CHAIRMAN: We will resume our session on discussion of item 6 of the agenda. The first speaker on my list to whom I give the floor is the distinguished delegate from India.
R.C. JAIN (India): I must, first of all, compliment the FAO Secretariat for a comprehensive and yet very analytical documentation on the State of Food and Agriculture in the world. I must also compliment Mr Dutia for his succinct introductory comments on the item, and especially for summing up the specific issues that need to be addressed by the Conference.
India is concerned at the worsening world food security wherein the problem of inadequate food production and under-nutrition in the developing world continues to confront the national governments. We believe that a lasting solution to the problem has essentially to be found by strengthening national efforts for achieving high levels in food production.
The developing countries in general, and India in particular, have been making sincere efforts in this direction, some of which have contributed in a significant way to the world recovery in food production during the current year. I should like to dwell upon the efforts made by India in recent years in greater detail.
India, on emerging from one of the worst droughts of the century in 1987, registered an increase of 34 million tons of food grains production in the year 1988-89. Similarly, oilseed production during that year touched a new high of 18 million tons, which is 47 percent higher than in the preceding year and 41 percent higher than the earlier record level of 12.95 million tons in the year 1984-85. This enabled India substantially to reduce its import bill on edible oil during the year.
The sustained agricultural production levels have led to the increased level of per capita food grain availability, which was 500 grammes per day in 1988 compared to only 410 grammes per capita per day in 1980.
I have narrated India's experience in the green revolution mainly to flag the argument that, while developing countries are engaged in increasing their agricultural production, they need to be assisted by the world community during the transition from food deficiency to food sufficiency. This is necessary through transfer of resources and production technologies from the developed world to these countries. The world certainly cannot wait until national governments are able on their own to meet the needs of their undernourished peoples. Their number, which was around 495 million in 1979-81, has increased to a much higher level in the last decade. Food aid has therefore a major role to play in preventing hunger and malnutrition. In this context, dwindling food aid, especially through the WFP, is certainly a matter of great concern to all of us. The higher prices of cereals and the burden of debt servicing have further jeopardized the access to food for the poorer people in the developing world. The trend of flow of resources from the developing world to the industrialized countries also needs to be effectively reversed in the shortest possible time.
International trade in agricultural products has great significance for the economic development of the developing countries and the well-being of their people. India advocates a liberalized regime of international trade in agricultural products. We hope that the multinational negotiations in the Uruguay Round will lead to more effective GATT rules and improved conditions of international competition by reducing protectionism in the developed world.
We are happy that there is agreement on the need for exempting the domestic agricultural production policies of the developing countries which are predominantly dependent on agriculture, from such international disciplines. We also look forward to the early operation of the Common Fund to achieve the objectives of the Integrated Programme for Commodities.
Finally, I would briefly mention sustainable development and the need for preservation of the natural resources base of the world. We extend full support to FAO's commitment to the cause as enunciated in document C 89/2-Sup.2 and in document C 89/INF/14.
Environmental issues have come to the forefront of international attention, especially since the publication of the report of the WCED, chaired by Prime Minister Bruntdland of Norway. This report focused attention on the concept of sustainable development. We strongly support international cooperation in this field but would advise against the introduction of any additional conditionality in disbursement of development assistance or establishment of any regulatory regime perpetuating discrimination and asymmetry in production and consumption levels between the developed and developing countries.
We believe that if growth and development are not to be sacrificed, a major international effort would be needed for the development and diffusion of environmentally-benign technologies. It would be ironic if this area of international concern were to become a subject of comercial interest. With this end in view, the Prime Minister of India proposed the establishment of a Planet Protection Fund in the Ninth Non-Aligned Summit Conference in Belgrade in September 1989, calling upon all the countries, developed and developing, except the least developed, to contribute 0.1 percent of their GDP for forming its initial corpus of around $ 18 billion.
Coming back to the document on the subject, and especially the subject of natural resources conservation and management, and more especially the role of forests in sustaining agricultural development, the Indian delegation would like to state that FAO's leadership in coordinating the Tropical Forestry Action Plan is extremely welcome. However, efforts to streamline implementation of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan should be strengthened significantly, particularly to ensure quality of the preparation of country action plans. In this regard, it is important to devise a suitable system for monitoring and evaluation of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan to ensure that the objectives with which it has been formulated are effectively fulfilled.
The role of forests in sustaining agriculture and ensuring food security has been appropriately highlighted in the document. Given the integral relationship between different land uses, efforts in forestry should focus on cross-cutting issues so that problems are tackled in a integrated manner. In this connection, there is a need to highlight the role of agro-forestry in ensuring the reliability of a variety of products to the rural population. Resources available for community forestry should be substantially enhanced. Given the importance of non-timber forest products, the efforts of FAO in supporting studies and research and strengthening the capability of member countries for sustainable production of such products need to be considerably strengthened. Currently, statistical information on forest products is limited to major forest products. While availability of data may pose a problem, efforts need to be initiated to collect information on the non-timber forest products.
Noboru SATTO (Japan) : My country has great interest in the world food and agriculture situation, especially for the stable world food supply and demand, as it is a large importer of cereal grain. World cereal production in 1989 will recover from the two consecutive poor harvests and the figure is estimated as 1 billion 861 million tons, 5.9 percent increase compared with that of the last year, according to the recent issue of FAO Food Outlook. This volume will not fulfil the demands of next year. Although the gap is very narrow for this year, production will be smaller than consumption for three consecutive years. This means that the level of cereal stocks has plunged from its peak volume of 450 million tons in 1986 to 290 million tons at present. This level corresponds to 17 percent or 18 percent, which FAO considers the minimum necessary level for world food security.
Under these circumstances, food aid volume is estimated, with concern, to be 8.3 million tons, a 15 percent decrease compared to the last year's volume and a 38 percent decrease compared to the year before. This fails to fulfil the 10 million ton food aid target set by the World Food Conference in 1974 for two consecutive years. From the viewpoint of assuring the world food security, more production increase seems required. My country anticipates a practical approach for food production increase avoiding a continuous surplus situation on a mid- and long-term basis.
In the longer perspective, there seem so many destabilizing factors such as policy amendments in major producing, or consuming, countries, climatic changes, demand increases, mainly in developing countries, by population increase and income increase. This brings the necessity for continuous monitoring in food and agriculture. We hope; that FAO will continue to provide essential information on food and agriculture through the Global Information and Early Warning System and to work as a forum consisting of various committees such as CFS, COAG, and each individual group of the Committee on Commodity Problems.
My country is of the basic opinion that it is essential for food-deficit developing countries to give priority to the food and agriculture sector and to promote food production increase in order to resolve food problems in developing countries. This brings the necessity to establish and implement developing strategy including the policy and improvement of institutions to ensure that farmers achieve earnings according to their own efforts. In order to realize this concept, my delegation feels it necessary to implement an integrated rural development programme targeted for medium and small farmers, including agrarian reforms, in addition to improving production technology and executing technological extension.
My country has executed both financial and technical assistance on a bilateral and multilateral basis in order to support the self-reliance efforts undertaken by the developing countries. Of course, we shall continue such cooperation for developing countries.
Such serious problems as global warming, ozone layer destruction, tropical forest decreases, desertification and air and water pollution, resulting from growing population and increased human activities, including industrial development, are now a common threat to the life of human beings and all living organisms in the world. Proper management of the global environment is a common responsibility for all humans, and thus every country must tackle this task with maximum use of its intelligence. In this regard, we highly appreciate the fact that FAO has played a key role in areas in the proper use of natural resources and execution of environmentally sustainable agriculture, such as soil conservation, genetic resource conservation, rational use of fishery resources, proper use and distribution of pesticides, conservation and afforestation of tropical forests, from the viewpoint of "sustainable development".
My country is really interested in the importance of such global environmental issues and has been executing international cooperating activities such as investigation and study, bilateral cooperation, funding for international organizations. Especially for FAO, in order to assist FAO efforts in this field actively, my government has now been contributing trust funds for three FAO field projects in this field, that is:
"Prevention of land degradation in agricultural development involving irrigation and drainage schemes in Latin America,
"Support to International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides, and "Support programme to Tropical Forestry Action Plan".
Khaled J. AL-MASBAHI (Kuwait): Ihank-you Mr Chairman. We would like to begin by congratulating you on being elected to the chair of this Conmission. The responsibilities are heavy and it is a challenge for you, but nevertheless we are sure that you are more than capable of this important task.
I would like to speak about a very important matter which is mentioned in C 89/2 Sup.1, and that is paragraphs 13-16 dealing with the External Debt. Nowadays, sir, this external debt is a massive burden for developing countries. It prevents them from implementing development programmes and also brings in its wake a very negative effect on the social and economic development and progress in their countries. We would like to reaffirm what the head of our delegation said When he spoke on the matter, that it is necessary to help countries to find some fair equilibrium, some way of improving their position. We think that a solution must be found to the External Debt and the enormous interest rates that have to be paid that continue to rise. We would invite creditor countries to hold a meeting in order to study the possibility of writing off the interests on debt and to find a solution for the poorest of the indebted countries. Kuwait would be prepared to attend such a meeting and to implement any decision taken in this respect because this would be far better than to let the situation continue as it is, and far better surely than to remain where we are new where countries take the attitude, stand or move, that suits them best. We must try and help developing countries to implement development programmes and projects because this could and would have positive effects not only for those countries themselves, but for developed countries too.
