Antonio CABRALES (El Salvador): Señores Ministros de Agricultura, señoras, señores: Agradezco la invitación a la 25a Reunión de FAO, en su Aniversario de Plata. Es realmente un gran honor estar aquí en convivio con todos mis colegas Ministros de Agricultura del mundo y con los máximos dirigentes de FAO, como agricultor y ganadero que soy, también quiero agradecer en nombre de millones de agricultores y ganaderos latinoamericanos el apoyo que siempre hemos tenido de la FAO a través de su transferencia de tecnología. Me pregunto ¿cuánto más subdesarrollado sería el sector agrícola en Latinoamérica sin la ayuda constante de FAO en los últimos 40 años? Como hombre de campo que soy es un sueño hecho realidad, pues nunca pensé poder asistir a una reunión de Ministros de Agricultura del mundo y en especial estar aquí en la Meca de la transferencia tecnológica del mundo como es FAO. He tenido la suerte de capacitarme por muchos años a través de libros y folletos publicados por FAO sobre temas agropecuarios, tanto como estudiante en la universidad como en el trabajo diario como agricultor.
Quiero además, expresar ante esta comunidad internacional y sus dignos representantes, las muestras del más profundo agradecimiento de mi pueblo y del Señor Presidente Constitucional, Alfredo Félix Cristiani, por las cálidas atenciones y hospitalidad de que fuera objeto en su reciente visita a este país y particularmente a la Sede de este organismo.
También de igual forma, considero oportuna esta ocasión para reiterar nuestras más francas demostraciones de gratitud y reconocimiento a los exitosos esfuerzos de esta Organización, por contribuir en la solución de los problemas del sector agropecuario de mi país, ya que de una forma sostenida ha orientado su asistencia para apoyar nuestros programas de trabajo, tal es el caso que puedo dar fe como Ministro de la prontitud con que la FAO ha respondido a nuestros requerimientos de especialistas o expertos para asesorarnos en la solución de problemas emergentes que hemos afrontado en los últimos 150 días, acción y ayuda que califico de sorprendente, por lo inmediato en que dicha cooperación ha sido proporcionada, típico de un sector privado agresivo pero no de burocracias. Me refiero a una solicitud que hice al representante en El Salvador, Don Enrique González Regueira; ante una preocupante plaga de langosta voladora que amenazaba la destrucción de gran parte de la cosecha de maíz en junio de este año. En cosa de 30 días, después de mi petición teníamos en El Salvador al mejor experto mundial de esta plaga, Dr. Skaff.
Iniciaré por hacer un pequeño análisis de la situación política-agrícola en el mundo y en especial Latinoamérica. Trataré de ser muy breve. Preocupa que los consumidores crecen a un ritmo explosivo, como dijo nuestro Director General Sr. Saouma, que en los últimos dos años la población mundial entre el 10 de noviembre 1987 al 10 de noviembre 1989 ha crecido en 178 millones de habitantes. De éstos, 160 millones de habitantes corresponden a los países subdesarrollados con necesidades alimentarias que nuestra agricultura no podrá satisfacer pues en los países subdesarrollados
el agro vive en crisis. ¿Cuál es el escenario en Latinoamérica donde el agricultor se desenvuelve? Primero, grandes cambios históricos en la vida politica ocurren y estos cambios producen inestabilidad, incertidumbre y provocan desconfianza.
Como ejemplo en Centroamérica, Estados Unidos de Norteamérica nos exportó muchos bienes materiales en los últimos 50 años pero su democracia sólo la exportó hace apenas 10 aftos, es asi El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras, inician experimentos en procesos democráticos apenas en 1980 y esto crea grandes tensiones de toda indole. Se nos exige evolucionar en 10 años lo que le tomó a paises europeos varios siglos. Hoy el marxismo y las guerrillas no dan tiempo de evolución sino revolución y los problemas sociales y la descomposición social en Latinoamérica son una justificación oportuna. Esta situación de inestabilidad politica afecta enormemente a la producción del agro. Sin embargo, se observan síntomas alentadores en el sentido que la democracia está ganando la batalla pues vemos un movimiento como es perestroika, y hoy hemos visto cómo el muro de Berlín cae. Estos síntomas para un agricultor latinoamericano dan confianza en el futuro, pues las guerras de guerrillas se iniciaron en los años 1950 y han sido factor desestabilizador grande.
Agro política económica mundial. En el campo económico, la agricultura mundial sufre quizás la peor crisis de su historia tanto en Latinoamérica y en gran parte del mundo desarrollado, unos países por su baja productividad y otros países por su enorme productividad, sin embargo es curioso pues mucha de la crisis económica se debe a su crisis agrícola. En Latinoamérica la poca producción y productividad provoca problemas sociales y se reduce la capacidad exportadora generadora de divisas. En los países desarrollados la enorme producción y productividad crea enormes presiones al fisco a través de los subsidios para mantener los precios. En Estados Unidos de Norteamérica sólo el subsidio para la producción de leche llega casi a los 4 billones de dólares. Por otro lado, la Unión Soviética en 1988, gastó 115 billones de dólares para subsidios agrícolas y esto representa 90% de déficit presupuestario y aun así deben importar alimentos y racionarlos. 0 sea la crisis agrícola es general. Además todos los países desarrollados y subdesarrollados tienen problemas en su balance comercial, déficit fiscal enormes, grandes deudas externas, inflaciones incontenibles, recesión, etc. Unos casos más dramáticos que otros. Ahora bien, porque yo diría que el problema de Latinoamérica en el campo económico ha sido el no haber podido aprovechar su enorme potencial agrícola. Sencillamente, el no haber podido desarrollar su agricultura y en gran medida se debe a las equivocaciones políticas económicas. Culpamos nuestra cultura española; nuestra religión católica, el clima, falta de educación, etc. La verdad es que si tomamos en cuenta las revoluciones políticas constantes, guerras de guerrilla, problemas de narcotraficantes, secuestros, asesinatos, terremotos, sequías, innundaciones, plagas, reformas agrarias, etc. Yo pregunto, ¿cuántos países desarrollados en el mundo podrían aguantar tanto? Que agricultores en el mundo pueden soportar tanta inseguridad, incertidumbre y aun así seguir produciendo. Es realmente sorprendente, aún existe producción agrícola. Esto demuestra que si tenemos capacidad tanto empresarial como de recursos extraordinarios para haber sobrevivido estas realidades. El problema, vuelvo a repetir, ha sido las erróneas políticas económicas. Como ganadero que soy, antes la profesión veterinaria era la más importante para mí, pues en sus manos estaba la vida de mis vacas, pero hoy respeto y estimo, la profesión de economista como la profesión más importante, pues tiene la vida de nuestros países en sus manos. Prueba de lo que digo es el caso del pueblo chileno, a quien admiro muchísimo y he visitado varias veces en los últimos aftos para aprender de su lección al mundo latinoamericano. Pasó por la peor
crisis que sólo los chilenos pueden relatar. Más de 1 200% de inflación, filas de hambre, caos total de incertidumbre y desconfianza. Aplicaron políticas económicas adecuadas y hay un crecimiento del 5-6%, la inflación controlada en un 15% promedio, están cancelando su deuda externa, una actividad exportadora increíble. Existe gran confianza del sector productivo los cuales reinvierten en su pais. Habrá elecciones en diciembre y entiendo gane quien gane el programa económico se mantiene. Le felicito al pueblo chileno e invito a todos que vayan a observar el por qué de ese 'milagro'. Mi análisis es que Chile ha demostrado no sólo es el resultado de un buen programa de estabilización económica y politica monetaria responsable. No, es más profundo. Es una revolución de un mercado libre global. Esto es muy distinto a libre empresa acostumbrado a estar junto al Estado buscando prebendas. Mejora la empresa pero empeora el Estado. Es un modelo de libre empresa en libre mercado. Las ganancias se hacen legitimas, no se necesita una revolución socialista, la prueba es Chile.
Historia. Hoy haré un poco de historia de la critica situación agrícola que hemos vivido en El Salvador, y mi experiencia como agricultor. Fuimos uno de los países con más tradición cafetalera en América Latina, donde se lograban los más altos índices de productividad del mundo, así como en la producción de algodón. También se exportaba un 50% del excedente de la producción de azúcar. Fue en base a estos tres productos de exportación que se generó las divisas necesarias para encaminar el proceso de industrialización durante los años del 50. El crecimiento económico llegó a 6% anual en estos años. De 1980 en adelante cambia la situación y tenemos los siguientes resultados: las exportaciones bajaron de $1 132 millones de dólares en 1979 a $600 millones de dólares en 1988. El algodón bajó en un 100%. El café en 53% y el azúcar en 39%. La exportación de los productos no tradicionales en el mercado común centroamericano bajó en un 47%. La balanza de pagos cada dia más negativa. En 1979 se exportó $1 132 millones de dólares y se importaban $1 040 millones dólares a un saldo positivo de $92 millones de dólares. Sin embargo en 1988 se exportó $600 millones y se importó $1 050 millones de dólares. Saldo negativo de $448 millones de dólares además se acrecentaba un gran déficit fiscal de aproximadamente $500 millones de dólares. Producción general del agro baja en 46%, producción de alimentos bajó en 12% e importaciones de alimentos se incrementaron en 42%. Los precios al agricultor bajaron en 60%. Existía un gran desajuste económico. La crisis se debía en parte a la intervención del Estado pues para 1988 un 70% de la economía estaba en manos del Estado, la banca nacionalizada, el comercio del café y azúcar era monopolio del Estado y la mejor tierra del país en manos del Estado como resultado de la reforma agraria. Por otro lado, la industria local en gran desventaja competitiva en calidad y costos con los países industrializados. En resumen el modelo económico se había agotado. Existía una gran desconfianza. La economía llena de subsidios cruzados y los precios totalmente distorsionados. La situación reflejaba un desgaste con un gran déficit fiscal que se seguía acumulando rápidamente. Desempleo abierto de 50%, crecimiento negativo en 1983. Modelo económico de sustitución de importaciones agotado. Urgente modificar modelo. ¿Cómo? Iniciamos a estudiar el problema, fue así y puedo afirmar, pues comprendí que nunca ha existido en la historia de El Salvador una política agrícola. El éxito alcanzado en los años anteriores apenas han sido programas agrícolas y se han confudido con política agrícola y que tuvieron algún éxito porque en los años 50-60-70 la economía mundial era estable y los precios del café, algodón y azúcar incentivaban su producción. Lo que sí existió en estas décadas pasadas era una política definida en cuanto al modelo económico adoptado que era el de un proceso de industrialización hacia adentro via la sustitución de importaciones para un mercado común centroamericano, un mercado cautivo, con toda una macroeconomía a su favor. Una política que le concedía prosperidad
a la industria basada en las siguientes políticas. Estas eran las políticas de aranceles altos para proteger la industria local contra la competencia de la industria de afuera. Un tipo de cambio bajo para la importación de materias primas industriales a bajo costo. El sector agrícola necesita totalmente lo contrario, como es aranceles bajos para la importación de fertilizantes, insecticidas y maquinaria agrícola y tipo de cambio alto para estimular y fomentar la exportación de café, algodón y azúcar. Como se puede notar una política macroeconómica totalmente anti-agraria. Fue así que por 30 años se movilizaron enormes recursos del sector agrícola hacia otros sectores de la economía y se descapitalizó el agro. Durante estos 30 años la protección efectiva fue negativa en 26%. Esta situación pone de claro manifiesto lo importante que es la política macroeconómica para la agricultura. Esta es la clave del éxito para el agro. Una sana política agrícola no puede estar divorciada de la macroeconomía. Este ha sido el factor de pobreza en América Latina. No somos pobres sino nos hemos empobrecido por erradas políticos económicos. El Señor Presidente de Argentina, Carlos Menen en un reciente discurso en forma elocuente dice "la desprotección del campo argentino ha sido de las más feroces del planeta". Durante estos largos años de incertidumbre y frustración el productor agrícola salvadoreño buscaba desesperadamente alguna solución, se solicitaba subsidios pero para nuestros gobiernos pobres era difícil. Sin embargo las presiones hacían que se emitieran algunas leyes de fomento que concedían exenciones fiscales y sólo se distorsionaba más la economía. Muchos agricultores creíamos el problema era la mala semilla de maíz, poca capacidad genética en el ganado. Fue así algunos importaban de los Estados Unidos ganado pura sangre a precios bien altos, otros instalaban sistemas de riego sofisticados como son sistemas de aspersión o sistemas por goteo. Pero nada aliviaba la carga financiera, sino más bien la situación económica se hacía más difícil cada día. El problema era "estar nadando contra corriente", no había avance porque la política macroeconómica no ayudaba, sino iba en contra. Esto lo aprendí hasta hace apenas unos pocos añtos.
Otras lecciones han sido duras, también como es en 1980 cuando la economía mundial se deterioraba rápidamente y nuestro modelo económico estaba agotado y las consecuencias repercutían fuertemente desafortunadamente en nuestro país vino la señal de Estados Unidos y se inició un proceso de reformas estructurales, como fueron la reforma agraria, nacionalización de la banca, nacionalización del comercio interno y externo, en la cual se le concedió el monopolio de la exportación del café y azúcar al Estado. Además para agravar la situación de mi país se inicia también una guerra impuesta por el marxismo internacional. Toda esta triste historia ha hecho que El Salvador regrese a los niveles de producción agrícola de hace 30 años. Después de sembrar 150 000 hectáreas de algodón y hoy en día únicamente 12 000 hectáreas. Teníamos 60 000 hectáreas de caña de azúcar y hoy sólo 38 000 hectáreas, y en café se mantiene aproximadamente la misma área, pero de una producción de 4 500 000 de quintales, el año pasado la producción de la cosecha 88-89 fue apenas 1 700 000 quintales. El ingreso per cápita se ha reducido de $600 a $300 y existe un subempieo del 50%. Las exportaciones agrícolas en general se han reducido en un 50% y el déficit fiscal se ha aumentado enormemente causando un proceso inflacionario, pues en 1986 el Gobierno se vio obligado a realizar una devaluación del 100%, la primera en 40 años y luego allí terminó el ajuste económico sin realizar ninguna otra medida, obviamente por razones políticas. Fue así esta devaluación como medida económica aislada nos enseñó que fue inminentemente inflacionaria. Nuestra crisis es obviamente debido a equivocadas políticas tanto macroeconómicas como de tipo populista que buscan distribuir la riqueza y sólo se distribuye pobreza.
Todo este escenario de problemas lo he vivido como agricultor y realmente uno se pregunta, cuál es entonces la solución. Ante esta situación de problemas económicos y sociales como funcionario público y agricultor uno llega a la conclusión que la única alternativa es de emprender un ajuste económico, y que favorezca la agricultura pues ésta es nuestra riqueza en Latinoamérica. Aquí está nuestra ventaja comparativa real. Podemos darle de comer al mundo si existe macroeconomía para una verdadera política agrícola. Este es mi mensaje principal.
Ahora bien, ustedes comprenderán que realizar un "ajuste económico" en tiempos de paz es una tarea muy difícil ante los problemas de gran pobreza y descomposición social lo cual hace que las medidas sean antipopulares así como muy arriesgada pues siempre castiga mayormente a las clases más desafortunadas. Es así, mi gran admiración a nuestro Presidente Cristiani que ante una situación de guerra ha tenido la entereza moral de implantar un ajuste económico, pues es la única solución para la reactivación económica del país. La otra alternativa es no hacer nada, pero es una forma irresponsable de gobernar, de postergar decisiones que tarde o temprano se tendrán que realizar y que serán mucho más dolorosas. En este contexto puedo informarles que en los primeros 30 días de gobierno se eliminó el "control de precios", política existente en los últimos 20 años y que ha perjudicado enormemente a la producción de alimentos y empobrecido a mucho campesino pues en manos de ellos esta producción de granos básicos en El Salvador. Hoy para esta temporada de cosecha de granos básicos por primera vez en 20 años los productores de maíz, frijol y arroz tendrán precios de mercado y no precios distorsionados. Igualmente se reorientará la política del Instituto Regulador de Abastecimientos (IRA) y convertirlo en una institución de almacenamiento de granos en vez de intervenir en la fijación de precios y su comercialización. También, durante los primero 60 días de gobierno se decidió flotar nuestra moneda, pues el tipo de cambio sobrevalorado estaba castigado fuertemente a todo el esfuerzo exportador del país y en especial los productos tradicionales agrícolas de exportación, como es el café, algodón y azúcar. Igualmente se han incrementado las tasas de intereses subsidiadas a tasa de interés positivas para estimular el ahorro interno, cuya virtud se había perdido y es la única forma de lograr obtener los recursos suficientes para incrementar la inversión. No se puede continuar impulsando el desarrollo económico en latinoamérica a través de préstamos internacionales.
También se ha declarado inconstitucional el monopolio o estatización de la industria del café y el azúcar. Volverá a manos privadas y el cafetalero y productor de caña de azúcar podrá vender y esperar precios de mercado y no arbitrarios. Esto ha traído mucha confianza, también se ha elevado los precios del transporte público, la energía eléctrica y el agua. Pronto se bajarán los aranceles a una tasa uniforme del 50%. Se rebajará la tasa del impuesto de la renta de un máximo del 60% a un 40%. Está también ante el congreso la derogación de más de 25 leyes de fomento que establecían franquicias o exenciones de impuestos. Todas estas medidas están dentro de un nuevo modelo económico. Es parte de una estrategia global muy simple, que es la implantación de una economía de mercado en donde la libertad individual, la propiedad privada y la competencia utiliza el libre juego de la oferta y la demanda para una asignación eficiente de los escasos recursos del país, ya no habrá más estatizaciones, confiscaciones. Somos de la opinión que el mejor gobierno es el que gobierna menos e interfiere menos. Una economía próspera es una economía basada en la libertad económica, en
donde se suelta el ingenio del ser humano. Donde el estado ya no es el rey de la economía sino el consumidor. Donde el consumidor impone su decisión de comprar lo más económico y de mejor calidad. Estamos seguros de que este tipo de economía favorecerá mucho a la agricultura salvadoreña.
Es así que por primera vez en el sector agropecuario se han puesto en marcha las políticas macroeconómicas necesarias para su reactivación y para retornar la confianza totalmente perdida por los productores agrícolas especialmente después de violar el principio más sagrado en cualquier país democrático que es el derecho a la propiedad privada pues como les mencioné en 1980 se violentó este principio mediante la implantación del proceso de reforma agraria, nacionalización de la banca, industria cafetalera y azucarera. Puedo informarles que en los primeros 150 días de gobierno la confianza del sector agropecuario se recupera en forma impresionante, la cual pensamos iba a regresar muy lentamente a través de muchos años, pero ésto nos enseña lo importante que es el mantenimiento de la ley y el orden, así como señales claras y precisas que el sector agropecuario necesita para invertir y aceptar el reto de producir. Prueba de ello es el hecho de que en el mes de junio del presente año, se vendió más fertilizantes que en cualquier mes de junio de los últimos diez años. Igualmente ha ocurrido en el mes de noviembre, en lo que respecta a la reactivación del cultivo de la caña de azúcar, sembrándose 10 4990 hectáreas adicionales. Increíble pero, el factor limitante ha sido la falta de tractores. .
Sin embargo, ante un ajuste económico me preocupa la situación del productor de alimentos para el consumo interno, como son los granos básicos pues el no tendrá este gran incentivo en cuanto al tipo de cambio, sino más bien estará en su contra pues los insumos como fertilizantes e insecticidas etc., será más alto su costo. Por otro lado se le sube la tasa de intereses como parte de la política de ya no conceder tasas de intereses subsidiadas. Este es un tema importante y le solicito a la FAO debe enfocar este problema porque aquí está la producción de alimentos en el mundo. Este caso será típico de muchos otros ajustes económicos por realizarse. Pienso que los primeros años de un ajuste se le debe conceder una tasa de interés diferenciada al productor de maíz, frijol, etc. de lo contrario podemos crear problemas alimentarios graves. No comulgo con la solución de muchos organismos financieros internacionales que resuelven el problema con sugerir las importaciones de granos básicos al señalar que si los campesinos no son eficientes para producir frijol y maíz que se pasen a sembrar piñas, pepinos para la exportación y será mejor para el país importar maíz de los países productores más eficientes. La siembra de maíz y frijol en latinoamérica es una cultura. El libro de los mayas "El Populvol" dice que Dios pensó varios días de que hacer al hombre y al final decidió hacerlo de maíz y este fue perfecto.
