- Gambia, China, Albania, Israel, Burma, Venezuela, Finland, Portugal, Mauritius
A. YAYA L. CEESAY (Gambia): First of all, I wish to join my colleagues who spoke before me in congratulating you on your election as Chairman to preside over the deliberations of this august assembly. I an sure that under your wise guidance and Chairmanship this conference will reach very fruitful conclusions. Also, I want to take this opportunity to welcome our brothers from Angola, Comoros, Mozanbique, Namibia, represented by the UN Council for Namibia, Sao Tomé and Principe, Seychelles and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea as members of the FAO,
Once again we meet in Rome to review the World Food and Agricultural situation as well as to consider the activities and programmes which the FAO intends to follow and implement to assist in bringing about a high level of agricultural production in the world. To us in the third world this is a fundamental goal that the FAO should pursue with vigour and I am happy to note that the organization is beginning to be aware of its responsibilities in this direction. We also welcome the practical steps being taken by the FAO under its Director-General and hope that this new orientation of the organization will be strongly supported by all Governments as the impact of these new measures are beginning to be felt in some of our countries and we hope that these programmes will be further strengthened.
My Government will particularly wish to place on record its support for the Action Programme presented by the Director-General on the prevention of food losses. The Gambia, like other countries in the SAHEL, loses every year a substantial amount of crops through pests infestation. Although the Gambia with the assistance of the FAO and USA has begun to recognize, expand and strengthen its crop protection services, it still needs substantial assistance to procure the necessary ρest" fighting equipment, pesticides to stem the invasion of our crops by pests. The Gambia suffers great economic losses through pests infestation and we see in this programme the possibility of a global movement to assist in removing those constraints that stop developing countries from mounting effective campaigns to reduce or prevent altogether the havoc being wrought on our crops by pests.
We would also like to give our full support to the Technical Cooperation Programme which was accepted by the July 1976 Session of the Council. The Gambia is one of the first countries to benefit from the T. C. P. Without the prompt assistance we received from Technical Cooperation Programme last year, the Gambia would have suffered a disastrous farming season due to a unprecedented plague of pests that threatened our cereal crops.
We feel that the Technical Cooperation Programme is the most significant and worthwhile programme ever undertaken by the FAO and its scope should be expanded by increasing the resources made available to this programme.
We also welcome the move made by the Director-General to decentralize FAO activities by strengthening the capacity of Regional Offices and the appointment of country representatives to the countries that would need assistance most in the development of their agricultural sectors. This move, I am sure, will enable the organization to be more responsive to the needs of member countries and closer to the unique realities that exist in each member nation.
My Government considers the theme of the 19th Session of the FAO Conference very appropriate at this point in time in our national development efforts. The Gambia has for the first time launched a comprehensive National Development Plan. The Plan is an attempt to take a substantial step forward, involving in particular much more specific definition of national objectives and where possible targets, establishing a frame for maximising integration, co-ordination and executive ability in the public sector. In the Plan, particular attention will be paid to agriculture and Agro-industries. This sector has priority in the plan over all other on manpower and resources that can be mobilized both nationally and internationally.
My Government has already started to implement the Plan with vigour and determination, and is now
attempting to attain a significant boost in agricultural production to meet the goals of the Plan in
this sector which are as follows:
(1) improving nutrition standards in rural areas;
(2) eliminating bulk cereal imports, in particular rice;
(3) diversifying rural cash incomes;
(4) achieving a 35 percent rate of growth in domestically consumed foodstuffs and 45 percent rate of growth in marketed export cash crops at the end of the plan period;
(5) increasing development expenditure in agriculture over the period 1975-1980.
In translating this policy objective into action programmes especially in the area of food crops particularly rice, 4 000 acres of land have been brought under irrigation already and we plan to increase this acreage to 7 000 acres by 1980. The reclamation of this extra 3 000 acres to be exact, is to be phased out over five years. The expansion of the acreage under irrigation is being undertaken with the assistance of The People's Republic of China and it is heartening to note that the target is being achieved successfully. Efforts are also being made to consolidate the existing 5 000 acres of land already under irrigation. The consolidation is taking the form of replacing existing equipment and the lining of irrigation canals which are presently earthlined. This scheme will cost a lot of money and local funds are presently being used to push this project forward.
Also a major drive in increasing the production of rice in our swamp areas is being undertaken. Particular attention is being given improving swamps where salinity and/or acidity is a problem, as well as the development of two large swamps in the Eastern part of The Gambia. These swamps contain 10 000 acres of potential rice land. My Government is giving great attention to this project which needs to be urgently developed considering that our import bill for rice is rising rapidly. We are presently importing about 30 000 tons of milled rice annually and it is expected that this figure will rise with increasing population, urbanization as well as increases in incomes. We hope that with the full development of these swamps about 50 000 tons of paddy rice will be produced and that this will go a long way in reducing our dependence on rice imports. The studies for the development of these swamps have already started, using local funds, and will be completed by the end of 1978. Their development, however, will need considerable financial investment.
Our efforts in food production are not limited to rice alone. Attention is also being directed towards other traditional cereal crops like millet, maize and sorghum. Package programmes are being introduced in the production of these crops to maximize their yields. Intensive demonstration of improved husbandry practices have been mounted in all 35 districts of the country with the village serving as the unit of demonstration, using a package of improved practices such as good seeds, timely planting, adequate plant population, fertilizer, seed dressing and adequate crop protection measures. Efforts are also being made to provide families with improved implements. It is hoped that when the above programme picks up yields will be increased by 50 to 80 percent.
'We are keenly aware that our efforts must be redoubled if we have to meet the objectives and targets set for the Agricultural Sector. In this respect, an integrated rural Development Project financed from loans by IDA and BADEA and a sizeable grant from ODM has also been started. This project aims at increasing the cereal and cash crop production and livestock production of some 25 000 farming families, living in 65 selected villages. This project has many components relating mainly to the strengthening and up-grading of Mixed Farming Centres, providing training of and support for extension workers and the supplying of inputs (seeds, fertilizers, oxen and implements), as credit in kind to farmers through a strengthened and better organized cooperative movement.
In the field of Livestock Production, the project is seeking to expand Animal Health campaigns by providing the necessary drugs, equipment and transport, by a better utilization of dry-weather grazing, through the provision of water and stock routes, the amelioration of traditional husbandry practices and the improvement of marketing infrastructure. Our Department of AnimalHealth and Production has been significantly expanded and reorganized, and as a result, the pastoral community is being offered an increasingly improved extension service. A comprehensive sectoral livestock programme is also Being developed. The project would seek to support the 42 Livestock Owners Association that have been established all over the country in matters relating to grazing, land development and utilization, improved husbandry programmes, better marketing arrangements and the development of production activities related to small ruminants and poultry.
For some time to come the development of Agriculture in The Gambia will depend on the efforts and activities of the small farmer. Thus, special attention is being given to the development of the Co-operative Movement with the view to making it more effective in delivering the necessary services in the areas of marketing and the provision of inputs etc., to the small farmer.
While my Government is concerned with the country's agricultural production capacity and so to help eliminate the food deficit, it is also not forgetting its responsibility to protect our vital natural resources. We feel that as much as it is necessary to increase agricultural production, our activities in this area must be done in concert with policies and practices best calculated to conserve the environment and promote its long range improvement. It goes without saying that in the fragile eco-system of The Gambia it is imperative that we painstakingly husband our natural resources if we have to head off the kind of disasters that have befallen some countries. In this respect, we have plans to set up a soil and water management unit under my Ministry, with the assistance of the United States Government; the major objective of the Unit will be the development of a long-term policy aimed at establishing proper land use and water management practices in the agricultumal patterns of the country.
In the field of Fisheries, my Government has now developed a comprehensive fisheries policy with the assistance of the FAO. The broad objective of which is to manage our fisheries resources in a rational manner so as to guard against their over exploitation and with a view to maximising the contribution of the fisheries sector to the national economy in terms of:
a) production of sufficient food for local consumption;
b) income generation;
c) job opportunities for Gambians;
d) the development of the artisanal fishery and the creation of a viable industrial fishery;
e) foreign exchange earnings.
Considering that our fisheries industry is grossly underdeveloped, the translation of this policy objective into action programmes will involve substantial investments running into millions of dalasis. Investment in this area will be well justified both in terms of employment and nutrition, the potential financial returns and foreign exchange earnings. The EEC has recently approved funds to assist us in the development of the artisanal fisheries sector. However, more funds will be needed to develop the Industrial Fisheries Sector, the development of which will for obvious reasons be phased out over a number of years.
In keeping with my Government's preoccupation to protect our natural resources, the Forestry resources of the country will also be protected. Apart from declaring some areas as forest parks, progress is being made in preparing hundreds of acres for replanting. Following a new forestry law passed this year, we hope that the designated forest parks will be protected from wanton destruction. Furthermore, efforts are being made to find substitute fuel to charcoal which is totally derived from our forests. If we are successful in this venture, we confidently believe that what is left of our forests will be saved for future generations.
The need for the development of our water resources is paramount. The importance of water to our survival and progress demands also that the available water resources must be conserved, both in terms of quality and quantity, and efficiently utilized so as to ensure their most beneficial and reasonable usage. In this respect, my Government is looking into the matter of introducing a comprehensive water legislation in the country for the first time and establishing the necessary institutional framework for its enforcement.
Also my Government is actively involved in activities related to the Gambia River Basin Development. We are happy to inform this assembly that the Multi-Donor Mission fielded under the aegis of the UNDP, which drew specialists from as many donor countries as possible, have presented their draft report on the development of the Gambia River Basin. The Mission has formulated development strategies and support programmes that could be adopted and accomplished in three phases, beginning as early as possible up to the year 2000.
In the first phase, apart from the feasibility studies to be carried out on the various projects outlined in the Mission's report, a salinity barrage, which has been proved feasible by an ODM study, is to be constructed. The salinity barrage is vital to the future development of agriculture in The Gambia. With the construction of the barrage, it will be possible to provide a control on salt water intrusion in the Gambia River, thus making fresh water available for the production of food and fibre for the people. My Government places great importance on the construction of this barrage, without which our development programme for irrigated agriculture will be stunted. This will augur well for The Gambia as it is being increasingly realized that we cannot depend on the rratic nature of our rainfall for the sustenance of our crops, as adequately demonstrated during this decade.
In addition to the above, a study of our groundwater resources will be undertaken with the assistance of the United States Government. This project is of vital importance to the development of horticultural crops in the western part of The Gambia. The use of groundwater for irrigation will be pushed vigourously when the quantity and quality of our water resources have been determined.
Mr. Chairman, before concluding I would again wish to inform this august assembly that The Gambia has again been subjected to drought conditions like the other Sahelian countries. Rainfall in The Gambia this year has been very erratic, and the total precipitation recorded is well below normal.
As a result of the poor and erratic rainfall, crops sown during the very first rains were lost. The crops that were planted late, because of the drought, have also suffered a high incidence of pest infestation of crops, mainly by such field pests as millipedes, army worms, grasshopper and blister beetles. Our experts have estimated that our food crop losses this year will amount to about 46 percent.
In a normal year, about 59 000 tons of food crops are harvested. It is however estimated that there will be a shortfall of about 24 000 tons this year.
My Government faced with this situation, has mounted an immediate relief operation and has appealed to the international community for assistance to obviate the problem of hunger and starvation which will follow the drought. The international community has responded promptly to our appeal and I am to thank, on behalf of the Government of The Gambia, the countries that have shown, one way or the other, their humanity in coming to our aid at this time of our need. I would specifically like to extend our gratitude to the Governments of the United States of America, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, the EEC and the WFP and the Director-General, for helping to arouse the international community to be aware of the drought situation in the Sahel. We are particularly touched also by the assistance we received from a sister African country, the Republic of the Ivory Coast.
Having said this, one must accept the fact that countries like The Gambia that are persistently exposed to the dangers of drought must begin to take steps to free themselves from the vagaries of the weather. It is for this reason that my country attaches great importance to the outcome of the second conference of the Club du Sahel held in Ottawa, Canada in 1977. At this conference, a first generation programme for the Sahel was drawn up covering such areas as dryland farming, irrigated agriculture, livestock, fisheries and water resources development. What was noteworthy during that meeting was the most positive attitude adopted by the developed countries, their readiness to pledge large amounts of resources and put their technical know-how at the disposal of the Sahelian countries for the long-term development of these countries. My Government wishes to place on record its gratitude to the countries that are ready to subscribe to the development of the Sahel and would like to applaud the United States of America, Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and also the United Nations Agencies, the IBRD, the ADB, BADEA, the Islamic Bank and all those who pledged their support for the Sahel development programme.
My Government feels that this is the type of support needed by the developing countries and if this assistance comes to fruition, some of our basic problems of food, shelter and environmental deterioration will be solved.
HSIAO PENG (China) (interpretation from Chinese): It is a privilege and pleasure for me to address this Conference today. Please allow me, first of all, to congratulate you, Minister Toyib Hadiwijaya, on being elected Chairman of the Conference, and to extend our warm welcome to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a new member of this Organization and her first delegation to an FAO Conference. Under the leadership of their great leader Kim Il-Sung, the Korean people have made great achievements and gained rich experience in agriculture and rural development. We believe that they will make positive contributions to the work of this Organization as well as to the struggle in the food and agricultural sphere for the establishment of a New International Economic Order. We also cordially welcome other new members of FAO, Comoros, Djibouti, Mozambique, Namibia, Säo Tomé and Principe, and Seychelles, who will strengthen the ranks of the Third World countries in FAO and make useful contributions to its work.
The current Conference is convened in an excellent international situation which is becoming more and more favourable to the struggle of the people of the world. Uniting themselves, large numbers of Third World countries have made great efforts and achieved gratifying results in safeguarding their political independence and developing their national economies. In food and agriculture, many Third World countries have, since the last Conference, continued to develop food production on a priority basis and raised both their total grain output and rate of self-sufficiency in food.
By making full use of local agricultural resources, not a few Third World countries have implemented a policy of comprehensive development of farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery in the light of local conditions, thereby beginning to overcome the backwardness of their rural areas resulting from past imperialist and colonial rule. More and more Third World countries producing agricultural primary products have united themselves and fought tirelessly for the improvement of the unequal and unfair international trade terms for agricultural products.