We would also like to ask creditor countries to look at the very burdensome conditions linked to these debt payments. We should ask them to be a little more flexible. We would like any adjustments made to take into consideration the situation in the countries concerned. We think that the Commission should adopt the solutions suggested here.
Jean-Martin KAMBIRE (Burkina Faso): Permettez-moi d'adresser mes félicitations au Secrétariat de la FAO pour la qualité des documents relatifs à la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture, également sur le développement durable et l'aménagement des ressources naturelles.
Carme vous le savez, le Burkina Faso est un pays sahélien agricole, situé au coeur de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. De ce fait, son économie, qui repose essentiellement sur l'agriculture, est tributaire des aléas climatiques et des effets défavorables de l'enclavement.
L'importance de l'agriculture dans l'économie du Burkina Faso tient au fait que non seulement elle occupe 90 pour cent de la population, mais également que les produits agricoles (essentiellement le coton et les produits animaux) procurent plus de 50 pour cent des recettes d'exportation du pays. C'est la raison pour laquelle le Front populaire accorde la priorité absolue au développement de secteur. C'est ainsi que, corme l'indique le tableau 2.1 du document 89/2, la production agricole a augmenté en moyenne de 5,2 pour cent en 1981 et 1987, et de près de 2 pour cent entre 1987 et 1988. Cela a été possible, malgré les contraintes naturelles, à savoir la sécheresse et l'invasion des sauteriaux, grâce à la mobilisation des populations et aux actions de vulgarisation agricole. Dans le même ordre d'idée, le gouvernement a décidé d'intensifier la modernisation de l'agriculture par un équipement des producteurs en matériel de culture attelée, à travers une opération spéciale dénommée "opération 30 000 charrues". Au Burkina Faso, nous sommes conscients de la nécessité urgente d'accroître la production agricole en assurant une gestion rationnelle de nos faibles ressources naturelles. C'est ainsi qu'une attention particulière est accordée aux actions suivantes: adoption et mise en oeuvre d'un plan national de lutte contre la désertification; élaboration d'un programme national de gestion des terroirs villageois à partir de l'expérience de projets pilotes, dans le cadre de l'application de la réorganisation agraire et foncière; mise en oeuvre d'importants programmes de conservation des eaux et des sols et d'agroforesterie basés sur les participations rurales organisées au sein des groupements villageois et des coopératives; enfin, vulgarisation des techniques de production et d'utilisation accrue de la fumure organique.
Il s'agit là de mesures et d'actions dont les effets ne seront sensibles qu'à moyen et long terme, et qui demandent un effort soutenu. Aussi, tout en comptant d'abord sur nos propres forces, nous sollicitons l'appui de la communauté internationale pour améliorer la situation. Les problèmes de la sécurité alimentaire nous préoccupent tous. Pour sa part, le Burkina Faso vise l'autosuffisance et la sécurité alimentaire à partir de l'accroissement de la production nationale; et c'est pourquoi la priorité est accordée au développement agricole. Mais cela n'est possible que s'il existe des incitations suffisantes pour stimuler les producteurs. C'est aussi la raison pour laquelle nous déplorons la chute des prix des produits agricoles exportés par mon pays, tels que le coton et l'arachide. En effet, non seulement ces produits fournissent des revenus aux agriculteurs leur permettant d'acquérir des matières intra-agricoles mais ils jouent également un rôle utile pour la promotion des cultures vivrières dans le système d'assolement à rotation.
En ce qui concerne l'aide alimentaire, nous estimons qu'elle devrait être utilisée pour faire face à des situations d'urgence en faveur des populations les plus déshéritées. En la matière, nous souhaiterions que les donateurs privilégient les opérations triangulaires qui présentent le triple avantage de résorber les excédents des pays voisins, en raccourcissant les délais de livraison et en respectant les habitudes alimentaires des populations sinistrées. Nous souhaitons également l'aide fournie par le Prograime alimentaire mondial, dans le cadre du prograirme "Food for Work".
Enfin, nous pensons que, pour toutes les questions énumérées ci-dessus, la FAO a un rôle important à jouer et nous l'assurons du soutien du Burkina Faso,
Per Harald GRUE (Norway) : On this agenda item 6 I have the pleasure to speak on behalf of the four Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Allow me to use this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this Catmission.
"The Nordic countries welcome the opportunity at this 25th Conference to discuss the State of Food and Agriculture for 1989, including "Sustainable Development and Natural Resources Management". We find the elaborate document which has been prepared a very valid document.
I will concentrate on the issue of "Sustainable Development and Natural Resources Management". We think it is essential to translate the concept of sustainable development into practical and operational policies and programmes in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
In 1987 the Report from the World Commission on Environment and Development entitled "Our Common Future", was published. In the Commission it was pointed out that the first and foremost threat to mankind is massive poverty. It was the Commission's main conclusion that it is futile to seek solutions to the environmental problems facing our earth without a broad perspective that encompasses the factors underlying world poverty. The poor are often forced to consume next year's seeds, to cut scarce forest for fuelwood and to overexploit their land. On this background it will be necessary to focus more on the link between poverty and environment in the future.
As underlined in the document C 89/2 Sup.2 "Sustainable Development and Natural Resources Management", climate change, loss of genetic resources, soil erosion and deforestation are vital issues of the 1990s.
Ihe climate change can become a reality because of our extensive use of fuel. A possible result can be the sea level rising and massive agricultural and social damage in the next century. The threats to the global climate prove that if we all do what we want in the short run, everybody will be losers in the long run. Accordingly, we need to develop a global climate stabilization strategy of the future.
The loss of genetic resources is a serious problem. The document stresses that while over 100 000 edible plant species as well as numerous animal species were used during the past ten thousand years or more, and that because the genetic diversity is now strongly reduced, it is important for species carrying valuable characteristics to be conserved for future benefit. The reason for this is that many species have adaptive traits, such as disease resistance and cliirate tolerance.
There are problems related to agriculture, both in the North and in the South, for example, through soil erosion in all continents, soil acidification in Europe and desertification in Africa, Asia and Latin America, One reason for the problem of soil erosion and desertification is deforestation. Thus it is necessary to work simultaneously with all these major issues.
Before taking up FAO's challenges for the 1990s I would like to underline a statement the Director-General made on World Food Day on 16 October. I quote: "We must grow more food without destroying the soil's fertility; we must raise more livestock without turning our grazing lands into wastelands. We must harvest more fish without spoiling the waters of life". It should be a guide for FAO's activities in the future.
What are then in more detail FAO's nain challenges for the 1990s?
Firstly, FAO must respond to the environmental challenge. In the view of the Nordic countries FAO must take a lead role in the international efforts to secure the requirements of the world's poor for food, while at the same time halting the serious degradation of soil, forest and fish resources.
Sustainable and environmentally-sound agricultural systems and practices will have to be developed. FAO should guide and support this development. It is a great challenge and a great task. This was also underlined by the UN representative in the Plenary on Monday.
Environmental thinking must become fully integrated into all management and lines of communication in the Organization. From an ideal point of view environmental concerns should be inseparable from all technological, economic and political considerations. At the 94th Session of the Council, it was stressed that integrating environmental considerations as a basic concern represents a particular challenge to FAO.
In February 1988 the Nordic FAO authorities appointed a consultancy group to put forward suggestions as to how FAO could reorientate its policies in order to ensure that activities enhancing sustainable development are carried out. One of the conclusions in the report is that FAO is in a better position than bilateral agencies are to handle transboundary problems. It would be useful if FAO would concentrate more on problems which have regional or global components, and try to give a more prominent role to environmental matters in the Organization's field of work and responsibility.
In the conclusion of the document "Sustainable Development and Natural Resources Management", it is underlined that: "FAO can play a positive role in the efforts to achieve sustainable agriculture by providing technical assistance on all aspects of the agricultural and rural development processes, by promoting an integrated approach to natural resources management and by integrating environmental concerns into all of its activities".
The Nordic countries are in agreement with this statement, and would welcome an intensification of the efforts by FAO to develop and implement a strategy to integrate environmental concerns into all of its activities.
Secondly, FAO must strengthen its international cooperation.
To solve the environmental problem in the 1990s international cooperation is required. In the Programme of Work and Budget FAO has given priority to sustainable development. According to the Nordic countries' point of view
FAO's improved cooperation with other organizations will lead to a situation where FAO's voice can be properly heard. A more active cooperation is therefore called for. We believe that extended international cooperation can offer a synergetic effect in order to achieve sustainable development.
The future role of FAO would be strengthened by an active and full participation in the system-wide UN efforts to assist in the preparation of the imtportant UN Conference on Environment and Development. FAO should collaborate closely with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in particular through an active participation in the ACC (Administrative Committee on Co-ordination) Task Force which was established in order to promote the contributions of the UN system to the Conference.