Ahora bien, para contrarrestar la contracción de un ajuste económico en una situación tan precaria, tanto en lo político como lo social, el gobierno está implementando un programa social de emergencia que tiene dos objetivos primordiales que son tratar de minimizar el impacto del ajuste sobre el sector de la extrema pobreza a través de incentivar la ayuda en bienes esenciales como alimentos, medicinas y la creación de puestos de trabajo. Este programa social de emergencia es para 18 meses y será implementado por varios organismos públicos, como es la municipalidad y la propia comunidad, así como grupos no gubernamentales y todo bajo la responsabilidad del Ministerio de Planificación a través de un comité social recientemente constituido con elementos del sector privado. Las decisiones serán
descentralizadas tanto en el diseño de las estrategias como en su implementación, las comunidades mismas serán las que decidan que infraestructuras son necesarias. Las comunidades están realizando cabildos abiertos para involucrar a todos los miembros de la comunidad.
Las cuatro áreas de importancia son: el desarrollo de un plan de emergencia de la comunidad, construcción de la infraestructura que requiere mano de obra intensiva, un programa de alimentación popular y un programa de vivienda popular, el costo total del programa es de 100 millones de colones, se espera poder servir a unas 200 comunidades marginales en todo el país y que se beneficien aproximadamente 200 000 personas. Los niños lactando y las mujeres embarazadas tendrán prioridad y pagarán un aporte de tipo simbólico para recibir alimentos. El programa también espera construir unas 6 000 casitas de vivienda mínima, cuyo costo no será más de $5 000 cada una. En la actualidad el Gobierno trabaja intensamente en diseñar mecanismos para definir los criterios para seleccionar a los beneficiarios, así como la metodología para la distribución efectiva de los alimentos, medicinas y otros servicios. También se está diseñando un sistema de auditoría. Los objetivos de la política social de mediano plazo para los años 1989-1994, en términos generales, son la de reducir la pobreza y acelerar la formación de capital humano. El programa social de emergencia, antes mencionado, será una parte integral de este programa. Los principios morales más importantes para el diseño de esta política es la de que el desarrollo económico debe aminorar las desigualdades y no agrandarlas. Además se reconoce que el desarrollo económico sostenido no será posible, si la situación de extrema pobreza persiste. También se reconoce que aunque el gobierno será el que asume el liderazgo de la lucha contra la pobreza, no es únicamente responsabilidad del gobierno. La eliminación de la pobreza, ha dicho el Presidente Cristiani, es responsabilidad de todos los salvadoreños inclusive de aquellos afectados por la misma.
En este contexto el gobierno en forma activa promoverá la participación del sector privado en los servicios de salud y educación. El gobierno reconoce que su responsabilidad primordial es la de ayudar aquellas personas a romper el círculo vicioso de la pobreza. Es así que en su discurso inaugural al ser elegido, el Presidente Cristiani manifestó que los únicos que el gobierno va a subsidiar en este nuevo modelo económico serán los de la extrema pobreza. Todo subsidio de tipo generalizado será totalmente eliminado. Aquí deseo en forma enfática solicitarle al PMA su continuada ayuda a los desplazados y repatriados, pues mucho del éxito del programa de ajuste dependerá de esta ayuda alimentaria. También sugiero a la FAO debe establecer políticas de apoyo a los países que entren a un ajuste y me alegro saber que el Director General, Sr Saouma mencionó los están discutiendo con el FMI es importante que los ajustes no perjudicaran la producción de alimentos.
En lo que respecta a la reforma agraria, contrario a lo que los sectores detractores del gobierno han manifestado, se ha dado un paso agigantado, poniendo en manos de los campesinos pertenecientes a ese sector más de 11 000 títulos de propiedad, cual se hizo realidad a sólo 50 días de mandato presidencial contrario a los resultados obtenidos durante los últimos cinco años, en cuyo período se otorgaron 25 000 títulos. Ello pone en evidencia que el espíritu de la política en cuanto al sector reformado, no pretende retroceder, sino que lograr que la reforma cumpla con sus verdaderos propósitos, lo cual es de establecer una democracia económica, volviendo al campesino propietario real de la tierra y no a través de cooperativas de propiedad colectiva, donde la tierra es de todos y de nadie. Que ha sido el modelo de los últimos años.
Nuestro Gobierno considera la reforma agraria irreversible. No habrá marcha atrás en dicho proceso, si habrá cambio de política, la que estará orientada a sacar del fracaso económico y social a la primera etapa del proceso de reforma agraria. Se debe lograr la eficiencia, pues la reforma agraria no puede ni debe continuar siendo una carga para toda la sociedad salvadoreña. Se debe terminar con el paternalismo. Se le debe dar a las cooperativas la autogestión, contraria a la congestión que ha sido la política aplicada en los últimos nueve años.
La nueva política es de concederle al campesino de la primera fase de la reforma agraria, el derecho de su libertad total, para que él, mejor que nadie, pueda decidir su futuro, ya sea continuar en cooperativas autogestionarias, o si prefiere la parcela individual. No se le impondrá ningún esquema, sino será el campesino el que elija. Lo que se desea es, ya no politizar este proceso, pues esto sólo causa más confrontación y enemistad, y suficientes enemigos tiene el campesino con las plagas y sequías. Estimamos que el proceso democrático iniciado aún se queda corto, pues consideramos que para gozar de plena democracia, debe existir democracia económica, como es la libertad que el campesino elija su propio destino y el de su familia.
El proceso de reforma agraria se profundizará a través de la compra venta voluntaria de la tierra y que será realizada por medio del banco de tierras cuyo proyecto ya fue terminado recientemente. Existe ya más de 150 000 hectáreas ofrecidas en venta al banco de tierras por lo que solo hace falta los recursos económicos para compra venta voluntaria. Ya no habrá más confiscaciones de tierra pues no hay necesidad de crear más desconfianza
Igualmente otro error fue el nunca haber enfocado el problema ecológico y todo lo referente a la conservación de suelos. Es preocupante conocer que en El Salvador, ya sólo existe un 3% de la foresta original, producto en gran parte por la alta densidad poblacional que afrontamos, dado que según las estadísticas, El Salvador es el país más densamente poblado en América Latina. Resulta lamentable mencionar que, a pesar de existir una legislación forestal, no se ha aplicado dicho régimen legal, para garantizar la protección de los sistemas biológicos y la conservación de nuestros recursos naturales. También hemos carecido por completo en los últimos 30 años de campañas culturales y apoyo ante la conservación y fortalecimiento de nuestras condiciones ecológicas, cayendo en un degradamiento casi total de los recursos naturales. Gracias a FAO ya hemos emprendido programas agroforestales con mucho éxito. Esperamos pronto emitir algunas leyes con incentivos fiscales para promover la reforestación.
No quiero dejar inadvertido nuestro agradecimiento sincero por el apoyo que la FAO ha proporcionado a mi país a través de los proyectos que paso a mencionar: Control de Langosta Voladora; que ha contribuido eficaz y oportunamente a combatir la plaga que azota a nuestro país. Apoyo Agroforestal a Comunidades Rurales de Escasos Recursos, cuyo impacto ha sido ampliamente positivo en las áreas geográficas donde se ha llevado a cabo. Cogestión y Desarrollo del Modelo Empresarial de la Terminal Pesquera Artesanal de La Herradura, iniciado en agosto de 1988, y que ha constituido un proyecto exitoso y de mucho impacto en el sector pesquero.
Creo además oportuno mencionar, que el Señor Presidente Alfredo Cristiani está sumamente complacido y agradecido por el enorme interés puesto por este organismo, en las actividades agroforestales, habiendo enviado recientemente a nuestro país, a un experto para que con sus valiosos conocimientos se
hiciese la reformulaciôn de la política forestal y preparación del plan nacional de reforestación, documento que ya se encuentra felizmente en esta Sede, en espera de ser suscrito y aprobado por el Señor Saouma y este servidor, lo cual confieso me daría mucha satisfacción si pudiese retornar a mi país, con la buena nueva de su beneplácito, a efecto de ser operativizado al más breve plazo.
En este mismo orden, agradecemos también el respaldo de la FAO para la implementación a partir de enero de 1990, del proyecto de mejoramiento de los sistemas de manejo, capacitación e infraestructura para la conservación de alimentos poscosecha, del cual soy portador para su revisión y análisis en esta Sede.
De igual forma, nos satisface sobremanera también la acogida que ha tenido la solicitud del Licenciado Cristiani ante esta misma Sede, sobre “La incorporación de la mujer campesina al desarrollo" área que se califica como prioritaria en nuestro plan de trabajo, y de la cual recién acaba de finalizar un proyecto en la zona oriente de El Salvador, y que tan gentil y eficientemente está evaluando la consultora Elvia Caro, para efectos de su ampliación en otro proyecto similar. Oportunidad que deseo hacer propicia para dar nuestro voto de apoyo a los proyectos de cooperación técnica (TCP), que tanto beneficio proporciona al país por su agilidad y oportunidad en su ejecución.
También deseo manifestar que estimo que el mejor examen de la FAO somos sus clientes y El Salvador apoya el programa del Director General, Sr. Saouma. Estamos de acuerdo con el aumento que él solicita. También es importante señalar que ante la grave situación que atraviesan los países no desarrollados, hablar de crecimiento cero es abandonar la ayuda tecnológica. Hoy más que nunca en períodos de ajuste necesitamos de transferencia tecnológica. Si contamos con este apoyo y la solidaridad de todas las naciones desarrolladas estoy optimista que tendremos éxito. Es así, es imperativo que todos los países pongan al día sus pagos con la FAO. De no ser así no cabe la palabra solidaridad en nuestros discursos.
Otra petición al Señor Presidente, Sr. Kerin, al Señor Vicepresidente, Abdel Majid al Kaoud y al Sr. Director General en su apoyo y cabildeo ante los países consumidores de café y la OIC que no se debe romper el convenio del café, solo este hecho puede dar al fracaso toda la buena voluntad de FAO y la ayuda de países amigos y todo lo que cada país hace por ajustar su economía pues la crisis de café no es como muchos piensan que es un precio bajo momentáneo. Si se rompe el convenio según estudio del Banco Mundial los precios a niveles actuales de $65-68 bajaron aún más a niveles de $50 dólares y estarán allí por 4-5 años y se recuperan lentamente para llegar a niveles de $100 dentro de 7-8-9 años. O sea es una crisis seria de grandes proporciones. Por favor su gestión a favor de sus países miembros.
Finalmente, permítanme agradecer nuevamente esta valiosísima oportunidad que me han otorgado para enviar de parte de todo El Salvador, un caluroso saludo y un voto de solidaridad para todas las naciones aquí representadas y de parte de nuestro Gobierno, ratificar nuestra indoblegable lucha por alcanzar la paz en nuestro país, y pedir a esta noble asistencia un voto de confianza para nuestro pueblo y nuestro Gobierno, y a Dios, cordura y fuerza para confortar nuestras mentes y corazones de esta deplorable guerra que hoy nos agobia pero que confiamos en el Creador, vamos a terminar pronto para volver a ser El Salvador de antes: trabajador y progresista.
S.M. WAZIRÁ (Tanzania): I would like first of all on my own behalf and indeed on behalf of the Tanzania delegation to take this opportunity to congratulate you for having been elected Chairman of this Twenty-fifth Session of the FAO Conference, We hope that your long experience and good leadership you have already shown since we started meeting here will lead this Conference to a record of success. We wish you all the best.
In Tanzania the agricultural sector continues to be the mainstay of the economy. The sector showed very encouraging signs of recovery during the past three seasons. The food situation improved substantially with a big increase in production of maize, paddy and root crops. At the same time, the production of cotton increased by two-fold during the initial 2 years. Other cash crops are beginning to show improvement also. Overall, the agricultural sector registered an annual growth rate of 5.7% in 1986, 4.4% in 1987, and 4.8% in 1988, compared to annual growth rates of less than 3% during the 1981-85 period. The encouraging performance of the agricultural sector was mainly due to favourable weather conditions, and increased incentive to small farmers.
The performance of the livestock sector has been stagnant because of the acute shortage of inputs such as veterinary drugs, poor infrastructure and the occurrence of major diseases. To address these issues my Government has prepared the Livestock Sector Development Programme with the twin objectives of increasing the production of livestock products and attaining sustainable utilization of rangelands. We are appealing to the international donor community to cooperate with us in this important sector.
In spite of these encouraging signs of recovery, the agricultural sector in Tanzania is still faced with serious problems of low level of farming technology, inadequate and delayed distribution of inputs, high post-harvest losses, inadequate extension and research services, as well as inadequate marketing infrastructure, particularly transportation, storage and processing. Measures initiated to solve some of the above problems include the two rehabilitation projects for research and extension intended to enhance delivery of services to farmers and increase research and extension linkage. We have also embarked on increasing storage capacities in order to reduce post-harvest losses.
My delegation would like to bring the attention of the Conference to some adverse effects of the structural adjustment programme to the agricultural sector, in particular to small farmers. As we all know the programmes are usually accompanied by massive devaluation of local currencies and insistence on the removal of subsidies, including subsidies to production inputs. As we import most of our inputs the cost of these has skyrocketed beyond the means of our farmers. We are now witnessing farmers withdrawing from use of inputs. The expected is now happening: a fall in production. For example, this year cotton production in Tanzania has dropped by about 50% below the last two years' average because farmers could not afford fertilizers and pesticides.
The increase in production costs is happening when the prices of agricultural commodities are declining, in some cases such as coffee, precipitously. These trends are not only changing unfavourably the terms of trade to farmers but actually the prices farmers receive are below production costs. It is against this background that we appeal to FAO to carry out studies related to structural adjustment and provide advice so that the agricultural sector is not adversly affected by such programmes. We
are also anxious to see conclusions on the GATT Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations which we hope will not only give access to market in the developed countries for our agricultural commodities but also at better terms than is the case now.
Another aspect I would like to turn to is the problem of negative flow of financial resources from developing to developed countries. As has been indicated by many reports including the address of the Director-General of FAO to this Conference, more financial resources are flowing out of least-developed countries than are flowing in. Tanzania for example is using over 30% of our export earning just to service our loans, and Tanzania is not the most indebted country in the world. The international community need to reverse this trend, short of that, the efforts we are making toward agricultural production will be drastically jeopardized.
Apart from developing the crop and livestock sector, my government attaches great importance on the protection of the environment in order to ensure that present and future generations have a safer and enjoyable environment to live in. We continue to protect a substantial part of our country as wildlife and forest reserve. We have also embarked on the education of all our farmers and livestock keepers that good farming means avoiding environmental polution and overexploitation of renewable resources including forests and rangelands. It is on the basis of this that we support the measures aimed at safe use of pesticides and other inputs that may polute the environment. We therefore support the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution of and use of Pesticides.
One area of our concern has been the rapid exploitation of our forest stock. This, as we all know, is mainly caused by the level of underdevelopment which makes firewood the main source of energy for the majority of our people. In line with the FAO Tropical Forest Action Plan an integrated National Forest Action Plan has been developed in order to guide and coordinate all activities related to the production, use and preservation of forest resources. The programme to be implemented in the next decade will require not only our local resources but also the participation of the international community.
With regard to the tenth anniversary of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development we can say that substantial progress has been made in my country in areas of delivery of basic needs, promotion of grassroot participation as well as integrating women in development activities. The policy of Tanzania on rural development is well-known: we are committed to the development of rural areas and the poor. Currently, the rural people have greater access to education, health and safe water than a decade ago. By 1988, about 70% of the rural population lived less than 5 kms from the nearest health institution. Dispensaries have increased from 1 847 in 1976 to 2 840 in 1988, rural health centres from 162 to 274 and rural medical staff from 1 819 to 13 558 during the same period. Supply of safe water to the rural areas increased from 2.4 million people (17%) in 1974 to 8.2 million people (45%) 1988. Universal primary education was achieved in 1978 and latest estimates (1986) give the rate of illiteracy at 10%. To date women enrolment accounts for about 50%, 40% and 17% of total enrolment in primary, secondary and university (undergraduate) education respectively. It is hoped that very soon the enrolment of women in higher learning institutions will reach the 50% level as it has done in primary schools.
However, this requires the budget to expand to provide the basic services. We are finding it difficult to sustain these services, given our weak economy. As our economy depends on agriculture, only sustainable agricultural development can ensure continued delivery of basic needs.
The Third Government Consultation on World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development which took place last month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, continues to provide a very useful forum for exchange of country experiences as well as formulation of new policies and strategies for future action. My delegation will therefore strongly request the FAO to continue to support these consultations.
Mr Chairman, my delegation is pleased to note that the review on certain aspects of FAO's goals and operations has been completed in time and within the budget set. My delegation endorses the conclusions and recommendations that the goals of FAO are still relevant to the development of world food and agriculture and that the operations of the Organization are in line with the set goals and objectives. We endorse the three roles of FAO of assembling information, promoting action on agriculture and provision of Technical Assistance, including TCP. We support the views of the Director-General when setting priorities and the necessity to meet the needs of different member countries.
Finally on this issue, my delegation endorses the strategy set by the Director-General concerning the Programme of Work and Budget and that the increase in the budget is needed to carry out the important tasks entrusted to the Organization in the next biennium.
My delegation would like to express my Government's appreciation to the Director-General and the Organization for the continued support to Tanzania in the field of agriculture and rural development. FAO has been, and indeed still is, involved in several projects deemed essential to our development. Similarly, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the international donor community as a whole which, through FAO or direct bilateral programmes, continues to assist us in our endeavour to increase agricultural production and improve the welfare of the rural people. We believe that with the necessary concerted political will we can make real progress in dealing with the problem of the rural people.
We believe that with the necessary considered political will we can make real progress in dealing with the problem.
Finally, we would like to bring to the attention of this Conference one of the most significant events of the continent of Africa and the world at large: the successful conclusion of elections in Namibia in which SWAPO has come out victorious by winning the majority of the votes. Allow me to salute SWAPO for the victory as we look forward to welcoming Namibia as a full member of FAO.
Ignaz KIECHLE (Germany, Federal Republic of) (original language German): When we look back on the two years that have elapsed since the last Conference, we can state this: great achievements have been made again by the farmers all over the world. Due to the hard work, often also full of privations, of the farmers and their families in all parts of the world more people can be fed than ever before.
Nevertheless, the food situation in many regions of the world is far from being such that we can lean back satisfactorily. For many people, almost half a billion, the daily bread is by no means ensured. Hunger and chronic malnutrition continue to claim many victims, above all among the children.
The challenge we all are faced with thus persists to fight world hunger more effectively. Only concerted efforts of the international community will make it possible that the situation will be improved in a sustained way.
With great concern we notice two developments which are closely related to hunger in the world and also require our special attention.
There is a danger of a growing overexploitation of the natural resources. In order to be able to feed more and more people, increasingly more intensive farming will be inevitable.
Overexploitation, however, is not a problem of agriculture alone. The other sectors, too, and we all in the industrialized and in the Third World countries add through our behaviour to pressures on nature and environment.
If we use nature to a greater extent than it endures, its resources will be exhausted some day, as might happen with a well which supplies no more water. We can build new, deeper wells. These wells, too, will be exhausted if more water is taken from them than they can receive.
Progress in agricultural production can mean no longer "to produce at any price". The implications for the environment and nature have also to be taken into consideration.
In agriculture, we have to see to it above all that the fertility of the soil is maintained on a permanent and durable basis.
Generally speaking, the idea that we are accountable also to future generations for how we are using our environment today must determine our actions to a greater extent than so far.
An awareness of the problems involved begins to develop worldwide. One of the contributing factors has been the fear of large-scale climate changes which add to the difficulties to live in certain parts of the earth or could even make it impossible to live there.
We can meet the threat to our natural living bases - soil, water and air -with success at intercontinental level only. In this respect, too, we all have to join forces, however, in the right direction.
Apart from hunger and environmental problems we are also concerned about the enormous population growth. Between 1950 to today alone the population increased twice. Experts expect that by the year 2 000 to the present number of about 5.2 billion people another billion will probably be added.
At present, the world population is increasing by 220 000 people every day. Every man has a right to an adequate diet in qualitative and quantitative terms. Only then will a normal physical and intellectual development be possible. We are faced with the difficult task to guarantee this right to intellectual and physical development without contributing to an even greater pressure on the natural resources.
