EL PRESIDENTE: Señoras y señores delegados. Vamos a dar comienzo a la sesión de la tarde continuando con la lista de oradores incluidos en el debate general. Tiene la palabra, en primer lugar, el señor Eyskens, Ministro de Cooperación y Desarrollo de Bélgica.
M. EYSKENS (Belgique): En prenant au nom de la Belgique la parole devant la vingtième Conférence de la FAO, une interrogation s'empare de mon esprit. Quelle contribution mon pays, que l'on range parmi les plus riches du monde, peut-il fournir à cette réunion, qui a inscrit à son ordre du jour le problème le plus pressant et le plus universel qui soit, celui de la faim. La Belgique sait-elle se souvenir du temps où-il y a un siècle à peine-la famine sévissait chez elle. A-t-elle un rôle à jouer, un espoir à offrir, des leçons à apprendre? Je prends la parole avec une grande modestie, impressionné que je suis par l'ampleur du problème tel que les orateurs qui m'ont précédé l'ont rappelé à cette tribune, et en particulier par le Directeur général de la FAO et par sa Sainteté le Pape.
A la face des millions d'hommes qui souffrent et meurent de fain, affrontés qu'ils sont aux abîmes de problèmes apocalyptiques, je crois pouvoir apporter à ce débat la contribution de mon pays dans l'espoir qu'elle apportera quelques remèdes à ce terrible mal de la fin du siècle.
Nous non plus nous ne voulons pas nous contenter d'appels aux bons sentiments ni exhaler des bouffées sporadiques et inefficaces d'indignation. Nous nous garderons de même de toute rhétorique indécente. Mais nous constatons que, malgré son doublement au cours des vingt-cinq dernières années, la production alimentaire mondiale par tête d'habitant a baissé. Les documents préparés par le Secrétariat en diagnostiquent les causes. Vous connaissez ce diagnostic: la population mondiale augmente de près de 2 pour cent par an et en l'an 2000 elle pourrait atteindre 6,3 milliards d'habitants. Ce qui veut dire qu'il faudrait une croissance d'environ 50 pour cent de la production alimentaire mondiale. Mais, compte tenu de la croissance démographique et de l'augmentation des revenus, il faudra probablement une augmentation de la production alimentaire de 75 pour cent.
Certes, il n'y a que la surpopulation qui doive nous préoccuper, il y a aussi du coté de l'offre, comme de la demande, une série de problèmes pour lesquels les économistes n'ont pas prévu de solution. Les multiples causes de la malnutrition et de la faim sont énumérées dans des rapports érudits comme ceux de la Banque mondiale, d'Interfuturs et d'Agriculture 2000, pour ne citer que ceux-là.
Depuis la Conférence alimentaire mondiale, qui s'est tenu ici même il y a cinq ans, les rapports et les discussions consacrés à ces mêmes causes se sont multipliés. D'autre part, la dimension des phénomènes agricoles et alimentaires a gagné en précision implacable.
Sa Sainteté Jean-Paul II lui aussi fait observer avec pertinence que la faim ne provient pas uniquement de circonstances géographiques, climatiques ou agricoles défavorables. Elle provient aussi de l'homme lui-même, des déficiences des organisations sociales qui empêchent l'initiative personnelle, voire de la terreur et de l'oppression idéologiques.
Tandis que nous discutons, un milliard de personnes sont affectées par des carences alimentaires et 500 millions souffrent de malnutrition grave. Au Parlement européen, à la fin du mois dernier, le problème de la faim a fait l'objet d'un débat décevant. Et à la trente-quatrième Assemblée générale des Nations Unies, on a voté une nouvelle résolution. Il faut agir. Mais que faire? Force est de constater que ce n'est pas à coups de résolutions européennes ou onusiennes qu'on rassasie les affamés. André Gide n'avait-il pas raison de soutenir sous la forme d'une cruelle mise en garde qu'il y a peut-être une satisfaction esthétique â disserter de la faim?
C'est dans le cadre de la FAO qu'il nous incombe de trouver la solution, d'autant plus qu'il apparaît tous les jours que les gouvernements nationaux sont trop petits pour résoudre les grands problèmes et trop grands pour venir à bout des petits problèmes.
Sur quoi se fondent les prétentions d'une affirmation aussi radicale? On peut, nous semble-t-il, se reporter avant tout aux négociations sur l'Accord du blé et sur la Convention de l'aide alimentaire, au plan d'action pour la sécurité alimentaire approuvé par le Conseil, aux résultats de la Conférence mondiale sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural qui s'est déroulée dans cette même salle il y a trois mois, et du Conseil mondial de l'alimentation d'Ottawa de septembre dernier.
Ce qui ne nous laisse pas en repos, c'est que de plus en plus, au fil et au rythme même de nos réunions, alors que la connaissance du problème gagne en profondeur et que les spécialistes assurent que techniquement la solution est possible, on continue à se demander: qu'est ce qui fait défaut?
Dès lors, qu'est-ce qui fait défaut? Pour notre part, nous croyons entrevoir trois voies qui conduisent vers un début d'action globale, concrète et efficace:
- la réforme agraire et le développement rural;
- la sécurité alimentaire;
- la contribution de la FAO à la Nouvelle stratégie internationale du développement. La réforme agraire et le développement rural:
Le développement rural doit se trouver au centre d'une véritable politique d'aide au développement, toutefois, en amont de cette vérité, il faut compter avec la sensibilité des pays en voie de développement portés à craindre un manque de respect pour leur souveraineté nationale provenant des décisions prises par les pays industrialisés qui font porter leur aide sur cette branche de l'économie primaire plutôt que promouvoir l'industrialisation, et en aval on se heurte à une préoccupation qui se fait jour dans l'opinion publique de nos pays industrialisés. Une certaine interprétation de la notion d'interdépendance et de croissance solidaire voudrait faire accroire que les "investissements" réalisés dans les pays en voie de développement leur font retour à la faveur d'un "flow back" régulier. Mais pour ce que le développement rural produit comme dividendes en vaut-il vraiment la peine?
Et cependant la Déclaration de principes et le Plan d'action, issus de la Conférence mondiale sur la réforme agraire ont créé une véritable "Charte du paysan", définissant les droits des ruraux et les obligations de leurs gouvernements. Cette déclaration va plus loin dans la voie des réformes qu'aucun autre document international.
Il nous paraît évident que notre Conférence devrait donner suite à la résolution sur la Réforme agraire et le développement rural, et cela dans l'esprit du discours que le Pape a prononcé le 14 juillet dernier.
Pour sa part, la Belgique examinera avec grand soin toutes les propositions que le Directeur général de la FAO nous soumettra à cet effet, y compris celles qui impliqueraient le principe d'une contribution volontaire permettant le démarrage du Plan d'action issu de la Conférence mondiale.
Une réforme agraire ne sera pas achevée avant la fin de notre génération. Ainsi y a-t-il lieu de mettre en oeuvre, dans les plus brefs délais, le Plan d'action pour la sécurité alimentaire. En attendant la conclusion d'un nouvel accord sur le blé, la Belgique, Etat Membre de la Communauté Européenne, a pris une série d'initiatives dont les plus importantes se résument comme suit. Toutefois, elles ne concernent pas notre contribution au stockage résultant des mécanismes de la politique agricole de la CEE.
Pour l'aide alimentaire: dans le cadre de la Convention alimentaire existante, la Belgique est prête à porter sa contribution de 33 900 tonnes à 43 700 tonnes; suite aux recommandations du Conseil à Ottawa, la Belgique a, elle aussi, pris la décision de ne pas retarder les négociations dé la nouvelle Convention alimentaire et de ne pas attendre la négociation sur l'accord du blé. Je puis annoncer que, moyennant certaines garanties juridiques portant sur le lien entre les deux Conventions, la Belgique prendra ses responsabilités au sein de la Communauté européenne, afin qu'elle puisse, dans les meilleurs délais, participer comme telle aux nouvelles négociations et, partant, augmenter substantiellement son aide alimentaire.
- Parmi les programmes FAO auxquels nous participons en vue de réaliser une sécurité alimentaire réelle, mentionnons les 5 000 tonnes de blé qui seront mises à la disposition de la Réserve alimentaire internationale d'urgence. Une participation d'un demi-million de tonnes à l'"Engagement international" sera ainsi pour la première fois réalisée.
- Pour le Programme d'assistance en vue de la Sécurité alimentaire et celui des "pertes après récolte", nous mettons des lignes de crédit à la disposition de la FAO afin de concourir au financement incessant de ce projet.
Votre Organisation, depuis 1960, a lancé son programme d'engrais, de pesticides, de semences améliorées, dé crédits et de formations agricoles.
La Belgique peut se féliciter d'assumer la responsabilité d' environ un quart du budget total annuel de 5 millions de dollars de ce "trust-fund" engrais.
Permettez-moi, Monsieur le Président, de citer encore quelques exemples de la manière dont la Belgique soutient la politique et les programmes de votre Organisation pour améliorer la qualité de l'alimentation et la situation nutritionnelle des pays en voie de développement.
- recherche appliquée et diffusion de ses résultats à raison de 110 millions de Francs belges en 1979 et 130 en 1980 dans la lutte contre la faim;
- augmentation de la production;
- rémunération avant et après récolte;
- contribution aux réserves de sécurité;
- le programmé Sahel.
Il y a aussi le programme Sahel et le soutien au Comité Inter-Etats pour lutter contre la sécheresse qui y sévit et la menace; et il y a encore le projet de reboisement des îles du Cap-Vert. Il y a enfin un des programmes de collaboration dont la réussite est des plus éclatante et qui concerne les jeunes experts. Il associe nos efforts et nos ressources au programme de la FAO, dans l'esprit de notre Organisation autant que des pays hôtes.
Je crois dès lors, Monsieur le Président, que les rapports entre la FAO et mon pays sont bons. Ils le sont aussi bien sur le plan du personnel qu'à travers les programmes grands et petits.
Je saisis cette occasion qui m'est offerte pour déclarer que la Belgique est prête à approuver le budget 1980/1981, dont l'augmentation par an, en termes réels, se limite à 2,6 pour cent. Ce nouveau taux représente un effort qui nous rapproche du plafond de croissance budgétaire de 2 pour cent que mon gouvernement a fixé comme objectif pour les principales organisations spécialisées des Nations Unies. Je vous félicite, Monsieur le Directeur général, et je vous demande de bien vouloir poursuivre vos efforts dans ce sens. Continue en anglais.
This conference is taking place at a time when the International Community is beginning to get used to the idea of a series of global negotiations with the aim of relaunching the North-South dialogue. The General Assembly in New York is discussing this question this very month. It is self-evident that a fundamental aspect of the development strategy which we will be preparing during 1980 will be devoted to the world situation in food and agricultural, and it is the FAO which will contribute to this priority factor in the new development strategy.
In this connexion, you might remember that in the speech that I delivered at the UNCTAD V in Manila earlier this year I stated that the transfer of the aid resources to developing countries seems to be a very crucial issue of the Third Development Decade and of the New Development Strategy. I think that fresh ideas are needed in this respect, and that is why I came up with my suggestion of the negotiation of an agreement on common growth among the countries of the developed world, the industrialized world, and I meant more precisely the Western countries, the Socialist countries and perhaps some oil-producing countries.
It seems to me that the recommendations of the study Agriculture Horizon 2000 represent a most worthwhile contribution. How can we not share the concern of the authors of this paper at the realisation that, even assuming a significant upturn in economic growth, hunger will not have been defeated by the end of this century? Unless, that is, the world were to follow the radical recommendations suggested in the report.
For our part, we share the analysis in this study because food requirements are a fundamental part of the strategy of basic needs and this explains why rural development has been given an absolute priority. The implications of such a political option take us very far indeed. The strategy of basic needs should be defined more clearly and applied more and more intensely.
This policy both nationally and internationally should, as of now, give priority to small farmers. In effect, our aid projects for the improvement of the situation in the field of infrastructure of this category of workers gives us a direct guarantee of employment, of the elimination of poverty and above all, of the new production of food products. I could tell you about our happy experience with our partners, the developing countries, in a whole range of bilateral Belgian projects.
When now planning new projects on the productive potential of local populations, we have firmly abandoned all large-scale projects in order to concentrate on what is required eventually to feed the greatest possible number. Thus, for example, in the field of animal breeding some projects aim at improving output by improving the breed and by introducing zootechnical procedures which have been adapted to the rural environment. I admit that their effect is less spectacular, but it is certainly much more lasting and accordingly more productive.
The same reasoning guides us in our cooperation with establishments for higher education, where in the field of agriculture Belgium enjoys a reputation of which I can be proud; our assistance will be all the more effective as applied research increases.
We are promoting this concept of rural development through intergovernmental organizations as well as through cooperation between the Belgian government and the non-governmental organizations of our country. The Belgian system of joint financing allows me to contribute 75 percent of the total for a project 25 percent financed by an approved non-governmental organization.