Third World countries have also started a struggle to safeguard their sovereignty over agricultural and fishery resources against superpower exploitation and control through trans-national corporations and "joint enterprises". Through individual or collective self-reliance, quite a number of Third World countries have set up their own agricultural input industries and agro-research institutions.
What is even more noteworthy, from Freetown to Manila, from Tunis to Lima, powerful appeals were issued at all FAO regional conferences held last year for the establishment of a New International Economic Order in the world food and agriculture sphere. Some Second World countries have also endeavoured to develop food and agricultural production and continued to make dialogues and contacts with Third World countries in this respect.
Internationally, it is the common task of us Third World countries to oppose superpower exploitation, plunder and control in the food and agriculture field. Facts have proved over the years that as long as we Third World countries strengthen our solidarity, rely on ourselves and unite with all forces that can be united in waging an unremitting struggle against hegemonism, imperialism and colonialism, the establishment of a New International Economic Order can well be realized and the prospects for food and agricultural development are also bright.
Now as ever, the speedy development of food production in the Third World remains our pressing task. Although the world food situation has somewhat improved recently, one must never forget what happened during the food shortage after the 1972 worldwide crop failure. At that time, one superpower snatched up food supplies right and left, sending prices sky-high, and the other superpower took advantage of the situation to reap huge profits, while it was the numerous food-deficient countries in the Third World who suffered most. It is, therefore, essential for the Third World countries to make tenacious efforts to develop food production and continuously raise the rate of self-sufficiency in food. With food in hand, everything else will be easier to do.
Chairman Mao, the great leader and teacher of the Chinese people, taught us, ''Agriculture has a vital bearing on the nation's economy and the people's livelihood. Take heed, for it is very dangerous not to grasp grain production. " We keenly realize from our experience over the 28 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China that agriculture is the foundation of the national economy while grain production is in turn the foundation of agriculture. Only by doing a good job of food and agricultural production, will it be possible to stimulate the development of industry and of the national economy as a whole. That is why our Government has consistently attached great importance to the development of agriculture, especially grain production. We are now able to feed more than one-fifth of the world's population with less than 7 percent of the world's cultivated land. This was totally inconceivable in pre-liberation old China before 1949.
Led by our wise leader Chairman Hua Kuo-feng and determined to carry out Chairman Mao's behests, our eight hundred million people are firmly implementing the series of principles and policies personally formulated by Chairman Mao concerning the development of agriculture. In so doing, we are making determined efforts to overcome the consequences of the interference and sabotage by the counterrevolutionary conspiratorial "Gang of Four" of Wang Hung-Wen, Chang Chun-Chiao, Chiang Ching and Yao Wen-Yuan in our agricultural work and carry forward the mass movement to learn from Tachai in agriculture throughout China's countryside.
Despite the severe natural calamities, we still won a good grain output in 1976, which was slightly higher than the bumper harvest of 1975. This year, agricultural production in China has been affected, by serious drought in spring, excessive rains and typhoons in summer and various other natural disasters. But inspired by Chairman Hua's wise strategic decision to "grasp the key link of class struggle and bring about great order across the land", our people have waged a stubborn struggle against nature and managed through hard work to bring in a good harvest. The output of such staple crops as grain, cotton and oilseeds has all increased over last year, while further progress is recorded in forestry, animal husbandry, side-line production and fishery.
In recent years, the movement to learn from Tachai, the national pacesetter in agriculture, has stimulated agricultural development in China. Tachai, which is a small hilly village, has not only made a great impact on the county and prefecture where it is located, but has spurred the development of
agriculture throughout the country. This fully demonstrates the superiority of China's socialist system. Here, I would like to give a brief account of the movement to learn from Tachai in agriculture which is sweeping China's countryside.
Situated in Hsiyang county, Shansi Province, Tachai is a production brigade with some eighty peasant households. In the past, this mountain village used to suffer from inclement nature and degrading poverty. But the people of Tachai have earnestly acted on Mao Tse-tung Thought and kept to the path of socialism. Giving full play to the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and hard struggle and the advantages of collective economy, they have undertaken large-scale farmland reconstruction centred on soil improvement and water conservancy; they have adopted scientific methods in farming and run their production brigade with thrift and industry; and they have cultivated and displayed the noble quality of loving the state and cherishing their collective. In this way, for the last two decades and more, the people of Tachai have surmounted one difficulty after another and increased their grain output year after year. Their per-hectare yield of grain in 1976 averaged 8. 3 tons, or more than four times that of 1955, the year after the first agricultural cooperative was organized. In the meantime, Tachai has diversified its production so successfully that its proceeds from forestry, livestock-breeding and sideline production were as much as 76 times higher than 1955. With public assets accumulating sixty-fold, Tachai-has provided all the construction funds it needed, while the living standard of its people has improved markedly. A new socialist village brimming with vigour and prosperity has taken shape at Tachai.
Like a shining red banner, the example of Tachai was held up by Chairman Mao personally, as it points the way forward for China's new socialist countryside and provides a model to be emulated by all Chinese villages. In 1964, Chairman Mao issued the call for peasants throughout the country to follow the example of Tachai. Thereupon, a great movement unfolded to learn from Tachai in agriculture, to which Premier Chou En-lai gave his personal guidance. In the past few years, "Chairman Hua presided over two successive national conferences on learning from Tachai, which was attended by several thousand delegates, giving a new impetus to the movement. It is not just people's communes and production brigades that learn from Tachai; in the present stage, the emphasis is on building. up Tachai-type counties throughout China.
The Hsiyang county where Tachai is situated is poorly endowed by nature and used to have low yields of grain. From 1967 onwards the county started to learn from Tachai's experience in real earnest. Relying on and mobilizing its human, material and financial resources, Hsiyang engaged in the integrated development of mountains, rivers, farmland, afforestation and roads in accordance with a county-wide plan. In nine years' time, a total of 110 million cubic metres of earth and stone work was done on farmland reconstruction or water conservancy projects, with the result that over 4 000 hectares of waste hillsides, dry riverbeds or barren gullies were turned into good cropland, over 5 300 hectares of rainfed land were brought under irrigation and another 20 000 hectares of cultivated fields were otherwise improved. By 1975, as compared with ten years before, the annual grain output of the county had almost quadrupled, its revenue from agriculture tripled and its public assets increased 6. 7 times. By learning from Tachai, Hsiyang has brought about fundamental changes in its natural environment, its conditions for agricultural production and the mental outlook of its people. It has thus emerged as an advanced county, a pioneer in the national movement for building up Tachai-type counties.
By 1975, of China's 2 100 odd counties, over 300 had become Tachai-type counties. These were joined by another hundred or more in 1976. We are determined to turn one-third of China's counties into Tachai-type counties by 1980.
The movement to learn from Tachai in agriculture is yet another great revolutionary mass movement in the countryside following on the successive movements for land reform, for agricultural cooperation and for the establishment of people's communes. It started at a point in history when China's hundreds of millions of peasants, as masters of their own country and having taken the road of socialism, eagerly desired to build socialism in China with greater, faster, better and more economical results. It is educating China's hundreds of millions of peasants in the basic line of the Chinese Communist Party, giving full play to their enthusiasm for socialism and pushing China's agriculture ahead through self-reliance and hard struggle - such is the Chinese way of developing agriculture.
In the great movement to learn from Tachai in agriculture, the broad masses of Chinese peasantry remake nature in the indomitable revolutionary spirit of daring to battle against heaven and earth, and gradually transform all unfavourable conditions for agricultural production. We know that the kind of backward agriculture inherited from old China, when all farmland remained as it had always been and mountains and rivers were never harnessed, was utterly unreliable, as it was completely at the mercy of nature. To change this state of affairs, we have summed up the experience of Tachai in undertaking farmland reconstruction centred on soil improvement and water conservation. We are
determined to spare no pains and work our hardest to build up, gradually and throughout the country, farmland that is ensured of high and stable yields despite drought and excessive rain, thus fundamentally changing the conditions of our agricultural production.
In recent years, we have on average levelled 5. 3 million hectares of cropland, improved 660 000 hectares of hillside fields and brought 1. 6 million hectares under irrigation every year. In this way, we have gradually improved conditions for agricultural production, raised our ability to combat natural calamities and, moveover, created favourable conditions for the mechanization of China's agriculture.
China is a developing socialist country. At present, our agriculture is not yet advanced, neither are our food supplies plentiful. But we are determined to put in three years of hard work, so that by 1980 we expect to make still greater progress in farming, forestry, livestock-breeding, fishery and sideline production and realize in the main the mechanization of agriculture. Further on, we shall strive to modernize our agriculture before the century is out and make a greater contribution to humanity.
KRISTAQ KULE (Albania) (interpretation from Albanian): Mr. Chairman, Allow me, first of all, to extend my greetings, on behalf of the delegation of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, to the newly-admitted members, of FAO, and wish the peoples of those countries success in their all-round development. The problems of agriculture and food are directly linked with the efforts carried by the countries and peoples for economic and social development, for the security and strengthening of their political and economical independence. By sorting agricultural and food problems out of the sheer economic framework and putting them at the fore plans of the politics of the country, we consider them as linked with all world-important problems, as well as with the international situation in general.
The 19th Session of FAO Conference is taking place in a situation when working masses and freedom-loving peoples of the world struggle with abnegation against political oppression and economic exploitation of the imperialist powers and first of all against that of USA and Soviet Union, in the defence of the sovereign rights and for securing a better life, for the achievement and strengthening of their political and economical independence. The liberation movement of the peoples is ever rising at higher levels, both in content and intensity. The struggle of the progressive and democratic forces against fascism and reaction is increasing and broadening. Peoples are becoming more conscious about the danger the policy of aggression, expansion and hegemony of US imperialism and Soviet socialimperialism presents to their life. These victories testify that in spite of all means the superpowers have at their disposal, they are not able to submit the peoples and the countries, be them small, when they are determined to fight to the end and to make every sacrifice.
The imperialist powers try by all means to throw the heavy burden of economic, politic and social crises upon the other peoples and countries, mainly through preservation and implementation of old and new forms of colonialism and neocolonialism. The superpowers and other imperialist powers try to keep untouched the forms and international institutions established since old colonial period and when this happens, as it is the case with the prices of certain raw materials, they don't hesitate to blackmail even by war these peoples and countries who want to establish the sovereignty upon their national riches, who fight for democracy and equality in international exchange and relations. But this plunder and cruel exploitation cannot last for ever. The economic decolonization is a new revolutionary process which cannot be stopped. Peoples have the right to establish their complete sovereignty upon the natural resources and to nationalize them. Nothing can stop the struggle of the peoples for equality in the international exchange and to utilize the revenue drawn from the selling of raw materials for the development of the economy and culture, for the improvement of their life.
The Albanian people has supported and will always powerfully support the just struggle of the peoples for the defence and affirmation of national independence, to exert the complete sovereignty upon national riches. The People's Socialist Republic of Albania backs with determination the struggle of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America for national liberation, for the defence and strengthening of political and economical independence, for the establishment of the just economic relations among states; it supports their struggle against exploitation and plundering of the imperialist and neocolonialist powers.
The People's Socialist Republic of Albania attaches special importance to the investments in the field of agriculture. In our country we have made big capital investments for impetuous development of productive forces and the branches of the material production in general, for strengthening of the material-technical basis of socialist agriculture. As a consequence, the investments are concentrated in bonifications (which are completed over 85 per cent or the field area of the country); in water conservancy projects (by increasing watering capacity 11. 8 times), in the electrification of the countryside and the mechanization of agriculture (where for every 33 ha of land corresponds a 15 hp tractor); in the extensive
chemical aplication to the farmland (local industry supplies 165 kg/ha active fertilizers and meets up to 40 per cent of the needs for pesticides). One of the most fundamental investments has been the massive breaking of new lands, both in field areas, but especially in the hilly and mountainous ones, which has made possible to achieve a harmonious development of different agricultural areas of our country.
This is proved by the fact that in the hilly and mountainous areas lives and works almost half the rural population and about 45 percent, the area of arable land is located there. By pursuing such a policy our government has made it possible to increase every where the agricultural production, to parallel develop both lowlands, hilly and mountainous areas, has made it possible to avoid the abandonment and depopulation of the countryside, which brings along the social and economic consequences weighing down so heavily upon agriculture in a number of capitalist and revisionist countries. In comparison with prewar days the area of arable land has increased by 2. 34 times. During the 6th five-year plan (1976-1980) the state will invest more than the entire period of past 20 years (1951-1970) whereas the specific weight of investments in agriculture reaches 22. 5 per cent as compared with the total fund of investments.
The People's Socialist Republic of Albania aids agriculture not only through investments and direct material-technical base, but through a complex of ideopolitical and organizative measures, by mobilizing our entire people -by living constantly with the problems of agriculture, by supporting it materially and morally.
This just and principled stand of our government towards agriculture goes diametrically against that of imperialist powers which make use of the investments in agriculture too, as means of profit and exploitations, by making onesided investments in those sectors where there is the momentary profit and not where the fundamental needs of agriculture lie, by making more noise than achievements through "green revolution", or through chemicalization or industrialization of agriculture, where mostly it is the advertisment and merchant business profit that counts than the ensurance of true progress of agriculture at the service of working masses. These powers try to utilize the investments as means of expansion in the relations with other countries by monopolizing the capital. That is why the imperialists and revisionists stand against the important measures carried out by the progressive and freedom-loving countries, measures expressing the advanced economic and social character such as agrarian land reform, the increase of investments in agriculture, training of skilled cadres for agriculture, etc. These successes which have their direct impact in the increase of agricultural production refute the pretensions of the imperialist and neocolonialist powers that the cause of poverty and undernourishment lies in "the inability and ignorance" of the peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as in the overpopulation of the world. For this reason, starting from the practice of our achievements and that of a number of other countries, we support the thesis that the poverty and undernourishment can be liquidated not only for the present world population, but also taking into consideration its future growth. The real base to this end exists, but it should be made use of practically through struggle which the peoples should wage for a better and independent political, social and economic development, for putting the riches of the country to the benefit of the development of the national economy, by implementing a just investment policy in agriculture.
