prices for all agricultural products, and a legal framework of the market economy operations which has been established following the adoption of new laws taking into consideration the specifics of the country.
During the years of transition, the livestock sub-sector has developed sustainably, but the production of the crop sub-sector, in particular grain production, is continuing to decline due to the shortage of required capital for production and replacement of agricultural machinery; and, as a result, 700 000 hectares of grainland, more than half of the total, has been abandoned. The situation is worsened by the low yield as a result of the drought that occurred in my country in the summer this year, and the total harvest will be far shorter than the required domestic flour demand. As in many countries, the situation of food supply, in particular flour supply, remains difficult in Mongolia.
I would like to note that there is quite a lot to do for the Organization as we know that every seventh member of the world's population is starving from hunger and malnutrition, including more than 190 million children under the age of five years. On the other hand, as a result of overall change in the world's climate large numbers of people continue to be affected and become poor following the frequent occurrence of natural disasters like drought, flooding, storms and heavy snow falls. Also wars and conflicts of confronting sides in some countries and regions become another reason for many human beings being so poor. I believe that the Organization will expand its activities aimed at preventing the world's population from the causes of hunger, malnutrition and poverty and addressing their impacts.
To do this we should consider implementing the decisions taken from previous meetings and conferences. As we are all aware, two special agencies of the United Nations, FAO and WHO, jointly organized the International Conference on Nutrition in 1992. This Conference adopted recommendations to its participants and obliged them to develop a National Plan of Action for Nutrition. I believe that the more active participation of FAO for the implementation of recommendations and national plans in the developing countries will result in better achievements in those countries.
It is my belief that if FAO will take action in organizing transfer of technical advances achieved in all industrialized western countries, bringing not only food security but also leading to surplus agricultural production, this will be of great use for developing countries. Developing countries need to get some support through specific programmes for the development of small-scale agricultural products processing facilities including food processing, which will improve their food security and lead to a production increase of export items.
Mr Director-General, may I draw your attention to the need of some of the developing countries, like my own, to get the Organization's support in finding financial sources for the further development of investment projects, following their preparation activities, the results of which should be reviewed by the parties involved. In this connection I also would like to mention that there is a need to improve project cost efficiency, in particular reducing consultants cost, at both preparation and implementation stages.
As you are aware, the number of countries in a transition economy has been growing during the last years. The fact that agricultural production decline in most of these countries continues should draw more and more attention by the Organization and the international community. If these countries making a transition to the market-oriented economy get support through the development of special programmes and provision of substantial financial sources for food production, rural development and intensive farming, many households can be saved.
Protection and conservation of environment, in particular improvement of soil fertility, should be foreseen as major issues for food security of the world's population. As you are aware every year hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fertile soil are blown and washed from the earth and drained into the seas, turning croplands into sandy and stony areas. We have to mobilize our common effort for the development of regional programmes for soil protection and conservation and I would like to express the fact that the Government of Mongolia is eager to participate in such programmes.
The growth of the world's population, changing climate and other situations in the world will continue to make improvements and expansions in the role and activity of the Organization necessary before we enter the second millenium. I do believe that the decision to be taken by this Conference will make a valuable contribution in eliminating hunger and malnutrition all over the world by use of the results we have achieved and introduction of advanced technology, and I am sure that the 28th Session of the Conference will succeed in discussing the agenda items and will take wise decisions to bring the activity of the Organization to a new stage.
Horace A. CLARKE (Jamaica): Mr Chairman, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen: Jamaica is very pleased to participate in this 28th Session of the FAO Conference. First of all, Mr Chairman, I extend to you my warmest congratulations on your election to the chair. I recall with pleasure the great honour it was for my country on the occasion of the 27th Session of the Conference when the Honourable Seymour Mullings, our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, served as Chairman.
I am assured Sir, that with your outstanding knowledge and guidance this Conference will also yield fruitful results for all member countries.
I wish also to use this medium to commend the Director-General and staff of FAO for their continued efforts towards providing solutions for the global food and agricultural problems.
Approval must be expressed for the changes in the structure of the Organization which have been put in place to strengthen its effectiveness in carrying out its mandate.
With specific reference to the Caribbean, we are particularly grateful for the establishment of a sub-regional office which has enabled FAO to better serve our needs.
The Conference is taking place at a very historic point in time for the Organization, as it coincides with its 50th Anniversary celebrations. The International Symposium and other commemorative activities just concluded in Quebec have brought the accomplishments of the Organization over the past 50 years into sharp focus and also underlined the tremendous challenges which are ahead.
As the available data indicate, in the developing countries there are still 800 million people who are chronically undernourished. In this regard the World Food Summit set for November 1996, for which preparations are already being made, will be very, very critical. With the dwindling bilateral and multilateral assistance to the agricultural sector of countries falling in the low-income food-deficit category, there is grave concern that the situation with respect to poverty and hunger will worsen considerably. In this scenario, there is going to be an increasing demand on the technical and financial resources of FAO to assist in agricultural development.
In recent years much attention has been focused on the impact of population growth and intensification of agricultural production on the environment. However, this remains a critical area of concern. In the process of agricultural production in many countries there is still considerable damage to natural resources such as soil and water. The depletion of fishery resources, rapid deforestation and the destruction of natural ecosystems also continue unabated in a number of countries and regions of the world.
In addressing these issues there will be need for further and more far-reaching interventions by FAO and other international and regional bodies with capabilities to assist countries in attaining sustainable development.
It is necessary, for example, to conduct further research and expand programmes to promote the use of pest and plant management systems that have minimal impact on the environment, relying largely on natural ways of controlling pests and increasing soil fertility.
Another issue of critical importance is that of agricultural development in the economy-wide context. Many developing countries are still undergoing stabilization and structural reforms aimed at correcting fundamental and unsustainable macro-economic desequilibria that developed largely as a result of adverse external conditions and internal policies pursued during the mid-1980s.
In the experience of Jamaica and that of many other countries agriculture has been deeply affected by macro-economic stabilization policies. This is evidenced in measures such as the reduction or the total elimination of input subsidies, the application of market-driven lending rates for agriculture, and the deregulation of marketing boards.
Closely aligned to structural adjustment is the growing thrust towards a liberalized global economy. The completion of the Uruguay Round of GATT, the further development of the European Union, the emergence of NAFTA and the overall trade liberalization efforts throughout the Americas, have all impacted on the international environment in which the agricultural sector exists.
The structural adjustment and trade liberalization process are tied closely together by the common challenges and goals they represent. Increasing competitiveness in the agricultural sector has to come though increasing productivity. Increasing productivity is dependent on technological changes in production, processing and marketing. The entire process is dependent on a stable macro-economic policy that sends the right signals to producers and consumers, and on institutions that promote and support the changes required.
The results of policies are not always intended. This is borne out by the recent study conduced in Jamaica with FAO Technical Assistance, to provide an assessment of "The Effects of Structural Adjustment on the Agricultural Sector's Performance", with particular focus on the impact of economic policy changes on small farmers.
The results of the study indicate that while there have been important benefits there have been major disadvantages from structural adjustment and trade liberalization policies which create hardships. The essence of a constructive strategy for Jamaican agriculture is to promote those areas which can take advantage of opportunities. At the same time, however, it is essential to be analysing the impact of these policies, particularly on national food security and on utilization of natural resources. Therefore, the policies should be constantly monitored and reviewed in the context of changing circumstance.
This is imperative in respect of the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of GATT and the WTO arrangements. Many countries will no doubt require the assistance of FAO in analysing the impact of these arrangements in their agricultural trade and developing appropriate policies and strategies to take advantage of opportunities and minimize elements that may cause dislocation.
This Conference is an extremely important forum for the exchange of ideas at the highest political and technical levels on the issues just outlined and others affecting food and agriculture. It is my hope that our deliberations here will lead to the identification of concrete solutions of the difficulties we now face and those we anticipate will arise in the future.
In spite of the financial difficulties encountered FAO has been able to maintain its potential for effective action and expertise and has shown commitment to its mission. However, the way forward requires careful planning to get maximum benefit from the available resources, and in this regard the restructuring already effected in the Organization, as well as the shifting of resources to priority areas, based on the Organization's expertise are steps in the right direction.
Before I close I must raise the issue of trade - E/U and ACP Banana protocol. There are a number of small countries whose economic life depend on this industry. It happens that a single transnational corp aided by a powerful country seeks to attack and destroy these mono-industry economy nations. World food security requires production, but world food insecurity includes the ability to trade. Let us urge reasonableness in this matter.
In closing this statement Mr Chairman, I would like to reaffirm my country's commitment to supporting the activities of FAO and in particular, our eagerness to work together with other developing countries under the technical cooperation development programme agreement to which we are signatories.
Ahmed ABU EL GHEIT (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): I would like to congratulate the Director-General Dr Jacques Diouf and all the staff of the Organization as well as the Member States on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of FAO of which Egypt was among its founding nations and has supported to obtain its objectives, in particular, the sustainable use of natural resources and ensuring world food security. My delegation together with others welcomes the growth of agricultural production over the last three decades. Egypt has contributed to this. In particular as regards cereals, we have arrived at record levels. The cultivable areas have also increased through the reclamation of new lands and with the development of cropping areas. Current estimates indicate that the share of arable land of each individual has decreased. Therefore we must make every effort to maintain the natural resources that we need, and we shall need rational strategies for the use of resources.
In the last few years we have had to face a lack of financial resources in many of our countries and this has been a problem for the agricultural policy. Population growth has also had an impact on the level of unemployment, and this has laid a further burden on the natural resources of countries, particularly in Africa and Asia.
It was stated in Quebec, that together with all countries of the world, we support the role of the Organization in taking up challenges in the world and raising the standards of living of all people.
I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that President Mubarak of Egypt supports the idea of the World Food Summit and to renew our commitment to food security, and to ask for solutions to deal with the root of hunger, and agree the necessary policies in this respect. We must all take part in the this joint effort and we support Mr Jacques Diouf in the efforts designed to ensure that the World Food Summit in 1996 will be a basic stage of the road to guaranteeing food security. The agricultural sector in Egypt is one of the major sectors in the countries. Fifty percent of the population work on agricultural matters and the industrialization of agricultural producers.
