- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS (continued)
- DECLARATIONS DES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
- MANIFESTACIONES POR LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)
Sra. Ileana DI GIOVAN BATTISTA (Argentina): Señor Presidente, felicito a usted y a los vicepresidentes que han sido elegidos para esta Conferencia.
El Estado mundial de la agricultura y la alimentación en esta 28a Conferencia es el tema central de este plenario y, como tal, materia de debate. Por tal razón, no me voy a referir a la agricultura, la pesca y los bosques de mi país, Argentina, más que para recordar tres aspectos generales:
En primer lugar, como país en desarrollo la agricultura en Argentina sigue siendo fuertemente dependiente de las condiciones climáticas y esta campaña 1995-96 asolada por una persistente sequía dará la prueba.
En segundo lugar, como país abierto a la economía mundial, Argentina no otorga a sus agricultores otro estímulo ni otro sostén que la demanda de los mercados y los precios internacionales. Esto enfrenta, día a día, a nuestros productores con la dura realidad de los obstáculos y las restricciones al comercio internacional de los países industrializados y, por otra parte, con los problemas de solvencia y capacidad importadora en los países en desarrollo que necesitan importar para completar su abastecimiento alimentario.
En tercer lugar, en el ámbito internacional el acontecimiento más importante que ha incidido en la realidad argentina en la última década es la integración junto con Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay para formar el Mercosur. Nos complace formar parte de esta agrupación regional que es el Mercosur.
Varios delegados que me han precedido en el uso de la palabra han coincidido en destacar que la pobreza es un fenómeno rural generalizado en los países en desarrollo, sobre todo, en los países de bajos ingresos con déficit de alimentos.
Algunos han enfatizado que el desarrollo agrícola es la clave para el alivio de dicha situación de pobreza y para alcanzar la seguridad alimentaria que no es - como bien dijo el Jefe de la Delegación de los Países Bajos - meramente volcar excedentes de un país a otro. La ayuda alimentaria debe ser un complemento, nunca una alternativa al desarrollo agrícola autónomo.
Argentina está convencida de que la seguridad alimentaria a nivel nacional e internacional será una resultante de un conjunto de factores y procesos que la comunidad internacional deberá proveer y ordenar de manera adecuada y simultánea.
Así - según entendí - lo expresó el Jefe de la Delegación del Camerún quién, en un largo pero excelente discurso, se refirió a todos los aspectos que su Gobierno encuadra en sus políticas y estrategias económicas: producción, valorización de los productos, diversificación, promoción de exportaciones, investigación, conservación "in situ" de la biodiversidad, atención de la mujer rural. Todo un programa, señor Presidente en el cual nada es superfluo y donde no hay un solo elemento del cual nuestra Organización pueda desentenderse.
Permítaseme decir que en el centro de este desafío que representa la seguridad alimentaria global no está el mayor o menor desequilibrio de la oferta y la demanda mundiales de cereales, el volumen de las existencias en los países desarrollados o las fluctuaciones de los precios de cuatro o cinco cereales principales.
Sería miope, y como tal inexcusable restringir nuestra visión a estos datos estadísticos. En la base de la seguridad alimentaria está el desarrollo agrícola autónomo y sostenible, el libre intercambio de alimentos y tecnologías, la inversión y la capacitación. Esperemos que todo esto será tema de la Cumbre Mundial sobre la Alimentación convocada por el Director General para 1996 y a la cual, la Cumbre Iberoamericana reunida recientemente en Bariloche, ha dado su más caluroso apoyo.
A la vanguardia de todo programa de acción nacional e internacional de seguridad alimentaria debe colocarse el crecimiento de la producción y la productividad agrícola en los países en desarrollo, a través de la investigación, la capacitación de la población rural, el mejoramiento del acceso al crédito y a la tecnología sustentable, combinando eficazmente la inversión directa con la asistencia oficial para el desarrollo.
Solamente con estas orientaciones estratégicas se reducirá la pobreza, se atenderán las necesidades alimentarias a costos y precios razonables evitando un empobrecimiento irreversible de los recursos naturales.
Puesto que la pobreza es la amenaza más grave para el medio ambiente en los países en desarrollo así como la sobrecapitalización, por la vía del uso excesivo de agroquímicos es la causa principal de la degradación del ambiente en los países industrializados.
En términos mundiales, señor Presidente, dos son los desafíos nuevos que en este fin de siglo acompañan al desafío secular del hambre y la malnutrición: el desarrollo sostenible y la protección de la biodiversidad; o sea, los recursos indispensables para las generaciones presentes y futuras.
La delegación argentina agradece al Profesor Mugnozza su magistral conferencia en memoria de McDougall y su elocuente llamado a detener la degradación y la destrucción de la biodiversidad. Su mención entre las causas de esa degradación y destrucción del crecimiento poblacional, el creciente consumo de los recursos, los efectos del comercio global, la ignorancia de especies y de ecosistemas, las políticas pobremente concebidas y la inadecuada valorización de la biodiversidad no pueden menos que golpear nuestra reflexión.
En síntesis, señor Presidente, la variedad y complejidad de factores y procesos que hacen a la agricultura y la alimentación en 1995 nos llevan a hablar, como lo hizo el Viceministro de Agricultura en Quebec, de un sistema alimentario mundial en vez de agricultura; este sistema alimentario mundial no sólo se integra con la producción, la distribución y la provisión de alimentos. El comercio mundial de productos agrícolas es un pilar fundamental del sistema alimentario mundial.
La conclusión de la Ronda Uruguay marca una etapa importante en el fenómeno de la globalización de los mercados y la tendencia hacia la liberalización del comercio que esta vez ha incluido a los productos agrícolas.
Pero éste es sólo un hito en un camino en el cual queda mucho por recorrer. Muchos países en desarrollo, entre los cuales Argentina, han hecho considerables esfuerzos para abrir sus fronteras al comercio de mercaderías y servicios, así como rodear de garantías a la inversión externa y a las patentes y derechos de propiedad intelectual.
A cambio de ello, como anota el Informe Carlsson-Ramphal los países en desarrollo han recibido sólo limitadas oportunidades de mejorar el acceso a los mercados industrializados; en efecto, estos países en desarrollo enfrentan barreras comerciales que se estima, según el informe, les cuestan el doble de la ayuda que reciben.
Para la mayoría de los países en desarrollo el comercio y, en particular, el acceso a los mercados de los países industrializados sería más importante que la ayuda - dice este informe -. Este es un parámetro a tener claramente en cuenta al delinear orientaciones sobre el ajuste agrícola internacional.
Señor Presidente, todos estos desafíos que la comunidad internacional deberá afrontar y para los cuales la FAO es el Organo Central de Naciones Unidas, requieren una organización sólida, técnicamente competente y eficaz. Una organización amplia en acoger la discusión y el ordenamiento de todas las cuestiones políticas y de todas las estrategias que hacen a la agricultura y a la alimentación en una organización concentrada, por el contrario, en áreas esenciales tanto en sus actividades operacionales como en la aplicación de sus recursos.
Feliz cincuenta aniversario a la FAO y los mejores deseos de una nueva juventud otros cincuenta años.
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Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO (Mozambique): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General of FAO, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. First of all I would like to present my congratulations to Your Excellency on your election as Chairman of the 28th Session of the FAO Conference, to greet the delegations of all countries here present, and to express our support to the principles on which the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is based.
I also wish to extend my greetings to FAO for its 50th Anniversary, as well as congratulate it on the success achieved in its efforts for agricultural development and food security. There still remains a long way ahead to achieve these great and noble purposes, but we trust that in a not too distant future the mission will be accomplished.
Finally, I would also like to congratulate Your Excellency, Mr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of FAO, for your efforts in the process of reorganization of FAO, which we trust will allow the Organization to confront the great challenges facing humanity, such as the struggle against poverty, hunger and malnutrition, as well as to achieve the dream of having "Food for All".
The Government of Mozambique, democratically elected almost a year ago following the first multi-party elections in the country, approved the quinquennial development programme, after its endorsement by the Parliament. In accordance with this programme, the Government is concentrating its priority efforts on actions to ensure nation-wide peace, stability and unity, and more concretely on the reduction of poverty levels, aiming at its eradication at medium term, as well as the improvement of living conditions for the Mozambican people with emphasis on education, health, agricultural and rural development and employment.
In Mozambique agriculture, animal production and fisheries constitute the main source of wealth, contributing 73 percent to the country's annual exports. Three years after the signature of the Peace Agreement in Rome on 4 October 1992, which marked the end of armed activities in the whole country, the refugee and displaced populations are returning to their zones of origin and the majority of the Mozambican people, consisting mainly of farmers, are resuming their normal agricultural activities in a peaceful way.