Scientists have no sound solution to it either. However, one thing is undisputed: Without economic and social developments there is no guarantee anywhere for a dignified life.
The present world economic environment, however, presents a mixed picture. On the one hand, the understanding is growing of what has to be done economically and socially in the different country groups and regions in the world. This understanding is reflected in international agreements and negotiations which aim at raising the economic and social standards throughout the world.
On the other hand, it is not so easy to eliminate the imbalances which exist in the world trade between the so-called developed industrialized countries and those countries which still have much of their economic development ahead of them. There are manifold reasons for that. Difficult climatic conditions, limited natural resources, a high degree of indebtedness and a continuous increase in population often develop into a vicious circle from which one can only escape by making great efforts.
The efforts to improve the world trade relations, also in the agricultural sector, are presently concentrated on the so-called GATT Uruguay Round. We attach great importance to the GATT negotiations. There is no doubt that the conditions of competition on the agricultural world markets have still to be improved.
The EC has declared itself for an adequate reduction of its agricultural support. We have been practising this approach within the Community for some years already. I hope we will come to results in the further GATT negotiations which will meet the different economic and social interests of the negotiating partners.
Parallel to the GATT negotiations the European Community is presently also engaged in negotiations on a continuation of its economic and development policy cooperation with the ACP countries. It has not yet been possible to bring the negotiations on Lomé IV to a conclusion. The common aim of all concerned, however, is to give ACP countries easier access for certain products to the EC markets.
As far as my country is concerned concretely, I can refer to the traditionally high imports of the Federal Republic of Germany from the developing countries. Last year the developing countries had a surplus of DM 9 billion in the agricultural trade with the Federal Republic of Germany. My country thus remains in relation to the number of consumers the biggest food importer in the world.
Also with regard to the cancellation of redemption payments and interest rates for certain countries the Federal Government played worldwide a prominent role in the last few years.
As regards the direct development policy cooperation the Federal Government and the non-governmental organizations engaged in development work are increasingly guided by the aim of aid for self-help. In 1988, the Federal Government provided a total of about DM 10 billion for economic cooperation at national level, within the European Community and through international organizations.
The 24th Session of the Conference had decided in the light of changing responsibilities to review the working method of FAO. Today, every major company cannot help but subject goals and activities from time to time to a critical assessment.
This especially applies to such a big organization with worldwide activities like FAO. For it, too, success control is a natural and on-going process which makes it possible to use its own forces and resources continuously more effectively.
The results of the review are a report and a number of proposals submitted to us for taking a decision. Let me thank all those who helped carry out the review, the experts, the Secretariat and above all the Director-General and the members of the Programme and Finance Committees for their hard and difficult work. It is now up to us to draw the necessary conclusions for optimum structures and working conditions of FAO without forgetting the professionally highly qualified work already done by FAO in the past.
In this respect we should not shrink from examining critically our own participation in the work of FAO. We should, however, take care not to see the process of reorganization, which we are discussing, solely or mainly under the aspect of increasing the financial resources. Quality instead of quantity should be our motto.
In view of the fact that the funds available will continue to be limited, we have no other choice but to set priorities. That this is not easy I know from the annual budget deliberations of the Federal Government of my country. It is not possible to finance all desirable projects.
Similar is the situation for the proposed Programme of Work and Budget for 1990-91 of FAO. Here, too, we cannot help but practise the greatest possible efficiency and economy in order to ensure that the individual activities will be of durable success. The key to success does not lie in the fragmentation, but in the concentration of forces.
Many topics on the agenda of this year's FAO Conference Session reflect the problems of our times. Our descendants will judge on how we coped with these problems, whether we only discussed them or whether action was also taken by us.
It is regrettable that we have to state this again and again. We cannot do all we wish and want.
My conclusion therefore is: we should at least desire to do what we can.
Let me conclude by wishing this year's Conference every success.
CHAIRMAN: Now that we have a full forum, the Secretary-General and I, would like to make some announcements.
The Director-General of IFAD has requested that the text of a statement be incorporated in the verbatim record, and that will be done.
Third Report of the General Committee
Troisième Rapport du Bureau
Tercer informe del Comité General
SECRETARY-GENERAL: The General Committee met this morning. I shall now read their report of this meeting.
The General Committee was apprised of requests from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the International Cooperative Alliance, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, the International Federation of Plantation, Agricultural and Allied Workers, the World Confederation of Labour, and the World Confederation of Trade Unions, all international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with FAO, to address the Plenary meeting of this Conference.
Having examined this request, the General Committee, in accordance with Rule X.2 (g) of the General Rules of the Organization, is now reporting to the Conference, and recommends that the Conference grant speaking time in Plenary to the above-mentioned organizations, on the understanding that a maximum time limit of 10 minutes will be observed, and that in no case will such organizations be given priority in speaking over delegates of Member Nations.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Is there any discussion on this recommendation?
None. The Plenary accepts that recommendation.
SECRETARY-GENERAL: The General Committee heard a report from the Director-General on the status of his discussions with representatives of those Member Nations which had no vote in Conference because of arrears in payment of their contributions. It was informed that some would make payments shortly or in the course of next week.
The General Committee requested the Director-General to continue his discussions and report back to it next week.
That ends the report of the General Committee meeting.
CHAIRMAN: Is there any discussion on that recommendation? There is no recommendation, it is an advice from the General Committee.
Julián AREVALO ARIAS (España): La delegación española formula sus votos por que los debates de esta Asamblea sirvan para llevar a buen término la resolución de los importantes términos aquí planteados.
No dudamos que, de ser así, habremos dado un muy importante paso en la lucha emprendida para erradicar de la humanidad el hambre, la pobreza y la malnutrición, lo que constituye la razón de ser de esta Organización, cuyos principios, en los que se basa su Constitución, continúan hoy día tanto o más vigentes, si cabe, que en los años fundacionales.
El examen de las estadísticas y tendencias de la producción agraria mundial nos indica que su moderado progreso, considerado globalmente, podría ser suficiente a la hora de alimentar a los más de mil millones de personas en que para el año 2 000 se habrá incrementado la actual población mundial.
Desgraciadamente, con gran probabilidad, amplias áreas de la tierra van a quedar fuera del reparto vital de los alimentos, porque persisten muchas circunstancias, en muchos casos desgraciadamente conocidas, que frenan el desarrollo de las poblaciones rurales, y los efectos negativos de algunas de ellas están creciendo de manera alarmante durante los últimos tiempos.
Este 25° período de sesiones de la Conferencia de la FAO nos brinda la oportunidad de llevar a cabo una seria reflexión colectiva sobre algunos de los problemas apremiantes con que se encuentra la comunidad internacional en relación con la agricultura y la alimentación. La problemática a considerar es muy variada, como se ha ido poniendo de manifiesto en las intervenciones que me han precedido y, dentro de la misma, la delegación española quisiera incidir en esta ocasión, y de manera especial, sobre lo que ese año ha constituido el tema central del Día Mundial de la Alimentación: la relación que existe entre la alimentación y el medio ambiente.
Desde los informes del Club de Roma, a principios de los años 70, hasta el Informe "Nuestro futuro común", elaborado por la Comisión Mundial de Medio Ambiente y del Desarrollo, la preocupación social y política por la problemática medioambiental no ha hecho si no crecer y extenderse.
La propia FAO, en su informe sobre "La agricultura mundial hacia el año 2 000", llamaba la atención sobre el hecho de que el aumento del 60 por ciento de la producción agrícola en los países en desarrollo y del 20 por ciento en los países desarrollados, previsto para los próximos quince años, supondría una demanda mucho mayor de recursos naturales que ya escasean. Y añadía textualmente: la FAO estima que el desarrollo agrícola puede proseguir con arreglo a las previsiones, sin ocasionar graves daños a los recursos naturales del mundo, pero con una condición: hay que conceder más importancia a las cuestiones ambientales en las políticas y los gastos de desarrollo.
Lo que en un principio interesaba sólo a científicos y minorías culturales y sociales se ha convertido hoy en motivo de debates, estudios y, más aún, en programas de actuación de los gobiernos y los organismos internacionales. Sin embargo no quisiera dejar la ocasión sin llamar la atención sobre que la
problemática medio ambiente-agricultura no afecta por igual a los países desarrollados y en desarrrollo, ni siquiera a los países pertenecientes a una misma área geográfica y un mismo proyecto económico y político, como puede ser el caso de la Comunidad Económica Europea.
Para los países más altamente desarrollados, los problemas se centran en la contaminación del aire mediante el fenómeno de las lluvias acidas, el del agua por plaguicidas y nitratos, contaminación de los alimentos por pesticidas y antibióticos, el agotamiento de los recursos naturales con fenómenos como la erosión de los suelos, la salinización de las aguas y el agotamiento de los acuíferos, mientras que para los países en vía de desarrollo los problemas críticos son, entre otros, la deforestación, la desertización y la degradación de las tierras cultivadas.
No cabe, pues, mantener una posición unívoca sobre los daftos que ocasiona la agricultura al medio ambiente. Lo que en unos casos se produce como consecuencia de modelos y técnicas de producción aplicadas en exceso, en otros casos no es sino reflejo de la pobreza, una inadecuada distribución y uso de recursos escasos como la tierra y el aprovechamiento hasta el agotamiento de materias primas como la madera, utilizada como inevitable fuente inmediata de recursos materiales y financieros en ausencia de otra fuente de las mismas.
Por lo que a la agricultura se refiere, ha sido sin duda la adopción generalizada de las técnicas de la llamada revolución verde la que ha provocado que este medio tradicional de producción y la ganadería, tradicionales protectoras y aliadas del medio ambiente, se hayan incorporado al grupo de actividades que más pueden dañar, sin un estricto control científico y político, a las actividades medioambientales.
En realidad el paquete tecnológico de la revolución verde, como es hoy bien sabido, presenta un balance contradictorio. Por una parte, los indudables incrementos de productividad alcanzados han permitido unos volúmenes de producción suficientes en términos estrictamente matemáticos o aritméticos para abastecer de alimentos a la población mundial, pero, por otra parte, no han acabado con la desnutrición porque no suplen los problemas de equidad en la distribución de los recursos, al tiempo que, como ya he indicado, pueden dañar seriamente al medio ambiente, y en una medida, no bien conocida, pero bastante evidente, a la propia salud humana.
Desde una perspectiva europea y mediterránea, como la de España, en un proceso avanzado de transformación agrícola industrial, la problemática de la alimentación y del medio ambiente presenta sin embargo algunas connotaciones singulares, que, en cierto modo, son más propias de un país en vías de desarrollo, por sus características elafolóticas y climáticas que de un país desarrollado. Por ello, creemos que un comentario sobre las mismas tal vez pueda ser de utilidad para los numerosos países con quienes mantenemos vínculos solidarios y de cooperación y, muy singularmente, con la cuenca sur del Mediterráneo e Iberoamérica.
Nuestras experiencias nos ofrecen las siguientes reflexiones: a) Es necesario adaptar convenientemente las nuevas técnicas productivas a la realidad de cada país. La adopción exclusiva de determinados modelos productivos, como puede ser el de la ganadería intensiva, puede conllevar a medio plazo distorsiones importantes en forma de excedentes productivos y de degradación medioambiental.
b) Los progresos en la transformación agrario convencional, mecanización, irrigación o cambio de cultivos no aseguran por si mismos la superación de la pobreza rural en cualquiera de sus manifestaciones, si no se ven simultaneados por verdaderos progresos y cambios en la distribución de los recursos en la reforma y en el desarrollo agrario,
c) Prestar una atención especial para la conservación de la cubierta vegetal. La desertización, la erosión, la deforestación indiscriminada son fenómenos que atentan contra un valor de importancia crucial constituido por los bosques como factor capital de renta y empleo y soporte para la conservación de los recursos naturales y de la vida silvestre.
En coherencia con las reflexiones precedentes, durante la presidencia de España de la Comunidad Económica Europea se ha impulsado la adopción de una estrategia para el sector forestal que ha instaurado un conjunto de medidas que tienen por objeto conservar y poner en valor los bosques de la Comunidad. Asimismo, se ha presentado bajo nuestra presidencia un memorandum sobre la cubierta vegetal, con propuestas para fomentar técnicas blandas de producción, el fomento de actividades agrícolas y ganaderas de carácter extensivo, actuaciones concretas de lucha contra la erosión y el cambio hacia orientaciones productivas beneficiosas para la recuperación de los nutrientes del suelo y planes de desarrollo en zonas rurales que han de contemplar siempre como acciones conservacionistas.
Estas reflexiones y estos ejemplos cobran, creemos, especial significación hoy cuando se anuncia la adopción de un nuevo paquete tecnológico basado en la biotecnología, aplicado a un proceso productivo que abre nuevas posibilidades para la mejora de las plantas y la especialización del ganado, pero, respecto al cual no hay que albergar pretensiones exageradas.
Más que nunca, los países en desarrollo en materia tecnológica y, lo somos la mayoría por no decir todos, van a necesitar realizar una adaptación muy medida de las nuevas técnicas, al tiempo que se toma especial cuidado en reducir las consecuencias medioambientales negativas de la agricultura. Y en este contexto, no es de extrañar que empiece a abrirse camino entre los investigadores y los responsables de las políticas agrarias conceptos como el de agricultura alternativa para señalar un conjunto de técnicas y prácticas que tratan de favorecer, en lugar de suplantar, los procesos naturales que reducen el empleo de insumos ajenos en la explotación y mejoran los costos y elevan el nivel de producción y de la salud.
En este marco aparece como especialmente relevante el papel que pueda jugar la FAO. Es preciso exigir a esta Organización una acción especial de promoción de los procesos de adaptación de las técnicas más acordes con la preservación y recuperación de recursos como el suelo, el agua y los bosques y con el logro de la seguridad alimentaria a nivel mundial.
Observamos con satisfacción que varias de las cuestiones que se debatirán dentro de esta Conferencia van a tener una fuerte repercusión medioambiental.
La conservación y fomento de los recursos fitogenéticos constituyen una parte importantísima de uno de los requisitos fundamentales para la conservación de los recursos naturales, cual es la salvaguarda de la diversidad genética. Hemos colaborado en reformar y en reforzar el sistema de la FAO en materia.
El Compromiso Internacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos ha contado de siempre con el firme apoyo de España en el seno de la Comisión Intergubernameiital -dedicados a este tema específico-, además de nuestra contribución al Fondo Internacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos.
Por otra parte, hemos trabajado también en pro del desarrollo y mejora del Código de conducta para la distribución y el uso de plaguicidas, participando activamente en su elaboración.
Nos preocupan asimismo ciertas plagas que constituyen verdaderos desequilibrios ambientales, amenazando las ya castigadas producciones agrícolas y ganaderas, de extensas regiones de nuestro vecino continente, Africa. En este sentido creemos que está siendo ejemplar la eficacia y la coordinación con que en el Africa Subsahariana y en otras regiones del continente se está luchando contra la langosta del desierto, y deseo resaltar la coordinación de esfuerzos con Marruecos y los aportes de Españta para esta lucha, aunque en este sector seguimos preocupados por el desarrollo de nuevas plagas a las que se deben oponer todos los medios de que disponen las modernas técnicas de lucha.
La FAO es un magnífico foro de debate sobre las consecuencias y los sacrificios que se derivan para la agricultura en zonas desfavorecidas y sobre los efectos de la aplicación de determinadas medidas para el desarrollo de los países en vías de desarrollo -permítaseme la redundancia-y para paliar el déficit alimentario en los países pobres. Para que una organización como la FAO pueda utilizar sus propios recursos necesita contar con estructuras eficientes y un sistema de actuación claro y transparente con un conjunto total de requisitos. Necesita, y así finalizo nuestra intervención, contar, en primer lugar, con una situación económica estable que únicamente se puede lograr con el pago puntual por parte de todos sus miembros de las cuotas que les corresponden. Y en este contexto entendemos también que ha sido oportuna la realización del estudio, cuyas propuestas van a ser presentadas a esta Asamblea y de cuya discusión debe surgir una FAO más fuerte y más eficiente.
Issa KALANTARI (Iran, Islamic Republic of): Mr Chairman, on behalf of myself and the delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran, I would like to extend my cordial congratulations to you for presiding over the Conference. There is no doubt that with your knowledge of agricultural issues the Conference will benefit and come to a remarkable achievement. It is my earnest desire that this Organization makes itself responsible for assisting the promotion of foodstuff production and its just distribution, in order to gain success and prosperity. I am hopeful that under the genuine guidance of H.E. Mr Saouma the Director-General of FAO, this Organization will be able to accomplish its predetermined goals and objectives.
There is no doubt that to date, remarkable achievements have been gained in promoting the production of foodstuffs. Despite this fact and due to the considerable technical aids of FAO, we are still witnessing the calamity of hunger and famine in some countries. This most tragic enigma reveals that food and medical aids being dispatched from all over the world cannot be assumed as even a temporary solution. The ever-increasing growth of world population and the unfavourable fluctuations in climate cause great worry
and fear of confrontation with the harsh problem of hunger and its aftermath. This critical situation needs drastic effort by countries in order to achieve both economic independence and provision of food as their prior objectives.
Under these circumstances, in order to safeguard their political independence, freedom and non-aligned policies on a global scale, developing countries should attain self-sufficiency through reliance on national resources. Fortunately, in recent years a large number of Asian countries have taken hopeful measures toward the enhancement of agriculture and the promotion of food production. In this regard, the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran indicates the great attention paid to the principles of food security and economic independence in the light of cooperation between the developing countries.
Independence and self-sufficiency are among the main objectives of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. In order to achieve these goals, State, private and cooperative sectors do their utmost harmoniously to pave the way for the fulfilment of economic, social and political independence and self-sufficiency.
Inspired by this policy, the agricultural sector is trying to boost the level of employment and income of those who are involved. In this regard we are determined to work for the best utilization of water, soil and other natural resources, and the employment of appropriate technology to improve production output to its maximum.
In order to achieve a suitable boost in agricultural production, attention is focused on land consolidation and infrastructural activities which in turn need government technical, financial and social investment. This makes use of the required background for more employment in rural areas when amenities are transferred to villages from towns. Such measures will also meet another objective, that is, the prevention of uncontrolled migration to the city centres, and as a consequence, the transmission of urban attractions to the rural areas.
Regarding land ownership, Government policy supports those who work on the land, either alone or with the cooperation of their families. Concerning private ownership, those who are unable to participate directly in production activities due to physical disabilities or financial shortcomings, the Government respects their legal rights providing this does not spoil land integrity.
In the sphere of utilization of natural resources, unity and harmony among development projects in soil and water are badly needed. In this regard enhancement of water efficiency through mobilization, the renovation of farms situated near reservoirs and prevention of losses due to erosion of soil are under consideration. A call for the close cooperation of the people on the one hand and presentation of bank facilities on the other hand has proved successful.
Forests as one of the natural resources play a vital role in the preservation of the environment and ecosystem in our country. However, revival of these invaluable resources cannot be put into practice unless close collaboration between the State organizations and the people is created. This has been done by the employment of mass media in order to familiarize people with the drastic outcome of improper utilization of forests and pastures.
Since fisheries and related industries have a significant role in the provision of a high proportion of animal protein, this section is given a priority equivalent to agriculture.
With regard to the production of agricultural commodities, prime priority has been conceded to staple items. Close vigilance is carried out to increase the productivity of both the unit areas and the areas under the cultivation of strategic agriculture food products simultaneously. Following the accomplishment of these strategies with the main concentration on the enhancement of domestic products, we are hopeful that the nutrition rate will show a relatively satisfactory benefit.
In order to achieve this goal, it is crystal clear to everyone that research and extension play a very vital role when they are practised simultaneously.
There is no doubt that extension of research and technology in the agricultural industry will pave the way for the enhancement of national technology, manufacturing the necessary machinery and bring about the consequent relative achievement of self-sufficiency and relief from dependency. In this regard development of research and educational centres with particular attention toward farming, animal husbandry, fisheries and forestry are considered as our main targets. Mechanization in agriculture is also a subject which merits close attention.
We do believe that the promotion of this sector, and its harmonization with the improved technology of developed countries, which is providing this change, will match the social and economic situation governing the country. It is obvious that in all these aspects the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based upon non-alliance, emphasis on the promotion of domestic agricultural products, and the reduction of imports.
