U. YE GOUNG (Burma): On behalf of the Burmese delegation, it gives me great pleasure to join other delegations in expressing our warm and sincere congratulations to you on your election to the Chairmanship of the Twentieth Session of the FAO Conference. We are fully confident that under your esteemed guidance, this conference will certainly have fruitful discussions that will contribute towards the betterment of the world agricultural situation. At the same time the Burmese delegation wishes to place on record their deep appreciation to the FAO Secretariat staff, for the excellent arrangements made for all the delegations.
Furthermore, I would also like to extend our warmest welcome to the members of the Governments of Dominica and Samoa on their admission as new members to this World Organization. We sincerely believe that their participation will further strengthen the guiding principles of the FAO.
Mr. Chairman,I need not stress that the FAO has been assuming greater responsibilities year by year and has contributed significantly towards the advancement of agriculture. The biennial conferences have fostered better understanding and cooperation among member countries, which at the same time have led to the initiation of new developments and strategies. We have noted with interest that the agenda for the current session includes a wide variety of significant topics.
The Director-General's report to the Conference on the State of Food and Agriculture, furnishes highly informative and factual data. The problems discussed therein have more or less, direct or indirect bearings on the development of agriculture in the member countries. The accelerated increase in the use of high yielding varieties, mentioned in the report,is highly encouraging. But on the other hand the projected increases in the prices of fertilizers and pesticides, as given in the document, tends to create a spirit of despondency, and we hope the Conference will give serious thought to this trend. Furthermore, we would like to note that some of the countries in the world are faced with the problems of hunger owing to the shortage of food. This fact has been stressed explicitly by the Director-General in his statement at this Conference. We sincerely believe that there are countries with tremendous potential for food production which are producing with limitations. If these countries will produce fully to their potential it will be as advantageous and effective as that of the functions of the Food Bank.
The Director-General in his report has also dealt with matters relating to "Trade Problems and Policies", and we highly appreciate the efforts being undertaken by the international bodies, mentioned therein, in approaching commodity and trade issues. However, the prices for export of agricultural commodities still remain low and unstable, while the prices of imported industrial goods continue to escalate steadily, to the detriment of the developing countries. Accordingly we sincerely hope that structural changes geared towards equitable trade and development could be achieved.
The document on long-term goals and medium-term objectives clearly portrays the problems and challenges that the developing countries are expected to encounter by the year 2 000. The document has also suggested and outlined relative areas of priority that need be adopted both under the long-term goals and strategies, as well as under the medium-term objectives. The suggestions merit deep consideration, and we hope this conference will be able to integrate a common strategy to meet the challenges of the year 2000.
The paper on "Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones" also, has reviewed both the opportunities opened for, and the problems beset, on the coastal states, due to the establishment of exclusive economic zones. The basic needs for adoption, suggested in the paper are highly creditable, while the intended role of the FAO is equally laudable. International assistance, expertise and technology, will obviously be necessary, but yet at the same time these would have to be considered within the context of national policies.
May I now proceed in brief to the agriculture situation of my country. Agriculture is still accorded the highest priority in our country and the performance during the last two agriculture seasons is most satisfactory. The year 1977-78 was fair despite exigencies of weatherwith an annual growth rate in the agriculture sector of 5. 9 percent whereas in the year 1978-79 was 7. 5 percent as against the targetted 5 percent. In the agriculture sector, priority was given to crops essential for domestic consumption, export oriented and industrial crops. Governmental support in the form of increased inputs, a wider measure of irrigation facilities, provision of substantial agriculture loans, and inducement towards adoption of scientific methods, and close guidance and prompt attention to the needs of the farmers were the strategies adopted.
Apart from the agriculture sector, livestock, fisheries and forestry sectors also achieved a high degree of performance, and all these successes are attributed to the correct guidance by the Burma Socialist Programme Party, the close supervision of the People's Councils and the full cooperation of the Lanzin Youth Organization, Peasants and Workers Organizations, the Defence Services personnel and the participation of the entire mass.
Please permit me to further elaborate on the selective strategy we employed for higher crop production. We selected two townships in 1977-78 and 23 townships in 1978-79 to concentrate our effort to increase paddy production and we labelled it as "whole township paddy production programme". These programmes involved expansion of high yielding paddy varieties, transplanting of correct seedling age, closer planting, proper and balanced use of fertilizers together with organic manure, integrated pest and disease control and prevention of crop losses. This selective strategy proved to be highly successful, in that the yield per acre, increased from 25 to 30 percent more than the planned target. Currently, this movement has been gaining momentum on a countrywide scale and has been recognized as a positive step towards accelerated increased production. This whole township production programme is planned to expand to the other important crops like cotton, jute, sugarcane, wheat and groundnut. Although there has been substantial increase in the yield rate of paddy, yet it has not attained the level of production as expected. Likewise the production of wheat, soya bean and pulses are still far from satisfaction. Therefore we earnestly welcome further assistance in the research, transfer of technology and in the form of agricultural inputs in this field of production.
Mr. Chairman,As an agricultural country, the Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry sectors, also form an integral part of the rural economy. In the Livestock sector, due attention has been paid to veterinary care and animal husbandry. Similarly, appropriate measures, have been initiated to increase qualitatively and quantitatively draught power, as well as the production of meat and dairy produce. The measures have been strengthened by appropriate international assistance, wherever necessary.
In the Fisheries Sector, both inland and marine resources exist. However, since inland resources are limited and have been fully exploited, emphasis has been placed on developing aquaculture practices. The programme for producing fish seed, induced breeding by hypophysation under modern techniques, has proved highly successful and adequate quantities are always readily available for distribution or replenishment of stock in fresh waters.
Our marine resources, however, still offer immense potential, as a source of protein for domestic utility, as well as an important foreign exchange product. My Government has taken effective measures to tap this potential by the expansion of the current fleet of trawlers and gill-netters. With an approach towards proper fisheries development and management, a systematic marine resources survey and training of fishing vessel crews has already been implemented with international assistance.
May I now dwell briefly on the Forestry sector. We note with pleasure that the "Jakarta Declaration" on Forestry has been placed before this conference. The ideas and concepts in the declaration form a useful guideline for all Governments and forestry organizations.
Burma is still endowed with an abundant wealth of natural tropical forests. Apart from its ecological and environmental importance, it plays a vital role in the economy of the country. 57 percent of the total area of Burma is covered with forests out of which 14 percent is currently under reservation, and the policy of my Government is to further increase the reservation to a limit of 30 percent.
Simultaneously, plans have also been drawn up to reafforest the denuded areas in the densely populated regions in the dry zone of Central Burma and Lower Burma. Efforts in this direction, have already been actively implemented in the dry zones of Central Burma. Moreover afforestation is also carried out in other parts of the country. We shall continue to maintain our forest resources under scientific management, so that it remains both as an asset to agriculture and the economy of the country.
The above, is in brief, the situation, measures and policies adopted for the agriculture sector during the past biennium in Burma. In our endeavours during these years, the FAO, UNDP and other agencies rendered invaluable assistance to us, and we wish to take this opportunity of offering our gratitude and thanks to these organizations. However, I fervently hope that the present international economic system, functions equitably with respect to the division of the benefits of economic growth between developed and developing countries, as we undoubtedly are aware of the continued recurrence of recession and inflation, payment imbalances and persistent unemployment which in a way retards our endeavour for the progress of development. Hence, it becomes essential for all countries developed and developing, to find ways and means for an equitable international economic system by greater cooperation within the entire international community.
Mr. Chairman,Earlier I had mentioned that the Food and Agriculture Organization has been called upon to assume greater responsibilities year by year. With its assistance member countries have, with dedication, geared their efforts towards accelerated food production. The dividends for these efforts may have been substantial in certain sectors, while marginal in others. All the same, from an overall assessment it could be safely assumed that, improvements for the better, have been achieved in the World Food Situation. It is our fervent hope that the FAO will continue to play a leading role, so that this momentum will remain unabated.
EL PRESIDENTE: Señoras y Señores delegados antes de continuar con el debate, me veo en la obligación de comunicar a la Asamblea una triste noticia.
Como ustedes saben, el primer día de la Conferencia elegimos Vicepresidente de la Conferencia a
D. Germán Bula Hoyos, Ministro de Agricultura de Colombia, y probablemente todos ustedes saben también
que a los pocos días tuvo que regresar a Colombia dado que su madre se encontraba en estado de extrema
gravedad.Me comunican ahora que la madre de D. Germán Bula Hoyos, Ministro de Agricultura de Colombia y Vicepresidente de esta Conferencia, y de Gonzalo Bula Hoyos, Embajador de Colombia ante la FAO, ha fallecido hace unas horas.
Quisiera yo en este momento dirigirle unas palabras de aliento al representante del país hermano de todos nosotros, Colombia, comunicándole el dolor de toda la Asamblea y pidiendo asimismo simultáneamente que transmita a D. Germán Bula Hoyos y a D. Gonzalo Bula Hoyos el sentimiento de la Conferencia y que todos nos unimos a estos dos amigos en sus oraciones. (Muestras de asentimiento)
Reanudando el orden del día, pasamos al segundo orador, que es el representante del Iraq, Amer Mahdi Saleh, Ministro de Agricultura y de Reforma Agraria.
El representante de Iraq tiene la palabra.
A. M. SALEH (Iraq) (interpretation from Arabic): Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Iraq's participation at this Conference illustrates its concern over the exchange of views which are being held in this community, representing all those who are concerned with problems of food who have the task of adopting resolutions in this international community on a problem which is of considerable standing, the problem of food and our daily bread which we have to give to all people throughout the world and everything concerning the production of food, namely husbandry and distribution within the countries and at an international level. You who are experts in this respect know that all the operations involved are very complicated. Man has produced food and concerned himself with agriculture for centuries but today this is an operation which involves planning and cooperation among peoples of the same continents and areas and also the international community at large. FAO, therefore, is the international parliament for such operations. It is the sole international agency of its kind, wich was created to provide solutions for all problems, production, storage and distribution of foodstuffs.
Document C 79/24 on "Agriculture: Toward 2000" is a document on which we should congratulate the Organization. Thanks to the efforts of our brother and friend Dr. Saouma, the Director-General, this document covers all the problems. This has paved the way that we should follow in order to achieve our objective that is, the production of food for all mouths on earth.
Iraq represented in this Conference an Arab country in the Middle-East. This developing country of ours, which is aiming at developing or extending its possibilities, like the non-aligned countries, has devoted special importance to agriculture. In our policy we acknowledge that it is important to take into account the countries which really need food. There is no social future for these countries unless they produce food for their own people. On the basis of this the steps we have taken in our policy so far have involved us in agrarian reform aimed at the following. First there is the question of giving the land to
the real agricultural producers themselves, because they are concerned above all with agricultural production. Secondly, we have abolished the feudal and semi-feudal relationships of the past. We have also tried to manage land in such a way as to introduce drainage and irrigation and provide all that is necessary for agricultural production. Thirdly, we have aimed at establishing an agricultural sector which we developed, which would involve the State bodies and the cooperatives. Fourthly, we are concerning ourselves with improving the status of the workers.
I am very pleased to announce to the Conference the achievements of Iraq. We have 438,000 square metres of which 93,000 are food producing valleys between two main rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. This is the area of Mesopotamia. On the banks of these two rivers we saw the birth of civilization, and agriculture has existed since that very early time. On the hills to the north of the desert plains the population of Iraq is 12 million. More than 30 per cent are working on the land. They are working on an area of 12 million hectares of which 6 million are farmed on the basis of new irrigation methods.
The Government has taken over 2. 5 million hectares from the feudal owners. These areas have been distributed to small farmers and agricultural families. We have introduced special plans for this and we are trying to distribute this land among the various villages. We have given new technical methods and we have set up fertilizer centres to satisfy the needs of the whole country. We have also introduced a scientific plan to overcome the problem of illiteracy. This is something which we have been boosting on the basis of a national campaign this year. Thousands of men and women are working in this area. We give them every possibility to work in this context. Those who are making the best of this campaign are of course the farmers, who have suffered from colonialist methods in the past. This is reflected in all developing countries which have suffered from colonialism, countries which have inherited hunger and malnutrition. Those who benefit most from this are the people themselves, the people we provide with the raw materials and the food they need. We are also trying to help the farmer to develop and prosper. This is in order to achieve the objective we seek-that is, an agricultural increase of 7 per cent per annum. This will, we hope, enable us to achieve world food security.
Iraq's presence at this Conference reflects our concern to cooperate with the international community at large in order to find the best radical solution for the problems of food security and agriculture, problems which call for an international effort in order to change the present situation for the better. This will enable us to achieve food security because the situation in developing countries as regards food and agriculture is far from a novelty. We see from our Agenda that these are serious problems because the number of people suffering from malnutrition in the world comes to 60 million.
There are other signs that the food and agricultural situation is far from encouraging. There are millions of people who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition because of the oppressive policies engaged in by the imperialist countries in the way that they monopolise modern technology, in the way that they occupy the land and plunder the natural resources, in the way in which they engage in racial discrimination and refuse to recognize movements, the difficult position in which they find themselves as far as obtaining agricultural credits and also the way in which they are hampered when it comes to marketing their products from the developing countries. The developing countries, therefore, are in a state of despair because they do not see the way to developing their situation. The introduction of a new international economic order is one which has not yet been implemented. There are still a lot of problems which have not been solved.
On the basis of this Iraq, following what the President of the Republic said, recently presented the conference of non-aligned countries with a long-term international fund which set out to help developing countries overcome the effects of inflation, so long as the oil producing countries and the industrialized countries, the developed countries, take into account the economic condition and will agree to contribute to this fund in proportion to the inflation.
I am pleased to say before this international Conference that Iraq has taken the initiative to implement this programme and the Government of Iraq has decided to help the poor developing countries which have direct links with Iraq. We have decided to give them interest-free loans to combat the increased prices as a result of oil price increases from 1979 onwards. We therefore ask countries throughout the world to implement the terms of this project and use it as a means of changing the relations to ensure that there is an equitable situation for all countries throughout the world, because the situation that exists in international markets insists that the international community should adopt speedy solutions for this. We should be realistic and understand that the responsibility for inflation is not just due to oil prices rising. It is a problem which concerns the whole of the international economy, because this international economy was imposed on developing countries because of our colonial heritage. We must replace this old economic situation with a new one and we have to discuss this on a scientific basis because the relations that exist between us are based on new economic relations, and this will enable us to bring about international justice. Oil prices should be on the same footing as other commodity prices, and I can tell you that oil is not as vital as some other commodities, for example wheat and other food commodities. I would say there is no international convention which governs the prices of all these commodities.