For this reason, the Government of Mozambique considers agriculture as the basis for economic and social development of the country. In the short and medium term the priority will be to progressively ensure self-sufficiency in staple foods, to provide raw materials to national industry and to contribute to the improvement of the national balance of payments, through the production of export commodities and the reduction of agricultural imports.
In this context, the new Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, presently undergoing a process of restructuring, is discussing the agricultural policy and defining its implementation strategy in order to attain the above mentioned goals. Essentially the agricultural policy envisages food security, sustainable economic growth, and the reduction of unemployment and poverty. The general strategies for its implementation are based on the sustainable use of natural resources and on the expansion of production capacity and agricultural productivity.
Over the last years, with peace and the return of the refugees from neighbouring countries, as well as the internally displaced populations to their zones of origin, the country has experienced a marked increase in agricultural production, in spite of the drought that has affected the southern and central regions of the country in recent years. Thus, cereal production increased from 764 000 tonnes in 1993 to 1 126 000 tonnes in 1995, representing an increase of 47 percent.
However, the production of the seven main food products in Mozambique cannot yet meet the nutritional requirements of the population. With the implementation of the new agricultural policy, we hope to reach 100 percent of their caloric requirements of agricultural origin by the year 2000.
A very critical component of the country's agrarian sector is the livestock subsector. By the end of the 1970s, Mozambique had about 1.4 million head of cattle. This number was reduced to no more than 300 000 at present, as a consequence of the warfare in the country. This grave situation as regards livestock numbers has strong negative effects on the availability of animal proteins for the population and in the reduction of farmers' income in traditionally poor areas.
The Government of Mozambique maintains that the solution of our problems in agricultural development can only be found in the context of coordination and collaboration with the international community. In conformity with this, we have great expectations regarding the forthcoming World Food Summit.
We are convinced that FAO, as well as other UN Agencies, will support identifying and funding projects in specific areas of the agriculture, livestock and fisheries subsectors, which will enable us to achieve the development we seek for those sectors in the medium and long terms.
We wish to express our gratitude to FAO and the World Food Programme for the large support they have provided to Mozambique, which has enabled a considerable part of our population to survive one of the most difficult periods of our history.
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Abdel Aziz Bin Hamad AL MUDBIL (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful, Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, distinguished Heads of Delegations, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me at the outset to extend my congratulations to the five countries which have recently joined our Organization. It is my pleasure, Mr Chairman, to extend my congratulations to you and to the Vice-Chairmen on the confidence vested in you by the Conference. I wish you success in your task, and I assure you of the support and backing of Saudi Arabia in your efforts to carry out this task. It is my pleasure also to extend my congratulations to the Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf, and his Assistants on the achievements and positive results of the Organization over the short period under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Jacques Diouf. We hope that those efforts will continue, in order to enable the Organization to face future challenges and put an end to hunger and to the tragic situations and sufferings of a large number of people. My delegation is also pleased to extend its congratulations to all the Member States as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Organization, and we would like to express our appreciation of the efforts and activities aimed at attaining the Organization's objectives and applying the principles of its foundations. We also express our appreciation of the Organization's achievements at the international level over the last 50 years. We hope that it will continue to carry out its role and message, which is to assist the peoples of the world to enjoy a decent living free of any threat to their food security.
The world has witnessed important changes in the last few years which will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects on the world order as a whole, which we hope will adapt to the new developments and thus be more in harmony with the changing nature of international relations and more sensitive and responsive to the problems facing a large number of countries, and more particularly developing countries.
We still consider that the developments which have affected the developing countries' economies and their standard of living are their respective responsibilities alone although unfair economic relations and other factors have played an important role in affecting their situation. Therefore, they have to bear their responsibilities and continue to exert the necessary efforts within their capacity and lay down successful economic development policies and implement effective reforms in conformity with free trade arrangements.
We hope that the free trade in the future will lead to the economic recovery in the developing countries so that their commodities will have easy access to world markets free of barriers and in a fair, competitive environment and thus be able to have the development requirements to improve their production and economies.
Mr President, we all understand that prices of most agricultural food commodities, especially those imported from the developed countries, will gradually increase in the coming period as a result of the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements. This will lead to a higher bill for food commodities imported by developing countries which rely to a large extent on imported food commodities to meet the needs of their people, although many of them suffer from a heavy burden of external debts which reach more than US$1.3 trillion, together with a deterioration of their national income. This will have highly damaging effects on the economy and the eocnomic and social situation of a large number of developing countries. Therefore, in view of these circumstances we think it is appropriate to urge the developed countries to extend technological assistance to developing countries to help them to overcome this problem and to enable them to develop their agricultural sector.
The delegation of Saudi Arabia is pleased to report the achievements made by the agricultural sector in the Kingdom in spite of its limited natural resources. These achievements have led us to achieve self sufficiency in a large number of staple food commodities. As a result of the implementation of plans and policies aiming at the development and growth of the agricultural sector, we have managed to change the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from an importer of most food commodities into an exporter of vegetables, fruits, dates, eggs and other products.
We are pleased on this occasion to point out that the growth rate in the agricultural sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reached 5 percent in 1993 and is expected to continue on this level during the coming few years.
The above-mentioned achievements have been made as a result of the efforts of the private sector in the Kingdom with the support and incentives provided by the State to develop the agricultural sector within the framework of the support to all the other development sectors. The delegation of Saudi Arabia is pleased to affirm that the agricultural sector will continue to play its vital role in the development of the Kingdom in order to ensure food security within the framework of a general policy and plans that aim at developing available resources by exploiting them in an optimal and well-planned manner, especially as regards water resources and the environment.
Appropriate policies and systems have been established in order to preserve water resources and ensure their economic use and the utilization of methods of irrigation such as sprinkler systems and drip irrigation and the growing of crops in need of little water. The Kingdom has also taken certain measures in order to increase the water resources through the building of dams to feed the underground water reservoirs, and through the purification of sewage water.
The Kingdom has also been, throughout the development of the agricultural sector keen to preserve the ecological balance. It has initiated projects involving the preservation of the environment in its various aspects such as tree planting, preservation of the vegetation, protection of wild life, control of desertification and so on.
While the Kingdom was going through its experience to develop its agricultural sector with its own efforts to ensure its food security it never abandoned its role to extend food aid from its own production in order to alleviate the sufferings of the hungry, either through bilateral and direct aid or through the WFP. The Kingdom's assistance reached more than US$300 million including 130 000 tonnes of good quality dates of our own production.
The Kingdom has also contributed to the development of the agricultural sector in some developing countries through bilateral cooperation and the Saudi Development Fund and through the international financing institutions and UN specialized agencies, especially the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in which the Kingdom's contribution since its foundation up to now has reached more than US$364 million.
The delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has studied the Conference documents and examined the contents of the Programme of Work and Budget for the biennium 1996-97 and we approve the views and proposals therein. We hope they will be carefully implemented in coordination with the authorities concerned.
Our delegation would also like to express our appreciation of the efforts made by the Director-General and his colleagues in the preparation for this Conference and to commend the efforts exerted to facilitate the task of the participants and enable them to carry out their duties easily and smoothly. We hope the Conference will reach positive recommendations and good results to further the Organization's objectives and assist it in carrying out its noble message.
Dennis R. NORMAN (Zimbabwe): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates and observers, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to start my statement by extending my best wishes to all participants at this 28th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization Conference.
The rainfall pattern in Zimbabwe has been erratic and poorly distributed over the last 15 years. Of those 15 years, eight saw a below average rainfall falling in Zimbabwe. As annual rainfall figures of 400-600 mm are generally considered semi-arid, it follows that Zimbabwe has been in a semi-arid state for more than 50 percent of the time since independence in 1980. The situation has been even more serious in the immediate past five years, during which the average annual rainfall has been above normal in only one year.
These prevailing semi-arid conditions have a serious negative effect on agricultural activities and the food security situation in the country. If Zimbabwe does not experience a wet season in the next year or two, the severity of these semi-arid conditions will intensify.
The 1994-95 season started with uncharacteristically high rainfall in October which encouraged farmers to fully implement their cropping programmes. Prolonged dry spells in November and December destroyed most of the dryland crops. Widespread crop failures were reported throughout the country. The army-worm infestation in January and February 1995 wiped out the remaining crop, particularly in the smallholder sector.
The production of maize (the most widely used staple food in Zimbabwe) fell by 60 percent in the past season compared to the overall output of 2.5 million tonnes in 1993-94, making it necessary to import stocks to last the country until the next harvest in April 1996. Due to the policy adopted by government to keep a reasonable strategic grain reserve for feeding the nation during low production periods, the import of maize will be lower than during the great drought of 1992.
