T. J. KELLY (Australia): The Australian Government is a supporter of the five-point plan and we believe that in the context of our Constitution and of the institutional framework within Australia we are adhering to it. At the same time I think it appropriate to remind delegates that Australian Government policies for the cereal industries do not entail explicit commitments to hold stocks. The Government's programme for providing wheat producers, for example, with a guarantee and the support of the level of price within that guarantee is, we believe, completely consistent with the principles of maintaining and expanding the availability of an adequate supply of foodstuffs as espoused in the International Undertaking on World Food Security and in the Plan of Action itself. We believe, as do many representatives of the developing countries who have spoken on this matter, that it is from there that the major thrust in increasing food production must come. We believe also that Australia, as a major exporter of grain, can contribute to increased world security through a rational expansion of our own trade product ion. We support the emphasis given to expanding production and as a producer country we stress the need for remunerative prices and the need to reduce the level of agricultural protection to encourage production in developing countries. In the main we find that we can accept the generality of what is suggested in the document before us but I would like to make a couple of observations in which we put up some cautionary signals which we feel will be helpful. We are at one with the Plan of Action's role in encouraging countries to maintain national stocks but we would strongly oppose the idea of the CFS intensifying its consultative function into a mechanism for harmonizing national stock policies. We, as we have said so often before, view the International Wheat Council as the appropriate forum for negotiations on reserve stocks and we are opposed to measures which could in any way prejudice the continuing discussions in the International Wheat Council. We agree that a greater effort is needed in working towards an international grains agreement which safeguards the interests of both exporters and importers and recognizes the particular needs of developing countries. We are certainly prepared to explore approaches that will strengthen the present agreement. In relation to food security assistance we agree that there is a need for increased external assistance for agricultural development and for short-term food security problems. We would have no problem about the CFS, as part of its review under the Plan of Action, examining how to improve food security in developing countries and for our part we are prepared to give both technical and financial assistance on grain storage to the developing countries, as was announced by the Prime Minister of Australia at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Melbourne last month. Turning now to food aid, Australia supports the World Food Conference target and urges more countries to join the Food Aid Convention as donors, including the Socialist countries. Our own food aid programme this year has been increased by 15 percent. Our feed grain aid will rise from 400 000 tons to about 445 000 tons only a few years ago. We are also increasing our contribution to the IEFR from 30 000 to about 45 000 tons. We have been a constant supporter of the IEFR and westrongly support the need for it and we recognize the need to strengthen it. On the role of commodity trade we share the concern of other countries at the unsatisfactory situation about agricultural protectionism.
We believe that there is an important link between world food security and agricultural protectionism and the related problems of structural adjustment, and we will certainly be doing all we can to continue to promote efforts at increased liberalization in world agricultural trade.
If I may sum up our general position, we believe that we are appropriately recognizing the need for food security with marketing commitments made by our central marketing authority, the provision of skills to help increase food production in developing countries and the provision of food aid to help alleviate food problems. As a final element in the summary, Australia has reservations about the effectiveness of current proposals for international reserve stocking arrangements. None the less we remain
prepared to participate positively in negotiations on such an arrangement if that is the international consensus. We believe that negotiations to that end would need to avoid placing all the burden on just a few, and especially on the shoulders of exporters alone. We think, too, that any negotiations would need to consider individual countries' marketing and production systems, because ultimately it. is the attainment of the objective, not the mechanics and procedures, which is crucial.
Finally, we assert our willingness to continue to collaborate with everybody in the international community who is seeking a solution to what is becoming a very vexed question indeed.
A. L. MACHADO de MORAES (Brazil): The Brazilian Government considers that the most efficient and appropriate way of dealing with the problem of world food security is to improve prevailing conditions of production and trade in each country and of international trade. Increasing efforts to raise food production should be made particularly through greater productivity as energy costs assume an increasing importance along an extensive frontier. In that sense, the activity of agricultural research and rural extension plays a key role. The occupation of new areas, however, will continue to increase for the majority of agricultural production, which we consider important also for the objective of world food security, because it alleviates the pressure upon traditional producer and consumer regions.
The extension of the agricultural frontier has been emphasized by the Brazilian Government, through the creation of specific programmes aimed at promoting food production in the humid valleys and the savannas and in the pre-rAmazon region. These programmes are not only economically feasible but also of very high social benefit as well as of great importance in terms of food security. These efforts, and similar ones made by other developing countries, face the restriction imposed by the scarcity of financial resources; therefore it would be through technical assistance and financial cooperation in favour of such initiatives that the interests of world food security could better be fulfilled.
Each country should also give more attention to the improvement and expansion of its stock facilities, so as to ensure a more stable and secure agricultural market.
The Brazilian Government has expanded the over-all storage capacity in the country, reaching this year the astonishing capacity of 54. 4 million tons against approximately half that in 1975. In addition to this effort, the market in basic food is to some extent regulated by the Brazilian Food Company, which is very active as an agent in the marketing of food among small suppliers and low-income communities.
All of these actions would be ineffective, or have no impact, if the over-all national economic policy particularly related to agriculture were not consistent with the necessary stimulus required by investors. Agriculture, historically, has been viewed as a sector to be exploited and a source of inputs to promote industrial development, and such a policy orientation has penalized the agricultural sector. World food security would be greatly improved if each nation followed policies more consistent with the interests of agricultural development.
In the particular case of Brazil, now policy orientations have been introduced in relation to food price controls, reducing agricultural subsidized credit and allowing market forces to work more freely, as well as increasing the availability of credit to the sector.
Even more limiting than inadequate domestic policies to the development of agriculture are the external constraints represented by the worsening in the terms of trade and by an increasing protectionism by developed countries, which is a clear indication that the worsening in the terms of trade between the food exported by the developing countries and the manufacturesexported by developed countries affect negatively the production food in the former countries. That is precisely the sector where their comparative advantages are higher. In addition the development of agriculture faces the limitations imposed by protectionist policies of developed countries, affording the free access of goods from abroad and competing unfairly in the "third" markets with agricultural exports of the developing countries. Therefore any progres in favour of changing the structure of world trade towards a more equalitative and fair basis will definitely have a positive influence on world food security. That is why we believe that the actions of this Organization to improve world food security should be based on adequate national policies, technical cooperation through developed countries, cooperation by countries with available financial resources and fair international trade.
M. SAISSI (Maroc): Je vous remercie M. le Président. J'estime comme les autres représentants éminents des pays membres de la FAO qui m'ont précédé que le document relatif à la sécurité alimentaire est tout à fait satisfaisant et présente de façon exhaustive le problème qui nous préoccupe: la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
Le caractère critique de la situation alimentaire mondiale nécessite que des mesures urgentes soient prises aussi bien à l'échelle internationale qu'à l'échelle nationale notamment dans les pays en développement en vue de mobiliser, plus que par le passé les énergies pour augmenter la production alimentaire et assurer la couverture des besoins essentiels de toutes les populations.
La sécurité alimentaire mondiale, objectif ultime des efforts déployés par notre organisation suppose nécessairement que tous les pays développés ou en développement mettent en oeuvre toutes les actions susceptibles d'entraîner une croissance harmonieuse des productions alimentaires et une libéralisation des échanges internationaux de manière à réaliser un équilibre judicieux et adéquat de répartition des disponibilités alimentaires à l'échelle internationale ainsi qu'une mobilisation rationnelle, fiable et valable des potentialités humanines et matérielles existantes partout dans le monde.