Mr. President: Within this framework of bitter struggle and tension, on the one hand, the persistence of the two superpowers to profit and to escape from the crises through exploiting more cruelly the peoples and, on the other hand, the struggle of the progressive forces through out the world, for political and social justice and the assurance of living wellbeing, Socialist Albania has not been caught unawares. It has elaborated and implemented a principled policy and not a technical and conjectural one -dictated by the ever running crisis which the imperialist powers impose. Our policy and strategy consist of building socialism, in the concrete conditions of encirclement and of savage imperialist and revisionist blockade, being always led by the Marxist-Leninist ideology.
Dwelling a bit more on the development and the problems of advancing the socialist agriculture in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, I would like to stress some of the basic principles of our agricultural policy and its most relevant achievements.
Albania, once the most backward country in Europe economically, covering an area of about 70 per cent mountains, where to each person belongs only 0. 2 ha of arable land, has succeded to produce all the bread grain required within the country, as well as that of other main foodstuffs. During more than three decades of people's power, the population has grown 2. 5 times and its average annual growth rate is actually over 2 per cent, whereas the agricultural production has increased 4 times; at a time when the average annual rate of increase is from 6 to 8 per cent.
The agricultural policy of our country is not just mere economy, detached, but it is part and parcel of our whole ideology, and politics. It is led by certain fundamental principles: self-reliance, the agriculture is the basic branch of the economy and the concern of the entire people; the alliance between the working class and cooperativist peasantry and that between towns and countryside by promoting a multi-branched agriculture both in low lands and mountainous areas.
All these ideopolitical orientations tested in the practice of our socialist construction for more than 30 years have made the socialist property in the state enterprises and agricultural cooperatives flourish, made our economy not to know crises, rise of prices and depopulation and abandonmant of the countryside. The accumulation fund makes 35 per cent of the. income, by giving always priority to the fundamental investments to land and other important objects of agriculture, so as to make the future development of' the entire economy be better supported.
Self-reliance, the better and complete utilization of the power resources of the country have made it possible that in the field of agriculture too, priority be given to the mechanization, electrification, chemicalization, producing locally the seeds and hybrid or elite livestock which together with the great deed of integral reclamation of land are being succesfully achieved through concerted actions of Albania's industry, agriculture, science.
The struggle for intensification of agriculture, for narrowing the distinctions between town and countryside, is materialised quite in a number of favourable measures taken by our government, measures which do not stick to sheer agricultural character only but include all the problems for the development of the countryside. Thus socialist Albania is the first country in the world without any taxation system whatsoever; it provides free of charge education and health services for the entire population of towns and countryside. It has completed the electrification and telephone linking of the countrvside: it has established unified pensions for cooperative peasantry just like for townsfolk. The State meets the expenditure for social and cultural measures in countryside as in towns. During the 6th five-year plan (1976-1980) the increase in the average rates of real income per capita in the countryside will be over 3 times higher than those in the town, of the new houses to be built by the State, two-thirds will be built in the village cooperatives and agricultural enterprises.
All these successes'bear testimony to the superiority of the socialist system of agriculture. Comrade Enver Hoxha in his Report submitted to the 7th Congress of the Party of Labour of Albania has stressed: "The collectivization of agriculture, carried out over a period, step by step as well as the unceasing strengthening of the common property, are proving the superiority and vitality of the socialist cooperativist order right now, when all over the world, not only in the backward countries, but even in the so-called advanced countries, there is great shortage of agricultural products''.
Another expression of the vitality of our socialist agriculture is the coping succesfully with the difficulties of this year's bad weather, with heavy rain in the winter and a very long drought and high temperature during summer, rarely seen in the last 40 years. It was only due to the mobilization and organization of the entire people working consciously and with revolutionary drive, the far-sighted policy concerning the apparent increase of the irrigated land and other fundamental investments, as well as the rational utilization of all resources and forces of the country, that have made it possible to overcome these difficulties. These results, are based on the great work done in our country for the moulding of the new man, not only highly skilled technically and advanced culturally but first of all educated with a revolutionary consciousness and political maturity, with a socialist attitude towards work and common property.
All these successes have not been easily gained, but through struggle, by overcoming difficulties and obstacles of centuries old backwardness, of the savage imperialLst and revisionist blockade, the impact on of great pressure of overall crises of the capitalist and revisionist world. In spite of these difficult circumstances, the Albanian people led wisely and with bravery by our Party, by applying successful the policy of self-reliance, is marching firmly onward in the road of building socialism.
The delegation of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania asserts, once again, that it will coordinate its efforts with those of other States struggling for an independent economic and political development, by giving its modest contribution to the solution of the important problems which our Conference and Organization face.
F. D. MAAS (Israel): Our delegation joins with others in expressing our congratulations to our elected Chairman and to the election of the Vice-Chairman, We feel sure that you will do your utmost to conduct the Conference in the tradition of the Organization, Our thanks go also to the Government of Italy and the City of Rome for their traditional well-known hospitality.
Our deep appreciation goes to the farmers all over the world, especially to the smallholders, who have so well understood the urgent need for food, many of them to find to their dismay, that efforts and skills they invested, were not remunerated in the market-place due to its fluctuations.
The Government of the State of Israel is satisfied with many of recent developments in world agriculture and food supply. As a country with limited rainfall and irrigation water resources, in sharp contrast to a bounty of sunshine, we depend on imports of basic commodities and vice-versa on open markets for our high value field and horticultural crops. Our agricultural trade balance was greatly disturbed by the events on the agricultural world scene between 1972 and 1975. However, this year, thanks to the declining prices for essential commodities, mainly grain, oilcrops, sugar and others, we hope to achieve a favourable agricultural trade balance. This can be demonstrated by the fact, that the sales value of one ton of oranges again permits the purchase of more than two tons of wheat, compared to only one ton for one ton in 1974. This also demonstrates, that nowadays, most national economies are in reality bound up in one single world frame. Though we are a small country, we play a significant part in agricultural world trade, trading with more than 60 countries to a total value of more than one billion and a quarter US dollars, which represents 1 per cent of the world agricultural trade in 1976.
The 19th Conference again gives the opportunity to highlight basic facts of food production and supplies and likewise to stress the imperativeness of working together to achieve the goals set for the next biennium as well as to establish mid-and long term objectives. In this spirit, the members of our delegation will actively participate in the discussions in the various commissions. I, therefore, wish to limit myself today to some essential issues:
We welcome the activities of the TCP, which was established by the Council on the initiative of the Director-General and we regard the Fund as a propelling instrument for development. The delegation joins with others in the wish and hope, that efficient procedures will be established to ensure the full impact of this Fund. Our government is willing to participate in some of the activities of the Fund, where we could contribute our experience in semi-arid and subtropical agriculture.
FAO shoulders the responsibility of exploring the best use of natural resources like land and water, forests and seas, During the decade, mankind experienced again the decisive influence of another element: the weather which can upset forecasts and expectations of world yields on a scale of approximately 100 million tons of grain per annum. There is a saying that one can talk a lot about weather, but very little can be done to influence sunshine and rain clouds, heat and cold. In- spite of this, it can be said, that FAO has made a major step forward through the Early Warning System and its Crop and Weather Forecast reports, which we appreciate, even if they arrive sometimes after the storm.
A number of member countries of the Organization have expressed at various occasions their readiness to study this complicated media, an undertaking in which another specialized agency in the UN family, namely WMO would also be a good partner and many national institutes as well.
Our delegation makes a strong plea through you to the members of the Organization and to the Director-General to make an effort to investigate weather formation and its influence on agriculture. While there might be at present only few possibilities of changing regional climates, hardship could be prevented by establishing a world-wide insurance system against losses by natural risks, an undertaking in which FAO has accumulated experience. The investigation should also include the widest use of remote sensing methods for climatic forecasts and predictions.
Our delegation listened with great interest to the encouraging opening statement of the Director-General on his intentions, amongst them the strengthening of the World Seed Improvement and Development Program. As one of the initiators of this program, already at the World Food Congress at the Hague together with delegates from India and Argentine and the kind assistance of the Austrians we support this programme and will make our contribution.
We strongly support the efforts to secure "a SECOND HARVEST", also sometimes called a "HIDDEN HARVEST"by proper storage treatment. I am proud to say that storage losses in our country are minimal, thanks to proper treatment and applications of techniques developed locally. As already stated at the COAG session, we are fully prepared to assist this campaign by provision of experts and conducting on the spot training courses, at a technical level.
Mr. Chairman, our delegation has noted with great interest the intention-of the Director-General to undertake a study on "AGRICULTURE 2000". We realize that certain reservations might be expressed
regarding this telescoping. We have an open ear for these comments, but we could not agree to some of the criticisms of a similar previous undertaking of FAO, the so-called Indicative World Plan for Agriculture, which was created by the former Director-General, Dr. Sen. A renewed study of the findings easily proves that many of the forecasts came true. Unfortunately there was little patience to foresee the course of events.
The year 2000 will certainly approach on the calendar with or without paperwork and econometrics. However, taking into account the complexity of the affairs, it is our belief, that Mr. Saouma has chosen the right time to start with the groundwork now, by setting targets to be achieved in another 22 years. It must also be taken into consideration that the necessary large-scale infrastructures for a successful agriculture in the year 2000 should be taken under the spade, latest in 1990, i. e. in only 12 years from now.
In the past there was an actual increase of grain production of a magnitude of 500 million tons, from 800 million to 1300 million at present. We believe, that mankind can produce in the coming years the needed additional 800 million tons for the year 2000 as well as other primary produce. This will not be an easy task, but through concentrated efforts the goal will be achieved.
In this respect an important role in shaping the future, will be played by research developments on national and international levels. Our government strongly supports the work of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and is participating in the accelerated work of the European networks for scientific cooperation, open to all members of the Organization. The mere fact that at present more than 120 European research institutes cooperate, is highly appreciated.
Furthermore, we have studied with great interest the statements of representatives of donor countries at a gathering held this spring in Munich on the initiative of the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany and a careful study of this document by FAO is recommended. Regarding the transfer of science to the fields of the farmers which is its final target: in Israel extension work is exercised with great success and lately great interest was found in the design of blueprints for plant production as developed in the UK and other countries.
Worldwide developments in agriculture seem to contradict the doomsday prophecies echoed at the World Food Conference held in Rome only 1100 days ago. Whatever has happened is, that at present food has become ample and that main producers have taken steps to reduce planted areas in the coming season. Our government is pleased that progress can be found not only in developed countries. There can be no better proof of this, than the news of possible wheat exports from India or the enormous increase in agricultural exports from Brazil at present No. 2 on the world trade scale Thailand, Korea and many other developing countries, who play an increasing role in the world markets, certainly realizing trade obstacles which can not always be removed. We have to ask, if this is only a temporary development, an incidental play of nature. I have already referred to the tremendous influence of the climate and it must also not be forgotten, that climatical influences are not a new experience. Referring only to the period between 1960 and 1972 one can see, that the results of catastrophies at that period were ameliorated thanks to enormous food reserves, especially in the USA. Large reserves and binding commodity agreements are, therefore, a necessity to maintain stability. The delegation of Israel to the 17th Conference had already highlighted this point during the meetings.
''It is our opinion that countries exporting and importing basic commodities should come to binding agreements for a longer period of time. . . The system should be assisted by credits, grants and loans from international and national banks and funds.
We believe that consideration and implementation of our proposal at the 17th Conference could ensure proper production stockkeeping and fair prices and thus lead to a stabilization in main commodities like grains, oilseeds and sugar. " And I am very glad to say that the sugar agreement has been signed after 4 years.
''This could be to the advantage of exporters, who have soon forgotten the worries of previous years and also for importers. We believe that FAO can play an important role in this endeavour. ''
Catastrophies in the marketplace are not less disastrous than empty rainclouds. Disappointed farmers reduce their production as a result of empty pockets and acruing debts. One should not forget, that farmers operate in the fields and not on office tables and conference rooms, dealing with global percentage targets. In our mind, the World Food Conference had to its credit making the public aware of the food situation and the undertaking of steps to improve production with the assistance of FAO. Urban populations have become aware that food is not produced in canning factories, bakeries and supermarkets. And, not less important, farmers have to be compensated according to their efforts and risks.
I shall not take up the time of the Plenary for a report on Israel's agricultural development in the last biennium, which was generally favourable. As a member of the European region we participate in FAO's wide and important regional activities and share experience with other member states. While we are not able to make great financial contributions to worldwide agricultural development as we would wish to do, we are, however, glad to state, that our experience and the results of research make a contribution. We are cognisant of the fact, that there is a growing awareness and readiness to apply modern irrigation methods, partly initiated by my country, like establishment of exact data in the field of plant-water requirements and proper timing, automation of irrigation and especially in the spread on a worldwide scale of drip irrigation. We have made considerable progress in the breeding of new wheat varieties and in developing existing methods in the integration of wild species of wheat and barley. We continue our efforts in milk production of cows and sheep and interesting progress in aquaculture could also be mentioned. Research is going on into the many possibilities of harnessing the sun's energy for agriculture. Cooperation with many countries developed and developing is expanded and the organizational side of our cooperation programe has been strengthened. Israeli experts are working for FAO and the World Bank. Our delegation wishes to respond to the suggestion of the Director-General to comment on the role of Capital and Investment in Agriculture. To be concise, we have published our experience in a special report which is at the disposal of delegations. The Bible said that man should till the land by the sweat of his brow. It seems therefore, that in those days there was no need for a banker, nowadays a prerequisite for the successful conduct of agricultural operations, including storage and marketing.
In Israel, farm operations started from zero without capital and it was therefore a wise decision of the Government to allocate the necessary means. Experience shows, that it is sometimes relatively easy to recruit foreign and local capital, but much more difficult to establish good investments and proper management of funds to allow the farming community to accumulate its own resources. This might be not a serious problem for countries with well-established banking systems and mortgageable farm assets. In Israel, there was a need to establish those instruments, because many farmers started only with their hands and brains. 12 years ago, after a period of trial and error, the Ministry of Agriculture succeeded in creating an Integrated System of Investment and Running Capital loans under acceptable conditions. This has been achieved -and as I said is fully described in the available publication- by close cooperation between the Ministry, the banks and the farmers. In the last 7 years Israel received 2 loans from the World Bank to implement agricultural development programs with the additional asistance of local capital. This cooperation was not only useful to Israel through the material assistance received, but also through the businesslike application and organizational experience gained in the execution and application of the loans, which was much appreciated by the World Bank. Subsequently we received requests from the Bank and countries to send experts to projects undertaken by the Bank.