As a country, Zimbabwe is not in such a critical food stock situation as in 1992, but for many smallholder farmers, the position is devastating, necessitating some forms of food assistance from central government and non-governmental organizations through the grain loan scheme and supplementary feeding for children.
Achievements in increasing national food security and improving nutrition in the first decade of independence have been largely eroded due to the recurrent droughts. In a normal rainfall season, Zimbabwe has been able to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of maize, sorghum and millets as well as from the livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and poultry.
Zimbabwe's food situation is, however, characterized by a disturbing paradox of chronic food insecurity in a country generally self-sufficient at national level. It is now clear that only about 20 percent of smallholder farmers produce marketable food surpluses and that up to 40 percent require extra staple grain every year. Drought worsens the situation and appropriate measures must be taken urgently to reduce any further erosion of the food security position.
To answer the call for an increased rate of growth in agricultural output, government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations have introduced various schemes to assist smallholder farmers to transform into more competent modern farmers who can increase agricultural production and farm incomes in the rural areas. We believe that it is the responsibility of government to put in place programmes aimed at giving smallholder farmers skills to start agro-based income generating projects to escape poverty and to reduce food aid through appropriate measures to respond to environmental stress.
Like Zimbabwe, most Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states depend on agriculture to provide food and incomes for the majority of their population. Between 50-80 percent of the population of SADC countries rely on agriculture for employment, food and income. Cereal production in southern Africa in 1994-95 has been sharply below the 1993-94 average. Only South Africa and Zimbabwe had significant stocks of maize carried over from the 1993-94 crop. Therefore, net imports of food and food aid requirements to the sub-region as a whole will rise.
In almost all the SADC countries the problems of food insecurity, particularly at the household level, are most prevalent in the rural areas and among the urban poor and unemployed. Both the magnitude and the nature of the problem of food insecurity differs from country to country and from one season to another.
The emphasis of the SADC food security strategy is to help the region to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase the grain storage capacity. The current food security programme comprises of various interlinked regional projects. Core projects of the regional programme include an Early Warning System and a Regional Resources Information System.
Most member countries have reviewed and reformulated their policies to stimulate agricultural production and rural development. A number of policy objectives have been developed for implementation throughout the region. Their successful implementation holds some promise of increasing food production, reducing food insecurity and poverty through the region.
In line with the important role of agriculture in the economies of African countries, we have participated in various meetings of the Global Coalition for Africa. We strongly support the urgency of placing agriculture at the forefront of the development agenda in African countries.
Let me register my gratitude and that of Zimbabwe to FAO for the establishment of the FAO Sub-regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa in Harare, pursuant to the recommendations by the Council of the FAO at its 106th Session. This emphasizes the importance which FAO places on the role that agriculture can play in the economic development of the region. The new FAO Sub-regional Offices for Southern and Eastern Africa will be inaugurated in Harare on 6 November 1995 and Zimbabwe welcomes Ministers of Agriculture and other dignitaries from the region and FAO Headquarters to Harare to participate in the inauguration.
I cannot conclude my remarks without commenting upon perhaps the most important question facing us during this Conference, namely, that of the Programme of Work and Budget and, in a sense, the future of FAO. Against the background of intensifying drought and drought-related social problems within our Continent of Africa and, as we know well, in many other parts of the world; against the prospect of increasing food insecurity and hunger as we move into the next millennium, we should probably now be looking towards increasing and intensifying FAO's activities rather than cutting them back, and looking for more rather than less funding.
But, fully aware of the difficult international economic environment, Zimbabwe is fully supportive of the Director-General in his proposal for a zero real growth budget for the 1996-97 biennium. We commend him for the efforts he has made not only to reduce cost increases, but also to absorb as far as possible some of those unavoidable increases. Yet he is still under pressure to cut further and to save more. He has told us that further cuts to the proposed budget will inevitably affect FAO programmes and will further undermine the already reduced capacity of the Organization to deliver effectively on those programmes.
We fully understand those who seek change and a better use by FAO of its resources. Change has already begun and it is expected we will see the emergence of a leaner, more cost-effective Organization. But this will take time. If we try to force the pace or if change is simply imposed, we will find ourselves in a situation the full consequences of which are difficult to foresee. But they are unlikely to be positive for the FAO itself or for the broader United Nations system.
There is justifiable concern on the part of many nations at the level of arrears. Clearly this state of affairs is unacceptable. Member Nations simply must meet their obligations in full, on time and without condition.
I repeat that none of us is or can be opposed to change. But such change must come about through consultation. It must be gradual and it must be in accordance with the Rules and Code of Conduct which govern us. Our primary concern must be for the well-being of this Organization. Let all of us always keep that thought uppermost in our minds.
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Russell BALLARD (New Zealand): I would like to start off by joining with other delegations in congratulating you, Mr Chairman, on your election. Your handling of Plenary so far has fully justified their faith in your selection.
This is a year of celebration. The United Nations and the FAO have both turned fifty. New Zealand, as one of the 44 founding members of the FAO, was pleased to be able to join with colleagues in Quebec last week in commemorating this important anniversary. In 50 years, the FAO has achieved much of which it and its members can be proud.
The Organization now faces the challenge of looking ahead to its next 50 years. A key element in that challenge is the concept of sustainable development. For FAO, as for governments and organizations worldwide, sustainable development must be considered in its broadest sense - the interaction between sustainable use of biological and physical resources, the economic viability of utilisation, broader environmental impacts and community values.
New Zealand is confronting this challenge in our own country. In agriculture, we have moved over the past decade from an unsustainable system where, like many other countries, we paid our farmers financial assistance to support commodity prices. This had many adverse consequences, including encouraging environmentally and economically unsustainable farming practices. New Zealand farmers now welcome the current non-distortionary regime under which the market and environmental laws dictate their production decisions.
Because of the nature of our forests and our forestry industry, New Zealand has a unique contribution to make to international debate on forestry - both at FAO and elsewhere. In April this year we were honoured to chair the first ever meeting of Ministers responsible for forestry held here in Rome, as well as the twelfth session of the Committee on Forestry. My Minister, Hon John Falloon - who is both Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Forestry - regrets that he is not able to be here today.
New Zealand will be hosting the seventh meeting of the Montreal Process in a few weeks' time. Our interest in the international process reflects our commitment to maintain and enhance the sustainable management of our own forests. In New Zealand, almost all our 17 million m3 of production comes from planted production forests. Very little comes from our 6.4 million hectares of natural forests. The government's objective is to conserve that natural resource while expanding reliance on 1.4 million hectares of planted forests for all wood needs. In this context, New Zealand supports FAO's work on plant genetic resources, and in particular that focused on sustainable use of those resources.
In the area of fisheries, New Zealand's national management system is proving to be workable and sustainable. Under a transferable quota system, quota owners themselves are taking over the responsibility for ensuring efficient management and monitoring of total allowable catch for each species, so as to preserve their entitlement in the next year's allocation. This system has proved more effective than, for example, input controls such as limiting the number of fishing vessels.
As a fishing nation which has adopted the concept of sustainability in its own fisheries management, we have been pleased to participate closely in FAO's work to develop a Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries. The adoption of the Code will be one of the significant achievements of this Conference, and we congratulate the FAO Secretariat for the work it has put into the Code's preparation. In recognition of the importance of fish protein in the diet of a large proportion of the world's population, and the significance of fisheries to our own region - the southwest Pacific - New Zealand would like to see an increased emphasis on sustainable fisheries management in FAO's future work programme.
As an agricultural trading nation, New Zealand places particular importance on the CODEX work on scientifically-based standards. Greater international harmonization is needed in this area and in the construction of international phytosanitary standards. The disciplines of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture will lower tariffs and other traditional trade barriers. But it is important to be vigilant in order to ensure that this new access is not impeded by newer, technically unjustified sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to trade.
Together with other agricultural exporters, particularly developing countries, New Zealand is continuing to work to ensure that the agricultural disciplines of the Uruguay Round are not undermined, and that progress in freeing world trade in agriculture continues. We depend on our exports of agricultural products for our livelihood. Like many developing countries, we have been victims of the highly distortive agricultural policies of much of the developed world. For too long those policies, which subsidised the production and export of food surpluses, have exported instability onto world food markets and undermined the sustainability of world food production systems and the economies of many countries around the world.
We see next year's World Food Summit as an opportunity for FAO to focus on how to move ahead from the progress already made towards creating the conditions for agricultural development and long term economic growth in member countries. The Summit will be an opportunity to be forward-looking and to establish the basis for applying the broad concept of food security more consistently across the full committee and work programme structure of FAO in the future. However, the concept of food security should not be confused with or distorted by the notion of national self-sufficiency. The removal of distortions in world agricultural production and trade will assist developing countries whose economies are dependent on producing, distributing and marketing food. The overall economic security of producers will benefit as will the food security of their trading partners through improved access to reliable and affordable food supplies.