In conclusion, I would like to pinpoint the outlines of targets of our first five-year development plan. We are very hopeful and optimistic about its outcome. These are: fundamental change in traditional agriculture to a modern and profitable industrial agriculture, through institutionalization of the rural communities; the extension and development of rural, tribal and fishery cooperatives; non-interference of government in the provision of agricultural products unless in essential cases where direct interference is advised; firm organization of a healthy market for agricultural products and the adoption of supporting policies; imposition of security for losses due to unpredicted mishaps, together with exercising insurance, price fixation and safeguarding the purchase of agricultural products; expansion of public services, training and extension in rural areas; relatively satisfactory promotion of nutrition rates through reliance on domestic products; promotion of the level of employment and income in the agriculture sector; the best utilization of water, soil and other natural resources; and land consolidation and support of those who with the cooperation of their families work on land.
The main goal of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the first five-year development plan is focused on self-sufficiency (especially in some of the strategic products), preservation and promotion of natural resources, and a reduction in the rate of importation of foodstuffs. No doubt in the coming periods the trend of development and production will switch to harmonization between requirements and national output. This will be followed by boosting the rate of export in agricultural commodities.
Finally allow me, Mr Chairman, to emphasize on this mere point that without confidence and actual deeds we shall not achieve success for our future. Since FAO and its Member States bear a unique responsibility in this regard, I wish them the unity and close collaboration which will no doubt lead to their final success. This success will eventually be beneficial to small producers and other deprived categories.
Ahmed Ali GINAIF (Sudan) (original language Arabic): It is a great pleasure for me to address this august body on behalf of the Government and people of Sudan. I would like to make a brief statement on the agricultural situation in Sudan and to highlight our relationship with FAO.
First of all, Mr Chairman, allow me to congratulate you on your election to the Chair for this Session of the General Conference. We also appreciate very much the able manner in which you are guiding our deliberations. I wish to commend Mr Edouard Saouma and his dedicated staff for their wise leadership of the Organization in this difficult time, known to all of us.
The agricultural sector in Sudan is the mainstay and backbone of our economy. It has a distinguished position amongst the other sectors of the economy. Agriculture constitutes around 40% of our GNP and 95% of our exports; it provides employment for 80% of the population. Therefore, it plays the major role in achieving food security and overall economic and social development.
In order to adapt our resources, we have adopted various production systems represented by irrigation, the modern rain-fed system and other such traditional sectors as well as the animal resources sector and forestry. Each sector has developed on its own - that is to say, in isolation from what is going on in the other sectors. This has had a negative impact on the performance of the agricultural sector as a whole. Therefore, it failed to adapt to the socio-economic changes. This has coincided with the complete absence of a comprehensive agricultural policy capable of encompassing all the sectors and strengthening each of them through programmes with a view to adapting them to the different changes at the right time in order to achieve the expected development.
The result of all this has been a decrease in production and general activity, a general deterioration and a massive migration from the rural areas to the urban centres. Given this situation, it is only logical that the deterioration in the performance of this sector has been followed by an absence of food security and a decline in exports, leading to a general deterioration in the standard of living of the people. Therefore, the situation calls for rapid change in order to put an end to this general deterioration and in order to better utilize the available and natural human resources for the well-being and stability of the country.
On 30 June this year the National Salvation Revolution took place in order to effect this radical change and to achieve security and development. In order to achieve the expected overall development it was necessary to bring just and lasting peace. The Government started immediately to work toward this end, and it adopted the Sudanese global orientation, taking into account the ethnic and religious differences, as well as the different
levels of development during the national dialogue conference attended by all the segments of the population, The Conference recommended specific recommendations and adopted the federal system within the framework of a united Sudan.
Within the framework of its developmental efforts the Government of the National Salvation Revolution cast its attention and efforts on the agricultural sector as the leading sector for salvation, reform and development. It formulated a global agricultural policy capable of adapting to the changes that had a negative impact on the performance of the agricultural sector, and it adopted a new approach in order to better utilize the agricultural potential of Sudan. It set up the appropriate structures that will enable the sector to take off and achieve food security, export diversification, global and balanced rural development, conservation and renewal of the natural resources and rehabilitation of the agricultural environment in its wider sense.
First, to achieve these objectives a unified agricultural policy and strategy was formulated taking into account the philosophy of development and its relation to the reality of Sudan, and taking into account all of the differences in the levels of development in Sudan.
Second, conservation of the natural resources that belong to all the generations. We must strive to renew these resources and to link the different modes of production to this methodology.
Third, to benefit from Sudan's comparative advantage by producing different plant crops and livestock and increasing production and productivity.
Fourth, to reduce the role of the public sector in the field of agricultural investment and encouraging the private sector to enable it to handle some of the production burden.
Fifth, focusing on the small farmers by raising their financial capabilities.
Sixth, giving incentives to farmers through remunerative prices and provision of inputs, and improvement of marketing channels and pricing policies.
Seventh, upgrading the scientific research capabilities and its orientation by linking it closely to extension.
Eighth, improving planning, monitoring and follow-up mechanisms.
We have reviewed and diagnosed objectively the obstacles hindering the agricultural sector development. We have overcome many difficulties, but like our brothers in the Third World countries, and Africa in particular, we are suffering from the heavy debts and debt servicing, as well as the drought that occurred in sub-Saharan Africa transforming in some cases our grazing lands into deserts. In addition, we suffered during the last two years from the desert locust invasion, and we are being threatened by the screwworm fly that invaded North Africa.
It is well known that a country, whatever its potential or resources, cannot control this phenomenon on its own. This calls for combining the efforts of the countries and organizations having to do with agriculture and food. Hence, the importance of FAO.
In this context I would like to express our gratitude and satisfaction to FAO which provided us with advice and information and implemented different technical programmes and projects.
I would also like sincerely to thank the donor countries that respond to our appeals and help us through the programmes of FAO or bilaterally.
Allow me now to express the point of view of my country on what is going on in this Organization during this critical time. We read the Programme of Work and Budget and would like to commend the efforts made in preparing it. We think that the proposals and the priorities contained in the Programme of Work and Budget are in line with the orientations and the development requirements of my country. We expected an increase in the budget in a way that would alleviate the suffering of the Third World countries and would measure up to their hopes and aspirations, but we note that the increase is very slight, only 0.4 per cent. We appreciate and understand that this slight increase was due to the difficult financial situation of the Organization. We sincerely hope that the situation will soon improve and that the Organization will pull ahead in order to achieve its objectives.
We regret the cuts made to the Technical Cooperation Programme because we think it is one of the most important and efficient programmes of the Organization, and we in Sudan have benefited a lot from the revival and rehabilitation of many projects. It opened new horizons for investment in agriculture and animal production.
The Review of the activities of FAO has confirmed our trust and conviction that FAO is sound and efficient. We hope that the proposals made by the experts, as well as the Programme and Finance Committees, regarding the Review will be accepted and supported by all in order to enhance the Organization's capabilities.
I would like to say that we endorse the strengthening of the country and regional offices in view of the useful role they play in facilitating the timely response by the Organization to our requests and the formulation of regional programmes thereby promoting south-south technical cooperation.
Once again I would like to commend the TCP and call for increasing its resources in the hope that countries in a position to provide more funding necessary for the implementation of the constructive proposals contained in the experts report will be forthcoming with their support so as to enhance and strengthen our Organization.
In conclusion, I sincerely hope that we will be able to maintain the consensus that characterizes the ongoing dialogue in this important forum, and that the issues under discussion will be resolved in the spirit of consensus.
D.R. PHORORO (Lesotho): Mr Chairman, the Lesotho delegation wishes to record, as have other previous speakers, our appreciation to the FAO Director-General and his administration, as well as to the host country, Italy, for all the excellent arrangements, which will certainly facilitate the success of the Twenty-fifth Session of the FAO Conference. We are confident that under the guidance of our most distinguished Chairman and other able office-bearers the Conference will achieve expected results.
Our remarks will be devoted to two general topics of the agenda: first, major trends and policies in food and agriculture, and second, activities and programmes of the Organization,
The Twenty-fifth Session of the FAO Conference is convened on the eve of preparations for an international development strategy for the Fourth UN Development Decade, and my delegation endorses FAO's well-thought-out contribution to this strategy. It was only two years ago that we were faced with global food surpluses and overflowing stocks. Many previously importing developing countries were exporting, and there were pressures from many directions to reduce expenditure on agricultural research and agricultural development generally. The advocacy of zero growth in budgetary allocations for international assistance to agriculture typifies this thinking, and my delegation holds strong reservations on this approach.
In the present and future context of a new era of the 1990s, we wish to emphasize the central role of food agriculture in a strategy of development that produces high rates of growth and broad participation in that growth. It is the implementation of steady agricultural development policies in the face of fluctuating global supply-demand balances that stimulates, directly or indirectly, rapid growth in effective demand for food on the part of low-income people. Effective pursuit of such policies typically results in demand for food increasing more rapidly than even an excellent record in food production, thereby creating growth in food markets for the surplus food-producing countries, as well.
If growth is seen as largely the product of technological development that raises factor productivity, which in turn is the product of growth of human capital and the institutions that mobilize that human capital for productive purposes, demand is driven much more by domestic forces than by foreign imports. Thus, the underlying basis for growth is more developed as we enter the 1990s than it was in the previous decades. Even in Africa human capital and institutional structures have been improving. However, for that growth to be driven by domestic demand and for capital resources to be spread thinly over a large growing labour force requires, far more than in the past, a technologically advancing, cost-reducing development in the agricultural sector.
Because the problem of poverty is so massive and the poor are concentrated in the rural areas of low-income countries, it is difficult to envision eliminating the bulk of hunger through redistribution alone. Such redistribution would have to be substantially international and would have to grow enormously over time as the number of poor in the very poor, slow-growth countries continued to increase rapidly, as has been the case in the past.
Reduction of poverty can be achieved in the rural areas that are highly responsive to production-increasing agricultural technology for which the employment multipliers are substantial both within agriculture and in the rural non-agricultural sector. The technology for such growth is dynamic, requiring continuous effort; it is location specific requiring a large, dispersed effort; and it is complex, requiring effort on a wide front from research to input supply.
It is however worth noting that we now know what to do to rapidly eliminate hunger in the high potential areas. That reducing hunger, and thereby the pressures of poverty, in the urban areas - where more than a quarter of the poor reside - depends on vigorous growth in high potential rural areas; and that the historical answer to problems of low-potential areas has always contained a major element of migration, which, in turn, depends on good performance in the high-potential areas and their urban enclaves. Of course, it is also desirable to do research focused on breakthroughs that will raise productivity of low-potential areas. Such research will give relatively more emphasis to low-input innovation. However, because these are long-term, relatively high-risk investments, it is appropriate that foreign aid and international programmes pay for a disproportionate share.
Improved rural infrastructure that allows technology to spread to all farmers and permits employment multipliers to make adequate jobs for the poor is another crucial element in poverty reduction. Infrastructure investment also provides a vital link between the long-term, self-reliant removal of poverty, and short-term amelioration. Rural public works schemes to build infrastructure create immediate increases in employment and are clearly the most proven means of targeting food and income to the poor. Improved infrastructure, in conjunction with improved technology can provide employment multipliers, that sustain income increases and access to food over the long term. It is this challenge that coordinated WFP and FAO resources can provide us with a breakthrough in the fight against poverty and malnutrition. As development becomes increasingly driven by growth in the domestic demand of developing countries, trade becomes extremely important to the development process. Most obviously we know that once countries accelerate their growth substantially, even their best efforts in their agricultural sector cannot keep up with the domestic growth in demand for food. Thus, trade is needed to facilitate the imports of capital-intensive goods and services, basic food staples, including cereals and vegetable oils. Agriculture itself can play an important role in meeting export needs. The opportunities are particularly great in labour-intensive agricultural commodities like fruit, vegetables and certain types of livestock commodities. The message for research is clear. While we are striving for new breakthroughs in the basic food staple, new efforts must be added in the labour-intensive agricultural commodities for which demand is still growing in developing countries. It is in this area that women can play an integrative role in development.
Poor countries however face special financing problems that can limit imports in response to domestic shortages. This problem can effectively be dealt with through the IMF cereal facility. That facility should be strengthened, rather than gradually weakened and virtually eliminated as at present. It is also important that the developed countries, as they try to restrain excessive growth in their production, keep in mind the growing need for food in developing countries during this intermediate period when agricultural development is accelerating with technological change, but demand for food is growing even more rapidly. They should at least consider minimal-level stocking policy in order to stabilize their own prices and consumption and to provide some basis for stability in international markets.
Our preceding remarks on major trends and policies in food and agriculture endorse and bring into fresh focus FAO's important contribution reflected in their study: "African Agriculture - toward year 2000". The analysis and the recommendations will be as relevant in the 1990s as they were four years ago
when they were positively deliberated upon by African Ministers of Agriculture in Yamasokrou, Côte d'Ivoire. The four I's, namely infrastructure, institutions, inputs and incentive were identified as sine qua non of African agricultural development.
The solutions to hunger, malnutrition and poverty are very much at the core of the solution to the environmental assault occurring in developing countries. Of course, environmental degradation occurs in both developing and developed countries. But a broad distinction can be made. In developed countries, environmental destruction is primarily a product of wealth, while in very poor countries like Lesotho it is primarily a product of poverty. The most serious environmental destruction occurs as population pressure expands against limited land resource base and pushes cultivation out into more fragile resources, thereby rapidly destroying forests and grasslands. Increased production on fragile land reduces agricultural productivity as farmers are forced, by population pressure and lack of yield-increasing technology to clear and crop the hill-side, thus exacerbating problems of soil erosion.
In our view there are two solutions to these environmental problems. First, increase the agricultural capacity of the less fragile land to help relieve the pressure in the more fragile areas. This will produce a synergism between environmental preservation and a major attack on poverty in the more responsive areas. Second, conduct research and provide infrastructure in the more fragile areas. The former to help find less destructive systems of farming, and the latter to relieve the environmental stress from hunger in years of poor production and lack of non-farm jobs. Again, there is a synergism between hunger abatement through growth and environmental protection.
Permit me now, Mr Chairman, to briefly address myself to the items appearing in Part II of the Agenda - that is, activities and programmes of the Organization. My delegation is satisfied that both the Regular and the Field Programmes 1988-89 were successfully delivered within the constraints reduce budgetary allocations. However, the impact and the effectiveness of these programmes would have been greater had all member countries honoured their financial obligations in making the necessary contributions and replenishments. As Regular and Field Programmes are interdependent and mutually supportive, curtailment of resources on one adversely and negatively impacts on the other, and hence the overall quality of 1988-89 programme delivery left much to be desired. For most of the developing countries, especially Africa, the current biennium was a particularly difficult one, during which debt crisis, domestic-resource demanding structural adjustment programmes and localized unfavourable climatic conditions and pest epidemics overstrained the capacities of these countries to improve agricultural performance. Exceptionally fluctuating weather conditions in Lesotho during 1988/89 cropping seasons led the Government to declare a food emergency with an appeal to donors to provide seeds and grain to supplement supplies from commercial sources. Though FAO is commended for the role it has played in arresting the situation from getting in most African countries, the lack of financial support to the Organization from member countries that are capable of providing resources must be deplored.
Turning to the Programme of Work and Budget 1990-91 and Medium-Term Objectives, my delegation endorses and supports the prioritization of nine activities over which the continued policy to direct increased resources to FAO's technical and economic programmes is emphasized. However, Mr Chairman, the overhanging cloud of relatively minor real increases and inter-programme
budgetary transfers make us wonder how effectively the goals and mid-term objectives can be realized. We need, therefore, to translate budgetary provisions into well defined, coordinated activities, and this is imperative. We fully agree with the Programme Committee's call on FAO to support the trend toward increased direct government involvement in field projects. Nonetheless, we must not ignore the manpower and recurrent cost constraints that characterize staff and budgetary resources of these governments. Similarly, we agree with the Committee that FFHC unit should shift from information sharing and exchange toward providing assistance and training to developing countries from NGOs based in developed countries. This, in essence, would strengthen the role of women in development. Related to this issue is the recommendation to seek extra budgetary resources to expand and evaluate an assessment related to energy technology development. We support this recommendation as well as urging a strong link between the International Agricultural Centres and national ones in a way that will enhance the capabilities of the latter.
In our remarks on major trend, and policies in food and agriculture, we highlighted the fragility of the poor majority who are usually represented by small farmers, and are predominantly women. Their fragility is expressed in economic terms when they become victims of unrealistic structural adjustment programmes and are expected to increase production in a hostile economic environment of low commodity prices, preferential trade barriers and high input costs. Furthermore, their fragility is worsened by their farming activities in a similarly fragile environment of depleted soils, overgrazed pastures and deforested woodlands. We therefore endorse the emphasis given to the important role of farm management and production economics in the analyses and development of stable farming systems including better utilization of feed resources for increased animal production. In this regard, allocation of increased resources for forestry and fisheries development is welcome. Afforestation programmes which include agroforestry activities, especially when supported by WFP resources, involve active and direct participation of rural communities, and can have considerable impact in environmental protection and hunger abatement. Substantial increases in allocations for inland fisheries and aquaculture are encouraging as it is through this programme that women's role in fisheries development can be highlighted. Furthermore, Lesotho wishes to urge that specific provisions be made to meet the needs of landlocked states. The reasons for this plea are obvious, as such states are usually least developed with precarious food security situations.
Mr Chairman, my delegation also records its appreciation for continuing resource allocation to the Technical Cooperation Programme. The high demand for TCP assistance and the Programmes swift response to urgent needs, emergencies and technical requirements of member countries justifies strengthening of the Programme. The Government of Lesotho is very appreciative of the TCP assistance it has received in critical areas of institutional strengthening, emergency inputs, agroforestry and fisheries: and follow-up donor interest has already been forthcoming. We would, however, observe that in cases of emergencies which are usually funded by TCP and executed through OSRO, administrative delays, usually unavoidable, invalidate the emergency status of such projects with embarrassing consequences for recipient countries and beneficiaries. We therefore urge that FAO should devise a more expedient mechanism to overcome purchasing and implementation bottlenecks. Delegation of authority to FAO and UNDP in country offices with specified controls and necessary cross-checks is one way of dealing with the situation and ensuring that the assistance is still delivered within the rules and regulations of the Organization.
Finally, my delegation wishes to note the historic nature of this session of the FAO Conference especially as it comes at a time when conclusions and recommendations of the review process, initiated at the last Conference in 1987. FAO's relevance in this changing world, its dynamism and efficiency has yet been demonstrated in the findings of those whom resolution 6/87 entrusted this difficult and arduous task to. We say to the Director-General, the group of experts and the Programme and Finance Committees; congratulations for a job well done. Let us now strive to think how best this completed exercise can be implemented. Obviously it could be difficult for us to accept that the cost for implementing these recommendations should be covered by the regular budget. We hope, therefore, that extra-budgetary resources will be made available by the developed industrialized countries as against any suggestions for further programme cuts or adjustments. We sincerely share the notion that the main objective of the review process was to strengthen the FAO so as to increase its capacity and effectiveness. At this stage, however, we could not see any justification for the future to waste FAO resources in engaging the services of private agencies on tasks that could easily be fulfilled in the most qualified manner by the relevant FAO's organs and bodies.
In conclusion, we believe that success in meeting the complex challenges and opportunities confronting us in the 1990s can ensure a shared and widespread prosperity between developed and developing countries well beyond the next decade. Such effort will greatly facilitate accelerated growth and poverty alleviation in the 1990s and bring benefits to that decade that a more self-centred approach would postpone for several further decades. FAO's role and contribution in meeting the challenges of the 1990s are immense.
Lalith ATHULATH-MUDALI (Sri Lanka): I think, while I have to congratulate you on your election on behalf of the delegation of Sri Lanka, I think, judging by the admirable way in which you have conducted the affairs of this Conference up to now, we should congratulate not only you but all delegations for having elected you to this high office of Chairman of this Conference.
Permit me to table my statement which I hope will be part of the record of this Conference. I only intend to illustrate a few matters which demand emphasis at this time.
First, the Director-General, Mr Saouma, in his multilingual preface, in his statement outlined the impending and important relationship between population, agriculture and environment.
Having come from a population conference last week in Amsterdam, I can only say that if we do not link these three things together, most, if not all, of what we have achieved in agriculture and food will be largely negative. The Holy Father this morning underlined the importance of the link between the environment and agriculture, and this is something which we should all bear in mind.