Les pays en développement disposent de potentialités naturelles considérables susceptibles de permettre l'augmentation de façon substantielle de leurs productions agricoles; grâce au recours à l'utilisation des facteurs modernes de production et à la mise en valeur rationnelle de l'ensemble des terres agricoles, les pays développés peuvent contribuer de façon efficace à la réalisation de cet objectif en orientant vers les pays en développement le flux d'une partie de leurs investissements. La mobilisation despotentia lités et des ressources naturelles des pays en développement, avec une aide technique et financière concrète de la part des pays développés, rendra grandement aisée la mise en place et la mise en oeuvre effective d'un système cohérent et fiable de sécurité alimentaire appuyé notamment sur des dispositifs régionaux et nationaux, comportant la constitution de réserves obligatoires de denrées alimentaires à la fois dans les pays importateurs et exportateurs. L'objectif de sécurité alimentaire doit reposer essentiellement sur la mobilisation des capacités productives nationales dans le cadre des stratégies de développement accordant une haute priorité au secteur agricole.
Il est utile d'indiquer à cet égard que l'explosion démographique que connaissent les pays en voie de développement contribue à l'augmentation excessive de nos besoins en produits alimentaires et rend impérative la réflexion sur une strategie de développement originale permettant notamment d'envisager un développement intégré et autoentretenu au niveau du monde rural. Mon pays envisage précisément d'introduire cette nouvelle dimension dans son processus de planification.
Aperçu sur la politique de stockage au Maroc: La politique de stockage au Maroc est basée sur la nécessité de constituer d'une part un stock de sécurité dont le volume pourrait se situer à 18 pour cent de la demande et d'autre part un stock outil minimal équivalent à deux mois d'écrasement de la minoterie industrielle.
Cependant la réalisation de ces objectifs reste tributaire de l'extension de la capacité de stockage intérieure dont les besoins additionnels sont estimés en 1958 à 9 millions de quintaux et en 1990 à 13 millions de quintaux par rapport à la situation actuelle.
Par ailleurs, la réalisation des opérations d'importations de céréales dont le volume continuera malheureusement son ascension au cours des années à venir, malgré les efforts déployés pour développer la production céréalière, doit presque tripler d'ici à 1985 et quadrupler en 1990 pour atteindre respectivement à ces horizons 3 millions de quintaux et 4 millions de quintaux. Le plan de construction de silos allant de Tanger (qui doit avoir à lui tout seul une capacité dé 1 million de quintaux et servir à l'usage de toute la région ou la sous-région où il se trouve)à Agadir et même bien au sud du Maroc se met progressivement en place. Je dois noter ici que la réalisation de plans nationaux de développement de stockage, au niveau des pays en développement comme le nôtre nécessite un soutien financier extérieur pour permettre sa réalisation rapide.
Le point II du Plan énonce les critères généraux que les gouvernements devraient appliquer pour orienter leurs décisions relatives au déblocage des stocks en temps de pénurie aiguë ou généralisée, mais il ne précise pas les mesures à prendre pour affronter de telles situations. A ce propos le comité de la sécurité alimentaire a examiné, à sa sixième session tenue en avril 1981, les moyens propres à mieux préparer les pays à faire face à des pénuries alimentaires aiguè's et de grande ampleur. Il devient de plus en plus impérieux. d'adopter rapidement ces mesures et de les mettre en service.
Devant la situation préoccupante de l'alimentation dans le monde, et la multiplication des foyers de pénuries alimentaires, on ne peut que se féliciter de la prise de conscience par la communauté internationale de la nécessité de mettre en place les moyens propres à mieux préparer les pays à faire face à des pénuries alimentaires aiguës et de grande ampleur.
Particulièrement sensible à cette question, le Maroc appuie les recommandations faites dans ce sens là par le comité de la sécurité alimentaire à l'issue de sa sixième session, et approuvées ensuite par le conseil à sa 79ème session.
En ce qui concerne l'instauration d'un système d'alerte rapide au Maroc; La garantie d'un approvision-nement suffisant et régulier du marché intérieur en céréales étant l'une de nos préoccupations majeures au Maroc, nous avons dû mettre en place un système de collecte des informations statistiques sur la production agricole nationale qui permet de fournir à temps des indications sur l'importance de celle-ci. En particulier, nous réalisons chaque année une enquête subjective qui nous permet d'obtenir déjà au début du mois de mai une estimation de la production de céréales alors que celle-ci n'a lieu effective ment qu'à partir du mois de septembre.
Le point V du Plan souligne la nécessité urgente d'encourager l'autonomie collective des pays en développement dans le secteur vital de la sécurité alimentaire.
Diverses initiatives ont été prises par les Gouvernements et par les organismes régionaux et internationaux afin de renforcer l'autonomie collective des pays en développement.
Le Conseil mondial de l'alimentation, à sa septième réunion ministérielle qui a eu lieu en Mai 1981, a évoqué le potentiel considérable de coopération entre pays en développement qui existe dans le domaine de la production et du commerce alimentaires, et notamment les possibilités qu'ont les pays d'accroître la production vivrièretant pour la consommation intérieure que pour l'exportation, avec les ressources financières, administratives et technologiques d'autres pays en développement qui peuvent les aider.
Je pense que le renforcement de la coopération économique entre les pays en développement peut égale ment au regard des potentialités importantes que recèlent ces pays au même titre que la coopération classique entre pays riches et pays pauvres, contribuer dans une large mesure à faciliter la réalisation des projets identifiés dans le secteur vital de la sécurité alimentaire.
C'est d'ailleurs dans cet esprit là que le Maroc a toujours souscrit aux initiatives visant à renforcer la coopération inter et intra-régionale entre les pays en développement, que ce soit à l'échelle de l'Afrique, des pays arabes, des pays islamiques, ou des non alignés, en vue de mettre en oeuvre une stratégie susceptible d'assurer la sécurité alimentaire de ces groupes de pays.
Si par ailleurs le renforcement de l’autosuffisance alimentaire nationale et la libéralisation du commerce international des produits agricoles constituent à nos yeux deux éléments importants et décisifs pour atteindre une répartition équitable des disponibilités alimentaires à moyen et à long terme, ma délégation attache aussi beaucoup de prix à la mise en place des mécanismes concrets rationnels et valables pour faire face aux situations d'urgence alimentaire et assurer une meilleure stabilité alimentaire mondiale.
Mon pays accorde aussi son soutien aux efforts tendant à stabiliser le marché mondial des aliments de base par la conclusion d'accords internationaux et la mise en place de mécanismes susceptibles de permettre la constitution de réserves mondiales de sécurité.
Ma délégation insiste notamment sur la nécessité de parvenir rapidement à un accord international sur le blé, comportant la constitution obligatoire de réserves au niveau international et introduisant un système valable de régulation du marché de cette denrée.
En ce qui concerne les mesures spéciales destinées à aider les pays à faible revenu et à déficit alimentaire à satisfaire leurs besoins d'importation courants et leurs besoins d'urgence nous enregistrons avec satisfaction: d'une part, la décision prise par le Fonds monétaire international, en mai 1981, et qui consiste à accorder une assistance financière aux membres qui connaissent les difficultés de balance des paiements en raison du coût de leurs importations. D'autre part, l'accroissement des engagements annuels d'aide alimentaire qui s'élèveront de 4,2 millions de tonnes (convention de 1971) à 7,6 millions de tonnes en vertu de la Convention relative à l'aide alimentaire de 1980 prorogée jusqu'au 30 juin 1983.
A ce sujet, il est à souligner que le Maroc a entrepris les démarches nécessaires auprès du F. M. I afin de bénéficier de ces facilités qui, quoique insuffisantes (puisque leur montant est généralement faible par rapport au coût des importations, et l'association entre la compensation des importations et celle des exportations est injustifiée) constituent un premier pas vers l'instauration d'un système d'échanges internationaux plus équitables.