The agricultural sector has begun to make programmes of agricultural reform such as during the 1980s and constructive results have been achieved. The programme of economic reform has been pursued into the 1990s. Agricultural policy in the 1990s is based on six points: completing the programme of agricultural reform and the use of hydraulic resources; support for the national agricultural capacity; making a link between research and implementation; raising efficiency and developing the marketing sector. The programmes of economic reform require fresh definition of the role of the state and its relations with the private sector. These programmes also call for appropriate financial monetary policies. They also call for encouragement of private enterprise and support for the private sector.
We give our support to the present working budget for the medium-term programme for the year 2000. We should like to express our support for the permanent budget drawn up by the Director General, where real growth was held at zero. We would also support the efforts designed to reduce the costs provided, that this does not have a negative impact upon the technical operation activities.
We should like to support the programmes concerning food security in the least developed countries because these resources are the minimum that the Organization can present to these countries. We also support the emergency programme for trans-planetary and in particular the locust control which is a great danger for the countries in the region.
Finally, let me submit to delegations one or two of the areas that we consider to be of major importance, and that require support from the international community: encouragement for rural development and combatting poverty in rural communities; secondly, sustainable development of natural resources; thirdly, encouragement of world partnership for sustainable development; fourthly, encouragement for the growth of food production in developing countries, and particularly the low-income countries; fifthly, support for national capacity for developing policies and programmes; sixthly, maintaining the capacity for research and expansion work, supporting trade in food products and opening up the markets to the produce from the farming countries.
We hope that all these efforts of the committee will be committed to solving the problems of the developing countries.
Junji ICHII (Japan): Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to have this opportunity to represent the Japanese Government at this 28th Session of the FAO Conference, giving me the occasion and pleasure to have close and candid exchange of views with the distinguished delegates present.
First of all, I would like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, your Excellency, Costas Petrides for your unanimous election as Chairman of this Conference. My greatest respects must also be expressed for the efforts of Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of this Organization, whom I am convinced will make this session a full success.
Mr Chairman, the world food situation has been significantly improved by FAO's great efforts, those of its Member Nations and related organizations in the technical and socio-economic fields. It is a great pleasure for us to recognize that through the improvement in such fields the world cereal production has doubled in the last 30 years increasing the per caput food supply significantly.
Nevertheless, it is quite serious that there remains nearly 800 million people suffering from undernutrition. The degradation of agricultural production resources leading to future shortage of such resources gives rise to major concern.
Moreover, recent agricultural production is approaching a stagnant point, putting the supply and demand situation no longer in a surplus position. Due to this turnover, the cereal stock level is estimated to decline to 14 percent, which is below the level of the early 70s when there was a global food crisis. Together with this, the higher world food market price and declining food aid volume are dramatically changing the whole food situation in the world.
Furthermore, because of the significant increase in the world population and the improvement of food consumption in many developing countries, as well as growing concern over global natural resources and environmental problems, the possibility of unstable food supply in the future seems to be more realistic.
Mr Chairman, taking into consideration such supply and demand situations of food, I believe that the food security issue will be more important than before. It is an urgent problem to secure food for the low-income developing countries with a large amount of undernourished population. To solve this problem, it is necessary for each country to increase agricultural production capacity securing domestic food supply and prompting economic development. In this concept, Japan has been implementing assistance aimed at food production increases in those countries concerned. In the same context, Japan expects a positive outcome from the special programme for food security in Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries.
Sustainable development is also an important issue for the countries requiring reinforcement of producing capacity as well as the currently self-sufficient countries, from the viewpoint of conservation of production resources and the environment. Therefore, it is important to make clear the methods to achieve sustainable development, as well as their execution.
Concerning the rise in international market price of cereals and the decrease in the global food stock and food aid levels, which are pointed out in the Secretariat's document, my country hopes that these will not have negative effects on food security for developing countries and food importing countries. In this concern, it is important to fully analyse the present market situations and the impact of the results of the Uruguay Round from the viewpoint of world food security.
Mr Chairman, Japan considers that food security needs to be addressed increasingly on a global basis in the coining 21st century. Keeping this in mind, I would like to underline the importance of taking into account population, food and environment together, and giving importance not only to the developing countries suffering from hunger and malnutrition, but also developing countries achieving significant economic growth and even food importing developed countries.
In conjunction with this, I would like to briefly refer to the Ministerial Meeting on World Food Security in Quebec City, Canada, just recently held.
What we have pointed out there, was that while many food importing countries rely for their supply of food on limited number of food exporting countries, there is an increase in the number of potential food importing countries. Based on this observation we stressed that the food supply and demand situations of these rapidly developing economies and countries with extremely low self-sufficiency ratio of food might be possible to influence international supply and demand situations and thus, might affect seriously the world food security in the future.
In consideration of the foregoing, it is necessary for food importing developed countries and developing countries approaching to this category to make efforts, within the framework of relating international rules, to domestically produce basic foods in a sustainable manner in order to stabilize future world food supply and demand. We firmly believe that this approach is necessary for the achievement of food security for all.
I have touched upon Japan's basic ideas on food security, and together with various points made by other countries I think it is important now to seriously discuss food security issues in various fora. In this connection, Japan highly commends the initiatives taken by the Director-General, Dr. Diouf, to convene the World Food Summit in November next year. Japan will actively participate in the discussions in order to achieve the kind of world food security that covers and serves both developing and developed countries.
The policy document and plan of action, envisaged to be the major outcome of the Summit, should be instrumental for world food and agricultural policies and actions with the supreme aim of achieving world food security. Therefore, although the Secretariat's document C 95/2 explains that "the plan of action will specify the actions to be taken to ensure sustained progress in reducing the incidence of chronic undernutrition and improving nutritional well-being for an ever-increasing population", I firmly believe that it should be the one to take care sufficiently and in a well-balanced manner the food security concerns of all countries and peoples, irrespective of whether they are developing or developed countries.
Deforestation and forest degradation on a global scale is a pressing issue which requires an intensive approach with human wisdom. In this context, it is expected that the Open-ended Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests established under the UN Commission on Sustainable Development will bear a fruitful result.
However, while we are sitting here global forests are continuously being depleted. Therefore, as Japan proposed at the Ministerial Meeting in March this year, further practical actions should be taken in the field. Such actions include: demonstration of sustainable forest management on an operational scale based on internationally developed criteria and indicators, and participatory afforestation and forest conservation activities using experience and expertise obtained through FAO's community forestry activities.
In promoting such actions, coordination between forestry and other land-related sectors, such as land use and agricultural development, and the establishment of a close linkage between bilateral and multilateral cooperation are vital for their success. It is our firm belief that FAO would further contribute in such practical action areas.
In recent years an active global trend for the review of the fishery management system from the viewpoint of ensuring sustainable utilization of fishery resources has been observed. With the recognition that FAO's role in the area of fisheries is assuming further weight under these circumstances, the Government of Japan is committed to continuing its strong support of FAO's activities so that FAO can exert its leadership role to the maximum possible extent.
Based on this belief, Japan, in collaboration with FAO, will host the International Conference on Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security in Kyoto, Japan, in December this year, to provide an opportunity for concerned countries to discuss this issue and obtain a common basic understanding.
FAO's past activities in assisting and advising developing countries have greatly contributed to the improvement of the world food and agricultural situation. However, Japan believes that FAO's activities should not remain as just development support for developing countries, but should strengthen those functions required to discuss and guide world agriculture as the centre of excellence, Moreover, I consider it desirable that FAO, the specialized organization tackling the issue of world food security, should provide appropriate advice to other international organizations discussing matters relating to food and agriculture.
Concerning the Director-General's initiatives to restructure FAO and review its activities carried out since the assumption of his office, I hope that the Director-General's leadership will further facilitate the reform of FAO so that it becomes a more efficient and effective organization. My country is ready to support FAO's reform as much as possible in this direction.
Our country has been expanding official development assistance in the agriculture sector as one of the most important parts of international cooperation. Concerning the cooperation through FAO, we have been providing support to many field projects and other activities. Japan is ready to contribute as much as possible to FAO's activities aimed at achieving world food security and from the standpoint of assisting developing countries' self-help efforts.
Finally, I close my statement by stressing our hope that in the mid to long-term perspective and bearing all countries in mind, FAO will strengthen its activities in the next 50 years in order that worldwide food security will be achieved and maintained in the future.
Peter CARBON (Dominica): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, my delegation wishes to congratulate you and the Vice-Chairmen on your election of this important Conference. We would also like to congratulate the new members to FAO.
On behalf of my country and myself I wish to extend our congratulations to the Director-General and his staff on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of this Organization. During its long history it has been able to assist many developing countries, including my own, in fighting hunger and poverty, and in finding solutions towards providing food security for all. FAO is expected to carry out this mandate by helping to provide both technical and financial assistance to developing countries. Therefore we must give full support to the budget being presented by the Director-General.
My country is located in the centre of the Caribbean chain of islands. It always seems to be getting struck by any storm or hurricane which effects the Caribbean. In 1979 Dominica was devastated by hurricane David, followed by hurricane Alleyne in 1990. In 1989 hurricane Hugo destroyed the country completely. In 1994 Dominica was hit again by tropical storm Debbie. This year, 1995, tropical storm Iris and the hurricanes Luis and Marylin devastated the islands. Throughout the years we have also been affected by drought, high winds, pests and diseases. Although FAO has been able to assist us with technical and financial support towards our goal of providing food security for our people, when these hurricanes strike my island we must find the courage and the financial aid for our people to start together anew. We must start to replant our agricultural crops, our forest trees, rebuild our homes, reconstruct our feeder roads, our bridges and coastal roads. We need to find ways of supplying our fishermen with new fishing equipment. We must provide food for our people, in particular for those who live in the rural areas.
In my country agriculture and food production have moved from the plantation system to a system of production by small farm families. This may not be as efficient as plantation agriculture in dollars, but it allows for equitable distribution of food and certain wealth among the rural poor: This change has improved food security in the island, but again it requires institutional support from the government - support in continuous education through research and extension services, support from credit programmes, support in marketing, support in the building of infrastructure and support to build farmer organizations such as associations and cooperatives.
If my country cannot attain financial and technical assistance from organizations like FAO and others, as well as friendly governments, the rural people will revert to their traditional farming methods which in the long-term will lead to the total destruction of our tropical forest. We must therefore provide the small farmers with modern farming techniques that includes soil and water conservation, irrigation, integrated pest management, supply of inputs and overall improved farm management techniques.