We in Sri Lanka have had some success in agriculture - not only traditional agriculture, but modern plantation agriculture. For example, when we received Independence in 1948, with a population of six million, we were only 33 percent self-sufficient in our main staple, which is rice. Today,
with a population of sixteen million, we are about 90 percent self-sufficient in rice. We have also achieved a high degree of productivity, in excess of the well-known exporters of rice. However, by and large our cost of product is higher than exporting countries.
Almost 45 years ago FAO came into existence as one of the first of the new generation of international organizations. The unusual juxtaposition of malnutrition and food surpluses, poverty and plenty has been a main concern of FAO throughout its history.
Food shortages and famine throughout the world have continued to be a major challenge to FAO and in developing countries such as Sri Lanka, the impact of its contribution is indeed valuable. Policy formulation and implementation, surveys and research in all areas related to food and agriculture have benefited the entire world but they have been of special value in those regions where hunger and poverty lurk.
In the global context of increasing population pressure and consequent problems the role of FAO will no doubt be of even greater significance in the years to come.
Some concepts on agricultural development
Background; There are similarities as well as diversities in the problems faced by agriculture-based economies. In some countries resources are inadequate to maintain growth rates to meet the demand of increasing populations. Some countries have problems of land availability for future generations. Others who have the land resources find inadequate capital and entrepreneurship to develop the land. Agricultural commodities fluctuate in world markets and the perishable nature of the commodities and the competition between producer countries, offer an advantage to importing countries to purchase the commodities at cheap rates.
It is seen that problems are so interwoven and interlinked that it is idle to conceive of an agricultural policy independent of a package of complementary policies. A country which does not focus on population control would be increasing production, only to be consumed by the increased population. Similarly, if we do not support agriculture, the efforts of millions of individual farmers can be frustrated.
Some problems are unique to individual countries. Policy planners should share these experiences and adopt them to suit their own countries. Agricultural planners will not do justice to the agricultural communities unless they conceive the problems of agriculture in global/regional and micro contents.
Sri Lankan situation - historical background: Sri Lanka has recorded an impressive growth in respect of agricultural development since Independence. During the British rule, immediately prior to Independence, there was a heavy focus on the plantation industry. But it is incorrect to say that the domestic agricultural sector, dominated by paddy cultivation was totally neglected during this period. There were British rulers and Civil Servants who worked with dedication for the upliftment of the rural masses engaged in domestic food production. It should be noted that initial repairs of many large reservoirs commenced during the period immediately prior to Independence.
During the Second World War, people suffered from worries of food shortages and after Independence, the stage was set for a widespread food production drive. The first Prime Minister of the country, Rt. Hon, D.S. Senanayake, saw two advantages in the food production drive. It was a symbol of national resurgence. It was possible to relieve the densely-populated wet zone by transferring a section of the population to the underdeveloped dry zone in the country. There were no constraints of land availability as large extents in the dry zone were available for development. The main constraint for him was to find the men to develop these lands. The policies developed during this period by successive governments were naturally influenced by this basic factor. A number of large Settlement Schemes were developed during the years that ensued and they made a substantial contribution to the production process during the subsequent years.
The year 1958 can be considered as a milestone in the institutional development of the agricultural sector. The tenants of paddy lands who had hitherto no legal protection were offered such protection under the Paddy Lands Act. Furthermore, the landowners share was also prescribed by law. The security of tenure offered to the tenants was expected to give a boost to production. It is certainly difficult to see the impact of an institutional change on production within a short time span. However, whether it had a positive or negative impact on production is still being debated.
The major thrust for higher productivity came in the 1960s with the "Green Revolution". High-yielding varieties of paddy, better management practices resulted in a breakthrough in paddy production during the 1965 to the 1970 period. The farmers proved their capacity to adopt new techniques in agricultural production during this period. Farmers rejected traditional varieties they had inherited from generations in favour of hybrids that yielded better incomes. Today, 96 percent of the paddy area is cultivated with the high-yielding varieties.
The 1970-77 period showed a stagnant growth in paddy production primarily due to the closed economy which prevented the free inflow of inputs and services. However, owing to restrictions on imports, local crops such as chillies, onions, cowpea, potatoes, maize, sorghum, yams and tubers fetched good prices.
Another landmark in agricultural production is the post-1977 period. The Government opened up the economy leading to a free inflow of inputs and services and at the same time offered a package of services such as better research and extension, better management systems, improved varieties of seed and better institutional backup for farmers, who readily responded to the Government's offer. Unfortunately, it was not possible to maintain the steady growth that was recorded from 1977 to 1983 as the country faced problems of both natural and manmade calamities.
The New Era: In 1989, a new Ministry was formed encompassing a large spectrum of activities ranging from domestic agriculture, food stocking and distribution, cooperative development and livestock development. The present agricultural policies can be considered a major deviation from the policies followed hitherto. Policies and strategies followed during the post-independence period were very appropriate for that period when there was an abundance of land for development. Due to the efforts of the successive Governments since Independence, most of the lands that could be brought under major irrigation schemes have been already developed and the possibilities of expanding irrigated agriculture is presently very limited. Although some impressive advances have been made in the field of
agricultural development over the years, it would be difficult to sustain the development effort with the same package of policies and strategies, as population is increasing and the land-man ratio is becoming increasingly unfavourable.
Agricultural policies which concentrate heavily on self-sufficiency have to pay a price. Although cost of production has increased over the years, the local purchasing power has not increased substantially to offer a reasonable price to the producer. This has pushed the former not only toward subsistence agriculture, but to a subsistence mind. This conditioning of mind saps the farming community of entrepreneurial skills.
Whilst lots of effort went into the field through extension system to promote agricultural activity, the macro policies of the Government were at times impeding its growth. The relatively little savings generated in the agricultural sector were being mobilized by the Banking System to support import/export trade. Urban centres were growing at the cost of agricultural communities.
Although meek protests were made by farmers against this situation, their voices were not heard as the politico-administrative leadership could not argue the case of its client effectively.
This situation warrants brave new thinking. Although the Agricultural Operations can be decentralized for better management, a conceptual frame for Agricultural Policy needs to be carved out centrally in order to offer the required guidelines to implementors. In Sri Lanka's context where the farming community is scattered in micro-holdings, through the length and breadth of the country, with hardly any inter-links between themselves, a binding policy framework should be developed encompassing the total agricultural scenario.
We also need to remove cultural hangovers which inhibit production. For instance it required a lot of effort to wean the farmer away from the paddy mono-crop obsession. Paddy crop should have pride of place for purposes of food security, but for the development of the farmer, paddy could give only a little input. The cost of production studies undertaken by the Department of Agriculture in the recent years show that in many parts of the wet zone, paddy gives a negative return on investment. The contradiction was that the Agrarian Services Act required farmers to cultivate these lands only with paddy and the farmers were required to go through cumbersome procedures to use the paddy fields for any other purpose. This situation has now been remedied.
The concept of diversification is fast taking root among farming households. This diversification is not only confined to subsidiary food crops, livestock and fisheries. The new concept encompasses a total diversification, including industry, agro-based or otherwise. The integration with livestock/fisheries offers many advantages. These activities can complement each other and also offer an insurance to farmers against seasonal losses as he can fall back on one of these activities for his income.
Off-farm income is absolutely vital for development of agriculture as studies have proved that income from the land can hardly sustain the family at a decent level of living. Increased income of the farming family will be the focus of the future. A criticism of the "Green Revolution" of 1960s was that the planners in their eagerness for high national growth rates, concentrated on "high-yielding varieties" and more "progressive" farmers. A
country like Sri Lanka cannot afford this policy, as there is a danger of the living standards of a larger section of the population deteriorating further. Agricultural policy of the country should be held enough to recommend the weaning away of large sections of agricultural communities from agricultural operations if higher incomes can be assured elsewhere.
Land could offer a good resource, particularly in a tropical country like Sri Lanka if properly used, with a vision for the future. The diversified agroclimatic characteristics of Sri Lanka offers a great advantage in that a variety of food crops such as horticultural crops, flowers etc. could be grown in most parts of the country. But, all these need capital investment and entrepreneurShip. The local demand cannot sustain intensive agriculture with its heavy investment. Hence, export outlets will have to be found. This would require very demanding quality standards, continuous research, both on production as well as on processing, packaging and marketing. Floriculture for seed production requires large numbers of units of labour in limited land areas. Whereas the focus hitherto was on increased production, the present focus is on increased productivity per unit area.
All this would require a major change of policy in the agricultural sector. Whilst safeguarding the interests of the smallholders, one need not be biased against development of medium- and large-scale agricultural enterprise. It will be an obligation of the Government to ensure that these policies would not lead to the exploitation of the smallholding sector and its disintegration, with the development of large units. The smallholdings can integrate beautifully with the medium- and large-scale holdings as it happens in the case of sugar. These lands could generate a surplus which could be reploughed for the growth of agriculture as well as the industry. It would be possible to make the two sectors complementary without allowing one to exploit the other.
Many studies have been conducted in the field of rural credit in different countries. However, only a few have shown any co-relation between the rural credit released and the production during a given period. There is no debate that the farming sector needs capital from institutional sources, lest they will be compelled to borrow from outside sources at usurious rates of interest. Few countries have conducted experiments where many worthwhile successes had been shown. All these achievements were due to a "credit culture" that had been developed over the years. The "Grameen Bank" experiment of Bangladesh and the "Thrift and Credit Societies" of Sri Lanka are good examples of above experiences.
A lot of innovations are required in the field of credit. Banking institutions have shown reluctance in the issue of credit to the Rural Sector in view of the risk factor. Recovery of credit in most developing countries is influenced by political parties to interfere with the recovery of loans. Even in the matter of interest rates, complete flexibility should be given to the banks to determine such interest rates that would enable them to sustain credit programmes over long periods of time.
Much of the success of the agricultural development programmes is dependent upon the ability for adaptation to the farmers' needs. It is absolutely essential to build up a strong farmer organization network which could voice farmers' needs. Farmers should have their own associations to market their produce and also to organize their farming activities. Strong links have to
be developed between farmers and the cooperative movement. In Sri Lanka, cooperative movement is highly consumer-oriented. In the future, they will be called upon to play a more dynamic role and to have an involvement in the production aspects too.
In the development of agriculture, each country needs to develop a technology, appropriate both toward its own environs as well as to the traditional culture of the people. A technology has to look forward to future developments too. Its adaptation will depend on the appropriateness of implementation approach. It has been observed that, other than in total subsistence economies, farmers respond to higher incomes. They are prepared to adopt new technologies to the extent better living standards are assured.
A farm mechanization policy has to be developed keeping in mind the dangers of displacement of farm labour. On the other hand, a desirable output in agriculture cannot be achieved by a system which depends entirely on human labour.
No agricultural country can afford to ignore the new bio-technology and the gene-technology developments taking place today. Sri Lanka has a very sophisticated gene bank which could stock the plant germplasm for the benefit of not only Sri Lanka but of the region.
At the same time, the importance of simple innovations in technology such as lift irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, pot irrigation (burying an earthen pot filled with water close to the plant), polythene lining of channels etc. should not be underestimated in a technology development policy. Even in the field of food technology, a combination of modern processing techniques and traditional techniques would be desirable.
In regard to marketing, the new concept is very clear. Farmers are told in advance to select their crops based on the availability of marketing outlets. The macro-planners will develop cropping patterns to suit export markets. The foreign and local market possibilities of different agricultural products will be made known to the farmers well in advance. The middlemen who purchase the produce from the farmers and sell to urban centres are very often maligned as exploiters. The role they play is seldom appreciated. Many Governments who attempted to intervene directly in the agricultural marketing process have failed to achieve anything worthwhile. The Governments will play an important role, in servicing not only the farmers, but these middlemen by carrying out research on storage, packing and transportation, etc.
Farmers' selection of crops is based on cropping patterns developed by Department of Agriculture to suit different agro-climatic zones. Once different crops are prescribed for different regions, the Government will start servicing those crops that are recommended and this would form the first step toward regional specialization.
In high income-yielding export crops sector new innovations such as contract farming are being tried out. This will give an opportunity for the land owners, who have the capital, but lack skills, to develop the lands in a short period.
It is well known that in agrarian societies, farmers are slow to accept change. They are very suspicious when Government agencies advise them on new technologies. The basic reason for this is their failure to withstand a single season crop failure. However, they respond well when they see the results in the field and when they see their brother farmers adopting them.
Based on this principle, a number of "Centres of Excellence" have been started where all these experiments will be tried out in the farmers' fields. These Centres will give an opportunity to the Government to test all their experiences, etc. in the field. It also gives an opportunity to get a good feedback from the beneficiaries on their attitudes and reactions. This concept has been tried earlier in export agriculture with success.
In these concepts, as well as in many others, the guidance and assistance of FAO has been noteworthy, especially to us in the developing countries. In those regions where expanding populations and diminishing resources are felt most keenly, the policies of FAO are of utmost value. On two vital issues, those of environmental protection and the importance of the human dimension as applied to food and agriculture, I can do no better than quote from two FAO documents.
One is from the first Conference on FAO and relates to the conservation of resources. Whether this thin layer of soil is to be a wasting asset or one maintained in perpetuity and made more fruitful for mankind will depend on how it is used and managed. Nothing more deeply concerns the well-being of man and nations. FAO is dedicated to furthering good use and good management, in all ways and by all people, of this most basic of man's resources.
The other is from the 1948 Conference - "It is highly important to inculcate the will to produce. The key to the success of any production programme is the key which opens the door to the farmer's mind".
Roque CANADAS (Ecuador): Me complace vivamente su elección, y al desearle el mejor de los éxitos al conducir los debates de esta importante Conferencia, mi delegación le ofrece su decidida cooperación.
En el tiempo que ha pasado desde el anterior período de sesiones de la FAO, han ocurrido importantes acontecimientos para la Paz y la armonia internacional. Me refiero especialmente a la evolución politica que se desarrolla en algunos países de Europa Oriental. Como consecuencia de esos acontecimientos, la vida internacional cobra nuevos desafios. Sin duda, las organizaciones internacionales, entre ellas la FAO, serán escenarios de más amplia cooperación internacional.
Asi como hay fundamento para esperar un papel importante en el futuro de la FAO en cuanto al aporte que podrá ofrecer para la reorientación de las políticas agrícolas que quieran adoptar los nuevos gobiernos de los países de Europa Oriental, asi también mi pais mira con interés los crecientes vínculos se desarrollan entre la FAO y la Unión Soviética, vínculos que pueden constituir antecedentes para el ingreso de ese importante país a la Organización como miembro de pleno derecho.
Durante los dos últimos años, nuestra Organización ha sido sometida a un examen, en cumplimiento del mandato específico de la Conferencia anterior. Este ha sido un trabajo cuidadoso y profesional. Todos convinimos en él para explorar integralmente el funcionamiento de la FAO, la medida en que cumple sus finalidades. Ahora que esta Conferencia tiene a su disposición el informe, comienza nuestro esfuerzo para utilizar toda la potencialidad de este documento.
Se puede reconocer con satisfacción que el informe consigna en la parte substantiva el eficaz desempeño de la FAO. La FAO es una institución sólida y dinámica. Sus actividades están bien orientadas hacia el cumplimiento de sus finalidades y al respeto a los mandatos que ha recibido. Las conclusiones que trae el documento son conclusiones positivas, hay necesidad de apoyar y robustecer nuestra Organización. Pero al mismo tiempo, cree mi delegación que hay que tomar cuidadosa atención del conjunto de recomendaciones que también trae el documento.
En lo que concierne a la situación general de la alimentación y la agricultura en el mundo, en estos dos últimos años hay una diversidad de elementos que dificultan una apreciación general. En 70 países crece más la población que la producción de alimentos. La desnutrición de la niñez campesina sobrepasa el 50% en algunos países; 35 000 niños mueren cada año de hambre y malnutrición. Persiste en amplios segmentos de la humanidad el hambre, la desnutrición. No son suficientes los esfuerzos que realizan los gobiernos para subsanar estos graves males, ni es tampoco suficiente la labor de la FAO por asistirles. Los avances logrados hasta ahora y el largo camino que queda por recorrer reclaman una más estrecha acción de la solidaridad internacional.
Si bien las causas que limitan la solución de estos problemas son muchas y complejas, una de ellas preocupa particularmente a mi delegación. Me refiero a los problemas de la agricultura y la insuficiencia de la producción alimentaria en los países en desarrollo ocasionados, en buena medida, por efectos de políticas proteccionistas en los países desarrollados mediante el uso de subsidios, técnicas exclusivas y medidas restrictivas del comercio. Esto causa enormes desbalances, encarece la producción de alimentos e impide el normal desenvolvimiento general de las políticas agrícolas en los países en desarrollo.
En esta ocasión, al mencionar este tema, mi delegación desea llamar la atención a quienes tienen a su cargo la posibilidad de revisar esas políticas en el contexto más amplio de los intereses permanentes de la comunidad internacional. Un buen número de países en desarrollo aumentan la producción de alimentos a tasas de crecimiento satisfactorias, pero, al menos en lo que concierne a mi país, ese aumento se concentra forzadamente en pocos productos tropicales tradicionales que tienen mercado. La potencialidad que existe de diversificar la producción, de producir más alimentos está severamente limitada por causa de esos factores externos, causas que no se pueden modificar sin la más abierta cooperación internacional. En ese sentido, mi país ve un papel cada vez más importante de la FAO en coordinación con el GATT.
Las experiencias de dos décadas en el Ecuador de establecer políticas macroeconómicas de desarrollo fundadas en la industria petrolera, señalan que es necesario volver a poner a la actividad agrícola en primer plano de nuestro desarrollo. Por más que la actividad de la industria petrolera sigue
siendo la vértebra de la economía en mi pais, por más que sus rendimientos permiten sostener otros programas de desarrollo indispensables, persiste inalterable la vocación agrícola del país como fuente de recursos alimentarios, fuente de trabajo y de ingresos para el 40% de la población.
El programa agrícola de mi gobierno se dirige hacia la autosuficiencia de la producción agrícola. La capacidad potencial del país tiene un margen aún no explotado que permite ser optimistas. Desea mi gobierno aumentar la producción y la productividad agrícola, desea dar acceso razonable y barato de alimentos nacionales a la población ecuatoriana.
La economía de mi país es pequeña y libre; mientras ella no pueda alcanzar su aspiración de autosuficiencia, agradece muy sinceramente la ayuda que le presta la comunidad internacional, especialmente a la FAO, FIDA y al PMA, así como a los países contribuyentes que dan su asistencia técnica y financiera.
Los problemas inmediatos en el Ecuador indican que hay que potenciar la agro-industria y el comercio de productos agrícolas. La rápida solución de estos problemas requiere sin duda la cooperación internacional, de la FAO en especial.
Esta es la línea de política que ha señalado el nuevo gobierno ecuatoriano, inaugurado hace un año. Hay la conciencia de que la reforma agraria en el Ecuador, después de 25 años, no ha transformado como debía la situación del campesino, no ha introducido suficientemente la técnica disponible en el cultivo agrícola ni ha perfeccionado substancialmente el cuadro porcentual de tenencia de la tierra. Mientras han aparecido empresas agrícolas modernas y ricas, una gran mayoría de campesinos sigue en condiciones deplorables. Esta polarización evidente es necesario transformar. El compromiso de elevar el nivel de vida del campesino ecuatoriano requiere un proceso acelerado de capacitación del ser humano, de la mujer campesina, en lo agrícola, en lo sanitario, en lo social. A una tasa elevada de crecimiento demográfico, 2.8%, el Ecuador tiene un enorme compromiso por delante.
A más de aquello que dije antes de la situación restrictiva impuesta por las políticas proteccionistas de algunos países desarrollados, es el peso de la deuda externa el que impide a mi gobierno disponer de recursos suficientes para la inversión, para establecer suficientes programas de crédito agrícola, para completar los trabajos de control de aguas y de irrigación, para llevar la energía eléctrica disponible al alcance de la agricultura, de modo que pueda industrializarse. ¿Cómo se puede financiar un programa de esta clase, de evidente necesidad, si el servicio de la deuda externa ecuatoriana absorbe el 30% de los ingresos del Estado, si periódicamente tenemos que acudir a nuestros acreedores para pedirles la transformación de intereses vencidos en capital para lograr la necesaria postergación del pago?
