LE PRESIDENT : Nous allons reprendre nos travaux de la 5ème séance. Comme vous le savez, hier, le professeur Islam a introduit le second point de notre ordre du jour, c'est-à-dire le point 6. 2 "Mise en oeuvre du plan d'action visant à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale".
Miss V. WIGHTMAN (Canada): We would first like to thank and commend the Secretariat for their very complete progress report on this very important issue. I should also like to thank Dr. Islam for his introduction yesterday. He raised certain other points which we will take back to Ottawa and consider very carefully of course. We can agree with the assessment in the document that the two central unresolved issues in world food security are firstly, the need for a more rapid growth in food production in the developing countries and secondly, better coordination of food support for the developing countries-not primarily reserve stocks which are just the backstop-but also emergency assistance, the creative use of food aid, multilateral consultations, and mutual assistance amongst the developing countries and on a regional basis.
The real answer to world food security lies in increased production and national self-reliance everywhere-in developing importing countries, developed importing countries and in exporting countries. This year we are blessed with good foodgrain crops in the major exporting and many importing countries; the supply situation for the 1981/82 crop year will therefore be in balance with expected demand and permit some rebuilding of stocks. However, this is due essentially to higher production in the main exporting countries, particularly North America. The problem facing us is not overall supply which is adequate on paper, but the distribution of such supplies to those most in need, in other words adequate nutrition.
We note, both at FAO meetings and elsewhere; an increasing recognition of the need, and even determination, on the part of the developing countries to become less dependent on imports of essential foods, especially because of the drain on scarce foreign exchange. While the newly industrialized countries in this category are better able, and probably well advised, to feed their growing work force from outside supplies, a great many low-income countries must inevitably become more self-reliant, particularly where this employs unused land and human resources and puts money into the rural economy.
We find at international meetings too much emphasis on remedial and stop-gap measures such as reserve stocks and food aid. These measures have a role in meeting emergencies and short term deficits resulting from variability in production but we really must strive for the longer term solution of adequate production.
Food emergencies will no doubt continue to occur from time to time and will receive an immediate and generous response. The summit at Cancun agreed quite rightly that food aid should be regarded as a temporary tool. We should all the time be working towards a reduction in food aid, not an increase, as production in present recipient countries improves. The success of countries in South Asia in increasing domestic production, and becoming independent of food aid, provides a goal toward which we must all aim for in other parts of the world.
The Food Aid Convention which has been extended for two years provides a firm commitment of 7. 6 million tons of foodgrains but as we are aware, total food aid transfers amount to about 9 million tons per year. It behoves us to look ahead and to reassess the situation every few years and adjust to changing circumstances. The Committee for Food Aid Policies and Programmes will undertake this task next year and its conclusions will assist us all in forward planning.
Many of the documents before us refer to the need to place the International Emergency Food Reserve on a more permanent basis. This has two aspects: first, the need to provide an adequate level of re sources for emergencies, and, second, to ensure continuity and reliability. The Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes has conducted an extensive analysis of the options placed before it and concluded at its recent meeting in October that the preferable route would be a parallel pledge at the regular World Food Programme Pledging Conference held every two years. This prior commitment would provide forward planning for emergencies in committing resources up to three years in advance. In Canada we are very pleased with the conclusion.
We think that the distribution objectives of improved food security can be achieved through support for an open and viable international trading system, remunerative returns to efficient producers, equitable burden-sharing in stock carrying and by guaranteeing supply to needy countries in time of difficulty. Canada is prepared to continue efforts to achieve a new International Wheat Agreement but views the establishmentand management of grain reserves as a matter essentially for individual countries to decide nationally in support of their overallfood production objectives.
As to formal reserve stocks, we individual countries should all take our own responsibility for holding adequate year to year stocks in our own national interests. This would add up on a global basis to greatly enhanced food security. The schemes proposed so far for international coordination of nation ally held stocks, while commendable in theory, would nevertheless require massive financial outlay and tie up funds which we feel could be better used for more productive purposes. Canada and the other major exporting countries have proven their responsibility in holding stocks on a year to year basis to meet commercial requirements, domestic needs and also food aid, and collectively, in meeting world food demands.