Nowadays, farm operations are connected to capital inputs, which should flow with the same exactitude as well timed irrigation or fertilization programmes and not like sporadic rains and intermittent droughts. We appreciate the readiness of FAO, to explore this vital field and we, like others, are willing to contribute our experiences.
The story of modern Israel is a living example of the never-ending conquest of arid lands. It is the human effort combined with technological knowledge which made it possible and becomes evident to everyone who visits Israel and all of you are kindly invited to come and to see.
Summing up, we note that this Conference is being convened in a period of comparative food tranquility which will enable us to inspect the important issues with a global eye and without pressing urgent problems of immediate world food supply. We appreciate the Director-General dedication to FAO's tasks and obligations and we shall be ready to contribute far-reaching concepts, new dimensions and applicable proposals for action with the aim to eliminate the word HUNGER from our dictionaries.
U-YE GOUNG (Burma): On behalf of the Burmese Delegation, please allow me to join the other distinguished delegations in congratulating you on your election as the Chairman of this Session. The Burmese Delegation wishes to express its deep appreciation for the efficient arrangements made by the Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization in various sectors of this Conference.
I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest welcome to Angola, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tomé and Principe and Seychelles, on their admission as members into this World Organization. The participation of the newly elected members not only signifies a growing acceptance of the principle of universality but also strengthens the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The very presence of the delegates from the World's Family of Nations at this Session of the FAO is in itself significant. As the purpose of this Session is to deliberate on the programme for the next biennium of FAO, I hardly need to emphasize that the deliberations and the policies formulated at this Session, under your able guidance, Mr. Chairman, and with the benefit of the Director-General's experience and that of his staff, would have an important influence on the outcome of the present efforts we are making to meet the problems of world food and agricultural development. I would therefore like to express the determination of my delegation to cooperate with the rest of the delegations present here, for the realization of the noble aims of the Organization as well as for a successful conclusion of this Session.
I would like to mention here that the Burmese Delegation considers the world food and agriculture situation and the question of international agricultural adjustment as the most important themes for discussion during this Session of the Organization, We are aware of the fact that the FAO has made detailed analyses of the major issues which confront its member nations in the fields of agricultural production and food problems for the next biennium and beyond. Moreover, many valuable recommendations and plans for general guidance have also been prepared. These studies would undoubtedly help the member nations in formulating their agricultural plans at the country level. However, many problems remain to be solved. A comparison of per capita incomes in the developed and the developing countries clearly indicates a wide disparity. In spite of the endeavours made under various international and national development programmes, the gap between the efficiency of agricultural production in the developed and developing countries does not seem to be narrowing at present and it is not likely to become so in the foreseeable future. This is because the industrial base of the developed nations is secure and their technological capabilities are greatly advanced, whereas the developing nations are at a low level of industrialization and their technological capabilities are not advanced.
Ev. eryone of us here today is aware of the fact that almost all of the developing countries are striving hard to step up their agricultural production both in terms of quantity and quality, but partial achievements in respect of certain crops have only been made in some countries. The shortcomings in many developing countries are found to be due largely to the inadequacy of production techniques and limitation of capital investment. Another factor the developing countries are faced with is the ever increasing prices of essential inputs such as agricultural machinery, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other essential items. The present trend of prices of agricultural produce is not in harmony with the increasing costs of material inputs supplied by the industrialized nations. Thus a constraint on effective investment has resulted. The Burmese Delegation is of the opinion that unless such imbalance in prices is remedied, there will always be a problem of food shortage in this world. To overcome this problem, technical and financial assistance should be provided to achieve practical results.
May I be permitted to mention the seriousness of the World Food Security problems. A few good harvest years might considerably ease the food situation but it will only be temporary. Only a substantial and sustained increase of food production in all member nations especially the developing countries would reduce the magnitude of this problem in future decades. It is therefore highly desirable that the member nations of the FAO pledge themselves to strive to the utmost with renewed dedication to achieve the objective of solving the world food problem. The Government of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma and my delegation solemnly vow to join the member nations in the effort to attain our cherished goal of accelerating the growth of social and economic development of all the nations in the world.
I would like to mention that experience shows agricultural production depends directly on the magnitude of investment and the technical know-how, and this is especially true for countries with large land resources and favourable climatic conditions conducive to agricultural production. As a consequence of the worldwide price escalation, the investment cost of such agricultural inputs as agricultural machinery, chemical fertilizers and pesticides has risen sharply and to levels far beyond the purchasing power of most of the developing countries. This, as you already are aware, Mr. Chairman, is the major constraint of such countries where the problems of procuring necessary agricultural inputs cannot be solved, until and unless prompt and effective assistance is forthcoming from the developed countries. On humanitarian considerations, I would like to urge the developed countries to take note of the fact that their sincere assistance and close cooperation can make a valuable contribution to the food production of the developing countries.
May I now make a brief statement on the agricultural situation in my country. The economy of my country is largely dependent on agriculture and for this reason the agricultural sector plays a dominant role and it will continue to do so for many years to come. As such, even in our industrialization programme, an emphasis has been placed in the establishment of agro-orientated industries. The present fiscal year 1977 to 1978 is the final year of the Second Four-Year Plan which in turn forms a part of the Twenty-Year Long-Term Plan, in which agriculture has Been accorded the highest priority. The annual
average growth rate of gross domestic product has been targeted at 6. 3 percent in agriculture and by the end of this financial year we are optimistic of attaining the target, though I should mention here that our investment for the current year had to be doubled from that of last year. In quantitative terms, it was raised from 162 million kyats in the last year to 371 million kyats in the current year, and this was a worthwhile step as we can judge from the results obtained. In drawing up plans to achieve the desired target, we are placing a greater emphasis on intensification, that is to step up the yield per unit area as it brings quicker returns. However, on the other hand, we have plans for the expansion of culturable land by reclaiming culturable wastes and virgin lands. Since only about 12 percent of the total cultivated area is irrigated, there is still a considerable scope for further expansion of irrigation. In the past decade we have built many irrigation works in Central Burma and at present construction and rehabilitation of embankments and improvement of drainage systems are in progress.
We have increased our agricultural production through intensive cropping but much effort has been made to meet the increasing demands for farm implements, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. High yielding varieties of rice and other important crops have been introduced with success and from this year we are striving for quality and not just quantity alone. Agricultural production technology is being modernized and agricultural extension services are also strengthened every year. At the same time, due attention has also been paid to agricultural commodity prices and the cost of production, and necessary adjustments have been made periodically.
Regarding land potentials, I would like to state that we have an abundant supply of virgin lands as well as cultivable waste lands. Though there are long-term projects for reclamation, the peasants themselves have, to attain self-sufficiency, undertaken short-term piecemeal projects under the direction of the People's Councils and Peasants' Organization at different levels. These organs at the different levels play a vital role in the mobilization and awakening of the consciousness of the whole peasantry to fulfil the planned targets of the country. This year, with the exception of certain areas in Central Burma which experienced insufficient rainfall, the weather in the rest of the country is favourable and we expect the production to be above average, especially for food crops.
I would like to say a few words with regard to forestry, livestock and fishery sectors. About 57 percent of Burma's land surface is covered with forest, out of which 14 percent is designated as forest reserve. Burma is noted for its teak and other important hardwoods and we earn a considerable amount of foreign exchange from exports of forest produce. Each year we have been expanding our forest reserve area and will continue to do so to attain a national target of 30 percent. At the same time plantation of teak and other hardwoods are being stepped up each year to supplement natural regeneration. We have drawn up a programme for the increased extraction of teak and other hardwoods. Renovation of the sawmill industry will be carried out. Extensive studies in forest potentials and resources for the development of new wood-based industries will also be undertaken. An Institute for Forest Research is already under construction with assistance from UNDP.
The livestock sector has become increasingly important on account of the current shortage of draft cattle for agricultural operation and because of nutritional deficiency though low intake of animal protein. As regards livestock itself there has been an increase in annual production. However, to facilitate further expansion, livestock projects have been undertaken with international assistance. These projects are directed primarily towards technical improvements in livestock production which would lay the foundation for further and larger livestock development schemes. Project expenditures comprise mainly public sector investments directed to improving village livestock production through the development extension, increased vaccine production and diagnostic facilities. The expenditure also covers such aspects of the livestock sector as communal pasture improvement and water supplies, the strengthening of livestock research and support for better training in animal husbandry and veterinary science.
Turning now to fisheries, I would like to mention that fresh water fisheries have been extensively explored and exploited. Since scope for expansion of inland fisheries is limited, production possibilities have to be sought in marine fisheries. Regarding fish resources, there are about 4 000 leasable fisheries out of which about 90 percent are exploitable at present. A coastline of about 1 400 miles and a continental shelf of over 80 000 square miles provide rich fish resources estimated to be one and a half million metric tons with a (maximum annual sustainable yield of 600 000 tons out of which only about 50 percent are being caught annually. In view of the immensity of our offshore fishery potential and inadequacy of financial resources, skilled technicians, modern trawlers and facilities for marine resources research, we are taking effective measures for further development.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that agricultural development is dependent on availability of capital for investment as well as the application of appropriate technology, particularly for those countries which are rich in natural resources and which have a variety of terrain and climatic conditions suitable for agricultural development. We hold the view which is gaining wide acceptance that the best
way to overcome the world food and agricultural problem is to assist the deyeloping countries in their own efforts to achieve agricultural development. Provision of support to the agricultural development programmes of developing countries will not only mean assisting them in areas to which they accord the highest priority, but it also means assistance is given to the rural sector where the majority of their people live. In view of the difficult times ahead, we would like to urge the international community for increased support of the efforts of agricultural development of developing countries which for most of them lie at the heart of their economic development problem. FAO with its vast experience in this field and with an intimate knowledge of the rural problems of developing countries will no doubt be able to make a valuable contribution and play a vital role in this endeavour.
G. PINTO COHEN (Venezuela): Señor Presidente, señor Director General Adjunto, señores delegados, señoras y señores, en primer lugar, en nombre de la delegación de Venezuela, me place felicitar al Presidente y a los Vicepresidentes de este 19 período de sesiones de la Conferencia General por tan meritoria y honrosa designación y por la forma acertada como han venido dirigiendo los debates.
Al Director General mi felicitación por sus esfuerzos en hacer de la FAO una organización más dinámica y eficiente.
Deseo también dirigir un fraternal saludo de bienvenida a todos los nuevos Miembros de la FAO.
Voy a referirme especialmente al tema básico de las inversiones en agricultura y sus repercusiones en los planos nacional e internacional.
Venezuela ha tomado en los últimos años una serie de medidas sin precedentes por su magnitud e importancia, destinadas a impulsar la producción agrícola y crear las bases para una agricultura moderna, eficiente y dinámica. Dichas medidas abarcan una gran cantidad de campos, tales como: inversiones directas en obras de infraestructura, incentivos a la inversion privada, financiamiento en condiciones favorables, elevación de precios a nivel de productor y ampliación del número de productos amparados por la política de precios mínimos, formación de recursos humanos, investigación tecnológica, subsidios a productos e insumos, facilidades de importación de insumos y bienes de capital.
Muchas de esas medidas tienen que ver con inversiones, en el sentido amplio de esta palabra, y las restantes indudablemente inciden también como estímulos a la inversion.
Nunca antes en la historia de Venezuela se le había otorgado tanta importancia al desarrollo del sector agrícola, reconocimiento que en la actualidad le es dado tanto por el sector oficial como por el sector privado y por la opinion pública del país.
Aún es prematuro emitir un juicio sobre los resultados de esta nueva política, por la dificultad de evaluar la gran cantidad de acciones tomadas y, principalmente, por el largo período de maduración y el efecto a largo plazo propios de las inversiones en el sector agrícola. Sin embargo, no es difícil cuantificar los primeros resultados tanto mediante indicadores macroeconómicos, como en datos sobre obras físicas construidas, programas de investigación, formación de recursos humanos y magnitud de cosechas.
El volumen de inversión bruta fija en el sector agrícola de Venezuela ha alcanzado para 1975-1976 un promedio anual de Bolívares de 1 635 millones (a precios de 1968), superior en un 60 por ciento al nivel de 1973, aumentando en igual medida tanto la inversión pública como la privada, mientas que en años anteriores esta última, que representa el 70 por ciento de la inversión total, tuvo una tendencia decreciente.
En el período 1969/73, si bien hubo un ligero incremento en la inversión pública (12 por ciento), la privada se redujo en cerca de un 20 por ciento, mientras que de 1973 a 1975/76, ambas se incrementaron en más de un 50 por ciento. De importancia significativa son los aumentos en las inversiones privadas en mejoras por riego y drenaje, que hasta 1974 eran prácticamente insignificantes; las correspondientes existencias de ganando para cría de origen importado que superan, a partir de 1974, cualquier monto anual previo, y las de maquinarias y equipos, las cuales más que duplican en 1975/76 las de 1973; en cambio disminuyen las inversiones por deforestación a partir dé 1975, a niveles a la mitad de los años precedentes, a consecuencia de la política conservacionista del Gobierno.
A los fines de incrementar el rebaño ganadero bovino, además de las importaciones de Colombia, se han establecido puentes aéreos y el financiamiento correspondiente para la importación de vaquillas de Costa Rica, Panamá y Nicaragua. Entre septiembre de 1976 y noviembre de 1977 han ingresado de esos tres países 70 000 vaquillas destinadas a ganaderos de la zona oriental de Venezuela. Además, en los dos últimos años se han importado 15. 000 toros sementales bovinos: 14 000 de razas de carne y 1 000 lecheros. Por otra parte, el uso de fertilizantes se ha duplicado en los últimos cuatro años hasta alcanzar las 460 000 en 1977, estimándose un consumo de 700 000 t para el próximo año.
En el campo de la inversion pública cabe destacar los programas de infraestructura física básica, tales como la construcción de unos 12. 000 km. de vialidad agrícola, importantes obras de riego y saneamiento de tierras, y el plan Nacional de Silos que comprende 15 nuevas plantas.