Eighty percent of Dominica's export earnings depends on the sale of agricultural crops, especially bananas, known to us as "Greengold". Export-led growth and better trade are the keys to our economic development. Free trade is seen as the engine of growth, and this policy should lead to domestic and economic reforms.
But if free trade does not take the economic stability of small island states into account, it is not fair trade. For example: our banana exports at the present time are at zero due to hurricanes. Therefore the trade support we are now receiving from the European Union is critical in keeping our market share when production returns, something that needs to be taken into account.
We recognize that our development will have to take into consideration the effect of storms and hurricanes, but we cannot face those natural disasters alone. Since we are partners in the global community, we urge our brothers and sisters in all international organizations such as FAO, WFP, IFAD and others to support us in our efforts, and to help us restore our agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries. Traditionally, we have received support and assistance from the US, UK, Canada, France, and the European Union, just to name a few. For this we are thankful. We are now making an appeal to our new friends to come to our assistance in this time of need.
My government would like to take the opportunity to mention the assistance received from the Governments of the Republic of Taiwan and Japan, which have been helping us with diversification of our agriculture and fisheries. We have taken further action toward diversification in agriculture by introducing some wind-resistant crops, increasing small stock production and aquaculture. We have placed special emphasis on the improvement of our ecotourism product.
Dominica is known as the nature island of the Caribbean, and we will make every effort to ensure that it maintains its name. My government has taken a keen interest in the protection and enhancement of our environment. We have established a forest reserve, a number of national parks, and implemented regulations for protection of wildlife, rivers and coastal zones.
Dominica is listed as one of the world's 10 most beautiful nature islands. We intend to make it the most environmentally friendly island in the world, but we believe also that environmental protection should be the responsibility of all nations.
Our women have been in the forefront of our economic development; they have shouldered most of the work in rural areas. We recognize their efforts and have set up special programmes to bring out their skills.
What changes can be made? FAO is the backbone of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries development, but it does not have the financial capacity that is needed. It must therefore continue in its efforts at building closer partnerships with other UN agencies, international institutions, the NGOs, and the private sector. By doing so we can all acquire the resources which are necessary for working together towards effectively achieving the goals of food security among all nations.
My delegation would therefore appreciate that sustainable development and food security of small island states, especially those which suffer from natural disasters, be placed on the agenda of the World Food Summit to be held in FAO next year.
I would like to assure the Director-General that my Prime Minister and myself will give full support to that event.
Dionisio CUADRA KAUTZ (Nicaragua): Es para mí un honor estar presente en este magno e histórico recinto y reconocer con justicia, en nombre del pueblo y Gobierno de Nicaragua, que preside la Excma. señora doña Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, y en el mío propio, la loable labor que desde hace 50 años ha venido desarrollando la FAO.
Esta labor ha consistido principalmente en contribuir a la intensificación de la producción alimentaria, así como en destacar la importancia del sector agropecuario, tanto en los otros continentes como en América Latina y el Caribe, en la lucha contra la pobreza, principal causa del hambre y de la desnutrición.
Por otro lado, permítanme expresarles un cordial saludo, en mi calidad de portavoz de los distinguidos representantes de los gobiernos y sociedad civil de los países de América Latina y el Caribe, presentes en Managua los días 9 y 10 de octubre de 1995, donde celebramos la primera reunión regional de alto nivel sobre seguridad alimentaria, aprobándose todos los acuerdos contenidos en la llamada Declaración de Managua.
Esta Declaración fue presentada en la ciudad de Quebec con motivo del cincuentenario de la FAO, y distribuida en esta 28a Conferencia de la FAO, aquí en Roma.
El Gobierno de Nicaragua presentará, en cumplimiento de los acuerdos suscritos en Managua el 10 de octubre de 1995, un informe de los avances alcanzados en el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, que se celebrará en Roma en enero de 1996. En este sentido, esperamos con gran interés conocer los resultados de los países hermanos, así como las propuestas y acciones de la FAO para apoyar este gran proyecto latinoamericano y del Caribe, que surge en Managua, al igual que el apoyo de los países identificados con la causa de la seguridad alimentaria.
Si bien es cierto que a nivel mundial se han logrado algunos progresos, no obstante, las restricciones externas al comercio, los subsidios a la producción y comercialización en los países desarrollados, las limitaciones al acceso a la tecnología y comunicaciones y los términos de intercambios desfavorables, son factores que también agravan la pobreza y la seguridad alimentaria.
Por ello, el trabajo que queda por delante a todos, tanto a los gobiernos como a la sociedad civil y a los organismos internacionales en su conjunto, sigue siendo un desafío de gran trascendencia y de gran magnitud para finales de este siglo y el próximo.
En consecuencia, debemos fomentar estrategias de aumento de la producción de alimentos básicos, así como programas de prevención y control de deficiencias nutricionales y de micronutrientes, promoción de lactancia materna y control higiénico-sanitario de los alimentos, para garantizar alimentos seguros en calidad y cantidad.
Debemos continuar intensificando la solidaridad internacional en la lucha contra el hambre, la pobreza y la malnutrición. Debemos también alentar la participación de la población rural, y en particular de la mujer, niños y otras personas desfavorecidas, en las decisiones y actividades que afectan su vida por falta de una seguridad alimentaria. La buena alimentación que se traduce en cuerpos sanos y mentes sanas, traerá indiscutiblemente una paz mundial firme y duradera.
Es imperativa y urgente la tarea de continuar promoviendo y fomentando cada vez más la cooperación entre los países en desarrollo.
Es hora, por tanto, de que en esta gran cruzada contra la seguridad alimentaria todos nosotros, gobierno, sector privado y sociedad civil, unamos nuestros esfuerzos y hagamos realidad nuestros compromisos como países, y como regiones, para reducir drásticamente los enormes desafíos del hambre, la pobreza y malnutrición.
Quisiera, una vez más, exhortar a todos ustedes y, sobre todo, a los latinoamericanos y caribeños, para que apoyemos la iniciativa y los esfuerzos que viene realizando con gran visión el Director General de la FAO para descentralizar y hacer más eficiente esta Organización; en él confiamos.
En este sentido, deseo aprovechar la oportunidad para reafirmar la voluntad del Gobierno de Nicaragua de acoger una oficina subregional de la FAO, que apoye a todos los países de América Central; oficina que reúne una serie de factores altamente positivos.
Mi Gobierno respalda plenamente la iniciativa de celebrar la Cumbre Mundial de la Alimentación a nivel de jefes de Estado y de Gobierno. Reunión de capital relevancia en el difícil contexto internacional que hoy enfrentan nuestros países, especialmente los de América Latina y el Caribe, con su gran potencial de desarrollo.
Quiero agregar, al celebrarse hoy, 24 de octubre, el día de las Naciones Unidas, que sin agricultura no hay alimentos ni paz sostenible. Y sin alimentos ni paz sostenible, no podremos jamás alcanzar un verdadero desarrollo humano y sostenible con una seguridad alimentaria en beneficio de todos los seres humanos de nuestro planeta.
Para finalizar, quiero expresarles las palabras que la Presidenta de Nicaragua, doña Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, dijera en la fecha de inauguración de la primera reunión regional en Managua. Cito textualmente: "Al asumir la Presidencia de la República de Nicaragua, el 25 de abril de 1990, encontré un país destruido económicamente y con graves problemas sociales, en medio de las consecuencias de una guerra civil que durante más de 10 años dividió a las familias nicaragüenses. Hoy hemos logrado crear una verdadera democracia, emprender la modernización del Estado y mejorar sensiblemente nuestra economía, que, por primera vez en 11 años, creció en 3,3 por ciento del PIB, con una base fuerte en el sector agrícola.
Estos logros sólo han sido posibles gracias al esfuerzo de los productores, de nuestros trabajadores y de la sociedad civil en general, pero también gracias a la cooperación invalorable que hemos recibido de gobiernos y organismos internacionales, amigos que nunca nos han dejado solos."
Rawle C. EASTMOND (Barbados): First, on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados I extend sympathy to the Iraqi delegation. Secondly, I congratulate FAO on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Thirdly, I extend congratulations to those countries recently admitted to membership of FAO at this Conference.
Before I continue, Mr Chairman, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment to the Chair and to express my appreciation for the very able and efficient manner in which you are presiding over our deliberations.
As we move towards the 21st century we find ourselves struggling to cope with old problems even as new challenges emerge. Here I have to express an element of disappointment and frustration at the fact that the scourge of hunger and malnutrition is still very much with us today. Barbados considers it timely, therefore, that the Director-General should propose the convening of a World Food Summit for the specific purpose of "raising awareness and political will at the highest level, as well as in the realm of public opinion, on the unacceptability of continued food insecurity and the need for global commitment and action to redress this problem". We are satisfied that, given the necessary support, the Summit currently scheduled for November 1996 can do much to improve food security and strengthen our commitment and resolve to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition. I am very pleased to be able to report to this Conference that member countries of the Caribbean community have all pledged their support for this very important Summit.
From time to time it is useful and necessary for any Organization to undertake a critical self-examination, if for no other reason than to ensure that it is realizing its objectives and also to ensure that it is operating at an acceptable or tolerable level of efficiency. I note with considerable satisfaction therefore that, even as the FAO celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is deeply involved in a process of self-examination and restructuring. Indeed, the Director-General is to be highly commended on the initiative which he is taking to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our Organization. In this regard he is responding to the calls for greater efficiency in the utilization of available resources from those responsible for funding the Organization's programmes and projects, as well as from its general membership.
The 1996-97 Programme of Work and Budget provides several shining examples of an organization which is seeking to respond positively to the needs and demands of its membership. Let me take a few moments to highlight some of them. The first example is the Special Programme on Food Production for Food Security in Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries. This programme is being proposed against a background of increasing food insecurity and has the primary objective of assisting Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries rapidly to increase food production. Then there is the effort being made to decentralize the Organization's programmes and activities. This initiative has seen the transfer of certain posts from Headquarters to decentralized offices, as well as the establishment of Sub-Regional Offices.
I am delighted to report that the Government of Barbados has approved the agreement for the establishment of the FAO Caribbean Sub-Regional Office and I expect that agreement to be signed shortly, at a mutually agreeable time. Barbados is extremely grateful for the opportunity afforded it to provide the location for such an important office. The Government and people of Barbados deeply appreciate the support given by other regional countries in this regard. We shall undertake to ensur that staff members assigned to the office are able to carry out their functions in maximum peace and comfort. I wish to extend an invitation to all of you to visit our shores at your earliest convenience so that you can see for yourself the facilities which have been provided.