The negotiation of a new IWA, specifically a new Wheat Trade Convention, has eluded us for a number of years unfortunately, the Wheat Council at its June meeting set in train further consultations to try to resolve the impasse. However, we must recognize the realities which have to date prevented the conclusion of such an agreement. Uncertainties in the international trading environment render unlikely the conclusionfor some time of an agreement with firm economic provisions.
I would also add that caution is needed in addressing the question of market stability. While provisions limiting upward movement of prices are an understandable objective for the importing countries, this could be a disincentive to production by exporters unless at the same time the causes of world-wide inflation could be eliminated. Also we spoke yesterday on the price squeeze at the moment affecting the Canadian grain producer who depends mainly on the world market for his returns.
Finally, we would repeat our view that increased primary production in the food-deficit developing countries is the only durable underpinning for food security. Many farmers in these countries have passed from the subsistence level to production for the market place. They respond to price incentives; this is the group that feeds the cities and provides exports. They must be encouraged with adequate financial returns, firm assurance as to outlets, and the means to do the job.
Since the last Conference, I think we can point to several positive developments. First and foremost is the increased production of food grains in the current season. Secondly, the IMF has endorsed the food financing facility which provides assistance for the low-income,food-deficit countries in times of shortage and high prices. Thirdly, the two-year extension of the FAC and WTC provides continued
assurances of food aid commitments under the former and further time to consider the best approach to a new WTC while continuing the valuable work and the ongoing consultations in the Wheat Council.
Finally, governments have agreed, as we know, to a more formal consultative procedure to be called by the Director-General within the framework of the "Agenda for Consultations" as adopted by the Commit tee on World Food Security last spring.
Specifically regarding food security assistance, Canadian development assistance for food storage facilities and related infrastructure projects has been an important part of our bilateral programmes for some years. Canada will spend approximately $25-30 million in this sector during the next fiscal year.
Turning briefly to the Director-General's proposals contained in the document, we can of course agree wholeheartedly with many of them, such as the need to expand food production especially in the low -income food-deficit countries, a better understanding of the food security needs of the developing countries, improved preparedness on their part to meet acute and large-scale shortages and mutual assistance. I should like to comment briefly on the other points.
On the matter of national targets for cereal stocks, we have pointed out many times that even without direct government intervention, our centralised marketing agency, the Canadian Wheat Board, is able to ensure the supply for our domestic market, for food aid and for commercial export. As to the proposed "review and harmonising of national stock policies" in the CFS we are, of course, always prepared to discuss these important issues. However, it should be recalled that the chief protagonist in the IWA negotiations have sor far not been able to agree on the control and coordination of such stock policies. We do have consultative fora in the IWC on a regular basis and within the FAO on a less regular basis. More particularly, we would question the need to "harmonise" national stock policies which, as we can see, do not appear to be in conflict and we consider that countries should practise systems best suited to their own particular conditions.
With regard to food aid requirements for the future, obviously these will be considered in the CFA. We can certainly support the thrustof the Section on Commodity Trade and subscribe to the proposal that the Conference "underline the importance of maintaining a balanced expansion of agricultural trade as an integral part of world food security and to stress the need to reduce trade barriers. " It is our hope that GATT trade programme for the 1980s will concentrate on this task.
K. HAMADA (Japan): My delegation heartily welcomes this discussion on the important issue of food security under the precarious food and agriculture situation with which we are now faced.
Analysing the world food and agricultural situation in 1981, the Secretariat document C 81/2 points out that the world food carry-over stocks of cereals at the close of the 1980/81 crop seasons are now estimated at having declined to only 14 percent of the world's apparent consumption in 1981 and will be lower than in any other year since 1975/76.
As Japan is a major food importing country, we are seriously concerned with the world food and agricultural situation.
My delegation appreciates the progress made in stock policies in many countries. It believes that the most important guarantee of world food security is for each country to adopt independent stock policies along the lines of the International Undertaking on World Food Security. In this connection my delegation welcomes the Sixth CFS's decision on procedures, mechanisms and remedial action including the consultation items and possible actions to deal with acute and large-scale food shortages.
The recent decision by the International Monetary Fund to extend compensatory financial assistance to cereal importing countries is also very much appreciated.
We recognise the need for financial and technical assistance to improve food security infrastructures, such as grain storage, transportation and so forth in developing countries. The Japanese Government intends to contribute $300 000 to the Food Security Assistance Scheme in 1981 and also to cooperate with the Scheme on a bilateral basis.