La exoneración del impuesto sobre la renta ha sido uno de los instrumentos utilizados para estimular el desarrollo, las inversiones y el financiamiento correspondientes al sector agrícola. En efecto, han sido exonerados de dicho impuesto los enriquecimientos provenientes de actividades agrícolas, pecuarias, de reforestación y de pesca; así como los intereses que devenguen los créditos destinados a financiar inversiones, cultivos, explotaciones avícolas, pesqueras y porcinas; a adquirir maquinarias e implementos, a importar vientres o sementales de las especies bovina y bufalina destinados a la reproducción, y las operaciones de financiamiento realizadas con el Fondo de Crédito Agropecuario y con el Banco de Desarrollo Agropecuario.
Con igual propósito, las inversiones efectivamente pagadas en acciones o cuotas de capital en empresas agrícolas, pecuarias, forestales o de pesca, gozan de una rebaja de impuesto sobre la renta equivalente al 20 por ciento del monto de tales inversiones, siempre que estén representadas en activos fijos.
Hasta 1973 el financiamiento disponible para la agricultura en Venezuela era fundamentalmente a corto plazo y en su mayoría otorgado por institutos oficiales. La banca privada apenas incursionaba en una medida limitada en el campo agrícola y en el pasado. sólo algunos programas especiales ejecutados por la banca oficial para cultivos específicos contemplaron el financiamiento a largo plazo. En junio de 1974 se establece con carácter transitorio el Fondo de Crédito Agropecuario y se le provee con recursos por Bolívares 2 000 millones, los cuales fueron colocados, a través de las entidades financieras, privadas y públicas, en financiamientos de hasta 20 años de plazo con bajos intereses y períodos de gracia de varios años. El Fondo garantiza a las entidades la recuperación de los créditos otorgados mediante una cobertura de hasta el 60 por ciento del monto del crédito, la cual puede llegar hasta un 90 por ciento en regiones del país particularmente deprimidas.
Para mediados de 1977 ya se había colocado prácticamente la totalidad de los recursos iniciales propios del Fondo, cuyo destino fue en un 24 por ciento obras de infraestructura y mejoras permanentes, en un 27 por ciento adquisición de semovientes, en un 26 por ciento compra de maquinarias, implementos y equipos y en un 23 por ciento fundación de plantaciones permanentes, deforestación, instalación y consolidación de potreros y otras inversiones.
La mitad de los créditos con recursos del FCA han sido colocados a través de la banca oficial especializada del sector agrícola y los bancos de fomento regional, y el resto por el sistema bancario privado: o sea los bancos comerciales (28 por ciento) y las sociedades financieras (21 por ciento).
En agosto de 1976 el Fondo de Crédito Agropecuario adquirió permanencia al ser transformado mediante ley en Instituto Autónomo. En julio de 1977 se le autoriza para emitir y colocar títulos de la deuda pública hasta por Bs. 1 500 millones. Estos recursos podrán ser utilizados por las instituciones financieras para otorgar créditos agrícolas, mediante un sistema de subsidios a los intereses recientemente aprobado, el cual también permitirá la colocación con igual propósito de unos Bs. 500 millones de recursos propios de las entidades financieras, en virtud de convenios ya suscritos con el Fondo por quince de estas sociedades.
Las operaciones iniciales del FCA permitieron que 27 bancos y 21 sociedades financieras del sector privado, la mayoría de los cuales nunca había, incursionado antes en el sector agrícola, participaran activamente como agentes crediticios en dicho sector, al ser proveídos de recursos a largo plazo y contar con la garantía contra riesgos. Esto les significó la necesidad de abrir departamentos agropecuarios e iniciar otros tipos de operaciones bancarias con agricultores y ganaderos del país.
Sin embargo, la medida más importante que definitivamente ha vinculado el sector financiero privado del país al desarrollo agrícola, fue la obligación de que los bancos comerciales deberán destinar al financiamiento del sector agrícola no menos del 20 por ciento de sus colocaciones, establecida mediante Decreto reglamentario de la Ley General de Bancos y otros Institutos de Crédito, promulgado el 21 de septiembre de 1976.
A estos efectos, se consideran colocaciones destinadas al sector agrícola, el financiamiento de aquellas operaciones de producción, las de almacenamiento y transporte especializado, las de empresas agroindus-tríales con más de 50 por ciento de su capital social propiedad de los productores agrícolas o del Estado, y las operaciones de financiamiento y los depósitos efectuados por la banca comercial en el Banco de Desarrollo Agropecuario.
Para agosto de 1977 la banca comercial tenía colocaciones en el sector agrícola superiores a los
7 500 millones de bolívares, en comparación con menos de 1 000 millones de bolívares para diciembre de 1973. En promedio, ese monto equivale al 20 por ciento de la cartera crediticia total de la banca
comercial para esa fecha, aun cuando de los 30 bancos la mitad de ellos todavía no alcanzaba el nivel del 20 por ciento de sus colocaciones al sector agrícola, teniendo en consecuencia que encajar en el Banco Central de Venezuela sin percibir intereses por ello, los saldos aún sin colocar, cuyo montante para ese entonces era de Bs. 700 millones.
En cuanto a la banca oficial especializada, constituida por el Instituto de Crédito Agrícola (ICAP) que atiende a los pequeños productores y el Banco de Desarrollo Agropecuario (BANDAGRO), en conjunto aumentaron sus créditos pagados desde Bs. 694 millones en 1973 a niveles de Bs. 1 650 millones anuales en 1975 y 1976, sin incluir en estas cifras el financiamiento otorgado por dichas instituciones con recursos del Fondo de Crédito Agropecuario, que supera los Bs. 700 millones.
La creación de una agricultura moderna en Venezuela requiere no solo de una infraestructura física sino además, entre otras cosas, de una infraestructura tecnológica adecuada a la realidad geográfica, ecológica y social del país. A tales fines, la regionalización y expansion de la investigación agrícola ha recibido gran impulso en los últimos años.
En efecto, en el ámbito de los programas del Fondo Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (FONIAP) se ha aumentado de tres a cinco el numero de centros regionales de investigación y han sido creadas cinco nuevas estaciones experimentales hasta alcanzar un total de diecisiete; y los aportes presupuestarios del Ejecutivo Nacional al FONAIAP se han más que duplicado en cuatro años, al pasar desde 46 millones de bolívares en 1973 hasta 112 millones en 1977, aumento relativo similar al de los once años transcurridos de 1962 a 1973.
En los años recientes se ha venido realizando el catastro de avance, el cual tendrá cubiertas para principios de 1979 unos 30 millones de hectáreas en las zonas no montañosas al norte del río Orinoco, y se han iniciado igualmente estudios para la ordenación territorial y la zonificación agroeconómica del país.
En materia de recursos humanos cabe destacar el desarrollo de nuevos programas de gran magnitud e importante incidencia sobre el sector agrícola y el medio rural, como son los correspondientes a la Fundación Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho y el Instituto Nacional de Cooperación Educativa (INCE), además de la fundación de nuevas universidades, escuelas de educación superior e institutos tecnológicos especialmente ubicados en el interior del país, con carreras profesionales de naturaleza agrotécnica. Desde su creación en 1974 hasta octubre de 1977, el total de becarios graduados y activos de la Fundación Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho alcanza a 12 487 estudiantes, de los cuales 1911, o sea el 15 por ciento, corresponde a las ciencias del agro y del mar. El 65 por ciento de dichos estudiantes realiza estudios en países de diferentes regiones del mundo, especialmente Estados Unidos (36 por ciento) Europa (15 por ciento), America Latina (10 por ciento) y Canadá (3 por ciento). Cerca de 300 estudiantes realizan o han concluido estudios de postgrado, la casi totalidad de ellos en el exterior, cifra que es casi similar al número de estudiantes de postgrado becados por el Fondo Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias en los dieciséis años comprendidos de 1962 a 1977.
Dentro del Instituto Nacional de Cooperación Educativa ((INCE) se ha establecido la Dirección General del INCE Agrario, a la cual le corresponde continuar y ampliar las actividades de capacitación de mano de obra especializada para el sector agrícola iniciadas hace dieciséis años por el INCE. Durante el presente año de 1977, se están realizando programas móviles que permiten capacitar a más de 14 000 personas mediante unos 1 100 cursos en actividades agrícolas, pecuarias, pesqueras y artesanales.
Como parte del Plan Nacional de Alfabetización Andrés Bello, se está iniciando la ejecución de un proyecto de Educación Básica Acelerada para Adultos, el cual se ha fijado como meta la atención directa e integral de 1 500 familias rurales en el plazo de un año, a fin de dotarlas de destrezas y habilidades para una participación más efectiva en su medio.
Las cosechas de cereales, papas y otros cultivos en el presente año muestran resultados bastante satisfactorios, al alcanzar los más altos niveles de producción en toda nuestra historia. Las de maíz, arroz y papas, superarán en 35 por ciento, 30 por ciento y 18 por ciento los máximos niveles logrados en 1971, 1975 y 1974 respectivamente y son suficientes para abastecer el consumo nacional de dichos productos. En sorgo, cultivo de reciente introducción en el pais, cuya producción en 1973 fué de apenas 8 mil t, se cosecharán más 350 000 t, cantidad superior en un 60 por ciento a la obtenida en 1976 y equivalente a la mitad de los cereales requeridos para alimentación animal.
En cuanto al producto agrícola en su conjunto, durante el presente año alcanzará una tasa de crecimiento bastante superior a la del ya elevado incremento de la población venezolana.
Venezuela ha tenido en los últimos años una participación de cierta importancia en numerosos organismos y foros internacionales a nivel del tercer mundo y como país latinoamericano, la cual se ha visto reforzada y adquiere caracterísitcas especiales por nuestra condición de miembro de la OPEP, dada la evolución de la situación petrolera mundial en los años recientes.
Mi país, además de participar activamente en los foros internacionales que han venido dilucidando el concepto de interdependencia entre las naciones y forjando las bases de ''un nuevo orden económico internacional", ha tomado iniciativas y acciones específicas de apoyo a los países en vías de desarrollo, especialmente a aquellos de nuestro propio continente latinoamericano y del Caribe.
La cooperación financiera internacional de mi país se canaliza principalmente a través del Fondo de Inversiones de Venezuela (FIV), organismo creado en 1974 y en menor cuantía mediante la participación del Banco Central de Venezuela y de los Ministerios de Hacienda y de Relaciones Exteriores.
Hasta el 30 de septiembre del presente año, el FIV habrá desembolsado Bs. 5 330 millones en préstamos internacionales. y en fondos en fideicomiso. Algunas de las operaciones han tenido o tendrán efectos sobre el sector agrícola de los países beneficiarios ya sea directa o indirectamente. Es de mencionar, al respecto: préstamos al Banco Mundial por un total de Bs. 2 147 millones (14-8-74) destinados a contribuir al aumento de los recursos del BIRF para sus programas de desarrollo, cuya expansión y reorientación hacia el sector agrícola son ampliamente conocidas.
Los fondos en fideicomiso depositados en el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) y en el Banco de Desarrollo del Caribe, que alcanzan a Bs. 1 127 millones (1 073, 5 y 537 respectivamente), destinados principalmente a financiar proyectos y programas que tengan efecto significativo en los países de menor desarrollo relativo o mercado limitado, miembros de esas instituciones. Entre los sectores a financiar se incluyen el agroindustrial y el agroforestal. Estos Bancos, en coordinación con el FIV, han otorgado créditos a largo plazo con cargo a dichos recursos para proyectos en siete países latinoamericanos y del Caribe, y para el financiamiento de exportaciones de otros cinco países de nuestro Continente.
Los acuerdos de cooperación económica con los países de América Central, Jamaica, Panamá, Perú y República Dominicana, en cumplimiento de los cuales Venezuela ha depositado Bs. 2 050 millones en los respectivos Bancos Centrales con el objeto inicial de contribuir al financiamiento de los déficits de balanza de pagos de dichos países. Estos acuerdos preven la utilización de los depósitos antes de su vencimiento para financiar a largo plazo programas y proyectos de desarrollo en los países respectivos, mediante préstamos de hasta 25 años plazo, sujetos a ciertas condiciones, tales como la existencia de un financiamiento paralelo para el mismo programa otorgado por una institución financiera internacional de primera clase.
Hasta el 30 de septiembre de 1977, el Fondo de Inversiones de Venezuela había aprobado para el financiamiento de programas y proyectos un total de Bs. 712 millones, de los cuales se han realizado pagos por Bs. 379 millones, que benefician a seis países centroamericanos y del Caribe. Del monto total de préstamos aprobados el 10 por ciento corresponde a programas y proyectos agrícolas o agroindustriales, los cuales comprenden desarrollo agrícola, desarrollo pesquero, electrificación rural, crédito agropecuario y la construcción de una central azucarera.
Mediante el programa de cooperación económica con el Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica, el FIV adquirió dos emisiones de bonos por Bs. 86 millones, recursos éstos que están siendo utilizados por dicho Banco para el financiamiento de programas de desarrollo en los países miembros del mismo.
De acuerdo a su política de solidaridad internacional el FIV ha desarrollado la modalidad de cooperación para la protección de los precios de las materias primas producidas por los países en vías de desarrollo, Dentro de la línea de esta política, se encuentran los Acuerdos de Cooperación celebrados con Centroamérica para la retención del café, que contemplaban un financiamiento de aproximadamente US$70 millones, y el proyecto de constitución de la Empresa-Cafés Suaves Centrales S. A. (CAFECENSA).
El mejoramiento de los precios internacionales del café hizo que estos mecanismos de protección no comenzasen sus funcionamiento. No obstante, la nueva situación del mercado cafetalero mundial ha reactualizado su importancia y es probable que la empresa multinacional latinoamericana CAFECENSA quede legalmente constituíaa a breve plazo, con el objeto de comerciar en general en el ramo del café y sus productos y actuar en los mercados nacionales de los países que la integran y en los internacionales, con miras a regular la oferta y la demanda.