In order for FAO's work to flourish and for the Organization to continue as a centre of excellence into the next century, rigorous discipline in the use of resources will be required. Whatever the budget level this Conference agrees upon for the next biennium, we know that the Organization will need to direct itself towards using its limited financial resources to the best possible effect. It is a challenge that New Zealand understands well from our own experience of over a decade of budgetary stringency and economic management reform. It has not been painless, but we have discovered that an explicit programme of sustainable budgetary discipline tied in with best practice management systems can generate considerable efficiency gains and economies. The end result is worth the effort.
We look forward to working with our colleagues at this Conference to give guidance to FAO on the scope and focus of its activities as it faces the challenges of the next fifty years.
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Gabriel Dotte BADEKARA (République centrafricaine): Monsieur le Président, la délégation centrafricaine se joint à toutes les délégations qui l'ont précédée pour vous féliciter chaleureusement, à la suite de votre élection à l'unanimité à la présidence de notre Conférence. Vos qualités propres et vos solides connaissances constituent pour nous le plus sûr garant du succès de nos travaux.
Nos félicitations vont également aux membres nouvellement admis au sein de l'Organisation, et qui, nous en sommes convaincus, feront de leur mieux pour intensifier notre lutte contre l'élimination de la faim et de la misère dans le monde pour une vie plus humaine.
Monsieur le Directeur général, qu'il me soit permis, au nom du Président de la république, de vous remercier pour l'honneur que vous nous avez fait en venant en République centrafricaine, en juillet dernier, précisément du 25 au 27 juillet.
En outre, je puis vous assurer que la République centrafricaine soutient avec conviction l'initiative que vous avez prise en faveur de l'organisation d'un Sommet mondial sur l'alimentation en novembre 1996.
C'est donc avec plaisir que je vous confirme que le Président de la république centrafricaine a accepté avec intérêt de faire partie du Comité de parrainage du Sommet.
Monsieur le Président, si des progrès certains ont été accomplis durant le demi-siècle de l'existence de notre Organisation, comme cela a été démontré à Québec lors de la commémoration du cinquantième anniversaire et de la réunion ministérielle, c'est avec appréhension que nous voyons l'avenir de l'humanité dans les 30 années à venir, surtout par la situation qui prévaut dans les pays africains au sud du Sahara, notamment en République centrafricaine, notre pays.
L'Afrique continue à rester en mauvaise position par rapport au reste du monde. Le nombre de personnes mal nourries et ayant faim augmente. En 2010, on estime qu'il y aura environ 300 millions de personnes mal nourries en Afrique, soit presque le tiers de la population, et 180 millions de personnes de plus que maintenant.
C'est la situation la plus défavorable qui soit dans le monde. La production agricole alimentaire a augmenté moins vite globalement ces 30 dernières années que la population.
Cependant, les disponibilités alimentaires globales ont légèrement augmenté de 2 100 à 2 250 kilocalories par personne et par jour. Sur les 49 pays considérés comme les moins avancés dans le monde, 34 sont en Afrique et sont restés à 2 050 kilocalories ces 30 dernières années.
Vingt-trois pays ont vu diminuer leurs disponibilités alimentaires entre 1970 et 1992 et, en 1992, il y avait encore 15 pays où la population disposait de moins de 200 Kcal alors que, dans le reste du monde, seuls cinq autres pays sont dans ce cas.
La sécheresse et le manque d'eau sont en partie responsables de cette situation défavorable, mais les conflits armés en sont aussi grandement responsables. En Afrique subsaharienne, le taux des échanges commerciaux a, à lui seul, diminué de 6,3 pour cent en 1992 et de 7,6 pour cent en 1993. La pauvreté grandissante et les capitaux nationaux limités freinent les aspirations de développement des pays de cette partie du monde. Le défi est donc énorme, mais nous devons avoir l'ambition de le relever.
Mais, Monsieur le Président, que dire de l'agriculture centrafricaine?
La République centrafricaine dispose de ressources naturelles relativement abondantes par rapport à sa population, et de conditions agro-écologiques généralement favorables à la promotion des productions végétales, animales et forestières. Les sols sont de fertilité correcte, et le climat permet une agriculture pluviale intégrant des cycles culturaux assez variés, relativement longs. Ces conditions physiques décrites se prêtent bien à la mise en culture d'une gamme très importante d'espèces vivrières et d'exportation (céréales, tubercules, légumes, racines, coton, café, tabac, fruits, canne à sucre, palmier à huile, ...).
Cependant, l'agriculture centrafricaine n'a pas été très performante jusqu'à présent; les rendements restent, dans l'ensemble, faibles par rapport à ceux observés dans les pays voisins. Les statistiques disponibles montrent qu'il n'y a pratiquement pas eu de gain significatif de productivité en agriculture au cours des dernières décennies.
Suite aux années difficiles de la période 1990-93, marquées par les troubles socio-politiques qui ont perturbé toutes les activités économiques du pays, la situation actuelle du secteur agropastoral se caractérise par une nette reprise de la production. Le gouvernement a eu pour premier objectif l'assainissement des finances publiques dont la situation était très fortement dégradée, la réhabilitation des secteurs sociaux très éprouvés par la période de troubles et la relance des activités économiques en accordant une priorité de premier rang au secteur agropastoral.
S'agissant des produits vivriers, la tendance est à la reprise après les années 1990-93 qui ont été marquées par une nette régression. L'amorce de relance constatée en 1994 s'est traduite, dans un premier temps, par un arrêt du déclin de la production. Cependant, la stabilisation de la production, ajoutée à l'effet de reprise de la consommation et aux effets induits de la dévaluation (réenchérissement des produits alimentaires d'import-substitution), a occasionné une hausse des prix susceptible de stimuler la production à court terme.
Dans le secteur de l'élevage, les produits sont en croissance continue et devraient connaître un nouvel essor avec la mise en oeuvre du projet de développement de l'élevage et la gestion des parcours cofinancé par le Fonds international du développement agricole, la France et l'Union européenne. Cette solution favorable du secteur de l'élevage trouve son origine dans la maîtrise de la distribution des produits vétérinaires, par la Fédération nationale des éleveurs centrafricains et d'autres partenaires privés, et dans un contrôle et un suivi permanent de la santé animale, dans l'existence de parcours fourragers adéquats et un circuit de commercialisation du bétail bien organisé. Cet essor sera consolidé grâce au dynamisme, à une meilleure organisation et à une plus grande responsabilité des structures professionnelles. Enfin, les novations apportées par le projet de développement de l'élevage et de la gestion des parcours (notamment la mise en place du fonds interprofessionnel de développement de l'élevage), ainsi que la prise en compte des mesures d'atténuation de l'impact de l'élevage sur l'environnement, doivent permettre de franchir une nouvelle étape dans le développement de ce secteur.
Dans le domaine des forêts, face à l'exploitation abusive et anarchique du massif forestier du sud-ouest du pays par les sociétés forestières et industrielles, guidées plus par la recherche du profit que par une exploitation rationnelle et durable respectueuse des écosystèmes, le gouvernement a pris la décision de tout mettre en oeuvre afin d'assainir la situation et de mettre fin au scandale forestier centrafricain.
Le sous-secteur pisciculture a toujours bénéficié du soutien, tant technique que financier, de l'OAA pour son développement.
Aussi, le gouvernement s'engage à poursuivre et à mettre en oeuvre, dans une approche système et participative du monde rural, les objectifs ci-après: assurer la sécurité alimentaire de la population, accroître et diversifier les exportations agropastorales, assurer une gestion rationnelle et conservatoire du milieu naturel par un développement durable et mettre en place un programme d'irrigation à faible coût de 100 000 hectares en dix ans car on ne peut concevoir le développement agricole sans la maîtrise de l'eau.
Monsieur le Directeur général, en décembre 1992, les pays membres de la FAO ont adopté dans cette même salle, lors de la Conférence internationale sur la nutrition, le plan d'action et la déclaration mondiale sur la nutrition.
L'évaluation de la situation nutritionnelle a montré qu'il existe toujours de graves problèmes nutritionnels en République centrafricaine: malnutrition des jeunes enfants, nombre élevé de goîtres dans certaines régions, et insécurité alimentaire des ménages entre autres.
La République centrafricaine qui a de bonnes potentialités de productions alimentaires n'a pas de structures de production ni de contrôle alimentaire suffisamment bien établis. Le plan national d'action pour la nutrition représente un cadre conceptuel pour arriver à résoudre ces principaux problèmes.
La République centrafricaine va présenter son Plan en janvier 1996, lors d'un séminaire qui permettra de proposer des projets de développement dans les domaines alimentaires et nutritionnels.