FAO should be prepared to contribute actively to intergovernmental efforts in preparing important decisions to be adopted by the 1992 Conference in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and forestry. In our view FAO should be prepared to engage itself with climate change issues, biological diversity, biotechnology and the vital issues of desertification and deforestation. A joint UNEP/FAO meeting on sustainable agriculture should be arranged within this context.
In the Resolution on sustainable agriculture adopted by the UNEP Governing Council this year the following reccmmendation is given for the joint UNEP/FAO meeting on sustainable agriculture: review the mechanism for integrating agricultural production and environmental policies worldwide, elaborate a world strategy for sustainable agriculture, and formulate practical action that might be taken by UNEP, FAO and others within the context of their ongoing activities. It is important that FAO and UNEP cooperate closely, if the strategy and the plans of action are to be prepared in time to be adopted by the 1992 Conference.
The Nordic countries consider it important to follow up the further integration of environmental concerns in all FAO activities. In this connection we have prepared a resolution for FAO activities related to sustainable development. The resolution can be seen as a guideline for further work with environmental issues within FAO, and in particular FAO's contributions and active involvement in the preparations for the 1992 Conference.
I hope that our resolution will be met with unanimous support, and thus give environmental questions an even more prominent place in the work of FAO.
Guillermo FUNES RODRIGUEZ (México): En primer lugar, señor Presidente, mi delegación felicita su nombramiento como Presidente de esta Comisión. Quisiera dividir nuestra intervención en dos puntos. El Primero, referente al análisis que de la alimentación y de la agricultura se hace para estos años y los retos que la FAO presentará o tendrá frente a sí en los años por venir.
El documento que se nos ha circulado y que hemos estudiado cuidadosamente establece en forma ponderada las diferentes situaciones que han dado origen a una bipolaridad en el crecimiento de la agricultura. En primer término, quisiera expresar que el documento no deja claro que existen cuatro grandes puntos en los cuales necesariamente la FAO ha intervenido, desgraciadamente en forma no totalmente positiva, dadas las condiciones macroeconómicas existentes y prevalecientes en el mundo. Un primer tema ha sido la seguridad alimentaria, en el cual diversas regiones se han visto mermadas en cuanto a obtener por sí mismas y para los países que la contienen, una más adecuada interpretación de lo que representa.
En segundo término , quisiéramos expresar un problema que para mi Delegación ha sido, durante los últimos años, tema central de su política macroeconómica: el problema de la deuda externa. Como todos ustedes saben, este año México ha llegado a un acuerdo con los principales bancos acreedores, y en este momento estamos viendo, por primera vez en un periodo crítico de seis o siete años, la posibilidad de que parte del servicio de la deuda se derive a programas de inversión en mi país. En ese sentido, por decisión del Presidente de mi país, lo que se ha obtenido como renegociación de la deuda externa se aplicará para inversión en el sector agropecuario. En México estamos convencidos de que si hay que apostarle al futuro, la única manera de tener éxito es apostarle a la agricultura.
Intimamente relacionado con el problema de la deuda externa, enfrentamos un problema de política comercial, política comercial perfectamente descrita en el documento y que hace referencia a un evento que ha predominado durante todo el tiempo de este período, que ha sido el proteccionismo, y el discurso recurrente de apertura de los mercados.
Mi país, conjuntamente con Chile, han sido los países que mayor apertura económica han tenido en los últimos tres aiños. Sin embargo, no hemos tenido la reciprocidad adecuada en cuanto a la apertura de los mercados internacionales a los cuales concurrimos. Por lo tanto, el problema del comercio exterior del sector agropecuario para nuestro país es un problema esencial de negociación y, como lo marca el documento una de las áreas en las que, profundamente interesados, tendremos que participar dentro de las negociaciones multilaterales del GATT.
Un cuarto punto, señor Presidente, que hemos logrado visualizar en los documentos, es una permanente preocupación por la preservación de los recursos naturales. Mi país, como usted sabe, tiene todos los climas y la mayor parte de los núcleos ecológicos existentes en el mundo. Mi país está considerado el cuarto país en cuanto a recursos fitogenéticos y, asimismo, mi país ha tenido algunos problemas graves y serios con respecto al medio ambiente, no sólo en las grandes urbes, sino fundamentalmente en las áreas rurales. No obstante, señor Presidente, una vez analizados estos documentos y estos temas quisiera plantear a qué nos estamos enfrentando en los años por venir. En primer término, quisiera abordar el tema de la preservación de los recursos naturales. Si bien el tema de los recursos naturales es de singular iirportancia, lo es de primera prioridad para los países en desarrollo. Los bosques tropicales, tan debatidos y tan discutidos, sin duda alguna representan una de las grandes riquezas de los países en desarrollo; sin embargo, debemos ser conscientes de que los bosques tropicales deberán ser explotados en forma racional, pero explotados con una singular meta de tipo económico, de tipo social y de tipo político.
Nosotros reconocemos la importancia de los bosques tropicales, como también reconocemos la importancia de los bosques templados y de los bosques en las zonas de dina frío.
Cuando hablamos del medio ambiente, señor Presidente, tendremos que hablar del conjunto de los recursos que conlleva la ecoesfera ya que no podemos disociar solamente una parte de los mismos para dedicar esfuerzos y tratar de organizar progranas. Es impensable que lo tememos como un todo y que entendamos que los bosques en los países en desarrollo contienen un sentido social, ion sentido económico, y que lejos de manejarlos con un sentido político, requerimos una explotación integral desde el punto de vista del desarrollo rural.
Evidentemente, la FAO tendrá gran significación en su accionar respecto a los recursos naturales; sin embargo siento que es una de las agencias de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas establecidas con tal fin. Por lo tanto el gran reto de la FAO no es preocuparse, en mi opinión, en gran medida del medio ambiente, como pudiera ser la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente. La razón de ser de la FAO es la producción alimentaria; la razón de ser de la FAO es preocuparse del sentido social y económico de la agricultura, y todos aquellos países que por vocación son agrícolas, saben que la preservación del medio ambiente es inherente a la producción agrícola, ni podemos ni debemos separarla del propio alcance de su sentido y en su dimensión real.
En el aspecto comercial, estamos enfrentados a una profunda negociación a nivel internacional: La Ronda Uruguay del GATT, El señor Director General de la FAO dejó perfectamente establecida la interacción que se pretende tener con la Organización del GATT.
Mi país apoya indudablemente una fuerte interrelación entre la FAO y el GATT. En el GATT los países en desarrollo, importadoras netos de alimentos, de los cuales México es imo de ellos, pugnará por tener un mayor acceso a los mercados, lograr una mayor seguridad alimentaria y tener un equilibrio en cuanto a las consecuencias que se deriven de una eventual reforma del comercio internacional agropecuario.
La FAO puede ser la instancia en la cual se puedan discutir aspectos centrales que en este momento están atorando las negociaciones en el GATT. La FAO puede indudablemente contribuir a dar mayor claridad sobre los aspectos sanitarios, su consideración sobre barreras arancelarias o no arancelarias y un punto esencial e importante en las negociaciones comerciales y la preservación de ciertos componentes nacionales en el comercio internacional agropecuario.
Finalmente, señor Presidente, el tema de la seguridad alimentaria. Mi país se ha puesto como objetivo lograr la autodeterminación alimentaria; es decir, saber en qué áreas, saber en qué productos podremos ser autosuficientes para nuestras poblaciones, y en qué productos podremos tener ventajas comparativas, tanto en la compra como en la venta de los mismos. Para lograr la autodeterminación que origina una seguridad alimentaria, estamos dependiendo fundamentalmente de tres grandes vertientes: la tecnología, la cooperación internacional en la asistencia técnica y el financiamiento.
Expresamos enfáticamente, señor Presidente, que uno de los temas sobre los cuales nuestra Organización, la FAO, debe trabajar intensamente con los países en desarrollo, es el tema de la tecnología.
La tecnología podrá, sin duda alguna, ayudar a modernizar a aquellas agriculturas que, en mi país, en algunas áreas aún dependen fuertemente del temporal; es decir de la lluvia. La tecnología nos permitirá ir resolviendo de forma paulatina los problemas de salinidad, de desertificación y los problemas de variabilidad genética.
Por lo tanto, mi país se pronuncia por una adecuada conservación de los recursos fitogenéticos. Tenemos alta prioridad en este aspecto y ponemos al servicio de la FAO toda nuestra potencia y toda nuestra capacidad de diálogo para consolidar el enorme factor que representan los recursos fitogenéticos para la agricultura mundial.
Decimos, asimismo, que la biotecnología es la rama e la ciencia que nos permitirá salir poco a poco del problema del subdesarrollo en el sector agrícola, íntimamente relacionada con una adecuada explotación de nuestros recursos naturales.