Mr. Chairman, the "Agriculture Horizon 2000" report shows beyond any doubt that hunger presents the most serious problem of our time. This report puts forward radical proposals to eliminate this problem of hunger through increasing food production and the redistribution of resources. We are asked to change trade-structures in the framework of the New International Economic Order. According to the report, the developing countries must increase their agricultural exports while becoming independent of imported food products. Moreover, the agricultural policies of the industrialized countries should relate to the needs of the developing countries.
This is a very courageous paper. It asks of us, as do so many millions of starving people, that we examine it together and try to give it some implementation with conviction of presentation.
G. HAIDEN (Austria) (interpretation from German): Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Austrian delegation I should like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and your Vice-Presidents, on your election to your responsibilities, and I wish this Conference much success. I would also like to congratulate the Director-General of FAO, Edouard Saouma, who has been responsible for the preparation of this Conference and has in fact made for its success. On behalf of the Austrian delegation I would like to say we highly appreciate the initiative of Mr. Saouma, who has provided new impetus to FAO.
During the last decades agriculture of all European countries and industrialized countries proved its adaptability and achieved, while undergoing structural changes, an increase in productivity which is in excess of most other economic sectors. This also applies to the Austrial agriculture, and in the last 20 years this was characterized first by a strong decrease in persons employed in agriculture and forestry; by the increase in part-time farming, and finally by a substantial mechanization and rationalization, with the result of a major increase in productivity and in production.
After 1978 Austrian agri culture shows excellent development. With an increase in agricultural production of 6. 6 percent, 3. 6 billion dollars of the whole, the increment in real income by 4·7 percent is a highly satisfactory result. The improvement of the infrastructure of production, enterprise, and the market structures were areas of concentrated effort in 1978, and as a result the regional economic growth in Austria was enhanced and a contribution was also made to preserve the natural environment.
The high agricultural output of production standard in the industrialized countries is in remarkable and striking contrast to the problems concerning us at this Conference.
According to estimates of FAO, some 500 million people are still suffering from malnutrition. While the daily caloric intake in the developed countries is considerably above the physical requirements, the trend in the developing countries is nothing but uniform and on the whole unsatisfactory. In a number of countries the per capita income is still below 300 US dollars per year. The problems of improving the food and income situation in many developing countries are so substantial that they can only be damaged in concerted and internationally coordinated actions. In spite of the praiseworthy
efforts of the investment centre of FAO, IPAD, the World Bank, Regional Development Banks, as well as bilateral activities to improve the rural infrastructure of Third World countries, the results so far achieved are anything but satisfactory. Hunger in the world cannot be regarded merely as a problem of production policy only. Rather is it a matter of unequal access to technology and of different stages of development of infrastructure. It is also a distributional problem of highest political order. food aid is necessary, and we could only wish that the industrialized countries could be more generous.
Bat food aid alone does not solve the problem. In the long run, hunger in the developing countries can only be fought if these countries are enabled to produce the food they need themselves. This is a real challenge to both the developing countries and the Ministers of Agriculture attending this Conference. As Ministers of Agriculture of industrialized countries, we must mobilize the support needed to achieve this objective.
As regards the Programme of Work and Budget, 1980-81, I may point out that Austria fully endorses the proposed programme expansion in the technical and economic field, and the assistance to be given to development programmes as well as the technical cooperation programmes. Their impacts on the budget appear to be moderate. The Austrian delegation will therefore vote for the adoption of the budget amounting to a total of 271 million US dollars.
Austria appreciates the fact that a number of the activities of FAO specially focuses on the needs of the individual countries. As for the strengthening of field activity, Austria has always held the view that budget allocations for administrative purposes should be kept at the minimum required level. My delegation has noted with satisfaction that the technical programmes mainly focus on such priorities as investment-oriented activities and inputs, such as quality seed, the improvement of plant protection, and the reduction of post-harvest losses. The Austrian delegation is satisfied that agricultural research receives special priority, and that FAO's technical assistance to the preparation of investment projects, especially of the World Bank and the Regional Banks, is being increased.
Starting with a resolution on the strengthening of the activities in the European region, which had been unanimously approved by the 19th FAO Conference, Austria has closely followed the activities of the European region and their significance for the other regions of the world. In this connection, the activities of the scientific networks seem to deserve special mention, as well as the utilization of the scientific networks for the benefit of developing countries. We also attach importance to the activities of FAO's Division of the Home Economics. This opinion was also confirmed by the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, which stressed the importance of the role of women. Furthermore, my delegation welcomes the increased research on alternative energies to be obtained from agriculture, which we see as a high priority problem for the future.
Apart from that, also the use of "adapted technologies" seems to us to be of special importance. The activities of FAO to improve the infrastructure of the developing countries as follow-up me measures of the World Congress on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development seem to us to deserve full appreciation and recognition. Important as the World Food Programme may be and accepting the need for continued food supplies, self-reliance measures by developing countries are needed to achieve a genuine autonomous development in their infrastructure including the required infrastructure.
The situation of the people in Kampuchea should rouse us all. The Conference held on November 5, 1979 in New York under the Chairmanship of Secretary-General Dr. Waldheim, during which 210 million US dollars were pledged as emergency aid to Cambodia should motivate all countries capable of giving the urgently needed assistance to do so both promptly and effectively. Apart from these measures that should secure the survival of the local population, immediate steps should be taken which would enable Kampuchea to produce a crop during the coming season.
I would like to repeat here that Austria fully supports the Programme of Work and Budget submitted by the Director-General. In view of the need to undertake additional production--oriented actions, the Austrian Government, after discussions I recently had with Edouard Saouma, decided last week to provide a special contribution amounting to about 300 thousand US dollars for such special measures.
From the Austrian viewpoint, we considered the follow-up measures of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, which are described in Document C 79/28, to be expedient and consistent with the needs of developing countries. Austria supports in principle those measures of FAO which focus on an integrated development activity in developing countries such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and suggests that a close link be established with investment-oriented measures, and that the cooperation with the World Bank, Regional Development Banks and IFAD be intensified.
Mr. Président, Ladies and Gentlemen, with an increasing productivity and a production already exceeding the national demand in many industrialized countries, a growing process of displacement in the world market arises at the expense of the developing countries-that is to say, industrialized countries tend to promote their exports, but at the same time this is at the expense of the developing countries, including the smaller industrialized countries that are not quite of the larger economic politics. Very often these developing countries have developed their production with the active help of international organizations and industrialized countries, and now they are endeavouring to sell their products to achieve foreign exchange earnings to foster their own real economic development projects, but are finding it increasingly difficult to compete in the world markets with or against subsidized agricultural exports from industrialized countries. The concern voiced by many developing countries in the CCP, for example to find more and easier access to the markets of industrialized countries, is therefore basically easy to understand. Austria will advocate this view within the framework of the international trade organizations taking similar standpoint.
In view of the process which has been described, industrialized countries could also pay attention to the aspect of self-restraint in production. Austria bas followed this approach, which obviously finds its rational in economic considerations, and her measures in the field of a restrained dairy production and in the grain sector may be mentioned here as cases in point. Ih particular, the Austrian measures in the field of the dairy market may well contribute to the relief of international markets for dairy products.
All industrialized countries disposing of the required financial resources have the obligation to support the long-term mobilization of the production capacity of the developing countries, thus contributing to the elimination of the worldwide disparity between the developed and developing regions. Even today it is widely agreed that a new international economic order is needed, as one of the most important prerequisites to establish better and more equitable social and economic conditions in the world. Such an economic order, aiming predominantly at satisfying the basic needs of man, will call for new forms of international cooperation, with high priority for the establishment of the infrastructure required for the social and economic progress in developing countries. All people must be granted access to the fundamentals of economic and social development. This also includes better education and jobs apt to provide a living for the job-holder and his family as well as an equitable distribution of land and other income sources.
The results of economic and social development have to benefit all population groups uniformly and more equitably than in the past. This does not only apply to the income of the individual, but also to his education possibilities, to the security of his job and other fields of social insurance, such as health and old age insurances. An improvement of the living conditions for the majority of the population in the developing countries calls for an intensified promotion of agriculture and an industrial development that is geared to a harmonious development process of their economy.
Let me assure you that Austria will continue in the future to support actively all efforts of FAO to solve the critical food problems in the world.
The Austrian Federal Chancellor, Dr. Kreisky, in his recent statement before the General Assembly of the United Nations, reiterated the need for increased loans and a revolving system which would allow a repeated use of the injected resources by the country concerned. Furthermore, Chancellor Kreisky held the opinion that economic and political cooperation is only possible, if the industrialized countries are in a position to assist in establishing the needed infrastructure in the developing countries by means of a comprehensive and joint action, based on an overall design.
Let me conclude by reiterating the firm intention of the Austrian Federal Government to attribute greatest importance to the work of FAO and to endeavour to make constructive contributions to the work of this Organization. I believe that in so doing my country will contribute to the promotion of agricultural development and to the further development and the continuation of peace and security in a world of justice.
KWANG-HO AHN (Korea, Rep. of): Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of my delegation, I wish to express my warmest congratulations to you, Mr. Chairman, on your unanimous election to the chairmanship of this important Conference. My congratulations also go to the Vice-Chairmen for their well-deserved elections. I am sure, Mr. Chairman, that your excellent guidance and outstanding leadership will lead this Conference to a successful conclusion.
My delegation wishes to heartily congratulate the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Independent State of Western Samoa for becoming new members of the FAO.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the Director-General of FAO, Mr. Edouard Saouma, for his dynamic leadership and commendable contribution to the strengthening of FAO activities. This Conference is being held at the threshold of the 1980's, when we are in a position to review our efforts and achievements of the 1970's and, at the same time, to define our new challenges for the coming decade.
During the 1970's, we have devoted all our national and international efforts to solve the evergrowing world food and agricultural problems facing us.
In spite of the improvements in international cooperation through effective guidance of the FAO and other international bodies, and steady development in agriculture through individual country efforts, many disquieting features still remain in the world food and agriculture situation.
Agricultural production in the developing countries has shown a rate of only 2. 8 percent per annum, short of the target of a 4. 0 percent growth rate during the Second United Nations Development Decade. There are still 400 million people who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. In such a world food situation, we are facing rising food prices coupled with likely decline in the world grain inventory in 1980.
Furthermore, a FAO study, Agriculture: Toward 2000 shows us that we have to produce about 50 percent more food just to maintain the present intake level, which is still inadequate.
Considering all these facts and projections, the world food needs and the desired welfare level of the rural population in the 1980's emphatically demand our common endeavours both nationally and internationally. In relation to this matter, I would like to draw your attention to the importance of national efforts to solve the agricultural problems in developing countries.
With your permission, may I briefly introduce the Korean development efforts to tackle the agricultural problems and comment on difficulties which our agriculture is facing today.
Looking back over the past twenty years of agricultural and rural development in Korea, we have learned a lesson that an increase in agricultural production and food security on the one hand, and a reduction in rural poverty on the other, can be achieved through well-coordinated efforts of agrarian reform, technological innovation, and deliberately designed rural development policies.
Firstly, land reform, which was realized in the early 1950's under the principle of land-to-tiller, provided political and social stability for our nation and contributed to the improvement of the income distribution among farmers, thus encouraging farmers to increase their agricultural productivity.
Secondly, the Green Revolution has greatly improved the food situation to the point of self-sufficiency in staple food grains. The Green Revolution has been achieved by various supporting policies such as the introduction of new farming technology and high-yielding crop varieties, the improvement of the agricultural infrastructure including irrigation and land consolidation, the increased supply and timely distribution of agricultural inputs, the expansion of extension services and the continuation of price supports and related programmes.
Thirdly, the "Saemaul Undong" in Korean the New Community Development Movement during the 1970's also has infused the spirit of self-help, diligence and cooperation into farmers, and has become a main driving force in encouraging farmers to participate actively in the integrated development of rural environment and living conditions.
As a result of such development efforts, agriculture in Korea has recorded approximately 4 percent annual growth rate during the past ten years, and the average farm household income has been doubled. During the same period, the national economy has grown at an average annual rate of 10 percent, and exports have increased by 43 percent per annum.
Although Korea has made considerable progress in agricultural and rural development, she is now facing new challenges of reorganizing her agrarian structure, readjusting her resource allocations, and redirecting her agricultural policy to meet new demands generated by the rapidly changing socio-economic environment.
In recent years, the demand for high-protein food has been growing fast while the domestic supply has not been sufficient. This, in turn, has significantly increased the import and meat and feed grains. We are trying to increase the domestic supply of these products, but our dependence on imports in these areas will continue.
The expanded industrial development has also taken the labour force, expecially the younger people, from the rural area. This has caused a considerable shortage in rural labour force. Therefore, an expanded long-term programme to facilitate farm mechanization is under implementation.
I would say that Korea is in the process of searching for a sound agricultural policy package that is compatible with the equitable growth of the national economy. We believe that this challenge can be approached not only by our own efforts but also by mutually beneficial international cooperation which makes it able to share the experiences of other developed and developing nations.