We have gone through the details of the programme of action and the Organization's budget and we feel that tremendous efforts have been made to achieve these results. Our delegation is aware of the importance of the efforts that have been made in all these programmes and Iraq as a member of the international community has placed her faith in the international community in all these respects through international agencies and through the efforts being made by FAO first and foremost. We have set up an international entity which is represented here in Rome to provide a regional office dealing with cooperation in Iraq. We believe this will strengthen the development projects in Iraq in the realm of food and agriculture. In this context Iraq has played an effective role. We have offered financial assistance in the programmes and projects implemented by the international organization, whether at regional, sub-regional or international level. We are only too pleased to provide all assistance to make sure that these projects are as fruitful as possible. Despite the number of projects which have been introduced among the countries of our region, we have welcomed three which are aimed at improving and managing the land, waters and animals.
Our country has offered $700 to increase cooperation between the countries of the region. This satisfies our national objective, which is to strengthen our role in international and regional cooperation. Iraq has also agreed to offer annual aid to the Organization's budget and this comes to $20 million. Our assistance from agricultural aid for developing countries through IFAD comes to $20 million. Iraq has set up a special fund for external development which offers aid and special conditions for developing countries to ensure that they can enjoy economic development. The aid provided by Iraq comes to $700 million. The total amount of aid provided by Iraq to all development funds comes to 2,220 million over and above the aid given by Iraq to the developing Arab countries on a bilateral basis.
All that I have said on cooperation with the Organization through the regional office for the Middle East can only be fruitful in the future as a result of the special circumstances. Because the regional office is where it is now our cooperation cannot be as effective as we would like it to be. For it to be effective and fruitful the bureau should be moved to another country so that we can go ahead with our aid and cooperation with this bureau.
I am bound to tell you that the Arab countries have already adopted a very clear resolution on this, that we would no longer cooperate with the bureau so long as it is in Cairo. As you will see in Document C 79 drawn up by the Director-General, the fact that no decision has been taken on this, well, this is something which will deprive Arab countries of our cooperation. This goes against the interests of our Organization directly. The bureau will remain empty and will be unable to satisfy the aims for which it was set up, and I do not think that your Conference will agree to this.
Iraq has tried to provide all the necessary conditions for cooperation with developing countries needing such aid in order to be able to solve their agricultural problems in accordance with the principles of self-sufficiency, that is that these countries should produce their own food commodities themselves.
We would also like to assert here the need to show the responsibility of developed countries vis à vis developing countries, the fact that the developed countries should provide material aid for the developing countries in proportion to the inflation they are exporting.
We would support the economic integration projects for developing countries, and the aid of countries for development is the reason why we have set up special bodies for fishery cooperation. Iraq is ready to enter into bilateral agreements with other coastal states, especially in the areas where these joint bodies can work in territorial waters.
Iraq has concerned itself with the problem of food security in order to restrict post-harvest losses. In particular we have done this by setting up and expanding storage structures, the use of pesticides and industrialization and marketing methodology.
Mr. Chairman, I see that I am forced to draw your country's attention to the fact that at a time when all countries throughout the world are working to increase food production for a greater number of people, at a time when FAO is doing its utmost to show the importance of food security for a long time now in a very studied and planned manner, a people expelled from its own lands, such as Palestine, the Palestinian people, that is, have had their roots drawn up, and here there are settlements being introduced in these invaded areas to enable the invading people to have greater land. All this is upsetting the state of peace and understanding. I want you to realize what the situation really is. I can tell you that the constant silence which prevails over these steps will not solve the problem. The situation in question will have repercussions in all countries throughout the world, not only in the Arab countries. We must remember the importance of the Arab area as regards oil production and other aspects. I think, Mr. Chairman, it is my duty to point out that we must follow the work of this Conference and re-examine the food situation in the world. We must make every effort constantly to introduce the New International Economic Order and this is an Order that can only be created if the food commodities and welfare are provided for all countries throughout the world.
I congratulate the Director-General of FAO for what he has done and the way he is wisely directing the Organization, and I wish him every success in the future.
S. M. SY (Sénégal): En l'absence du Ministre sénégalais du Développement rural, M. Djibril Sene, empêché, il m'échoit aujourd'hui le grand honneur de prendre la parole en son nom et au nom de la délégation sénégalaise, et d'apporter à la Conférence le salut de M. le Président Senghor, et de M. le Premier Ministre Abdou Diouf et de son Gouvernement, et le salut du Peuple sénégalais tout entier.
Mes premiers mots seront pour féliciter le président de cette 20e session de notre conférence, en la personne de S. E. Monsieur Jaime Lamo de Espinosa, Ministre de l'Agriculture d'Espagne, à l'occasion de son élection à cette haute fonction.
Les félicitations de la délégation sénégalaise vont également aux vice-présidents de la Conférence, aux présidents et vice-présidents des Commissions et des Comités, ainsi qu'aux autres membres du Bureau. A cet égard, je voudrais remercier tous les délégués des Etats Membres qui ont bien voulu assurer l'élection du Sénégal au Bureau de la Conférence.
Je voudrais aussi adresser nos félicitations et nos souhaits de bienvenue aux deux nouveaux Etats qui viennent d'être admis à la qualité de membres de notre Organisation. à savoir: le Commonwealth de la Dominique et Samoa. Leur admission, qui porte aujourd'hui à cent quarante-six le nombre des Etats Membres de notre Organisation, constitue une démonstration et une illustration du caractère d'universalité des organisations des Nations Unies, universalité à laquelle le Gouvernement du Sénégal demeure si attaché depuis toujours.
Tous les deux ans, la session de la Conférence de la FAO offre aux délégués des Etats Membres l'occasion d'arrêter la politique générale de l'Organisation et de dégager les moyens financiers pour sa mise en oeuvre, en approuvant le budget préparé et présenté par le Directeur général. En ce trentième anniversaire de la décision de transfert du siège de l'Organisation à Rome, qui coincide avec cette 20e session, nous tenons nos assises dans une conjoncture économique internationale difficile pour tous les pays, singulièrement pour les pays en développement, et à travers eux et en dernière analyse, pour chaque individu contribuable.
C'est pourquoi, il convient d'apprécier et de louer les efforts de compression des dépenses entrepris par le Directeur général, pour maintenir le budget de l'Organisation au niveau minimum nécessaire de 278 millions de dollars U. S. pour le biennium à venir. L'exemple mérite d'être souligné, car il est unique et sans précédent dans l'histoire du système des Nations Unies.
Avec ce budget minimum, auquel s'ajoutent quelque 600 millions de dollars de fonds extra-budgétaires, notre Organisation va devoir faire face à la crise alimentaire qui continue de sévir à travers le monde, et à une demande accrue des services de la FAO pour résoudre le problème de la faim et de la malnutrition. Les orientations présentées à cet égard, dans des documents d'une rare qualité élaborés par le secrétariat, comme dans l'excellente déclaration du Directeur général à l'ouverture de nos travaux, constituent des thèmes de réflexion qui attirent et retiennent l'attention sur l'un des problèmes majeurs de notre temps, désormais perçu par la communauté internationale comme un problème politique mondial de première grandeur.
Par-delà l'exposé général des résultats ponctuels et concrets obtenus dans l'application des politiques nationales dans les nombreux domaines de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture, nous voudrions, comme le Conseil y invite les Ministres et Chefs de délégations dans leurs déclarations, consacrer notre attention particulièrement aux propositions du Directeur général sur les deux questions suivantes: le renforcement de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale d'une part, le développement et la gestion des pêcheries dans les zones économiques exclusives, d'autre part.
Renforcement de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale
Il existe encore à travers le monde à peu près 450 millions d'hommes et de femmes qui ont faim ou sont mal nourris, pendant qu'il naît chaque année 75 millions de bouches supplémentaires à nourrir. Le système d'alerte rapide de la FAO nous informe qu'à la fin de 1978 et au début de 1979, beaucoup de pays en développement, dont la plupart sont situés principalement en Afrique, ont souffert de graves pénuries alimentaires, en raison d'une situation défavorable des cultures vivrières, affectant notamment les pays du Sahel.
La FAO a enregistré en outre un fléchissement de la production alimentaire et agricole mondiale pour 1979, tandis que la consommation mondiale de céréales dépassera la production de cette année, estimée à un milliard quatre cents millions de tonnes de céréales, que les stocks de blé vont baisser à 108 millions de tonnes, ceux des céréales secondaires à 100 millions de tonnes, et ceux de riz à 42 millions de tonnes.
Dans un tel contexte, on comprend et on ne peut que partager les préoccupations et les vues pessimistes du Directeur général, dans son analyse de la situation alimentaire mondiale et ses perspectives aux horizons de l'An 2 000.
C'est pourquoi, devant l'échec-que nous espérons provisoire-des négociations internationales sur les céréales et sur l'aide alimentaire, le programme d'action proposé par l'Organisation devrait emporter l'adhésion de tous les gouvernements, comme étant de nature à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, en aidant les pays en développement à promouvoir et à mettre en oeuvre leurs propres politiques nationales de sécurité alimentaire.
C'est à juste titre que plusieurs délégués de pays développés ont insisté sur cet aspect complémentaire des programmes d'action sectoriels de la FAO, et mis l'accent sur la priorité de l'autosuffisance alimentaire parmi les objectifs nationaux des pays en développement, et sur la nécessité pour eux de consacrer à cette politique des moyens budgétaires et humains importants.
Le Sénégal, dans ce domaine comme dans bien d'autres, n'a pas attendu pour prendre les devants, en élaborant un plan alimentaire national qui lui permettra de résorber son déficit vivrier et d'asseoir son autosuffisance alimentaire en consacrant à ce plan alimentaire quelque 42 milliards de francs CFA dans le 5e plan de développement économique et social.
Mais la contrainte majeure, qui n'est pas seulement d'ordre technique mais financier, réside dans le problème de la maîtrise de l'eau et,à cet égard,nous voudrions inviter la FAO à lui accorder une attention spéciale et une plus grande place dans son programme de travail et budget pour 1980-1981, notamment au regard de l'aménagement de terres irriguées, tant dans notre cadre national par la réalisation de barrages anti-sel, que dans les cadres sous-régionaux de l'Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal (O. M. V. S. ) et l'Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Gambie (O. M. V. G. ), par la réalisation de grands barrages sur le fleuve Sénégal et le fleuve Gambie.
Une agriculture naguère dominée par la culture industrielle de l'arachide a entrainé un déficit d'ordre structurel de la production alimentaire sénégalaise, et nécessité l'importation annuelle de 300 000 tonnes de céréales en moyenne, dont principalement le riz et le blé, qui ont connu des taux de progression/consommation supérieurs à la croissance démographique. Cela traduisait bien l'évolution d'une consommation alimentaire favorable aux produits les plus onéreux et les plus difficiles à produire localement, et laissait subsister une situation préoccupante, alors que la productivité de notre agriculture permet d'espérer une résorption de notre déficit vivrier en mil, sorgho et mas.
Devant cette situation, le Gouvernement du Sénégal a pris diverses mesures de politique alimentaire et nutritionnelle, tenant compte des possibilités réelles, et non des habitudes alimentaires acquises.
C'est ainsi que la décision a été prise d'introduire 30 pour cent de farine de mil dans la farine de blé pour la fabrication du pain. La technique de la panification a été mise au point à notre Institut alimentaire de technologie alimentaire, avec le concours d'experts de la FAO, dont notamment M. Harald Perten, de nationalité suédoise, spécialiste de la technologie des céréales,et de M. Pierre Abert, de nationalité française, spécialiste de la boulangerie, auxquels la Conférence vient de décerner le prix B. R. Sen (1978-1979). Nous renouvelons ici aux lauréats les félicitations du Gouvernement du Sénégal.
Une politique d'encouragement de la productivité et de la production céréalières pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire, notamment par un prix rémunérateur au producteur, se trouve inévitablement confrontée à des contraintes d'ordre humain et d'ordre logistique ainsi qu'à des contraintes d'ordre matériel: formation des agents pour encadrer efficacement le monde rural, colonisation de terres neuves favorables à la culture des céréales, amélioration de la collecte et des conditions de traitement facilitant le travail de cuisine par la femme rurale, restructuration et amélioration du système coopératif, du circuit de distribution et de commercialisation, construction d'unités de stockage et gestion des stocks.
C'est à l'égard de cette dernière contrainte que l'action de la FAO s'avérerait utile et efficace, dans le cadre de son programme d'assistance à la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, financé par des contributions volontaires des Etats membres. On ne peut donc qu'inviter le Directeur général à poursuivre ses efforts auprès de ces Etats pour accroître leurs contributions à ce programme, dont le montant actuel de vingt millions de dollars est nettement insuffisant pour faire face aux besoins et aux demandes d'assistance des pays en développement.
C'est aussi à l'égard du problème de stockage que mon Gouvernement a rencontré des difficultés dans la mise en oeuvre d'une politique efficace de stockage des produits collectés, avec un objectif de base de 130 000 tonnes en magasin et de 100 000 tonnes en silos, sans perdre de vue l'amélioration des greniers familiaux.
Comme j'ai déjà eu l'occasion de le dire lors des sessions antérieures du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, mon gouvernement est toujours disposé à accueillir dans la zone franche industrielle de Dakar la construction d'unités de stockage sur financement international au niveau national et sous-régional.
J'aborde maintenant la deuxième partie de ma déclaration.
Développement et gestion des pêcheries dans les zones économiques exclusives
Dans la matinée du 13 novembre, la Conférence a inauguré les plaques de marbre sur lesquelles ont été gravés les textes arabe et chinois du Préambule de l'Acte constitutif de l'Organisation.
Cette cérémonie d'inauguration a été symbolique à plus d'un titre, car elle a rappelé, fort opportunément, que la finalité de la FAO, telle qu'elle résulte du Préambule de son Acte constitutif, est de "contribuer à l'expansion de l'économie mondiale et de libérer l'humanité de la faim. "
C'est dans cet esprit que nous inscrivons le programme d'action de la FAO pour le développement et la gestion des pêches dans les zones économiques exclusives. Il faut se féliciter que le Directeur général ait pris cette nouvelle initiative, pour sensibiliser la communauté internationale sur la part grandissante que les ressources de la mer vont constituer dans l'alimentation humaine, et aussi, dans l'expansion de l'économie mondiale, en procurant aux pays côtiers du Tiers Monde l'essentiel de leurs recettes d'exportation.