Mon pays estime qu'il est nécessaire d'envisager l'augmentation de l'aide alimentaire qui n'a pas pu atteindre jusqu'ici l'objectif chiffré fixé par la Conférence mondiale de l'alimentation en 1979, à savoir, 10 millions de tonnes. La situation est à cet égard d'ailleurs, d'autant plus préoccupante que les perspectives des besoins d'aide alimentaire à l'horizon 1985 supposent que le volume d'aide actuel soit pratiquement doublé. S'il est difficile en tout état de cause de concevoir une augmentation
indéfinie de cette aide, vu le caractère limité des possibilités des pays donateurs, il serait plus efficace et plus rationnel de s'orienter parallèlement à cette aide en nature vers l'aide à la production de manière à favoriser l'accroissement des disponibilités alimentaires locales des pays en développement disposant de ressources et potentialités agricoles sûres et importantes dans ce domaine.
De même, il y a lieu d'appuyer la proposition du Directeur général de la FAO qui vise à garantir un minimum de ressources pour répondre aux besoins d'aide alimentaire d'urgence, et qui consiste à faire de la Réserve alimentaire internationale d'urgence (RAIU), une convention ayant force obligatoire, de manière à garantir un minimum de ressources susceptibles de servir à répondre aux besoins d'aide alimentaire d'urgence.
Cette réserve permet en effet aux pays qui subissent les méfaits de calamités naturelles telles que la sécheresse, de bénéficier d'une aide d'urgence leur permettant de pallier rapidement, quoiqu'en partie seulement, à leurs besoins en céréales, notamment ceux des populations les plus affectées. Il est à souligner à ce propos que le Maroc qui a subi une sécheresse aiguë au cours de la campagne 1980-81 a bénéficié à ce titre d'une dotation globale de 40 000 tonnes de céréales.
P. A. BLANDON (Nicaragua): En el marco del trabajo alrededor de la seguridad alimentaria regional, nuestra delegación estimaba conveniente hacer del conocimiento de esta Comisión los importantes trabajos que en esta materia hemos realizado conjuntamente con el sistema económico latinoamericano CELA, en la ultima reunión sostenida en México sobre expertos, gubernamentales de alto nivel en materia de seguridad alimentaria. En este sentido nuestro país está participando en un comité de acción del CELA, junto con cinco países más del área latinoamericana, con el propósito de llevar a cabo acciones de ejecución des centralizada, que permitirían crear una seguridad alimentaria regional para los países de Centroamérica y del Caribe.
En primer lugar parte de estas actividades están relacionadas con la formación de un fondo de reserva de alimentos básicos que esté encaminado a que nuestros países cuenten con una fuente de abastecimiento que en situaciones difíciles y de déficit les permitan solventar situaciones determinadas a través del pulso del fondo. En segundo lugar está planteado un sistema integrado de comercialización. Este sería un mecanismo de acción que permitiría, por medio del intercambio regional, un sistema muy adecuado para los productos alimentarios básicos, en especial cereales, entre los países participantes, de forma tal que con ello se evitarían situaciones de crisis en el abastecimiento interno de dichos productos.
Dicho sistema requeriría de cuatro apoyos fundamentales: primero, un subsistema de información orientada a que los países se informen entre sí de manera sistemática sobre los diferentes elementos que juegan en la determinación de la oferta v de la demanda interna de los productos básicos de que se trate y de la situación del mercado y de los precios. Esto ya se ha empezado a hacer y se ha delegado a uno de los países miembros del comité de acción para ejecutar esta actividad.
En segundo lugar, un subsistema de coordinación, por medio del cual se formarían las corrientes del comercio entre los países, cuando se presentan situaciones de excedentes y de déficit de los mismos. Asimismo se establecerían las acciones a seguir para compras a realizar fuera de la región.
El tercero sería un subsector de consultas, que significaría disponer de los medios y formas de comuni cación más convenientes para realizar las operaciones de compra y venta entre los países participantes, incluso para las transacciones fuera de la región. Esto implicaría utilizar consultas multilaterales en la forma que se considere más conveniente.
Y en cuarto lugar estaría por establecerse un subsistema de concertación de las transacciones, es decir, el mecanismo de economía que defina cómo se realizaría el intercambio entre los países y cómo actuar ante terceros.
Nuestra delegación quería hacer partícipe a esta Comisión de estas actividades que se están desarrollando dentro del marco del sistema económico latinoamericano y debemos de cumplir con un calendario de trabajo, que seguramente ya tendremos en una próxima reunión del comité de acción del CELA, en enero del próximo año y agradeceríamos que esta Comisión tomara nota de que dentro de las actividades para desarrollar un plan de seguridad alimentaria Nicaragua está con el firme propósito de participar, ejecutando descentra-lizadamente las actividades que aquí hemos expuesto.
S. SABER (Iraq) (Original language Arabie): We thank the Secretariat for the document prepared for us in such an excellent and clear manner, with respect to the implementation to the Plan of Action for world food security. We noted with satisfaction that progress has been achieved in agricultural production in the developing countries generally except for the case of some countries which suffer from food-deficit. We also noted with satisfaction the policy IMF which aims at granting credits for the purchase of emergency reserves. We appreciate the fact that negotiations have taken place in the light of the resolutions adopted by non-aligned countries and the Group of 77, especially at its last meeting in Caracas. We also noted with satisfaction that the Islamic countries and the Arab countries have adopted a resolution in order to seek the best ways for attaining food security and creating food reserves regionally and sub-regionally. We believe that all these attempts will lead in the near future to positive results in this field, particularly after the greater awareness within world public opinion since the last Conference and the meetings held in this organization for that purpose. We also think that world food security can only be achieved if we increase production by increasing agricultural acreage or by increasing the yield per acre cultivated regionally. We also have to intensify our efforts in order to attain self-reliance. It is natural that the international community should be aware of its responsibility and support developing countries in order to achieve food security and help them prevent post-harvest losses.
Iraq, for its part and as far as possible, offers aid of different types indirectly through the funds in which it participates and directly to the developing countries, particularly in Africa in order to increase agricultural production in these countries as well as to help them reduce their balance of payment deficit and import their needs of agricultural products. Although Iraq is a country import ingagricultural foods at this stage, we hope through the implementation of 5-year plans in our region where we have invested large sums, we shall be able to develop agriculture and achieve self-reliance particularly for important crops in the near future.
Iraq, with respect to food reserves, has set up a plan for the establishment of silos and storage facilities for grains and we also hope that we shall be able to avoid post-harvest losses. We believe firmly that no food security and no development can be achieved nor can we improve the food situation of the poor countries unless we are able to create a fair system of distribution and unless we enable the poorest masses to benefit from this through prices in line with their income. We should also provide loans to small farmers to enable them to increase their production.
Finally, generally speaking, we support everything in this document as well as the proposals submitted for the increase of food production and the development of food reserves enabling an equitable dis tribution of foodstuffs, and enabling food-deficit countries to meet their needs in conformity with the resolutions of the W. F. Conference so that a fair situation may be achieved in the trade of food stuffs and food commodities and in order to attain world food security.
E. HJELMAR (Denmark):The time at my disposal for discussing this very important item is limited. It would not be reasonable to repeat statements we have delivered elsewhere in this Organization so I will try to summarize our viewpoint in three main points.
Firstly, we agree with earlier speakers that the greater world food security in the long run must be sought through a growth in food production in areas with food deficits. The countries themselves have the major responsibility in this respect, but it must be the main aim of the FAO to encourage and to assist in such a development.
Secondly, the establishment and management of reserve stocks is a necessity to ensure food security. Reserve stocks should in principle exist in those areas where acute food shortages might be feared. The pre-condition for this is, however, that the necessary infrastructures for storing and for manage ment of the stocks exists.
In this connexion I might support points made this morning by the Delegate of Malta. It would be un reasonable to suppose that each single country in an area could create the infrastructure necessary for the establishment of reserve stocks, however small the country might be. Groups of countries in different areas should cooperate to create regional and sub-regional reserves. We are happy with the support from developing countries to the principle of collective self-reliance.