At this point, I would like to turn my attention to the problems of international cooperation, and to make a brief comment on the specific issues of world food security and development of marine resources which we have been facing in recent years.
Despite our sustained efforts so far to establish the world food security system, I regret to point out that we have not yet been able to take proper actions to materialize the recommendation of the World Food Conference in 1974 on the International Undertaking on World Food Security, and that we have failed to conclude a new International Grains Arrangement which was anticipated by both exporting and importing countries.
The Korean government therefore strongly supports the Five-Point Plan of Action of World Security which has been timely proposed by the Director-General and adopted by the Council of the FAO. My government already has subscribed itself to the Undertaking and has adopted national cereal stock policies and achieved its target of stockpiling of 1. 1 million tons of staple grains, or 2 months of normal yearly consumption.
At this moment, I sincerely hope that the pending New International Grains Arrangement, with its stock and price agreement and its special provisions for importing developing countries will be resumed in the near future and be successfully concluded with mutual understanding and cooperation among the countries concerned.
We wish that all individual countries and the relevant international organizations, including FAO, will cooperate in a more tangible way for the rapid implementation of this plan.
Concerning the development and management of fisheries in exclusive economic zones, the rational development and utilization of fisheries resources should be given a higher priority so as to secure an important source of food and nutrition.
However, considering the fact that most of the coastal nations have declared a 200-mile exclusive economic zone, my delegation is convinced that the FAO Programme for the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones is necessary for the better utilization of these coastal marine resources.
To share our experiences in the development and management of marine resources, the Korean Government has already provided a technical training programme for eleven developing countries, and we are prepared to expand this kind of technical cooperation in the future.
At this point, I would like to emphasize the need for international cooperation, particularly technical and economic cooperation among developing countries in the coming 1980's, because many developing nations face common environmental problems and their experiences can be shared more easily in terms of their economic scales and stages of development.
In recent years the Republic of Korea has been expanding her technical cooperation programme. Korea has developed training programme in the fields of land consolidation, irrigation, crop cultivation, rural development and fisheries.
In this connection, I am pleased to note that, since the establishment of the TCDC action programme, the Republic of Korea will be the first country to join the FAO in formulating an extensive training program for irrigation technicians and rural extension workers from eight Asian developing countries. For the more effective promotion of technical and economic cooperation among developing countries, the relevant international institutions, including the FAO, and the developed countries are urged to participate more positively in the cooperation among developing countries.
I highly recognize the valuable contributions made by the member countries of this organization for the elimination of hunger and malnutrition in the world community at the call of the FAO. We must continue our roles in the same direction.
Furthermore, I believe that the future emphasis of FAO activities should be placed on expanding its initiating catalytic role to efficiently improve international cooperation at all levels towards a solution of global food and agrarian problems.
In this connection, the Director-General's Programme of Work and Budget for 1980-1981 reflects well conceived and realistic approaches. My delegation fully supports this programme.
The Republic of Korea has been benefiting from the assistance of the other member countries and the FAO. However, as a developing country, we are willing; and preparing to do our part in the future world agricultural and rural development programmes of the FAO.
So far I have touched on problems in the world food and agriculture, importance of individual country efforts, and need for international cooperation.
Finally, I would like strongly to emphasize that the major issue facing us is not a search for new ideas but practical implementation of already proposed plans and programmes.
In the light of this view, I hope with all sincerity that the conference will bring about fruitful results through the active participation of all the delegates in the discussions with a deeply motivated sense of responsibility to solve the global problems of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. Let us put all of our efforts to make the third Development Decade be an epoch-making period for eradication of hunger and malnutrition from the world.
J. c. PIOT (Suisse): Une haute responsabilité vous a été confiée, Monsieur le Président. Je vous en félioite. A vous mérne, aux présidents des Commissions et à tout le Bureau de notre Conférence vont mes meilleurs voeux de suocces pour le dur travail qui vous attend et aussi mes remerciements pour votre disponibilité à assumer ces fonctions importantes.
Ma reconnaissance va aussi à M. Saouma, notre Directeur générait et à son secrétariat· Vous avez exécuté un travail considérable et de qualité, en vue de cette Conférence, mais aussi afin de maintenir bien haut la place de la FAO, la place de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation dans les grands débats internationaux Les autorités suisses et ma délégation vous en remercient vivement.
"Renforcement de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale", c'est l'un des sujets qui nous sont proposés pour ce débat général. A notre avis, o'est la sécurité alimentaire (S. A. ) pour tous les individus qui doit finalement constituer notre objectif. Qu'implique alors cette S. A. pour tous, en particulier pour le demi-milliard d'etres humains qui sont sous-alimentés indépendamment du niveau des approvisionnements alimentaires? Nous pensons qu'une S. A. pour les individus requiert la réalisation de trois conditions fondamentales:
Premièrement: toute famille devrait disposer d'un revenu ou d'une superficie productive permettant de satisfaire ses besoins alimentaires et ses autres besoins fondamentaux. Si cette répartition du travail productif et rémunérateur sur tous les individus en de travailler n'est pas assurée, les niveaux de la production, des stocks ou des importations alimentaires, aussi élevés soient-ils, ne permettent pas de réaliser la S. A. des individus.
Deuxièmement: tout pays importateur alimentaire net devrait être à même de mobiliser un potentiel de production agricole propre lui permettant de couvrir, en cas de rupture des importations et dans un délai approprié, la totalité de ses besoins alimentaires minimaux. C'est une des conditions de l'indépendance économique et de l'indépendance politique nationale. Nous pensons que tous les pays du monde disposent des ressources naturelles leur permettant de mettre en place cette capacité de production vivriére minimale, mais suffi sante Sa mise en place peut certes nécessiter, dans les zones climats extrémes, des investissements importants dans l'aménagement des eaux et des terres, mais elle reste indispensable.
Troisième condition de la S. A.: L'existence de capacités nationales de stockage permettant d'équilibrer les irrégularités de la production et intégrées λ un système de commercialisation effioace et équitable. Un système international ou régional de réserves alimentaires peut soulager quelque peu le volume et le coût de ce stockage national, mais ne saurait s'y substituer.
La S. A. nationale aurait ainsi trois piliers:
1. une répartition équitable du pouvoir d'achat, donc du travail productif, sur toutes les personnes actives, et par là sur toutes les cellules sociales de base qui ont la responsabilité de satisfaire aussi aux besoins des enfants et des vieux;
2. le maintien d'un potentiel de production vivrier pouvant garantir un auto-approvisionnement alimentaire minimum si nécessaire et,
3. des stocks vivriers nationaux de régulation du marché, complétés si possible par un système international ou régional de réserves.
Le premier pilier, soit la répartition du pouvoir d'achat, est essentiellement du ressort de chaque pays. Le Programme d'action adopté à la Conférence mondiale sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural contient à ce sujet des recommandations pertinentes que nous approuvons pleinement.
Le deuxième pilier, l'agriculture et le développement rural, est la première priorité de notre assistance publique au développement.
Les stocks vivriers enfin, troisième fondement de cette S. A. , reçoivent la majeure partie de nos contributions extraordinaires à la FAO, par le canal des programmes pour la sécurité alimentaire et pour la réduction des pertes alimentaires. Mon gouvernement souhaite également participer à un système international de réserves alimentaires, mais dans le cadre d'un nouvel accord sur les céréales.
La FAO nous soumet son étude "Agriculture: Horizon 2000"; elle servira de base à la Conférence pour une discussion sur la stratégie future du développement. Nous partageons l'avis du secrétariat selon lequel les perspectives pour l'an 2000 sont inadmissibles en matière de nutrition si les tendances actuelles persistent. Mais le scénario normatif que nous expose l'étude ne convainc pas par son réalisme. Il présuppose la réalisation de plusieurs conditions essentielles:
1. Les pays en développement devraient accorder la priorité à l'investissement dans le secteur agricole;
2. les pays industrialisés devraient importer beaucoup plus de produits agricoles bruts et transformés en provenance des pays en développement (PVD);
3. l'aide publique à l'agriculture des PVD octroyée par les pays industrialisés devrait s'accroître considérablement;
4. de nombreux pays en développement devraient réorganiser leur structure administrative et politique dans le sens d'une décentralisation et d'une délégation des pouvoirs jusqu'à la base, afin d'assurer la participation de cette dernière aux décisions, et sa mobilisation, indispensable à l'effort national de construction;
5. pour combattre efficacement la faim il faudrait une sensible redistribution des revenus dans les PVD.
Satisfaire à toutes ces conditions c'est, pratiquement, la quadrature du cercle. Nous aurions cependant aimé que la FAO étudie aussi d'autres scénarios. Ne pourrait-elle pas élaborer, notamment avec l'OIT, par exemple une stratégie qui cherche en priorité à mobiliser l'immense potentiel inutilisé que constituent les êtres humains au chômage ou sous-employés ? Etudier les investissements productifs qui peuvent être réalisés avec ce potentiel humain et trouver des systèmes de production qui permettraient une haute productivité du sol avec un emploi aussi limité que possible de moyens de production qu'il faut acheter.
Nous ne pouvons pas entrer ici dans le détail, mais nous pensons qu'il serait souhaitable d'examiner ce que le terme "agriculture moderne" ou "agriculture productive" peut et devrait signifier dans les contextes socio-économiques variés d'Amérique latine, d'Afrique et d'Asie. Pour de nombreux pays il ne peut pas s'agir de reproduire tout simplement le modèle européen ou américain alors que de nouveaux emplois agricoles doivent être créés et non supprimés. Existe-t-il des stratégies cohérentes de développement de la petite agriculture dans des pays où prévalent des structures agraires très hétérogènes ? C'est une question qu'il est également urgent d'étudier.
Ceci nous conduit à réfléchir sur les types de projets que prépare le Centre d'investissement de la FAO en particulier sur les critères retenus pour ses projets. Vous savez sans doute que le FIDA a une peine considérable à trouver des projets qui correspondent aux principes et critères qu'il s'est donnés. Ces principes demandent qu'un projet engendre des emplois et profite aux petits agriculteurs, ou
tout au moins qu'il ne leur nuise pas. Nous souhaitons que la FAO, si elle accorde une haute priorité à l'investissement, donne autant de poids à la qualité qu'au volume de l'investissement. Le Centre d'investissement devrait lui aussi respecter certains critères sociaux lors de l'élaboration de projets. Produire plus, d'accord, mais pas à n'importe quelle condition.
Les autorités suisses accordent une haute priorité à la promotion de l'agriculture et au développement rural des pays du tiers monde. Cette priorité s'exprime entre autres par nos contributions annuelles d'environ quatre millions de dollars aux activités extrabudgétaires de la FAO et par la croissance annuelle de quelques 14% de nos contributions au PNUD. Les moyens alloués au PNUD profitent à l'agriculture dans la mesure où les pays bénéficiaires accordent la priorité à ce secteur.
La décentralisation de la FAO au niveau des pays a progressé rapidement et nous souhaiterions qu'un temps de réflexion et d'évaluation soit intercalé avant une nouvelle augmentation rapide du nombre de représentants FAO dans les pays. Les 47 missions établies correspondent à environ 350 postes nouveaux. Ceci devrait apparaître clairement dans le document C 79/3, et il faut se demander si ces effectifs accrus dans les pays n'auraient pas permis de réduire ceux du siège et des bureaux régionaux. Il faudrait aussi examiner si les pouvoirs délégués aux chefs de mission sont suffisants et permettent de valoriser pleinement le coût élevé des missions. Il nous semble en outre important que si la collaboration entre les organisations des Nations Unies au niveau des pays soit poursuivie et renforcée et que la FAO y contribue pleinement.
L'examen du programme ordinaire fait par le secrétariat est intéressant. Sa fusion avec l'examen du programme de terrain devra cependant être envisagée, ce qui permettra de mieux illustrer les liens étroits entre les deux programmes. Nous pensons que l'évaluation du travail effectué est indispensable. Elle doit guider le Directeur général et ses collaborateurs dans leurs propositions d'amélioration et d'innovation. Mais à notre avis cet auto-évaluation ne saurait se substituer à une évaluation indépendante dont les résultats seraient transmis directement aux organes directeurs de l'Organisation. Le législatif que nous sommes en quelque sorte en tant que Conférence ne peut se contenter de contrôler le travail de l'exécutif qu'est le secrétariat à l'aide d'examens que ce dernier élabore sous sa propre autorité. Nous désirons qu'il soit régulièrement procédé à des évaluations indépendantes d'un nombre limité de programmes, à l'aide des services du corps commun d'inspection par exemple, qu'il s'agirait de solliciter davantage à l'avenir.