Et c'est pourquoi nous souscrivons aux conclusions et recommandations du Comité des pêches en sa session du mois d'octobre, afin qu'un aménagement efficace des zones économiques exclusives permette aux pays en développement de ne pas se voir privés de moins de la moitié des captures mondiales de poisson, comme c'est le cas actuellement, et que des sommes importantes soient mobilisées pour alimenter le programme général d'assistance de la FAO dans ce domaine.
Mais l'attention de la FAO devrait être attirée sur la priorité à accorder à la pêche artisanale qui occupe le plus grand nombre de gens dans les pays en développement, et leur procure une importante source de revenus et de protéines.
Nous allons maintenant conclure pour inviter la FAO à accorder une attention spéciale à un problème particulier, non pas seulement à mon pays le Sénégal, mais à toute une sous-région, je veux parler des mesures de sauvegarde du cheptel, notamment dans les pays du Sahel qui souffrent de la sécheresse: mesures d'urgence avec ses deux volets alimentaires et sanitaire, et mesures à long terme adaptées aux conditions sahéliennes et à une meilleure utilisation des pâturages.
Enfin, pour clore cette déclaration qui, j'espère, n'aura pas été trop longue, nous tenons à féliciter le Directeur général de la FAO pour la façon dont il a su mobiliser l'Organisation en faveur des pays déshérités, pour en faire un instrument opérationnel de développement et un pivot du nouvel ordre économique mondial.
A. BINKAYA (Turkey): Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, Mr. Deputy Director-General, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen; the Turkish delegation would like to join all the other delegations which took the floor before me in congratulating warmly your excellency, Mr. Chairman, for your well deserved election to the chairmanship of this important conference.
At the same time, we extend a warm welcome to the new Members, Western Samoa and Commonwealth of Dominica. We are convinced that their contribution to the work of the FAO will be helpful to the accomplishment of its task.
Mr. Chairman, as we near the end of the 20th century and as the population of the world nears 4 billion, the difficulties involved in establishing a world-wide peace and prosperity for mankind, increase together with the responsibilities of all countries-developed and developing-as well as of all international organizations.
Based on information forwarded to us by FAO and in the light of our own experiences as a country, we have observed that heavy dependence of farming on natural conditions in many parts of the world and inadequacy in the distribution of modern technology to such farming areas, have resulted in rather indecisive agricultural production in our rapidly changing and developing world. Eventually this indecisive factor has come to endanger the socio-economic progress and even the proper conditions of nutrition in many countries, especially in the developing countries.
In 1979, world-wide agricultural production decreased by 6% over 1978, long-term trends dropped by 5% with new developments, world-wide consumption increased by 7%, the number of people in the world facing malnutrition reached, as it was underlined, 450 million, the share of less developed countries in the world food markets decreased by 5% (from 35% to 30%), no development was recorded in fisheries and forestry, while world population continued to show a rapid progress. All these trends have attained such dangerous dimensions that the need for future-oriented, wide and immediate measures is imperative.
Some other changes in the socio-economic conditions of the world can be summarized as follows:
agricultural developments realized in some developed countries have resulted in a surplus of cereal crops which accounts for 20 percent of world cereal consumption; however, such a surplus has unfortunately accumulated in only a certain part of the world;
international transportation facilities are confronted with additional difficulties caused by energy problems; therefore costs of production and transportation are showing an inevitable increase, thus creating new difficulties in order to meet urgent nutrition needs in many parts of the world.
Considering these and other socio-economic changes, the establishment of a new economic order on a world-wide basis, which means reassessment of agricultural potential in developing countries and assistance to them in order to relieve their heavy dependence on natural conditions, primarily to provide self-sufficiency, later on, to increase their production to its highest level for the benefit of other countries. Such a new economic order stands out as an inevitable item on our agenda.
The developing countries, with difficult socio-economic conditions in which they are, and with their chronic deficit of payments, are hardly able to find solutions by themselves to their economic problems, including food and agricultural development problems.
That is why international organizations such as F. A. O and developed industrial countries have to play a more and more efficient and contributory role for the solution of these problems.
After this summary about the world food and agriculture situation and the importance of the role of the developed countries and international organizations in this field, may I be allowed to deal with some details as to what the problems are in developing countries, and what measures could be considered in the way of their solution. These problems and their solutions which go together are mainly:
1. Poor agricultural production, then, improvement and increase of agricultural production;
2. Poor agro-industry, then, improvement of agro-industry.
3. Unfavourable international trade, then, improvement of international trade in favour of developing countries.
We can assume that developed countries are now reaching the last stage of their agricultural production's development, both in yield and use of the land, while the developing countries have still uncultivated land, man-power and goodwill but lack technology, know-how and capital.
These developing countries need, primarily, to be less dependent on weather conditions; this point should always be strongly emphasized. They need to improve their agriculture with better irrigation facilities, with more use of fertilizers, increased availability and utilization of herbicides and pesticides, mechanization of farming and introduction of research facilities and new technologies.
In this regard, another important aspect of the problem confronting the developing countries is the continued increase of the price of oil and consequently of every energy source based on oil. The need to exploit, more and more, other energy sources such as wood and forestry products may be a beneficial source for the developing countries but they still need in this field, to be assisted toward a rational and economically beneficial exploitation of the forestry products.
As for the improvement of the agrarian industry, we observe, here, in this field, a growing gap between developed and developing countries. The need of the population in developed countries with a large consumption capacity is becoming more and more sophisticated and standardization, processing and packing acquire much more importance than the foodstuff itself and the developing countries have no equipment for giving satisfaction to such high standard demands.
The progress of food industry in the developing countries is heavily dependent on the need for both basic and intermediary materials.
In other words, the pressing need for establishing food industry according to modern technology needs investments and know-how and those countries that are already confronted with a wide deficit in their balance of payments do not have the means to acquire the necessary technology.
Nor does international trade favour the developing countries, not only because of the gap between the prices of industrial and agricultural goods, but also because of the difficulty of transportation and the high standard qualities required from the agricultural products, as well as import limitations. All these elements create a very unfavourable trend for the agricultural products of the developing countries in the world markets. In this respect, it is our belief that developing countries should
be given the possibility and priority in utilizing their own transportation facilities. Stability of international prices should be attained in one way or another and a fair parity between the prices of industrial goods and agricultural items should also be reached.
We believe that Ρ·Α·0 should intensify its activities in the following fields to contribute more effectively to the solution of the above-mentioned problems:
- Today as for the days to come, there is a definite need for the world to have stronger international coordination and cooperation than in the past. F. A. O., of course, is the most suitable organization to provide this coordination and cooperation the field of agricultural development.
- The main share of responsibility to assist F. A. O. in fulfilling such a coordination and cooperation falls on the developed countries.
- It will be appropriate to launch an appeal to the developed countries, through Ρ·Α·0· and other parallel international organizations, for their contribution in meeting the urgent need for food and for fulfilling their promises for funds established for this purpose.
- As today's international economic order cannot answer the need of mankind and particularly of the peoples of the developing countries, a new international economic order should be established and the political efforts deployed towards this objective should find concrete implementation.
- Besides the food requirements for the developing countries, similar problems may arise for them in the long run. Therefore, a new Cereals Agreement should be reached.
- Any balanced and healthy nutrition needs cereal, meat, fruit and vegetables. In the transformation process from production to consumption of these foodstuffs, almost 60% is lost. The sum of 10 million dollars allocated for the efforts of preventing this loss may not be enough in the future, and an appeal to increase it is desirable.
- Steps should be taken for the use of I. F. A. D. funds in meeting the investment requirements of such projects to be dealt with under F. A. O. technical assistance programs, with the aim of preventing food losses in developing countries.
- In order to assure an increase in the storage capacity of the main food items, vital for nutrition and overall economy, attempts should be made to utilize I. M. F. sources at an increasing rate. In this way, the stability of domestic and international prices, as well as the food supply on a long-term basis, for the developing countries can be achieved.
- Special attention should be given to establish priority for those exportable foodstuffs of the developing countries during the selection of standards in F. A. O/W. H. 0. Pood Codex activities and also to eliminate differences between F. A. O standards and F. A. O/W. H. O Food Codex standards.
- Difficulties faced in transportation to remote areas of the world need to be overcome in order to achieve success on a short-term basis in the food and agricultural production of developing countries.
- The personnel selected from the developing countries to work for international organizations should be more numerous and placed in appropriate and responsible posts, in order to have a better understanding of the problems of these countries and to reach more adequate decisions in their favour.
- F. A. O. should play an effective role in eliminating hunger and implementing the resolutions reached at the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development At the same time, emphasis should be placed on carrying out the duties and responsibilities bestowed on internationational organizations by the plan of action agreed upon at that Conference.
- We very much hope that the technical cooperation program which proved successful and effective, in recent years, in meeting the urgent needs of developing countries and in the preparation of investment projects will continue with a more extensive content in the next period.
- F. A. O. should attach more importance to a closer cooperation with existing financial organizations, in order to obtain more financial resources for investments aimed at increasing the agricultural production and assisting developing countries in their agricultural investments based on their own resources.
The insufficiency of protein is one of the main concerns of today's nutrition programmes.
The new regime of the oceans with the new concept of exclusive economic zones may bring some hope for the developing countries to exploit their own sea resources and to satisfy their own protein needs, as well as their economic welfare. But in this field, also they need the possibilities and means for fishing, for processing, cold storage and distribution facilities and marketing possibilities.
The Turkish Delegation believes that the program foreseen for the development of the fisheries and seafood industry in EEZ would play an important role in meeting these needs.
This Program, during its implementation phase, should take into consideration, especially in the beginning the immediate needs of the developing countries; it should foresee the safeguard measures of the small fishermen; take into account the particular situations of the seas where the 200 miles of EEZ limits are not applicable, as well as the situations of the countries without such a wide EEZ, but with a high potential of sea-food catch, and accordingly this program should be flexible.
We are convinced that the report of the very able Director-General of the F. A. O. and the work of his efficient staff, as well as the budgetary proposals, will be instrumental in satisfying the needs and fulfilling the aims briefly mentioned above, and that our discussions, resolutions and our spirit of cooperation will contribute to the success of the future activities of the F. A. O. (Applause)
S. GONZALEZ (Nicaragua): D. Jaime Lamo de Espinosa, Presidente de la Conferencia; D. Eduardo Saouma, Director General de la Organización; Señores delegados y representantes,
Antes de comenzar mi exposición quisiera que se me permitiera agradecer a México el que, con la antelación debida, nos haya facilitado un cambio en el orden del día, y también añadir que se da la feliz coincidencia cuando nos corresponde hacer nuestra presentación en este foro, de que precisamente nuestra revolución cumpla cuatro meses. Y entro en mi exposición.
Por primera vez en la historia de esta Organización es el pueblo de Nicaragua quien se hace representar en la misma. Para ello fueron necesarios decenas de miles de heridos, decenas de miles de niños huérfanos; fueron necesarios decenas de miles de muertos.
Fue necesario que el saqueo, el pillaje y la represión de la dictadura de los Somoza alcanzara un punto culminante, y que se concretizara un genocidio contra nuestro pueblo, para que la atención del mundo se centrara en Nicaragua y para que fuese nuestro pueblo, y no quienes lo explotaban y reprimían, el que compareciera en los foros y organismos internacionales para hablar por sí mismo.
Los 139 000 kilómetros cuadrados de nuestro territorio estallaron en una insurrección general y final. Aunque la densidad poblacional de nuestro país es de apenas 18 habitantes por kilómetro cuadrado, en regiones del centro y del pacífico del país la violencia fue mayor. Es ahí donde se concentra la mayor parte de nuestra población, pero no el saqueo de las grandes empresas transnacionales y de los criollos vende-patrias: ese ha estado extendido en todo el territorio nacional desde 1909 en que llegaron los marinos enviados por el gobierno de una nación, no por su pueblo, y que al no querer reconocer nuestro derecho a la autodeterminación, ha sido corresponsable de los conflictos más agudos y de la violencia más acentuada desatada contra nuestro pueblo.
Nuestro país tiene recursos naturales que determinan un gran potencial de desarrollo, pero no ha tenido en dichos recursos un patrimonio para su pueblo. Hoy, la recuperación de esos recursos para todos los nicaragüenses es uno de los más grandes logros de la revolución popular sandinista.
Es uno de sus más grandes logros, pues para nuestro pueblo, mayoritario en campesinos y obreros del campo, la recuperación de sus recursos naturales es la principal reivindicación, no sólo por derecho propio, sino por privación de la historia, en el transcurso de la cual unas veces fue despojado por la fuerza de las intervenciones armadas, otras por la sutileza con que se ejecuta la diplomacia del dólar y las nuevas formas de la dominación internacional, y otras por el entreguismo de los vende-patrias que hasta ahora el triunfo de la revolución sandinista ejercieron la dominación local como herencia directa del colonialismo y el neocolonialismo.
Nuestro pueblo reivindica más que nada su patrimonio del agro porque fue ahí donde el saqueo extranjero se ensañó hasta llevarlo a su punto crítico.
El proceso de acumulación de capital condujo a la proletarización de nuestros artesanos y campesinos. En ese proceso de despojo y proletarización concurrieron diversos mecanismos, y cuando no fue suficiente la coerción económica, los explotadores recurrieron a la más brutal represión contra quienes defendían sus derechos. Y la misma suerte represiva corrían quienes alzaban su voz en defensa de los oprimidos.
Cuando los explotadores criollos no podían en su cobarde saña acallar esas voces y las protestas de los oprimidos, recurrían a manos extranjeras para que concurrieran en su ayuda: las mismas manos que se llevaban nuestro café, nuestro caucho, nuestro banano, nuestro oro, nuestras maderas, y que ocupaban nuestros puertos, ferrocarriles, bancos y aduanas, siempre apoyados en sus fusiles y soldados.
Ante esos hechos concretos que por conveniencia se olvidan con frecuencia, los vacilantes criollos claudicaban, como claudicaron en 1927 los que entonces se revelaron como simples compañeros de viaje del General de Hombres Libres, Augusto Cesar Sandino, quien con solo 29 hombre, 30 con él, inicio nuestra guerra de liberación, y dio un profundo contenido nacionalista a nuestras reivindicaciones.