To deal with our own situation in a very few words, Denmark followed, as a Member of the EEC, the rules established for marketing cereals and other food and which are common for all member countries in this western European region. As mentioned in the document it has also been decided by the EC Council that community food aid might be used for food security stocks in developing countries, and also on a regional level. I take it that the Representative of the EC Commission will refer to it.
Thirdly, national and regional initiatives to obtain a higher degree of food security should be supported internationally and supported in international consultation. The International Wheat Council has a specially heavy responsibility to try to ensure this. This responsibility includes discussions on the ideas expressed in the World Food Council concerning international food security reserve in the terms of 9 million tons of wheat, the IFSR.
The World Food Programme is another international organization with important responsibilities. Denmark supports strongly the development work carried out through the WFP projects andisof the opinion as will be mentioned in the speech of the Danish Representative in the Plenary this afternoon, that it would lead to a better utilization of food aid if aid to a greater extent was channelled through the World Food Programme. We consider the six food projects in Africa to which our basic document refers in paragraph 27 as a very interesting experiment and we look forward to the report on these projects which we expect at the next meeting of CFA. We hope to have positive experiences. We look for ward to a situation where less food aid at the disposal of WFP is used for emergency purposes, but we must accept that the need for emergency aid continues to exist as long as we have not established a better food security system.
The general agreement, which now seems to materialize on biennial pledging conferences concerning the International Emergency Food Reserve will make it easier for the World Food Programme to manage food aid in emergency situations, especially by establishing a better predictability concerning the input in the reserve.
Finally, under this third point in my statement on international coordination in the field of food security, I will have to comment on the role of the FAO Committee on Food Security, the CFS. The document before us mentions a number of points which the Conference might wish to invite the CFS to consider. We find those points in paragraphs 50, 51 and 57. Professor Islam also referred to these points in his introdutory statement.
Denmark supports strongly the work carried out through the WFP projects and are of the opinion as will be mentioned in the speech of the Danish Representative in the Plenary this afternoon, that it would lead to a better utilization of food aid if aid to a greater extent was channelled through the World Food Programme. We consider projects in Africa to which our basic document refers in paragraph 27 as a very interesting experiment and we look forward to the report on these projects which we expect at the next meeting of CFA. We look forward to a situation where this food aid is at the disposal of WFP and is used for emergency purposes. We must accept that the need for emergency aid continues to exist as long as we have not established a better food security system.
The general agreement, which now seems to have materialized on biennial pledging conferences concern ing international emergency food reserve, makes it easier for management of food aid in an emergency situation especially concerning the mobility of imports in the reserve.
Thirdly, the last point in this statement on international cooperation and coordination in the field of food security, I will have to comment on the role of the FAO Committee on Food Security. The CFS document before, mentioned a number of points which Conference might wish CFS to consider. We find those points in paragraphs 50, 51 and 57. Professor Islam also referred to these points in his intro ductory statement.
Denmark is of the opinion that the FAO has done good work in the food security field so far, and we would like to see the Organization continue to play a very active role in achieving world food security. We therefore support these proposals.
YUSOF bin KHALID (Malaysia):First of all, let me compliment the Secretariat on having prepared a comprehensive Report on the Progress in Implementation of the Plan of Action on World Food Security and also Professor Islam for the very clear introduction yesterday.
As all of us know, the Plan of Action on World Food Security, as formulated by the Fourth Session of the Committee on World Food Security, was adopted by the Seventy-fifth Session in June 1979 and sub sequently endorsed by the 20th FAO Conference and the World Food Council.
Under the five-point plan of action, special measures were called for to assist low-income,food-deficit countries to meet current import requirements and emergency needs. They welcomed the decision by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund to extend financial assistance to member countries of the Fund for their food imports in times of balance of payment difficulties.
My delegation is also pleased to note in the document that efforts have been and are being undertaken by many countries and regional groupings to formulate and implement explicit stock policies for their staple foods. This is indeed encouraging as it represents a positive step in fostering and promoting collective self-reliance in food among the developing countries. However, in view of the economic and financial conditions prevailing in the developing countries, we found that only certain countries could mobilize the necessary investments to improve food security, particularly in building up national reserve stocks which involve, inter alia, the setting up of cereal storage and handling facilities. Many countries lack the facilities and resources for implementing food security projects. As a result, these countries are unable to achieve the basic objective of food security, which is to ensure a steady rise in food supplies in step with demand and to ensure that each country is able to meet national requirements in times of severe food shortages.
It is in this connexion that FAO's Food Security Assistance Scheme becomes crucial, since it is focus-sed on the more immediate needs to improve food security in the developing countries.
My delegation supports the targeted annual level of $10 million for the FAO Food Security Assistance Scheme to enable it to respond to increasing requirements of food security assistance. It would also like to suggest that when possible FSAS activities and projects should be undertaken in conjunction with the World Food Programme.
Malaysia has always supported FAO's efforts in spearheading food security programmes in developing countries and would like to reaffirm here its support for the programme presently undertaken by FAO over the five-point plan of action on World Food Security.
W. S. NAIMOOL (Trinidad and Tobago): The very clear and very informative document, C 81/20 is, in the opinion of my delegation a document to be generally supported. It seems to us to be virtually without seriously controversial issues and its general acceptance, which I believe it already enjoys, should not be encumbered by a mass of lengthy interventions which, excellent as they may be, in them selves, can do little else but positively emphasize the points which the document has made with such clarity and balance. It will be gathered from this that I speak essentially for myself and that I intend to be brief.
My delegation is impressed by the fact that page 9 in the English version of the document is entirely taken up in hammering the cardinal point that in this matter of food security nothing is more import ant-to use the Secretariate's words-than "a more rapid growth of food production, particularly in low-income food-deficit countries. " That is the heart of the matter and my delegation would suggest the most careful elaboration of a forceful resolution on this subject in keeping with paragraph 45 of page 9 of the said document, C 81/20.
Lest we tend to forget it, food production, and indeed food reserves as well, embrace living resources in our rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and seas. My delegation can think of no better form of stocks and reserves than the teeming abundance closely cared for and rationally exploited of fish- life (I use this term in its all-inclusive sense) in our waters.
This naturally raises, directly or indirectly, the vital question of environmental care, a subject, incidentally, that seems to be sadly losing the importance it has deserved and it goes hand-in-hand with the production of cereals, livestock, vegetables and other land food commodities.
My delegation would very much like to enlarge on this question of the environment about which it has heard little or nothing so far at this Conference but it prefers not to do so in the interests of time and your patience, Mr. Chairman.
Increased food production, therefore, is the answer to the problem with which we have for so long been plagued and is one of the essential issues to which the attention of the Conference is drawn. This point is made succinctly in paragraph 60 of document C 81/20.
Having said the foregoing, my delegation recognizes, as we all do, that increased food production is not realized to the degree desired over-night. It is a long and laborious task and for many, especially those lacking in water and land space and soil fertility, a very painful one. The interim period, therefore, must be taken care of and proper provision made for meeting at any point of time food needs arising from natural or man-made disasters. The prospect of man-made disasters looms more real day by day especially as the production of arms seems to take precedence over the production of food. For those reasons we support those measures formulated by FAO for a better system of food security. These will include a close examination of, and appropriate action on, the problem defined at paragraph 51 of the document under reference which states: "a number of developing countries which have adopted
national stock policies have experienced difficulties in building up food reserves due to insufficient food production, lack of storage facilities, low level of food aid or other financial or technical constraints. "
In this context of affairs, individual country cases, as well as cases involving regional possibilities of firm cooperation, must receive our sympathetic attention.
A. B. CAWTHORN (United Kingdom): Once more we have before us a reflection of the comprehensive and efficient efforts of the Secretariat and we are very grateful to them for this working document.