Otra iniciativa de Venezuela en el campo de la cooperación internacional ha sido la creación del Fondo Simón Bolívar, que opera de acuerdo a las políticas y objetivos del Instituto Interamericano de Ciencias Agrícolas a los fines de contribuir a acelerar el desarrollo rural de América Latina y el Caribe. Se trata de un fondo multinacional creado con un capital de 20 millones de dólares, cubierto en un 50 por ciento por Venezuela y el resto mediante contribuciones voluntarias de otros Estados Miembros
del IICA. El Fondo ha firmado más de 15 convenios para 17 proyectos qntran en marcha,
para beneficio de 16 países del área, en materia de producción, productividad y comercialización agropecuarias, desarrollo rural regional, cambios estructurales y organización campesina, formulación y administración de la política agraria.
Especial interés na tenido mi país en el Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola (FIDA), cuyo establecimiento fue acordado por la Conferencia Mundial de la Alimentación, en noviembre de 1974, y el cual está llamado a jugar un papel de relevancia en el desarrollo agrícola y alimentario de los países más pobres del mundo. Venezuela ha tenido importante actuación en la Comisión Preparatoria del FIDA, se ha comprometido a aportarle 66 millones de dólares del Fondo especial de la OPEP, y fue uno de los tres primeros países y el primero de la Categoría II en suscribir el Convenio Constitutivo, el cual ya ha sido ratificado mediante Ley de nuestro Congreso, promulgada por el Ejecutivo Nacional en el pasado 22 de agosto.
Es de esperar ahora que luego de efectuarse la primera reunión de la Junta de Gobernadores, convocada para mediados del próximo mes de diciembre, entre definitivamente en operación esta novedosa iniciativa para el financiamiento agrícola internacional.
Venezuela ha sido uno de los países propulsores del establecimiento del Sistema Económico Latinoamericano (SELA), cuya sede es la ciudad de Caracas.
El Convenio de Panamá y el Consejo Latinoamericano, organismo máximo del SELA, han establecido un conjunto de novedosos mecanismos de cooperación entre los 25 Estados Miembros soberanos de América Latina, y en particular, ha definido una vigorosa acción de cooperación en el ámbito agropecuario y alimenticio como cuestión prioritaria.
Se seleccionó un grupo de productos én virtud de su importancia estratégica, tanto en la estructura de la dieta alimenticia como en la producción agrícola, sobre los cuales se decidió emprender una serie de acciones concretas de cooperación regional destinadas al aumento de la producción, del consumo intraregional y de la difusión y adopción de nuevas técnicas.
Entre dichas acciones figura el establecimiento de Empresas Multinacionales Latinoamericanas de Cooperación Agropecuaria y Alimenticia. La orientación fundamental de dicho programa es el abastecimiento del mercado latinoamericano, buscando atenuar el subconsumo y reducir los altos indicadores de desnutrición que prevalecen, mejorando la eficiencia productiva y idisminuyendo así la dependencia y vulnerabilidad regional del sector.
Los mecanismos de adopción de decisiones en el SELA son los Comités de Acción, organismos que tienen novedosas características por cuanto en ellos participan exclusivamente los países interesados, tienen carácter temporal y se constituyen con el objetivo fundamental de ejecutar proyectos específicos en áreas claramente delimitadas. Hasta el momento en el marco de la cooperación agropecuaria y alimenticia se han establecido los siguientes Comités de Acción:
Fertilizantes y Ciertas Materias Primas Básicas con sede en México. Su objetivo central es alcanzar en el menor plazo posible, la autosuficiencia productiva de la región.
Complementos Alimenticios con sede en Caracas. Su objetivo principal es elaborar e instrumentar un programa de fabricación, comercialización y distribución de complementos alimenticios de alto valor nutritivo, a fin de contribuir a mejorar la situación nutricional de los grupos humanos más necesitados.
Productos del Mar y de Agua Dulce con sede en Lima. Su objetivo básico es incrementar sustantivamente la oferta de alimentos de suficiente valor nutritivo en condiciones de precios, preparación y presentación adecuados a las necesidades de la población de bajos ingresos de la región.
Próximamente se procederá a la instalación del Comité de Acción de Carnes, Lácteos y Derivados de la Carne, que tiene su sede en Montevideo y el de Granos, Semillas, Oleaginosas y Frutas que tiene su sede en Buenos Aires.
Es el caso reconocer que la FAO ha brindado una valiosa cooperación al SELA, que es necesario que se fortalezca en el futuro, apoyando tanto la formulación como la ejecución de proyectos de acciones concretas.
Una actitud de esta naturaleza es coincidente con los esfuerzos que realiza la organización para hacer más efectiva su colaboración con los países en desarrollo que atienden no sólo a la producción, sino también a los requerimientos de la mayoría de la población.
En este orden de ideas es de mencionar igualmente la cooperación que la FAO ha venido prestando al Grupo Andino, del cual Venezuela es miembro. En su III Reunión del Consejo Agropecuario del Acuerdo de Cartagena, efectuada en Caracas hace tres meses, se resolvió solicitar a la FAO ''que estudie la posibilidad de preparar un Anuario de Sanidad Vegetal, a nivel mundial y listas de plagas y enfermedades que afectan a los principales cultivos, agrupándolas de acuerdo al daño que producen, a la facilidad de su propagación y a la dificultad y costo de su control".
Señor Director General: Venezuela ve con simpatía las iniciativas que usted ha tomado en cuanto al nuevo rumbo y al nuevo espíritu infundidos a la Organización, por cuanto espera que ellos se traduzcan. en la realización de programas de acción concretos y eficaces, que efectivamente contribuyan a favor del desarrollo agrícola y rural de los pueblos más necesitados del mundo.
Reconocemos el gran aporte que para el abastecimiento alimentario podría obtenerse de la reducción de las cuantiosas pérdidas de alimentos, y por ello apoyamos la pronta puesta en marcha de un programa práctico y completo, mediante la utilización de recursos financieros sobrantes y sin que ello implique la creación de nuevas organizaciones ni la proliferación burocrática.
Mi país ha mantenido especial interés en la próxima Conferencia Mundial sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural, convocada para 1979, entre cuyos asesores figura el Presidente de la Federación Campesina de Venezuela, aquí presente. Consideramos que dicha Conferencia deberá prepararse y realizarse a un nivel de altura y madurez tal que, lejos de constituirse en campo de enfrentamiento de posiciones dogmáticas irreconciliables sea terreno fértil para el aporte de experiencias y enfoques, que reconozcan y respeten las diferencias propias de las realidades económicas, sociales, culturales, demográficas, y políticas de nuestros países.
Como promotor de la noción del mar patrimonial que se generalizó con el término de ''zona económica exclusiva", Venezuela siempre defendió la tesis de los derechos soberanos de los Estados Ribereños sobre los recursos naturales renovables, incluyendo los recursos vivos, hasta una distancia de 200 millas náuticas medidas desde las líneas de base del Mar Territorial.
Por otra parte, mi país, puede aceptar la presente solución de compromiso que reemplazó la noción de libertad de pesca en alta mar, por la de derecho de pesca en alta mar, con la obligación para los Estados de cooperar para la conservación y administración de los recursos vivos del alta mar. En este campo, Venezuela está a favor de la atribución de competencias extensas a las organizaciones internacionales competentes.
Al tender la mirada hacia otros foros internacionales es de desear que no se interrumpa el diálogo Norte-Sur y que continúe dentro del ámbito de las Naciones Unidas. Venezuela apoya decididamente las gestiones que se están adelantando en la Asamblea General, a fin de establecer los mecanismos más apropiados para dicho diálogo y hace una exhortación a la buena voluntad de los países más desarrollados para que satisfagan las demandas de los países en desarrollo orientadas al establecimiento del nuevo orden económico internacional.
Venezuela apoya igualmente las conversaciones que se realizan en la Conferencia de Ginebra bajo el marco de la UNCTAD relacionadas con el Fondo Común del Programa Integral, que abarca productos agrícolas y desea que éste comience a funcionar cuanto antes.
Quiero finalizar esta exposición citando unas palabras pronunciadas hace justamente un año por nuestro Presidente Carlos Andrés Pérez, en este mismo recinto" de la FAO al referirse al problema agrícola y alimentario mundial: decía nuestro Presidente, "Venezuela apoyará todas aquellas medidas que honestamente tiendan a favorecer la solución del problema capital del mundo. Aspiramos a que las naciones industrializadas comprendan ciertamente que su propio bienestar y la paz del mundo requieren del apoyo amplio, dedidido y suficiente. Todo se resume, ilustres dirigentes de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, en un solo objetivo, en un solo propósito: la creación del Nuevo Orden Económico Internacional".
J. VIROLAINEN (Finland): Since the last session of the FAO Conference, held here in Rome two years ago, the food situation in the world has improved. The annual growth of food production in the developing countries has reached the target of 4 percent put forward in the Strategy of the Second Development Decade. This year's crops, too, seem to be satisfactory. We know, however, that the growth of food production in the developing countries since the beginning of the current decade lies far below the 4 percent target.
The Director-General states in his introduction on the Programme of Work and Budget that the world food situation is still fragile. Therefore basic investments in agriculture in developing countries should be increased substantially.
Mr. Chairman, the follow-up activities and the implementation of the recommendations of the World Food Conference of 1974 were widely discussed at the last session of the FAO Conference here in Rome in 1975. In our view, the most important outcome of the World Food Conference has been the establishment of IFAD which will become operative in the imminent future. The last session of the World Food Council in Manila last summer marked a considerable step forward. However, concerning World Food Security, which was one of the main themes of the World Food Conference, very slow progress is being made. We feel that the main responsibility in implementing the recommendations of the World Food Conference rests upon this Organization. FAO has already taken steps in this respect. As regards the promotion of investment in agricultural development, I would like to mention the new Technical Co-operation Programme. Wise utilization of the resources available for this programme could make a concrete contribution to the actual needs of many countries.
Mr. Chairman, I shall now turn to one of the main items of this Conference, namely the Programme of Work and Budget for 1978-79. First, I would like to say that we support the strategy and the framework for the Programme of Work and Budget of the Organization as presented by the Director-General. We recognize also the right and the responsibility of the Director-General for definition of priorities and formulation of programmes and programme changes. We appreciate that the approach now has been more concrete and problem-Oriented. We believe that this will contribute to a more rational use of all available resources. In this context, I want to add that the measures initiated by the Director-General and supported by a great majority of member nations, aiming at a rationalization of the number of meetings, the paper work, and the availability of posts in the Organization, are welcome steps towards economies and efficiency of work. We hope that the Director-General will continue also in the future along this line.
My delegation will make detailed comments on the Programme of Work and Budget in due course during the Conference. At this stage, however, I want briefly to touch upon a few programmes which we feel are of great importance in the global agricultural context for the developing world. We appreciate very much that greater emphasis will be attached to integrated rural development, which is a complex question in many countries. We support the arrangement of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development to be held in 1979. My country will make its full contribution to the conference, and our national preparations have already begun. In these preparations we shall present our own experiences in the field of agrarian and land reforms which may be of some value in the deliberations of the Conference on Agrarian Reform. In the fight against hunger, it is not only the technical aspects of the modernization of agriculture, like the use of fertilizers and pesticides, mechanization, better seed, etc., that are important. In many developing countries also institutional changes and agrarian reforms leading to the improvement of rural employment, to a more equal distribution of income and, generally, to better social justice are of decisive importance. Each country is fully responsible within its sovereign judgement to enter upon integrated socio-economic reforms. FAO for its part should provide a discussion forum on an international level for countries interested or engaging in such reforms. It lies within FAO's responsibilities to assist developing countries in establishing national frameworks and goals, and in rendering advice on administrative, organizational and technical matters. We welcome particularly the concrete approach to the problems involved, the need to help small farmers in the development process and to include the participation of other rural poor.
Mr, Chairman, the complexity of rural development problems concernsalso other UN agencies besides FAO. Concerning the need to provide food and income for the rural population, and the need to improve agriculture in rural areas, we see FAO as the leading and coordinating agency for rural development activities within the UN organization. Another activity which has been especially emphasized by representatives of my country on several occasions in the past, - is the programme concerning reduction of food losses, Without any further comment here, I just wish to express our appreciation of the fact that this programme is being taken up and for the general and solid approval granted to it by the Council.
As the delegate of Finland, coming from a country where forestry is of vital importance^FAO's forestry
activities are also of great interest to me. We have earlier often stressed the need for good forestry programmes and programme components to be appropriately composed and fitted to assist countries in improving their forestry and forest industry sector. On this occasion we particularly welcome the sharper definition of priorities regarding forestry programmes and the concentration of available resources which has been undertaken. Among the programme objectives I would like especially from our side to endorse the priority which has been attached to forestry's role in rural development, and to the assistance to be given for establishment of medium and small-scale forest industries in countries with the required resource base. Both of these objectives will very well support FAO's general rural development programme by contributing to the improvement of economic"conditions and employment situation of rural areas.
Having dealt with FAO's Regular Budget activities, may I touch briefly upon the other side of the FAO's work, namely the field activities which are financed by extra-budgetary resources. According to FAO's own information, there has been a substantial decline in real terms in the total commitments of concessional aid to agriculture over the current biennium. This means in reality a reduction of the field activities of the Organization, It means, also, growing insecurity regarding the planning and execution of projects. This is in my opinion a matter of grave concern, all the more so as the objectives of FAO in the future are to provide a basis for stronger links between field activities and the Regular Programme. In order to obtain a fruitful and effective operational interaction between FAO's Regular Programme and field activities, we should achieve stability in the resource base of extra-budgetary funds,
Finally, Mr, Chairman, on behalf of the Finnish Government I wish to commend the Director-General and his staff for their fine work during the last biennium for the welfare of the developing world.
A, BARRETO (Portugal) (interprétation du portugais): Acceptez, Monsieur le Président, mes chaleureuses félicitations pour votre élection.
C'est pour moi un grand honneur de m'adresser pour la première fois à cette Assemblée, surtout dans un moment où le Portugal connaît- un processus de transformation de fond de son agriculture et de ses structures agraires. Et un autre fait est pour moi motif de joie, comme j'ai déjà eu l'occasion de l'exprimer. ' l'admission de trois pays africains de langue portugaise: l'Angola, le Mozambique et Sao-Tomé-et- Principe, qui sont venus se joindre à deux qui en faisaient déjà partie, la Guiné-Bissáu et le Cap-Vert.