Señor Presidente, estos son en opinión de la delegación de México, los temas centrales a los cuales la FAO, nuestra Organización, tendrá que avocarse. Reiteramos en esta ocasión el apoyo de mi país a la FAO y establecemos que es indispensable que nuestra Organización evolucione como está evolucionando con gran rapidez el mundo, tanto en su dimensión económica, como en su dimensión política y productiva. México, como siempre estará apoyando a la FAO y estará apoyando a aquellos países que como nosotros confrontan serios problemas de tipo financiero comercial, productivo y, definitivamente, promoviendo una concertación y un diálogo con aquellos países que han logrado resolver sus problemas, a los cuales invitamos a tener una mayor cooperación en todos los órdenes.
Paulo Estivallet DE MESQUTTA (Brazil): First of all, I would like to thank the Secretariat for its comprehensive and infornative review of the State of Food and Agriculture in the world.
As we can see, the state of world agriculture refects the state of the world economy. High interest rates and depressed per capita incomes in the Third World have reduced the prices of agricultural commodities. Domestic subsidies, export subsidies, denial of market access and sanitary and phytosanitary barriers in the developed countries have distorted trade and production patterns.
The reform of world agricultural markets is long overdue. The buffering of some of the major national markets from international market forces has distorted prices and resource allocation. The reduction of price fluctuations within countries has been achieved at a very high cost, in terms of deeper instability in international commodity markets, ever-growing budgetary-outlays and, for the developing countries, a reduction of exports, growth and development. It is our firm belief that the liberalization of agricultural markets will be of benefit to developed and developing countries alike.
However, it is clear that in the implementation of reform commitments towards a more market-responsive agriculture, developing countries must have the necessary flexibility to carry on their agricultural and rural development programmes. The incoherence and the disorder in international markets can be traced back to the policies of a few, well-known key countries. There is no point in unduly tying the hands of the developing countries, which have little enough room for manoeuvre as it is, to assist their agricultural sectors.
It is, therefore, indispensable that the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries be an integral part of the fair and more market-oriented agricultural trading system which, hopefully, will result from the Uruguay Round.
The debt problem remains the most serious single factor impeding the resumption of growth in the developing countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Here I have to disagree with the distinguished delegate from Canada who objected earlier today to the warning contained in paragraph 5 of document C 89/2. unfortunately, all measures taken at the international level to this day have been 'too little, too late', and the failure of adjustment programmes to compensate for the drain of several percentage points of gross domestic product every year is evident. It has been called 'adjustment fatigue', but this euphemism gives only a very pale idea of the dire situation faced by the highly-indebted developing countries.
I now turn to the issue of sustainable development. Under this agenda item we are dealing with a natter of great importance and growing sensitivity. The Secretariat has done a very good job in trying to sum up the main aspects of the concept of sustainable development, a concept which has a space and a time dimension that are essential to the process of economic development. It is an issue that affects both developed and developing countries alike, even though perceptions may vary with the level of accumulated wealth, which is frequently associated with the level of accumulated damage to the environment.
In connection with this, it is important to stress that there is no alternative to sustainable development. To start with, there is no alternative to development. Stagnation is not sustainable and the Conference documents show a striking parallel between the deterioration of economic and social conditions in the developing countries during the last decade and the degradation of the environment. Paragraph 16 of document C 89/2-Sup.2, for instance, stresses the fear that environmental damage in the indebted nations nay be accelerated by economic structural adjustment programmes. The idea of imposing conditionalities cm the flow of financial resources subject to narrow perceptions of natural resources management is therefore based upon false premises, and must be firmly rejected.
To give but one example of the sensible approach to this matter, much deforestation in the tropical regions could be avoided if the price of timber were sufficient to cover the cost of replacement of felled trees.
The Government of Brazil has adopted a constructive attitude with regard to environmental issues. Brazil has stated on different occasions, and in several international fora, that it is committed to
environmentally-sustainable development, and that it is willing to accept international cooperation within certain parameters, such as respect for the sovereignty and the development objectives of the country. Internally, a number of initiatives have been taken. The most important of them have been mentioned in the speech delivered to the Plenary by the head of the Brazilian delegation, so I will not repeat them here.
Finally, Mr Chairman, although the Secretariat is to be commended for the documents, we wish they had included, in the list of definitions of sustainable developnent contained in document C 89/2-Sup.2, the declaration approved by consensus by the Governing Council of the united Nations Development Programme. The declaration builds upon the ideas of the Brundtland Commission and of the Environmental Perspective of the Year 2000 and Beyond", and clearly establishes that the concept of sustainable development does not impinge in any way upon the concept of national sovereignty, and cannot be used to justify the imposition of new conditionalities in development finance.
Accordingly, Mr Chairnan, we could do without the reference in paragraph 169 of document C 89/2-Sup.2 to a vague notion of international standards of behaviour, which seems to be focused on issues which are far from being the main sources of environmental damage in the world.
E. DEHRAUX (Belgique): Merci M. le Président; je vous présente mes félicitations les plus sincères pour votre élection, et je souhaite par la même occasion remercier les délégués qui ont bien voulu honorer mon pays et moi-même par une vice-présidence.
Il est bien évident que notre souci premier, pour ce qui concerne ce point de l'ordre du jour, est d'évaluer la situation en matière d'alimentation et d'agriculture, plus concrètement la sécurité alimentaire. A cet égard, je ne réitérerai pas ce que mon Ministre a dit sur le sujet mais je souhaite néanmoins que cela soit pris en compte au sein de cette Commission I.
Je crois que le Secrétariat a fait un bon travail dans son évaluation de la situation; toutefois je lui ferai la critique que j'avais déjà soulevée lors de la précédente Conférence, car il n'a pas pris en compte l'important problème de ce qu'on appelle les produits (dits de substitution. Nous avions demandé que cela soit pris en compte et inclus systématiquement; or nous constatons avec regret que l'on n'y fait à peine allusion; cependant, nous constatons que ceci va dans le droit fil des préoccupations nouvelles excellemment décrites par le Directeur général Monsieur Saouma, notamment pour ce qui concerne les biotechnologies. Nous pensons en outre que le développement de ces produits dits nouveaux va jouer un rôle extrêmement important à l'avenir et dont, au niveau de l'appréciation, il faudra tenir compte dans le problème général de l'alimentation.
Comme on le dit souvent, tout est dans tout, et nous avons constaté que la négociation de l'Uruguay Round est souvent évoquée. Certains mettent en doute l'engagement formel pris par d'aucuns lors de l'Accord d'avril de Genève ratifié par les Ministres.
Je voudrais dire à ce stade qu'en ce qui concerne le gel et le problème du court terme, à cet égard la Communauté Economique Européenne a indiqué dans sa notification au GATT sur le sujet que depuis 1986 le soutien au secteur végétal, au sein de la Communauté, avait diminué de l'ordre de 10%, et que cette diminution se chiffre à 15% pour l'ensemble du secteur animal. Il n'est donc pas approprié de dire que l'engagement d'avril est pris à la légère.
Pour ce qui est de la description réalisée dans les paragraphes 286 et suivant, ils reproduisent avec une grande fidélité la situation de la Commnunauté Economique Européenne, hormis toutefois ce qui est dit dans le paragraphe 286 où nous constatons que l'on retrouve les clichés connus mais dépassés. Il faut noter en particulier à cet égard que des études menées dans une autre enceinte indiquent que, ramené par agriculteur, le soutien de l'agriculture au sein de la Communauté se situe dans la petite moyenne des pays du groupe B. Il me semble dès lors utile de tenir compte de cet état de chose dans la présente description.
Incidemment, et pour conclure, je constate que le paragraphe relatif aux Etats-Unis ne couvre pas certains produits, et notamment un secteur important pour les pays en voie de développement, à savoir celui du sucre.
Enfin, il va de soi que la FAO a un rôle essentiel à jouer dans la coopération internationale agricole. Elle doit cependant se concentrer dans les sujets pour lesquels elle a un avantage comparatif.
Hartmit STALB (Germany, Federal Republic of) (original language German):
Mr Chairman I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you, on behalf of ray delegation, our congratulations on your election. We are convinced that under your direction the Committee will work very well. We also congratulate the Vice-Presidents on their election.
The report on the State of Food and Agriculture is, as in the past, analytical, topical and contains a large number of important statements. The report presents a comprehensive regionally-differentiated overview of the development of the world economy, and in particular the prospects for agriculture and foodstuffs. It includes, of course, also forestry and fishing; this for 1987 and 1988 and then it extends its view to 1989, and the emphasis is on what has been occurring in the Third World. I would like to express my support for the report and the analysis contained therein.
The German delegation regrets that world cereals production in 1987/88 has fallen and that world grain stocks have decreased considerably. As we have just heard, the world grain harvest for 1989 will not suffice to meet world demand. This means not merely that there will be a further depletion of grain stocks, but it also means that the forthcoming harvest will be of extraordinary importance. We can only hope that agricultural production in the coming years will in fact be able to match expectations, and that 15 years after the World Food Conference we will not find ourselves once again facing a world food crisis.
The fact that markets for tropical products, such as for example, cocoa, tea, cotton and coffee, renain under persistent and strong pressure is also disturbing. Unfortunately the export earnings have fallen particularly strongly in those parts of the world where the debt problem is especially acute, and where export earnings are vitally needed to assure the economic recovery of those regions, i.e. Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
My delegation at this point would like to repeat that as a main consumer country for tropical products, we have a very clear interest in stabilizing markets and want to ensure that the commodity agreements return to being effective. This goal is not going to be achieved if certain products continue to be produced regardless of market situations and if the necessary diversification is not undertaken in the developing countries.