Hay necesidad de reformular el cuadro de obligaciones derivadas de la deuda externa, introduciendo factores nuevos de tiempo y condiciones razonables de pago, adecuadas a la realidad económica del deudor, librando posibilidades de liquidez financiera que permitan disponer de fondos para ejecutar los proyectos impostergables de desarrollo, al menos, aquellos proyectos relacionados con las necesidades primordiales del hombre. A largo plazo, los réditos de una nueva política de manejo de la deuda externa serán más fructíferos para toda la comunidad internacional que la simple salud contable de los bancos acreedores.
Una creciente preocupación internacional por el cuidado del medio ambiente se manifiesta en la comunidad internacional. Los análisis promueven con urgencia una acción mancomunada para salvar el estado natural de nuestro planeta. En este gran esfuerzo, mi país quiere participar con decisión, tiene su selva amazónica, su inmenso mar territorial y el archipiélago de las Galápagos, que es el laboratorio natural más singular del mundo. Pero, sobre todo, tiene la conciencia de que es posible aprovechar los recursos naturales en beneficio de la población necesitada, sin dañar la naturaleza. Para eso, requiere mayor financiamiento y acceso a técnicas adecuadas. Hemos suscrito un compromiso los paises de la Hoya Amazónica para coordinar nuestra acción de conservación de la naturaleza y, al mismo tiempo, permitir la explotación de los recursos naturales. Este proceso está abierto a la cooperación internacional.
En mi país, la imagen de la FAO es la imagen de quien porta cooperación técnica, de quien hace labores de campo. Si bien mi país no alcanza todavía a hacer pleno uso de las fuentes de información disponibles en la FAO, sabe que tiene acceso a ellas, sabe que puede lograr consejo y guía para sus problemas agrícolas y alimentarios. La FAO ha influido positivamente en el diseño de políticas agrícolas y en programas de alimentación. Pero claro que hay otros campos en que la FAO puede aumentar sus actividades. Está muy bien el plan de incorporación de la mujer al desarrollo, el codex alimentario, el programa fito-sanitario, como todos los otros programas, pero espera el Ecuador que en el futuro, la orientación de la FAO se acentúe aún más en los problemas demográficos, relacionándolos directamente con su competencia principal. Sería muy positivo en este sentido que establezca contactos más estrechos con las organizaciones internacionales que se ocupan de los problemas de población y que utilice más directamente sus recomendaciones.
Preocupa al Ecuador la situación financiera de la Organización. Este es el problema del momento. Es urgente tomar medidas para dotar de los recursos indispensables que requiere la Organización. Esta Conferencia tiene la oportunidad de dar soluciones adecuadas dentro de un ambiente de armonía y solidaridad. Así como mi país se compromete a hacer los mayores esfuerzos para realizar pagos puntuales de sus contribuciones, espera que los demás Estados miembros también hagan un esfuerzo en ese sentido, en especial, los mayores contribuyentes. Sin singularizar a ninguno, piensa mi delegación que recae sobre ellos una responsabilidad especial que va más allá de su compromiso formal.
Comprende mi país la necesidad que hay de limitar los gastos de la FAO a lo indispensable y encuentra legítima la preocupación por el uso adecuado de los recursos, pero no puede convenir en la reducción de sus programas; eso significaría la denegación gradual de sus finalidades. La idea del crecimiento cero contraviene el proceso de crecimiento ineludible de servicios esenciales de la FAO. Mientras crecen las necesidades de los Estados miembros, mientras crece la población mundial - se afirma que el planeta tendrá mil millones de habitantes más para el año 2000 -, no se puede sostener razonablemente un crecimiento cero del presupuesto.
Tengo como un privilegio la oportunidad de haberme dirigido a esta Conferencia. Antes de terminar, quiero agradecer al Director General, por la magnífica presentación que ha hecho de la situación mundial de la agricultura y la alimentación, del estado de la FAO y de sus necesidades, así como de los programas y presupuesto para el próximo bienio. Mi delegación le agradece los esfuerzos que ha hecho para continuar la importante tarea de la FAO, administrando prudentemente los recursos a su disposición. Deplora que la gestión en algunas partes haya sido limitada por
la falta de recursos. Esta situación no puede continuar. Mi delegación apoyará, dentro de esta Conferencia, la posibilidad de encontrar un consenso que permita a la FAO tener en el futuro los recursos necesarios para el programa presentado para el próximo bienio.
Mawafak AL-HADITHI (Iraq) (original language Arabic): At the outset, Mr Chairman, allow me to congratulate you on the confidence and trust placed in you by the Conference. We are fully convinced that this session will reach positive conclusions and decisions in the service of the noble objectives for which this Organization was established in 1945.
It was 44 years ago when Iraq, together with other countries, established this participation, entrusting it with huge tasks and responsibilities concerning the effective participation in augmenting agricultural and food production in the various regions of the world. It is no exaggeration to claim that the FAO has truly emerged as the lead specialist agency in the field of food and agriculture in today's world, thanks to the prudence and tireless efforts of the Director-General and his collaborators.
Notwithstanding the significant advances and changes witnessed today, the issues of agricultural development and, in particular, those of food supplies to meet the needs of the ever-increasing population of our planet still constitute a challenge which requires further efforts and more funds at international, regional and national levels. Given the complementarity and mutual interaction of agricultural development to economic social development, the issues of agricultural development should be viewed in a global perspective, recognizing the close linkages existing among the various components and requirements of overall development at international, regional and national levels. The political and economic developments witnessed by the world over the past few years have reflected this point directly and indirectly on agricultural output leading to the persistently low rate of performance and widening food gap in various countries.
The huge burden of indebtedness suffered by many developing countries is still a major constraint undermining those countries' efforts for economic and agricultural development. In addition, the escalating funds in world trade and the difficulties of establishing a new international economic order capable of addressing current problems further exacerbates the problems encountered in the drive for economic and agricultural development in developing countries.
I shall not attempt to dwell on the current food problem since its roots and repercussions are well known to all of us. However, I would like to record the alarming prospect of declining world food stocks. The production of staple food has declined well below aggregate consumption, given the population increase in developing countries in particular, in addition to the maldistribution of production where there is excess abundance in some regions and a marked deficit in others.
This state of affairs will add further to the burden on developing food-importing countries, particularly low-income, food-deficit countries. Undoubtedly, such existing problems, together with other emerging ones, will impose on the Organization, notwithstanding its present financial difficulties, further tasks and responsibilities in our areas in the effort under way for increasing food production in our developing countries.
However, we are confident that such challenges and problems encountered by FAO will not limit its interest in taking part in the improvement of the state of food and agriculture in the world. We do not doubt its capability in effectively meeting the challenges and pursuing its humanitarian mission, for which it was established. This cannot be achieved by the mere expression of hopes and good wishes, but through effective support by all member countries, and adequate response to the programmes, activities and endeavours of the Organization for the enhancement of world food security.
Some may still recall the great strides taken by FAO to resolve the problems of food and hunger in the world, the introduction of measures for the realization of world food security, the establishment of international schemes for the supply of fertilizers, the undertaking of most of the preparatory technical work of the World Food Conference held under the auspices of the United Nations, in addition to other significant efforts, notably the World Conference on Agricultural Reform and Rural Development. Although it is our view that the Programme of Work and Budget represents the minimum acceptable level, on behalf of the Government of Iraq. I give our support to the Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium, given the financial difficulties encountered by FAO.
Our Organization requires the continuing support of member countries in order to be capable of undertaking its tasks and addressing its responsibilities. It has proved its efficiency in fulfilling its mandate enshrined in the Constitution and the objectives contained therein, which are still relevant today. FAO responds to the requirements imposed by current trends and conditions in the sphere of food and agriculture. The roles assumed by the Organization are still valid, they are complementary in nature and we commend in particular the role of the Organization in the technical assistance field. Therefore, we are duty bound to endorse programmes which will provide the necessary finance for the relevant conclusions and recommendations. In this respect, we do not endorse any programme cuts. The necessary funds should be obtained from extra-budgetary sources if we wish to strengthen the work of the Organization.
Despite the war conditions we have been through over the past years, with the attendant prohibitive cost in political leadership, Iraq did not neglect the agricultural sector as it provided a sector for development and improvement throughout that period. Agriculture was accorded marked priority in addition to land reclamation which, since the beginning of the revolution in July 1968, has reached tens of thousands of hectares. There have also been a number of agricultural inputs enabling farmers to exploit their land through the application of modern scientific techniques. In order to augment improved farm output, both plant and animal production, the Government adopted a number of regulations within the framework of its current agricultural policy serving massive investment in agriculture, the use by investors of modern technology and the provision of expanded credit facilities with a view to raising the output per area unit, and improving productivity in farm animals to provide adequate supplies. The Government established more water dams and reservoirs in order to increase the arable area and generate electricity for different purposes. Mention should be made of the erection of two huge dams on the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Work is under way on the erection of two other dams on the tributaries of the Euphrates and the Tigris. A number of irrigation projects were executed with a view to changing the farming pattern from a rain-fed system to an irrigated one. The outcome of such achievements will be to augment agriculture and food production in order to attain a higher degree of self-sufficiency.
In Iraq we are fully convinced of the need and significance of cooperation between countries and regions and also at international level, so as to create a world community where peace, stability and food security reign supreme; a world community where all potential resources are pooled for the common good and in order to combat the spectre of wars and famine. The establishment of the Arabic Council, consisting of Yemen, Jordan, and Syria in addition to Iraq, is well equipped for the provision of cooperation in the advance of national economies, including the improvement and development of their agricultural sectors in order to increase food production and improve the living standards of farming communities particularly, and the entire population in general.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I thank you for your attention, and wish our Conference success in the realization of human aspirations for a world governed by peace and prosperity.
Albert DJIGMA (Burkina Faso): C'est avec plaisir que je voudrais, au nom de la délégation burkinabé, présenter mes vives félicitations à Son Excellence, Monsieur John Charles Kerin, pour sa brillante élection à la présidence de la 25ème session de la Conférence générale de notre Organisation.
J'adresse également mes félicitations et encouragements au Docteur Edouard Saouma et à toute son équipe pour les efforts inlassables qu'il déploie avec coeur et talent dans la recherche des meilleurs voies et moyens susceptibles de répondre à l'attente de millions de paysans, éleveurs et pêcheurs dans le monde entier.
La 25ème session de la Conférence générale est l'occasion, à l'instar des précédentes, de faire le point sur la situation de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture dans le monde, d'apprécier les politiques et programmes des Etats, de mesurer la contribution de notre Organisation, sa capacité et son efficacité dans la résolution des problèmes les plus actuels et des défis de l'avenir.
La diversité de situations particulières qui pourraient être décrites ici par les délégations est à l'image de la variabilité enrichissante des conditions physiques et socio-économiques qui prévalent dans nos pays.
Cependant, notre monde de cette fin du XXe siècle vit un certain nombre de problèmes qui sont plus ou moins uniformément distribués, et sur lesquels le Burkina Faso souhaite donner ses appréciations en guise de contribution aux débats en cours et exposer les actions qu'il mène en la matière.
Parmi les contraintes à l'amélioration qualitative et quantitative de la production agricole dans le monde, nous plaçons en tête celles qui sont liées à la dégradation des écosystèmes, dégradation provoquée soit par les agressions climatiques, soit par les actions de l'homme, et le plus souvent par les deux à la fois.
C'est pourquoi nous nous félicitons que la Journée mondiale de l'alimentation, placée cette année sous le thème "Alimentation et environnement", ait donné l'occasion à chacun de réfléchir sur les moyens à mettre en oeuvre pour préserver et améliorer les ressources naturelles disponibles afin d'assurer le bien-être des générations futures.
Au Burkina Faso, pays sahélien, les caprices pluviométriques observés depuis une vingtaine d'années, conjugués avec l'essor démographique et des pratiques culturales inadaptées ont engendré la désertification sur une grande partie du territoire.
Ce phénomène, qui perturbe les cycles agricoles et martyrise les populations en annihilant leurs efforts, est un handicap majeur à l'essor de notre agriculture. Les effets se feront sentir cette année encore sur nos récoltes, malgré le travail acharné fourni par les paysans au cours de la saison pluvieuse.
C'est pourquoi notre peuple, depuis l'avènement de la Révolution démocratique et populaire, dont l'un des objectifs fondamentaux est la recherche de l’autosuffisance alimentaire, a décidé de mettre un accent particulier sur la défense, la préservation et la restauration du patrimoine foncier et forestier.
Cette option se traduit par un ensemble de mesures et de programmes parmi lesquels nous pouvons citer:
- l'élaboration d'un plan national de lutte contre la désertification;
- la promulgation des textes réglementaires de la réforme agraire et foncière;
- la réalisation de petits et grands aménagements hydro-agricoles;
- l'organisation des communautés rurales de base, leurs sensibilisation et responsabilisation par rapport aux problèmes de dégradation de l'écosystème.
Ceci a permis notamment l'intensification de la lutte antiérosive, la lutte contre la divagation des animaux, la coupe abusive de bois, la lutte contre les feux de brousse et la mise en route d'un programme de gestion des terroirs villageois.
Toujours dans le domaine de la préservation des ressources naturelles, des efforts louables sont faits par nos institutions pour collecter et évaluer les ressources génétiques locales des plantes annuelles et pérennes, qu'elles soient cultivées ou forestières. Malheureusement, l'inexistence de moyens adaptés de conservation à moyen et long terme risque de compromettre cet effort national.
Dans beaucoup de pays en développement et particulièrement au Burkina Faso, les problèmes d'organisation, de formation et d'approvisionnement du monde rural sont essentiels dans la lutte pour l’autosuffisance et la sécurité alimentaire.
Le Front populaire, instance dirigeante de mon pays, a décidé de mettre un accent particulier sur l'organisation du monde rural, en s'appuyant sur le mouvement coopératif. A cet effet, un ministère de l'action coopérative paysanne a été créé, qui devra oeuvrer à faire évoluer les quelque 5 000 organisations précoopératives que sont les groupements villageois en véritables coopératives.
C'est aussi dans le cadre de la résolution des problèmes organisationnels indispensables à une efficacité de l'action qu'il faut retenir la mise en place de l'Union nationale des paysans du Burkina, de l'Union nationale des jeunes du Burkina, de l'Union nationale des femmes du Burkina et de l'Union nationale des anciens du Burkina.
Le rôle de chaque Union dans I'amélioration de la production agricole du côté de l'UNPB sera déterminant compte tenu de leur forte composante rurale.
Nous saluons l'heureuse initiative du Directeur général de la FAO de soumettre à la présente Conférence un plan d'action pour l'intégration de la femme dans le développment.
Au Burkina Faso, la volonté politique d'intégrer la femme dans le développement s'est traduite par:
- la création de l'UFB;
- la prise en compte de la situation de la femme dans la réorganisation agraire et foncière;
- l'amélioration du statut de la femme dans le nouveau Code des personnes et de la famille;
- la prise en compte de la situation de la femme dans le projet de développement.
Pour assurer la formation technique des producteurs, le Burkina Faso s'est doté d'un système national de vulgarisation, avec l'appui de la FAO et de la Banque mondiale.
En vue de résoudre les problèmes d'approvisionnement et d'équipement des producteurs, un Centre national d'équipement agricole fabrique sur place le matériel adapté pour une mécanisation intermédiaire et un Office national d'approvisionnement et de distribution d'intrants zootechniques et vétérinaires a été créé pour les besoins spécifiques de l'élevage. Une opération spéciale visant à fabriquer et placer 30 000 charrues d'ici la fin de l'année 1990 vient de démarrer.
En dépit des efforts fournis par notre peuple et sa direction politique, ainsi qu'en témoignent les politiques et programmés que nous avons décrits, le niveau de production agricole de la campagne en cours sera inférieur à celui de la saison 1988/89, en raison de l'installation tardive des pluies et de l'attaque de sauteriaux dans la partie septentrionale de notre pays sur près d'un million d'hectares.
La lutte contre ce fléau a été menée à la fois avec des moyens aériens et par les populations préalablement formées à cet effet.
L'ampleur de l'attaque est essentiellement liée à l'absence de moyens d'intervention rapide. C'est le lieu pour nous d'attirer l'attention de nos partenaires dans la lutte antiacridienne sur la nécessité de nous maintenir et renforcer leur assistance dans la lutte contre ce fléau devenu finalement endémique.
Dans son plan quinquennal de développement 1986-1990, le Burkina Faso consacre plus de 20% des investissements au secteur agricole.
Cet effort a permis de maintenir un taux de croissance annuel de 5,4% durant les quatre dernières années.
Malheureusement, la persistance d'un environnement économique mondial dépressif, la dégradation des cours dès matières premières et le poids de la dette extérieure annihilent ce résultat.
C'est dire combien la Coopération internationale bilatérale et multilatérale est indispensable pour venir à bout des obstacles à l'accroissement de la production agricole et à l'amélioration de la situation alimentaire mondiale; le rôle de la FAO dans ces domaines est incontesté et encore irremplaçable et il me plaît ici d'exprimer toute la satisfaction et la gratitude de mon gouvernement pour l'assistance fournie par la FAO à la mise en oeuvre de nos programmes et projets.
L'amélioration de l'efficacité de notre Organisation ainsi que le renforcement de ses capacités d'intervention dépendent des moyens que nous voulons bien mettre à sa disposition; c'est pourquoi nous restons préoccupés par les difficultés financières qu'elle rencontre présentement, suite au non-paiement des contributions et exhortons l'esprit de solidarité de tous les Etats Membres afin de renverser rapidement cette tendance et de redresser la situation. Ma délégation apporte son appui au Programme de travail et budget 1990-1991 présenté par le Secrétariat et invite ce dernier à tout mettre en oeuvre pour trouver des fonds extra-budgétaires pour augmenter les ressources du PCT, instrument précieux de crédibilité et de force de notre organisation aux yeux de nombreux acteurs du développement rural.
Pays carrefour dans la sous-région ouest-africaine, le Burkina Faso a une vocation naturelle pour la coopération régionale; aussi nous encourageons tous les programmes FAO, destinés à favoriser rapidement l'intégration économique régionale, et souhaitons en conséquence la dynamisation des bureaux régionaux de la FAO.
Beaucoup a été dit sur la FAO, son rôle, ses priorités, ses objectifs et stratégies; pour s'en convaincre il suffit de se reporter au volumineux dossier de l’"examen de certains aspects des buts et opérations de la FAO" dont l'élaboration a duré deux ans et a coûté beaucoup d'argent. Nous relèverons simplement que chaque Etat peut trouver dans la FAO le soutien dont il a besoin et il n'est nul besoin que d'aucuns veuillent imposer certaines façons de concevoir un développement uniforme et en fixer en conséquence les priorités d'actions. Il est plutôt temps que nous nous engagions ensemble dans la bataille de terrain contre les fléaux inacceptables que constituent, à l'orée de l'an 2000, la pauvreté, la faim et la malnutrition.
Pule LAMEKO (Samoa): First of all I wish to extend to you, Mr Chairman, my congratulations on your unanimous election to chair this important Conference.
I am privileged and honoured to have this opportunity to address this FAO Conference. My being here reconfirms our common faith in the brotherhood of FAO members, irrespective of size and economic strength.
Samoa attaches great importance to the work of FAO. Our association with FAO goes back some 26 years. My country wishes to record its appreciation for FAO's role in helping developing member countries.
While we can all take pride in work done well, we must at the same time reflect on what remains to be done. As time goes on more and more issues have come to the fore that require the concerted effort of all concerned in order to find a timely solution.
It is noted that high on the Agenda for discussion at this Conference is the global world food and agricultural situation. The unfavourable economic conditions worldwide with regard to fluctuating world commodity prices, lack of marketing outlets, high costs of agricultural inputs and the resultant decline in agricultural production are some of the issues which must be urgently addressed at these forums.
Samoa, similar to our neighbouring island countries in the South Pacific, is dependent on a narrow range of agricultural products having little influence on the terms of world trade. Most of our countries also have balance-of-trade difficulties due to problems of exports and increasing imports, especially in food and fuel.
Most of us are dependent on aid from foreign institutions to finance our developments in agriculture, forests and fisheries. Skills available in some areas are limited, resulting in a high dependence on expatriates for technical and managerial support. Because of these problems and our smallness we are more vulnerable and do not have the strength to rally forth and effect the needed recovery programmes without support from our friends from outside.