Over the years, the Barbadian economy, like that of many other countries, has experienced a notable transformation. Whereas during the 1960s our economy was dominated by agriculture, which provided over 22 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, tourism has now emerged as the dominant sector, with agriculture providing no more than 5 percent of the GDP. It should be stressed however, that agriculture remains an extremely important sector of our economy, especially as a source of employment, a source of food for our population and also a source of foreign exchange, which is so vital in facilitating economic development. Any development which threatens the agriculture of small developing states is of concern to us and there are certain developments which I wish to highlight in this regard.
For the past three decades, Barbados has been striving to diversify its agricultural sector. We have been, and still are, heavily dependent on a single crop - sugar. I note that many industrialized countries have been advising developing countries to take steps to reduce their dependence on traditional export crops such as bananas and sugar.
Our experience is that diversification is an extremely difficult process. Barbados, of course, did not wait to be told what to do in this regard. It is extremely important, however, that the international financial institutions recognize that developing countries need adequate support if they are to develop and diversify their agriculture. We must be provided with access to adequate funding under appropriate terms and conditions, including loan funding, if we are to be able to undertake the investments necessary to stimulate agricultural development and, by so doing, help to improve the quality of life of our people. Further, we must be offered fair and reasonable prices for our agricultural exports if we are to earn the foreign exchange needed to support development, for it is on agriculture that many of us depend for much of our foreign exchange requirements. Additionally, we must be permitted reasonable access to the markets of the industrialized countries, in the spirit of the final act of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations.
Permit me to mention another unfortunate development. It seems to me that a number of our countries are being punished by being denied access to concessional funding and international technical assistance because of the application of inappropriate indicators of development. Indeed, it seems, too, that we are being forced to rely more and more on our special cooperative arrangements, such as the Lome Convention, to develop our economies.
This seems a real tragedy when one considers that it was not so long ago that many of our concerns were articulated at various International Fora around the world. In this context I am sure that we can all recall, among other things, the Bridgetown Declaration, which emanated from the 1992 Inter-Regional Conference of Small Island Countries on Sustainable Development and Environment in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the commitments made at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development which was held in Brazil in 1992, and the recommendations agreed to at the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States, which was convened in Barbados in 1994.
Barbados and other developing countries depend to a great extent on the technical and other forms of assistance provided through the Food and Agriculture Organization to help develop their agriculture and generally improve the standard of living of their people. Such forms of assistance are of special significance for small island developing States.
Of course, it would be remiss of me, Mr Chairman, if I did not make special mention of the Technical Cooperation Programme, for through this Programme the FAO has been able to respond with speed to the needs, especially the emergency needs, of our countries both on a national and regional basis. And here I must commend the Director-General for the understanding he has shown as regards the importance of this Programme to Member Governments in shaping the 1996-1997 Programme of Work and Budget.
We appreciate the financial constraints facing the Organization at this time. That is why I have to say that the efforts being made to contain and control the growth in Budget reflects a sense of responsibility by those responsible for the Organization's management that is hard to equal, far less surpass. We are hopeful that in the near future it will be possible to implement Conference Resolution 9/89, which requires that the Technical Cooperation Programme Budgetary Allocation be provided at a level of 17 percent of the total effective budget. Bearing in mind, however, the current constraints, Barbados' position is that Barbados will support a zero growth budget.
Mr Chairman, I want briefly, as I conclude, to mention the assistance being provided to the Eastern Caribbean Region by FAO and the international community in the fight to combat the spread of the Tropical Bont Tick. We welcome the effort that FAO has granted to us in this area, and we are deeply appreciative of it.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I should like to say that like the other Member Nations of the Caribbean, we are deeply pleased that FAO has come to celebrate its 50th anniversary and, Mr Chairman, I am most deeply obliged to you.
Fahad Abdulla AL-HASAWI (Kuwait) (Original language Arabic): In the Name of God, the Merciful and the Compassionate, Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, distinguished heads of delegations, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is a pleasure for me to speak on behalf of the delegation of Kuwait. We would like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, and also to congratulate the Vice-Chairmen for the well-deserved trust that has been placed in you in your election at the Head of the 28th Session of the FAO Conference. On this occasion I would like to welcome the new Member States in FAO. We wish them full success in achieving their aspirations for the prosperity of their nations and the nations of the world at large. It is our hope that the Conference, through sincere cooperation, constructive dialogue, and objective deliberation, may reach practical resolutions and recommendations to achieve our common aspirations.
Mr Chairman, this session is highly important, for it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Organization. It is also an occasion to take stock of two years of activities undertaken by the Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf. We were honoured to receive Dr Jacques Diouf in Kuwait last year. We appreciate his ambitions and hopes, to strengthen the role of the Organization and pursue its mission. We hope that he will be able to lead it with a steady step and a new vision adapted to this changing world in order to take up the challenges of the coming century, taking into consideration the basic concerns of developing countries.
The key to solving food and agricultural problems in developing countries lies in the sound management of their basic natural resources. It is thus important to review the priorities of the Organization in light of the reduced financial resources, and to strengthen cooperation and coordination with relevant UN agencies and other organizations. It is also important for FAO to have a pioneer role in assisting developing countries in benefiting from potential progress in biotechnology. This should increase food production, limit environmental pollution, and contribute to sustainable production as well as the elimination of diseases. This highlights the growing importance of the role that FAO should play in providing assistance and advice to developing countries in the field of agricultural policy, through special action plans aimed at promoting food security and nutrition.
FAO should also promote an efficient marketing system based on accurate data collection. It should be able to help Member States in setting up information and monitoring systems to identify the effects and impact of agricultural development projects on food security and nutrition in developing countries. As a follow-up to the International Nutrition Conference, I would like to stress the need to provide policy and programme support within the framework of sustainable agriculture and rural development in accordance with Agenda 21. The problems arising from increasing pressures on fish resources in the world confirm the need for a rational management of fish stocks in order to avoid deterioration of environmental conditions and promote sustainability of these fish stocks. That is why the delegation of Kuwait supports the efforts aimed at drawing up a Code of Conduct on Rational Fishing. This will promote better management of the maritime environment thus preserving the fisheries of today for the generations of tomorrow.
Mr Chairman, recent data and statistics produced by the Organization on the State of Food and Agriculture in 1995 are a source of concern and discouragement. They show that the expected cereal stocks for 1995/96 will be only 14 percent of expected consumption. This is much less than the level required to guarantee food security, and could thus lead to a deterioration of the situation in food-deficit developing countries. We must here affirm that the Government of Kuwait fully supports the efforts of the Organization to hold an international food summit in 1996. Such a Conference would raise public awareness and strengthen political commitment at the highest levels to launch a worldwide campaign to fight hunger and malnutrition and to guarantee food security for all.
Mr Chairman, I should like now to commend the Organization for the positive efforts it has made in the Near East. We support the contents of the Draft Action Programme and the priorities that it sets for the biennium 1996-97. Nevertheless, I should like to comment on some issues that are of great importance to the region, and I should like to talk about some of the problems that we face in our agricultural development programmes and which prevent us from achieving food security. Our region has harsh climatic and environmental conditions. Water resources are scarce and deteriorating. In addition, we are victims of desert-locust infestation and the onslaught of desertification. We also suffer from overexploitation of natural resources and rapid population growth. All this shows the acute need of almost all, if not indeed all countries of the region for the services and assistance of the Organization.
Mr Chairman, there are indeed a great deal of obstacles that we are faced with in Kuwait in the agricultural field, especially since the heinous Iraqi aggression of 1990. This invasion led to massive destruction in the agricultural sector in addition to the environmental sector as the environment was gravely damaged and polluted in various ways. Since the liberation of the State of Kuwait, the agricultural sector has attracted great attention from the Government, in spite of its poor economic performance, as the Government believes in the need to diversify national income sources and achieve food security as well as conserve our natural environment.
On this occasion I should like to refer to the results of the action taken by the Agriculture and Fisheries Agency in Kuwait. We have drawn up a comprehensive agricultural development strategy that aims at achieving sustainable agricultural development in line with the orientations of the State. This strategy also aims at achieving self-sufficiency and takes into consideration the need for environmental conservation as well as the maintenance of natural resources.
The agricultural development strategy in Kuwait is based on several pillars. We promote highly developed greenhouse vegetable production, widespread palm tree plantations and date production, fish stock development, hi-tech animal husbandry projects and farms, and the expansion of urban green areas using processed sewage water.
We also encourage the private sector to participate positively and effectively in agricultural development in our country. Nevertheless, and in spite of these achievements, we face a great number of challenges. That is why we are also in need of greater cooperation with FAO in the fields of advice and technical assistance.
Haniteli FA'ANUNU (Tonga): Mr Chairman, honourable ministers, distinguised delegates, ladies and gentlemen:
Mr Chairman and Vice-Chairmen, on behalf on the Tongan delegation we congratulate you on your chairmanship. We also extend our condolences to the Iraqi delegation. We also welcome the five new nations to the FAO family.
While recognizing and endorsing the various issues raised by country statements on food security during this Conference and the 50th Anniversary in Quebec City, I would like to submit my statement on the state of food and agriculture in Tonga, from the point of view of a small island nation.
Tonga has a total land area of 700 square kilometres spread over 700 000 kilometres of ocean, with about 100 000 people staying in Tonga and about the same number of people staying in foreign countries.
Tonga's natural resources are therefore in its people, land and ocean.
Our economy depends heavily on remittances of Tongans living overseas, foreign aid, Tonga's agriculture, and with future potentials on its undeveloped ocean resources.
Tonga is not a cereal country, but a root crop multiple cropping culture. Traditional crops of yams, taro, cassava, sweetpotatoes, watermelons and vegetables are grown for subsistence, sales on local markets, and increasingly for exports to New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Our most successful export crops are squash pumpkins, exclusively to Japan, and dried vanilla to the United States, France and Germany.
I am pleased to say that our Government is very committed to the rapid development of agriculture, primarily to increase crop yields for domestic consumption and for export purposes.
I am glad to say that there is no food shortage in Tonga except for the short periods of reduced crop yields or crop failures due to cyclones or droughts. However we are making great efforts in nutrition education to counter the increasing incidence of diet-related diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes associated with increasing consumption of imported processed foods.