Monsieur le Président, après ces quelques critiques que je pense objectives, j'aimerais toutefois exprimer aussi notre satisfaction quant à l'impulsion et l'orientation qu'a données le Directeur général à la FAO. Concentration sur les activités de terrain et l'investissement, remise à leur place, certes importante, des études théoriques et des réunions, décentralisation au niveau des pays, élagage du taillis bureaucratique, utilisation accrue des capacités locales des pays en développement, formation de cadres à tous les niveaux, voilà des orientations que nous approuvons dans leur principe. L'utilisation des cadres et des ressources des PVD, l'appui de la FAO à la coopération économique et technique entre ces pays afin qu'ils soient en mesure d'élaborer eux-mêmes leurs programmes de développement nous paraissent des priorités importantes. Nous pensons que le Directeur général, dans nombre de ses initiatives et de ses déclarations, a fait preuve de courage politique, et nous l'en félicitons.
Nous souhaitons que la FAO inscrive toujours plus ses activités techniques dans un grand projet commun: l'élimination de la faim et un développement rural harmonieux. Les programmes et les projets d'investissement de la FAO ne peuvent donner leur pleine mesure que s'ils s'inscrivent dans des politiques globales et cohérentes visant l'amélioration des conditions de vie de la population et l'eradication du paupérisme. Je pense que la FAO gagnera à expliciter les choix socio-économiques nécessaires à une large ré-partition des effets bénéfiques de ses programmes. Le Directeur général s'est déjà engagé sur cette voie et nous l'encourageons à la poursuivre résolument.
Je vous remercie de votre attention.
A. M. IZADI (Iran): Mr Chairman, Mr Deputy Director-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a privilege to address the twentieth Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization Conference of the United Nations. I would like, first of all to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your unanimous election to the chairmanship of this conference. It is also a source of particular satisfaction for me to represent the Revolutionary Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran at this international forum.
Nine months ago the massive waves of the Revolutionary forces toppled a regime which had, for long, been boasting of its so-called unique integrated development program, misleading the world to believe that Iran will soon be the fifth most powerful nation in the world. What we inherited was
a country on the verge of total economic collapse. Its industry, mainly a series of assembling plants, prestigious projects and unjustified units, were absolutely dependent on foreign raw material, spare parts and technology.
Its agriculture turned from a self-sufficient enterprise into one in need of massive imports of food items. Available data indicate that the value of food stuff imports reached an unprecedented figure of 1. 2 billion U. S dollars in the first nine months of 1977·
Social and morale standards had been deteriorated to the point that human values were subject of mockery. The urban society had been induced, to the highest degree, to strengthen its consumption habits, thus preparing an ideal market for foreign imports.
To sum up we were left with literally a plundered country and a distressed but faithful nation who had just rivalled a mighty armed power with bare hands, suffering a casualty of some seventy thousand martyrs.
Turning back to the main topic of discussion, agriculture, comparatively speaking our agriculture, had experienced a sharp downfall right after the implementation of the Land Reform Program in 1963· This program was of course based on the highlighted Article of the ex-shah's so-called "white revolution". Iranian farmers were given title deeds which endorsed their ownership over their farming lots. Cooperatives were to be established to replace the Landlords. But these coops which were meant to give managerial and credit assistance to farmers were soon turned into consumers' stores, offering, in recent years, kerosene only. The Agriculture Bank started giving loans to farmers who received the loans and in most cases decided to take pilgrim tours or purchase transistor radios rather than spend the money on their farm development. On the other hand, the regime initiated a number of farming systems, namely: Agricultural corporations and Agro-Industry units which required capital investment of millions of dollars, forcing at the same time thousands of rural families to give up their farm lands. Despite the huge amount of capital investment, nearly all of these Government-made systems failed to even be self-sufficient.
These factors and the false boom of industrialisation induced migration of rural population to urban areas at an alarming rate. Farm Products further declined, demands for foodstuffs increased and government subsidies on imported items were incredible. As an example, the Regime had to pay a subsidy of nearly 300 dollars on every metric ton of imported wheat. Similar policy was pursued for every item of imported food.
The rush of migration of rural population to urban areas further intensified the problem of housing shortages. Land speculation thus became the most profitable enterprise, to which almost 80 percent of the private investment capital within the city limits was directed.
The village community, cur traditional agricultural economic unit, had thus been dismantled. Inflation was mounting by the day.
This may give you just a vague picture of what we have inherited. However, prior to implementing any basic long-term program we have to solve numerous problems which have been created by the ex-regime, in the course of establishing government agro-industry units, agricultural corporations and other such insititutions which simply violated centuries-old rural life criteria and traditions.
Nevertheless, we have established our goals and objectives and outlined our agricultural policies. Iran has a tillable land surface of 20 million hectares, of which only 8 million hectares are utilized under irrigation, dry farming and fallow. With the available water resources, efficiently used, we are able to produce enough food for a much larger population than what we have today.
Our goals and objectives are: Increase in production and promotion of social welfare in rural communities. Our policy is based on such principles that will encourage people's participation in the planning and implementing process and terminate government interference and competition in the production operations. To this end, the Law of Councils which was recently passed by the government, requires every village to establish a Council which will be the only responsible body for all phases of community development in the village. The Ministry of Agriculture's responsibility will only include research, training and provision of technical and financial assistance to fanners.
In this respect we have planned to establish some 1500 Agricultural Service Centres in rural areas. These centers will have a nucleus of specialists and technicians who will provide all necessary inputs and services including credit and training facilities.
Planning will be originated in the village and submitted to the government for coordination and budget allocation.
Almost all Government, agro-industry units and farm corporations are now being turned over to the farmers and private sector with the provisions that will hopefully guarantee their efficient operation.
Tillable land within and outside the villages' limit is being transferred to farmers and interested individuals who will undertake to bring it under cultivation within a period of three years. The government will provide technical and financial assistance and will closely check the development operations.
Based on our Islamic teachings, a Publio Property Fund will be established in every village. Religious payment and offerings such as Khoms and Zakat, and government financial assistance will constitute the Fund's resources. The village council will be entrusted with the responsibility of spending the money on social welfare projects and assisting the needy people in such a way that an accepted level of living standard is maintained for each individual in the community.
Mr Chairman, despite the biased reporting by certain mass media sources, the Islamic Republic of Iran, not only honours and respects private ownership right but encourages private investment by means of offering incentives and credit facilities. Similarly, we do not question the use of modern technology but intend to employ technology within the framework of our culture and traditions. The development programs are drawn on the basis of the national potential capacities and the socio-economic factors.
We do intend to stay self-reliant, and in reaching this objective we must be self-sufficient in food products.
On the international scene, Mr Chairman, the Revolutionary Government of Iran, inspired by its Islamic teachings and with a strong sense of responsibility, will support all international institutions and programs which are truly directed to eradicate hunger and poverty. In this respect we give top priority to all programs that tend to mobilize potential capacities of the developing world, enabling them to exploit their own resources. This Organization, Mr Chairman, has the experience and the capability of assisting member countries in preparing action-oriented programs towards this objective.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I would like to refer briefly to the somewhat neglected idea of establishing a world government as a means of solving the problem of poverty and world unrest.
This idea, however, seems too idealistic an objective to be attained. But the next possible alternative which takes awareness, dedication and political will on the part of the nations, is to lift the man-made boundaries and allow free exhange of manpower products, capital and technology among the world communities.
A united world will deepen love and respect for human beings irrespective of race, colour or origin, and at the same time all productive inputs will be utilized where and when they are most efficient. The European Common Market may be referred to as an example of such unity. We, as the representatives of nations with different economic and political systems, can propagate this sacred idea of world unity among our people and thus try to divert all potential capabilities to the production of food and not deadly arms. It should be our aim to put our nations side by side and not face to face. This seems to me a sound basis on which we can plan to ascertain a just distribution of the world physical, moral and cultural wealth.
I realize, however, that this is a far-reaching objective, but then it is not unattainable.
Let us therefore play our share in this sacred compaign and rest contented to watch a great, prosperous and happy community which enjoys equally the resources of our planet.
Μ. ΖIDAR (Yugoslavia) (interpretation from Serbo Croat): Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, distinguished participants at the Conference, it is not out of mere courtesy, Mr, Chairman, that I am expressing my pleasure upon your election, which symbolizes once again that Spain, after a long time, has re-assumed its place in the international community. Knowing your outstanding abilities, Mr. Chairman, I am convinced that the Conference will end in success. May I kindly ask you, Mr. Chairman, to convey my congratulations to the other officials of the Conference.
Mr. Chairman, we are meeting at the end of a decade which shall be remembered by a series of crises of global proportions which have more conspicuously than ever before pointed to the necessity of radically changing international political and, in particular, economic relations. I believe that you would agree
with me that we are facing the profound crisis of the international system, created immediately in the wake of World War II-a system which has, consciously or otherwise, resulted in a growing polarization of the world to the minority living in affluence, and an overwhelming majority deprived of the most essential needs; a system that has strengthened national egoism, which President Kaunda so properly qualified by saying "Not only the desire to hold and protect but also the tendency to acquire more even than those who do not have". Experience has shown that the crises under given circumstances actually lead to conflicts and devastation. Now, however, new relations must be built up through cooperation because, otherwise, the survival of mankind will be at stake. Therefore, there is no alternative to the establishment of the New International Economic Order. Unfortunately, resistence to the necessary changes persists, generating a marked stagnation in international economic cooperation. I deem it necessary to point out that recently the Summit Meeting of the Non-Aligned Countries in Havana expressed its deep concern over the standstill in international economic cooperation and asserted its determination to continue the struggle for new relations, for which, as I already stressed, there is no viable alternative.
It is not the first time, Mr. Chairman, that we meet in this ancient city in order to face the most fundamental of all the needs of mankind-the problem of food. Exactly five years ago, in this very city, we all agreed that food constituted a paramount problem for the entire international community; a long-term strategy was adopted, and a minimum international programme of urgent national and international action was also adopted. It was then that we solemnly pledged to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in the next ten years. Half of this period has already gone by while we remain almost as far away from solving this problem as we were half a decade ago. Is it necessary at all to mention to what extent the external conditions of development have deteriorated for developing countries, in particular for those least developed and most seriously affected, and how much this has reduced their capacity to improve their own food situation? Is further evidence needed to testify that only initial steps have been undertaken for the implementation of the international programme to which I have referred? I do not think is necessary to analyse here what has been and what has not been achieved. At the threshold of the new decade, the question arises whether we should be concerned only with the implementation of this minimum programme.
The study "Agriculture Toward 2000" helps us understand better the extent to which past agreements have lost their value, and that much greater and longer-term efforts are now necessary to solve the world food problem. We want to believe that this valuable study will have a substantial bearing upon our decisions at this Conference, now as well as in the future. It has confirmed our belief that the only solution to the food crisis lies in an increased food production in the developing countries. However, this increase, while essential, is not in itself sufficient to resolve the problem of hunger and malnutrition.
We highly appreciate the fact that the study does not have a narrow sectoral approach. It has been clearly demonstrated that agriculture constitutes only a part, vital, as it may be, of the overall development efforts. Also, of exceptional importance is that the food problem can only be resolved within the framework of the economic development of developing countries, which should be rapid enough to start bridging the huge gap existing between the developing and the developed world. I should add that widespread hunger, with all its tragic consequences, is a real shame and degradation not for those who suffer, but for the international community as a whole. Yet, Mr. Chairman, the world food problem cannot be reduced to hunger only. The study has also clearly pointed out the need of making great efforts in the next 20 years, much greater efforts than we thought were required, much greater than those on which we based our agreements five years ago. This applies, above all, to the scope of investments required, to non-agricultural inputs, research and development services, rural infrastructures etc. Therefore I believe new standards are imperative for the assessment of national and international efforts. Here, the time dimension is of crucial significance. The process of implementing measures in this field, primarily investments, is extremely long. That is why it is of such vital importance that national and, more particularly, international endeavours, be undertaken without delay. The first step would have to be the urgent and consistent implementation of the programme agreed upon five years ago.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that we all accept that FAO has a leading role within the international organizations, particularly the UN family in solving food problems. Having said this, I do not merely bear in mind that the FAO Conference is the most competent and representative international forum for agriculture and food, but also that FAO has accumulated knowledge and experience which, notwithstanding the relatively modest total overall funds at its disposal, enable this organization to render general and practical support to the efforts of the developing countries.
Now, Mr. Chairman, allow me to underline once again the satisfaction of the Yugoslav Government with the new FAO orientation. We are convinced that an adequate balance has been found between the general or global programmes and practical actions, and that a significant step has been made towards substantial decentralization, through a reorientation in most of the programmes. This new trend is intended to increasingly provide direct support to the developing countries through a growing tendency to cooperate with national and regional institutions, above all those from the developing countries; through the Technical Cooperation Programme; through FAO's country representatives, etc.