Pour ce séminaire, la République centrafricaine sollicite l'appui des divisions techniques de la FAO, en particulier de la Division de l'alimentation et de la nutrition, et de celle de la transformation des produits agricoles.
Pour conclure, Monsieur le Président, il y a quelques jours, à l'aimable invitation du Gouvernement du Canada et dans la ville de Québec, nous avons commémoré le Cinquantième anniversaire de la fondation de notre Organisation. Du bilan d'un demi-siècle d'existence fait à cette occasion, il ressort que, si des progrès importants ont été réalisés, ce dont la FAO peut être légitimement fière, il reste beaucoup à faire par rapport aux objectifs fixés par les 44 membres fondateurs.
La FAO a encore un rôle capital et déterminant à jouer pour la lutte contre la faim, la misère et la pauvreté.
Que le vent qui a soufflé à Québec continue de souffler à Rome.
La délégation de la République centrafricaine soutient la déclaration faite par le président du groupe africain, le ministre d'état du Gabon, et lance un appel pressant à tous les contributeurs, grands, moyens, petits, mais
surtout grands, pour adopter le Programme de travail et budget proposé par le Directeur général de la FAO, afin de lui permettre de mener à bien la mission qui lui est confiée par les Etats Membres.
Je crois que ce serait un gage de redynamisation et le signe d'un nouveau départ de la FAO.
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Raúl ALEGRETT (Venezuela): Compláceme, señor Presidente, felicitarle, y por su intermedio a los otros miembros de la Mesa Directiva, por su elección para dirigir los trabajos de este 28° período de sesiones de la Conferencia de nuestra Organización; estamos seguros de que bajo su experta y dinámica conducción nuestros trabajos llegarán a feliz término.
Expresamos nuestra sentida condolencia, tanto al Gobierno de Iraq como a la familia del Ministro Rasheed.
En el mes de febrero del año en curso tuvimos el privilegio de recibir en Venezuela al Director General de la FAO, señor Jacques Diouf, a quien reiteramos en esa ocasión, al más alto nivel, el compromiso de nuestro país con los nobles objetivos de la Organización, a la vez que nuestro apoyo a su propuesta de trabajo, así como al proceso de reestructuración que adelanta. Hace pocos días tuve la ocasión de reiterar el compromiso de nuestro país con la FAO, con motivo de conmemorar sus 50 años en la ciudad de Quebec.
Durante varias décadas nuestro país mantuvo una política de sustitución de importaciones, implementando medidas compensatorias orientadas a estimular la producción agrícola, consistentes fundamentalmente en subsidios directos e indirectos. Con el fuerte apoyo oficial se obtuvieron logros significativos, tales como crecimiento del producto, introducción de mejoras tecnológicas, incorporación de maquinarias y equipos para la producción y, en general, cierto dinamismo social y económico en las áreas rurales. Pero al mismo tiempo se generaron aspectos negativos, como la distorsión del mercado de bienes y servicios para la producción y la comercialización, el estímulo a actividades y a productores poco eficientes y no competitivos, tasas elevadas de inflación en los alimentos y un exagerado e insostenible gasto fiscal en subsidio. Adicionalmente el crecimiento acelerado de la población así como el ingreso en la urbanización influyó en que, a pesar del crecimiento en la producción agrícola, el país fuera cada vez más dependiente de las importaciones de alimentos.
En este contexto se inicia la implantación del Programa de Estabilización y Ajuste Estructural, en el año 1989. Sus efectos sobre el sector agroalimentario fueron, entre otros, los siguientes: Incremento del costo de los insumos, maquinaria y equipos importados, como consecuencia de las devaluaciones adoptadas; de igual manera, se generó un estímulo a la sustitución de importaciones y al incremento de las exportaciones, que encontró muy poca capacidad de respuesta; reducción y encarecimiento de la financiación agrícola, lo que repercutió en el área sembrada y en el uso de insumos; pérdida de la protección en el mercado externo, con exigencia de mayor competitividad, sin la previa reconversión del aparato productivo agrícola; disminución de la capacidad adquisitiva de la población, con efectos negativos sobre el consumo de alimentos.
Como consecuencia de los factores expuestos, el sector agrícola venezolano, que había mantenido una tendencia de crecimiento promedio sostenido durante casi cuatro décadas, presentó en el lapso 1989-93 una tasa decreciente, y el saldo acumulado de la balanza comercial agrícola fue negativo en casi 3 500 millones de dólares.
Durante esos años, la inflación en el precio de los alimentos fue mayor que la inflación general, contrayendo la demanda y aumentando significativamente la proporción del gasto en alimentos en el gasto total de los hogares. Al mismo tiempo, las restricciones para la importación y la disminución del poder adquisitivo redujeron la disponibilidad de alimentos per cápita, afectando tanto al consumo de calorías como al de proteínas, minerales y vitaminas.
Frente a la situación planteada, el actual Gobierno de Venezuela ha otorgado atención prioritaria al sector agroalimentario, con el enfoque de sistema. Para ello propicia acciones dirigidas a fortalecer el análisis, la programación y la ejecución de estrategias y decisiones relacionadas con el funcionamiento de los circuitos por alimentos, con participación de los distintos agentes públicos y privados que intervienen en el proceso de producción, transformación, distribución y consumo.
Las metas fundamentales de la planificación agrícola del Estado en la actualidad se orientan al logro de una agricultura moderna, eficiente, competitiva y sustentable, que asegure un incremento de la producción compatible con las necesidades crecientes de la población y la agroindustria, que reduzca el nivel de las importaciones y el saldo negativo de la balanza comercial agrícola, estimule la generación de empleo y aumente los niveles de autonomía alimentaria. Todo ello en un marco de intercambio comercial que permita la reconversión y real competitividad del aparato productivo agrícola. Los resultados de la producción en los últimos dos años muestran una tendencia al crecimiento.
Entre las acciones más significativas que, en el contexto de las consideraciones anteriores, implementa el Gobierno de Venezuela, quisiera destacar:
La preparación, con asistencia técnica de la FAO, de un proyecto de ley para el desarrollo agrícola y la seguridad alimentaria, que asegure el enfoque sistemático agroalimentario, así como la continuidad de proyección a las políticas.
La creación y puesta en funcionamiento del Consejo Nacional de la Alimentación, presidido por el Ministro de Agricultura, y con la participación de otros ministros, presidentes de agencias oficiales involucradas y del sector privado, el cual tiene por objeto la evaluación y vigilancia del Plan Nacional de Alimentación, así como la coordinación de los distintos programas de asistencia alimentaria, existentes o por crearse.
La formación y coordinación de consejos consultivos por circuitos agroalimentarios.
El establecimiento del plan de alimentos estratégicos de bajo costo, orientado a facilitar el acceso de los estratos más pobres de la población a alimentos seleccionados por sus condiciones nutricionales y por las posibilidades de expansión de la oferta interna.
Somos conscientes, señor Presidente, de que los problemas fundamentales que confronta el mundo de hoy no pueden ser contenidos a cabalidad ni totalmente resueltos en los límites del Estado Nacional. La polución, las drogas, el deterioro de la ecología y también los desastres naturales y sociales reclaman una concepción y una praxis de solidaridad y respeto mutuo entre los pueblos, que está aún por construirse y consolidarse. La alimentación, como la vida misma, es un derecho que se adquiere en el momento de nacer, y aún antes. Y así como la vida trae consigo responsabilidades con respecto al grupo y a la sociedad, también la alimentación exige responsabilidades solidarias. Por ello, junto a la integración y apertura de los mercados, debe madurar y desarrollarse esta conciencia de responsabilidad global, con mayor razón frente a los problemas que el mismo proceso genera.
A lo largo de la historia, el hambre ha estado presente como un flagelo social. Sin embargo, en la antigüedad, la escasez de alimentos estaba vinculada a una escasez global de medios, por las propias limitaciones de la época y por los desastres naturales o de orden social que prevalecían. Hoy no es así, pero vemos cómo se incrementan la pobreza y el hambre por efectos del mal uso de medios, disponibles a veces en abundancia, y por intercambios abusivos o mal entendidos.
Presenciamos una revolución tecnológica y queremos creer que puede extenderse. Ella representa para quienes generan sus fundamentos y pueden controlar sus efectos una notable mejora en su productividad y nivel de vida, pero para otro segmento de humanidad constituye un factor de dependencia y transculturización, así como, en ciertos casos, una deformación en la racionalidad de la utilización de los factores productivos.
En los últimos treinta años la producción agrícola mundial se ha duplicado, y se ha triplicado el intercambio internacional de los productos agrícolas; pero, a pesar de los compromisos y de los horizontes fijados en eventos internacionales relevantes, no se ha podido vencer la desnutrición y el hambre en el mundo.