I would like to express the United Kingdom's pleasure at the decision taken by the International Monetary Fund to extend financial assistance to members encountering balance of payments difficulties. This is a valuable contribution which will assist low-income food-deficit countries to meet urgent requirements.
The United Kingdom is also pleased to note that on stocking policies progress has been made by developing countries in adopting domestic stockholding policies. We shall leave it to the Commission's spokesman to outline in due course our views on cereal stocks. However, we would repeat our view that specific commitments to hold stocks for the benefit of the international community need to be seen in the context of a new international grains agreement and we would only say that although we are as disappointed as others at the lack of progress towards a new wheat trade convention, we will continue to play our part as a member of the EEC in negotiations on an agreement which will benefit the LDC's and enhance world food security.
We have some concern that any concerted effort by a large number of countries to establish stocks could have the effect of removing from the markets grain which would normally have been available for export. A large proportion of wheat purchased annually by developing countries is acquired on commercial terms thus the food aid convention, while undoubtedly important to the LDC's can of itself, make only a limited contribution to world food security.
Although the 10 million tonne target has not been reached under the FAC, we must not lose sight of supplementary aid outside that Convention. The Community is giving such aid specifically this year. In the longer run the United Kingdom agrees with Canada that food aid needs should decline rather than increase. Point III of the Plan of Action calls, amongst other things, on all countries in a position to do so to contribute to the International Emergency Food Reserve. This year the United Kingdom is making available 5,000 tonnes of cereals from its national actions allocations under the Food Aid Convention. We endorse the views of the Canadian delegate that turning the IEFR into a legally binding convention would not necessarily produce a higher level of contributions. We think that the arrangement now agreed for double pledging to the WFP and the IEFR will be a much more satisfactory approach. The United Kingdom is actively cooperating with the Food Security Assistance Scheme. Bilateral projects in the field of food security have been mounted in association with FSAS in a num ber of poorer countries including Tanzania, Mali and Nepal and there is a United Kingdom specialistliaision officer on FSAS matters.
The services of our Tropical Products Institute, in particular the stored products centre, are at the disposal of developing countries under technical cooperation arrangements. Expansion of the training facilities begun in 1979 have now been completed.
In his introductory remarks Professor Islam suggested that theCommission might like to reiterate the need for high priority to be afforded to food production in developing countries and for donors to increase the flow of financial and technical assistance to support these efforts. We would endorse this but we would suggest that donors are more likely to increase assistance only when appropriate policies are instituted to give incentives to domestic producers and to landless peasants.
O. LUCO ECHEVERRÍA (Chile): Señor Presidente: El otro día, un distinguido representante manifestó que en el marco mundial de alimentos la variación ocurrida en estos últimos años no había sido importante. Aún más: solo son los factores climáticos principalmente los que deciden si se tendrán buenas o malas cosechas. También hubo otro distinguido delegado que se encontraba preocupado por una posible baja en los precios del trigo, pues gracias a un valor apropiado de este cereal se había conseguido un aumento considerable de la producción en su país.
Chile cree en el sistema de las Naciones Unidas y en su Organismo especializado para la agricultura, FAO. Es así como hace un aporte anual a este Organismo internacional de alrededor de un millón de dolares, que se desglosan, en cifras globales, de la siguiente forma: aproximadamente 760 mil dolares a la Ofici na Regional; 123 mil a la Oficina Nacional, 15 mil al PMA y 92 mil a un Programa Lechero que se sostiene con un país nordico, FAO y mi propio país.
Todos los países, en la medida de sus posibilidades, quieren que no haya hambre en el mundo, pero las es trategias que hasta ahora se siguen continúan siendo demasiado lentas y poco efectivas frente a la trage dia diaria del hambre y la malnutrición. Además, esta situación es tan apremiante, que no impide ver y estudiar lo importante.
Mi delegación se encuentra inquieta por lo que se refiere a la conservación, manejo adecuado e incremento de los recursos naturales renovables que es parte fundamental de la estrategia contra el hambre y pieza clave en la seguridad alimentaria mundial a mediano plazo. Sin suelos o con agua contaminada, mañana no tendremos que comer.
Mi delegación estima que quizá sea conveniente reestudiar la estrategia general que hasta ahora se aplica, revisar los postulados en conciencia y ver si realmente se tiene la voluntad política por parte de los países en una mejor situación relativa de colaborar efectivamente a una solución, solución que evidente mente significa sacrificio porque implica dejar de tener uno algo para que otro lo tenga. Si no tenemos esta voluntad política quizás continuemos en muchas reuniones aquí o en otras partes del mundo, pero llegará el día en que nos demos cuenta de que las reuniones no fueron lo suficientemente imaginativas ni audaces para dar una solución y veamos con tristeza que llego el momento en que tengamos que lamen tarlo.
H. L. CRAWLA (India): At the outset I express my deep appreciation for the document C/81/20 which has been brought out by the FAO Secretariat. Yesterday Professor Islam gave us with his realistic lucidity the salient aspects of this subject in his introduction. It is indeed gratifying to note that awareness concerning food security is catching the imagination of a large number of countries and international organizations. This is evident from the comprehensive review of the progress on implementation of the Plan of Action. The initiative of the IMF is certainly a significant landmark in this regard. More recently the Conferences of the non-aligned countries, Commonwealth Heads of Governments and the summer Conference at Cancun have already expressed deep concern at the problem of food security. All this may augur well for the future. Everyone hopes for it. As of today the situation is not quite satisfactory. The 10 million target of food aid per annum which was considered reasonable in 1974 has not been reached till now. The present requirements are considerably higher. As regards IEFR, although it was a matter of some satisfaction to learn yesterday that commitment to the extent of 500 000 tons had been made, expert opinion is in favour of a target of 1 million or at least 750 000 tons per year. A matter of greater concern however is the existence of serious handicaps in the capacity of developing countries to improve their food security. There are productive resources which can be developed. There is the will to develop them. But the investment source base is poor and what is worse it is sinking due to unfavourable terms of trade for many of the exportable agricultural commodities. In this background it is of the utmost importance that the donor countries and international institutions increase the flow of financial resources and technical assistance to the developing countries for enabling them to intensify their food production efforts and help them to get an adequate and assured supply of basic inputs. All efforts by the CFS to assist the developing countries to plan and implement their food security would be highly desirable, and we extend our full support to such efforts. Experience in India shows that effective food management requires a great deal of attention, organizational effort and institutional infrastructure. It is therefore advisable that proper planning should precede the creation of an effectiveframeworkof food security to cope with large scale food shortages. In the context of my intervention on item 6. 1 of the Agenda I mentioned that for a large number of developing countries trade has a direct bearing on food security. Thefore UNCTAD and FAO may ensure that the foreign exchange earnings of these countries and their purchasing power are duly safeguarded. Cooperative endeavour can be of great value in ensuring food security. It may be useful to mention here that even though India is marginally self-sufficient it was possible for our country to give, during the last three years, 670 000 tons of food grains to neighbouring countries on a commodity loan basis to tide them over temporary difficulties. We appreciate and support the proposal of the Secretariat for collective self-reliance through measures like TCDC and ECDC. These are highly desirable. A great deal of relevant techonology and experience useful to developing countries are available in some of the other developing countries which started with institution building some time earlier. It would be good for the world if bi-lateral and international efforts helped the diffusion of knowledge and experience among as many other countries as can benefit from the same.
G. ROSSI PEROTTI (Italie): Je voudrais tout d'abord remercier le secretariat pour son excellent document. Notre position sur le plan d'action sur la sécurité alimentaire est bien connue; plusieurs de ses points ont été en effet commentés à l'occasion des déclarations de l'Italie en session plénière.
A ce stade de nos débats, je voudrais donc me borner à réitérer ici l'importance que nous reconnaissons à la mise en place des politiques de stockage au niveau national et régional. Nous sommes également conscients que l'aide alimentaire est un instrument encore nécessaire pour faire face aux immenses be soins de l'humanité affamée. Nous reconnaissons donc que la sécurité alimentaire représente la priorité des priorités.