Pero nuestra revolución además de nacionalista es también popular. El grupo de "muchachos" que en 1960 forma una organización político-militar-el Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional-que llegaría a convertirse en vanguardia indiscutible de nuestro pueblo y en artífice de nuestra revolución, lo hizo inspirado en el ideario de Sandino, y ese ideario abarca tanto la reivindicación de los intereses nacionales frente a la dominación extranjera, como la reivindicación de los intereses de la inmensa mayoría de obreros y campesinos que conforman nuestra población.
A la dictadura que hemos derrotado se asocia no solo la tiranía política, la represión y el entreguismo ante el extranjero, sino también la tutela de un sistema económico-social que beneficiaba a una minoría: la burguesía agro-exportadora, y sus ramificaciones industriales y financieras, mientras la inmensa mayoría de nicaragüenses ha permanecido al margen de todo concepto decente de vida humana.
De ahí que el carácter de nuestra revolución imponga no sólo el mejoramiento de nuestros términos de relación con el extranjero, sino también la realización de profundas transformaciones económicas y sociales para abrir paso a un desarrollo más justo y más humano.
Enfrentamos, pues, la enorme y doble tarea de reconstruir y transformar. La tarea no es fácil porque la nefasta herencia de casi medio siglo de corrupción, saqueo e ineficiencia, a lo que se agregan los daños directamente asociados a nuestra guerra de liberación y en particular a la obstinada y genocida resistencia de la dictadura, configuran un caso de desastre económico que difícilmente tiene precedente.
En efecto, y según lo ha documentado un reciente informe de la Comisión Económica para América Latina de las Naciones Unidas, durante 1978 y 1979 el producto interior bruto ha decrecido en un 32 por ciento. Esto significa que el ingreso bruto por habitante ha regresado a los niveles del año 1962, es decir, a los de hace diecisiete años, hecho insólito que no tiene precedente en la historia moderna.
Como si lo anterior fuese poco, nos encontramos además en una situación de absoluta insolvencia financiera externa. El pasado 19 de Julio en que como resultado del triunfo de la revolución popular sandinista se constituyó el Gobierno de Reconstrucción Nacional, al cual representamos en esta Asamblea, las reservas internacionales brutas del país apenas llegaban a los 3,5 millones de dólares, apenas capaces para financiar las importaciones de 2 días.
Por otro lado, la deuda publica externa acumulada asciende a la enorme suma de 1 600 millones de dólares, cantidad superior a la totalidad de nuestras exportaciones de 3 años; más grave aún es la situación de insolvencia si se toma en cuenta que la mayor parte del servicio de esa deuda corresponde a los 1979 y 1980, de tal forma que en el presente año ni con la totalidad de nuestras exportaciones podríamos satisfacer el servicio de esa deuda.
Agréguese a todo lo anterior la destrucción de gran parte de nuestros activos industriales, una pérdida significativa de nuestra infraestructura física y social, 80 000 heridos, 40 000 niños huérfanos y 1 000 000 de personal-iel 50% de nuestra población!-que requiere ayuda alimenticia hasta septiembre de 1980 en que hayamos tenido la oportunidad de recuperar nuestra producción agrícola. Todos esos daños se han venido a sumar a los enormes déficits sociales y económicos acumulados durante casi medio siglo de dictadura y los que corresponden a un país pequeño, subdesarrollado y dependiente.
Enorme es el reto que enfrentamos. Pero nuestra voluntad de vencerlo, templada en la dura guerra de liberación, es aun mayor. Lo que no podremos recuperar, lo irreemplazable y doloroso son los 40 000 muertos que representan el 1,5% de nuestra población. Para que se comprenda la magnitud dramática de esa cifra, anotemos que ese mismo porcentaje en un país como Italia hubiera representado 1 000 000 de muertos; en Brasil 1 785 000 muertos; en Indonesia 2 175 000 muertos; en Estados Unidos 3 285 000 muertos y en la Unión Soviética 3 945 000 muertos.
Pero esos muertos, que no podremos recuperar, serán inspiración para nosotros y las generaciones futuras en el esfuerzo de reconstrucción, transformación y desarrollo a que ya, desde ahora, estamos abocados.
En efecto, en menos de 4 meses, el Gobierno de Reconstrucción Nacional ha adoptado trascendentes medidas que tienden a liberarnos de los lazos de postración, dependencia e injusticia heredados de la dictadura, y que se orientan a conformar un nuevo modelo de desarrollo.
Hemos nacionalizado el comercio exterior para tener mayor control sobre nuestros costos de producción y para impedir que los frutos de nuestro trabajo se transfieran impunemente al extranjero.
Hemos nacionalizado el sistema financiero para democratizar el crédito y garantizar que el ahorro nacional revierta sobre el país impulsando su desarrollo.
Hemos recuperado para el pueblo los bienes que el somocismo acumulo a través del hurto y la corrupción. En base a esos bienes hemos creado una fuerte área social de la economía que nos permite un crecimiento más estable y ordenado, a la vez que constituye un efectivo instrumento de redistribución de la riqueza.
Hemos nacionalizado las minas de oro y plata que constituían un verdadero "enclave" en el corazón del país, y hemos recuperado la propiedad de las empresas que explotaban nuestros recursos marinos, las cuales eran un 90% propiedad de la familia Somoza.
Finalmente nos hemos empeñado en un revolucionario programa de reforma y desarrollo agrario que coloca a nuestro país en la vanguardia de la ejecución de los lineamientos trazados en la reciente Conferencia Mundial de la FAO sobre la Reforma Agraria, y que satisface la más profunda e histórica reivindicación de la gran mayoría de nuestra población, que es rural. Pero nuestra perspectiva del problema agrario no es simplemente reivindicativa, sino también de desarrollo, porque estamos convencidos de que no podremos incrementar el excedente económico destinado a la acumulación, impulsar el desarrollo, distribuir justamente la riqueza y aumentar el bienestar de toda nuestra población si no es a través de una profunda y revolucionaria reforma agraria. Esperamos con ella, a corto plazo, superar los problemas básicos de alimentación y vencer el hambre; sólo así cumpliremos con el compromiso de ser miembros de este Organismo.
A la vez que estamos transformando las estructuras básicas de nuestra sociedad estamos eliminando las aristas más pronunciadas de la injusticia social. Es así que en Marzo de 1980 iniciamos la Cruzada Nacional de Alfabetización que sin duda asestará un golpe mortal al analfabetismo haciendo reducir su índice a un mínimo nivel.
como nuestra preocupación es TODO el hombre, hemos sorprendido al mundo con el espíritu y práctica humanista de nuestra revolución; no ha habido en Nicaragua ejecuciones, hemos promulgado un estatuto de garantías que tutela efectivamente la vigencia de los derechos humanos; hemos emitido una ley de prensa que puede contarse entre las más modernas, democrática y funcionales del mundo; hemos dado plenas facilidades para la organización sindical y política y estamos estimulando a los empresarios que deseen hacer una contribución patriótica al desarrollo nacional incrementado la producción.
para que nada de lo anterior resulte una concesión burocrática o paternalista hemos promovido la más amplia organización de nuestro obreros, campesinos, jóvenes y mujeres, para que sea nuestro pueblo organizado, el autor de su propia historia. Y a esa historia agradecerán nuestras generaciones el haberle permitido aceptar esta responsabilidad.
Reconstruir, transformar, crecer y distribuir, constituyen el eje de nuestro programa de desarrollo. Pero nuestro esfuerzo requiere ser fortalecido con la ayuda y cooperación de la comunidad internacional. Así lo consignó el Sistema Económico Latinoamericano (SELA) en su reunión de julio pasado habiendo emitido una resolución incitando a la comunidad internacional a movilizar la más amplia solidariedad económica con Nicaragua.
Esos llamamientos a la solidaridad internacional con Nicaragua fueron posteriormente ratificados en la declaración final de la Sexta Cumbre del Movimiento de Países no Alineados celebrada en La Habana, en la Sesión Plenaria de la Comisión Económica para América Latina de las Naciones Unidas (CEPAL), realizada en Nueva York en Septiembre, y más recientemente, el 25 de Octubre, por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas.
Necesitamos ayuda de emergencia, alimenticia y médica, para el primer semestre de 1980 en que se manifestarán con mayor dureza las consecuencias de la interrupción durante 1979 del ciclo productivo agrícola.
Necesitamos ayuda financiera para superar nuestra situación de insolvencia. No es posible que recaiga sobre los hombros de nuestros pueblo y nuestra revolución toda la carga de una enorme deuda contraída por la dictadura en condiciones y plazos incompatibles con nuestras posibilidades de pago, y que fue administrada corrupta e ineficientemente ante la mirada complaciente de todos nuestros acreedores.
Necesitamos cooperación técnica que nos ayude a identificar y ejecutar proyectos de desarrollo que respondan al carácter popular e independiente de nuestra revolución.
Permítanme Señor Presidente y Señores Delegados, que aprovechemos esta oportunidad para repetir a la Comunidad Internacional nuestra llamada a la solidaridad con nuestro pueblo.
Estamos muy agradecidos con la oportuna y significativa ayuda que FAO y el Programa Mundial de Alimentos nos han prestado desde el triunfo de nuestra revolución, y queremos manifestar a la Organización, a través de su Director General, que nuestro gobierno espera que con prontitud se canalicen los recursos y la asistencia técnica necesarios para ejecutar los proyectos que la reciente Misión de FAO ha identificado y formulado.
No nos sentiremos totalmente libres mientras no hayamos derrotado a la pobreza, mientras el hambre, la desnutrición, las enfermedades endémicas continúen abatiendo a nuestra población. En ese sentido consideramos que hay un compromiso recíproco entre nuestro esfuerzo y la ayuda internacional. También en ese sentido sigue siendo válida nuestra consignade lucha: Patria Libre o Morir!
J. ITADI (Congo): Permettez-moi de présenter, en mon nom personnel et en celui de mon pays, la République Populaire du Congo, nos voeux de plein succès à cette 20ème session de la Conférence de la FAO.
Cette session de notre Organisation se tient à un moment particulièrement révélateur, correspondant à la deuxième décennie de développement des Nations Unies; décennie qui se solde par une situation agricole et alimentaire mondiale alarmante. Ceci est particulièrement grave dans les pays en développement où, malgré des tentatives d'augmentation de la production, les disponibilités alimentaires et énergétiques restent inférieures aux besoins réels.
Cette situation peut être imputable à un certain nombre de faits dont nous retiendrons quelques caractéristiques à titre d'illustration:
Bon nombre de pays en développement-et c'est le cas du Congo-n'ont pas toujours pu satisfaire leurs besoins en inputs nécessaires à l'augmentation de la production agricole (engrais, pesticides, machines agricoles, etc. ). Il se pose toujours avec acuité la question de la réduction des pertes après récolte qui, dans mon pays, se traduisent toujours par un manque à gagner de plus de 50 pour cent de la production obtenue.
Il est, dans ces conditions, difficiles de parler de réserves en vue de la sécurité alimentaire. La croissance de la production mondiale de poisson a stagné voire s'est dégradée. L'objectif de 10 millions de tonnes en vue de l'aide alimentaire n'a toujours pas été atteint. Le problème d'accès au crédit reste d'actualité dans les pays où l'accumulation ou l'épargne interne aussi bien en milieu paysan qu'au niveau de la nation entière se pose chaque jour. Cette pénurie ou cette modicité des moyens de financement n'est pas sans rapport avec la persistance des caractéristiques énoncées plus haut.
Dans le domaine forestier, bien que la première moitié de la décennie ait été caractérisée par une croissance rapide de la production et de la consommation des produits forestiers favorisant ainsi une
forte expansion de l'économie mondiale, d'une manière globale la chute des cours des années 73-74 a porté un coup fatal à la production forestière de nos pays, diminuant ainsi les espoirs d'une relance économique basée sur la production forestière jouant ou devant jouer le rôle de secteur d'accumulation. Cette crise du bois n'a pas été sans effet sur la production forestière au Congo, qui a entraîné de ce fait une baisse de plus de 50 pour cent de notre production, baisse qui a également entraîné une diminution sans équivalent des revenus forestiers du pays.
Cette situation globale confirme qu'il est nécessaire de tendre à la réalisation des objectifs non atteints de la décennie du développement pour et dans le cadre du nouvel ordre international.
La situation du Congo nous l'avons dit est restée dans bien des cas semblable à celle de bon nombre de pays en développement de la zone tropicale. C'est pourquoi à l'occasion de son 3ème Congrès Extraordinaire, le Parti Congolais du travail a adopté une stratégie alternative au modèle colonial, stratégie autocentrée et autodynamique dans laquelle l'Agriculture, joue le rôle de base de développement. C'est ce qui explique qu'à l'occasion du programme annuel 1980 déjà, l'Agriculture et la Forêt, en somme l'Economie rurale viennent au Premier plan des priorités de financement dans notre pays.
Déjà la traduction dans les faits de cette stratégie par la mise en place des structures spécialisées par spéculation ou groupe de spéculations, structures intervenant depuis l'apport d'inputs agricoles, la vulgarisation des Techniques, le conditionnement, le contrôle, la collecte et la commercialisation des produits: de même la mise en oeuvre du redressement des entreprises agricoles et forestières d'Etat s'est traduite par une augmentation globable de la production de près de 50 pour cent pour l'ensemble des produits par rapport à l'année dernière.
La mise en oeuvre des programmes de pêche, l'institution du crédit agricole, le développement d'un programme de lutte contre les pertes après récolte, le lancement des programmes vivriers ainsi que le maintien des pistes agricoles avec l'appui de la FAO, du FIDA, de la BAD et de la Banque Mondiale et du PNUD, s'ils sont réalisés dans des délais raisonnables peuvent augurer des perspectives intéressantes dans le cadre de la résolution du problème agricole et alimentaire au Congo.
Cette façon de voir combinant l'effort interne avec la coopération internationale bilatérale ou multilatérale justifie et explique tout l'intérêt et tous les souhaits que la République Populaire du Congo en mon nom porte à la réussite de cette 20ème session. Session qui devra prendre toutes les mesures adéquates et urgentes pour que tous les peuples déshérites du monde qui ont droit à la subsistance, apprennent à vivre au lieu de continuer à survivre comme ils le font actuellement. C'est pourquoi, il nous apparaît absolument impérieux que les pays membres de la FAO se prononcent de manière optimiste et sans équivoque sur: la nécessité pour les pays développés d'accorder des facilités aux pays en développement en vue d'obtenir ou d'accéder aux inputs nécessaires; le développement de la coopération économique et technique entre pays en développement en matière d'agriculture devrait être instauré et l'intervention urgente, massive, profonde des institutions financières dans le cadre de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation,décidée.