Admittedly for a small nation depending on agriculture for its livelihood, we are constantly subjected to major constraints including:
vulnerability to natural disasters of frequent tropical cyclones, salt sprays, droughts, pests and diseases; its smallness and limited land area for its increasing population; its remoteness and long distances to export markets; high freight costs, high labour costs and low export prices; quarantine restrictions, tariffs and trade constraints; very high quality standards of markets; severe competition with developed and rich countries on the same types of crops and limited technical information and decreasing foreign aid.
My country has striven with some successes into niche marketing outside of the Pacific, in Asia and Europe. We are establishing bilateral quarantine agreements and trade agreements with countries of potential markets. Our country aims to expand our agricultural ventures into lands in Papua New Guinea and Sarawak, to be closer to identified markets and also food security for us during periods of natural disasters.
However, to achieve and sustain rapid agricultural growth Tonga still needs the continuing assistance of developed nations who are also FAO Members. Many of the issues mentioned earlier and in other member country statements are much more critical to us small island nations and can only be successfully solved and dealt with on the international level, and with the sympathetic considerations of developed and rich nations.
In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge and extend our gratitude to the Director-General and technical staff of FAO for their active support to Tonga in the past two years. We have benefitted greatly from FAO Technical Cooperation Programmes. We make good use of AGRIS, CD-ROMS, CARIS and other programmes on plant protection, etc. We have benefitted greatly from FAO regional projects in the South West Pacific. We are also grateful for the proposed new sub-regional office in the South West Pacific. For us in the Pacific, including Tonga, I urge FAO to please continue strongly with these programmes and allocate more funds to them so that we small island nations may benefit and survive the war against hunger.
I speak with heavy heart. Somehow, the South Pacific delegates have fallen victim to pickpockets and are concerned that we might join them on the streets.
Majid Jawad AL-JISHI (Bahrain) (Original language Arabic): At the outset I should like to offer my condolences to the Iraqi delegation.
Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General of FAO, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
It is with pleasure that the Bahrain delegation is taking part in this 28th Session of the General Conference. This 28th Session coincides with FAO's celebration of its Golden Jubilee, and I would like to seize this opportunity to congratulate the Chairman of the General Conference on his election. His election is indeed a sound and good choice and it reflects the trust which he enjoys from all delegations here. I would also like to welcome all new members of this Organization. I strongly believe that their membership will bring help and support to the Organization. Furthermore, I would like to pay tribute to the Director-General for his efforts to streamline the programme and to explore ways and means to use efficiently the funds available to this Organization.
The fact that this 28th Session coincides with FAO's celebration of its Golden Jubilee gives it a special importance. It also entrusts us with responsibility to give a strong impetus to this Organization in order to help it uproot hunger and poverty from the world, thereby liberating millions of people from this scourge. According to the data available, 800 million people are still suffering from malnutrition and do not have access to proper and adequate food supplies. We therefore believe that this places a further responsibility on this Organization. This Organization is the international melting pot, the clearing house, for international policies related to agriculture and food geared to help developing countries. According to estimates available of developing countries food imports will increase from 110 million tonnes now to 120 million tonnes by the year 2001, and will go up again to reach 160 million tonnes by the year 2010. This situation undoubtedly represents a major challenge to this Organization, as well as a yardstick for testing its credibility and orientation in assisting developing nations achieve long-term self reliance and secure short-term food aid flows.
We regret to note that food aid flows to developing countries have shrunk from 15 million tonnes in 1992-93 to 10 million tonnes in 1994-95, and this despite the increasing requirements of developing countries.
Few days ago, the Canadian city, Quebec, played host to an important ministerial meeting focusing on world food security. That meeting reached the Quebec Declaration coinciding with the 50th anniversary of FAO and which is a declaration submitted to this session of the General Conference for adoption. We seize this opportunity to support this Declaration, which we believe would be a stepping stone for this Organization to chart new strategies to help developing countries achieve genuine economic and social development.
When dealing with agricultural development, we have automatically to deal with one of the basic pillars of this development, namely, water resources. Water resources are the mainstay of agriculture. The scarcity of water for irrigation purposes represents a problem for many countries among which are the Gulf countries. This problem requires the pooling of our resources in order to make the best use of our depleting water resources and find alternatives to the depleted underground water reserves. We hope that this Organization will continue its support in order to help us adopt the best and most adequate policies for the sound management of water resources. I am happy to inform you here that in my country we are undertaking a number of projects whereby sewage water is being processed in order to be used for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, we strive to promote the responsible use of water resources through the implementation of modern irrigation techniques, taking account of the shrinking underground water tables and the increase in water salinity - we therefore welcome any form of technical assistance from FAO in this field.
The agricultural sector in my country has throughout the last decades relied heavily on the government either through infrastructure setting up or through specific support programmes in order to help this sector perform its task.
However, this policy changed its course recently, since we have opted for privatization policies whereby the government is deregulating its policies and giving further responsibilities to the private sector.
This policy has been initiated and it coincided with the creation of the World Trade Organization and the conclusion of the new GATT trade agreement. It is necessary to examine thoroughly the expected impact of this agreement in order to alleviate its possible negative effects and to secure fair competition in the flow of commodities. This new agreement will bring about trade liberalization and will also eliminate all forms of subsidies thus paving the way for the private sector to shoulder more responsibilities and to supply the necessary support to the agricultural sector. My government has initiated this policy and the privatization process is well underway in the agricultural sector.
Mr Chairman, as far as the Programme of Work and Budget is concerned, we do pay tribute to the Director-General for the efforts he made to submit realistic zero growth budget. However, calling for a further cut in this budget would make it difficult for the Organization to strike a proper balance between its available resources, the needs of developing countries and the requirements of this Organization, since it is an Organization shouldering tremendous responsibilities.
On this basis we believe that cutting this budget further would reduce the programmes of the Organization, especially at a time when we witness a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. Furthermore, we believe that the World Food Summit to be convened next year will focus on important issues, namely food and hunger in the world. We hope that such a summit would bring about positive results and would help the Organization receive adequate moral and financial support, so that it will shoulder its responsibilities in a most efficient manner.
We do also hope that this historic meeting here would establish a positive dialogue between the rich and poor countries, whereby the rich countries - at the highest leadership levels - would be more sensitive towards the sufferings of developing countries, and would also promote their assistance. In this connection I do deem it necessary to prepare a clear-cut plan of action for the next summit meeting with clear objectives so that we will not lose sight of the central issue, namely the issue of food in the world. We should not lose this in the labyrinth of side issues to be discussed at length.
Finally, I should like to express my best wishes for the success of this session, hoping that it will reach adequate resolutions and recommendations divised to speed up serious work leading to the expected goals and objectives.
Gustavo CASTRO GUERRERO (Colombia): Señor Presidente, señores ministros, señores delegados y observadores, el mundo agrícola continúa dividido en la relación Norte-Sur en razón de la pobreza, del hambre, de las desigualdades. A pesar de los avances por un mundo más libre de trabas en el intercambio de bienes y servicios, y la creación de la Organización Mundial del Comercio, subsiste una división por barreras que le niegan a los pueblos del Sur la posibilidad de avanzar hacia una sociedad más justa e igualitaria.
Barreras comerciales arancelarias y no arancelarias que impiden al acceso de los alimentos y materias primas agrícolas del Sur a los grandes mercados mundiales; barreras tecnológicas que cada día alejan más los sectores rurales pobres del avance científico y del conocimiento; barreras financieras que limitan las posibilidades de crédito a la inversión productiva y social y, en muchos casos, implican condicionamientos que atentan contra la soberanía de los países con menores ingresos; barreras informativas que han dejado en poder de unos pocos la información sobre lo que les sucede a muchos; subsidios agropecuarios, que distorsionan los flujos comerciales, le restan competitividad a la producción del Sur y le quitan el pan de cada día a millones de habitantes de los países más pobres.
En fin, muchas de las políticas de los países del Norte, por una parte incentivan la especulación en los mercados de productos básicos y, por otra subsidian y protegen excesivamente su producción agropecuaria de la competencia internacional, lo que se traduce en un obstáculo colosal al comercio y al desarrollo rural del Sur.
Al mismo tiempo, la irrupción de los países industrializados a base de subsidios como exportadores de productos agropecuarios que anteriormente importaban del Sur constituye otro factor perturbador de las economías de los más pobres.
Consecuencia lógica de estas prácticas es la reducción del mercado potencial de los países del Sur y la sobreoferta de una gran variedad de productos del campo, lo que se traduce en precios e ingresos más bajos.
Es un fenómeno que obliga, además, a recurrir al mercado internacional de capitales para financiar las compras externas de alimentos, en vez de utilizar esos recursos para fortalecer la inversión en la gente y aumentar la productividad en el futuro.
Esta dependencia en materia de suministro de alimentos crea un problema adicional, los países deficitarios son susceptibles a presiones políticas indeseables, sufren por las fluctuaciones de los precios y fácilmente se llega a problemas de desnutrición crónica.
Por otro lado, la inestabilidad en los sectores rurales del Sur restringe las áreas sembradas e induce a movimientos migratorios anormales, inclusive en algunos países, entre ellos Colombia, hacia cultivos ilícitos de drogas alucinógenas provocando graves tensiones sociales y un terrorismo atroz.
Todo lo anterior causa un daño económico y social irreparable a los pueblos del Sur y posterga los beneficios del progreso. De continuar esta situación la desigualdad se mantendrá y la estabilidad política estará comprometida.
Definitivamente, el impacto de la política agrícola de los países desarrollados sobre la agricultura de los países en vía de desarrollo, es el más claro ejemplo de la interdependencia del Norte y del Sur. Por lo anterior, y como lo señaló el Presidente de Colombia al asumir la dirección del Movimiento de los no alineados hace apenas una semana, se necesita un modelo alternativo de desarrollo, un modelo basado en la solidaridad y la cooperación internacional que estreche los lazos entre el Sur y el Norte.
La FAO que en Quebec acaba de celebrar cincuenta años de fecunda labor en beneficio de la agricultura mundial, tiene que seguir jugando un papel primordial en esta tarea de cerrar la brecha entre el Norte y el Sur y de contribuir a fortalecer los lazos de cooperación en un mundo que cada día se globaliza más en términos geográficos, tecnológicos, de comunicaciones y de comercio.