I would now like to introduce my Government's food stock policy and its practices. First, concerning the formulation and objectives of stock policies: the current supply-demand situation of major agricultural commodities in Japan is characterised by the fact that rice, the major staple food of Japan, is in the situation of continued over-production and self-sufficiency has been fully attained, whereas wheat and barley for food, soybeans for vegetable oils, and coarse grains for feedstuff largely depend on importation.
The Government is formulating directly or indirectly the necessary reserve stocks for rice, wheat, barley, and feed grains, taking into account that the fluctuation in supplies and in prices caused by the imbalance in the supply-demand situation of such major commodities has been largely affecting the livelihood of the people. The background and objectives of reserve stocks of food grains in Japan are as follows.
First, rice: through the 1960s rice production was relatively stable, but due to the lean crops of rice in 1971 and the tightness of the international cereals supply-demand situation after 1972, the necessity to accumulate a national reserve stock of rice has arisen in order to ensure the stable supply of the national staple food. In 1975, Japan decided to accumulate 2 million tonnes of rice as a reserve stock within the three years to 1977.
However, since this, due to the continuing decline of rice consumption in Japan owing to changes in the national diet pattern, and the bumper crops of rice in the latter half of the 1970s in Japan, carry over stocks of rice reached 4. 4 million tonnes of husked rice at the end of October 1981. The back ground to the 2 million tonnes of the reserve stock of rice is to ensure the smooth supply even in two consecutive years of the leanest crop which was experienced in 1971, being the worst crop in the past 20 years. The rice reserve stock of 2 million tonnes is equivalent to two months’ current consumption.
The Government reserve stock of rice is of great significance to the national food security of Japan for securing a stable supply of the national staple food to consumers. The idea of a reserve stock policy of rice and other commodities including wheat and barley had existed and had been implemented to a certain extent in the past but it has been strengthened since 1974 taking into account the recommendation of the International Undertaking on World Food Security in 1974 adopted by the 64th FAO Council of November 1974. Our policy has the same objectives as the International Undertaking has which are to contribute to the stability of market supply and to the avoidance of urgent and acute food shortages.
Secondly, wheat and barley. Reflecting the rising trend of wheat and barley prices on international markets, continuing long-term strikes by port facility workers of exporting countries, and the imbalance of the international supply/demand situation of grains since autumn 1972 the national concern in food problems in Japan has been increasing and it was pointed out that the necessary reserve stocks for food security should be established as an addition to the ordinary running stocks. And now for the purpose of ensuring to keep the necessary amount of food and barley the Government formulated reserve stock policies of wheat for 2. 6 months and barley for 4. 0 months of the current consumption level at the end of each crop season. In the light of ensuring smooth supply of food for the nation,especially since wheat and barley mostly depend on importation, the Government has been endeavouring to promote planned importation from the main exporting countries and also, as I mentioned before, the Government has been making efforts to supplement this by formulating the national reserve stock as a short-term counter-measure to cope with the imbalance of the international supply/demand situation. The reserve stock of wheat and barley in Japan covers materials not only for food,but also for feed use as well,and then I think it contributes to world food security through working a bigger action against the stringency of world food supply and assisting indirectly the stable importation of grains by developing countries.
Secondly concerning the management of reserve stock:
The reserve stock of rice which is under Government control as a staple food of Japan is directly managed by the Government in line with the Food Control Law. The stock is reserved in warehouses by the Government. The Government decides the Government selling price year by year and the reserve stock to be released in lean crop year. There is no specific criteria for stocks of rice. Although the reserve stock of rice in Japan was not necessarily established or managed directly in line with the criteria laid down in the Plan of Action of World Food Security it had the same objectives as the Plan of Action.
My Government does not control directly the total amount of reserve stock of wheat and barley but controls the total amount of imported wheat and barley and its reserve stock. Therefore the reserve stock which is built up with the imported wheat and barley is also directly managed by the Government. The targets of each stock including the ordinary running stock are established to be 2. 6 months of current consumption of wheat and 4. 0 months of current consumption of barley. The level of the stock is maintained by using the special account of budget under the Food Control Law. The stock of wheat and barley as well as rice is reserved in the Government-owned warehouses. Since the Government selling prices of wheat and barley are also decided by the Government, the reserve stock will contribute to the stabilization of supply rather than the stabilization of price of wheat and barley.