Le document C 81/20, au par. 25, inclut mon gouvernement parmi ceux qui, au cours de l'année 81, ont augmenté considérablement leurs contributions. Nous avons en effet donné notre adhésion au Food Security Assistance Scheme et nous chercherons encore à faire plus d'efforts dans le futur. Finalement, ma délégation encouragera les mesures qui tendent à favoriser l’autosuffisance des pays en voie de développement et notamment celles de l'augmentation de la production.
M. ZJALIC (Yugoslavia): We think that in spite of the consensus reached in 1974 the international community has failed to establish a dependable world food security system. Moreover this aim seems to be less attainable today than ever before while it is an established fact that the level of food security of the developing countries is constantly decreasing and that they are growing increasingly dependent on grain import. In fact their imports have trebled as we all know in the last ten years or so and will this year reach some 100 million tons. The 5-point plan remains the only instrument of the international community in the sector of world food security. Yugoslavia remains a supporter of this plan and has been undertaking since its inception a series of measures in emplementing it. This plan we see as being of benefit for the international community as a whole and for each of our countries. This has been particularly reflected in our constant effors in increasing domestic food production. We also have a well established and efficient food grain stock policy, with a system of grain reserves aimed at stabilization of the domestic market and covering consumption in case of crop failures.
We contribute to the World Food Programme and also give some bilateral food aid whenever we are in a position to do so. Our food security assistance has been limited as yet to technical cooperation and cooperation in the supply equipment, technology and storage construction under concessional terms.
My Government attaches particular importance to the collective self-reliance of developing countries. We participated in the series of actions mentioned in paragraphs 38 and 39 of document C 81/2. We think that the efforts of developing countries in establishing a food security system should be more energetically supported by FAO expertise in elaborating institutional arrangements for these security schemes. Also, there is an important role to be played by other international and intergovernmental institutions and organizations. , particularly those of developing countries.
Regional security schemes combined with nationally held and internationally harmonized grain reserves could be viable and effective elements of a global system of food security. We commend the action of the Committee on World Food Security in elaborating agenda for consultation and coordination on tackling food shortage situations when they arise. We consider that it is essential to strengthen the consultative role of the CFS. We still believe that there is a need for the establishment of an internationally coordinated system of national food reserves, but since some major exporting countries are not in a position to agree with the concept of a legally binding agreement the consultative role of the CFS seems to be the only reasonable and practical option.
Finally, we reaffirm our support for the steps which have been taken in the past two years to implement the Five Point Plan of Action, and we commend the FAO Secretariat on having presented a good and useful document, as well as Professor Islam for his introduction. It is our hope that FAO will continue to play its role in this field in the future.
Sra. G. SOTO (Cuba): Gracias en aras de los países en desarrollo por permitir que el señor delegado de Yugoslavia no sea el último orador.
Quisiera expresar en primer lugar la satisfacción de la delegación cubana por la elocuente introducción a este importante tema hecha por el profesor Islam en la tarde de ayer, la cual complementa el ya valio so documento preparado por sus colaboradores.
Desafortunadamente, a pesar de estos análisis hechos por la FAO, así como por las declaraciones llevadas a cabo en el seno del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial y a pesar también de los análisis hechos en otros foros, en los cuales se insta a que se refuercen los programas de ayuda alimentaria para los países en desarrollo y a poner en práctica sus planes y proyectos a establecer reservas nacionales como paso necesario para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria, a pesar de los esfuerzos hechos por algunos países, nos encontramos aun ante la triste realidad de que los recursos totales de los programas no han alcanzado las metas recomendadas en 1974 por la Conferencia Mundial de la Alimentación, que actualmente son insuficientes.
El documento C 81/20 insiste una vez más en la necesidad de un eficaz fortalecimiento de la producción básica de alimentos de los países en desarrollo y garantizar sus políticas nacionales de reservas, así como una garantía de la existencia de alimentos básicos en el mercado internacional y una verdadera y justa situación de equilibrio entre las disponibilidades y las necesidades, que son elementos esencia les para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria. Este criterio es compartido plenamente por nuestra de legación y en tal sentido apoyamos las acciones desplegadas por la FAO en la aplicación de las medidas encaminadas a garantizar la seguridad alimentaria mundial.
Consideramos que es digna de especial mención la ayuda que ha recibido la FAO de los países con más ba jos ingresos y con déficit de alimentos para satisfacer sus necesidades de importación y las ocasiona das por situaciones de emergencia en materia de seguridad alimentaria, así como para promover la auto suficiencia de los países en desarrollo.
Consideramos dignas de elogio también las medidas desplegadas en las distintas regiones, especialmente en Africa, para establecer planes de seguridad alimentaria. En nuestra región de América Latina se co mienza a dar pasos positivos por el sistema económico latinoamericano y por el Comité de desarrollo del Caribe, así como especialmente por el Comité del CELA, de que ya nos informó el distinguido delegado de Nicaragua. Asimismo los países no alineados tomaron una importante decisión en su cumbre para fomentar la autosuficiencia de los países en desarrollo, contándose con la colaboración de la FAO. Recientemen te se celebró en la ciudad de Piong Yang un Simposium sobre el incremento de la producción alimentaria en los países no alineados, en el cual se llegó a importantes conclusiones.
Con respecto a la ayuda alimentaria, señor Presidente, mi delegación tiene criterios claros y precisos, que ya ha expresado en otras ocasiones. Consideramos que la ayuda alimentaria no debe considerarse co mo una especie de limosna o una caridad. A pesar de haber sido condenada en otros foros internaciona les, la utilización de los alimentos para fines políticos sigue siendo puesta en práctica por algunos países desarrollados y mi delegación considera que esta Conferencia debe alzar su voz contra esos paí ses; porque, mientras otros países que cuentan con menos recursos incrementan su ayuda, otros países utilizan la ayuda como arma política contra países muy pobres y necesitados.
Por último quisiera referirme a un aspecto que considero importante que analicemos y es la seguridad alimentaria mundial de manera integral. Se trata del aspecto del comercio, al cual ya han hecho alusión otros delegados. Nuestra delegación considera que para llegar a las tasas de crecimiento necesarias para satisfacer las necesidades estimadas de consumo es preciso el intercambio de los países en desa rrollo, para lo cual se requerirá una participación más equitativa de dichos países en el comercio in ternacional, lo cual se conseguiría concediéndoles un trato especial, en el contexto del empeño por fo mentar las relaciones comerciales entre los países en desarrollo y los desarrollados.
Asimismo quisiera hacer patente la necesidad de complementar los aspectos referentes a la agricultura y a la alimentación, recogidos en el documento para el desarrollo del tercer decenio, de las Naciones Unidas, en el que se hace referencia al plan de acción sobre la seguridad alimentaria mundial de la FAO, así como a la ayuda alimentaria.
La delegación cubana apoya las propuestas hechas por la Secretaría en el párrafo 42 y siguientes, ha ciendo especial hincapié en dos aspectos fundamentales: primero, en la necesidad de que los países en desarrollo examinen sus planes y tomen las medidas posibles para fomentar la producción de alimentos; segundo, que se exhorte a los países donantes para que hagan todo lo posible a fin de fomentar los re cursos financieros en apoyo de estas actividades que están señaladas en el párrafo 47 del documento C 21/47. "
H. A. LAM (Mauritanie): Monsieur le Président,Honorables délégués, Mesdames et Messieurs permettez-moi tout dTabord M. le Président, de vous féliciter pour votre élection à la présidence de la Commission. La présidence de la Commission I est une lourde charge car le problème de l’alimentation et de l'agriculture dans le monde constitue la raison même d'être de la FAO. Je suis persuadé que vous aiderez à aboutir à"
des conclusions positives comme vous le faites si bien au sein du Groupe africain de Rome. J'adresse mes félicitations au Secrétariat pour la qualité et la clarté du document présenté. En application de la résolution 3/79, et pour rendre opérationnel le plan d' action pour la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, la Mauritanie a pris diverses mesures. Nous avons, à travers notre organisme céréalier établi un système de stocks de sécurité alimentaire et de régulation de prix des céréales car la politique de stockage mise en place vise tout d'abord à assurer un approvisionnement régulier des produits céréalier à l'intérieur du pays et nous avons ainsi ouvert des centres dans des zones rurales et particulièrement dans les zones structurelle-ment déficitaires et enclavées.