En este sentido, debemos hacer los máximos esfuerzos para evitar que las entidades multinacionales como la FAO se debiliten y por falta de recursos no puedan cumplir de forma cabal sus grandes objetivos.
Por ello mi país apoya, sin reservas, la solicitud que está haciendo a la Conferencia las directivas de la Organización, en el sentido de que se apruebe un presupuesto adecuado con base en el cumplimiento estricto por parte de los países miembros de sus cuotas atrasadas y nuevas y que tenga un nivel, al menos, no inferior al del período anterior. Por supuesto, Colombia aspira a un uso más eficiente de los recursos disponibles.
El problema del narcotráfico que tanto golpea a Colombia merece una mención especial, mientras se mantengan los altos niveles de consumo que hay en los Estados Unidos, Europa y Asia es difícil tener éxito con los programas para reducir la oferta. Se requiere de una acción combinada de todos porque es un problema multinacional que exige igualmente una solución multinacional.
Señores Asistentes, señor Presidente, mi país, Colombia, tiene el honor de presidir por los próximos tres años el Movimiento de los no alineados. La razón de ser del nuevo alineamiento no es la guerra fría, ni la confrontación Este-Oeste sino la solidaridad y la cooperación de los países del Sur para hacer frente al neoproteccionismo, para superar las barreras y obstáculos que los separa del Norte, que impiden un nuevo orden internacional más justo, más centrado en el ser humano, más comprometido en el ideal de ser libres, libres de la dictadura de la pobreza, que es la peor de todas.
Saeed Mohammad ALRAQBANI (United Arab Emirates) (Original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, the Director-General Mr Jacques Diouf, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the Chair of this general Conference of FAO, as well as for the excellent manner in which you have been leading our deliberations. My delegation will be granting you its full support in order to obtain the objectives set for this session.
I would also like to congratulate the Vice-Chairmen and wish them all the best in their labour. I would like to congratulate the new members who have joined this Organization at this session. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to tell you how pleased we are to have taken part in the Fiftieth Anniversary celebration of the creation of FAO.
On behalf of the United Arab Emirates I am honoured to be able to congratulate you, Sir, Mr Jacques Diouf, and express our appreciation to you and to the representatives of all the Member States who have taken part in the celebrations of the Fiftieth Anniversary of FAO.
Over this past period efforts have been joined in order to protect the environment, to preserve genetic resources, to promote sustainable development in order to increase the levels of food production in the world. We wish to launch a call to the international community so that they grant an even greater priority to all the problems related to food production.
Mr Chairman, my country fully backs the Director-General's initiatives aimed at reviewing FAO programmes and priorities in order to ensure food security. We would also associate ourselves with the initiatives the Director-General has undertaken. We thank him and congratulate him for his ceaseless efforts in order to attain these noble objectives. We believe that low income countries should be granted the highest priority. We will pursue our efforts in order to support these initiatives as my country has done in the past.
The United Arab Emirates is indeed one of the main contributors in the efforts to relieve the poorest countries' plights, particularly in the case of disasters of any kind. We have given 25 percent of our GDP in aid, grants and concessional loans to many countries.
We call governments and organizations to help and support FAO in its effort to implement the special programmes to increase food production to ensure food security in the world. This will require the relentless effort of all those with good will.
I refer now to the main guidelines of the Organization, which are in line with the global vision and the wise policies set out in my country by the Head of State, Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, based on solidarity and mutual help between rich and poor countries. These policies have been put into practice and coincide with the priorities of the Organization. This is why we call upon all countries to have the political will to foster world trade in food products. We also call on all countries to reduce any new tariff and non-tariff barriers on food products, particularly those which are exported from developing countries. In this way we hope to stimulate trade in food and thus help poor countries to balance their trade deficit and re-establish their balance of payment equilibrium. We call on all countries to make every possible effort to contribute to greater stability in world markets, in particular so far as food products are concerned, to guarantee a fair price for producers and consumers and stable market conditions. The international community should guarantee to food importing countries, particularly those with low incomes, access to food products at fair conditions, far away from arbitrary and expoitative practices.
On the basis of FAO reports, the food situation is hardly satisfactory. Wheat prices have increased substantially on account of poor weather conditions and other factors. Over the past fourteen months these prices have soared constantly and there have been no concessionary conditions given to poor countries who have to buy on these markets. Many developing countries, particularly in Africa, have seen the quantities of food available diminish, whereas the quantities available in other countries have increased. We must not remain paralysed in the face of such situations, but do something to solve the problems.
The United Arab Emirates are acutely aware of the need to examine the dimensions of the problems related to hunger and malnutrition. The governments, the international and regional organizations involved in the field should concert their efforts to adopt policies aimed at strengthening the awareness of the public regarding this acute crisis in order to find solutions. This is absolutely crucial.
In order to achieve food security, my country has financed a number of projects: land reclamation, agro-industries improvement of land irrigation systems, dam construction and the development of fisheries. We have also engaged in infrastructure expenditures for global rural development, in addition to loan concessions and grants which have been awarded. We feel that international solidarity is proof of our commitment to the well-being of all, something which is rooted in our beliefs. Although we are a very young nation, thanks be to God we have managed to achieve self-sufficiency in many food products. We have varied our farm production despite our poor climatic conditions. Our self-sufficiency ranges from 36 percent to 88 percent and even 100 percent for some products. We have given greater priority to legumes, fruits and fodder. We have attached great importance to the palm tree, which is associated with our history and our heritage. This is a crop first developed in oases many years ago. There are now over 50 varieties and 20 million trees in my country.
So far as fisheries are concerned, fish is one of the staples in our diet. We have gone beyond self-sufficiency and have a surplus which we export.
Despite the scarcity of grazing land and vegetation cover available for family husbandry we have developed this sector. Local production of dairy foods and of meat is available at local markets.
In the fight against desertification and the progress of sand, my country has great experience. Despite all the difficulties of hot weather and small rainfall levels and the harsh climatic conditions, we have planted trees to create green belts surrounding the cities, trees bordering our roads, and forests. Three hundred and thirty hectares of trees have been planted and we will make an effort to extend this area in the future. We have given special care to nature reserves. Over 200 islands have been declared nature reserves for birds and other fauna, particularly for those species threatened with extinction. These are the object of a great deal of care, and we have noted an increase in their population.
I would like to say that all of the advances we have accomplished would have been impossible without the backing of scientific research and technological transfer in the sphere of agriculture which was adapted to the specific geographical area of my country. My government devoted a great deal of attention to training in order to better prepare fishermen and farmers to use these new technologies.
In all these efforts made by my country, we strive to cooperate with other countries in the world in order to achieve food security, eradicate hunger and malnutrition, and guarantee sufficient food supplies. The eradication of hunger and malnutrition is a challenge which the international community must face. This requires continuous effort on both national and international levels.
Padma Sunder LAWATI (Nepal) (Original language Nepalese): First of all, I would like to express our condolences on behalf of my delegation and His Majesty's Government of Nepal on the sudden demise of the Minister of Agriculture of Iraq the other day.
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be here in Rome especially after the observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization. May I extend, on behalf of my government and myself, our heartiest congratulations to the FAO on the completion of the auspicious 50th anniversary. May I also wish prosperity for the FAO; may its role be increasingly significant in the coming years in improving the state of food security in the world in general and particularly in the countries which have an unstable food security situation.
On behalf of my delegation and of myself, may I extend our hearty congratulations to you, Mr Chairman, on you election to the Chair of this august body. I would also like to welcome and congratulate the new members of our FAO family. I take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Italy for the warm hospitality extended to the delegations.
We are meeting in this Conference at a juncture of history where an unprecedented capacity to feed and nourish all humanity has been created, but at the same time an equally unprecedented number of people are forced to be deprived of food and other basic necessities of life since they live in poverty. In fact, the problem of hunger, malnutrition and poverty has become one of alarming dimensions. Therefore, it must be our special interest as well as collective responsibility to seek a solution to the world food problem in conjunction with the resolution of poverty and ignorance. I feel that the overriding goal of an international forum like this should be directed to noble issues, such as how best to balance the present needs and aspirations of the people against the requirement of the future; how best to steer the globally available technologies in food production on the road to economic growth with equitable distribution; and what policy measures and efforts are needed in the present context to ensure adequate resource investment so as to improve the world food and agriculture situation.
After the restoration of democracy in Nepal, our priority has been to give a sense of direction to the economy and its development. The political environment is quite favourable. Very recent economic policies of our government were aimed at a liberalized and free-market economy. His Majesty's Government is committed to developing the agricultural sector which in turn would trigger the development of industry and the trade sectors. We are in the process of providing necessary incentives such as safety, security, and guarantees to the domestic and foreign investors in the country. Major agricultural policies are thus framed in rhythm with the government's broader economic policy.
The major agricultural policies of His Majesty's Government of Nepal are to accord priority to the agricultural sector as the lead sector of the economy; to encourage market oriented agriculture with beneficiary participation; to resolve poverty problems by concomitant development of other non-agricultural sectors and through the creation of additional employment and income; and to encourage commercialization of agricultural production based on ecological advantages.
Given the pivotal role played by agriculture in our economy, Nepal's eighth Five-Year Plan (1992-97) has accorded top priority to agricultural development and has set its goals: poverty alleviation, environmental protection, sustainable development, and the enhancement of people's participation. Within this framework, a number of priority areas for the food and agriculture sector were identified, including food security and nutrition; efficient growth of the sector based on agro-ecological comparative advantage; diversification and intensification based on the farmer's resource endowment; promotion of sustainable farming systems, and a greater market orientation.
Nepal has recently endorsed a 20-year Agricultural Perspective Plan (APP). According to the plan, identified priorities for investments are rural roads; irrigation; rural electrification; enhanced supply of fertilizers; strengthened agricultural research geared to generating appropriate technologies; livestock development; promotion of high value crops; agribusiness; forestry and institutional strengthening; with a high degree of coordination among various sectors related to agricultural development. The APP target is that by the year 2015, per capita food grain availability is to be raised to 426 kilograms from the present level of 277 kilograms. The plan also considers the wise use of natural resources in an environmentally-friendly way. The plan calls for an investment of roughly US$118 million per annum over the next 20 years. Technical assistance requirements are over and above this investment. Nepal would require international support and cooperation to meet this investment requirement as well as the sharing of technological innovations.