The third problem that I would like to touch upon relates to the destruction of the environment and in particular the loss of tropical forests and spreading desertification. In this respect, I would like to state that my country is prepared to make a significant financial contribution to solving these problems.
I would like in conclusion to take up a few details of the report. The report very clearly points to the increasing heterogeneity of the Third World as a result of very different levels of regional development, both in terms of the economy as a whole and the food and agricultural situation in particular.
We believe that therefore statistical overviews of developing countries are going to become increasingly uncertain and there is a danger that the rapid development in the Far East, based on the statistical weight of this region, is going to imply that there are satisfactory results for the developing countries as a whole. This will perhaps conceal some of the more worrying developments in Latin America and Africa.
The report also points to the insufficient development of per capita production of basic foodstuffs in the developing countries and the particularly marked fall in Africa. But in these regional comparisons too little reference is made to the impact of population growth.
To conclude, I would like to ask the Secretariat to clarify some figures relating to world agricultural trade. These are the figures on Table 8 on page 22 of the Supplement document.
We have noted that the changes in current prices from 1980 through to 1988, that is to say the penultimate column of the table, are in fact not compatible. If we take the values for 1988, and if we carpare those to the figures for 1980 contained in earlier reports of the FAO, then we see that the discrepancies are very considerable. I will give the Secretariat an example of the discrepancies to which I am referring.
Roberto PONCE (Ecuador): Las amplias y detalladas intervenciones de otros delegados, como las de los distinguidos representantes de Colombia y Argentina, relevan a mi delegación de referirse puntualmente a los documentos C 89/2 y su Suplemento 1, aunque no evitan cumplir con el deber de elogiar a la Secretaría por la calidad y profundidad de su trabajo.
Hemos visto que las reacciones a estos documentos han sido diversas. Según algunos países, la evaluación de la Secretaría sobre el estado de la agricultura y la alimentación en el mundo es realista y por lo tanto refleja el sembrío panorama que encuentran frente a sí los países en desarrollo. Según otros países, el análisis es demasiado pesimista y no recoge algunos factores mostrados en cifras que haría supuestamente prever una mejoría sustancial de la agricultura y la alimentación en el mundo.
Sin embargo, más allá de la divergencia provocada por las cifras y por las opiniones de los técnicos, sólo hay una realidad indiscutible que se muestra con dramatismo, y no es otra que el hambre, la desnutrición y el sufrimiento de centenares de millones de hombres, mujeres y sobre todo niños, en los países en desarrollo.
Cada día que pasa se agranda más la brecha que separa a los pocos países cuyas poblaciones viven en la cernida, la abundancia y el lujo, de aquéllos que tienen que hacer verdaderos malabarismos para evitar a duras penas que el hambre y las enfermedades, como en la Edad Media, diezmen sus poblaciones.
Y estos problemas de los países en desarrollo tienen relación directa, directísima diría yo, con los problems de la agricultura y la alimentación que ahora nos ocupan también a la comunidad internacional. Es verdadera aquella máxima que dice: "no esperes que otros hagan lo que debes hacer tú mismo". Y por ello, muchos países en desarrollo como el mío, como Ecuador, hacen esfuerzos gigantescos para luchar con recursos propios contra los problemas que les agobian.
Pero nadie desconoce que estos problems tienen orígenes ajenos y lejanos a los propios países en desarrollo; orígenes radicados en las políticas proteccionistas, los subsidios, los obstáculos al comercio y otros muy bien descritos en el documento preparado por la Secretaría.
Pero lamentablemente estos esfuerzos que tienen un altísimo costo social chocan con actitudes de incomprensión e intransigencia de algunos países del mundo industrializado. Cuanto más necesario es un comercio dinámico, tanto menos propicios son los precios de los productos básicos de nuestras exportaciones y más tropiezos encuentra la colocación de las manufacturas de nuestros países. Cuando existe toda una infinita gaita de medidas proteccionistas arancelarias y no arancelarias, gravámenes, cuotas y otras prácticas restrictivas que imponen los países industrializados para proteger las actividades primarias e industriales en las cuales los países en desarrollo han alcanzado una cierta competitividad, todo esto anula estos esfuerzos de países como Ecuador para salir de este estado. A esta situación crítica se suma con brillo propio el problema de la deuda externa. Un problema de índole diferente a los de la agricultura y de la alimentación pero que tiene también una vinculación directa. Este no es sólo un problema financiero sino político. No es un problema aislado sino que más bien es un problema presente en todos los aspectos de la relación Norte-Sur. No es un problema sólo de quién debe, sino también de quien para liberar excedentes de liquidez/ en algún momento prestó a manos llenas. Y por fin, deber no es un problema que ocupe el pensamiento de los gobiernos de los países en desarrollo únicamente frente a los bancos acreedores, sino principalmente frente a sus propios pueblos con quienes tienen una deuda social que pagar.
Por ello, mi delegación piensa que ésta es una oportunidad propicia para que algunos países se replanteen sus políticas, no solamente frente a los países en desarrollo sino también frente a organismos como la FAO, que al memento es el único organismo al cual los países en desarrollo podemos acudir para buscar la ayuda que en otras fuentes nos es negada para la resolución de nuestros problemas.
CHAIRMAN: Before I call on the next speaker, let me announce that agreement has been reached on the constitution of the Drafting Committee. The members are: Argentina, Canada, Egypt, Federal Republic of Germany, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Japan, Liberia, New Zealand, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Tunisia. The Drafting Committee will meet tomorrow night, and the place and hour will be conveyed to the members at our morning meeting. I understand also that agreement has been reached on the Chairmanship of the Drafting Committee but that, of course, will be the final decision of the Committee itself.
D.A. BUCKLE (United Kingdom): Ihe Uhited Kingdom's contents and views on this valuable report have largely been embraced in the declaration already made by the European Commission. I shall therefore limit my comments to a few particular points.
Some delegations have already commented on the balance of the report regarding global food security. The UK believes that the tone and language of paragraphs 28 to 31 of Supplement 1 are unnecessarily pessimistic. Parallels are drawn between current conditions and the "world food crisis" of the early 1970s. We query whether the conditions at that time really amounted to a crisis. Placing the episode in historical context, we can see that the "crisis" represented only a temporary reversal of long-established trends towards cheaper food in real terms. Now, as then, world agriculture possesses substantial reserves of excess capacity in the form of uncultivated arable land, especially in the USA. Experience of the 1970s shows that this land can be brought back into production reasonably quickly. We believe that undue emphasis is being placed on the ratio of world carry-over stocks to consumption.
Paragraph 29 is correct to note the sharp run-down in cereal stocks, but it should also be noted that this was from an abnormally high level. The stock levels reached in 1986/87 represented an unprecedented and probably unintended peak concentrated disproportionately in official USA stockpiles. The current stocks position looks misleadingly tight when compared with these inflated stock levels. Supply problems in 1987 and 1988 were primarily due to climatic conditions, especially drought in the US corn belt. In 1989 growing conditions in North America have returned to normal and output is bouncing back. It should also be noted that the 1988 drought occurred against a policy backdrop of set-aside amounting to 27.5 percent of the US base acreage. This ves reduced to 10 percent in 1989 and 5 percent in 1990 in response to the tightening of market conditions. The food security situation should therefore be viewed in this context.
The representative of the European Commission has already spoken on the reference in the report to reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy. These reforms have indeed been far reaching. The UK will continue to advocate more market-orientated agricultural policies and greater liberalization world-wide. We believe the benefits will be substantial and widespread.
Subject to the contents I have made on cereal stocks, the paper provides a clear and useful picture of the current stote of world agriculture. It contains some encouraging signs as far as developing countries are concerned. The way in which the global figures are analysed tends to disguise the fact that, with a limited number of exceptions, more developing countries have been able to record modest gains in their levels of agricultural production in the immediate past in comparison with previous years. This achievement in the face of difficult economic problems faced by many of them is encouraging and, although aided by generally improved global weather conditions during this period, hopefully also reflects the growing effect of the internal agricultural policy reforms which are increasingly being adopted.
The vital importance of establishing the necessary domestic policy framework to provide adequate incentives to encourage and enable farmers to increase their production cannot be too highly stressed. This is an area in which we feel FAO has a particularly valuable role to play by providing appropriate advice to developing countries on their agricultural sectoral policies, and by assisting them in adapting to present economic constraints, as well as to the supply and demand trends in world markerts.
The United Kingdom commends the FAO Emergency Centre for Locust Operation role in coordinating multi-donor control campaigns against locusts and grasshoppers and their efforts with UNDP to identify and coordinate research priorities.
We welcome FAO's initiatives in pesticide testing and the pilot schemes to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of locust control.
Further thoughts on agriculture, including forestry and fisheries, will be covered in our contribution on agenda item 7, Long Term Strategy for the Food and Agriculture Sector.