Le but des productions agricoles est la nécessité d'avoir un meilleur système de sécurité alimentaire. Le point 2 du rapport C 81/20 revêt un caractère important. La question des blocages de stocks doit être régie par des critères solides et sains. Ma délégation adhère aux recommandations du comité de la sécu rité alimentaire. Le point 4 mérite également une attention particulière et ma délégation se félicite de l’importance accordée à l'autonomie collective des pays en voie de développement. La Mauritanie parti cipe à diverses organisations régionales et sous-régionales qui ont comme objectif de résoudre le pro blème de développement agricole, la FAO, CEEAO, OADA et l'ACDAD. Nous participons au projet de stocks nationaux et régionaux de sécurité alimentaire; ce projet qui est dans la phase finale de financement a pour principal objectif de mettre sur pied un système de stockage qui permettra d'assurer aux pays du Sahel une autonomie et une assistance en matière de sécurité alimentaire.
La volonté politique de notre pays pour constituer des réserves alimentaires connaît des contraintes majeures car pour que ces réserves puissent se constituer, il faudrait que la production vivrière soit suffisante et régulière; ceci paraît très difficile en Mauritanie et dans les pays du Sahel dans leur ensemble. Des efforts doivent être entrepris dans le sens de l'amélioration et de l'augmentation de la production vivrière. Il faudrait que l'aide à la production vivrière ne soit pas masquée par l'aide alimentaire qui est conjoncturelle et aléatoire; si nous arrivons à assurer nos réserves alimentaires par le biais de notre production vivrière à ce moment seulement nous pouvons parler de sécurité alimen taire; dans cette optique une politique claire et précise doit être dégagée pour la sécurité alimentaire mondiale et la FAO et ses organismes spécialisés peuvent jouer un rôle dynamique dans ce sens.
G. STUYCK, Vice-Chairman of Commission I, took the Chair
G. STUYCK, Vice-Président de la Commission I, assume la présidence
Ocupa la presidencia G. STUYCK, Vicepresidente de la Comisión I
O. AWOYEMI (Nigeria): As I am the first speaker since you assumed this seat, I wish to congratulate and to wish you a good tenure.
I would like to address my comments to two sections of the report.
The first section is the section on collective self-reliance of developing countries. It is very encouraging to note the progress that has been made by various groups of countries and sub-regions in mounting programmes towards collective self-reliance. In view of what has arisen in the discussions on the international grain problems, it may be more rewarding if FAO could shift considerable emphasis to help the sub-regional food security schemes to attain their goals. There does not appear to us to be much action towards collective self security in the humid regions of West and Central Africa. The Secretariat may wish to explain why not much is happening, or to perhaps update us on what has happened recently in this area. In view of the considerable focus on Africa, we would have liked to see some more details of the content of the Lagos Plan in action with respect to food security. What is contained in paragraphe 45 is too brief to be able to assess what progress has been made in this regard.
Secondly, many delegates have acclaimed the Plan of the IMF to extend financial assistance to countries facing balance of payment difficulties in respect of their food import bills. This is a very good step and it is very welcome; but when it is recalled that cereal imports have virtually trebled between 1976/77 and 1980/81-that is, from US$ 3. 2 billion to US$ 9. 3 billion-it is rather worrying that these countries may be eternally indebted to IMF for food produce which is unconsumed in their own countries. Maybe the IMF should extend more of their financial assistance to develop infrastructures for local food production than to food importation.
D. E. DANG MEKOULA (Cameroun): M. le Président, puisque la délégation du Cameroun prend la parole pour la première fois au sein de cette Commission, je me fais aussi un agréable devoir de vous présenter mes vives félicitations pour votre élection à la tête de la Commission I.
Notre délégation se félicite également de la présentation du sujet par le Professeur Islam et de la pertinence des analyses développées dans le document de base.
Pour notre délégation, lorsqu'on parle de la sécurité alimentaire, la première idée qui vient à l'esprit apparaît dans le processus de l'accroissement et de la distribution des denrées alimentaires au niveau national.
Ce concept a d'ailleurs été déjà développé par les délégués qui m'ont précédé tant lors de la discussion du premier volet de ce point de notre ordre du jour qu'au cours des débats actuels. C'est pour cette raison que mon intervention sera extrêmement brève.
Il est établi en effet que les pays en développement ne pourront accéder collectivement ou individuellement à une sécurité alimentaire effective qu'autant que les gouvernements et les populations des pays concernés s'engageront à s'attaquer de façon décisive et coordonnée à toutes les contraintes qui bloquent l'expansion du secteur agricole, notamment celui de la production alimentaire.
Il s'agit d'appliquer en somme, au niveau national, une politique de développement agricole à long terme qui doit s'appuyer sur la mise en place au niveau des pays d'une véritable infrastructure de promotion de la production vivrière.
Dans l'immédiat, les niveaux et le rythme actuel de la production alimentaire dans beaucoup de pays en développement, particulièrement ceux d'Afrique, ne permettant pas d'envisager de constituer des stocks stratégiques initiaux à partir des ressources locales, il devient donc évident que tout pro gramme visant actuellement à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire dans ces pays devra s'appuyer en grande partie sur l'assistance extérieure; l'aide alimentaire prend donc ici toute son importance. La créa tion de stocks garantissant la sécurité alimentaire dans les pays en développement exige non seule ment la mise en place d'infrastructures logistiques et de ressources de démarrage, mais aussi des structures de gestion fonctionnelles et de cadres avisés. Tout cela pour dire que les programmes d'assistance à la sécurité alimentaire visent à mobiliser les ressources matérielles et humaines tant de sources intérieures qu'extérieures.
La réalisation de tels programmes doit se concevoir nécessairement dans un cadre de coopération tech nique et d'assistance financière impliquant la participation des gouvernements assistés, celle de la FAO et des donateurs.
Miss. M. SHAHEEN (Egypt)(original language Arabie):I should like first of all to thank the Secretariat and the Director-General for this excellent document which has pointed out that progress in the field of food and food security is still very slow. The question of food security is still fraught with dangers, despite the positive steps forward taken in the last few years-namely the implementation of the Plan of Action on World Food Security. Despite all the efforts deployed in this field, I would like also to point out here what has already been announced by the IMF, namely, that we must unburden the balance of payments due to the raising of prices of food supplies, and therefore we must give assistance and extend the convention in order to enable it to cover 1983 as well. That means that the objective already set may be attained. However, all these measures are not sufficient as such, and therefore we must deploy further efforts at all levels, national, regional and international. It is up to the Organization to further deploy efforts in this field with respect to regional and sub-regional projects.
My country supports the proposals made along the lines which we find in this document in order to make sure that there is proper development in the field of food supplies and better food security. We must also prompt the international community to restrict protectionism, particularly with respect to food commodities coming from developing countries, which play a great role in the setting up of foreign currency funds, and also in the economies of those countries.
Paragraph 57 says that importance should be attached to self-reliance of developing countries in the field of food production. My delegation supports this viewpoint both at the regional or sub-regional project levels. My country also supports participation in such efforts in the regional and sub-regional food aid projects. We also must try to achieve better collective self-reliance. In this respect we also support the idea of setting up a regional fund to finance regional and sub-regional programmes for food security.