The degree of stagnation observed in agriculture could then be broken and a higher level of production and productivity achieved through the judicious mix of the packages mentioned above. The present government is not only conscious of the imperatives for the development of the agricultural sector, but it is also committed to the transformation of this sector so as to achieve a comfortable position for food security and also to help alleviate poverty in a respectable period of time.
Despite the important role played by the agricultural sector in the economy, this sector will continue to face challenges in the years ahead. Because of the lack of employment opportunities in the non-agricultural sector, population pressure has over-burdened the agricultural sector. In view of this fact, His Majesty's Government of Nepal has very recently created a Ministry of Population and Environment. This endeavour will certainly provide a way to tackle the issues related with population dynamics, the question of arresting environmental degradation and achieving sustainable development.
FAO-funded projects have contributed remarkably to our development efforts. FAO-Nepal cooperation dates back to the early 1950s. Among the agencies of the UN system, FAO was the first to start field cooperation with Nepal. Since Nepal became a member of FAO in November 1951, over 100 small and large projects have been completed covering various aspects of agricultural development, such as agricultural planning and statistics, crop diversification, forestry and watershed management, agro-industry, rural credit, food security, women's development, agricultural productivity improvement to mention just a few important ones.
In addition to these cooperative efforts at national level, Nepal has been actively participating in a number of FAO's regional projects and programmes. The regional projects demonstrate the important gains from regional cooperation, especially the contribution to individual national efforts. They also help regional countries to secure access to the widest possible range of expertise and promote collective self-reliance. In reporting this, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Director-General for selecting Nepal for launching the Special Programme on Food Security. The FAO's programmes and projects have been instrumental in making available such critically important inputs as technical advice and information, apart from serving as a link between Nepal and FAO.
We hope that Nepal will receive enhanced international support and cooperation for its investment requirement in its long-term agricultural strategy to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the majority of rural poor people. Nepal also needs more programmes and assistance in areas of non-farm income-generating activities to enhance the income level of rural people which, in turn, will aid the agricultural sector. We also seek assistance in the institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Agriculture, especially in the agricultural policy and planning arena.
On the broader agenda of the Organization, we believe the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996-97 conforms with the needs and priorities laid down by the Director-General. With the firm conviction that the Programme will be translated into action, it will receive Nepal's full support and I look forward to cooperating in the programmes of action. Furthermore, the guidelines set out for the international agricultural adjustment will also be seriously considered by Nepal in formulating its agricultural development strategy. Nepal also endorses the Quebec Declaration at this meeting.
The agenda of this Conference and the documents prepared by the Secretariat cover a wide range of topics and issues. What I have presented here has touched upon only a few of the very important ones. Nevertheless, I can give an assurance that members of my Delegation will be presenting Nepal's view on specific aspects as we progress in this Conference.
CHAIRMAN: Kuwait and the United States of America have asked for the right to reply.
This afternoon, Estonia will not take the floor but they have asked that their statement be inserted into the verbatim report.
RIGHT OF REPLY
DROIT DE REPONSE
DERECHO DE RESPUESTA
Fahad Abdulla AL-HASAWI (Kuwait) (Original language Arabic): In reply to what was said by the delegation of Iraq in their statement this morning, the delegation of the State of Kuwait would like to reiterate the importance of maintaining a special spirit during the deliberations of this session of the Conference of FAO.
This is not the specialized international forum for dealing with the resolutions of the Security Council. Furthermore, we support what has been stated by the delegation of the United Kingdom this morning concerning the responsibility of lifting the economic embargo imposed on Iraq.
James SCHROEDER (United States of America): In regard to the statement by the delegation of Iraq earlier this morning, the United States of America wishes also to note that this is not the appropriate forum for discussing Security Council resolutions. Only when Iraq has fulfilled its obligations to the Security Council can modifications to the sanctions regime be discussed.
Alvaro GURGEL DE ALENCAR (Brazil): In the history of organized societies, food security has always been a critical element and a constant concern of leaders and regimes wanting to retain their power. The "pax romana" was maintained in part through the formula "pane et circensis" (food and entertainment), in this order. In the course of history, every time food security was seriously threatened, the inability to restore it to an acceptable level led sooner or later to serious social unrest: internal power struggles or migratory movements in search of new or more productive regions, or even the disappearance of a people, victimized by military conquest or quick decline and eventual collapse.
The historical perspective of food security is relevant to the consideration of the problem today. First, in order to remind us of the close connection that has always existed between hunger and social unrest. Even in modern times, many governments have paid a very high price for not solving or alleviating the problem of hunger. Second, the historical perspective allows us to retain the notion that the persistence of hunger and misery cannot only threaten internal stability, but can also result in external pressures or interferences. As has happened in the past, nowadays huge populations from countries with food deficits try to escape from misery by migrating to other countries. These migratory movements tend to result in political pressures, conflicts and undesirable social unrest. It is clear that all countries - rich, medium or poor - should deem the attainment of food security, at the national and the international level, to be of decisive strategic importance for the preservation of their own interests. Being aware of such commonality of interests is essential to achieving worldwide mobilization to come to grips with the problem.
It is shocking to see that at present there are some 800 million people suffering from chronic malnutrition in the world. Without decisive action, consisting in a direct attack to the causes of the problem, the chances of reducing this figure and, consequently, reducing the danger it represents to the world community, are meagre.
The nature of the problem is known. The long list of constraints includes: losses in production due to plagues and rodents, low productivity due to inappropriate inputs and techniques, lack of irrigation, critical deficiencies in storage and transport, insufficient marketing systems, and, to worsen the problem, inefficient patterns of land tenure. In addition, stress must be laid on the crucial problem of the low level of purchasing power of populations affected by hunger. There is a clear need for actions aimed at reducing the constraints on the supply of food and, at the same time, strengthening demand through the generation of employment and income, in order to bring about a better match between the purchasing power of the people and the price of food.
The Brazilian Government is fully committed to this vital goal. Food security has been chosen as one of the highest governmental priorities, and it is our objective to involve all segments of the national community in the fight against hunger. It is also essential to have the support of the international community. In this regard, Brazil fully supports the initiative of the FAO Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf, to convene a World Food Summit in 1996.
As the Director-General pointed out in a recent speech, the Summit will represent not only a significant effort to disseminate information about the nature and the magnitude of the problem, in itself an important objective. It will also represent an opportunity to elicit an even stronger commitment from all members of FAO regarding the actions needed to combat hunger. In addition, the Summit should allow us to seek to achieve, within the diverse characteristics of the countries plagued by hunger, a certain unity in comprehending and facing the problem, including establishing certain basic common criteria to guide us in the search for solutions. It is important, for instance, to stress that food security must be ensured to the whole population. Any target below 100 percent food security is simply unacceptable, ethically and politically. That is why FAO has chosen the motto "Food for All".
As we know, it is foreseen that the World Food Summit will adopt a Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action, with detailed support activities to be implemented, from the development of infrastructure, health, education and rural extension, up to attracting investment, assistance to settlements, support to small farmers and small enterprises and the conservation of the environment and natural resources. We must not forget that, above all, food security means not only the availability of food, but also access to food. In many instances, it is not possible for governments to distribute free food for all the needy; not only is it a financial burden that governments cannot afford, but it is not compatible with human dignity. Given these constraints, the only legal way to have access to food, if one does not produce it, is to buy it. It is evident that, beyond emergency assistance, access to food ought to be ensured through employment and income generation to allow people to buy food in the market-place. Thus, food security can only be achieved though actions aimed primarily at creating purchasing power in the target populations.
The evolution of these concepts in the international community and their enshrinement in a World Summit document will contribute greatly to solve the problem of hunger and chronic malnutrition. There is no substitute, however, for the conscientious national effort to face the problem. Such effort must be a strategic component of a country's development project and be executed in partnership with all segments of the national society.
Regarding forests, I would like to reiterate some of the points raised by the Minister of Environment of Brazil, Dr Gustavo Krause, on the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting on Forests held in FAO Headquarters during last March. Brazil believes that Agenda 21 - particularly Chapter 11 - and the Non-Binding Declaration on Forest Principles, are amongst the most comprehensive documents ever produced within the United Nations. The Forest Principles were an expression of international consensus on the objectives of conservation, management and sustainable use of all types of forests. It is a balanced document, which recognizes the states' sovereign and inalienable right of using their forests, and points out the need for sustainable development. We think that there is an urgent need to fully implement these principles.
In this process, FAO, as task manager for forest issues within the United Nations System, has a very important role, not only for the contribution that FAO can provide to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, but also for the technical expertise that the Organization has in this field. FAO should be able to publish transparent and reliable data on environmental issues related to forests. FAO could also proceed to the identification of financial resources to foster research and to produce technical and scientific studies on the relationship between forests and other issues related to sustainable development, taking into account the environmental, social and economic aspects of the subject and the need for technology transfer, capacity building and provision of new and additional resources. FAO has a leading role in suggesting methodologies on forest issues, such as the identification and development of criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of all types of forests. We favour a strengthening of FAO's activities in support of national capacity in the field of forestry, particularly in relation to national forestry action plans and programmes.
FAO also has an important contribution to make in other areas related to the environment. To wit, the role of FAO in the area of biodiversity, where close collaboration with the Conference of the Parties and with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is of utmost importance to avoid overlapping of activities. In this regard, we stress the important work under way in the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources in the preparatory process for the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, including the elaboration of the First Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources.
The Convention on Biological Diversity, which deals with all genetic resources, including plant genetic resources, is the result of a negotiated process and is a balanced text with many important concepts which represent concrete gains to developing and developed countries alike. The Convention represents a very important achievement of multilateral diplomacy and is a step forward in order to implement the conservation and the sustainable use of biological diversity.
The revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources currently under way in FAO must be done strictly in line with the provisions and the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It must be a cautious and precise exercise that should not be hastened by considerations of a purely temporal dimension. In this connection, there are many important concepts that must be incorporated in the revised Undertaking, such as:
a) sovereignty of states over their plant genetic resources and the access to them, subject to national legislation and prior informed consent;
b) recognition of the rights of farmers and traditional communities to dispose of their achievements and to benefit from them, including through a sui generis intellectual property regime for the protection of plant genetic resources provided by farmers and traditional communities as well as of their knowledge, innovations and practices;
c) conservation should preferably be in situ and complementary ex situ in the country of origin of the genetic resources;
d) transfer and development of technology;
e) participation of developing countries in biotechnological research and access to its results;
f) new and additional financial resources to meet the needs of developing countries.