In our opinion, the proposed Programme of Work and Budget for 1980-1981 fully reflects the logical evolution of the policy adopted at the last Conference. In the light of the considerations of the Programme, made so far by the Council and its Committees, one can hardly expect any great discrepancies regarding the proposed substance and contents of the Programme, the priorities, work methods, etc. ; the budget level will be, as it has always been, one of the dominant issues. Allow me, therefore, Mr. Chairman, to express the view of the Yugoslav Government with respect to this issue. To do this, I feel I have to stress two points. Firstly, the Programme of Work is financed by the full membership, more or less in compliance with their economic abilities; and secondly, the difficulties faced by the developing countries, particularly those least developed and most seriously affected, are incommensurable with the current economic difficulties of other countries. The more so when we deal with an Organization with such a vital role in the solving of the food problem, an Organization whose primary task is to respond to the requests of the developing Member States for various forms of assistance. And finally, one should certainly bear in mind the magnitude of the food problem, and also the extremely unsatisfactory level of international cooperation. All these are reasons on the basis of which my Government supports the proposed budget.
Allow me now, Mr. Chairman, to briefly touch on the situation in the field of development assistance and in this context, the issue of technical assistance in regard to food and agriculture. The documents prepared for this Conference clearly show the deplorably low level of official development assistance in general, and in this vital field, in particular. As we all know, the level is lagging far behind the agreed target for this decade. Another point that also attracts our attention in the generally low and declining level of technical assistance to agriculture. It can be inferred, and this is what we particularly deplore, the present level of technical assistance extended by FAO on the basis of extra-budgetary resources, in real terms hardly exceeds the level attained at the beginning of this decade. In this context, I cannot but illustrate this situation by two FAO Action Programmes which have been on a number of occasions internationally approved and verified by the UN General Assembly. I am, of course, referring to the programme for reducing harvest and post-harvest losses, and the programme for seed production development. The implementation of the agreement concerning the former is incomplete and inconsistent, whereas in regard to the latter, no progress has been made at all. This situation is deplorable because the programmes are excellent and the funds that would be required are comparatively modest. I would like to believe, Mr. Chairman, that the Conference will, among other things, seriously consider this question which is, as has been stressed, quite indicative of the grave and serious situation in international cooperation.
I deplore the fact, Mr. Chairman, that I have to continue in the same vein. However, it is impossible to hide the disappointment of the Yugoslav Delegation with the abortive attempts to achieve progress in the field of food security. In this context, special stress should be placed upon the unsuccessful outcome of the negotiations on a new international grain agreement, including a new international food aid convention. The impression is gained that the immediate future holds no prospects for a successful termination of the negotiations.
What has been pointed out here serves to explain why we gave such full support the proposal of the FAO Director-General formulated as the "Five Point Plan", and adopted last June by the Council. The Yugoslav Delegation expects that, not only will the Conference endorse the Five Point Plan, but that also the FAO Member and even non-Member States will do their best to implement it.
Another question that we consider of crucial importance refers to the role of FAO in the implementation of the recommendations of the recently-held World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. Although at the World Conference reservations were made with respect to many of the important recommendations, the Declaration of Principles and the Programme of Action are, nevertheless, encouraging and call for vigorous national and international action to reform agrarian structures and develop agriculture and the rural regions. The World Conference has, among other things, reaffirmed the position and role of FAO within the UN system, and left FAO a legacy to follow up and stimulate the implementation of the recommendations, in cooperation, of course, with the respective parts of the UN system. A special World Conference resolution calls upon us to eleborate an action programme pursuant to the proposal made by the Director-General. My delegation fully supports the proposal, and I especially agree with the section of the proposal asking for adequate funds to be provided by the financing agencies of the UN system to support the FAO programme in carrying out the recommendations contained in the Final Act,
To one of the issues salient at the World Conference, the Yugoslav Government also attaches special importance. I am referring to cooperation among the developing countries TCDC in the sphere of food and agriculture. On this occasion, I cannot, of course, expound at length what my country has been undertaking in this field. I shall only mention that in recent years we have appreciably promoted our cooperation with a great number of countries. However, many possibilities remain, as yet, untapped. Yugoslavia, being one of the coordinators for food and agriculture of the Non-Aligned Movement, considers it an obligation to make all possible efforts for the further
promotion of this cooperation with as many of the non-aligned and other developing countries as possible. We consider that the whole UN system, and in this particular case FAO, should give maximum support to endeavours aimed at increasing their individual and collective self-reliance.
In conclusion, I cannot "but reiterate that this meeting is being held at a critical time. We cannot stand aside and be satisfied with a decade that is full of crises, and even further deteriorates the situation in the developing countries. International cooperation in this field is of paramount importance. I want to believe, Mr. Chairman, that we are all fully aware of the much greater efforts needed between now and the turn of the century, if we seriously want to solve the world food problem and eradicate hunger from this planet. We can only hope that this Conference shall make a positive contribution towards this end.
Y. UCHIMURA (Japan): Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to attend the 20th Session of the FAO Conference as the delegate of the Japanese government and to exchange views with the representatives of other member countries.
I would like, first of all, to offer my deepest congratulations to you, your Excellency, Mr. Lamo De Espinosa on your election as Chairman of the Conference. Under your outstanding leadership and with the constructive discussions which will be undertaken, this meeting will surely be most fruitful to all FAO member countries.
I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to the Director-General, Dr. Saouma, for his very significant contributions to FAO activity, and to join my colleagues here in offering a warm welcome to the new members of the Organization, the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Independent State of Western Samoa.
The world food production, which is largely affected by natural conditions, has also come under the constraints of social and economic situations. Even today when it is generally thought that the food supply/demand situation is improving on the whole, the fact cannot be ignored that there are in the world more than 400 million people who do not have a reasonable amount of food. The latest long-term forecast shows that food supplies in developing countries will not be able to meet their increasing domestic demand.
Bearing these points in mind, I would like to speak about the problem of food and agriculture in developing countries.
Since agriculture forms the basis of economic development in many developing countries, agricultural development also plays a decisive role in promoting the economic development of these countries. Japan's economic development since the latter half of the last century is a typical example of this process.
As you know, Japan is a small mountainous country. Consequently, Japanese agriculture is characterized by small-scale farming with an average of one hectare of farmland per farming household, which cannot compare to agriculture on the large scale of other developed countries. Japanese farmers, by increasing productivity through intensive and diversified utilization of their limited farmlands, have contributed to the accumulation of capital needed for industrial development from the latter half of the 19th century into the present century.
Today there are numerous small farmers engaged in the production of food crops in developing countries. Based on the experience of Japan, I believe that, with effective assistance in regard to the development of high-yield crops, improvement in irrigation facilities and financial credit for farming, it would be possible for the small farmers to even excel large farmers in land productivity. In order to promote the effectiveness of such assistance, it is highly desirable to realize the necessary agrarian reforms, the principles of which were declared at the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development.
In this connexion, I may say that for raising the productivity of small farmers, it will also be necessary to expand extension services for the diffusion of agricultural techniques. And, as stated by Prime Minister Ohira at the UNCTAD V, it will be indispensable to tap human resources for the promotion of economic and social development. In the field of agriculture, it is important to make every effort for the cultivation of talent who will engage in the work on extension services.
Furthermore, in order to ensure successful co-operation in the field of agriculture by developed countries and international organizations, detailed preliminary surveys and careful planning by experts, and efficient investment allocation on the basis of such surveys and planning, are considered essential.
Japan has been striving to strengthen her bilateral and multilateral co-operation in the form of financial and technical assistance for agricultural development.
The Japanese government is currently implementing the medium-term program of doubling its official development assistance within three years.
Under the program the Japanese government will increase its efforts to expand its agricultural cooperation in view of the importance of increasing food production in developing countries, hoping that developing countries will strive for the attainment of self-reliance in their efforts to increase food production.
I would now like to say a few words about some of the main items on the agenda.
First of all, in regard to the eleven guidelines for international agricultural adjustment which were adopted at the 18th Session of this Conference, the Japanese government, in view of the fact that agriculture plays an important role in employment and environment development, and not merely in food supply, considers that these guidelines should be applied in a flexible manner. With this in mind, the Japanese government has given adequate consideration to the guidelines.
Secondly, in regard to the FAO five-point plan of action for World Food Security, it can be said that this plan is of particular importance today when the negotiations concerning the new international grains agreement are not making satisfactory progress and when the world' s grain production is showing a sign of decrease.
Thirdly, as for FAO's study on 'Agriculture: Towards the Year 2000", the Japanese delegation fully appreciates the efforts made by the FAO Secretariat for drawing up the study, which is really a most comprehensive analysis of the production outlook and capital needs for the development of the primary industries in developing countries, as well as of the problems concerning employment, nutrition, marketing and price policies. I think that it is quite useful for framing the new International Development Strategy and it will also give effective guidance for long-term development of agriculture in the world. From this point of view, it is a highly valuable document and I hope that the final report on the study will be duly completed.
Fourthly, regarding the management and development of fisheries in the two-hundred mile zones, a project which FAO is now promoting, Japan highly appreciates FAO's programme and hopes that it will be carried out without delay and with success. I would like to emphasize that the countries which have established a two-hundred mile zone have responsibility to efficiently utilize and preserve fishery resources in that area.
Japan, which has hitherto contributed to the management and development of fishery resources in developing countries, will continue to co-operate in this field as much as possible, through economic development assistance, dispatching technical experts and receiving trainees.
Fifthly, I would like to refer to the medium-term objectives of FAO activities.
The Japanese government has no objection to FAO giving priority to the promotion of food and agricultural production in developing countries, to the improvement of food consumption and levels of nutrition because the number of FAO staff and funds available are limited. Therefore, it is desirable to take a practical approach based on detailed surveys and researches, concentrating more efforts on selective areas of activity.
As to the order of priority, the Japanese government is of the opinion that emphasis should be placed on the following: firstly, integrated rural development; secondly, strengthening of food and agricultural information system; thirdly, promotion of fisheries development in the Exclusive Economic Zones of the developing countries, and fourthly, measures for increasing cereal production, particularly rice.
Finally, in regard to the various FAO programmes and budget for 1980-1981, I would like to refer to the TCP and the establishment of funds for post harvest loss which were approved at the last Session of this Conference. It must be stressed that, from the viewpoint of the effective utilization of limited resources, these programmes should always be evaluated as to whether or not they are effectively being carried out. I would also like to mention that continued efforts should be made to reduce general expenses.
The international community has identified the most urgent and important problems involved in agrarian reform and rural development, problems which remain to be resolved in the present century. At the same time, it is making a study in regard to development strategy for the coming decade. With the 21st century arriving in only twenty years, a comprehensive study on the outlook for agriculture and industry is also being undertaken.
It is by no means an exaggeration to state that whether mankind could enter the new century with hope depends upon how well we will be able to contribute to the cause of this Organization,
I have no doubt that a successful outcome of the present meeting will make a significant contribution to the welfare and happiness of mankind.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Señor Presidente, señores Ministros, señor Director Adjunto, señoras y señores. Esta será la ultima Conferencia de la FAO en el Segundo Decenio de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo. Cuántas frustraciones nos deja este período que empezó con promesas e ilusiones y ya va a terminar con desencanto y amargura.
Con la autoridad que lo caracteriza el Director General de la FAO ha afirmado reiteradamente el carácter sombrío de la situación actual y del futuro de la alimentación y la agricultura en el mundo.
El incremento de la producción agrícola tiene lugar solamente en los países desarrollados. Aumenta el numero de personas desnutridas y con hambre. Los países en desarrollo deben cada día importar más alimentos. Se acentúa el deterioro de la relación de intercambio entre los productos exportados por los países en desarrollo y el precio de los bienes de capital que estos necesitan importar. Los precios de los fertilizantes han aumentado notablemente. El proteccionismo sigue desalentando a los países que tienen condiciones para aumentar la producción de alimentos, pero que carecen de acceso a mercados estables, con volúmenes importantes y precios remunerativos.
Los Organismos Internacionales tienen que evolucionar, en busca de su justa y adecuada ubicación dentro de las inquietudes que agitan a la comunidad universal. Por ello celebramos y apoyamos la forma franca, categórica y decidida como el Director General de la FAO ha venido señalando las graves consecuencias que genera el proteccionismo, con enormes costos para consumidores y productores, acelerando el proceso inflacionario, produciendo excedentes ociosos frente a carencias angustiosas; todo ello en deterioro del comercio mundial y causando considerables limitaciones al desarrollo agrícola de los países del Tercer Mundo.
Reciba usted, Señor Director General de la FAO, nuestra voz de aliento, para que prosiga en el empeño de condenar el proteccionismo, actitud plenamente justificada como parte de sus altas funciones, ya que indudablemente existe una estrecha relación entre el mejor acceso a los mercados para las exportaciones agrícolas de los países en desarrollo y la adquisición de recursos necesarios para aumentar la producción en esas Naciones. El Gobierno Colombiano dedica especial atención a la Comunidad Económica Europea, porque es una agrupación económica y política muy respetable-integrada por Naciones a las cuales nos unen vínculos de afecto, respecto y admiración-cuyos mercados son de gran significación para el desarrollo de nuestro comercio internacional.