Venezuela comparte la convicción de que en la actualidad el problema del hambre y la desnutrición se centra más en la mala distribución de la oferta entre países, y dentro de cada país, que en la escasez de alimentos a nivel mundial. Asimismo, participamos del consenso que relaciona el hambre y la desnutrición con la pobreza. Para los estratos pobres de la población en cualquier país no puede establecerse mejor política alimentaria que una más justa distribución del ingreso real.
Por otra parte, si se quiere aumentar la producción de alimentos, debe incrementarse la eficiencia productiva, lo que no necesariamente coincide con el aumento de los rendimientos físicos, sino que exige una optimización en las relaciones y utilización de los factores de la producción. Asimismo, debe estimularse a los productores de alimentos con precios remunerativos: en muchos países, con la intención de proteger a los consumidores, se presiona hacia la baja de los precios de los alimentos, se compromete al productor con precios insuficientes y se recurre a importaciones subsidiadas, e incluso a donaciones, todo lo cual resta estímulo a la producción, mientras que favorece, por igual o aún más, a los estratos de la población con mayores ingresos.
En los países más pobres debe apoyarse la ampliación e intensificación de la producción, dando énfasis a productos tradicionales subexplotados o subconsumidos, procurando la sustitución de aquellos alimentos no compatibles con las condiciones climáticas del país, o que exigen apoyo de tecnologías que representan una excesiva dependencia de insumos y equipos de importación. La demanda de alimentos de los pobres no se expresa adecuadamente en el mercado y toca a cada país, con eventual ayuda de organismos internacionales como la FAO, su evaluación y su atención, pero es indispensable trabajar por la vinculación entre producción y consumo. Países como el nuestro, que han estado sometidos a fuertes influencias comerciales y culturales externas, que han vivido etapas de importantes alzas en sus ingresos y que se han urbanizado aceleradamente, modifican sus hábitos en el consumo de alimentos, incorporando aquellos que no pueden económica e incluso materialmente producir, lo que contribuye significativamente a deteriorar la balanza de pagos, a aumentar la dependencia y a encarecer la dieta.
Si se quiere apoyar el acceso a alimentos en países en desarrollo, debe trabajarse intensamente en la puesta en práctica de sistemas y técnicas de producción compatibles con las condiciones y posibilidades reales de cada país, aumentando la participación de la oferta local en el consumo, disminuyendo los costos de producción y mejorando la rentabilidad de las explotaciones. Debe, al mismo tiempo, darse énfasis al control de las plagas y otras enfermedades, y a la incorporación de prácticas de manejo y conservación de los productos en la fase de post-cosecha, a fin de reducir elevadas pérdidas; así como también será necesario incidir sobre el proceso de transformación y distribución de los alimentos.
Al respecto quiera destacar la importancia de una adecuada relación entre la agricultura y la industria de alimentos. Esta deberá protagonizar un importante papel en el desarrollo de la oferta agrícola, garantizando a los agricultores, además de la colocación y precios de sus productos, financiación y asistencia técnica para la producción.
Para concluir, Venezuela reitera su respaldo a la realización de la Cumbre Mundial sobre la Alimentación propuesta por el Director General, y me complace informar de la aceptación de nuestro Presidente, Dr. Rafael Caldra, para formar parte del Comité Internacional Patrocinador.
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Dambuza LUKHELE II (Swaziland): Mr Chairman, Director-General of FAO, His Excellency Dr Jacques Diouf, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen: I wish to express my sincere and profound appreciation to be given this opportunity to address this very distinguished gathering. My appreciation also goes to the Italian authorities and the FAO Secretariat for the excellent arrangements that have facilitated my delegation's participation in this meeting.
Mr Chairman, this meeting stands out among many as one of the most significant in the history of the Organization. I say this because many of us gathered here today have just returned from Quebec City after celebrating the 50th anniversary of our Organization. For that I wish to pay special tribute to the Canadian Government for hosting such an historic event.
The second reason, why I believe this meeting is significant is that we will hopefully agree and set the agenda for the World Food Summit, which is planned for November 1996. Swaziland would like to congratulate the Director-General for his timely decision to convene the World Food Summit at this critical time in the history of mankind and that of FAO. We all know that if nothing is done now, billions of people will die in the future as a result of malnutrition and hunger. So Ministers of Agriculture and Heads of States must get this message loud and clear now, for tomorrow may be too late.
In celebrating the 50th anniversary of FAO, we need to honestly and critically review our performance in the areas of food and general agricultural production. We are told and we also observe that through the Green Revolution in developing countries and impressive advancement in science and technology in most countries, world cereals have leapt from 1.4 tonnes per hectare in the 1960s to twice this figure in 1989-91. We also note that global availability of food has increased from 2 300 kilocalories per day in the early 1960s, to about 2 700 kilocalories today. FAO can be proud to have contributed significantly to these achievements.
I, however, must hasten to caution that all is not well. We still face a bleak situation where 800 million in the world today are faced with chronic malnutrition. Unfortunately, of this total, 200 million are children under the age of five who suffer acute protein and energy deficiency. It is no secret that the bulk of the statistics on malnutrition that are quoted here largely refer to the desperate sub-Saharan African region. This sub-region has also missed the benefits of the Green Revolution, which has transformed so many developing regions of our Organization.
The same sub-continent, is faced with a huge increase in population leading to serious depletion of the soil resource base through overstocking, excessive cutting of trees, forests, and soil erosion.
We have also realized that these problems, particularly in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, require a radical review of our policies to agricultural and rural development. We need to ask ourselves the question as to why some continents and sub-regions have been sidelined by the scientific and economic advances in the area of food and agriculture when others have had their developments accelerated at a phenomenal pace.
We in Swaziland have had a fair share of the problems that I have just referred to. Our situation has further been aggravated by the drought, which appears to be intensifying. In last cropping season of 1994-95, for instance, production of our staple crop maize, was only 50 percent of the normal output, whilst cotton recorded only 23 percent. As if this was not enough, most streams and rivers are drying up and underground water tables are fast falling, thereby rendering vast human and livestock populations helpless. These problems have convinced us, as never before, that we need to intensify the programme of water resource development and conservation instead of relying on dryland cropping.
Our government has realized that in tackling these issues there is need to join forces with the private sector including the non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, it has become very evident to us that more research needs to be focused on drought-tolerant crops as well as those traditional livestock species that withstand such conditions. We have also realized that our extension services need to be strengthened, particularly in the areas of in-service training and extension management.
All this, cannot be possible unless the policy environment in agriculture is conducive. That is why my country is currently engaged in intensive consultations with all sectors of the population, including those at the grass-root level, with a view to getting a consensus on national economic policy including the vital area of agriculture and rural development. We certainly hope that the FAO and other international friends will assist us in the implementation of this programme, which we believe will have a strong and indigenous and national content.
Mr Chairman, my delegation wishes to reaffirm the Swaziland Government's support to the reform programme of the Director-General of FAO. It is our hope that the draft Programme of Work and Budget for 1996-97, once approved, will help accelerate this process. My delegation further endorses the recommendation of the 108th Session of the FAO Council to this Conference to approve the convening of the World Food Summit in Rome in 1996. We, however, request the Secretariat to clarify the functional relationships amongst the regional, sub-regional and country offices of FAO, particularly with respect to direct delivery of services to member countries.
Mr Chairman, before I finish, I would like to make a special appeal to our friends from the developed countries not to abandon the African continent in the area of development support. Most indications at our disposal are that investment support to developing countries appears to be diminishing at the time when these recipient countries are vigorously creating a better investment climate and increasing their efforts in solving the problems themselves.
For those of us who attended the Quebec Symposium, we experienced a new resolve to solve the food security problem amongst the 1 000 delegates who were there. The Symposium concluded that we need to pursue initiatives whose thrust should be the creation of opportunities for the poor and the hungry to help themselves. It is, therefore, my appeal that Africa must rise to the occasion and solve her food security problem. However, we all know we need to be reminded that the problem of food security is a problem of humanity, not of starving members of our societies alone.
Lastly, Mr Chairman, I wish to congratulate you and other members of your bureau on your election. We are very confident that with your able leadership, our meeting will yield fruitful results.
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Sitaheng RASPHONE (Laos): Mr Chairman and Mr Director-General, honourable delegates, ladies and gentlemen. First of all, I would like to extend my deep sorrow and condolences to the Government and the delegation of Iraq for the loss of its Minister of Agriculture. I would like to join the previous speakers in congratulating you, Mr Chairman, and all Vice-Chairmen, on your election to such high and honourable posts, and to welcome the five new members of our Organization. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to address the 28th FAO Conference which corresponds to FAO's 50th anniversary. I congratulate FAO on the success of the symposium "People at the heart of development" and the Ministerial Meeting with its fruitful outcome as "The Quebec Declaration". It will be the prelude to many and diverse actions, large and small, on the way to the World Food Summit which will be held in November 1996.