Monsieur le Président, le Portugal accorde une grande importance à la FAO, dont nous soulignons les grands efforts et 1 action en vue de la résolution de quelques problèmes fondamentaux de l'humanité. Dans ce sens, nous sommes prêts à soutenir les travaux et les efforts conduisant à une plus grande efficacité dans le terrain auprès des agriculteurs et de tous les producteurs.
La pire lutte qui soit est celle du pain. Le Portugal joint sa voix à toutes celles qui regardent le futur avec l'optismisme du combattant, mais aussi avec la crainte que la lutte des aliments ne vienne succéder à celle de l'énergie ou des technologies. Or, la seule manière d'empêcher la lutte du pain consiste en l'élimination de la pauvreté et de l'inégalité.
Nous regardons avec satisfaction les quelques progrès enregistrés au cours des dernières années, en matière de production et de stocks alimentaires. Mais ces améliorations conjoncturelles ne représen tent qu'un soulagement et peuvent même être source d'illusion. Or, il n'y a de vraie solution qu'à long terme, structurelle et solidaire, qui remplacera même les actuels mécanismes d'aide. Nous soulignons avec force que mieux que l'aide c'est la justice. Justice dans les échanges et le transfert de la technologie, dans l'emploi et l'investissement, les mouvements de capitaux et la répartition des revenus. En développant l'égalité, en combattant pour la justice, l'humanité trouvera une solution acceptable et durable aux problèmes alimentaires. La faim ne pose plus de problèmes techniques insurmontables: nous pouvons donc l'éliminer si nous le voulons.
C'est dans cet' esprit que le Portugal continuera d'apporter sa collaboration et ses contributions à la FAO, dans la tradition de notre vocation universelle, mais aussi dans le prolongement de notre action externe. C'est ainsi que nous aurons tendance à privilégier et renforcer les mécanismes régionaux et décentralisés,
A ce propos, laissez-moi vous transmettre un souhait du Portugal: nous verrons avec beaucoup d'intérêt toutes les initiatives qui, au sein de la FAO, mettront en coopération étroite tous les pays de la région méditerranéenne, de l'Afrique du Nord et de l'Europe du Sud, Cela peut sembler paradoxal, mais
le Portugal se considere aussi un pays méditerranéen: l'écologie, la culture et l'histoire le démontrent avec une force éclatante. Des questions telles que l'aridité, l'érosion et la désertification et l'irrigation pourront être traitées en commun. D'ailleurs, aucune de ces questions ne pourra être résolue unilatéralement. La coopération méditerranéenne sur une base paritaire, outre tous les avantages évidents et pragmatiques, aura encore une signification supérieure: elle sera, part intégrante du dialogue Nord-Sud et des liens qui unissent l'Europe et l'Afrique,
Le Portugal verra aussi avec beaucoup d'intérêt et satisfaction le développment des activités de la FAO en Europe, dont le progrès dans l'agriculture et les pêcheries profiteront sans doute à tous les Etats Membres en plus de sa contribution pour réduire les déséquilibres internes de la Région.
Monsieur le Président, le Portugal continue à être en quelque sorte un pays de paradoxes: il traverse une grave crise et connaît le début d'une grande entreprise nationale. Crise des ressources, de l'équilibre démographique et des échanges extérieurs; épopée d'une société en pleine transformation, où l'on est allé jusqu'aux bases les plus fondamentales de l'identité nationale, des relations entre les hommes et de leur destin. Le grand défi que nous avons accepté se résume de manière simple: il faut surmonter la crise actuelle afin de poursuivre cette entreprise.
Une transformation sociale et politique comme celle qui a eu lieu depuis avril 1974 constitue un événement dont les causes et les effets, concernant toute la communauté et les institutions, caractérisent un phénomène qui n'a lieu que très rarement dans la vie et l'histoire d'un peuple.
La décolonisation a reconduit le Portugal à son territoire européen et originel (sans pour autant mettre en cause notre vocation universaliste), ce qui a eu comme premières conséquences: réexaminer la présence du Portugal dans le monde et l'augmentation soudaine de la population résidente d'environ 7 pour cent (600 000 personnes). De cette situation découlent des problèmes très sérieux qu'il faut résoudre immédiatement. Or, nous nous trouvons à un moment où l'on cherche, avec toutes les forces du besoin vital, à réorienter notre économie, de manière à corriger les graves injustices sociales, à éliminer le sous-développement et à construire un régime démocratique. Dans "cette direction, nous avons déjà fait les premiers pas et commis les inévitables erreurs initiales de quelqu'un qui désire rester maître de son destin. La création d'un important secteur publique et sa coexistence avec les secteurs coopératif et privé; la réforme agraire en cours; la participation active des travailleurs; l'élaboration des premiers Plans d'ensemble et des projets visant la modernisation de l'économie; le développement et la consolidation de nos relations extérieures avec tous les pays du monde; voici quelques idées-force et quelques réalisations, consacrées dans notre nouvelle Constitution et vécues déjà dans la pratique. Tout ceci, cependant, va exiger un grand effort collectif, un véritable sacrifice et un esprit civique élevé, vu les difficultés économiques que nous connaissons, résultat d'une politique et d'une politique économique qui, pendant de longues décennies, n'ont pas développé l'industrie ni l'agriculture, ne se sont pas souciées de l'utilisation rationnelle des ressources naturelles et nationales. L'effort que le Portugal doit réaliser est encore plus difficile, face aux répercussions des récentes crises économiques mondiales et régionales.
La période de trois ans et demi que nous venons de vivre fut une période mouvementée, au cours de laquelle on pouvait parfois croire que l'on perdait le sens des transformations et la maîtrise des changements. Nous sommes néanmoins arrivés à un point où l'effort essentiel va vers l'institutiona-lisation d'un nouvel ordre social, politique et économique. Les aspects les plus radicaux de tout ce processus, qui ont eu pourtant l'utilité de lever ou éliminer des obstacles sérieux au changement, ont pu être vigoureusement corrigés et résorbés.
C'est non seulement le système économique corporatiste et un régime non démocratique qu'il a fallu défaire et remplacer, mais aussi les bases mêmes et les orientations de notre relation avec le monde. Du point de vue du stade de développement économique, nous avons certaines affinités avec la problématique du sous-développement, et nous attachons donc une grande importance à l'application des principes d'un nouvel ordre international. Par ailleurs, le Portugal affirme néanmoins son appartenance et son caractère européens. Nous en avons tiré les conséquences et le Gouvernement a posé sa candidature à l'adhésion au Marché commun. Cette intégration, un autre défi, créera évidemment la nécessité d'un effort accéléré de transformation de l'économie portugaise, avec de très importantes implications dans le secteur agricole et alimentaire.
La stagnation agricole que le Portugal connaît depuis 2 ou 3 décennies doit être vaincue, si nous voulons réduire considérablement les déficits commerciaux et des payements, ainsi que surmonter les ' obstacles au développement. Pour ce faire, il est absolument indispensable d'amener un important progrès technique subordonné au principe de l'utilisation prioritaire des ressources naturelles et disponibles, tout en respectant rigoureusement leur conservation rationnelle.
Le stratégie qui sera mise en pratique dans le cadre du plan qui devra être approuvé bientôt par le Parlement, dépasse de loin le domaine restreint de l'agriculture et intègre de nouvelles politiques de l'eau, du commerce, du crédit, de la transformation des produits alimentaires, de la recherche et de l'enseignement. Pour cela, nous avons les ressources, les capacités et la volonté; il faudra cependant un immense effort de réorientation.
Il ne faut pas le cacher, le Gouvernement se trouve confronté à dey besoins et des problèmes apparemment contradictoires qui en quelque sorte illustrent nos difficultés: la crise à court terme, mais le développement à long terme; la nécessité d'une plus grande justice sociale et la rupture des resources et de la production. D'un coté, nous voyons clairement le besoin de moderniser et d'augmenter la productivité par homme. et par hectare; d'un autre coté, nous devons prendre toutes les précautions afin de créer de l'emploi et éliminer le sous-emploi, un des plus graves problèmes actuels. C'est ainsi que nous conduisons le processus de la réforme agraire, subordonné à trois principes: justice, sécurité et développement.
Après le déclenchement des grandes transformations qui ont eu lieu peu après 1974, nous nous trouvons dans une situation de particulière importance, qui consiste à donner une voie cohérente, des objectifs sûrs et une philosophie socio-économique à la poursuite sociale de la Réforme agraire. En effet, le mouvement spontané et révolutionnaire des années 74 à 76 a essentiellement fait éclater l'étau des structures traditionnelles et des puissants obstacles qui s'opposaient à tout essai de réforme sociale et qui empêchaient une modernisation sérieuse de l'agriculture. Celle-ci révélait sa plus grave distorsion: la sous-utilisation des ressources nationales (terre, eau, travail et capital). Depuis 12 mois, nous nous sommes engagés dans une deuxième phase: la création des nouvelles institutions, la mise en pratique d'une nouvelle politique agricole d'ensemble. L'investissement et la modernisation consolideront les changements effectués dans les structures foncières.
A cet égard, nous sommes particulièrement intéressés à la question des institutions: quels sont les modèles, à définir et à concrétiser, qui présideront à l'organisation des nouvelles unités et structures productives? Les expériences que nous pourrons connaître par l'intermédiaire de la FAO seront de grande utilité. C'est pour cela que nous avons l'intention de contribuer très activement à la Conférence mondiale sur la Réforme agraire et le Développement rural, dont les résultats, nous l'espérons, contribueront à une meilleure compréhension de la complexité d'une problématique si controversée.
A propos encore de la réforme agraire portugaise, la question essentielle est évidemment celle du statut de la terre, des liens entre les hommes et de la responsabilité de l'Etat. Le gouvernement portugais, conscient des réalités de son territoire et de son peuple, a pris une sérieuse option en faveur d'une véritable société rurale, modernisée, basée sur un certain "esprit paysan", c'est-à-dire, nous voulons promouvoir la fixation à la terre et à la communauté rurale en donnant aux paysans et aux travailleurs ruraux les moyens de mieux contrôler leur production, ainsi que d'autres aspects essentiels: la recherche, la commercialisation et l'industrialisation. La paysannerie ne constitue pas une profession, mais bien plus un mode de vie et une culture. Cette culture doit présider à la production. S'il est vrai que l'on produit pour des hommes, il ne faudra jamais oublier que ce sont des hommes qui produisent.
Cette année encore, le gouvernement approuvera une très importante législation sur les statuts des unités productives et sur le régime d'utilisation de la terre. A ce propos, je souligne que les coopératives de production, d'agriculteurs ou complémentaires constituent le modèle que nous voulons privilégier, tout en laissant aux agriculteurs, évidemment, la liberté de s'organiser.
Les transformations qui sont advenues récemment en conséquence des négociations en cours à la troisième Conférence des Nations Unies sur le Droit de la mer et du nouveau règlement pour les océans ont eu de profondes répercussions sur les pêches portugaises. C'est ainsi qu'on a défini une zone économique exclusive, dont nous nous proposons d'exploiter et de développer rationnellement les ressources dans un cadre adéquat de coopération régionale car les produits de la pêche ont une importance vitale dans le régime alimentaire du peuple portugais. Ce développement aura aussi son importance pour l'amélioration de notre balance de payements, de même qu'il sera un stimulant pour les- industries connexes.
Nous savons bien que la plus grande partie de l'effort vers un développement socio-économique équilibré est la tâche du peuple portugais, mais nous sommes fort encouragés dans cette tâche par les différentes formes qu'a prises l'aide reçue des pays amis, et nous souhaitons pouvoir en bénéficier davantage par l'entremise des Nations Unies et de ses agences spécialisées, notamment la FAO.
Le gouvernement portugais considère le cadre multilatéral comme étant particulièrement convenabl-e pour la promotion des investissements et pour rendre plus facile la coordination des activités d'aide technique, dont les résultats sont étroitement liés à la compétence technique et à l'efficacité des agences d'exécution.
C'est pourquoi, à notre avis, les activités de la FAO doivent continuer de s'élargir de façon à augmenter aussi le role qu'elle joue déjà dans l'effort pour réduire l'immense écart entre les capacités scientifiques et technologiques des pays développés et celles des pays en voie de développement, et ceci dans le sens déjà préconisé par le Programme de Travail pour le biennium de 1977-78.
La sensibilité politique, l'énergie et le dynamisme dont a fait preuve le Directeur général au cours de ces deux années, ainsi que les propositions qu'il a soumises, ont tout notre appui. Nous croyons que les mesures envisagées par le Directeur général et adoptées au cours de la 69ème séance, en juillet 1976, surtout en ce qui concerne le Programme de coopération technique et la décentralisation des services du siège, sont opportunes et prises dans la direction correcte.
Dans mon pays, les reflets de l'action de la FAO sont encourageants et je saisis cette occasion pour remercier de la rapidité et de l'efficacité avec lesquelles la FAO et le Programme mondial pour l'alimentation ont répondu aux sollicitations du Gouvernement portugais. Nous souhaitons que les projets en cours, ainsi que ceux qui vont bientôt commencer, puissent contribuer à l'acquisition des technologies les plus conformes aux conditions socio-économiques des populations rurales, particulièrement celles du minifundium, car il faut prévenir la répétition de ces cas où la politique de développement ne favorise que les couches sociales les plus privilégiées.
En ce moment de l'histoire de l'humanité où l'on veut traduire dans la pratique les objectifs d'un nouvel ordre économique international axé sur la ''self-reliance'', nous considérons, d'après notre expérience, que la plus haute priorité doit aller à la transference de technologies en des conditions satisfaisantes et à la concentration des ressources financières internationales dans le sens du développement. Nous nous réjouirions donc, si la FAO prenait la position qui lui revient d'après son statut, dans la préparation de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur la Science et la Technologie, où certains de ces aspects doivent être discutés. Nous aimerions que dans la restructuration des Nations Unies déjà à l'étude la FAO puisse occuper le leadership en ce qui touche l'application d'un N. O. E. I. aux secteurs de l'agriculture, des forêts et despêches. Surtout pour ce qui regarde les pêches, il est urgent de développer des modèles élargis pour la transference des technologies et la coopération mutuelle, de telle façon que les Etats riverains puissent profiter pleinement de leurs zones économiques exclusives et assurer la conservation des ressources ainsi qu'on l'a déjà souligné à la dernière réunion du COFI.