Wayne DENNEÏ (United States of America): The Secretariat is to be congratulated for producing an excellent document once again on this item. Its assessments largely agree with our own. We want to agree with what Canada said earlier regarding our reaction to paragraph 5 on the characterization of debt and also with Swsden and others that characterized global cereal stocks in a rather pessimistic way. Nevertheless, we believe that Dr Dutia's introductory remarks were very well-balanced.
We share the Secretariat's concern in pointing out the uncertainties for world food security caused by the low level of world stocks of cereals, especially of wheat. The total US cereal harvest this fall, at the beginning of 1989/90, is now forecast to increase 37 percent above last year and slightly exceed the large 1987/88 harvest. We expect US wheat production in 1989/90 to be nearly 13 percent larger, although about 3 percent less than in 1987/88. US stocks of cereals are forecast to fall further by the end of 1989/90, as well as the aggregate of stocks held by other countries.
Therefore, as 1990 unfolds, all of us will be closely watching the prospects for harvests around the world as an indicator of prospects for rebuilding those stocks in 1990/91. The Secretariat has reported US actions in May that provide greater incentives for increased wheat production in 1990. Since then, the US Government has further relaxed the requirements of its wheat programme to allow more flexibility for farms to increase output.
We experienced some difficulty in evaluating the numbers used by the Secretariat to assess cereal stocks. Although we welcomed the inclusion of a new table which provides more disaggregated national data on carry-over stocks, we felt hampered by the absence of a sumnary table for total cereals and major cereal categories that would provide data on world production, use and stocks, as used to calculate the stocks-to-utilization ratios. Utilization tables would be a valuable addition to future analyses.
Considering the prominence given to the relationship between stocks and consumption in our discussions of world food security, we believe it is important to clarify what numbers are being used and under what assumptions. For similar reasons, I would like to suggest that the Secretariat provide an analysis, perhaps at an upcoming meeting of the Committee on World Food Security, of the continued suitability of its estimate of minimum safe cereal stock requiraments.
Changes in the volume of grain handled, the proportion of feed grains consumed and traded, the efficiency of the distribution system, and changes in barriers to trade are continually changing and nay have some bearing on desirable stock levels.
Mr Chairman, I would characterize the US food aid scenario in a manner that is slightly different from that suggested in the text. The overall size of the FY 1990 US food aid programme has not been finally determined. The President has proposed a Public Law PL 480 programme level of about 1.5 billion dollars. Based on current estimates, this should result in close to the same volume of US cereals food aid under PL 480 as was provided in FY 1989. The final level of the programme in value will depend on Congressional budget action and commodity prices during FY 1990. An additional uncertainty concerns the application of the well-known Gramm-Rudman-Hollings provisions to PL 480 Programme that could subject it, like most other Federal programmes, to a 5 percent across-the-board budget cut during the course of this fiscal year.
The volume of government-owned commodities available for overseas donation under our Section 416 Programme is not affected by these budget actions and availabilities will be higher in FY 1990. The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that up to two million additional tons of corn and grain will be made available for this purpose. This compares with one million tons donated to recipients in FY 1989. The actual level of donations in FY 1990 will depend in part upon the volume of requests received.
Although our wheat stocks are unusually low, the United States will continue to exceed its obligations under the Food Aid Convention. To meet our commitments under the PL 480 programme, an additional two million tons are authorised to be drawn from the US Food Security Wheat Reserve in FY 1990. In FY 1989, 1.5 million tons from the Reserve were used.
Overall, we estimate that US cereals food aid in FY 1990 will probably equal or surpass the approximately six million tons programmed in FY 1989.
Mr Chainnan, we look forward to the Secretariat's publication of its new manual, Human Energy Requirements, which is intended to explain a method and provide impoortant data useful in calculating food energy requirements for households, other groups of people and national populations. Its release provides an occasion to commend the Secretariat for its work to improve the food-balance methodology and to speed up their production. My Government has made frequent and important use of this data in connection with the operation of our food aid programme. The national "food balances" calculated using this method provide an inadequate picture of nutritional conditions when used in isolation because they estimate only the average availability and composition of food supplies. However, they are invaluable tools when combined with other information, especially as a starting point for where comprehensive information is not available. We hope the new manual will contribute to more effective nutritional policies by helping governments obtain a more disaggregated picture of the nutritional status of the groups comprising the population. The Secretariat may wish to assess further needs for reviewing its methodology because of GATT Uruguay Round Developments.
Mr Chairman, the United States shares the concerns expressed by several countries in Plenary over the increased use of drift net fishing, particularly as it affects the South Pacific. A moratorium on the use of drift-nets in the South Pacific seems fully justified while the matter is being further evaluated. We hope that FAO will be prepared to respond in accordance with the final disposition of resolutions now being reviewed in the UN. A reflection of this request in our final report would be welcomed.
Finally, we have some very brief and preliminary comments on the document on Sustainable Development. First, it probably deserves separate treatment since it is so important, and it is apparent to us that many delegations have not had an opportunity to insert comments on it in their text. We think it is a very useful and comprehensive document that touches on a multitude of issues that relate to resource sustainment. It recognises many dimensions of the gender issue; suggests that appropriate actions should be targeted at the household level; and discusses practices which are unsustainable. However, the reference to setting international standards of behaviour as noted in para. 169, is unclear.
Antonio RAYAS F. (chile): La delegación de Chile desea agradecer la documentación distribuida por la Secretaria de FAO, que entrega abundante información de interés sobre el acontecer último de la agricultura, tanto en el mundo en su conjunto como a nivel regional, proporcionando un breve análisis sobre el marco económico en que ésta se desenvuelve y examinando los problemas que le aquejan, asi como las medidas adoptadas para superarlos.
Tal como lo manifiesta la documentación, los países en desarrollo han adoptado diferentes medidas para afrontar la situación de crisis que impera, tanto a nivel interno como fuera de sus fronteras.
Sin lugar a dudas, dentro de este contexto, es rescatable la experiencia alcanzada por el sector agrícola chileno, como alternativa cierta de desarrollo, que nos ha permitido afrontar en mejores condiciones la crisis internacional.
Además de lo anterior, este tena guarda estrecha relación con la necesidad de emprender medidas rectificadoras, especialmente de parte de los países desarrollados, cuyas políticas internas repercuten fuertemente en la inestabilidad de los mercados internacionales y en las relaciones comerciales de productos agrícolas.
Cabría hacer presente nuestra posición y activa participación que se ha tenido dentro del grupo Cairns y dentro del GATT, con el objeto de impulsar y apoyar toda acción o proposición que tienda a eliminar las graves distorsiones del comercio internacional; lo que ya hemos destacado en el día de ayer y que además lo han señalado numerosas delegaciones que nos han precedido en el uso de la palabra.
Antti NIKKQLA (Finland): Thank you, Mr Chairman. Also my delegation would like to thank the FAO Secretariat for the excellent documents before us. They give a clear picture of developments in world agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
The world agriculture has had, and still has, two faces: - surpluses in the rich industrialised countries on one hand, and the absolute need to speed up agricultural production in most countries of the developing world, on the other.
Of course we should not pay too much attention to the yearly variations of food production. However, the FAO document Sup. 1 before us raises in its paragraphs 51-55 some very alarming questions concerning the recent developments in the poor countries' agriculture in a long-term context. The document shows the very slow progress or outright decline in per caput staple food production in the developing regions during the last three decades. Is the Green Revolution showing its limits? Can the long-term decline in per caput food production be arrested in Africa? Can some Asian countries with huge populations resume the fast pace of per caput production growth in past years?
Mr Chairman, we should also remember that agriculture in most developing countries is also the ultimate source of economic growth. It is impossible to imagine general economic and social developments without improvements in agricultural technology and productivity.
Concerning official development assistance, Finland has reached the united Nations' target of 0.7% of GNP. Agriculture and forestry play a very important role in our bilateral assistance and their share will undoubtedly still increase in the future. Our food aid has been rapidly increasing during the last years and practically all of it is multilateral, going through the World Food Programme.
The problems of surpluses and the problems of the world agricultural market are being dealt with in the Uruguay Round in Geneva. My country is trying to play a constructive role in the negotiations. At the same time, we must admit that some of the questions under negotiation are politically sensitive. For example, government in a modern democracy must take into account also the income level of the farming population. However, my government has taken some very strict measures in order to decrease agricultural production and to decrease exports and export support. This policy will continue also in the future.
Hassan Abdov MUNYE (Somalia): Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, I congratulate you as Chairman of the Commission. We know that agricultural production mainly depends on several factors. Here may I mention document C 89/2. There is a decline in food production reported in 1987-88 in many countries where we believe some of these countries have better technology. Then what about the very poor countries? It will be a disaster really for many developing countries where their resources depend mainly on agriculture and livestock. Most agriculture in developing countries depends on rains and rivers, some of which are temporary ones.
I should like to give you some brief infornation about Somalia. Somalia's resources depend on agriculture and livestock. Sustainable land for agriculture is about 8 million hectares, but only 10 percent of these are cultivated because of several factors such as shortage of water, lack of inputs, lack of funds and poor technology.