My country has been practising agriculture for the last 4,000 years. We assure food production for our people. We have given particular priority to agricultural development plans, and we attempt to give the necessary motivation to the farmers and to give them the necessary equipment in order to achieve better production. We also give them tax exemption.
J. B. JACKMAN (New Zealand):If buffer stocks are to be effective they must be allowed to rise and fall to balance fluctuations in production. Strong economies should not use their financial strength to rebuild stocks in times of reduced international supplies. If the strong economies act in this way, the effective supplies available to those in greater need may even be reduced.
The ability to respond quickly in a crisis is also vital. National contingency plans which anticipate problems of obtaining supplies, and distributing and financing those supplies, may be as important as the reserve stocks themselves. Analysis of the factors would seem to be needed to determine levels of stocks which each country should hold.
Finally, we would comment that rehabilitation after a natural disaster should be given a high priority. Extra resources are needed for recovery. Limited supplies of basic inputs will prolong the period of recovery and will prolong the food shortage. We particulary wish to commend the remarks of the distingushed Delegate of India on this subject.
S. MURTZA (Pakistan):Please allow me to start by paying compliments to the Secretariat for producing such a lucid document on the subject of world food security. It is encouraging to note that some of the developing countries have made significant progress in this field. But, somehow, the overall picture of the developing countries that emerges is not very bright, added to which is the fact that in spite of the increased need for import of foodgrain, the food aid target of 10 million tons is far from being achieved. This fact further appears ominous in view of the balance of payment condition of the developing countries. The IMF is providing assistance to the developing countries for meeting balance of payments difficulties for the import of food and it is certainly a most welcome step. But,it would certainly be better if conditions in agricultural trade are improved in such a way that protectionist tendencies are not allowed to hamper it, nor the instability of foodgrain markets is allowed to discourage it.
My country has always been giving keen attention to the world food security and making all efforts for implementing plans of action leading to the same. In order to achieve world food security it is essential for all countries to increase their cereal grain production. My Government has taken various steps to increase the same, particularly of wheat. I will not bother you with the details of our policy which were touched upon by the leader of my delegation in his statement. As a result of these bold agricultural policies we have had three successive good wheat crops and are now self-sufficient.
We attach great importance to the national food security to meet the needs of our country in a lean period. We have for these purposes built up adequate wheat reserves through increase in our wheat production. We have already laid down a criteria for the management and release of wheat from the national food reserve. The wheat in the national security reserve would be replaced every two years. While agreeing with proposals for action as contained in the document, in concluding we would urge that international agencies and donor countries, particularly developed countries, should provide increased financial and technical assistance to the developing countries for increasing their food production and move towards food security. Achieving self-reliance particularly on a regional basis, is an idea which needs immediate attention. The option of stock qualities by all developing countries is also one which needs our full attention and we hope if we act upon this and follow the suggestions contained in the document we will be moving closer to the world food security.
S. DE MARE (Sweden): As my delegation did not take the floor when the previous item on the agenda was discussed, allow me to start with some brief remarks concerning the current global state of food and agriculture.
My delegation shares, on the whole, the views expressed in document C 81/2 and its supplement that was discussed yesterday. Thanks to the good crops this year in many countries a global shortage has been avoided. We cannot, however, as yet see the reversal of several disquieting trends. One of those trends is the expanding import demand for basic foodstuffs of developing countries. There is, secondly, a pressing need for many countries to put up their efforts to achieve a higher degree of self-reliance in such foodstuffs. External assistance from FAO and other sources should have as a top priority to support these efforts.
Some speakers in our discussion on item 6. 1 stressed the need to secure more refined information on food consumption patterns within the national averages. My delegation shares this opinion since we, of course, are anxious to know whether the improvements in food supply are reaching those whose need is greatest.
We note with satisfaction the information given by Professor Islam that the FAO Secretariat is aware of this problem and is planning matters to get more extensive data in this respect.
As regards the present item on our agenda and document C 81/20 I wish to compliment the Secretariat for a very comprehensive progress report. I will limit my intervention to points mainly raised on point 3 of that document,that is Proposals For Further Action. It is almost self-evident as is mentioned in paragraph 43 that the lasting solution to food security problems lies in more rapid growth of food production particularly in low-income food deficit countries, and especially in the least developed food-deficit countries. I would like to stress the importance that the producers in these countries are given adequate economic incentives to increase their production also, if necessary, against short-term interest and the non-agriculture population of these countries taken into account the favourable long-term effects.
As regards the present lack of an internationally coordinated system of cereal reserves my conutry deeply deplores the failure of negotiations of the new Wheat Trade Convention. Prospects for such an agreement within the foreseeable future ought to seem almost non-existent today. Establishment of national stocks is not enough in our view to create adequate food security for all countries if they are not complemented by some kind of international coordination. For countries like Sweden with continuous and stable reserves of bread grain it is not always necessary, or effective, to establish stocks just in order to pick up and guarantee our food aid commitments and national needs. Although Sweden has established national security stocks of grain and essential production means for our national needs in case of real emergencies in very special circumstances, Sweden's food aid commitment under FAC/IEFR of at least 80,000 tons of bread grain annually was guaranteed by reserves made from the current crop at the beginning of each crop year.
Even if a new wheat agreement still must be the ultimate aim it is now necessary, as was stated by the Swedish Minister of Agriculture in Plenary, to start an active search for alternative solutions, one such solution would be to strengthen the FAO's Plan of Action on world food security. Another very interesting alternative would be to establish the limited wheat reserve in favour of least developed countries, as has been suggested by the Executive Director of World Food Council. The Swedish Government is prepared to examine actively and negotiate such solutions as soon as possible together with other countries. In the meantime, we welcome the decision by the IMF to institute new arrangements to extend balance of payments support to cover the increases in current imports of developing countries.
Finally, we support the increase of the FAC, that however must mainly derive from the enlistment of new donor countries. We also support the strengthening of the level of creditability of the IEFR. We are satisfied to learn that a preliminary agreement has been reached by the Committee on Food Aid, policies and programmes, at its last meeting, concerning the joint pledging conference on World Food Programme and IEFR resources.
B. SUSSMILCH (Observer for EEC):I would like to inform you Mr. Chairman and members of the Commission I, that the member states of the Community have not yet coordinated their viewpoints on the subject of world food security, as we thought we would have a chance to take up the matter on Monday morning as provided in the programme on Commission I. As we are informed that other delegates would also like to make their statement on Monday morning, we would ask you for permission to do so, but if there is no other way and as we would not like to hold up the discussion then, we would hand our statements in, in written form to the Secretariat of FAO that it can be given to the verbatims.
LE PRESIDENT:Je remercie le représentant des Communautés européennes et je tiens dès à présent à le rassurer, cette discussion se poursuivra lundi; plusieurs orateurs sont déjà inscrits pour la session que la Commission I tiendra lundi et les Communautés européennes auront ainsi l'occasion d'exposer leurs points de vue à ce sujet. Je voudrais, avant de lever la séance, vous préciser que le Comité de rédaction se réunira le lundi 16 novembre après la session de l'après-midi de la Commission. Je voudrais également vous rappeler les noms des pays qui font partie du Comité de rédaction, il s'agit de l'Australie, de la France, de l'Inde, du Lesotho, de la Malaysie, du Maroc, de Trinidad et Tobago, des Etats-Unis d'Amérique, du Venezuela, de la République arabe du Yémen et de la Yougoslavie. Si plus personne ne désire intervenir aujourd'hui, je vous remercie Mesdames et Messieurs, de votre participation à ce débat et je vous propose de nous retrouver lundi matin à 9 h 30 précises.
The meeting rose at 17. 20 hours
La séance est levée à 17 h 20
Se levanta la sesión a las 17. 20 horas