El Presidente de la República de Colombia, doctor Julio César Turbay Ayala, en julio pasado, visitó Bruselas y habló ante la Comunidad Económica Europea, en nombre de los cinco estados que integran el Grupo Sub-regional Andino: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela y Colombia. El mandatario colombiano expuso la necesidad y conveniencia de celebrar un acuerdo entre esos dos grupos de países, dirigido a mejorar el precario estado actual de nuestras relaciones comerciales con la Comunidad.
Como consecuencia de las propuestas concretas que hizo el Presidente de Colombia, durante la primera semana del presente mes de noviembre una Comisión del Grupo Sub-regional Andino sostuvo entrevistas en Bruselas con altos funcionarios de la Comisión de la CEE. Fue un primer intercambio de puntos de vista, particularmente en el campo de los productos agrícolas. Ojalá ese acercamiento conduzca a resultados positivos comunes que mejoren nuestras relaciones con la Comunidad Económica Europea, como yo lo deseo. Por fin ahora…al transcurrir ya más de ocho años del Segundo Decenio de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo…los documentos…en cuyas páginas han proliferado siempre las vanas esperanzas…empiezan a reconocer que no se conseguirá el objetivo fundamental fijado para el decenio que agoniza…y que, en el mejor de los casos, el aumento de la producción sólo superará ligeramente el decenio anterior.
Hechos como éstos deben plantearnos serios interrogantes: ¿Cuáles son los verdaderos resultados de la labor de una Organización como la nuestra, que reclama estar ahora, como nunca, apoyada en sus planes y programas por la unanimidad de los Estados Miembros?. . .
¿Hacia donde vamos?…¿Es que en realidad sirven para algo los esfuerzos que venimos realizando con el decidido apoyo de la FAO, agencia de las Naciones Unidas especializada en la Agricultura y la Alimentación?. . .
Esta ultima ocasión en que los Ministros de Agricultura de los Estados Miembros nos encontramos en la Conferencia de la FAO, antes de que finalice el Segundo Decenio, yo creo que es propicia para pedir que en el informe de esta reunión se consigne con claridad y firmeza el desaliento de los países en desarrollo, la protesta airada del Tercer Mundo contra la carencia de voluntad política que viene impidiendo el alcance de los objetivos del Nuevo Orden Economico Internacional. Que se consigne igualmente la necesidad apremiante de que el diálogo constructivo desplace la confrontación estéril.
Es evidente que la seguridad alimentaria mundial depende de la decision de los Estados poderosos que poseen los medios y los recursos suficientes para manipular el crecimiento o la disminución de la producción, según las conveniencias políticas que aconsejen grandes transacciones comerciales o ayudas de favor, todo ello dirigido a conservar el predominio del cual no quieren desprenderse. Los países en desarrollo somos-tenemos que ser-forzosamente espectadores pasivos de ese proceso que se cumple en ciclos periódicos, con indiferencia desconcertante, frente al hambre y la malnutrición que padecen más de 500 millones de seres humanos.
En efecto, la grave crisis alimentaria mundial de 1972 a 1974, practicamente fué conjurada a fines de ese ultimo año, cuando se celebro la Conferencia Mundial de la Alimentación. Después se logro cierta estabilidad hasta las buenas cosechas de 1978. Ahora, a partir de esta año, nuevos signos de preocupación nos asechan. El Gobierno de Colombia piensa que la seguridad alimentaria mundial no podrá seguir dependiendo del buen o del mal tiempo, ni de la menor o mayor ayuda alimentaria. Esa seguridad solo se logrará con el aumento de la producción de alimentos en los países en desarrollo. La labor de la FAO en este campo debe estar dirigida a asistir a los gobiernos para lograr bases solidas y permanentes, sobre las cuales pueda asegurarse un incremento continuo y creciente de la producción en las Naciones del Tercer Mundo.
El Plan de Acción de cinco puntos presentado por el Director General de la FAO, representa un esfuerzo imaginativo y otra demostración de la atención con que esta Organización sigue el grave problema de la seguridad alimentaria mundial. £1 Gobierno de Colombia exalta la buena voluntad que caracteriza ese plan, pero cabe preguntarse si esos buenos propósitos, enmarcados en su carácter voluntario, podrán superar las razones incomprensibles y lamentables por las cuales no se han reiniciado las conversaciones rotas desde hace ya mucho tiempo, para adoptar un nuevo acuerdo internacional sobre cereales y el indispensable programa de ayuda alimentaria. Deseo reiterar el más pleno apoyo del Gobierno Colombiano al Programa Global de Asistencia para el desarrollo y ordenación de la explotación pesquera en las zonas económicas.
En esta forma la FAO ha respondido al deseo de los Gobiernos que consideran los productos de la pesca una fuente de alimentos que aún no ha sido debidamente explotada. Está muy bien que a ese programa se le conceda alta prioridad en los planes de trabajo de esta Organización, que debe desempeñar una útil función coordinadora y de asistencia a los Estados ribereños para aumentar la capacidad de éstos en la explotación de sus pesquerías y promover el uso racional y el pleno aprovechamiento por los países en desarrollo de sus recursos pesqueros.
El Gobierno colombiano está plenamente satisfecho con la manera dinámica y eficiente como la FAO viene ofreciendo su asistencia a nuestro País. Particularmente quiero expresar mi reconocimiento a la forma ágil y oportuna como el Programa de Cooperación Técnica ha respondido a las solicitudes del Ministerio de Agricultura de Colombia a mi cargo.
Igualmente, deseo reiterar nuestro apoyo al Programa Mundial de Alimentos, de cuya asistencia seguimos beneficiándonos, pues no obstante los esfuerzos que hemos venido realizando en nuestro país, aún no es completamente satisfactorio el estado de nutrición del pueblo colombiano que requiere la valiosa ayuda de ese Programa.
En Colombia y creo que en toda América Latina, se ha recibido con expectativa y confianza el inicio de actividades del Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola. Confiamos en que este único Organismo Mundial de financiación dedicado exclusivamente a la agricultura, podrá pronto realizar una acción dinámica y positiva en todos los países latinoamericanos, a fin de que consolide el carácter de universalidad que todos auspiciamos para el FIDA.
En Colombia el sector agropecuario es parte fundamental de la economía nacional. Los objetivos de la política agropecuaria en mi país están dirigidos a garantizar una oferta adecuada de alimentos en condiciones que consulten los intereses de productores y consumidores, asi como la generación de divisas en aquellos productos con ventaja comparativa.
El Ministerio de Agricultura en Colombia ha aplicado estos principios básicos, con resultados que demuestran cómo el crédito abundante y oportuno, en vez de ser inflacionario, se convierte en un estímulo para los agricultores y ganaderos.
Estamos empeñados en aumentar la producción y la productividad agropecuaria, en fomentar la agroindustria, la investigación y la transferencia de tecnología, con la principal preocupación de mejorar y elevar el nivel de la producción y procurar el bienestar de los productores rurales y de los consumidores.
Como resultado de esa política, en materia de producción agropecuaria nuestra situación es satisfactoria, no obstante la disminución del 2 por ciento en el área sembrada este ano, debido a una crisis aguda que se presentó en el sector algodonero.
Registramos un incremento del 6 por ciento en la producción de 24 renglones, sin incluir el cafě. Los aumentos principales fueron en los cultivos de arroz, cebada, soya, papa, yuca, cana de azúcar y tabaco.
Las perspectivas para el futuro son buenas. El Gobierno colombiano contina asignando alta prioridad a la agricultura en sus planes nacionales de desarrollo.
El Gobierno colombiano sigue impulsando el proceso de Reforma Agraria. En este ano 1979 hicimos 6 854 nuevos propietarios sobre una extensión de 234 910 hectáreas. A los beneficiarios, además de ser titulares del dominio, se les asegura el más fácil acceso al crédito y a todos los servicios indispensables para dignificar la vida de las gentes del campo.
Además, estamos adelantando proyectos integrales de asentamientos campesinos, como manera adicional para incorporar racionalmente al proceso productivo áreas que antes estaban improductivas en manos de terratenientes.
Señor Presidente: Como Ministro de Agricultura de Colombia es un gran honor para mí ser uno de los Vicepresidentes de esta Conferencia que usted preside con tanto acierto e inteligencia. Usted sabe cuan gratos y estrechos son los nexos que unen mi país al suyo, Espana, tierra de nuestros mayores y fuente principal de nuestra cultura y civilización.
Al señor Director General de la FAO y a la importante organización que usted dirige, con brillo y eficacia, reiteramos el pleno apoyo del Gobierno de Colombia.
En nombre del Gobierno y del pueblo colombianos, doy la más cordial bienvenida a los distinguidos representantes de los nuevos Estados Miembros, Dominica y Samoa Occidental, con la esperanza de que aquellas poblaciones que en distintos lugares del mundo luchan por su libertad, puedan pronto incorporarse a esta Organización como naciones soberanas.
A todos ustedes, señores delegados, mil gracias por la atención que han dispensado a mis palabras. En nombre del pueblo colombiano-que tiene vocación económica eminentemente agropecuaria-hago llegar el mensaje de fe y esperanza en días mejores para toda la comunidad internacional, particularmente para las sufridas poblaciones del Tercer Mundo, y del mundo en desarrollo, a cuyo servicio debe estar consagrada esencialmente la función de la FAO.
S. TATARIDIS (Greece): Mr. Chairman, on behalf of my delegation, I wish to express to you our warm congratulation for your election to this high Office. I am certain that under your able guidance the deliberations of this Conference will be fruitful. We also extend our congratulations to the Vice-Chairman for their election.
Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, a few months after the world Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, we meet here again to discuss agricultural developments and food problems.
During the Conference on Agrarian Reform in a brief statement I had the opportunity to point out that the world society is entering a new era of evolution; the problems tend to take more and more of an international character and any effort of facing and solving them within the narrow national levels, seems to have a small probability of success.
The successive crises which faced the world Economy since the beginning of the 70's, have not been overpassed and while we are at the end of the decade, a new phase of recession seems to be possible.
The economic problems axe not isolated and therefore cannot be confined to national boundaries. As it is known, these problems are characterized by direct and strong interdependence within the frame of an international economic coincidence and, consequently, only the common effort of all nations will lead to the minimization of both time and costs in facing effectively this new economic recession and establish the necessary preconditions for a continous economic development. This cooperation could, and therefore must,be extended to all activities and sectors of the economy.
The Agricultural sector continues to play an important role in every economy. The appropriate action against the problems of this vital sector can offer the framework for the recovery and further development of economic activity, particularly in the developing countries.
The past three decades were marked with quick and statble growth rates, while inflationary pressures were kept at very low levels. In this development the contribution of the Agricultural sector was significant, in spite of its sensitivity and instability.
Although the level of the development of Agriculture was, on the whole, encouraging, the development of this sector in some individual countries or groups of countries, according to FAO's data, was not satisfactory. Furthermore the terms of trade, as far as agricultural products is concerned, were against the developing countries.
Among the latter, there is still a significant number of countries where the population growth exceeds the rate of increase of the agricultural production, thus leading to an increase in the number of people suffering from malnutrition.
It is a fact that during the recent years there was a considerable increase in food production. In 1978 there was an increase of about 3%, while the same picture prevailed in the two previous years. But this growth rate was below the target set on a world level, which is 4% annually. Furthermore the provisional estimate of the 1979 food production is by no means encouraging, because of the extensive drought in some African and S. Asian countries, as well as in Central Europe.
At present about 450 million people in a significant number of developing countries are under-nouri-shed.
The prospects for the coming biennium are rather disappointing. With respect to the long-run period the continuation of past and present trends in food production will create even more crucial problems of malnutrition and famine than those we presently confront.
The fight against the problems of production and nutrition in the Developing countries must cover both the short-run and the long-run periods. The contribution of FAO, and of the various other Organizations in the past, was very important in assisting the developing countries and coordinating international cooperation in agricultural and food issues. This contribution must be more positive and effective in the future.
As regards FAO's Programme of Action in 1980-81, the Greek delegation expresses its satisfaction for the form in which the Programme of Work and Budget of FAO is presented.
The presentation, in a single document, of the short-term action of FAO offers a comprehensive analysis of the future work which the Organization intends to undertake during the coming biennium, after the evaluation and consideration of the already executed projects.
The Director-General in his introductive statement, underlined with great clarity the strategy which the Organization will follow during the above mentioned period. We are convinced that the priorities given will contribute in the best possible way to the fight against the serious problems of agricultural development and will satisfy the urgent needs of the world population for increased food production and particularly the needs of the people in the developing countries.
We fully support the effort made to increase food production and the level of international food security. For the promotion of the above goals we believe that it is necessary to extend investment expenditure in Agriculture, mainly in the most suffering developing countries.
This will certainly lead to increased food production and subsequently to the substitution of a great part of imported quantities of food in favour of imported capital goods.
Specific measures which will inevitably lead to an increase in food supplies, such as evaluation and better utilisation of the factors of production, technical education of the farmers, proper credit facilities to the farmers, and improvement of the trading structure of food products, should be encouraged both in national and international levels.