In the past two years since the 27th FAO Conference in November 1993, FAO within its mandate has contributed to ensuring humanity's freedom from hunger. Major achievements have been made in food production, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, especially the Organization's work on international codes and standards, agricultural advice, integrated pest management, transboundary controls of pests and diseases, responsible fishing, genetic resource management, forest development, sectoral analysis and food quality control.
The Lao Government continues to place the highest priority on rural poverty alleviation among its policy objectives and is recognizing the overwhelming importance of agriculture to its economy. It is determined to accelerate broad-based agricultural and rural development as a major element of its fight against poverty. Other objectives which are closely interrelated to poverty alleviation include: improving food self-sufficiency, diversifying agriculture and livestock product exports, raising smallholders' incomes and promoting economic growth while conserving natural resources which was already reflected in our delegation's statement at the last Conference. This includes the implementation of six major national programmes, namely:
Unfortunately, this year our country has suffered from typhoons (such as Irwin and Louise). Floods have occurred in six provinces along the Mekong River; many families had to be evacuated to higher places together with their animals and belongings. Apart from loss of some of the production and other properties of the people, many infrastructures, such as access roads and irrigation facilities, have been devastated. The estimated flooded area was almost 90 000 hectares, equivalent to one-fourth of the paddy fields, with a damage of more than US$30 million.
To counter the flood situation, the government has set up a National Committee to relieve the consequences of the floods, headed by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. Efforts have been made jointly among the different Ministries coupled with assistance from individual donors and UN organizations, as well as NGOs. Now we have reached again a normal situation but there is still a great need to support farmers' rehabilitation with immediate assistance in the following matters:
A project profile has been prepared for submission to the International Donor's Committee through the Special Relief Operations Service of FAO. We believe that this international relief assistance will contribute to these matters, ensuring food security and especially assistance in rice.
The Lao Government is in full support of the FAO Director-General's initiative to convene the World Food Summit. It is a means of focusing international attention on a serious and still growing problem which requires broad-based and concerted action at all levels, to address the persistent and often deep-rooted issues linked to the overall goal of achieving food security and ensuring availability of and access to food for all. It is suggested to open a special Trust Fund and to mobilize voluntary contributions from public and private sources to facilitate the preparation for and holding of the World Food Summit.
Before ending my statement, let me take this opportunity to say that we deeply appreciate the support we have received from the international donor community and the NGO community, as well as friendly countries, and especially from FAO who has significantly contributed to our socio-economic development and had gradually improved the well-being of our people.
There is a great need for increased coordination, cooperation and collaboration in terms of technical and financial terms for achieving food security in the LAO PDR.
Finally, I wish this Conference every success.
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Jalal RASOOLOF (Iran, Islamic Republic of): I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences for the unexpected demise of late Excellency Khalid Abdul Moneem Rasheed, the Minister of Agriculture of Iraq. May God the Almighty bless his soul.
On behalf of my government and myself I take this opportunity to congratulate your election and the election of your honourable Vice-Chairmen and Chairmen and Officers of Commissions. I would also like to congratulate all the Member States on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of FAO.
I also thank the Secretariat for their efforts in organizing this very important Conference and preparation of reports of admirable quality.
I seize this opportunity to extend my sincere congratulations to our neighbouring countries, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Georgia for joining the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Ministers, Mr Director-General, ladies and gentlemen. Since the election of the new Director-General FAO has undergone a vital change, and has stepped into a new era characterized by more efficiency, expedition of proper service delivery and more cost effectiveness. An outline of this change includes:
- Restructuring of the Organization
- Decentralization
- Initiatives for more effective cooperation among member countries
- Prioritization of the plans and activities
All the above fundamental changes were supported by member countries at the Council, specialized committees and regional conferences. The altered momentum of FAO has enabled it to address in a more efficient manner the essential food requirement, food security and sustainable agricultural development in its Member States, in particular those classified as low-income deficient countries. Another important feature resulting from these changes is the increased attention to human capacity building in the developing countries which is a prerequisite for economic growth and development. We view all these initiations as harmonious and concerted sets of actions reaffirming dedication to the principles on which the FAO was founded.
At this stage the most critical role of the member countries is to facilitate and support the proposed plans and activities that are viewed as vehicles contributing to the change.
Recent discussions in the Quebec Ministerial Meeting and the 109th Session of the Council show almost unanimous support for these changes as well as for the proposed programme of work of 1996-97. There is however some dissatisfaction among a few developed countries on the level of the budget. I would like at this point to mention that per minute defence expenditure of FAO's Member States is about 1.5 million dollars. In other words, if we all reallocate 15 minutes of our defence budget per year to food production through FAO, the issue would be resolved and billions of people in the developing world would enjoy its results. Let us do this while urging the Organization to undertake an in-depth study on ways and means of increased efficiency and more cost-effectiveness of the Organization for its future decisions.
Many developing countries are facing severe problems such as ecological limitations, shortage of farmland and water supply, rapid population growth, inadequate investment and natural resources degradation. However there are reasons to be optimistic in the future, if our integrated approach is to be adopted.
In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran has developed and commenced the implementation of specific strategies formulated under the first and second five-year development plans.
It may be useful to state that close to ninety percent of nutrients supplied in 1993, that is, the end of the first five-year development plan, was supported by domestic production.
As for other achievements of the first five-year plan, the average agricultural production has grown 6 percent annually, the value of exported agricultural commodities has increased by 13 percent of the plan's target of 3.8 billion dollars, and food imports have reduced despite continued population growth. As a result the import value of basic crops declined from 1.9 billion dollars to 900 million dollars. By the end of the first five-year plan, we imported only 2.5 million tonnes of wheat, which was two times less than what we imported at the start of the plan.
Iran's rate of annual rainfall is one-third of the world's average. This problem was addressed through establishing large and small dams on the one hand and improving on-farm irrigation efficiency on the other. This policy resulted in the supply of more than seven billion cubic metres of irrigation water, and the implementation of soil and water infrastructure plans on approximately 1.4 million hectares, agricultural land over a five-year period.
Long-term credit to farmers and insurance policies on agricultural products have increased by two and a half times.
In the second development plan, while investment in agriculture is expected to increase by 11.9 percent per annum, the expected annual growth rate for the sector is estimated at 4.3 percent.
Irrigation systems would be implemented on 2 million hectares of rainfed land.
Specific programmes on biotechnology and integrated pest management have been developed to reduce pesticides and chemical fertilizers used by at least 40 percent.
The targets set for production of basic crops are well above those anticipated in the first five-year plan. The actual production of wheat was 10.8 million tonnes in 1993, while this figure will increase to 15 million tonnes by the end of the second five-year plan. Other crops including horticulture products will face an increase from 53 million tonnes at the start of the plan to 75 million tonnes by the final stages of its implementation.
Mr Chairman, there is a wide belief that the newly established Word Trade Order would lead to a fair, free and developed international trading system, which will soon govern all dimensions of international trade for both goods and services and will bring about new employment opportunities, increased incomes, efficient resource utilization, improved standards of living and general economic prosperity, the total net benefit of which has been estimated at more than 5 trillion dollars over a decade.
However, this is not to neglect the fact that in the short run this will lead to increased international agricultural commodity prices, which means an increase in hard currency expenditure to the net food importing nations. If a fair and just international trade atmosphere is to be maintained considerable technical assistance should be provided to the latter countries and FAO should play an important role in this respect.
Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I hereby once again stress my government's strongest support concerning the Programmes of Work and Budget 1996-97 and especially the principles of zero real growth for the budget and I hope that the same support will be asserted by all other Member Nations, as it has been well observed in all previous Conferences.
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Pierre-Claver NAHIMANA (Burundi): Monsieur le Président, Mesdames, Messieurs les Ministres, Excellences, Mesdames, Messieurs, c'est un grand honneur pour moi de prendre la parole à la tribune de cette Conférence, pour exprimer la position de mon pays sur la problématique agricole et alimentaire. Mais tout d'abord, au nom de ma délégation et en mon nom propre, je voudrais, Monsieur le Président, vous féliciter pour votre élection et pour la façon dont vous vous acquittez de votre charge.
Ma délégation se joint aussi à celles qui l'ont précédée pour exprimer ses condoléances les plus sincères à la délégation iraquienne.
Je voudrais aussi souhaiter la bienvenue aux nouveaux membres et leur assurer la coopération et la disponibilité de ma délégation.
Sans revenir sur la déclaration du chef de la délégation de la République gabonaise qui a si brillamment exprimé les opinions et les préoccupations du Groupe africain de Rome, je voudrais attirer l'attention de la Conférence sur son contenu et son importance.