Au cours du débat général à l'actuelle Assemblée des Nations Unies, le Ministre des affaires étrangères du Portugal a annoncé notre position sur l'institution du nouveau règlement pour les océans et les avantages qu'il apportera, dans certains cas, à la rationalisation des organismes des Nations Unies compétents dans ce domaine. Dans ce cadre, la FAO aura un role important et il pourra s'avérer nécessaire renforcer le Département des pêches de la FAO et de faire des arrangements dans les organismes régionaux pour la pêche créés dans le cadre de l'organisation, de telle façon qu'ils puissent remplir les nouvelles fonctions qu'attend d'eux la communauté internationale.
L'effort qui sera demandé à la FAO au cours des prochaines années sera donc remarquable et il exige la consolidation de sa capacité technique et la mise à disposition des services dont dépendent la qualité et les résultats de l'application des projets. C'est seulement dans ces conditions qu'il sera possible de profiter pleinement des projets mis en oeuvre dans le cadre du PNUD ou d'autres fonds, dont la diversité et la spécificité ont justifié la création récente de l'International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD). Nous pensons, aussi, d'après l'expérience positive que nous avons eu, que le Programme de Coopération Technique est un instrument d'action qui s'est avéré capable de répondre avec flexibilité, efficacité et rapidité aux sollicitations des Gouvernements concernés.
Les progrès qui résultent d'une plus juste application de la science et de la technologie à l'Agriculture et à la Pêche (à laquelle a beaucoup contribué l'action de la FAO) ont consenti jusqu'à présent à éviter la dégradation chaotique de la situation alimentaire mondiale. Le programme d'action destiné à réduire les pertes alimentaires proposé par le Directeur général et les propositions pour son financement, non seulement correspondent à un objectif de la plus grande importance pour beaucoup de pays et de régions, mais se placent dans un domaine qui répond à la vocation d'appui fonctionnel de la part de la FAO aux pays membres intéressés.
Subsiste finalement le besoin impérieux d'une lutte efficace contre la famine, qui continue à affecter une partie importante de la population mondiale. Au-delà des problèmes de production au niveau national, il devient chaque fois plus urgent d'assurer une distribution juste et équilibrée des produits alimentaires et d'adopter des mesures de sécurité alimentaire, qui puissent'contribuer à la prévention ou à la réduction des situations de crise.
Après une première phase, dans l'immédiat après-guerre, dans laquelle la FAO a assumé des responsabilités vis-à-vis des différents aspects du problème, on a assisté dans les dernières années - au moment où les questions de l'alimentation sont peut-être devenues le problème fondamental pour la communauté mondiale -à la création d'un nombre grandissant d'institutions spécialisées dans le secteur de l'alimentation, dont on a reconnu l'urgence d'une action concertée.
Poursuivant l'orientation que le Gouvernement portugais a toujours défendue et réaffirmée lors de la dernière séance de l'Assemblée, nous pensons qu'il est indispensable d'assurer la primauté de la FAO dans ce domaine.
Etant donné sa nature intergouvernementale, cette Assemblée doit accompagner les activités de ces institutions-là, analyser les progrès accomplis et donner des orientations qui puissent contribuer à une coordination efficace, dans le respect des compétences des différents Programmes et Agences.
En outre, ce but exige que la capacité de la FAO soit ajustée aux besoins accrus en tout ce qui concerne le maintien et le développement du système d'information, la préparation des synthèses et des analyses à différents niveaux, d'après les besoins spécifiques des différents types d'usagers.
Le processus de décentralisation en cours, ainsi que- l'appui au renforcement des capacités nationales, justifie l'orientation proposée dans le sens de renforcer le système des représentants de la FAO, laquelle pourra ainsi maintenir une liaison quotidienne avec les activités et les problèmes des pays membres.
Nous avons déjà affirmé que dans le monde d'interdépendance où nous vivons, la coopération internationale dans le cadre des Nations Unies nous semble le système le plus ajusté pour la recherche des solutions tenant compte des intérêts nationaux et de ceux de la communauté mondiale. Il faut sauvegarder le caractère universel de telles organisations et le principe de l'égalité des Etats dans le système de décision.
Le Portugal, dans la mesure de ses possibilités, fera tout pour contribuer aux activités de la FAO, ayant la certitude que nous nous aidons nous-mêmes et qu'en même temps nous contribuons à l'effort collectif dans le cadre de l'Organisation. C'est donc avec le plus grand plaisir que je saisis cette occasion pour exprimer la satisfation que nous aurons à accueillir l'année prochaine, à Lisbonne, la onzième Conférence régionale de la FAO pour l'Europe. A l'avenir nous continuerons de faciliter la réalisation dans notre pays d'autres réunions de l'Organisation.
S. BOOLELL (Mauritius): On behalf of my delegation, and in my own name, I wish to extend to you, Mr. Chairman, my warmest congratulations on your election to preside over our deliberations. I have no doubt that under your leadership, this 19th Session will be a success.
I should also like to congratulate and welcome to our Organization the new members: Angola, Comores, Djibouti, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Toma and Principe, and Seychelles. This addition to the membership is an indication of the importance of the FAO as an international forum for the discussion of the problems of food and agriculture. It is also an expression of our conviction that this Organization has a vital role to play in helping countries to free their peoples from the scourge of hunger and malnutrition.
We note from FAO documents that FAO's assessment of the world food and agricultural production indicates increases in 1977 of only 1. 0 to 1. 5 percent in world food production and 1. 5 to 2. 0 percent in total agricultural production after satisfactory results achieved in the three previous years when the 4 percent average annual growth called for in the strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade had been recorded. We also note with concern that the average annual increase in food production in the developing countries has been 2. 5 percent only over the last seven years, which is below the rate of 2. 9 percent achieved in the period 1961-1970. The-FAO's survey of the food situation over the last two years also indicates that the lowest production has been recorded in the most seriously affected countries where food production per capita fell 0. 4 percent in the 1974-76 period. How do we explain this sad situation?
Developing countries in general and the most seriously affected countries in particular have to face enormous difficulties in their efforts to increase their food production. Apart from climatic factors such as drought, and other calamities such as floods and cyclones, which can destroy a whole year. 's labour within a matter of hours, the farmers sometimes do not have access at the appropriate time and in adequate amount to the essential inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, high-yielding varieties of seeds and modern technology. Our primary products on which we depend for export earnings are at
the mercy of the market forces over which we have no control. With the best of intentions governments often find themselves in the helpless situtation of being unable to provide the necessary credit to farmers to buy the essential inputs. The incentives to increased production lie in adequate remuneration to the producers. But the developing countries have to face the double scourge of low prices for their exports and high prices for their imports. The market of both primary products and manufactured goods is controlled by developed countries. Unless these inequities are resolved the developing world will stagnate in underdevelopment and there will never be a new international economic order.
We get assistance for temporary relief in areas of disaster. But little effort is made to find permanent solutions to prevent disasters. The recurrent droughts in Sahel should be a stern reminder that relief measures on an ad hoc basis are not the answer to solve the problem of hunger in that region. Concentrated efforts to develop and mobilize water resources in that area should not only be given priority but treated as a measure of urgency.
The mobilization of resources in developing countries themselves for increased food production is dependent on export earnings. It is unfortunate that progress in resolving these problems at international level continues to be slow, much to the disappointment and frustration of the developing world. It was only after long and protracted negotiations that it had recently been possible to reach an international sugar agreement. We only hope that a majority of importing and exporting sugar countries will ratify the agreement which will enable the current low price of sugar which is below the cost of production, even of the most efficient producers, to reach a level which will be both equitable to consumers and remunerative to producers. With regard to tea, we are hopeful that the present efforts towards arriving at an international tea agreement will come to fruition. We also hope that the negotiations in GATT and UNCTAD in respect of other commodities would move towards more positive conclusions and that agreement would be reached on the establishment of a Common Fund which is a key element in UNCTAD's Integrated Commodities Programme.
While we appreciate the importance of assistance for the development of agriculture in the poorer countries we have to deplore that the commitments by the donor agencies are far from adequate. In fact total official commitments of external assistance to agriculture are estimated to have fallen by 7 percent in real terms in 1976. This sad state of affairs can no longer continue, especially at a time when developing countries require massive investment for the development of their agriculture and have to pay very high prices for their imports from developed countries. It is unfortunate that the Paris Confernce on International Economic Co-operation failed to solve this important and other outstanding issues.
The agricultural development in Mauritius, as in many other developing countries, has been adversely affected by events in the world at large. We depend mostly on sugar production which alone accounts for 84 percent of our total export earnings and provides employment to about 90 percent, of total employment in agriculture. Our progress in 1976-77 has been affected by a decline in the price of our main export, while the price of industrial goods which we import continues to rise. In fact, the average price of our exports fell by 18 percent in 1976 while the price of our imports rose by 10 percent. We cannot but be concerned by this situation. In view of our heavy dépendance on trade, this has involved a substantial reduction in our country's real resources - both for consumption and investment.
Investment in agriculture is the key element in our development plan which, in so far as agricultural development is concerned, aims at:
(i) maximization of sugar-cane production not through an extension of acreage but through improved cultural practices;
(ii) greater agricultural diversification through bringing more lands under cultivation of crops other than sugar and greater use of the interlines of sugar plantations; and
(iii) increasing livestock production to meet the requirements of the local market.
The attainment of these objectives requires a large investment expenditure in the agricultural sector, representing about 20 percent of the total planned investment for the period 1979-80. More than one third of the investment in this sector will be carried out by the public sector, which relates to the supply of irrigation water, provision of mechanical services to planters, improvement of extension services and construction of storage facilities for agricultural produce. With a view to achieving substantial increase in output of crops, we have envisaged the implementation of three irrigation projects. These projects when completed will provide water to some 12 500 hectares of land of which about half belong to small farmers cultivating less than 5 hectares each.
Our development plan also provides for the implementation of a comprehensive programme of research in crop and livestock. Although we are not a major food-producing country we are aiming to more than double the present production of food crops, so as to reach self-sufficiency in several types of agricultural produce we consume. With regard to livestock development, research work undertaken over the recent years with the collaboration of UNDP and FAO has demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing sugar cane by-products for the cattle reared intensively in feedlots.
We are conscious of the fact that without adequate application of fertilizers food production is bound to suffer. We have therefore set up a fertilizer plant to meet all our requirements and for some exports. We have also established a National Fertilizer Scheme to subsidize the prices of fertilizers and to ensure an adequate supply to farmers. These measures have already been having their beneficial effects in that farmers are making increasing use of fertilizers.
We are glad that the international community, including the World Bank and the FAO, are giving more emphasis to rural development. We support the activities of the FAO aiming at giving more emphasis to the small farmers and to the role of women in the development of agriculture. In this connection my government has intensified its effort in attacking rural poverty. The first phase of our rural development programme which is being assisted financially by the World Bank has been providing a package of improvement works in the rural areas in order to motivate the villagers in self-help and rural reconstruction. This programme has been reshaped in the light of experience and the second phase lays emphasis on the creation of short-term employment opportunities and the raising of the quality of life of the people. It is essential to provide remunerative employment opportunities especially for young people, in the rural areas.
Another main problem in the developing world is the unwillingness of the young people to take up farming because farming is considered to be the activity of the poorer section of the community. In Mauritius, we are striving to create conditions which will attract the young to agricultural occupation. We are bringing certain changes in our education system in order to make it more development-oriented. We are also encouraging organizations like Young Farmers' Clubs to participate more effectively in the development of agriculture through the use of improved technology, such as mechanization.
We are glad that the Director-General has made some concrete proposals to give a new orientation to the work of the Organization. We welcome the strengthening and restructuring of the Investment Centre as proposed in the FAO Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium. We hope that, with the effective cooperation of FAO, IFAD, the World Bank and other lending institutions, developing countries can expect finance to a greater extent and more speedily for their agricultural projects.
With regard to the Technical Co-operation Programme of FAO, we believe that even with the short period of its life, it has clearly proved its usefulness. The very wide range of agricultural projects which have been financed under the Technical Cooperation Programme amply demonstrate that the Programme fulfils existing needs in agricultural development.
My delegation also fully supports the other proposals made by the Director-General in his Programme of Work and Budget for 1978-79. On the question of reducing post-harvest losses, we consider that this is an important step. The urgency and importance of implementing as soon as possible a programme of action, which will have an impact on the availability of food for human consumption, need not be elaborated.
Science and technology have placed at the disposal of mankind the means of meeting the challenge of world food shortage. Yet, as Ambassador Andrew Young, in his McDougall Memorial Lecture, has mentioned, millions of people throughout the world are facing starvation. The Director-General also, in his most stimulating address to the Conference, referred to certain areas where ''a billion people are at the lowest levels of existence and hundreds of millions are lacking in one or more of the basic needs - enough food, clean drinking water, adequate housing, minimum hygiene. '' That such a situation should prevail is a matter of grave concern to all of us. And we all stand self-condemned.
It has therefore become more than ever imperative for effective and determined efforts, both at the national and international levels, to deal with the present world food situation. The efforts made by individual developing countries need to be strongly supported by developed countries and international agencies with adequate help and resources.
It would be pointless to appeal to members of the Third World to urge their farmers to produce more food, if proper conditions do not exist to provide the necessary incentives to the workers on the farm.
Already the young generation which constitutes a majority of the population in the developing world are dissatisfied with the present state of affairs and are exploding with impatience and anger. Conditions have therefore to be created to ensure that they have a decent living and a better quality of life. This objective can only be achieved if the export earnings of the developing countries are stabilized by the regulation of international trade. It will only be then that it will be possible for the Third World countries to plan for larger investments in agriculture and guarantee an adequate return to the farmer.
We have the firm conviction that under the leadership of the present Director-General who has given a new dimension to the activities of the FAO, we can look to the future of food and agricultural development with greater hope.
The meeting rose at 13. 00 hours
La seance est levée à 13 heures Se levanto
la sesión a las 13. 00 horas