E.N. BIRICHI (Kenya): My delegation would like to thank the Secretariat for producing the Document C 81/20 on the progress in implementation of the Plan of Action on World Food Security and Professor Islam for his excellent introduciton. My delegation would first of all like to commend nations and regional organizations, the FAO and other international bodies, for the initiative already taken since the last Conference. In particular my delegation would like to support the initiative taken by nations to adopt and implement food and grain stock policies. We have set our target of grain reserves at 360 000 metric tons of maize which is our chief cereal, which is double the present figure. This figure of 360 000 metric tons is equivalent theoretically to about 3 months' consumption for the whole nation but it would be in reality sufficient for about 5 months assuming that only urban areas would draw 100 percent of its requirement from the reserve. The rural areas would need about 45 percent of their requirement from the reserve. This reserve is intended to ensure continuity of supplies for domestic use and is under the ownership and management of a Government agency and is intended to ensure food security. However owing to recent setbacks in production, inadequacy of storage facilities and other factors this reserve will be initially 180 000 metric tons. We would also like to support the four main elements in the broad approach towards achieving national preparedness and the suggested agenda for discussion at the international level to prepare against possible shortages. We also welcome the decision of the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund to extend financial assistance to members encountering balance of payment difficulties as a result of the rise in the cost of cereal imports, the increase of commitments in the 1980 Food Aid Convention including the special provisions for emergency neeeds and the establishment of reserves by some donors to guarantee food aid commitments. We note the assistance that the World Bank has provided to improve handling and storage facilities, the contribution of World Food Programme in the building of national cereal reserves and the possibility of building national or even regional reserves with EEC assistance. We commend particularly the initiative by regions to establish reserves in the spirit of collective self-reliance. We regret the failure so far to conclude an equitable international grains arrangement; the continued erratic nature of the cereal flows to the International Emergency Food Reserve and the reduced resources of the FAO Food Security Assistance Scheme. We therefore endorse the recommendations regarding further action to stregthen world food security as outlined in the documents and specifically: the recommendation about expanding food production in which respect we support fully the Lagos Plan of Action and welcome the involvement of FAO and indeed the UN as a whole. We also endorse the recommendation regarding a world reserve system, food security assistance, food aid and international emergency food reserve, preparedness to meet acute and large scale food shortages, collective self-reliance and the improvement of trade relationships. We realize that the onus is upon developing countries to improve their own agriculture but these countries are not operating in a vacuum and their interaction with other countries is partially responsible for the unenviable situation in which they now find themselves. It is for these reasons that the international community is being called upon to assist in food production efforts.
J. SCHERER (Germany, Federal Republic of) (Original language German): My delegation would like to thank the Secretariat for the document they have prepared, C 81/20, and we would also like to thank Professor Islam for introducing this item 6.2. My Government supports as in the past the targets of the FAO action plan. In particular I would like to stress the necessity for increasing food production in the developing countries and the setting up of adequate stockpiling in countries where there is a frequent food deficient. We also attach great importance to the international coordination of national stockpiling for the purpose of market stabilisation and as a contribution towards world food security. We are grateful to the FAO Secretariat for its progress report on the implementation of the action plan. My Government in principle shares the views of the analysis and the description of the situation contained in this report. We welcome the fact that more and more countries are following a policy of national stockpiling which corresponds to the criteria laid down in the FAO action plan. As far as my country is concerned, a member of the European Community, I might say that we, through the EEC market organization for grains also have an instrument which is in line with these criteria. Further success in the implementation of the FAO action plan we consider the adoption of a working programme for consultations and possible actions for the preparation for acute and extensive food shortages by the Committee on Food Security (CFS). This was adopted by the Meeting of this Committee in April of this year. There is no doubt that it is in the interest of the efficiency of the new instrument that the CFS resisted the temptation to set up an automatic system whereby action would be the compulsory consequence of consultations. This would have reduced not only the flexibility of the instrument but it would also have reduced in the case of many countries the preparedness for the support of the working programme. A further important step forward we consider is the decision of the IMF adopted in May this year according to which countries with temporary, above-average high grain import costs are given financial support. This instrument should enhance food security in many developing countries.
We regret, however, that in 1980 it was not possible to get an adequate number of new donor countries to contribute to the International Emergency Food Reserve (IEFR) within the framework of the World Food Programme, so that the target of 500 000 tons could not be achieved. We are convinced that the change of the IEFR into a legally binding convention would not be the right way of achieving this aim.