I reiterate my country's support of FAO programmes. We have seen over the last several years substantial progress being made in our efforts to move ahead with the development of fisheries, forestry and agricultural sectors. We give credit to FAO and also to our many friends who have willingly contributed to the development of our natural resources. In my own country food self-sufficiency is high in our development priorities. As such, we have attained self-sufficiency in our staple food with surplus being exported. Our main cash crops, namely cocoa, coconut and taro, have been affected in one way or another due to the fluctuating world prices and unfavourable weather conditions. Other crops, such as banana and passion fruit, have likewise been affected due to high costs of inputs and lack of market outlets. Being small and isolated with limited resources has rendered us more vulnerable to external economic forces which are outside our control.
Development and progress, as we wish it, can only happen in a conducive environment, an environment in which political and social stability prevails. This we have enjoyed over 27 years of our independence. However, economically much remains to be done. The road to economic stability is hard and full of hurdles, which on our own we cannot easily achieve.
My country, no doubt like many other small states, needs the help of organizations like FAO. Our being a member of FAO is valued much more than just to have our voice heard and our vote counted in the global programmes of action aimed at increasing world food production. The declaration of principles and programme of action of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, provision of agricultural credit, development of forestry and fisheries resources, plus many others, have my government's full support.
On 16 October this year World Food Day was commemorated worldwide. My own government gave full support to this effort by FAO, and our National World Food Day Committee had many activities organized to commemorate this day.
Before I conclude I would like to bring forward some proposals for consideration by this Conference:
First of all, there is a Plant Protection Commission based in Thailand for the Asia and Pacific Region, Despite our willingness to attend regular meetings of the Commission, financial constraints prohibit us from participating, and I am sure my other South Pacific colleagues would agree with me on this. It is therefore suggested that a South Pacific Protection Commission be set up in the South Pacific, where it would be more accessible to all South Pacific countries, and would address the needs of these countries applicable to their own unique situation.
Secondly, there is a Regional Conference at ministerial level held every two years for the Asia and Pacific Region. Again, participation by South Pacific island countries is irregular due to financial constraints. Besides, the problems of Asia and Pacific are not quite the same.
I, therefore, strongly recommend for consideration by this Conference the setting up of a separate South Pacific Regional Office or at least a much more strengthened Apia, Samoa Office with substantial resources to address problems unique to the South Pacific Region. It would be so much better to have technical expertise on fisheries, forestry, agronomy and plant protection on hand to deal with problems than having to look for help outside every time a problem arises.
Thirdly, in view of the increased membership of the South Pacific countries over the last few years, it is suggested that the number of seats for the South Pacific Region be increased from one to two in the FAO Council. In suggesting this, Mr Chairman, I am well aware of the importance and the progress being made in the field of agriculture in both Australia and New Zealand and I therefore suggest, that one seat be set aside for them while the other rotates among the rest of the South Pacific region in the FAO Council.
Fourthly, participation at FAO Biennial Conference is very prohibitive, particularly for us - countries from the opposite side of the globe. To come to Rome is to sacrifice on other priorities. It is therefore suggested that FAO build up some sort of fund for travel support to countries who cannot afford the cost of participation.
Fifthly, we ask that FAO give some more support to the use of national expertise, wherever possible within the Pacific Region, as the opportunity for improved manpower development can only be enhanced by practical participation in the decision-making process.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I would like to bring to the attention of this Conference the issue that now confronts the coconut industry. The issue is the anti-campaign against the use of coconut oil in the formulation of food items. Some people claim that coconut oil is not suitable for human consumption because it poses a health hazard. Such accusations are unfounded and not true since we have been living on coconuts all our lives and we feel much healthier than ever before.
Coconut being a tree of life for many millions of small Samoan holder farmers in providing them with food as well as cash incomes, would no longer be a tree of life, but a tree of poverty and destruction if this anti-campaign is allowed to go ahead unchallenged. I therefore suggest that FAO be asked to carry out a study to see whether, in fact, coconut oil poses health hazards as some people have argued it to be.
Lastly, I would like to reiterate my Government's support to FAO Programmes especially the Director-General's proposal on the Programme of Work and Budget for 1990-1991.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Minister. I thank the Minister of Fiji who has asked for his speech to be incorporated in the record and also refers to the coconut problem.
Csaba HUTTER (Hungary) (original language Hungarian): On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Hungary, I offer greetings to you at this important world forum and offer my congratulations to the recently elected officers of the FAO Conference.
In the two years since the last Conference, there have been major changes in the world which have not left my country untouched. The structural and institutional changes in the world economy have become accelerated and seem to be lasting. Hungary, too, has recognized this new type of challenge and has reacted by taking decisive steps and continues to take decisive steps to accelerate the socio-economic reform process and to achieve the transfer to a market economy. As a result of the more advantageous environment in world politics and because of our internal efforts at reform, the political and economic outlook of Hungary has been changed basically, and in connection with this, our agricultural policy is also changing.
Without wishing to take up too much of your time or vertax your patience, I would like to draw your attention to some of our changes in agricultural policy which are worthy of mention in this forum. The Hungarian Government has been working for the past year-and-a-half on the mid-term strategy of development of the agricultural economy which is a basic element of our agricultural policy. The most important goal is to achieve economic and competitive production which takes account of local situations and at the same time serves the needs of a balanced domestic supply, export expansion, and a village development in line with the FAO terminology. Within the framework of our economic reform we are also looking at the transformation of agricultural ownership systems and the organizational and institutional structures for the development of ownership systems. We assume that we would like to maintain the multisectoral approach. We feel, however, that the role of large holdings will be decisive but not exclusive. Farmers will be able to choose the forms of production ownership and organization and the size of holdings which best meet their needs. No form of ownership will have priority over any other kind of ownership. This will be guaranteed by State regulations. The reform of large ownership and land use is also something that we are looking at. Our goal is to ensure that citizens and commercial or producing organizations have the same chance, the same opportunities for use of land. The only principle that we want to maintain is the principle of economic management of the land. The October meeting of the Hungarian Parliament has already dealt with this matter, and in that session I promised that we would present a bill on this topic to the January meeting of Parliament.
We have also studied with interest the FAO document on the long-term strategy for agricultural and food supply in connection with our efforts at agricultural reform. Without wishing to anticipate discussion under the relevant agenda item, might I say that this document does provide us with
useful information. It is also noteworthy that in the developed countries there is now the beginning of a reassessment of the concept of agricultural policy and the effort toward liberalization toward trade has received a new impetus in an international organization which deals in matters of world trade. Hungary, as a Member of the Cairnes Group, is participating actively in the dismantling of artificial barriers to trade and agricultural products, and this includes the removal of state subsidies which make trade more difficult. In a supplement to the document, might I stress the fact that FAO should work together with GATT in negotiations under the Uruguay Round as an expert adviser in a phase where the topic of trade and agricultural policy will play a very important role. Our country is very interested in ensuring that world trade in agricultural products becomes more liberalized and that there is less protectionism on the part of some countries. We feel that it is important to have free payment for comparative advantage at the world level as a means to promote welfare and well-being. We feel, moreover, that in furtherance of this goal we should move toward a greater balance in our foreign economic strategy. In practice, this means that in addition to our steps toward reform, we would also like to have greater links with the European Community and the EFTA countries, and we would like to adapt ourselves to extra-European markets. Like many countries, we would also like to pay greater attention to the events which will follow the single European market of 1993. We feel that it will be a great challenge to adapt to this new market, particularly for those of us in the agricultural sector. We are very optimistic, however, that the readiness of the developed countries to help us in general reforms in the Hungarian economy will also be met with further offers to help us here. Our optimism seems to be justified by the statement made by the delegate of the EEC, but what he has said with respect to future successful cooperation offers us great hope. As a country of the European region, we see more and more that FAO is paying ever greater attention to the matters which we raise as matters of interest. We note that the Organization uses its means basically to support the agriculture of less developed countries, but we feel it is also important that European and FAO cooperation should have a place in the work of the Organization which corresponds to its importance and size.
We therefore place great value on the activities which are coordinated by the European Office of FAO, the cooperation of research institutes, and the study of village development which takes into account the special aspects of our region. We are particularly happy to see that the topic of European agriculture and agricultural policy was dealt with only very recently in NIEBOROW in Poland. Our experts await with great expectation the continuation of the work that has been commenced, and we would like to continue to participate in this work with our own best experts.
The Republic of Hungary attaches great value to the coordination of scientific activities within the framework of FAO. In view of this, in October of this year we organized a meeting of experts, in coordination with plant genetic resources in Hungary. Might I say here that we would also be prepared to host such FAO meetings in the future?
I am betraying no secrets when I tell you that at present we are carrying out negotiations regarding the organization of similar meetings in the field of remote detection. This will be of interest, not only to our neighbouring countries in the European region, but also to the developing countries in neighbouring parts of the world.
The cooperation of FAO within Europe can also be of direct or indirect use to developing countries. As an example of this, may I mention that under the overall responsibility of FAO and with the financial cooperation of the Agfund and my country, we held a very successful series of courses on inland fisheries in developing countries in Asia and Africa.
The activities of FAO are of interest to my own Government, and are also looked upon in a very friendly manner by the Hungarian population. We welcome the very effective activity which FAO carries out under its priorities and also the efforts which have been undertaken to dismantle bureaucracy. We hope that the achievement of the goals will be accompanied by financial stabilization.
Bile Rafle GULED (Somalia) (original language Arabic): In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate: Mr Chairman, I have the honour and pleasure to extend to you and to your deputies the warmest greetings and appreciation on behalf of the Somali delegation. I would also like to congratulate you upon your election to chair this Session: I am confident that thanks to your wisdom and experience, together with your wise leadership, the results of this important world gathering will further enhance our unity and our determination to combat poverty and hunger. It will also reinforce our country's cooperation in the field of food and agriculture, and consequently cement our trust in this important organization of the UN.
Allow me to extend sincere thanks and appreciation to the Director-General, Dr Edouard Saouma, and his staff for their dedication and relentless efforts in the field of increasing agricultural production in developing countries in general, and in the African counties in particular.
I would also like to pay tribute to the Organization's close cooperation with Somalia which goes way back and which has seen the implementation of a large number of projects and the framework of the Technical Cooperation Programme, and also collaboration with other relevant international organizations.
A few weeks ago, on 16 October, Somalia like other countries of the world celebrated World Food Day. Since 1979 that day has become a yearly reminder of the spectre of hunger and malnutrition all over the world. It is also an opportunity for highlighting the issue in order to urge nations, governments, and international organizations to continue their efforts for the provision of adequate food supplies and the attainment of a decent life for all. Like other countries, in observing World Food Day Somalia highlighted the need for giving due attention to food and the environment, giving clear manifestations of strong pressures suffered by our planet's lands, waters and air due to the activities of man. The Day was also an opportunity to display support to small farmers and goods' producers in general through the organization of an annual farmers conference, confirming their effective role in the service of society, and also assisting them to improve various methods of production with a view to attaining a huge increase in the rate of food production. Observing World Food Day in Somalia has become an integral part of the country's persistent efforts in sensitizing all strata of the population to the importance of food and agriculture. It also offers an opportunity to review the country's policies and strategies for development in this vital sector. This celebration is also an opportunity to renew the commitment by Somalia to the programme adopted by WCAARD, and to the food security compact adopted by FAO.
The development of this sector of agriculture and food production in general looms large in the economic policy of my country, given the fact that this sector is one of the most important economic sectors in Somalia, it is responsible for the provision of work opportunities for more than 80% of the population, and its exports represent about 90% of the total export earnings. The Somali Government therefore gives full attention to the achievement of an overall agricultural renaissance capable of providing basic needs for the citizens of Somalia. To this end, specific economic development plans have been formulated since the 1970s, which give absolute priority to the development and enhancement of the agricultural sector, both plant and animal production, given the fact that this sector constitutes the focal point of the driving force for other sectors such as industry and trade.
The broad national objectives contained in these successive development plans are raising the living standards of the population, providing work opportunities and creating a society based on social justice. In addition, the Government seeks, through development plans, to achieve the following: acceleration of production to raise per capita incomes, bridging the gap between rural and urban areas, incomes and social services, in order to restore balance and put an end to rural immigration; the protection of the environment, preventing the deterioration of forest and grazing lands and increasing their production so as to combat desertification and drought. In this respect the Government pays extra attention to the rationalization of these plans, and also concentrates on supporting fast-yielding projects and investment in other new projects which can lend support to other economic activities.
We in Somalia are well aware of the importance of rural and agricultural development in achieving global and comprehensive social and economic developments in our country. Nevertheless, despite intensified practical measures in food production, the achievement of Somalia in this respect, like that of many developing countries, remains short of the aspired objectives due to technical problems, scarcity of foreign investment, and the recurrence of natural catastrophes.
In order to solve this package of problems, we chose an economic policy based on encouraging national free investment and welcoming foreign capital to invest in various economic sectors, especially the agricultural sector. Moreover, we laid down a sound basis of cooperation with international and regional organizations in order to obtain necessary assistance and expertise to develop our natural agricultural wealth, and laid down sectoral strategies in the fields of fisheries, scientific research, animal husbandry, forest protection, grazing land, etc.
The developing world today is going through a continued economic crisis. Those countries, especially the least-developed, are expected to go on facing an ever-increasing number of economic difficulties for many years to come. Frozen agricultural production, coupled with an accelerated population growth for most of the developing countries, the need to improve the nutritional intake of millions of malnourished people, and accumulated heavy debt, add more stumbling blocks to efforts deployed toward economic growth. Such efforts are directed toward a host of emergency situations, which leave them no opportunity to concentrate on building their economies or to steer their countries away from economic crisis.
I should like to refer to a very important matter, namely that we would like donor countries to be more flexible in their assistance to developing countries and to make their assistance free of political colour or conditions. We all know that such assistance is targeted mainly toward the poorer rural populations of developing countries which are in dire need of such assistance.
I should like to present my country's comments on several items on the Agenda of this Twenty-fifth Session of our Organization. My delegation fully supports the Programme and Finance Committees' report, with regard to reviewing some aspects relating to the Organization's objectives, aimed at reinforcing the Organization's capacities to continue shouldering the responibilities placed on it. Such responsibilities include the protection of forests, animal husbandry, fisheries etc. and the continued shouldering of the important challenge of helping the populations of developing countries who suffer from malnutrition. It is important for the world to have such a strong Food and Agriculture Organization and countries must pay enough to this Organization in order that it can implement its role properly.
A bright light on the horizon is that the Organization will be able to participate in setting up a new economic order by supporting activities related to the economic cooperation of developing countries. We also welcome remarks to the effect that the Organization should give positive support to developing countries in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations and to try to put an end to protectionist measures taken against such countries.
As far as concerns the environment, I should like to say that the environmental problem is deteriorating and is becoming very serious thus damaging both developed and developing countries. Such a situation leaves one choice, namely that we should all plan and cooperate properly in order to put an end to such damage and restore the world's balance. It is very important that the Organization play an active and important role in this respect by cooperating with all countries and organizations.
My country will participate in any international effort for the protection of the environment and to prevent the pollution of our planet. With regard to the Work and Budget Programme for 1990-91, I add my voice to those who have spoken before and express our satisfaction for the immense efforts deployed by the Organization, headed by Dr Saouma, with regard to preparing the Programme of Work and Budget for the period 1990-91. This shows that the Organization is facing a difficult financial situation at this time, as there are a large amount of arrears or unpaid contributions. However, we hope that our Organization will be able to steer itself out of this financial crisis and be able to implement its programme for the next two years. We should like to encourage the Organization to implement the priorities set, and the Report of the Programme and Finance Committees with regard to the ways of implementing the Programme of Work and Budget.
On behalf of my delegation I should like to give our full support for the Programme of Work and Budget.
With regard to the Plan for Integration of Women in Rural and Agricultural Development, my country has played a very important role from the beginning of the 1970s in reviving the role of women and highlighting its importance with regard to all development activities in our society. Therefore, we
fully support all the efforts targeted at giving high priority to supporting rural development programmes based on reviving the role of women, knowing that this is targeted in particular to alleviate poverty in rural areas of developing countries.
It is also considered a method by which the Organization is accelerating the implementation of the World Conference on Rural Development and Agricultural Reforms.
In conclusion, I support strongly the return of the Near East Regional Office to Cairo where it used to be. We have heard confirmation by the delegate of the Republic of Egypt when she said very clearly that her country had prepared all the facilities necessary to rehouse the regional office once again in Cairo and this has made us very hopeful.
Before concluding, I should like to extend our thanks and appreciation for the World Food Programme, the World Food Council and IFAD for all the technical and financial assistance that has been presented to Somalia. This has certainly helped the farmers and rural population in my country. I should also like to extend my thanks to your Excellencies and the Director-General for giving me this opportunity to speak and I thank the Distinguished Delegates for their attention.
Steve G. OBIMPEH (Ghana): On behalf of the Ghana delegation, I would like to extend my congratulations to you on your election as Chairman of this important Conference.
I also wish to join my colleagues in congratulating the entire FAO Secretariat for the excellent arrangements made for this conference, and the Director-General, Dr Edouard Saouma, for his demonstrated resilience as the head of the FAO and for initiating and pushing through cost-effective programmes to the benefit of the entire developing world.
Two years ago Conference confronted the crisis engulfing FAO by deciding to establish a Committee to review certain aspects of the work of the Organization. This Review Committee had assiduously tackled the assignment and it is particularly heartening to my delegation that after nearly 24 months of hard work and an expenditure of some two million dollars, the Committee, representing all regions and all shades of opinion within the FAO, had been able to reach a consensus on what was needed to be done to enhance the all-round performance of our Organization.
In our view the Review Committee's recommendations are generally sound and, if implemented, would make FAO a more effective instrument for attaining the objectives for which it was founded.
We congratulate the Review Committee, and we are happy at the positive response of the Director-General to the recommendations, and now appeal that the resources should be made available for their implementation. The time has come to move ahead!
Speaking of the availability of resources, let me note that FAO is still bedevilled by the arrears in contributions by some Member States and by the refusal of some of the most endowed to meet their obligations in this regard. We hope that the recommendations of the Review Committee would lead them to a positive course.
This Conference is taking place against the backdrop of a deteriorating world economic environment which, despite the rhetoric in some quarters here and elsewhere, and the seemingly genuine concern of the international community to reverse the tide, has not yet made a significant forward thrust for improvement since we met here two years ago. Some progress has, however, been made in certain key areas such as donor assistance to structural reform programmes, but the task ahead is far more stupendous than that accomplished so far.
For the purpose of re-focusing attention on the plight of developing countries in general, and Africa in particular, my delegation wishes to emphasize the fact that the four interrelated issues of debt, commodity. prices, resource flows and environmental degradation are still the most pressing problems facing the developing world which depends mainly on agriculture for survival.
There is the pressing need, both on the individual state and at multilateral levels, to tackle these problems in a systematic and sustained manner. Therefore, although the developing countries must exercise initiative in reassessing their own situation and policy options with a view to taking appropriate measures for purposeful national development, organizations such as the FAO and other UN agencies have an important supporting role in this regard.
The issue of the growing debt burden of African countries is indeed central to the solution of the problems of resource flows, of poverty alleviation and of environmental degradation.
During the past biennium, there has been a steady decline in concessional finance, particularly from bilateral and private sources. Even more disturbing is the fact that Africa has become a net exporter of financial resources to the International Financial Institutions. It is pertinent to note here that though more relief is anticipated from the World Bank Programme of Assistance, the IMF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility, and the tripling of the authorized capital of the African Development Bank, these measures are inadequate to provide a solution to the problem.
In the context of Agriculture, a lasting solution could be sought through effective coordination between the UN Secretary-General's Expert Group on African Commodity Problems, UNCTAD, and such international financing institutions as the World Bank, IMF, ADB and IFAD. Such coordination is urgently needed to address, not only the basic problem of commodity prices, but also debts and resource flows - their adequacy, timeliness and the disbursement procedures used.
Let me here register again, in this forum, Ghana's gratitude to all those countries who have in recent times decided to cancel our debts, to convert them into grants, and to those who continue to offer significant grants in support of our recovery efforts. It is particularly noteworthy that some of these countries are now providing us with essential inputs such as fertilizers, implements, etc. as aid-in-kind. Ghana is also appreciative of similar gestures directed at other sister countries.