The consistent evaluation of the projects which are included in the programme of technical coopera-tion will offer the basis for better planning and shall increase the effectiveness of the programme.
We endorse the new strategy of the Organization, which aims at the creation and implementation of small scale, but of practical nature, projects for rural and regional development, instead of the old theoretical form.
The effort undertaken towards decentralisation of the FAO's services by reinforcing its activities on a national level, is also welcome, because we believe that this fulfils and meets the real needs for a quicker and more effective aid of the organization to the member states.
Mr Chairman, the complete elimination of famine and malnutrition all over the world must be indeed a long-term goal. To this direction the document prepared by the FAO secretariat "Agriculture Towards 2000" offers a comprehensive analysis of long-term agricultural and food development. In this document FAO offers general guidelines to the member-states to shape their policies accordingly and defines the long-term goals of world production, towards which the FAO programmes and policies are directed.
In the frame of this long-term plan, a number of goals must be pursued, such as: the stabilization and acceleration of food production in the developed and the developing countries, the achievement of an acceptable standard of living, the regulation of exchanges and the securing of higher teohnical and financial aid to the developing countries.
Another issue on which we agree with the FAO Director-General is the contributions to the WFP and the international Emergency Food Reserves. In both cases it is necessary to realize the targets set by the WFC, given that the appeals for aid are increasing on a permanent basis.
With regard to the International Phytosanitary Convention my country agrees with its ratification. Especially in the case of article 5, paragraph 2, we are of the opinion that phytosanitary certificates must accompany not only plants but also crop products.
Mr Chairman, we propose that the FAO participates in a regional programme for the application of solar energy in agriculture. We are firmly convinced that the whole issue is urgent and needs immediate action. We mustn't forget that the energy problem has caused difficulties all over the world, with unknown consequences for the future.
In addition, the problem of fertilizers must be emphasized, since the quantities of the raw materials on which their production is based are decreasing and their prices are considerably increasing.
Energy and fertilizer shortages are already making it more difficult to attain the desired levels of production and productivity in agriculture.
The new ocean regime created by the establishment of the 200 nautical miles economic zone is a fact.
The FAO's decision to provide developing coastal states with teohnical assistance and financial aid to take full advantages of fisheries within the zone of their jurisdiction will substantially contribute to the further development and rational management of fishery resources in their exclusive economic zones.
Coastal countries on the other hand should consider closer cooperation with existing fishing fleets in order to achieve a better utilization of invested labour and capital in this field.
Greece adopts the DJAKARTA Declaration of 1978 on forestry and proposes the promotion of the solution of the following problems which are very important for world society.
a) The development of forestry on a world level, must in the future be seriously taken into account, in view of the acute energy problem.
b) The confronting of torrential phenomena needs more effort all over the world, simply because torrents set up a major barrier against extensive forestry.
c) The utilisation of total forestry production all over must be of major concern to FAO, especially towards the establishment of suitable industries.
I would now like to refer briefly to food production in my country. The GAP increased during 1963-78 with an average annual rate of 3. 0% (in 1970 prices) and during 1970-78 with 2. 1%. The decline during the 70's was a result of bad weather conditions.
In 1978 agricultural production was quite satisfactory after two successive bad periods, i. e. in 1976 and 1977· Relatively low is also expected to be the agricultural production during this year, due to bad weather conditions.
Greece is self-sufficient in wheat, with small surpluses for exports, while experiencing deficits in feeding-stuffs. In general there is self sufficiency in crop products while there are serious shortages in livestock products, especially in dairy products and beef.
The future targets are to increase the production and productivity in agriculture with special interest in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas and small farmers.
Finally, I would like to reiterate that my country is in favour of assisting the developing countries towards a more effective economic growth. In 1976 our agricultural exports to developing countries amounted to 19·3% of the total while our imports from these countries amounted to 32. 2% of the total. This simply means a net surplus in favour of the developing countries.
E. L. SENANAYAKE (Sri Lanka): Mr. Deputy Director-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to be here once more after our last meeting in 1977· On behalf of Sri Lanka, I wish to thank His Ercellency the Director-General and the Secretariat for the excellent arrangements made to hold this conference here.
We have been fortunate to be associated with the activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization for a long time. We are proud of the achievements it has made so far in continuing to draw the attention of the international community on the need to promote collective action to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living of people and for taking effective steps to improve the efficiency of production and distribution of all food and agricultural produce grown in all parts of the world thereby helping to improve the living conditions, particularly of rural populations, and ensuring that people are free from want all over the world.
Our discussions at this Session are appropriately centered around two very crucial issues which are of the greatest concern to all present here. I refer to the review of the world food situation and the drawing up of a plan of action to strengthen world food security.
One of the greatest challenges facing us today is the provision of adequate food for an ever-inoreasing world population. At the current rate of growth of population, which is around two percent annually or the addition of two babies to the world population every second, the six billion mark in world population would be reached by the year 2000. The increase in food production, however, has not demonstrated the same steady pattern of growth. While there has been some increases in food production in the recent past, there have also been instances of net decreases in the global food production during the same period.
The trends in world food and agriculture production have been very comprehensively discussed in Document 79/2 which is an excellent analysis of the world situation relating to this very important subject. The short-term forecast of reduced production and availability of wheat and coarse grains by the end of 1979 of less than 6 percent below last year's performance and the long-term forecast of escalation of fertilizer prices and transport costs due to increases in energy costs could certainly Worsen the situation unless very urgent action is taken to counteract their effect.
All of us agree that the faster growth of food production and an increase in purchasing power of cosumeres is the main answer to improving standards of nutrition in low income countries, some of which even have a comparative advantage for producing agricultural crops for export. In some countries, the performance in food production between 1950 and 1979 has been commendable. Food grain production in the low income countries taken as a group has been rising at about 2. 58 percent per annum over the past quarter century as against an increase of 2. 63 percent by all developed countries. Contrary to most expectations, this trend has not slowed down either, although there are countries which have not reached the average in both developed and developing countries. Where potential exists for accelerating the growth of food production its realization requires a resolution of a number of issues.
Some of these issues could be identified as: (i) a high population growth of approximately 2. 5 percent per annum; (ii) a high income elasticity of demand for grains; and (iii) a rise in income, though not very high, but sufficient to push up the demand for food grains.
A sharp decline in population growth is unlikely during the next ten to fifteen years because although family planning measures are being advocated very actively in most of these low income countries, they will take time to adjust to the social and cultural practices prevailing in these countries. At the same time, advances made in public health will cause a faster decline in mortality rates thereby working contrary to the achievement of this objective. Secondly, a rise in per capita income will increase the demand for grains not only for human consumption but also for animal feed. For example, countries like Indonesia and Nigeria which have benefited immensely from increased exports of oil have shown an upward trend in the demand for food recently. Even in my own country, the liberalization of imports and the creation of an economic climate conducive to investment in the private sector have helped to push up the per capita incomes considerably. The demand for food grains is likely to increase further when the oil producing countries begin to invest their profits in some of the developed countries. Repatriation of capital by those employed in il producing countries has also contributed to a rise in incomes.
Although these constraints are inevitable, it does not necessarily mean that solutions for increasing production cannot be found. We should ask ourselves whether any undeveloped potential exists in the low income countries and whether it cannot be tapped, because the problem is not only one of limited natural resources but also one of under-utilization of production potential in most developing countries. We have not exhausted all the arable land that exists in most parts of the world. There is still room for extensive production of crops in hitherto uncultivated lands. For instance in Asia with the exception of Japan, less than one third of the ultimate potential has been utilised. In Africa, it is 25 percent and in Latin America 19 percent.
We agree that the low income countries cannot live on commercial or concessionary imports of food grains as we do now. While this appears to be one short-term approach, it is limited by other constraints like balance of payment difficulties and limited exportable supplies in countries which have so far traditionally provided food for the developing countries which depend on them. Therefore we have to look for further exploitation of available arable land in the world and the intensification of production per unit of area. It is here that the need for investment on water development becomes a matter of paramount importance.
In countries where the rainfall is unreliable projects to irrigate more lands should be encouraged. Contrary to popular belief in the so called drought stricken areas in the Sahelian countries of West Africa, the area with potential for cultivation is so much more than what has been cultivated up to now. According to F. A. O. 's own estimate 3 million hectares of land could be cultivated as against the present 350,000 hectares. The same is true of Asia, where 30 percent of the total land is cultivated under irrigation. It bas been estimated that the gross irrigated area in Asia could be increased to 90 million hectares from the present 55 (a 64 percent increase) with the exploitation of both surface and ground water resources. We have realised that the only insurance against irregular rainfall and drought is through irrigation. My Government has placed the highest priority on the Mahaweli River Development Scheme costing Rs. 18 billion which when completed would bring 900,000 acres of land under cultivation of food grains within the next six years, thereby increasing the total cultivable area under paddy and food grains in Sri Lanka to approximately two million acres. The expenditure of such a vast sum of money on an irrigation scheme demonstrates the importance and value that my Government under the dynamic leadership of our President has given to Food production with the aim of making the country self-sufficient in rice in the shortest possible time.
There is a school of opinion manifest mainly in the aid-giving agencies which desist from heavy investment in major irrigation on account of the very high expenditure on infrastructure, such as high dams and channels, on account of lack of skilled man-power and of the know-how to undertake these major irrigation development schemes in developing countries. I am gratified that Institutions which have been set up recently, with the collaboration of both developed and developing countries, such as IFAD, do not share this view. They have adopted some modified criteria which promots investment on major irrigation projects. Countries like India and Sri Lanka have to rely on further and greater investment in irrigation, if they are to increase their productivity to raise the standards of living of their people.
I wish to comment next on the importance of increasing the yields of crops in the low income countries. The average yields obtained in these countries in rice and wheat are low compared to what is harvested from the rice producing farms of Japan and the wheat farms of North America. One reason for this low output is the low level of fertilizer application per hectare and the failure to adept high standards of management and other imputs. The increase in the dépendance of most developing co untries on improved technology which relies heavily on non-renewable nutrients like fertilizer, will retard in most developing countries their agricultural progress. While we accept that it is necessary to ensure optimum fertilizer application levels, we are at the same time just as other developing countries experiencing severe difficulties due to the escalation in fertilizer costs. We consider that we should annually increase the amount of chemical fertilizer that is applied to agricultural crops while
encouraging at the same time the use of supplementary inorganic fertilisers available locally. We appreciate the assistance given along this line by the PAD. All encouragement including technical advice should be given to farmers for increasing the use of locally available organic as well as chemical fertilizers.
We fully endorse the recommendations made by this Council at its June meeting this year for the further strengthening of the International Fertilizer Supply Scheme. We would also request countries which are in a position to do so to contribute liberally to the JFSS, both from the developed as well as OPEC countries. We expect the FAO to take steps to stabilise prices of fertilizers through price stabilization measures such as the Options Scheme, and the Long Term Agreements to help the Most Seriously Affected countries who are experiencing serious difficulty in obtaining their requirements of fertilizer.
We are also aware Mr. Chairman, that recent evaluations have shown that there is no shortage in the availability of Phosphates or Potash and that the cut-backs in fertilizer production between 1972 and 1974 were not due to the energy crisis but to the slackenine of demand between 1965 and 1970. Fertilizer production is increasing with rates of output in the range of around 60 percent in countries like Mexico, Nigeria, Venezuela, Indonesia and the Persian Gulf countries. What is worrying us are the logistical problems such as the increase in transport costs and handling between the producer countries and the recipients, over which we have no control. For instance recently, the Conference Lines operating in my own country increased their freight rates by 15 percent in March this year and although my Government is committed to supplying subsidised fertilizer up to 75 percent, the heavy burden cast on us on account of increased fertilizer prices as well as freight rates would very considerably affect development programmes, which are now in hand.
There is also the question of the use of other inputs such as improved seed. An FAO/UNDP Project which has provided technical assistance and training for sustaining national seed production programmes has been quite successful. In my country this programme has contributed effectively towards supplying a considerable number of our farmers with good quality paddy seed and steps are now being taken to expand this programme to cover other crops as well. We have also been able to supplement to a great extent the traditional rice producing techniques of our farmers with modem scientific information and research. Although there is a diversity of conditions under which rice is grown 121 Sri Lanka, the recent achievements in developing, through breeding, some varieties of rice with yields of over 140 bushels per acre have amply demonstrated that our rice breeding programmes have been successful. There is a need for further capital investment in this field of specialised skills.
Apart from rice there is a wide range of important crops where very little research has been done with the aim of increasing their usefulness as subsidiary crops. I am referring to cereals such as tropical millets and legumes such as cowpea, green gram and black gram which are rich in proteins, and yams and tubers such as sweet potato, cassava and a wide range of norticultural crops such as vegetables and tropical fruits. These are crops which are in abundance in the tropical countries, almost 90 percent of the total area where these are grown lying in the tropical belt. Therefore, it is time that we realise the importance of improving the vast potential of these crops to supplement the nutritional requirements of our people.