As to the wish to know in advance the level of contribution, this is something we understand, my country will try to maintain the quantities which were made available in the past. In this connexion we feel that the proposal for a joint pledging conference for the WFP and the IEFR is certainly worthy of discussion and is full of purpose. Unfortunately - and this is something that we particularly regret - in spite of intensive efforts it has not yet been possible to negotiate a new effective international wheat agreement. My government considers, together with its partners in the European Economic Community, such an agreement not only an instrument for market stablization but also an important contribution towards the improvement of world food security. The efforts towards such an agreement should therefore be continued.
In conclusion, I should like to stress once again that as far as we are concerned, the key for a lasting improvement of the world food situation lies above all in the food-importing developing countries themselves. We realize that all efforts of the developing countries towards reducing their dependence on food imports requires assistance from outside. We must add, on an international level, supplementary, measures such as those contained in the five-point plan of FAO or those of a newly negotiated international wheat agreement. That international wheat agreement would then also meet the particular needs of the developing countries.
My government will support within the framework of its possibilities all promising efforts towards the improvement of the world food supply situation, on the bilateral and multilateral level.
SHIN-HAENG HUH (Republic of Korea): We have before us a very clear report on progress in the implementation of the plan of action on world food security and I wish to thank the Secretariat for the preparation of the paper for this Commission. One cannot over-emphasize the importance of world food security in circumstances where many developing countries are experiencing insufficient food production, lack of storage facilities, inadequate foreign exchange to finance additional imports, the low-level of food aid available for this purpose and other financial or technical constraints as mentioned in the document.
As the demand for food rises more rapidly than the availability of supply, the problem of food security appears to be one of the most important policy areas that individual governments and FAO have to deal with. It is definitely necessary to prepare for times of severe or widespread physical shortages in food production. In this regard, the delegation of the Republic of Korea supports the effort being made by FAO to strengthen world food security, therefore we are in agreement with the recommendations of the Committee in paragraph 12 of document C 81/20.
Korea experienced poor harvests of rice in three consecutive years from 1978, due to severe drought, disease, and unusually cold weather conditions in the growing season. In this difficult period of time we came to the conclusion that the maintenance of food reserve stocks had become essential to secure an adequate supply of food. Last year, we were in haste to import an unexpected amount of rice from various countries. That sudden move caused a high price for rice in the international market, throwing a heavy burden on the balance of payments and a false indication to producers to produce more rice in 1981/82 in major rice exporting countries.
Thanks to the weather, we do have a good crop this year, leading to a surplus of rice, including stocks, which in turn discourages farmers from producing next time. To prevent a wide fluctuation in the supply of food, the Government of the Republic of Korea is setting up a national food reserve system of 1.44 million tons of food grain to improve the state of preparedness to meet acute and large-scale food shortages while continuing the implementation of the buffer stock scheme for both rice and barley, in order to stabilize their prices.
From our own experience, I would like to make two comments, briefly, on some of the important issues raised in the document.
First, I welcome the idea of collective self-reliance of developing countries in the vital sector of food security, which is clearly noted in paragraphs 29 and 30. Within that context, the Government of the Republic of Korea is willing to join both FAO and all concerned countries in making efforts to establish cooperative arrangements, including the setting-up of regional reserves to
strengthen food security to meet emergency food requirements. However, we should not ignore the fact that a greater benefit over cost should be guaranteed by doing a careful economic feasibility study, because if any action taken by FAO appears to be too costly compared with the benefits to related member countries, then it will not last.
Secondly, I would like to stress, among other things, the importance of early warning systems at the national and regional levels. To move physical commodities between countries and regions, a certain period of time is absolutely necessary to search for commodities available at a reasonable price, transport and distribution. Thus early warning systems may help individual countries to be able to prepare in advance for emergency food requirements, as well as short-falls in food production in developing countries. Therefore, I strongly urge FAO to put priority on the establishment of early warning systems.
I. MOSKOVITS (Malta): My delegation expresses its great satisfaction that the problem of food security is again on the agenda of the Conference. We consider that the solution of this problem is one of the greatest tasks that FAO has to face at the present time, and everything which has been done and will be done to achieve food security will be for the benefit of the whole of humanity.