In the document mention has been made of clinatic change. Climtic change plays a great role. In Somalia there is no stable climate. We have four growing seasons, two rainy seasons, one heavy rainy season and one light, and one is dry, but unfortunately in most cases it happens that shortage of rain is common, which leads to poor crop production. Then sometimes heavy rains cause damage to crops because of flooding, and there may also be continuous use of the same crop for several years on the same area. Soil erosion in the northern part of Somalia means that most of the land is eroded. Therefore soil conservation becanes essential. For this reason a project was established to overcome the problem.
In many developing countries pricing policy affects agricultural production. For example, in Somalia for several years the Government has fixed prices for grain commodities such as maize and sorghum and this has discouraged farmers from continuing to grow This has caused the immigration of rural people to big cities and out of the country, but recently because of pricing liberalization the farmers have begun to expand their agricultural plans, and agricultural production has increased.
Marketing also plays a great role. Lack of marketing study has caused heavy losses to poor farmers. Farmers are not able to understand when they can sell their products at a good price. Sometimes it happens that when a certain product, for example the potato, becomes short in the market most of the farmers grow that crop. Then at the end of harvest time the market is saturated with the crop, which means selling the products at a lower price.
Lack of reasonable technology in the developing countries leads to difficulties in following the technology used in developed countries. Of course, we do not need sophisticated technology but the use of a reasonable one which would be the easiest way of reducing the hunger of our people.
Developing countries require technology to strengthen the resources available in those countries. Extension and research should be given priority. Provision of inputs at the right time is very important. The use of proper pesticides is also very important.
We are grateful to FAO for the food emergency aid which it provides to developing countries. Recently FAO has provided food assistance to the needy people in two of the min districts of Somalia affected by river flooding.
Finally, I appreciate that FAO makes great efforts to give priority to assisting developing countries to improve their living conditions, particularly in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and other industries. FAO should also study how the developing countries will be able to utilize suitable uncultivated lands with the minimum resources available. FAO can achieve this only when there is goodwill from the developed and richest countries to contribute to its budget. FAO should also collaborate with the United Nations and other international organizations already practising their activities in developing countries and aiming to resolve existing problems.
Assefa YIL&EA (Ethiopia): Mr Chairman, since this is the first time that the Ethiopian delegation has requested the floor I should like to use this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this Commission and to wish you success in this important task.
Through you, Mr Chairran, my delegation would also like to thank Mr. Dutia for his introduction, and the FAO Secretariat for the comprehensive document that we have before us.
The delegation of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has examined the document on the state of food and agriculture and has no intention of intervening on this subject because its contents are in line with its own views and analysis, and we have very little or nothing to add.
As a result of the discussion that prevailed here, however, I should like to make some brief observations concerning the state of food and agriculture in Ethiopia, while voicing our appeal for the cooperation of the international community in solving issues raised in the document before us.
The state of food and agriculture in Ethiopia in 1989 is characterized by a positive growth in most parts of the country/ while the natural calamity of drought has caused crop failures in the two northern regions and in some pocket areas in other parts of the country.
Concerted efforts were made to increase food production and attain self-sufficiency by the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia through a number of measures, including agrarian reform, establishment of rural institutions, formulation of policy framework and promotion of increased support for farm services. Hence food production trends in most parts of the country are positive, as indicated in document C 89/2-Sup.1. However, there was a severe drought in the northern part of the country which caused crop failures and is hence a cause for concern.
Even though weather conditions were favourable and overall conditions for agriculture have improved in most parts of the country, production falls short of the total requirement because the increases in food production, which are still at subsistence level, could not match the shortages that were caused by the severe drought in the northern parts of the country.
According to the latest report of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, the total number of people to be affected by this food shortage in 1989 and 1990 is estimated at about 1.8 million. They require about 330 000 tonnes of cereal and 40 000 tonnes of supplementary food, in addition to those additional requirements which are expected to be fulfilled from domestic resources, which at present seem to be dwindling due to commodity prices in the international market. Coffee, which is the most important commodity for Ethiopia, is affected by the present negative trend of the market, thus reducing the purchasing capacity and public expenditure.
This is an initial assessment of the situation. A full assessment of the situation can only be determined after the visit of the Crop Assessment Mission which is scheduled to be carried out soon.
Finally, with the cooperation of the international community we have no doubt that the shortage could be tackled effectively.
Through you, Mr. Chairman, I should like to use this opportunity to thank all member countries for their generous assistance in the past. We hope that this will continue until food shortages are overcome through self-sufficiency efforts, which is a long process.
Haris ZANNETIS (Cyprus): Ihe documents submitted by the Secretariat and Mr Dutia's introduction to this item were informative. Many delegates have already referred in detail to the major factors characterizing the present state of food and agriculture in the world. I will not repeat them, but I should like to express the wish of my delegation that all these factors will be reflected in the report of this Conference.
Issues like the debt crisis and the consequent flow of resources from developing to developed countries, the continuing drop in international stocks of cereals and the uncertain food security, the distortions in international trade and the resulting difficulties of ten developing countries in exporting their products, should be emphasized as factors that need to be corrected if food security is expected to improve.
The need to accelerate food production, especially in the developing countries, should be pursued in a sustainable manner so that the environmental basis which supports life on this planet will not be destroyed.
As we review the State of Food and Agriculture every two years, we come to the conclusion that the less-privileged fellow human beings do not get any better, and are still suffering from hunger and malnutrition. It is essential that efforts to help them should be intensified.
It is for this reason that my delegation supports the need for more aid to be given to the developing countries and to the multilateral agencies, especially FAO, which help developing countries improve their agricultural performance and overcome their problems.
With reference to sustainable development, we find the analysis presented in document C 89/2-Sup. 2 to be comprehensive. All aspects associated with sustainable development are covered. We are in agreement with the proposed strategy for sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries development.
It is widely known that the proper management and conservation of natural resources has always been a well respected component in all FAO activities and/or assistance concerned with agricultural development offered to the needy countries, either through the Regular or the Field Programmes. Surely, the long experience gained in this field so far, places FAO in a clear comparative advantage with regard to sustainable development. In view of the acute problems presently facing many countries, such as soil degradation, desertification, deforestation or over-fishing, the relevant programmes in FAO's activities should place more emphasis on advising and assisting affected countries to establish or strengthen their own mechanism for proper use and conservation of natural resources, as well as for properly applying the right policy and technology.
Mme. Céline RAHARIVELO (Madagascar): Je vous remercie de m'avoir donné la parole, M. le Président, et j'en profite au nom de ma délégation pour vous féliciter pour votre élection à la présidence de cette Commission; de même, nous félicitons le Secrétariat pour la qualité des documents qui nous sont fournis.
Ce point nous semble capital car il permet aux Etats Membres de faire le point sur les actions commnunes et individuelles, sur les opérations multilatérales et bilatérales, en vue de vaincre la faim et la malnutrition. Ainsi, l'on peut apprécier et mesurer le niveau de l'objectif que l'on s'est fixé.
En effet, si l'on se réfère au paragraphe 44 du document C 89/2, la production céréalière mondiale, en 1988, a baissé de 3,3% par rapport à 1987, celle de 1987 étant déjà très en dessous du minimum établi pour la sécurité alimentaire mondiale. En outre, au paragraphe 48 il est dit que la sécurité alimentaire se détériorera probablement encore cette année. Si l'on se réfère donc à ces deux paragraphes sus-cités nous aurions tendance à reconnaître l'échec de notre entreprise. En réalité, les conditions atmosphériques très défavorables sont à l'origine de cette mauvaise performance, aussi ne peut-on rendre quiconque responsable de ces résultats peu satisfaisants.
En revanche, nous serions en droit de reprocher à certains pays développés leur décision peu opportune de réduire le volume de l'aide alimentaire en ces périodes si difficiles.
Il est dit au paragraphe 110 que l'aide céréalière diminuera de 3,3 millions de tonnes en 1988-89; ceci aura pour conséquence une aggravation dangereuse de la sous-alimentation dans les pays à bas revenu et à déficit vivrier ainsi que dans les pays moins avancés.
Du fait de l'augmentation des prix déjà élevés des céréales sur le marché mondial, ces pays ne pourront pas importer leurs besoins minimums et seront obligés de consacrer leurs maigres devises à acquérir des denrées de première nécessité, ce qui par voie de conséquence les privera d'un moyen d'acquérir les intrants indispensables à l'amélioration de la production agricole et alimentaire, à savoir les engrais, semences, pesticides et divers matériels agricoles. L'environnement, qui est déjà loin d'être encourageant, est assembri par les problèmes chroniques de la dette extérieure des pays en voie de développement, la chute de leurs recettes d'exportation et la détérioration des termes de l'échange. Le Sud continue à exporter des capitaux vers le Nord, ce qui épuise les ressources destinées à la croissance économique. C'est dire que la communauté des pays industrialisés devra faire preuve de plus de volonté politique pour l'établissement d'un ordire économique plus équitable et favorable aux pays du tiers monde, pour que la décennie qui se présente ne soit pas une décennie perdue, comme l'est, hélas, celle qui s'achève.