In recent years there has been a very steep increase in the price of fish, meat and dairy products. An FAO/UNDP sponsored soya bean project in my country has come in at a very timely period. We have been able to demonstrate that soys could be grown very effectively in certain regions of my country and produces yields favourable in comparison with those obtained in advanced countries. . This programme is making a very significant impact on our rural dietary requirements.
Under a related CARE/Unicef sponsored programme a great proportion of the soya bean produced in the country is being processed into "Thriposha" a product whistfi is being distributed free to young school children whose needs of protein are considered to be critical at their age.
In order to increase the incomes of small farmers my Government has actively supported programmes for crop diversification on marginal lands hitherto cultivated with such cash crops as tea and rubber. With the assistance of the World Bank and based on work undertaken with the help of FAO, my Government has taken up the diversification of 26,000 acres of land in the raid-country which were originally under tea and rubber.
We in Sri Lanka are conducting experiments in a small way on alternate sources of energy such as Bio gas and Solar energy. The energy crisis has taught us one important lesson and that is not to rely too much on conventional sources of energy but to intensify research on alternate means of energy.
While on the subject of energy, I wish to lay emphasis on the rapid denudation of forests which has caused a scarcity of fuel wood in many developing countries. The clearing of jungles and opening up of new lands for cultivation without a complementary reforestation programme can lead to very serious repercussions. The trees that provide shade also provide fodder and fuel wood to the family. Last year my Government promoted a tree planting drive in which both the Government and voluntary organisations including school children participated in creating a public awareness of the need to conserve trees. I commend the contents of your Document on Forestry for bringing forth very encouraging proposals for adoption by developing countries.
I referred at the beginning, Mr. Chairman, of my speech to the other important subject under deliberation at this Conference, viz: the need to ensure World Food Security. According to present indications, by the year 2000, we would have over 450 million people either undernourished or at near starvation level. World food security could be achieved in two ways. The first course I have already elaborated in the first part of my Paper with emphasis on Food Production by continued and enhanced investment in agriculture, both on a country's own resources as well as external assistance. The break-down of talks on reaching a New Grains Agreement and the setting up of a Food Aid Convention make it all the more necessary to channel the surpluses in production from developed countries as well as developing countries to meet food shortages which could arise in the future. We should strive to reach the target of $950 million for food purchases under the International Food Emergency Reserve.
In this context, we would like to commend the adoption of the Director-General's Five point Plan of Action on World Food Security by this Conference.
While we are on the subject of the need to produce more food to build buffer stocks for the future we also realise that our task has been made more difficult because of the inability of food deficit countries to prevent food losses, both before and after harvest. High harvest losses resulting from inefficient methods of pest control, inefficient processing and storage practices together with losses resulting from inefficient transportation systems which are unable to handle grains and particularly perishable products should also receive consideration and after careful study suitable remedial measures should be taken. Estimates of pre-harvest and post-harvest losses run into billions of dollars. According to your own studies in Asia for rice alone it is in the region of 10 to 37 percent or 85,000 million tons of food grain. This is equal to the cereal deficit projected for the low income countries in 1985·
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I would like to say I came across a quotation from Charles Birch in his book "Next Hundred Years" which is an appropriate comment on which to end my speech. "The World is one life-boat with first class passengers at one end and steerage passengers at the other. If one end sinks the whole life-boat sinks. "
G. DEBELE (Ethiopia): Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates. Oh behalf of the Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia and my Delegation, I would like to join other Distinguished Delegates in congratulating you on your election as Chairman of the 20th Session of the FAO Conference. The Ethiopian Delegation wishes to express its deep appreciation for the efficient arrangements made by the Secretariat in various sectors of this Conference. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest welcome to Samoa and the Commonwealth of Dominica on their admission as Members of this 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 examine our performance in the outgoing biennium to learn from and set our shortcomings aright and to deliberate on the programme and budget for the following biennium, I hardly need to emphasize that the decisions taken and 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 Conference as well as on our efforts to solve the problems of world food and agricultural production
This year's Conference acquires additional importance since we meet in an atmosphere, where, though immediate international food crisis have temporarily been averted, yet, the horrifying possibility of their recurrence still exists. Although it is not my intention to present to the Conference a review of the World Food and Agricultural situation, nevertheless, I feel strongly the need to highlight a number of issues of international dimension, which must keep our concern open and our anxiety alive.
The Director-General's report on the state of food and agriculture for 1979 indicates unfavourable prospects of food and agricultural production. FAO's latest forecast, as of early July 1979,is that world production of wheat and coarse grains in 1979 is likely to be about 6% below the 1978 level and 5% below the longer term trend (1970-78)· In the developing countries, the long term rate of increase in agricultural production during the nine years of the Second Development Decade is more than one quarter below the target of 4% a year. In the area of International Agricultural Adjustment, some limited progress has been made although agreed targets have still not been achieved. The l8th session of FAO agreed transfers to developing countries of resources estimated to be at least US$8. 3 billion per annum during the period 1975-80 for investment in agricultural production. While the Director-General' s continuous efforts to monitor progress towards International Agricultural Adjustment is appreciated, my Delegation calls upon all concerned to exert maximum effort towards realizing adequate transfer of resources from developed to developing Countries.
This Conference is also invited to review the proposals for the development and management of fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones, particularly with reference to the role of FAO, and to comment on the basic priorities indicated for future action to secure their implementation.
As one of the founding members of the FAO, we have always upheld its noble aims and worthy achievements. Nevertheless, we are forced once again to reiterate our position regarding the so-called Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Fisheries Development which was organized by the Arab States bordering this water with the assistance of FAO at the exclusion of and without consulting my country. My Government continues to consider this step as a violation of Ethiopia's sovereignty over its territory as well as violating international obligations. For this reason, we strongly object to FAO's proposal for future action programmes ''that cooperation at regional, sub-regional, and inter-regional fisheries development and management as key solution of problems relating to Economic Zones. '' On the other hand, my delegation once again expresses its deepest gratitude to the Democratic Republic of Yemen for its support of Ethiopia's unalienable right to any collective development of the Red Sea fisheries.
Though not always the ideal form of assistance, Food Aid is nevertheless indispensable in bridging the gap between the present and the future needs when recipient countries will have raised their production and purchasing power to the level of self-sufficiency. During the outgoing biennium poor performance prevailed in the Food Aid Programme, emergency reserve stock of cereals and in terms of food assistance for development. Despite the fact that Food Aid in cereals recovered in 1978/79, it still fell short of the World Food Conference minimum target of 10 million tons.
As long ago as 1973-74 which were the times of physical shortages of grain supplies, very definite pronouncements were made and a large number of countries even committed to action in the form of undertakings. The need for an internationally coordinated system of national reserve stock was agreed on in the International Undertaking on World Food Security which has subsequently been endorsed by 75 individual governments as well as by the EEC. Since that time, the agreed system of reserve stocks was not formally embodied in a new international grains arrangements. As a result, the Director-General of FAO proposed in March 1979 a Five Point Plan of Action on World Food Security. The expected reduction in cereal production in 1979 reminds us of the bad situation in 1973-74. The Socialist Government of Ethiopia calls attention to the urgent need for the immediate implementation of the Five Point Plan of Action. We fully support the Five Points of the Plan and the Director-General's proposals for any further measures required to achieve the objectives of the World Food Security.
A point of fundamental interest to all developing countries is the assessment of Progress Towards the New International Economic Order. The Ethiopian Delegation believes that unless far reaching measures are taken to restructure the economic relationship between the developing and developed countries, in particular in the area of trade relations, the plans and programmes for development of the developing countries may indeed prove to be illusory.
The efforts to realize the world's agricultural potential must be looked upon as an issue of international concern, calling for effective structural changes in the World Economic System and also for increased international cooperation in financial and technical assistance. We have, in fact, agreed two years ago, at the 19th Session of FAO, that maximum food production cannot be possible without increased flow of technical and financial assistance from the most developed towards the least developed countries. The transfer of adequate resources is further called for in the light of the rapidly escalating costs in the basic agricultural inputs and because of unstable export markets and trade barriers against primary products from developing countries. These factors contribute to declining export earnings and increasing import bills which in turn bear negative influence on development effort of developing countries.
It is, therefore, the view of my Delegation that in consistence with the functions of FAO Article 1 paragraphs 2. e and 2. f to energetically work towards increasing the flow of capital into agriculture and to attain fair and equitable agricultural commidity arrangements.
I feel it is appropriate now to say a few words on what we have been doing in Ethiopia during the outgoing biennium. Agriculture being the major sector in the economy of the country, our choice is to intensify our efforts in the production of food and agricultural products.
Since the beginning of the Ethiopian Revolution in February, 1974, a number of fundamental and far-reaching measures have been taken by the Socialist Government of Ethiopia to create a just and equitable socialist society and to remove, once and for all, the fetters that have for so long retarded development of my country. In so doing my Government has created conditions for the release of the creative and dynamic potential of its people for the challenging and arduous task of nation-building.
As our Delegations reported, to this august body during the 18th and 19th Sessions of the FAO Conference as well as at the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, in the economic realm major steps towards the creation of a socialist economy have been taken through nationalization and reorganization of major industries, banking and financial institutions and urban land and extra houses.
In the area of agriculture the most important measure taken has been the far-reaching and revolutionary land reform proclamation of March 1975, strengthened recently by an order for and mode of establishment of Farmers' Producer Cooperatives and Service Cooperatives. These are further supported, among others, by a proclamation establishing in November 1978 the National Revolutionary Development Campaign and Central Planning Supreme Council whose goal is to implement the economic, social and political objectives of the National Democratic Revolutionary Programme, among others, by:-
1. efficiently allocating national resources among the many competing programmes through a system of democratic centralism;
2. setting development priorities;
3. developing action-oriented programmes for implementation through mass participation; and
4. establishing efficient follow-up systems so that shortfalls are corrected in time.
Substantial results have been achieved in the industrial and social sectors of our economy since the feudobourgeois government was toppled in Ethiopia in 1974. In spite of these significant achievements, nevertheless, I will be limited to address myself only to agriculture.
In the past few years of the revolutionary history of Ethiopia, we have witnessed considerable concrete changes in the field of agricultural development. Noteworthy among these are the establishment of approximately 25,000 peasant associations throughout the country covering the whole peasant sector totaling about 7 million families. In particular, during the last one year period of the establishment of the National Revolutionary Development Campaign and Central Planning Supreme Council more significant developments have been realized.
Several Farmers' Producer Cooperatives have been organised in order to improve the economic, social and political conditions of their members through, among others, collective self-government and modernization of the agricultural sector including the use of high yielding inputs. Moreover, Farmers' Service Cooperatives are set up-to-date with the aim of collective purchase of farm inputs and sale of their produce thus improving the peasants' bargaining position and their farm income.
In 1979/80 cultivated land increased by 12% over that of 1977/78 and agricultural production is expected to grow by 8% for the same period. This has been made possible through the Provisional Military Government's consistent and devoted effort and full participation by the broad masses to raise agricultural production and improve the social condition of the rural poor. The budget for agricultural development increased by 200% in 1979/80 over that of 1977/78.
To further enhance the above mentioned achievements, the former Ministry of Agriculture and Settlement, which proved to be too large an organisation to be managed under one Ministry, was restructured into various ministries leaving a Ministry of Agriculture catering purely to the peasant sector and for a speedy agrarian reconstruction and rural development.
These achievements, may not appear at first sight, impressive in themselves. Nevertheless, in view of the too short period and the conditions under which these results were obtained and the need for development of appropriate organizations before reasonable level of increased agricultural production can be expected, their importance cannot be overlooked.
In attaining these achievements we have been assisted by socialist countries by FAO/UNDP, SIDA, World Bank, and by a number of other bilateral and multilateral agencies. To them all my Delegation extend my Government's sincere appreciation and gratitude and we are convinced that their assistance would continue in our struggle to increase food and agricultural production for the betterment of the living conditions of the rural masses of our people.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the view, which is gaining wide acceptance, that the best way to overcome the world's food and agricultural problems is to assist developing countries in their own major efforts in food production and agricultural development. Further, I wish to express that the Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia and my delegation have confidence that FAO, with its vast experience in agriculture and with intimate knowledge of rural problems of developing countries, will no doubt be able to make valuable contributions and play a vital role in achieving the desired goal of producing adequate food and agricultural products to satisfy the needs of the rapidly growing human population of the world.
Finally, I would also like to express our general view about the budget and work programme of the FAO which was prepared and sent to us in advance by the Director-General.
Though the Commissions will have to examine and comment on the specific points, it is our impression that the budget and work programme of the FAO for the ensuing biennium is generally acceptable to be endorsed by this Conference.
EL PRESIDENTE: Agradeciendo a todos los esfuerzos que han hecho y que nos han permitido liberamos de esa sesión de noche, levantamos la sesión hasta mañana a las 9. 30 horas.
The meeting rose at 18. 15 hours
La séance est levée à 18h 15
Se levanta la sesión a las 18. 15 horas