The adoption of the Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing represents an affirmative response with a view to ensuring effective conservation, management and development of aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity. This is an important step, in particular for developing countries which form the vast majority of coastal states and can no longer suffer the squandering for which they have not been responsible and of which they are not beneficiaries.
A similar effort in the search for compatible environmental, economic and social approaches to fisheries is made in Brazil through the adoption of sustainable development practices, relevant principles and rules on management and conservation of fisheries.
Brazil recognizes that the Code sets out principles and international standards of behaviour for responsible practices in order to preserve the vital source of food, employment and economic well-being that fisheries represents both for the present and future generations. We urge all states to take the necessary measures for this Code to be soon implemented.
In this important moment when we approach the end of this century, it is not possible to think about the role of FAO in combatting poverty and malnutrition without mentioning the difficult financial situation that FAO faces.
As we previously stated in the 108th Session of the Council, Brazil shares the widespread conviction that it is incumbent upon all member countries to fulfill their financial obligations in full, on time and unconditionally. Any weakening of this commitment as regards FAO cannot but have detrimental effects on the functioning of the Organization and, indeed, shake the very foundations of the United Nations edifice. The occurrence of arrears, regrettable in itself, must not be utilized as a reason for reducing the level of activities, but should rather serve as a reminder of the need to strengthen our resolve to again become and stay current in our payments.
It must be understood by one and all that arrears are due and cannot be written off; arrears should be paid as soon as possible; the payment of contributions in full as well as liquidation of arrears cannot be made contingent upon any reduction in the level of the budget. No country can determine unilaterally the amount of its contribution and therefore the total level of the budget. FAO should continue to streamline procedures, improve the cost effectiveness of all programmes and make efforts to reduce costs without negatively affecting the implementation of the Programme. Total absorption of cost increases will eventually put FAO in a straight-jacket, rendering it unable to respond adequately to new challenges.
The fight against hunger and malnutrition is not an activity where the international community can afford to relent in its efforts, as this is the main source of all ills affecting humankind today. Every nation has to fulfill its responsibilities in this struggle, including the timely payment of its contributions to FAO.
In order to achieve the objective of Food for All it is imperative that FAO, while improving its level of excellence, continues to expand operational activities. The gathering of knowledge and the improvement of FAO as a centre of excellence is not an objective in itself, it is only the means that will allow FAO to fulfill its mandate of eradicating hunger.
Neither should work of a normative character, however useful, detract attention in any way from the all-important operational activities. FAO's rightful place is in the field, providing technical assistance, transferring technology and knowledge and cooperating with governments as they request assistance in the task of increasing food production and productivity. Ultimately, FAO's activities have to be gauged by their effectiveness in improving the working and living conditions of the end-user, i.e., the men and women in the fields, forests and seas who are engaged in the production of food, as well as all those who have the right to adequate nutrition. Until such a time as every human being has been freed from the scourge of hunger and malnutrition, it is premature, if not irresponsible, to think of converting FAO into an academic institution.1
Addis Alemi BALEMA (Ethiopia): On behalf of the government and peoples of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is my pleasure to congratulate you on your election to the Chairmanship of this exceptionally important session of the FAO Conference. I wish you every success in guiding the deliberations and I am confident that you will lead it to fruitful conclusions.
May I take this opportunity also to welcome those joining the Organization. Certainly, I am glad to note that the new members, through their presence and contributions will enrich and strengthen the role of FAO, and, they in turn will undoubtedly benefit from membership in this Organization.
With this brief remarks, may I turn to an issue gaining global concern - food security. Current world food and agricultural production review and future projections indicate that our planet-earth is capable of producing adequate food for all. However, there are still millions of people who suffer from hunger, malnutrition, chronic undernutrition, protein and micro-nutrient deficiencies. The main cause is poverty and results out of unequitable distribution of resources.
Mr Chairman, in the face of domestic and external economic, political and social challenges such as debt burden, low-price to primary agricultural commodities, civil strife, declining official development assistance and most importantly the ever declining level of investment to agriculture, it is increasingly difficult to bring a remarkable increase in agricultural production particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In this respect, agricultural production growth rate had been far behind population growth in the region in the past few decades and future projections are not promising. Deterioration of the ecosystem is very common. Environmental degradation and desertification is advancing.
A country level food production assessment specially in low-income food-deficit countries such as Ethiopia, reveals the food crisis more acute. Joint WFP/FAO food assessment reports and our experience witness that Ethiopia is structurally food deficit. These repeated food shortages were in the range of 1 million tonnes and even higher during the drought. Deficits were mostly met by food aid and by imports. In this connection we would like to express our sincere appreciation to FAO, WFP and international community at large who unfailingly participated in bridging the gap under the emergency operations.
Recognizing agriculture as the backbone of the Ethiopian economy and food security embedded in the political and national economic structures, the Government of Ethiopia after re-establishing peace, security and democracy embarked upon the formation of constitutional government that assumed office in August 1995. Economic liberalization had been under way starting the transitional period. The adoption of market-oriented policy was central. Some of the policy reform measures recorded some successes though others had negative impacts like significant decline in food production as a result of decline to subsidy in agricultural inputs.
With a view to achieving sustainable food security and improving nutritional levels, the Federal Government's development plans aimed at food self-sufficiency as one of the major policy objectives in its five-year plan. Increase in production and productivity of the small farmers with due emphasis to rural women is an area of focus to meet the national requirement, since this sector constitutes 90 percent of food production in the country.
Crop production in Ethiopia suffered from erratic rainfed agriculture. However, water resource is abundant and irrigation potential is high. But, regretably, only 5 percent is irrigated out of 3 million hectares.
Despite we attach priority to small-scale irrigation, little has been achieved since irrigation schemes require substantial capital outlay which is beyond the financial means of developing countries like Ethiopia.
We are very pleased to note with satisfaction that FAO's assistance to Ethiopia under various programmes was helpful in increasing food production and productivity. We appreciate the initiatives taken by FAO to identify 15 countries with chronic food security problems in the LIFDCs. We support the special programme and look forward to successful implementation of same. In summary we would like to emphasize that future FAO's assistance is mostly geared towards water resource utilization and management taking into account the experience to be gained during the pilot phase.
Turning to the livestock sector, it is worth mentioning that Ethiopia has the highest livestock population and per capita cattle size in Africa. However, existing limited capacity has been a draw-back to modernize the sector and effectively use the untapped resources.
While genetic upgrading can bring substantial increase in production, controlling diseases of economic importance is also equally important. Ethiopia's effort to control major livestock diseases with support from FAO is showing good results. The priority given to the EMPRES programme further strengthens assistance in this sector and, we are, therefore, optimistic that future cooperation and collaboration with FAO and neighbouring countries will contribute to the development of this sector.
In respect to relief and emergency measures, food assistance still continues despite governments concerted effort to put an end to food aid. To combating future disaster and contained emergencies, the government reorganized and strengthened the disaster prevention and preparedness programme.
As one of the centre of biodiversity Ethiopia attaches special importance to the work of the Commission on Plant Genetics Resources. We believe that the conservation, sustainable use and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from utilization of genetics resources for food and agriculture will make a breakthrough in the quest for food security. So far activities in the field of plant genetics resources have been encouraging. We hope that the preparatory works for the Fourth International Technical Conference, the report on the state of the world's plant genetic resources, and the global plan of action will be finalized as planned. In summary, it is our view that all the stake holders in the plant genetic resources have to cooperate in the negotiation process to bring the international undertaking to a meaningful end compatible to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
There is consensus that FAO is uniquely placed in the UN system for the development of food and agriculture over and above its designation as task manager for some chapters under the UNCED.
In the light of its broader mandates, it is traditional for FAO to prepare a programme of work and budget in a biennium with active participations of the programme and finance committees and with guidance from its governing bodies. Naturally such programmes have to be backed with the necessary resource for successful implementations. Sources of funds were mainly assessed member contributions. So far there are diverging views as to the level of the budget. Many countries are in arrears of which lack of commitments on part of a major contributor is the main concern. It was with the spirit of coming to the right levels of budget that series of discussions and consultations were carried in various fora. However, no consensus was reached until this session.
Ethiopia appreciates those Member Nations whose advice contributed for efficiency and effectiveness. Nonetheless, we note with concern that few members still opt for a budget reduction beyond the 1994/95 level at the zero real growth rate. Proposals for continuous cost absorption also cripples the financial position of the Organization. The inability to increase the budget for TCP and the attitude to reduce various resource facets looks also discouraging when membership is on the increase and the issue of food security is still at stake. Consequently, resource lacking programmes will have poor implementation performance and this adversely affect developing countries striving to attain food self-sufficiency. We, therefore, draw the attention of all Members to join hand to meet the right budget levels through fulfilling their commitments so that neither a reduction in the number of projects nor deterioration in the qualities of work is a concern.
In view of maintaining optimal budget level to help the Organization continue its function we support the budget level proposed by the Director General and we are pleased to inform the conference that Ethiopia will meet its requirements fully.
As far as the two priority programmes are concerned, we note with great satisfaction that the special programmes for food production in support of food security in low-income food-deficit countries and the emergency prevention system for transboundry animal and plant pests and diseases (EMPRES) are well on board. While we encourage further strengthening and full realization of these programmes, the establishment of a rapid intervention mechanism within EMPRES to tackle unforseen outbreaks of the desert locust is also timely.
Despite generous promises, the 1974 World Food Conference is remembered with mixed features of some successes. As a result of limited accomplishment and following multi-dimensional problems, many countries in Africa continue to be confronted with food crisis. Then food insecurity and poor nutritional undernourishment are still dominant, many developing countries put them as priority policy objectives. Therefore, the need for a concerted effort to takle this problem lies within the international community, international financial institutions, non-government organizations (NGOs), the private sector and society at large. Definitely, FAO has an important role to play in coordinating and assisting Member Nations. In view of this fact, we fully support the initiative by the Director-General for convening a World Food Summit in Rome in 1996 with a view to renewing the commitment of political will at the highest level in order to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.
In conclusion, Ethiopia attaches unique importance to the objectives and activities of FAO. We would, therefore, like to express our satisfaction at the work of the Organization and we look forward to work together in the future with more cooperation and collaboration.
Thank you for your kind attention.2
The meeting rose at 12.45 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.45 horas.
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1 Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.
2 Statement to be inserted in the verbatim records on request.