Unfortunately, as a member of a small delegation, I was not able to attend to hear the introduction by Professor Nuri Islam, but we have studied very carefully the document before us (C 81/20) and also the relevant part of The State of Food and Agriculture, a recent publication of the Organization.
We see from the present report that great progress has been made since the last session of the Con-ference and that production has been increased in many countries. We see that consultations have been held on world food security. We see the information on the International Monetary Fund and the steps taken in harnessing the coordination of national food stock policies.
However, as a small country we are particularly interested in regional food stock policies, as outlined in the Resolution adopted by the last session of the Conference, which we regret has not been reproduced in full in the document before us. We regret it the more because it is valuable notice of what is per haps a great possibility which as not yet been sufficiently taken into account, namely, that the establishment of food aid reserves at the regional level could be furthered by schemes for the establishment of a joint fund by interested countries to buy food to be stored at a regional centre. It is of great interest to establish national food reserves and also to harmonize them, but unfortunately this is not enough in itself and cannot resolve the problems of the small countries, for which it is too expensive to build warehouses and to take all the necessary steps for the establishment and management of regional reserves. We would therefore be very pleased if the question of regional food reserves could be mentioned in the report of the present session of the Conference, and in particular the point which I have just raised regarding the setting-up of a joint fund from which the establishment of such reserves could be promoted. As you know, for several years we have proposed, and offered, warehouses for a regional food reserve in an area which is a food-deficit area. Practically most of the countries in the Mediterranean area are food-deficit and food-importing countries. None the less we are surprised that we have had no request so far to utilize the warehouses which the Government of Malta has been offering for some years.
I would like to close my remarks by thanking FAO for putting the question of food reserves on the agenda and I hope it will be on the agenda of the next Conference also, and we would be very pleased if the establishment of a regional fund could also be mentioned in the report of the present session.
P. KANGA (Angola): Comme c'est la première fois que je prends la parole, permettez-moi de vous présenter à vous et aux deux vice-présidents nos vives félicitations pour votre élection. Mes félicitations s'adressent aussi au Secrétariat pour la qualité du document dont nous sommes saisis.
Ma délégation appuie les recommandations tendant à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale. La conception de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale est claire, c'est de garantir à tous une base alimentaire indispensable à son bien-être, indépendamment des conditions naturelles et spécifiques de chacun. Ainsi, la sécurité alimentaire passe en premier lieu par la capacité productive de chaque pays, et passe par la formation de la gestion des excédents.
La République populaire d'Angola a comme l'un de ses principes de base non seulement l’autosuffisance alimentaire, mais aussi l'introduction et l'expansion de nouvelles cultures alimentaires capables d'augmenter le niveau alimentaire de nos populations. Ces objectifs seront atteints dans la mesure où sa définition fait partie d'une volonté politique définie par notre Parti lors de son premier Congrès
extraordinaire et appliquée rigoureusement par le gouvernement. Ces objectifs se matérialisent par la priorité donnée à l'agriculture dans le domaine des investissements de la formation des cadres, à l'appui aux petits paysans par la location des machines, l'approvisionnement en semences améliorées, fertilisants, pesticides et l'achat de leurs excédents à un prix rémunérateur.
Comme objectif à moyen terme, la dynamisation des coopératives en tant que moyen d'assurer la participation populaire dans la production et sa gestion et aussi comme moyen effectif pour rationaliser les efforts de l'Etat dans la concentration des moyens matériels et humains dans l'agriculture et enfin dans l'implantation de grands projets agro-industriels.
Dans cet ensemble d'aspects, le point le plus important pour garantir la sécurité alimentaire réside en premier lieu dans le fait que chaque pays, dans la mesure de ses possibilités,garantit son autosuffisance. Dans bon nombre de nos pays les investissements dans l'agriculture sont consacrés à la production des matières premières pour l'exportation; ainsi la production vivrière abandonnée aux mains des petits paysans mal équipés et sans assistance arrive difficilement à dépasser leur niveau de survie. Les excédents de leurs produits lancés sur le marché sont très réduits et insuffisants pour alimenter les populations urbaines toujours croissantes.