In the current situation in Ghana improved agricultural output has become an economic imperative with donor-assisted projects such as Global 2000 Sasakawa, Ghana/CIDA Grains Project, the USAID-supported Agricultural Productivity Promotion Programme (APPP), KFW, ADB and the World Bank financed Agricultural Services Rehabilitation Project contributing
significantly. Paradoxically, the need to obtain more from the land and the forest has led to rapid degradation of both. The high demand for wood products (domestically and abroad), and the national dependence on firewood are depleting the nation's forest resources at an alarming rate and serious efforts to balance harvesting and planting are yet to make significant impact.
It is this that underlines Ghana's strong support of the call by the World Commission on Environment and Development for the integration of environmental policies and developmental strategies by which sustainable development and sustainable environment will become the integrated focus for directing our development policies.
Many of the opinions expressed in this forum and elsewhere argue that agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa has been greatly constrained by external environmental factors and by poor incentive systems and that the answer to these problems lies in developing appropriate technologies and providing farmers with incentives to adopt them. However, what is technologically effective and how policy incentives are interpreted by producers depends on how much production and marketing are vertically coordinated.
It is the view of my delegation, therefore, that donor assistance in improving storage and marketing, including their various dimensions, and financing, is as important as providing assistance for increased production.
It is therefore urgent that the FAO and donor organizations re-direct their efforts in emphasizing post-harvest technological transfer with encouragement given to the private and public sectors to develop facilities for storing, processing, transportation, preservation and distribution.
I wish to reiterate my country's support for the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme, much as I did in this very forum two years ago; and I must stress, at the onset, the need to augment the resource level in the Regular Budget appreciably for this purpose. Needless to say, sub-Saharan Africa requires development assistance at high levels but often the time consumed and the high cost involved in mounting programming, identification, preparation, pre-appraisal and appraisal missions seriously erode the short-and long-term benefits from these projects.
We however suggest that attempts be made to minimize the administrative costs of servicing the technical assistance personnel by using our local experts. There is nothing so sad as seeing some of our own very competent experts confined and frustrated by our limited resources, when foreign experts who sometimes, if I may be very frank, know no more and often even less than our own personnel, are provided with every facility, even to the point of luxury. If additional training in FAO methodology and systems are wanting in our personnel then I would urge FAO to provide for this, since the issue is becoming a public one in Ghana as in other developing countries.
The economies of most sub-Saharan African countries depend heavily upon tree crop production as important foreign exchange earners. My delegation therefore endorses the Secretariat's observation that these perennial crops have a short- and long-term scale for supply adjustment programmes and urges
a prompt resolution of the difficulties facing the International Agreements for cocoa and coffee, or else the euphoria that accompanied structural adjustments will soon give way to a sense of disillusionment for African countries adopting them.
The FAO can play a significant role by reactivating the FAO Inter-Governmental Group on Cocoa to be able appropriately and in a timely manner, to provide guidance toward the resolution of the problems constraining the reaching of an equitable cocoa agreement.
A most significant call was made recently by United States Secretary for Agriculture, Clayton K. Yeutter, at the World Food Day ceremonies in New York. In noting that the agricultural policies of the united States, the European Economic Community and Japan are costing the developing world US$26 billion a year in lost income, he stated, and I quote: "Now, I ask you all, the developed countries of the world, which would be better? To help the developing countries with US$26 billion in aid or to help the developing countries with US$26 billion in trade corrections".
As Ghana and other sister African countries attempt to diversify their exports and adopt market-oriented development and trading practices, the developed countries should carry out corresponding market-oriented trading adjustments which will remove distortions through progressive and substantial reductions in agricultural support and protection, and thereby strengthen GATT Rules and discipline which prescribe the reduction of agricultural trade barriers in a multilateral context.
Ghana is aware and most concerned that since most of the economies of the developing world are rural based, the adjustment process may have serious consequences on the poor, especially women and rural youth. We thus expect the FAO to initiate action to stimulate discussion on the social cost of adjustment and to undertake further research on the design and implementation of policies at both national and international levels that would address this problem. My delegation, therefore, expresses its support to the Report of the 57th Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems which articulated these concerns, and believes that FAO's input in this direction would be most timely and appropriate.
My delegation has taken note of the Director-General's increased allocation of resources to the programme of integrating women into agricultural and rural development and wholeheartedly supports it; for indeed, it complements our attempts in Ghana to integrate women into the economic, social and decision-making spheres through continuing governmental support of the activities of the Ghana National Council for Women and Development and of the 31st December Women's Movement, a voluntary organization committed to the complete integration of the Ghanaian woman into all spheres of life, social, political and economic.
Ghana has Biade notable progress in food production and distribution under its economic recovery programme, achieving a growth rate of 6% per annum during the last biennium. In order to maintain the momentum generated within the agricultural sector in a systematic, efficient and cost-effective manner, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the World Bank, has initiated the preparation of a rolling 5-10 years Medium-Term Agricultural Development Plan, among other things, to define medium-term agricultural development priorities, identify key policy and institutional reforms and to prepare a medium-term expenditure programme.
It is our hope that the MTADP will provide the long-awaited framework for coordinating donor assistance within the agricultural sector in Ghana and give the domestic resource mobilization for agriculture the needed support. Meanwhile, progressive privatization of agricultural inputs and State-owned enterprises is taking place and economic subsidies on fertilizer will be completely eliminated by the year 1991.
Finally, after many years of mismanagement and unsound economic policies resulting in an annual decline of 1.7% in per capita gross domestic product between 1965-1983, the Government has taken up the challenge to pursue far-reaching reforms designed to renew private sector initiatives. Since 1983, we have recorded impressive and consistent gains in production, and I believe we have shown our ability to make effective use of any assistance.
It is the intention of the Government that all sectors of the economy participate effectively in the recovery programme and that the benefits of adjustment be equitably distributed. The task ahead is a difficult one and Ghana still needs assistance in order to break the barrier to sustainable food self-sufficiency.
The political instability which was the hallmark of our national economic decline over the years has been checked. Our people have again taken their destiny into their hands, and with faith, determination and hope are embarked on fundamental reforms aimed at establishing a democratic and relevant political system, and a just social order backed by a sound economic system capable of ensuring prosperity. It is a long road to our destination, but we know we shall overcome. We trust that FAO and all nations of goodwill will march with us in support to the last post.
Idriss JAZAIRY (President, IFAD): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Distinguished Delegates. I congratulate you most warmly, Excellency, on your election as Chairman of the Conference.
The Conference will have noted with some satisfaction the fact that cereal production in developing countries has shown significant growth, of about 4.7 percent, between 1986/87 and 1988/89. Yet, over the same period, their cereal imports have risen at nearly twice that rate, placing a growing burden on their balance of payments. This is a cause for concern especially in the light of the continued steep decline in global cereal stocks and higher world price levels.
In fact, for the countries most in need - the low-income, food-deficit countries - the food situation is now more difficult than ever. Their imports of cereals have continued to rise for the fourth straight year, while their volume of food aid has dropped sharply. This is in the context when external aid to agriculture has stagnated. As a result of the negotiations under the Uruguay Round, agricultural subsidies in the industrialized countries which have an enormous cost may be reduced. Let us hope that part of the resources so released can be directed to redressing the problems of agricultural development of developing countries, especially food-deficit countries. Otherwise, the main impact of the elimination of subsidies may just lead to an increase in their imports bill which has already doubled in recent years.
Trade and food aid have an important role in food security, but the real solution lies in mobilizing the productive potential of the smallholders in increasing food production.
This perception has been IFAD's guiding principle for 12 years. I am pleased to report that in 1989 the Fund will commit about US$275 million in 24 projects specifically designed to alleviate poverty and increase the food production of the smallholder sector. This brings IFAD's total 12-year commitment to almost US$3 billion for 267 projects in 92 developing countries.
IFAD's capacity to pursue its objectives depends, of course, on the assurance of an appropriate volume of core resources. In that context I am pleased to be able to inform the Conference about the successful completion of the Third Replenishment of IFAD's Resources at a level of about US$566 million.
This success was built on the strong support IFAD received from all three categories of Member States. In spite of adverse circumstances, most of the traditional developing country contributors from Category II maintained the same levels of contributions as in 1986. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority of other developing countries from Category III made significant contributions in convertible currency in a spirit of solidarity. The industrialized countries for their part demonstrated a positive attitude by accepting to match the latter contributions on the basis of a high multiplier.
With these resources we intend to build and expand on the new strategies initiatives we have been undertaking in recent years. One of these is on the backdrop of adjustment efforts of our recipient countries, to shield the rural poor from the possible harsh consequences of these measures. But we do not put emphasis so much on demand-side or welfare consideration associated with the Human Face argument. Rather we put emphasis on supply-side measures enhancing the productivity of the rural poor and their ability to respond to reforms and favourable market signals.
For the landless and near landless, the Fund has been giving increased attention to the development of agro-based micro-enterprises and other income-generating activities. Through such employment opportunities they will gain access to food and other necessities. If IFAD's Special Programme for African Countries Affected by Drought and Desertification were to be extended with further voluntary contributions of donor countries, then additional resources could be devoted to promoting micro-enterprises. This would be in the same spirit in which particular focus was given to small-scale irrigation and the rehabilitation of agricultural production capacity under what would then have been the first phase of the Special Programme.
Poor smallholders are also very much on the frontline in the-world's defence against environmental degradation. Rural poverty and environmental deterioration are caught in a vicious cycle. Subsistence farmers, struggling for survival in marginal areas, concentrate on their immediate food needs through practices that sometimes further degrade the environment. In turn this accentuates their poverty in a mutually reinforcing and cumulative process.
I recognize that environmental considerations should be a part of the core of any good poverty alleviation project. But there are some aspects of environmental investment whose benefits cannot be readily incorporated in conventional cost benefit analysis. These relate to the difficulties of measurement and quantification of such benefits and the presence of important externalities, whether from the project area to the region, or the region to the country as a whole.
Furthermore, smallholders may need special incentives and subsidies to make it attractive for them to spare their labour or resources for environmental investment. At the same time, governments of developing countries, face severe budgetary and debt problems. They are understandably reluctant to undertake long-term environmental investments or provide the necessary subsidies using funds borrowed on the normal terms and conditions of international financial institutions.
We must act in time to help them.
To deal with the global environmental challenge the World Bank has set up a Special Facility. If the mutually reinforcing relationship between poverty and environmental degradation is recognized then increased support to those environmental investments having high externalities need ad hoc financing measures.
What is required is a possible new source of additional voluntary financing on particularly favourable or grant terms to permit institutions like IFAD to expand its efforts to combat poverty through environmental enhancement. Such resources will enable IFAD to make available its growing experience in breaking the poverty-environment cycle to more and more developing countries.
Mr Chairman, before I conclude, may I stress IFAD's appreciation for the continued close collaboration among all the food agencies here in Rome and especially with FAO.
The FAO Investment Centre has continued to be a mainstay for IFAD's project identification, monitoring and evaluation. In addition, the Fund has actively participated in the deliberations of a number of FAO committees and working groups. The Fund also wishes to support FAO in the matter of control of desert locusts and screwworms which pose a serious risk to IFAD's target groups.
The suggestion has been made by the distinguished Director-General of FAO to give a more formal institutional basis for cooperation among the Rome agencies. I welcome this Inter-Secretariat suggestion at the Heads of Agency level as a means of establishing closer cooperation between the food agencies in Rome. While this is a useful administrative measure, we need to project our joint determination to work hand in hand, to the outside world. This leads me to endorse the view that such an initiative should be complemented by two other outward-looking measures. One would be to establish a tradition whereby the Head of each Agency will address the annual or biennial meeting of the principal Governing Bodies of other agencies on the Opening Day. The second would be for our institutions to sponsor jointly, at FAO, the celebration of the World Food Day.
In ending let me renew my invitation to the distinguished Director-General of FAO to honour us by addressing IFAD's Thirteenth Governing Council Session next January.1
Viliame GONELEVU (Fiji): Mr Chairman, Director-General, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen. On behalf of my delegation, I would like to congratulate you Mr Chairman for your recent election and I cannot amply express how proud we are to have a representative from our region presiding at this august Assembly. I am indeed greatly honoured to be here and be given this opportunity to address this Conference and share with many of my colleagues the many common problems that we face in the effort to provide our people a reasonable standard of living.
I would like very briefly to outline to you some special features of the problems and issues many of the island states like ours experience and will continue to face for sometime. This is not to say that these features are not present in landlocked countries but merely to indicate that some problems are definitely unique to us.
To list them:(i) Our small sizes and the scattered location of our many islands in the Group.
(ii) We are surrounded by a vast expanse of ocean which makes any travel amongst these islands doubly hard.
(iii) Small scattered population burdens government servicing these islands which creates additional costs.
(iv) Per capita income in bulk is rural based.
(v) Fluctuation of world commodity prices continues to plague our development as these two are directly related.
The list is inexhaustible but I am sure that many small island states can identify some of these as being characteristic of our surroundings.
Now let me touch on some global issues which I feel are also common to the Pacific region.
Our Pacific region whilst it is of some distance away from your Headquarters here in Rome is indeed fortunate to be served by your Regional and Country Offices in Bangkok and Apia respectively.
On some specific statistics on Fiji. We have a population of 715 400 and we occupy a total area of 1 837 800 ha or an average of 2.6 ha per head. However, only 298 300 ha of the 1 837 800 ha is agriculturally potential. With a rural population of approximately 439 000 the distribution therefore on a per head basis is 0.7 ha. In household numbers the area available to each household is 15.0 ha. Of the total active population 47 percent is engaged in agricultural related activities which include fisheries and forestry. They contribute about 24 percent of our GDP.
1 Statement inserted in verbatim record on request.
In outlining these statistics, Fiji has been reassessing its policies with regard to its activities in the rural sector of agriculture, fisheries and forestry. What I intend to do is very briefly outline the policy areas and strategies for these three sectors and relate them to how we have been able to tackle the global issues concerning Fiji within the last two years.
Over the near two decades from our Independence we have managed to build ourselves some infrastructures to facilitate production of the many commodities that we handle. There is still room for improvement particularly in the area of marketing which we regard as quite critical to many of the exportable commodities including sugar, our largest export earner for some time now.
In this regard our major policy thrust is not so much growth but the consolidation of the existing activities within projects and programmes we have. We had suddenly realized that most of our resources have been spread very thinly over a large number of commodities without the proper monitoring and evaluation that usually accompany these. Similarly, a diversification away from our base export commodity in sugar has also been encouraged. This policy on diversification is a deliberate strategy by government to cushion the fluctuation in commodity prices and Fiji like many small developing nations unfortunately remains a price taker. Thus we see a thrust in Fiji's policy toward the promotion of other export commodities whilst continuing to provide stable supplies to our domestic demand and import-substitute commodities. However, in passing let me turn to a commodity which has been part and parcel of our development over the years. The coconut industry has provided an important means of livelihood for many of our people. My government will continue to see its promotion as it is seen in some of the islands as the only economic means of livelihood. We express concern at efforts by some parties to discredit its nutritional value as there is no basis for such an allegation.
On the question of sustainable development of natural resource management, Fiji like most island nations is much more aware of this critical area than most large countries because suitable agricultural lands are becoming scattered in location and scarcer. This is further exacerbated by the continued growth of population and the spread of urban areas onto good agricultural lands. Increasingly marginal areas are being used to the detriment of the environment. In this regard the government has decided to formulate appropriate policies to ensure proper land-use planning is enforced, otherwise very little will be left for our future generation.
Government is faced with the task of ensuring a balanced development where over-exploitation of resources without the necessary planning can result in total loss of non-renewable resources. The task is not only challenging but also critical as we attempt to rationalize the effective use of our limited resources whilst fully aware of the need to protect and conserve some of these non-renewable resources for our future generation.
Government therefore as a keeper and a caretaker of resources of the country must providé the right environment. Incentives in the form of subsidies are needed, however close control and monitoring are essential elements to safeguard over-exploitation. Recommendations by the lending institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and IMF to remove subsidies totally because of their inherent inefficiencies must be carried out with caution as it can completely have a negative effect on production and productivity. Some form of subsidies are still very much needed.
The price incentive very much dictates to a large degree the equilibrium at which supply and demand of a resource meet. Most developing countries find the value of their dollar tied to their commodity prices which continue to drop, and this trend is likely to continue for some time since most of these countries are still heavily reliant on agriculture.
Fiji believes in free trade and to this end we have joined the Cairns Group whose aims are basically to promote the freeing up of protective measures which have distorted world trade and subsequently hindered the development process in developing countries. Whilst we will support the spirit in which the Uruguay Round of the Multilateral Negotiations of GATT has been set and negotiated, we are hopeful that the special needs of developing countries will be taken into account.
The developed nations must provide the environment in which free trade can foster. After all it is trade and not aid which we would like promoted. This engine of development will assist developing nations rise out of their debt burden. Thus the onus in ensuring that commodities are traded fairly at market prices rests very much on the shoulders of the developed nations. Bilateral and multilateral assistance are therefore essential supporting and complementing elements to this exercise. FAO's role to disseminate information and assist provide technical know-how in this direction will help developing nations immensely.
Another equally important issue that has direct relevance to FAO's responsibility is the involvement of women in development (WID). We in Fiji have a Ministry of Women and Culture whose primary role is to advance the causes in which women can be better represented. Women's contribution to development cannot be ignored. Thus where planning of projects and programmes are done the involvement of women in such activities has become crucial. We are mindful however that such an involvement by women does not in any way interfere with their traditional and cultural role.
Similarly, the recognition given to non-government organizations (NGOs) is crucial to good working relationships between the government and the people that are serviced through these NGOs.
The problem of malnutrition is not new, however its continued growth has left government to reorientate its approach in a more constructive manner. The Food and Nutrition Committee (FNC), the Ministry of Health and my Ministry have corroborated at ways and means of fighting this health hazard especially amongst the schools and youth through the Ministries of Education and Youth and Sport.
The issues I have just outlined are common to both the fisheries and forestry subsectors. However again I must stress that whilst some of the problems are common to many countries there are some which are only unique to the small island nations. Let me just highlight two areas in fisheries.
The question of drift-netting or gill-netting has become a regional problem of the Pacific and urgent attention to address this issue is therefore warranted from the International Community at large. Current initiatives spearheaded by the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency and the South Pacific Commission on behalf of the many small island nations of the Pacific need supporting. In this regard we are grateful to note the attention accorded this important issue by the United Nations General Assembly. A complete ban of such a non-selective fishing method is urgently required and for the future, an effective management regime ought to be put in place as
soon as practicable. We are also grateful to our neighbours New Zealand and Australia in taking further initiatives on this issue in our part of the world. We request this concern be registered in this Conference particularly if FAO is going to be involved.
Fiji welcomes the move by FAO through the Committee on Fisheries in promoting small-scale fisheries and aquaculture. We are mindful of our finite resources as we progress to the next decade and we wish that more attention be focused on the simple processing techniques to maximize value added and further as an alternative to capture fisheries, promote aquaculture where possible, in all these areas the significant role that resource assessment plays as a management tool is of paramount importance given the stage of development of our island economy.
On forestry Fiji's indigenous forests are slowly being depleted with progress of development. Recently FAO undertook a comprehensive study of the sector and whilst some of the recommendations have been implemented many are still being considered by Government and will need further analysis. We in Fiji continue to plant pines Pinus carribea not only in the marginal areas where they have been found to be good substitutes for most crops but in areas where they provided a decent cover for the easily erodible soils. To date we have progressed further and have set up processing plants from which the wood chips and other forest products are made and exported. The environmental aspect of pine development is being closely monitored to ensure minimal damage to soils and to other environmental factors such as the effects on climate from the complete removal of tree cover.
To conclude, we will continue to support the work of FAO. It has the expertise and knowledge to carry out technical assistance required by many countries however it must be given the resources to undertake this task. On the other hand, FAO must continue to strive for efficiency and be cost-effective if the financial support it needs is to be given particularly by large donors.
In concluding, I would like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely all the countries which have contributed greatly through aid-funds, expertise, joint ventures, partnerships and marketing opportunities in assisting develop our agricultural, fisheries and forestry resources for the betterment of our people in Fiji.
May God continue to bless all of us richly2.
The meeting rose at 18.30 hours.
La séance est levée à 18 h 30.
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.30 horas.
2 Statement inserted in verbatim on request.