Les opinions que nous avons exprimées collectivement dans cette déclaration sont nos convictions profondes sur le rôle et la mission des Nations Unies, sur la mission de la FAO au lendemain de son cinquantième anniversaire, sur l'importance de la solidarité et de la coopération entre les nations ainsi que sur les rapports et le respect des engagements internationaux des Etats. La délégation du Burundi réaffirme ici son adhésion à ses positions communes.
Je voudrais aussi féliciter la FAO pour le travail accompli tel qu'il est circonscrit dans la brillante déclaration du Directeur général et exprimer le soutien de la délégation du Burundi au Programme de travail et budget pour les deux années à venir tel qu'il est présenté à la Conférence. Il répond aux engagements que nous avons adoptés lors de la 106ème Session de notre Conseil et que nous avons réitérés à maintes reprises. C'est pourquoi la délégation du Burundi souhaite recommander à la Conférence de l'adopter ainsi.
Lors de notre dernière Conférence, la délégation du Burundi a fait état d'une crise politique et sociale grave qui devait comporter des conséquences désastreuses sur sa population qui est essentiellement agricole.
A l'heure actuelle, la crise n'est pas encore maîtrisée. Dans plusieurs régions du pays, de nombreuses familles n'ont pas encore eu la possibilité de rejoindre leurs exploitations pour s'adonner à leurs activités agricoles. Elles vivent dans des conditions misérables, sans espoir du lendemain, surtout en matière de satisfaction et de sécurité alimentaires.
Toutes les conséquences de la crise socio-politique qui a prévalu au Burundi pèsent lourd sur la population, en particulier sur les groupes vulnérables que constituent les femmes et les enfants.
Le Burundi ne connaît pas encore de famine, mais cela ne pourrait tarder si la situation continue à se détériorer.
Nous avons, lors de notre dernière Conférence, lancé un appel à la communauté internationale pour qu'elle aide mon pays, le Burundi, à sortir de cette crise. Celle-ci a répondu avec empressement à cet appel et je tiens à lui exprimer les sentiments sincères de gratitude du Gouvernement du Burundi.
Je tiens à souligner ici, de manière toute particulière, le rôle joué par la FAO dont l'intervention a contribué largement à relancer notre agriculture et continue à en assurer le soutien malgré les conditions de travail qui sont particulièrement difficiles.
Malgré toutes les contraintes que connaît mon pays, je voudrais signaler que le Gouvernement s'est engagé dans un vaste plan de reconstruction nationale. En particulier, pour le secteur agricole et alimentaire, une politique sectorielle agricole adaptée à la situation actuelle a été confectionnée par mon Ministère en collaboration avec plusieurs experts de divers horizons. Cette politique sectorielle qui sera bientôt adoptée par le Conseil des ministres vise surtout: le rééquilibrage des exploitations agricoles après la crise, le retour des familles dans leurs exploitations, la remise en place des mécanismes de soutien aux agriculteurs, la restauration de la fertilité des sols, la protection des sols, la fourniture d'intrants agricoles performants aux agriculteurs ainsi que les intrants d'élevage.
Nous comptons encore une fois sur le soutien de la communauté internationale, en particulier de la FAO, pour mener à terme ces programmes.
Malgré la perspicacité des stratégies que nous ne cessons de mettre en oeuvre, malgré l'engagement des pays et organismes amis à nos côtés, la profondeur de la crise que nous avons subie et que nous ressentons encore appelle à une solidarité encore plus active et soutenue.
Le Burundi abrite encore, en effet, de nombreux réfugiés étrangers et compte parmi sa propre population des milliers de déplacés, réfugiés qui vivent dans la misère et le dénuement. Des centaines de milliers de Burundais sont encore dispersés dans les pays voisins et vivent dans des conditions on ne peut plus précaires.
Face à cette situation, le Gouvernement du Burundi a mis au point un plan d'action pour assainir cette situation. Mais, sans le déploiement d'efforts similaires au niveau régional et sans le concours de la communauté internationale, ces initiatives de mon Gouvernement seraient vouées à l'échec - et des personnes continueraient à être emportées en masse par la faim, la malnutrition, la pauvreté et la misère - entraînant avec elles tout le patrimoine forestier et environnemental.
En terminant cette allocution, je voudrais réitérer la ferme volonté du Gouvernement de respecter les engagements pris à l'endroit des organisations internationales, et une en particulier, la FAO, malgré les problèmes que nous connaissons et qui, nous l'espérons, pourront être résolus avec le ferme soutien de la communauté internationale.
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Toivo PALM (Estonia): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. First, allow me to express our condolences to the Delegation of Iraq on the loss of their Minister of Agriculture.
I hereby have the honour to turn to the 28th Session of the FAO Conference on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Estonia.
First, I would like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election. It is also a special honour and pleasure to greet the new Members of FAO. I am most pleased to forward the thanks of my government to the Director-General of FAO, His Excellency Jacques Diouf, for the keen attention he has given to requests for programmes and projects connected with Estonia.
Mr Chairman, Estonia became a Member of FAO four years ago, just three month after restoring our independence in August 1991. During these years of technical assistance projects have been started with FAO. Most of these programmes started up at the very beginning of our FAO membership and are now mostly successfully completed and every one of them has had its own positive effect on the restructuring of our agriculture and the Estonian economy as a whole in its progress from a centrally planned to a market oriented economy. But, the restructuring of our economy, and especially the agricultural sector, has turned out to be more complicated than was expected four years ago at the time of our joining FAO. Nevertheless, and in spite of some difficulties and setbacks, Estonia has had noticeable political and economic success - we are now an associate member of the European Union - and we were accepted to this status without the customary waiting period. We have a stable and convertible currency. Estonia has established no customs duties and it is thus open to free trade, to name another important factor.
Now some remarks about our problems. Due to the free trade situation, there are still problems with food quality control to protect our market from low-quality imported goods and I, therefore, sincerely hope that programmes with FAO to elaborate some effective food quality control will continue. This is one of the most vital matter for us.
A number of problems which are important for our agricultural sector are connected with the completion of an effective land reform programme. This also includes the problems of reforestation of the land now lying fallow and unused by tillage. This means that there is a clear need to develop extension services in this branch with the establishment of the corresponding institutions in areas where afforestation is needed. All this can be achieved much more effectively with the cooperation of FAO.
There are also serious problems in our fisheries sector. We have a large and ineffective fleet of trawlers which we inherited from the Soviet era and which it makes no sense for us to retain. We are receiving most effective advice from FAO in this sector. Other than that there is also urgent need to create new jobs and to educate people for near-shore fishing and processing of the catch, an important question for the local population who during Soviet times were not allowed into the near-shore areas due to Soviet army restrictions.
A most important group of projects, part of them already being started, are connected with a long-term prognosis for our agricultural sector. Our agricultural university and research institutes are fully involved with these projects.
At this stage in the restructuring of the economy, the Government of Estonia considers that it will be appropriate to elaborate the bill "A Forward-Looking Strategy and a Long-Term Prognosis for the Agricultural Sector". The main purpose of this bill will be to enhance the government's ability and confidence in choosing the most appropriate path for the future development of Estonia's agricultural sector. By future development we mean 10 to 15 years. We recognize FAO as an objective source for such a forward-looking strategy and it is for this reason that we have made a specific request to FAO to which FAO is already responding. We recognize the seriousness of this work and we hope that the results of the research will also be, due to the similarity in agricultural problems of other member countries, applicable and useful, especially in the postsocialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
The similarity of the problems in the agricultural sector in the region mentioned encourages us once more to propose the full support of FAO to the regional approach for the different areas.
We very strongly support the proposals made by some countries in the Council to develop the regional approach in FAO. Needless to say, we wish the Director-General full success in carrying out his plans and programmes in this direction.
I would also like to refer to the statement made by His Excellency Mr Luis Atienza, the Minister of Agriculture of Spain and Acting President of the Council of the European Union who appeals to strengthen the regional dimension of food security. According to our understanding, all projects supported by FAO, wherever they are implemented, have their main aim of strengthening food security. We believe that the first Council session in 1996 will be an appropriate time go begin a discussion about the possible regionalization of FAO including possible changes in the budget for the next biennium. This will allow sufficient time to consider and weigh all pros and cons concerning the regionalization of FAO's activities in a democratic way. And I am certain that every democratic decision which concerns FAO's consensus budget will strengthen the member countries' discipline and thus help FAO carry out its ideas and mandate in our small interconnected world.1
CHAIRMAN: I should like to remind you that the 9th Plenary Meeting will start tomorrow morning at 09.30 hours. The meeting is adjourned.
The meeting rose at 16.30 hours.
La séance est levée à 16 h 30.
Se levanta la sesión a las 16.30 horas.
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1 Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.