La nécessité de recourir au commerce international dans lequel on rencontre beaucoup de difficultés et des problèmes de prix, nous place devant les effets négatifs du protectionnisme et des barrières commerciales qui doivent être bannis; j'ajouterai qu'en plus des coûts élevés, certains pays en voie de développement sont parfois obligés d'accepter des compromis politiques que certains pays développés utilisent comme objet de pression politique.
Nous pensons que pour concrétiser les objectifs que nous nous sommes tracés pour garantir la sécurité alimentaire dans nos pays, l'aide extérieure multilatérale est indispensable pour renforcer les efforts nationaux, ainsi qu'elle nous a été proposée, sur la coordination de la FAO et du PAM.
Nous reconnaissons que plusieurs pays en voie de développement ne possèdent pas encore un réseau d'infrastructures capables de stockage dans de bonnes conditions d'aliments nécessaires à leur sécurité alimentaire. Ainsi, nous pensons qu'il est impérieux que la FAO aide ces pays dans l'établissement de ce réseau et que cela fonctionne auprès d'autres organismes internationaux afin que ces infra structures soient priorisées en termes de financement. Nous sommes aussi de l'avis que les programmes de sécurité alimentaire régionaux et sous-régionaux devraient être renforcés.
Vous connaissez bien la situation difficile que traverse mon pays, provoquée par le gouvernement raciste et fasciste de Pretoria dès le premier jour de l'accession de mon pays à l'Indépendance, ce qui oblige notre pays à échanger la charrue contre le fusil. Par ailleurs, nous vivons une situation de sécheresse depuis deux ans dans cette même région. C'est pourquoi il nous est vraiment difficile d'équilibrer notre sécurité alimentaire.
WU TIAN XI (China) (original language-Chinese) : While discussing the world food and agriculture situation the day before yesterday, the Chinese Delegation expressed its view that to accelerate food production in developing countries is still a matter of primary urgency. Concerning the viewpoint that development of production is the basis for food security the Chinese Delegation has often reiterated its significance and specific implications at this forum. It would be unnecessary for me to elaborate further. Please allow me to make a few additional remarks here in the light of document C 81/20.
We hold that at a time when the world cereal carry-over stock has dropped below the minimum level of security after two successive years' poor crops, it is indeed opportune and necessary for the document to put forward seven recommendations for further action to strengthen world food security, including, inter alia, expansion of food production, establishment of food reserve stocks, and increase of food aid. Measures must be taken to implement these recommendations.
Even though it is stated in the conclusions of document C 81/20 that "overall progress towards world food security has been limited and slow", one cannot but note that this progress has been scored against considerable difficulties for world food security. Take the establishment of international regional cereal reserves on the principle of "collective self-reliance", two years ago only the ASEAN countries were considering setting up such reserves. By now, dozens of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America have already established or are planning to establish such reserves. It is certainly a positive achievement. Progress has also been recorded in the other aspects of the Director-General's Five Point Plan of Action. So long as this trend continues and accelerates, we believe it is bound to lead to changes of positive significance.
The Chinese government has always attached great importance to food security. On the basis of emphasizing the development of food production, a series of comprehensive measures from distribution, trade, reserve up to consumption have been adopted so as to guarantee food security. Among these, distribution is an important link, on which I would like to say a few words.
On food distribution policy over the years, the Chinese government has taken into consideration the interests of the state, the collective and the individual. Various policies have been adopted to ensure the people's need for basic food grain in line with the specific circumstances of different areas. Concerning the distribution of food grain among members of people's communes located in grain producing areas, the policy is followed to make sure that commune members receive enough food grain for their own consumption and can get more when they produce more, as well as to store grain among the people and encourage them to save grain in good years against lean years. In the cash crop areas, the state guarantees the supply of grain so that the grain ration of the commune members there is not lower than that of the neighbouring grain producing areas. Through planned procurement and supply, the state purchases grain at fixed quotas after each harvest to meet the requirement of both the urban and rural people. The procured grain is rationed to each person according to his age and kind of job in order to guarantee the supply in the urban, industrial and mining and cash crop areas. This, plus the state food subsidy to the consumer and grants to individual families who cannot afford to buy enough grain, has ensured sufficient food for everybody at stable prices, despite the fact that the per capita production of grain is not high in our country.
We consider, therefore, that proper improvement of food distribution should be taken as one of the important measures to strengthen food security.
The meeting rose at 11. 00 hours
La seance est levée à 11 heures
Se levanta la sesión a las 11. 00 horas