Nous ne pouvons pas terminer ce propos sans vous féliciter, Monsieur le Président, de votre élection à la Présidence de notre Conférence. Nos félicitations vont également au Directeur Général de la FAO, M. Edouard SAOUMA, homme compétent et dynamique qui fait chaque jour de la FAO un des meilleurs instruments de combat contre la malnutrition et la faim ainsi que dans la lutte pour le développement.
J. T. KASANTAROENO (Suriname): Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Permit me Mr. Chairman to congratulate you on your election.
A lot of hard work still lies ahead of us, but I am sure that under your able guidance and that of the Chairmen of the Commissions, positive results will be obtained, which we hope will lead to the production of more food, and help us in our fight against hunger.
I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to welcome the two new members, the Commonwealth of Dominica and Samoa.
For this increasingly complex world faced with difficulties like population explosion, inflation, energy, pollution and nutritional problems, it is impossible to present ready-made solutions. Because of this situation we should aim at a collective approach on a world level to reach acceptable solutions for the total world population.
Suriname became independent in 1975. Since then we have been in the process of finding our own way in the world society of peoples, primarily orientating ourselves in the region.
From the Government Statement for the period 1977-1981 I may quote: "The relations with foreign countries will continue to occupy an important place in the development policy. In the preceding period important contacts were established within the framework of multilateral assistance. In this connection mention can be made of: the United Nations; the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as the UN specialized organizations, in particular FAO and the UNDP; the European Community and the European Development Fund; the Organization of American States and the Inter American Development Bank".
It is the policy of my Government to continue and to stimulate these relations. We are guided by the principle of "Self-reliance" in the development cooperation, but we shall reserve the right and the liberty to adopt that model of development which, in our opinion, will make an actual contribution to the prosperity and welfare of the people of Suriname. Our prime objective is the achievement of national economic independence. Increase of the national production which is based on the development of our natural resources, in the sections of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, mining and energy production, is considered by my Government as an important means to prosperity for primarily satisfying the needs of the people in respect to employment, housing and food.
Self-activity as well as creativity and individual initiative however are necessary. In this respect the Government of Suriname will make arrangements for the full participation of the Surinamese women at all levels of our economic, social, cultural and political activities.
My Government is deeply concerned about the unabated arms race. The large amounts of money could have been utilized to fight hunger in the many countries where children and adults, as well as animals, are dying due to lack of food.
We have to take into consideration practical measures to speed up the production of more food for the hungry ones.
In the opinion of my Government undue delay is caused in the negotiating and decision-making process of among others the Buenos Aires Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries last year, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Manila, the recent Vienna Conference on Science and Technology, and of the many sessions of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.
I hope Mr. Chairman, that these remarks made on behalf of my Government will result in a demonstration of the political will of all nations present to execute what thas been said, agreed upon, and even promised during all these conferences.
Next to our fight against hunger we have the economic warfare between the rich and the poorer nations which threatens to descend upon us. My Government wonders whether the United Nations and its subsidiary and affiliated bodies will manage to survive as a political instrument for regulating meaningful and just international economic relations.
Past and present negotiations between the developed and the developing countries have spelt a succession of serious disappointments, owing to the fact that they failed to arrive at tangible and just solutions and at the establishment of a New International Economic Order. It is a fact that the future of the vast majority of developing nations is now largely decided by the industrialized powers, and the oil-producing states. There should be no attempt to hide this incontrovertible fact.
One of the essential objectives of the New International Economic Order, initiated by the Non-Aligned Movement at its 1973 Summit in Algiers, was to strive for rapid growth in developing countries so the latter would win full, equal and effective participation in solving their international economic problems. The past five years have been marked by the efforts to reduce the one-sided dependence of developing countries on the overall interests of the industrialized countries and to accelerate their development on the basis of collective, as well as individual self-reliance. However it is a matter of deep concern that so many expectations of developing countries, and commitments made by some industrialized countries, are as yet still not fulfilled. Official development assistance and other long-term aidflow have failed to expand adequately.
I should like to place some marginal notes and make some suggestions in relation to this New Economic Order. It is supposed to be known that five relevant factors play an important role.
1. Raw materials
Because of the lack of an efficient organization on a world and regional level, which among others protects agriculture, unwanted price fluctuations take place. As agriculture generally forms the most important production sector in the developing nations, price fluctuations are often disastrous for these countries.
We should strive for the introduction of the index system, in order to reach stable prices and to avoid unwanted price fluctuations.
2. Access to markets
In the past it was customary that products, which were competitive for developing nations, were taken from the list which allows free access of goods to markets of the developed nations. I wish to plead that in the future this policy is abandoned. In this respect my delegation refers to both the statement by the Director-General concerning the need to reduce protectionism, and the draft resolution in document C 79/LIM/19 on Commodity Trade, Protectionism and Agricultural Adjustment.
3. Assistance
The aid which developing nations receive is barely enough to keep the ordinary offices going. I may appeal that this aid is brought to an adequate level.
4. International Organizations
We plead also for a better representation of developing nations in International Organizations.
5. Transfer of technology
Last but not least, the transfer of technology plays an important role in the International Economic Order.
I may assure you, that based on hard facts, obtaining transfer of technology at reasonable prices is referred by us to the realm of fancy. It is distressing to note that exactly the shortage of organizing and managerial capacity on the developing countries causes us to end up in a vicious circle, because this expertise is not as yet available to the developing nations at affordable prices.
May I plead that our organization, the FAO, makes a contribution in this field, by bringing together this expertise, and places it at reasonable rates at the disposal of the developing nations, which cannot do without it in their-development.
The realization of the points mentioned above in our opinion is a condition sine qua non, in order to reach an acceptable level of existence in the world. World society has in our opinion a right to this.
It is clear that no individual country but a uniting of forces can lead to a socially acceptable level of existence. We must stress the point that only an open and honest approach to these problems, together with the political will to bring actual solutions, can give comfort in the rapids of problems in which world society has arrived.
Based on the notion that the factor man or humanity should be our line of action in fighting our problems on a local, national, regional as well as international level, my Government should like to emphasize the principle of "Social Economic Order". By constantly taking into account the social aspect, the idea of the Economic Order shall obtain a wider dimension.
It seems useful to state: "Nothing makes a country so vulnerable as being dependent on other countries with regard to her basic food supply".
Elaborating on this thesis, the question arises how we should line up to mitigate this vulnerability. We are convinced that only a world organization with far-reaching powers and an adequate planning apparatus, can alleviate this constraint. However, instructions need to be given to the countries that produce basic foods, indicating which country should produce what, how much and when. Of course, comparative cost advantages and other constraints should be considered with these instructions.
I can vividly imagine that some may think that I am engaged in a Utopia. But I assure you that I mean every word I said.
Concerning our contribution, I may state that Suriname offers possibilities for the realization of rice cultivation on an acreage of at least 250,000 hectares, of which presently only 50,000 hectares are in production. Furthermore, from experience gained and data obtained, it has become evident that our country is well suited for the cultivation of African oilpalm. Careful estimates indicate areas of at least 100,000 hectares. Other possibilities include cattle raising and the production of fish.
The problems with which we are confronted are a small population and a relatively small capacity of implementation. This relatively small capacity of implementation is especially due to a insufficient schooled and skilled labour supply, and a lack of organizational and managerial staff. With might and main this is tackled and we hope to deliver a greater contribution to the production of food for world society.
Our prime objective is the achievement of national economic independence. As a result, in 1977 a "Long-term Integrated Agricultural Development Plan" based on the following objectives was drawn up by my Ministry: full fledged employment, increase of incomes up to an acceptable minimum, justifiable distribution of incomes, favourable arrangements for production means, credits, marketing and services, production for local consumption at reasonable prices for the consumer and reasonable recompense for the producer, import substitutions and increase of export, diversification and regional distribution of production, improvement of living conditions in rural areas, promotion of self-activity and participation of the agrarian population, adequate land policy aimed at a rational and justifiable utilization of the soil, water and natural resources.
This Plan is a reflection of the position of the agricultural sector in the overall socio-economic development.
Suriname continues to execute several agricultural development projects, and once these projects are realized, the supply of sufficient irrigation water for agricultural crops will be ensured, resulting in the production of more food. As an example recently in a new area, in the eastern part of Suriname, the first crop of rice from a new development project was harvested. Before the end of the year, the area of this project shall be quadruplicated.
A balanced land policy aimed at the promotion of mechanized agricultural enterprises, as well as small-scale agriculture, will imply, among others, the adoption of strict measures to guarantee a justifiable allocation and utilization of arable land.
Due to the fact that an efficient marketing system is lacking, the farmer most of the time is not guaranteed security of marketing his produce at reasonable prices including at least the cost of production and a minimum reward for his labour. He however will invariably try to play it safe with regard to his production in order to minimize his risks as much as possible. The present high consumer
prices which are rather to the benefit of the middlemen and retailers, than to the benefit of the of the producers, call for an improvement of the structure of marketing and distribution and for the promotion of the processing of agrarian products.
This would result in: reduction of the cost of living, a better income for the farmers, an increase of agricultural production and, in this connection, an efficient and effective policy of import substitution and export promotion, increased employment, the possibility of fixing a guaranteed price for certain crops. Extension of the credit facilities for the development of agriculture will be a necessity.
With the extension of our territorial waters and the establishment of an exclusive economic zone, our potential of natural resources is increased. Within the framework of our natural resources policy, our fishery policy will consequently be aimed at a rational exploitation and management of these resources. This not only means a source of income but also a source of cheap animal proteins to supplement the diets of our people and that of people in other countries. My country welcomes assistance in exploring and exploiting its marine resources.
Technical and economic cooperation is a must. However, quite frequently before cooperation is given, economic as well as technical data are requested by donor countries. By the time these data are collected, the prices of material and machines have increased, and quite often the collecting of data has taken such a long time, that these are not longer of much value. What we need from the developed countries is justified fast action and technicians with practical knowledge that can help us with the geared development of our agricultural sector.
We are exporting large quantities of cargo rice to EEC markets. Processed rice from ACP countries imported into the Community however has a 50% levy. Shipping of cargo rice means that by-products such as vitamins, rice oil and ingredients for animal feeds are exported with the unprocessed product. If the rice can be processed before export to EEC markets, and the 50% levy is abolished, this would mean extra income for the rice-producing ACP States.
During the LOME II Conference which was held last October in Togo, the request of the Surinamese Government supported by the ACP States for preferential access for its exports of processed rice to the Community was reviewed.
It was agreed to undertake as early as possible after the coming into force of the new convention a joint examination of the real difficulties and obstacles impeding the commercialization of processed rice, originating in certain ACP States to the EEC market, with a view to the implementation of specific measures to promote or increase the production and exportation of this product.
Suriname has the land, but we need more than that: a good omen, Mr. Chairman, but we are not yet where we want to be, namely the production of more and better food.
If properly developed and financed, my delegation hopes the Suriname can be: 1. the rice suppliers for South America and the Caribbean area, 2. producers of large quantities of fish and fish products, 3. producers of large quantities of beef, due to the fact that our country is free from hoof-and-mouth disease as well as other dangerous cattle diseases.
I sincerely hope that all attending this 20th Session of the FAO conference will be able to put their hands to the plough and step up the fight against hunger.
The Republic of Suriname is willing to absorb a number of refugees, and Parliament adopted a resolution to that effect. We are now drawing up the necessary plans and even though we are a small country with limited facilities and funds, we are convinced that this small contribution will relieve the suffering of some human beings. We will sincerely try to give them hope, a new future and above all a good home.
In conclusion I should like to make an appeal to the energy-suppliers and the consumers. Let us both try soberness. The world's raw materials are not only for us living today, let us be economical with these commodities.
The coming generation will judge us Let their judgement not be negative !
M. DA GRACA MACHUNGO (Mozambique) (interpretation from Portuguese): Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, Your Excellencies: First of all allow us, honourable Delegates, to congratulate His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture of Spain for having been elected the President of the 20th Session of the FAO Conference. Through you we greet the Government of Spain. Between your Government and the Government of the People's Republic of Mozambique exist friendly diplomatic relations which are a basis for the development of a great cooperation of mutual advantage.
The admission of the Republic of Samoa and of the Republic of Dominica to FAO is a reason for jubilation by all the international community and we want to take this opportunity to express our support and solidarity.
We would like on this occasion to congratulate the Director-General of FAO for the manner in which he has directed this Organization, in contributing to the solution of problems of food and agriculture in our developing countries and those of our peoples. Having an origin of a country and people who know the stigma of under-development, your Excellency who has shown firmness and courage in the direction of this Organization, is for us an assurance that FAO will more and more represent the preoccupation of the poor countries. We are pleased with the consequent proposals and programmes presented which reflect its just interest to promote world agricultural development, with particular reference to those countries which are still suffering from the vestiges of colonialism and imperialistic domination and exploitation.
The programmes of action presented, may appear to some to be ambitious and highly demanding, but in reality constitute a possible alternative to the solution of one of the worst misfortunes which afflicts today's humanity: hunger and misery.
A few months ago, when the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development took place in this very room, we realised how big was the task we have to face.
If we examine the final resolutions of that Conference, we feel that, besides the individual responsibilities expressed in the interventions and debates by each of our countries, there exists, as an open wound, the problem of the gap which separates rich and poor countries. The preoccupation persists that although great efforts have been achieved by some developing countries to promote growth of agrosilvicultural production it is still insufficient to satisfy the needs of an ever--increasing domestic demand; in many of our countries the nutritional situation of populations continues to deteriorate. The policy made by some imperialistic countries to decrease food production, the manipulation of prices of products and of means of production, is a weapon, in conjunction with manoeuvres of blackmail and intimidation, which has the objective of making underdeveloped countries vulnerable and dependent on capitalistic metropoles. It is, thus, easy for us to understand the reluctance of some developed capitalistic countries for the establishment of a New International Economic Order, the only way which will truly lead to the establishment of just economic relations between Nations, to the liberation of the great potentialities existing in our countries for the benefit of our peoples, to the elimination on a world scale of inequality between Nations and the abolition of hunger and misery.
We believe that the ideas formulated in the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development are still fresh in our memories. We surely remember the content of the Declaration of Principles and the Programme of Action which was considered by many as the Charter of the Poor Peasants.
We are pleased that in this 20th FAO Conference we see on the agenda a proposal for a programme of action to implement the decisions of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development.
In analysing with great attention the supporting documents of this 20th Session of the Conference we see the effort of the Secretariat systematizing the great volume of collected information, and we appreciate the effort in presenting the main preoccupations of developing countries.
What do we foresee in these documents?
- Hunger and misery are mainly localized in underdeveloped countries despite the enormous potentialities which they possess;
- The fight to do away with underdevelopment has been facing enormous obstacles due to the persistent action of imperialistic countries in maintaining and even aggravating today's world economic system.
This action is made worse by different forms of imperialistic threats, including military aggression with the point of view to impose backward political and economic systems, and by organized action divide developing countries preventing cooperation amongst them.
- Developing countries see their economic situation worsening by constant worsening of international terms of trade, namely with respect to agricultural products.
Actually, according to available information the transfers by developing countries in payment of know-hows, patents, licenses go up to an annual average of US $1 500 millions. It is expected that this figure will reach an amount of more than US $9 000 millions in 1980, which will represent more than 15% of the incomes from the exports by developing countries.
The external debt of developing countries reached a value of more than US $300 000 millions in 1973 which, due to unfavourable financial terms gave rise to a drainage of resources for the payment of the debt in an annual value which increases at a higher rhythm than the incomes from exports. Only in 1977 developing countries spent about 21% of their annual exports for payment of costs incurred due to the accumulation of their external debt.
The international economic crisis which we are now experiencing is a consequence of structural imbalance of the world capitalistic system. If this crisis is not solved by taking measures of complete restructuring of international economic relations within the framework of the New International Economic Order we shall see in our countries an increasing deficit in the balance of payments and in the external debt, and with this the worsening of unemployment, hunger and misery.
It is necessary to respect the right of the peoples to choose their own way of social and economic development.
It is necessary to establish a climate of non-economic blockade imposed to some of our countries by the simple fact that the peoples have opted for a political, economic and social system in which there is no place for exploitation of man by man.
It is imperative that the peoples have freedom to promote the cooperation within the framework of economic complementarity to advance with their development.
Our agricultural development is based above all on the organization and mobilization of the peasants and agricultural workers, on increasing their scientific and technical knowledge.
To achieve these objectives and based on the state enterprise and cooperative we built Communal Villages that in the social, political and economic plan constitute centres of integrated rural development, nuclei of the future cities in the rural areas.
The establishment of a planned economy in the People's Republic of Mozambique will allow a harmonious development of all economic sectors.
Our plan foresees the transformation of our backward agriculture into a developed one able to produce the needed products to satisfy the food requirements of our People and to create surplus resources either for the building of food reserves and/or for exportation.
In our country it is our view that the establishment of a developed agriculture will only be realized with the establishment of an industrial sector whenever it is of economic advantage within the framework of the international division of work and whenever it is able to supply agriculture with the equipments and other adequate means of production.
Since we started from a colonial situation of utmost backwardness our agro-silvicultural development is based on the combination of small-and large-scale projects and on the mobilization of all our efforts.
The implementation of each one of these projects requires both small and huge investments.
Within this framework we reaffirm our determination to develop economic cooperation with all countries based on the principles of mutual advantages and non-interference in internal affairs. In this regard, allow us to quote a recent speech by Samora Moises Machel, President of the People's Republic of Mozambiques
"There are in our region countries with different social systems. It is our responsibility as a socialistic country the defense of Peace, of peaceful coexistence, disarmament and of relations of good neighbourhood between countries with different and even opposed social systems. The People's Republic of Mozambique as a socialistic country has the flag of peace and cooperation amongst the peoples always well hoisted which simultaneously is the flag of solidarity in regard to the just struggle of the oppressed peoples.
We are open to develop economic and trade relations with all countries irrespective of their social systems. We are open to mutual advantage and cooperation with enterprises of other countries. A socialistic country we are not afraid to cooperate with private enterprises of other countries. Within the scope of the state and mixed enterprises it is possible to find mutual advantage for all partners. We need technology, we need financial resources. We possess resources, capability to work, organization and geographic position. We are above all conscious of what we want and how we want it. "
Still in the framework of our economic development, which is one of the items of the agenda of this Conference, we wish to refer to the question of Exclusive Economic Zones.
The Exclusive Economic Zone is a victory of developing countries. It is in its consolidation that we find the main means to develop the adequate economic complementarity amongst those countries possessing different natural resources.
We hope that this Conference will reaffirm the inalienable right of our peoples which constitutes one of the pillars for the establishment of the New International Economic Order.
We have already said that the building of a world without hunger or misery requires peace.
The People of Mozambique love Peace. We fought for ten years the Portuguese colonialism in order to establish peace in our country and create conditions for presperity.
As Portuguese colonialism was defeated we initiated the mobilization of all our forces and potentialities to reconstruct our country destroyed by the war of aggression, by pillage and colonial exploitation. With our effort and our determination we contribute to the solution of the problems of hunger, to the solution of those questions which are the subject of our debate in this session.
But our experience has also taught us that when the peoples are determined to uproot misery which are the capitalistic and colonial exploitations, they have to face all forms of subversion and armed aggression.
In effect, we experience in our country, since our Independence, manoeuvres of economic sabotage which are aimed at destabilizing our State and at creating chaos and misery.
Since our People, directed and mobilized by our Vanguard Party-FHELIMO-knew how to fight and neutralize all manoeuvres of sabotage, imperialism did not hesitate to launch armed aggressions aimed at economic targets, destroying granaries, irrigation canals, agricultural cooperatives, bridges, railway lines, and massacring defenceless workers men, women and children.
We can conclude that the fight is within our homes, in the homes of all those peoples who suffered and are still suffering the effects of colonial domination and neo--colonialism, racism, apartheid and sionism.
The People's Republic of Mozambique has already had the opportunity to express several times to the international community her strategy for development.
We refuse to be the eternal suppliers of raw materials and to accept the continuation of the old colonial pact under any new form.
We refuse to participate in a subordinate position in the international division of work, to pay increasingly more for the manufactured products we buy, and to sell every time cheaper the efforts of our work.
We refuse to be the new centres of marginal and polluting industries.
Our experience, as well as that of other peoples of the world taught us that where there is exploitation and oppression there is misery and hunger; our experience of today shows that where there is colonialism neo-colonialism, racism and sionism there is unemployment, hunger and misery.
The liberated areas in our country during the War of National Liberation taught us that only the establishment of new relations of production based on collective property and work will allow the true development of the society and thus the true freedom of the large masses of workers and of the peasants in particular.
With the defeat of Portuguese colonialism and the proclamation of the People's Republic of Mozambique on 25th June 1975 we created conditions for the construction of a society of progress and peace of a country where there will never be a place for exploitation of man by man.
To materialize this goal we decided by our own will and based on scientific principles proved by our experience, and by many other countries to build Socialism in our country.
Therefore we decided that the decade 1980/90 should be the deoade of radical transformation of our country, the decade of elimination of underdevelopment.
In accordance with the decisions of the Third Congress of our Party, agriculture is the base of our development and industry, its dynamizing factor and heavy industry being the decisive factor.
This position is based on scientific analysis of our reality and it aims at permanent improvement of the welfare of the working classes, the creators of riches and the makers of history.
Actually, what threat can there be to a poor country like ours, a country which proclaimed her Independence with more than 90% of illiteracy and about 80% of the people depending on agriculture? What threat can the People's Republic of Mozambique be to the so-called Free World to be so cruelly bombed? What threat do we constitute?
We are not potent. We are just poor people working, so that we no more suffer from hunger; industrious so that our children grow in happiness, working to have schools, hospitals, doctors, nurseries, medical care and that we do not die before the age of 35.
And because we want to be like this, free men, a free and prosperous Nation, we are attacked. It is because we want future generations to live in prosperity and happiness, our children are assassinated so as to remove from their memories the happiness that we now already have. We are attacked because we spread education to all children, health services are in the hands of the People and the working people live in houses; we are attacked because the peasants are developing their cooperatives; we are attacked because our People are the owners of their destiny; because in our legislative assemblies workers, peasants, women, students and revolutionary intellectuals are elected members.
We greet those Governments and Peoples which support us. We greet national and international organizations and the international community which have given us assistance during emergency situations to face the consequences of aggression in the Sahara as well as in Eastern Timor, in Zimbabwe as well as in Namibia, in Chile as well as in Palestine, the peoples are fighting for their liberty. The peoples are fighting to institute peace; the peoples are massacred because they refuse to die under exploitation and misery.
We wish to reaffirm our undefeatable support to these countries and to all the peoples which are still fighting for their freedom.
The question of peace is already a preoccupation of all of us. The war, the arras race constitute one of those serious obstacles towards the solution of the problems of hunger which we are now dealing with.
We all know that the annual expenditure in the production of war material consume fantastic sums which almost amount to US$400,000 millions annually.
If we realize that to reach the goal of increasing agricultural production at the annual rate of almost 4$ in the year 2000 as suggested by FAO an investment in the order of US$100,000 millions will be required which represents only 25% of the annual expenditures in armaments we can conclude how urgent it is to find pratical solutions.
In this context we salute the peace efforts initiated by the USSR and all socialistic countries in the hope that the steps made by the signing of SALT II will be followed by other solutions and actions along these lines.
Elimination of hunger and misery is within the reach of all of us.
J. MAGRONDJI (République centrafricaine): Je voudrais d'abord, au nom de la délégation centrafricaine, me joindre à ceux qui m'ont précédé à cette tribune pour vous féliciter, Monsieur le Président, de votre brillante élection à la tête de cette importante session de la Conférence biennale de la FAO. Mes félicitations s'adressent également aux autres membres du bureau de la Conférence qui ont été élus pour vous seconder dans votre importante tâche. La clairvoyance avec laquelle vous dirigez les débats depuis le début de la Conférence montre que vous réussirez dans cette tâche.
Qu'il me soit permis de saluer vivement l'entrée dans notre Organisation de la Dominique et du Samoa.
C'est avec beaucoup d'intérêt que je prends la parole devant ces assises, au nom du Gouvernement de salut public, pour annoncer à l'assistance la joie et la détermination que le peuple africain éprouve d'avoir retrouvé la République après 14 ans du traumatisme dans lequel il était plongé. Pendant cette longue période difficile à oublier pour un Centrairicain, non seulement les droits élémentaires de l'homme ont été bafoués, mais aussi le pays a été conduit à une faillite économique et a été plongé dans un marasme total dont il faudra plusieurs années d'efforts soutenus pour l'en sortir.
En effet, ces 14 années ont été marquées par une exploitation anarchique de toutes les ressources humaines, naturelles et industrielles de notre pays. Il s'en est suivi des conséquences importantes sur le plan du développement rural. Alors que les potentialités économiques de notre pays peuvent garantir un développement relativement facile, en particulier nos ressources naturelles qui peuvent nous permettre de dégager des excédents commerciaux et budgétaires, nous nous trouvons actuellement, après cette sombre et longue période de régime anarchique, confrontés aux réalités suivantes.
D'une façon générale, le taux de croissance économique réel a été de 2,2 pour cent en moyenne annuelle comparativement au taux de croissance démographique qui, lui est de 2,5 pour cent par an. Ce qui revient à dire que l'approvisionnement de chaque Centrafricain en biens de première nécessité s'est régulièrement dégradé au cours des dernières années. Au cours de cette même période, la production agricole n'a augmenté que de 1,5 pour cent en moyenne par an, ce qui, comparé à la progression démographique, nous oblige à constater que la production agricole par habitant a diminé de 13 pour cent au bout de quatorze ans.
Cette faible production résulte de causes multiples telles que : le faible encadrement du monde rural, le manque de matériel permettant aux agriculteurs d'exploiter de grandes superficies, un exode rural de plus en plus accentué rendant la population vieille et peu dynamique, la dégration du réseau routier rendant difficile la circulation pour la collecte de produits agricoles, les intrants agricoles devenant de plus en plus rares compte tenu de leur coût de plus en plus élevé, rendant difficile une bonne protection phytosanitaire.
Dans le domaine de l'élevage, bien que le taux de reproduction du bétail soit satisfaisant grâce à des efforts appréciables dans le maintien d'une bonne couverture sanitaire avec l'appui des aides multilatérales, la commercialisation du bétail a été marquée par une très forte augmentation du prix du bétail vif suite à une demande de plus en plus croissante. La viande bovine, principale source de protéine animale, très appréciée par la population centrafricaine, tend à devenir inaccessible à cause de cette hausse spectaculaire de prix.
Dans le domaine de la forêt, l'une des plus importantes ressources naturelles de la Républioue centrafricaine, l'exploitation s'est faite d'une façon désordonnée, sans programme précis de reboisement.
Dans le domaine de la faune. sur les 623 000 km2 one couvre la République centrafricaine, 57 000 Km2 sont réservés à la protection de la faune, dont 32 000 sont à l'état de parc national. En plus, 130 000 Km2 sont divisés en secteurs de chasse comprenant l'une des plus grandes concentrations d'éléphants gros porteurs et l'une des plus grandes concentrations de rhinocéros noirs en Afrique. Cependant, depuis 1977, le braconnage s'intensifie de plus en plus, pouvant entraîner la disparition dans les prochaines années des espèces rares d'animaux sauvages qu'on rencontre en République centrafricaine. L'attention peut être attirée pour drainer des moyens nécessaires à la protection de cette importante ressource naturelle.
Telle est, ainsi brièvement esquissée, l'image de notre pays après 14 ans d'aventure, d'exploitation sauvage, désordonnée et anarchique, de nos principales ressources naturelles.
Depuis l'avènement de la deuxième République, le Gouvernement de salut public s'attelle à l'oeuvre de redressement de l'économie nationale. Pour y arriver, il faut d'abord compter sur la force de travail de tous les Centrafricains, sans laquelle aucun programme de redressement ne peut être possible. Pour appuyer cette force nationale, nous devons aussi compter sur les aides extérieures, aussi bien multilatérales que bilatérales.
Ce programme biennal de redressement qui couvrira les années 1980 et 1981 vise un double objectif.
Premièrement, amorcer et consolider la relance économique. Deuxièmement, assainir les finances publiques et mobiliser des ressources financières en vue d'actions à court et moyen terme.
Comme l'avait souligné Son Excellence David Dacko, Président de la République, dans son discours programme du 24 octobre 1979 : "La relance économique, nous en sommes convaincus, ne se fera que grâce au développement des secteurs productifs de notre économie et, pour la courte période choisie, la priorité sera donnée à l'agriculture au sens large. C'est bien ce secteur qui constitue la richesse potentielle du pays, c'est donc sur lui qu'il faut s'appuyer afin d'assurer à la population toute entière la nourriture dont elle a besoin, d'assurer à la masse rurale qui représente plus de 80 pour cent de la population totale des revenus substantiels et de dégager en faveur de l'Etat des sources d'autofinancement qui seront par la suite utilisées pour développer les autres secteurs de l'économie. "
Pour y arriver, il est indispensable de rapprocher les structures du développement rural auprès du paysan lui-même, grâce à une politique de décentralisation des organes d'encadrement agricole, pour
une large participation des ruraux aux prises de décisions qui les concernent, et d'aborder tous les aspects de la vie rurale dans une optique de développement rural intégré.
A court et moyen terme, et dans le cadre du programme de relance, il est nécessaire de fournir massivement des intrants agricoles aux paysans et organismes nationaux de production comme les coopératives agricoles, de sensibiliser les populations sur le développement des cultures vivrières et autres adaptées aux différentes zones écologiques du pays et de garantir aux producteurs des prix d'achat minimum acceptables.
La couverture sanitaire en faveur du cheptel bovin doit se maintenir et s'intensifier.
Dans le domaine alimentaire, la République centrafricaine est confrontée aux problèmes d'auto-suffisance; de même, l'apport protéinique provenant de l'élevage ne suffit pas pour couvrir les besoins. C'est dans le but d'une certaine complémentarité que des efforts particuliers doivent se porter sur le développement de la pisciculture et, en particulier, la vulgarisation piscicole auprès des paysans.
C'est pour cette raison que nous soutenons le point du programme d'action présenté par le Directeur général de la FAO concernant le développement de la pisciculture et tendant à aider les pays membres à gérer, à exploiter et à utiliser efficacement leurs ressources halieutiques, tant dans les eaux marines que dans les eaux intérieures.
Nous ne pouvons parler de relance économique du secteur primaire sans accorder une attention particulière à nos forêts et faune pour lesquelles nous devons veiller à une exploitation rationnelle en proscrivant une action désordonnée, de façon à concilier nos besoins immédiats et les préoccu-pations futures qui sont de garantir aux générations de demain un patrimoine forestier et faunique en quantité et qualité suffisantes.
Cependant, ces efforts en faveur du développement rural seraient vains si, en même temps, l'épineux problème de commercialisation conditionné par l'état des voies d'accès n'est pas résolu, le pays se trouvant dans une douloureuse situation de double enclavement, tant intérieur que vis-à-vis de l'extérieur. Il est donc nécessaire de s'atteler immédiatement à la mise en état et à l'entretien de notre important réseau routier.
Vous comprendrez que la réalisation d'un programme aussi vaste nécessite non seulement la mobilisation du potentiel de nos ressources nationales disponibles, mais aussi une aide accrue des organismes d'aide bilatérale et multilatérale.
A ce propos, nous tenons à être reconnaissants à l'égard de plusieurs organismes qui ont commencé à nous appuyer dans nos efforts de développement tels que la Banque mondiale, et précisément l'IDA, qui a pu entraîner dans sa lancée le FIDA, la Banque africaine de développement, de même que le PNUD, le Fonds européen de développement de l'élevage, le Ponds d'aide et de coopération français pour l'encadrement des paysans de la culture du coton, de même que la République fédérale d'Allemagne pour le développement rural intégré d'une préfecture agricole de notre pays.
C'est à ce titre que nous apprécions à sa juste valeur le programme de travail et de budget du prochain biennum que nous a présenté le Directeur général de la FAO; la délégation centrafricaine tient à lui adresser ses vives félicitations ainsi qu'au secrétariat pour l'important travail qu'ils nous ont présenté.
Qu'ils soient assurés de notre appui indéfectible.
En effet, la situation de la production agricole dans le monde, et notamment dans les pays en voie de développement, nécessite un programme de travail devant non seulement s'attaquer avec urgence à certaines calamités naturelles, mais aussi devant être de taille à garantir la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
Le Programme de coopération technique de la FAO, inauguré il y a quelques années et qui porte déjà des fruits, doit faire l'objet d'une attention particulière; c'est pourquoi nous apprécions la proposition d'une augmentation substantielle des fonds alloués à ce programme.
Pour finir, je voudrais souhaiter beaucoup de succès à l'issue de cette vingtième session de la Conférence de notre Organisation.
EL PRESIDENTE: Como ustedes habrán podido observar en la mañana de hoy, de acuerdo con el programa de sesiones había dos estados miembros que debían hacer uso de la palabra, Libia y Costa de Marfil, que han solicitado posteriormente hacerlo en la tarde de hoy. Tendremos entonces que pasar al ultimo orador previsto en la mañana de hoy, que es la CIPA, Federación Internacional de Productores Agrícolas, pero en el reglamento que aprobamos el primer día con el consenso de todos ustedes, se decía que las organizaciones internacionales harían uso de la palabra durante 10 minutos y que en ningún caso tales organizaciones tendrían prioridad en el uso de la palabra sobre las delegaciones de los estados miembros.
Por tanto, pregunto a los estados miembros si alguno quiere hacer uso de la palabra en este momento. Entonces si ninguno quiere hacer uso de la palabra, la cederíamos a la Federación Internacional de Productores Agrícolas. Desea hablar en este momento el señor Attoungbre. ¿Ningún otro? Tiene entonces la palabra el representante de la Costa de Marfil.
G. Y. ATTOUNGBRE (Côte-d' Ivoire) : Je voudrais m'associer aux différents orateurs qui m'ont précédé pour vous adresser les chaleureuses félicitations de la délégation ivoirienne pour votre brillante élection à ce poste. Il ne fait aucun doute que vos talents personnels et votre expérience nous permettront d'aboutir à des résultats fructueux.
Si la Côte d'Ivoire croit à l'effort collectif et solidaire des Nations pour faire face à la situation préoccupante de la prodution agricole et alimentaire mondiale elle croit encore plus à l'effort fait par chaque Nation pour organiser et résoudre ses problèmes de sécurité alimentaire. C'est dans cette conviction qu'elle a affronté depuis son indépendance les problèmes du développement du secteur agricole.
Au moment où la Côte-d'lvoire prenait en main les destinées de son agriculture, les cultures d'exportation que sont le café et le cacao, étaient développés au détriment des cultures vivrières considérées comme des cultures de subsistance. C'est en 1963 qu'a démarré une véritable politique de développement agricole et de production alimentaire. Pour soustraire le pays aux aléas de la production du café et du cacao, soumise aux caprices des saisons et aux fluctuations du marché international, le Gouvernement a élaboré un plan de diversification des cultures dont le fer de lance a été le plan palmier à huile et le plan cocotier; puis la dynamisation de la culture de l'hevéa et le réaménagement de la production d'ananas et de la banane douce.
Cette politique s'est poursuivie avec bonheur jusqu'en 1970, année au cours de laquelle le 5ème Congrès du Parti Démocratique de Côte-d'Ivoire, réaffirmait l'agriculture comme la priorité des priorités, avec un accent particulier pour la production alimentaire. C'est alors que fut lancé le programme de riz et d'élevage.
Enfin, selon le plan quinquennal 1976-1980 qui maintient encore et même améliore notre capacité de production, le souci n'est plus uniquement la production absolue, mais plutôt la recherche de la productivité et de la rentabilité du travail en milieu rural en même temps qu'une amélioration du niveau de vie du paysan. Ce plan est marqué par la recherche d'un équilibre régional qui met un accent tout particulier sur le développement des régions de savane. Il s'agissait de mettre à la disposition de ces populations laborieuses du Nord des moyens de travail. L'Etat s'est alors engagé dans la construction d'infrastructures de production: défrichement et aménagement des terrains de cultures, barrages hydro-agricoles pour maîtriser l'eau, l'exploitation de ces infrastructures étant laissée à l'initiative des paysans. On y introduit alors la culture intensive de riz, soja, de la canne à sucre et de cultures légumières.
Ainsi, si la zone forestière du Sud est le creuset des cultures industrielles d'exportation, la région des savanes du Nord devient déjà le grenier de la Côte-d'Ivoire.
Toutes ces actions de développement de l'agriculture et l'amélioration du cadre de vie du monde rural sont soutenues par une formation de tous les instants au. moyen des mass média, le tout étant animé et orchestré par l'Office National de Promotion Rurale et stimulé par la Coupe Nationale du Progrès, véritable compétition pour le développement dont les lauréats régionaux et nationaux sont primés chaque année.
Ce faisant,les objectifs visés sont les suivants: produire suffisamment pour atteindre l'auto-suffisance alimentaire en combinant tous les facteurs de production possibles; favoriser la promotion du monde rural en lui apportant une assistance technique orientée vers la modernisation des structures de production et de commercialisation afin que le paysan produise mieux par lui-même et pour lui-même; introduire et développer de nouveaux matériels végétal et animal dans le cadre de la diversification des productions et de leur intégration aux cultures de rente; dans le but de faire disparaître sinon réduire l'inégalité régionale, étendre la production agricole à des zones jusque là
insuffisamment exploitées, par l'apport des facteurs déterminant la production, à savoir: l'eau, le matériel végétal adapté, les techniques culturales modernes; développer la recherche scientifique pour une agriculture intensive qui limite la destruction des forêts et le gaspillage des terres agricoles.
Mais, la Côte-d'Ivoire n'évolue pas en vase clos, et force lui est de compter avec tous les facteurs convergents ou adverses du contexte mondial.
Or, la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture est très préoccupante. Il est prévu qu'en 1979 l'éventuelle augmentation de la production alimentaire et agricole sera sans doute la plus faible enregistrée depuis 1972 alors que de manière globale, la Sécurité Alimentaire reste encore précaire, notamment dans les pays d'Afrique où la production alimentaire n'a progressé que de 2,3% par an entre 1970 et 1978.
Par ailleurs, il est souligné que, dans les pays en développement le nombre des mal nourris-essentiellement des femmes et des enfants-continue d'augmenter, et que le nombre des personnes sous-alimentées resterait voisin de 250 millions à l'Horizon 2. 000.
Cette situation difficile et cette sombre perspective pourraient évoluer favorablement si de vigoureux efforts sont consentis pour la réalisation des objectifs maintes fois réitérés, mais non encore atteints, concernant la sécurité alimentaire, la production vivrière, l'aide alimentaire, les approvisionnements en engrais, les ajustements agricoles et l'aide publique au développement en faveur de l'agriculture, et si surtout les énormes dépenses d'armement étaient distraites au profit du développement, dans le contexte d'un nouvel ordre international qui valoriserait davantage le fruit du travail des populations du Tiers Monde.
C'est dans ce contexte que la délégation ivoirienne,après avoir examiné avec attention les points soulevés par le Directeur Général,tient tout d'abord à le féliciter pour la clarté de sa déclaration, le dynanisme et la compétence avec lesquels il continue de diriger notre Organisation, et appuie sans réserve tous les points exposés dans son discours d'ouverture et particulièrement en ce qui concerne: son plan d'action en cinq points sur certains des problèmes les plus immédiats de la sécurité alimentaire; la décentralisation au niveau des Etats; le Programme de Coopération Technique; le Programme de Travail et le Budget.
Notre délégation voudrait mettre un accent tout particulier sur la Coopération Technique entre pays en développement.
Dans le cadre agricole, une entraide s'est instaurée entre la Côte-d'Ivoire et certains autres pays frères d'Afrique. Cette coopération: s'effectue soit sur le plan bilatéral soit au sein d'organisations multilatérales d'intérêts communautaires; elle s'appuie sur l'assistance technique et financière pour la production agricole, la recherche scientifique agricole, la formation de techniciens de l'agriculture et la défense des cultures contre les déprédateurs.
Ainsi, la Côte-d'Ivoire, comme tous les autres Etats de la région d'Afrique, participe à sa manière à la coopération technique entre pays en développement. Le concept de solidarité qu'elle applique, permettra, elle l'espère, à d'autres Etats en développement d'évoluer grâce aux aides de toute nature et au savoir faire qu'elle met à leur disposition.
Les quelques années d'expérience internationale qu'elle a vécues sont trop courtes pour lui permettre d'apprécier l'importance de la place qu'elle a prise dans ce contexte d'entraide internationale, de juger les résultats obtenus et d'entrevoir la manière de réaménager son action.
Ce qui est sûr, c'est que l'expérience de sa propre expansion agricole, lui permet de penser qu'aucune aide d'où qu'elle vienne ne peut constituer une atteinte à l'autonomie d'un Etat, encore moins si cette aide provient d'un autre Etat en développement et est dispensée dans un esprit de solidarité africaine.
C'est dans cet esprit que la Côte-d'Ivoire, par le biais de la coopération technique, souhaiterait améliorer la qualité nutritionnelle de sa production alimentaire qui a atteint un niveau quantitatif relativement satisfaisant. Point n'est besoin de dire que la F. A. O. , dans la poursuite de cet objectif nutritionnel est pour la Côte-d'Ivoire, d'un intérêt indéniable.
EL PRESIDENTE: A partir de ahora, daré la palabra durante lo que nos queda de sesión en la mañana de hoy a las distintas organizaciones que han pedido la palabra, recordándoles vivamente que, de conformidad con el punto numero 50 del Primer Informe del Comité General, que aprobamos el primer día, pueden hacer uso de la palabra durante 10 minutos. Tiene en primer lugar la palabra la Federación Internacional de Productores Agrícolas.
P. BUKMAN (Observer for International Federation of Agricultural Producers): Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers greatly appreciates this opportunity once again to address the FAO General Conference. Our two Organizations, FAO and the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, were founded at roughly the same time to monitor and promote the development of world agriculture, you from a Government standpoint, we from that of the farmer.
At our last IFAP General Conference held earlier this year in Sorrento, we debated many of the vital issues which are before this FAO Conference. Our discussions ranged from world trade, commodity agreements and producers' prices to agrarian reform, rural devlopment and other critical problems facing the developing countries. Our primary concern was and always will be the well being of the family farmer, both large and small, the world over. I shall concentrate my remarks on two vital subjects. The first is the importance of farmer-government consultation and dialogue, the second concerns world food security.
At our General Conference, a number of key issues were raised, some of which I would like to put to you today. We at IFAP were not convinced that increased food production and the improvement of nutritional levels is receiving the necessary priority in all developing countries. Doubt was also expressed whether effective measures are being taken to correct the existing imbalances between rural and urban development. We now ask: are all governments prepared to implement the plan of action to which they subscribed at the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, especially the principle of people's participation through their representative rural organization? In our discussions, it became clear that the gap between acceptance in principle and realizing the practice can be closed considerably if governments had the means to carry on a dialogue with their farmers, encourage your farmers to become organized into independent bodies truly representing their viewpoint. I have confidence in their ability to analyze their own situation and to put forward proposals. There are many and complex reasons for the faster development of agriculture in one country or region than another. It must be noted that agriculture has developed strongest in those countries where farmers are best organized and represented, and that agriculture has developed fastest since those organizations gained the ear of the governments.
As the Director-General stated, almost 50 percent more food would have to be grown in the year 2000. Farmers will produce this food if they are encouraged, organized and are consulted by the decisionmakers. Past experience has shown that where governments do not value the views of their farmers, you will have a rather poor record in the area of agricultural production. Farmers' organizations can participate constructively in distribution of credit and inputs and organized product marketing, for instance, through farmers' cooperatives. They can assist governments in formulating policies for agriculture in such a way that they obtain the people's enthusiastic support instead of their grudging acceptance. They can guide research and agricultural sciences and techniques so that the results are readily adopted by local farmers. We at IFAP have been encouraged by the recognition of the need to consult farmers, which was accepted by the World Conference here last July. We realize that there is a long and difficult step from adopting such a principle to actually encouraging farmers to organize and then be ready to listen to them. It is also not easy for farmers to establish organizations to represent them. IFAP is, however, endeavouring to build up a capacity whereby the experience of its members who are today well organized can be placed at the disposal of farmers who wish to organize better along with the means to get started. We believe this in itself would constitute an important contribution towards more rapid improvements in the farmer situation and therefore in world food production.
I now come to my second subject, world food security. IFAP and its members have a direct interest in seeking a solution to the world food problem. Almost half of the world's population is engaged in agriculture, and farmer security is the key to world food security. For a farmer, it is tragic to see that his response to calls for more food production results in falling prices and a worse income position. The factors basic to achieving a necessary regular rise in agricultural production are remunerative farm prices and access to markets. Currently, while there have been bountiful harvests, the amount is also strong so that prices have held well. This is good for farmers and, indeed, good for consumers, since it should encourage seeding for a bountiful harvest again next year. This is fine if consumers can pay. World food security concerns those who cannot afford to pay, for whom special measures are required.
IFAP welcomed the proposals aimed at improving world food security which were put forward by FAO in 1973. We are most encouraged to note that those proposals have been developed and pursued within FAO since that time. In particular, the improvement in presentation, coverage and analysis of the world food situation in the FAO monthly food outlook has been remarkable.
We are far less enchanted with governments' responses to those proposals. In the mid-seventies, the excuse for inaction was that there was not enough grain. Today the excuse for the absence of progress of international plans to ensure world food security seems to be that there is plenty of grain.
As for grain stock policy and international coordination of national stock policy, we fully agree with the Director-General that this has to be achieved within the context of an international grain arrangement. We wish to warn against the temptation of endeavouring to establish a stock arrangement separate from a trade and pricing arrangement. The reason is risk of stocks depressing prices and thus discouraging much-needed future production.
On two other elements of the proposals, the emergency reserve and food aid, all of IFAP's members have been urged to contact their governments and seek more generous action. We are astounded that it has so far been beyond the means of government to maintain the 0. 5 million ton reserve on a regular annual basis.
IFAP has also a long record of support for food aid programmes which contribute to agricultural development and which provide guarantees that the aid will be truly humanitarian.
We have also long been requested that food aid be guaranteed in quantity and not in value in order to avoid shortfalls when market prices rise. We recognize that treasuries are not keen on giving an open-ended commitment on the price to be paid for food aid commitments. It may be that government agencies, like private traders, could use the advance markets to make easier commitments in quantities while having a reasonably precise advance idea of what it will cost. This possibility merits an exploration.
Finally, on the Five-Point World Security proposals, we wish to return to the notion of farmer organization and farmers' responsibility. Storage, marketing, inputs and other related aspects and food production, distribution could all be handled by farmers themselves working together in cooperatives. We strongly recommend that every consideration be given to involving such organizations, where they exist, as an economical means of administering this important food assistance project.
W. KAMHAWI (Observer for Palestine Liberation Organization) (interpretation from Arabic): Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, I have before me a prepared statement which I was to read out to you distinguished delegates, a statement full of beautiful expressions you have heard from all the previous speakers, words referring to our pleasure in attending this meeting, congratulations to the Chairman and various members of the staff, and expressions of appreciation to Dr. Edouard Saouma, the Director-General of FAO, for his efforts, and a brotherly salutation to brother and sister delegates attending this Conference.
It is also an expression of the importance we attach to the study on Agriculture: Toward 2000.
All these words were in our prepared statement, delegates. Our statement also refers a great deal, in the bitter words and bitter expressions which you have been accustomed to hear on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to the circumstances in which our Palestinian nation is living under Israeli occupation. In this prepared statement, which I shall not read to you, there are many details on how Israel is using science and technology to demolish houses: it has demolished 20,000 Arab homes, is has demolished many Arab villages; it has dispersed the Arab inhabitants of those lands through expropriation, and depriving them of their livelihood which mainly depends on land and water. In this statement there are many details about the measures resorted to by the Israeli occupation authorities to seize and expropriate Arab owned land, measures adopted by these authorities to take hold of vital water resources on the West Bank and on the Gaza Strip. The statement also includes information on the ways and means to which Israel resorts, to specific practices by which it prevents Arab farmers from digging artesian wells. It has also resorted to practices by which it has rationed the amount of water they may pump from such wells, their own wells which they had dug years before the Israeli occupation.
Other details in this statement deal with the way in which the Israeli occupation authorities have prevented our farmers from using the waters of the River Jordan to irrigate their lands and farms. The occupation authorities have also destroyed many of the irrigation canals in the Arab areas, especially in the Jeftlec area of the Jordan Valley. There is other information with statistics and figures referring to the continuous operation of the Israeli authorities and the practices to which it has resorted to divert the Arab farmers and to make them a source of cheap labour in Israeli factories and in Israeli services, departments and sectors.
This and much more was included in the statement I had prepared to read out to you, Ladies and Gentlemen. However, Mr. President, I shall content myself with the few words I have just said. I would like, instead, to request you to circulate this statement as a document to the members of the Conference. As for the reason why I did this, I know you had a few minutes to hear the statement prepared by our delegation, but I made these few comments for a simple reason. I heard only an hour ago that the Israeli cabinet had unanimously decided-with its doves and hawks, as they are dubbed-last Thursday to set up nineteen new Israeli settlements on the Occupied West Bank. In accordance with the text of the decisions taken by the Cabinet, this was decided upon to increase the number of Israeli settlers living on Arab-owned land, to increase them threefold. What is the meaning of such a decision, Ladies and Gentlemen, you who are meeting here for the welfare of humanity, to secure food security for humanity, to provide man with his requirements for daily subsistence? The meaning, the implication of those decisions adopted unanimously by the Israeli Cabinet three or four days ago is that they are seeking to occupy and to seize tens of thousands of hectares of Arab agricultural land and to expel tens of thousands of Arab farmers from these lands so that the number of Israeli settlements on the Occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip will exceed one hundred settlements. These settlements exploit more than forty percent of the overall Arab land owned by Arabs in these territories. Such a measure will of course deprive forty percent of Palestinian farmers of their livelihood and source of daily sustenance.
Mr. President, Distinguished Delegates, the Palestinian Liberation Organization is entitled-as the Arab people are entitled-to call on you to condemn such a measure. We are entitled to call on your distinguished Conference to adopt the necessary resolutions and decisions on such a measure. However, we shall not ask you for anything of this. Many an international organization and authority who had greater means to implement decisions, as for example the United Nations General Assembly, have adopted resolutions condemning the settlement policy adopted by the Israelis. Yet, much to our sorrow, the General Assembly of the United Nations has not been able to implement any effective measures which would remove a single settlement or budge a single stone from any of the settlements established on the Arab occupied territories, so we shall not embarrass you by asking you to adopt a measure which you will not adopt. We will content ourselves with informing you and having you live and feel with us the tragedy of the Arab Palestinian nation living under the yoke of Israeli aggression and occupation.
While you are all meeting, examining, discussing the measures that will enable you to adopt policies to enable mankind in the world everywhere to obtain sufficient amounts of food; at a time when you are meeting to provide man with security from hunger, you will nevertheless be aware of the fact that the Israeli authorities are adopting such measures and resorting to such expansionist policies and depriving the Palestinians of their own livelihood. Thank you for your kind attention.
I. M. NUR (Observer for Organization of African Unity): Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is a signal honour for me to address you on behalf of the Organization of African Unity at a time when you are about to discuss problems of special interest to Africa.
Mr. Chairman, first of all, I would like to join other delegations in congratulating you and your coworkers on your election.
Secondly, I should like to express my sincere thanks to the FAO Director-General for his kind invitation to the OAU to come and observe the proceedings of this Conference, an opportunity which I am now taking to make our modest contribution towards the issues before it. My thanks also go to the Italian Government and people for the warm welcome they have accorded my delegation. I would also like to join other delegations in congratulating the two new Member States for their admission to this Organization.
It is with deep satisfaction that I hail the presence in this Conference of the representatives of the African Liberation Movements and the Palestine Liberation Organization. By inviting these representatives to join you, you have not only done justice but you have explicitly condemned the forces of colonialism and racism whose exploitation of the territories under their domination is directly responsible for widespread illiteracy, poverty and the general development backwardness of the indigenous people of these countries.
In the Third World generally and in Africa, in particular, it is clearly noticeable that our countries are still suffering the consequences of colonial age exploitation during which the colonized peoples were deliberately employed in such agricultural production as was to the best economic interest of the foreign metropolitan powers.
The agricultural colonial legacy that Politically Independent Africa has inherited is such that agricultural production, which is the mainstay of the economies of virtually every member of the OAU, is preponderantly geared for export to developed economy market countries. This legacy has not only contributed to the present imbalance in the World Economic Order but has made Africa the only continent which by and large produces what it does not need and, consequently, has to import what it needs. The result of this is the continuing backwardness of Africa in economic and social development. While it is for the Africans themselves to initiate and implement corrective measures to rectify that situation, the International Community at large, for the sake of global peace, has a moral duty to lend Africa a helping hand.
It would be a very good thing if, especially the former colonial powers in Africa, jointly initiated genuine moves in that direction instead of tacitly continuing their age-old scramble for Africa through economic and technological competition among themselves.
As if this disadvantageous colonial legacy was not enough, agro-climatic changes, crop failure, drought and other natural disasters have added to food shortage in our Region. The energy crisis which has had far and wide repercussions, has compounded the situation even further. The overall result to Africa of this phenomenon is unnecessary food shortage and imported inflation of staggering proportions.
Since 1970, the average annual growth rate of food production in our Region has been half the annual growth rate of the population. As a result, many African countries are increasingly becoming dependent on imported food. The projection on cereal deficits indicates that the food supply situation will continue to deteriorate in future.
The nutritional situation deteriorated in 24 countries in our Region. The unequal distribution of protein supply between our sub-regions is more significant than calorie differences.
According to available statistics, Africa has been having about 150 million head of cattle, 129 million sheep, 127 million goats and 502 million poultry; the per capita meat consumption is estimated at slightly less than 4 kilogrammes against the world average of 11. 3 kilogrammes.
We are all aware of the spread of drought in many OAU Member States, especially in the Sahelian Zone. All the indications show that drought which is an ecological phenomenon occurs in cycles. There had been similar droughts in the history of Africa before, and they are likely to recur in future. The effects of drought will become progressively worse in terms of suffering, costs to the national budgets and depletion of the capital value of natural resources if their development and management are not placed on a sound ecological basis.
Climate in the Sahelian Zone is perhaps the most important factor in production. It is now clear that the weather variability of the Sahelian Zone can cause major fluctuation in agricultural production, exports, balance of trade and payments, government revenues, migration, industrial growth, tourism and so on. It is clear that the climate must be integrated as an explicit variable in any assessment of the long-term economic options of the Sahelian Zone.
The OAU General Secretariat would like to make a strong appeal to the FAO and other organizations of the United Nations and the other bodies of the international community to redouble their efforts to relieve the suffering of our people in the different drought stricken areas.
Mr. Chairman, forestry development in our Region faces a number of major problems. These are the non-availability of high resistance to diseases and insects and fast growing trees. They also include the development of economical methods for establishing plantations and the study of the technological properties of wood in order to make the best utilization possible of the scarce and available forest resources.
With regard to fishing, there is great need for the development and management of the inland fisheries in our continent, as these are assuming great economic and social importance. In many cases, fish as a rich source of protein, is a decisive factor between malnutrition and healthy survival. Regional co-operative development is needed in the exploitation of our fisheries.
Africa has great possibilities for greater agricultural development, but the tradition of land tenure, presence of middle-men, money-lending, sharecropping and the non-availability of certain inputs are some of the causes that are holding back agricultural development.
There is an urgent need for the diversification of our agriculture to reduce imports and improve nutrition. This can be achieved by planting more industrial crops, integrate livestock in agriculture and increase markets both at home and abroad. It is to Africa's economic interest and for the cause of world peace that Africa's inherited position of merely producing raw materials for export, and now importing basic necessities like food, should be urgently reviewed.
FAO, as an international institution, can help a lot in this regard-beginning from its own house by Africanizing its technical experts who are working in Africa. Our Region has a considerable number of indigenous, qualified and adaptable personnel who can easily fill the established posts. I hope that this Conference will give this issue serious consideration in its discussion.
I should like to sum up my intervention with the well-assessed observation of African specialists who participated in the Monrovia Colloquium early this year on the subject of what kind of Africa we aspire to by the Year 2000. On food situation, the Colloquium unanimously observed that "The capacity of the African nations to meet their own food requirements is one of the fundamental objectives of their self-help and self-sufficiency strategy. By the Year 2000, the African States must have succeeded in reversing the trend towards a reduction in food production, ending their growing dependence on imports and averting the catastrophic effects of drought. No efforts must be spared to ensure the vigorous application of the FAO/ECA Regional Food Plan for Africa, to set up a body to control the implementation of this Plan and propose strategies for the future, and to institute a regional inter-African food security scheme. The Symposium proposed that the degree of a country's dependence for its food imports should henceforth be considered as one of the most significant indicators of its level of development.
The entire membership of the OAU once again looks up to this conference for tangible results. May I wish this 20th Session just that.
The meeting rose at 13. 00 hours.
La séance est levée à 13 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 13. 00 horas.