Le Gouvernement malgache a mis en oeuvre des mesures sévères d'ajustement structurel et les groupes vulnérables de la population en ont été très gravement touchés. Différents programmes et actions d'allégement de ces effets pervers de l'ajustement structurel ont été développés et commencent à porter leurs fruits.
La situation alimentaire à Madagascar s'améliore donc progressivement après des années de lutte contre la faim et la sous-alimentation. C'est pourquoi ma délégation voudrait pour cela manifester ici d'abord sa vive reconnaissance à l'endroit des pays et institutions internationales qui nous ont aidés dans l'accomplissement de ces programmes et leur réalisation.
Nous ajouterons que le long de cette route encore longue et pleine d'embûches nous osons compter sur la précieuse collaboration et solidarité de la communauté internationale dans la poursuite de nos actions vers la recherche d'un développaient durable.
Mauricio CUADRA (Nicaragua): El análisis de este tema tan importante despierta de nuevo profunda inquietud entre nosotros. Digo de nuevo, porque como Miembro del Consejo hemos tenido oppritunidad de hablar sobre el tema, y sobre todo escuchar a la mayoría de las delegaciones expresar su gran preocupación por la situación reflejada en los documentos que hoy nos ocupan.
Nuestra delegación desea felicitar a la Secretaría por el gran esfuerzo que ha realizado al presentarnos una información tan detallada y actualizada; y a usted, señor Presidente, por su elección para presidir las labores de esta inportante Comisión.
Decíamos que la Secretaría nos ha presentado documentos muy actualizados. Pues bien, continúa preocupándonos con mayor fuerza aún, la información actualizada del grave estado en que se encuentra la agricultura y la alimentación en el mundo, sobre todo en algunas regiones de Africa y de América Latina y el Caribe. Y preocupa aún más la persistencia de los factores que producen esta crisis, tal como dijera nuestro Ministro al intervenir ante el plenario de esta Conferencia,"son situaciones que aún persisten y que se agravan, y que está en nuestras manos poder corregirlas y revertirías".
El proteccionismo que inpide el acceso de nuestros productos a los mercados de los países desarrollados; la enorme carga de la deuda externa; la injusta distribución internacional de los recursos para el desarrollo; falta de flujos financieros frescos para inversión; el persistente deterioro en los ténninos de intercambio que hace que nuestros productos de exportación se traduzcan cada vez en menos divisas para adquirir lo necesario para la producción y alimentación de nuestros pueblos, teniendo que caer por la falta de recursos, en créditos caros, altas tasas de interés, etc., vienen a conformar esa espiral tan triste que hace que nuestros países sean cada vez más pobres, peor alimentados, más débiles frente a países grandes que son cada vez más fuertes.
En el capítulo referente a América Latina y el Caribe, en los párrafos 218 a 225 del documento C 89/2, se ilustran claramente, con la valentía y certeza que caracteriza a los documentos de FAO, la magnitud de esta crisis para la región de América Latina y el Caribe y para el mundo entero.
Se mencionan las causas estructurales de la economía mundial y los fenómenos naturales que han contribuido y provocado esta desastrosa situación. Sin embargo, tenemos que agregar en el caso particular de Nicaragua, que además de haber tenido en estos diez años tres sequías fuertes y dos huracanes de gran magnitud, nada ha sido tan desastroso para nuestra agricultura y econemía en general, como el efecto catastrófico del bloqueo económico y financiero y la guerra de agresión que sufrimos y continuamos sufriendo por parte de una gran potencia continental. Más de 70 000 muertos, entre ellos 11 260 campesinos, cabezas de familia, han sido asesinados. Más de 17 000 millones de dólares de los Estados Uhidos en pérdidas directas o indirectas a nuestra economía, representando más de 14 años de nuestras exportaciones.
los más elementales derechos de nuestros pueblos han sido violentados de esta forma, el derecho a la vida y el derecho a la alimentación. De esta forma se están queriendo truncar todos los esfuerzos de nuestro Gobierno por garantizar a nuestro pueblo alimentación, vivienda, salud, etc. ¿Cómo vamos a hablar de seguridad alimentaria si no se nos deja vivir en paz y se destruyen los esfuerzos de nuestro pueblo por salir del atraso y el subdesarrollo? Esta situación deplorable ha sido condenada por la comunidad mundial, y aunque aún persiste, estamos seguros que tendrá un final favorable a la justicia.
Es por eso que vemos con preocupación el entorno general en que se ha venido desarrollando la economía de América Latina y el Caribe, y en general del mundo en desarrollo. Hablamos de un decenio perdido en lo que concierne al progreso económico. Es vergonzoso.
En medio de grandes progresos tecnológicos y grandes gastos en armas y viajes al espacio, nos morimos de hambre. En otras ocasiones, hemos señalado la necesidad de que los paises en desarrollo tomemos medidas estructurales conjuntas para acabar con esta situación. El cese del pago de la deuda externa, condicionar este pago a que se tomen medidas de concertación comercial que mejoren los términos de intercambio entre el Norte y el Sur, ya que si no, caeríamos de nuevo en otra situación de endeudamiento; el fin del proteccionismo y un trato preferencial a las exportaciones de los países pobres; la inversión de los flujos financieros y términos concesionales de éstos para proyectos de desarrollo; la adopción y fortalecimiento de medidas de emergencia para socorrer a miles de campesinos y productores agropecuarios que han sido afectados en nuestros países por condiciones naturales adversas o por situaciones de guerras; en fin, éstas son sólo algunas medidas de elemental justicia que deberían adoptarse para empezar a hablar de justicia en las relaciones económicas internacionales y condiciones regulares para ver un panoram menos sombrío.
Por supuesto que nosotros cantamos con que se pondrá fin a las situaciones de agresión militar injustas que aún sufrimos algunos países del continente.
No obstante la existencia de datos tan precisos sobre la gravedad del problema y sus causas, resulta paradójico y preocupa sobremanera a nuestra delegación, que la ayuda alimentaria más bien va a disminuir. En los párrafos 110 a 116 del documento mencionado, se señala con claridad esta situación.
Nos parece que se está jugando con esta realidad o que no hay conciencia de lo que esto significa. Hay hambre ya en vastas regiones del planeta. Es hora de que aquí los países industrializados hagan compromisos más serios con el mundo en desarrollo, y no se trata sólo de la ayuda alimentaria. Mencionamos esto por lo delicado que es terminar también con ella. Hablamos en general de algo más amplio, como lo que ya detallábamos antes. Son medidas estructurales para el desarrollo lo que los pueblos en desarrollo necesitan. Medidas que nos den al menos un indicativo de estar trabajando por lograr la seguridad alimentaria.
Pero lo que vemos es todo lo contrario; reducción de los programas de ayuda alimentaria, dureza en las negociaciones, reducción de presupuesto a programas de ayuda como el de la FAO. En fin, no hay señales alentadoras. Creemos que esta Conferencia debe hacer serios llamamientos en este sentido.
La documentación es muy rica y la temática abarca áreas muy variadas. Algunos temas que se abordan son una pequeña ventana de luz en la solución de algunos de los problemas planteados. Por ejemplo, la Ronda Uruguay, el papel de la FAO, que ya ha sido analizado en esta Comisión. Sin embargo, queremos insistir en nuestro apoyo al papel que la FAO juega y debe continuar jugando en estas negociaciones, y en general el beneficio que obtenemos de una estrecha relación FAO/GATT.
Victor HJORT (Denmark): Let me first express my delegation's appreciation for the quality of the documents on the State of Food and Acpriculture in 1989. We note with satisfaction some positive signs in the world economy and agricultural situation. The improvement of prices in commodities is one of these positive signs. But we realize, of course, that the picture is not homogeneous. For some important commodities prices are not favourable, and for many importing countries, importing developing countries, rising prices are a problem. We share the concerns expressed by the Secretariat on the negative effects of prices on food aid. My delegation's views on food aid will be further treated in the agenda item on the World Food Programme.
Agricultural production has undergone different trends among which we note the negative effects of drought in industrialized countries. On the other hand we have also seen that production in. a number of developing countries has shown signs of improvement.
As the Secretariat's reports clearly show, the world's stocks are at a very low level, which should cause concern. My delegation wishes to underline two aspects in this connection, the key importance of sustainable development in agriculture, on which a Nordic statement has been delivered.
The other aspect, as clearly illustrated by the Conference documents, is the inadequate pace of per capita food production. In the field of nutrition, we note with satisfaction that FAO is performing an interesting piece of work through the elaboration of food balance sheets.
In the Conference document, the Secretariat raises the question as to what extent per capita production in developing countries still can be increased. It is in this connection that my delegation wishes to underscore the importance, as we also do when presenting our views on the reform process in FAO, which we attach to the basic tasks of FAO. By sharpening its role in fields, such as formulation and provision of policy advice, and by integrating environmental aspects in its activities, we believe that FAO can find adequate answers and make further progress in improving and increasing world food production.
Helmut HAUSER (Austria) (original language German): The Austrian delegation, Sir, would like to begin by congratulating you on being elected to the Chair of our Commission, and we wish you every success in your work.
We would also like to thank the Secretariat for having prepared such a comprehensive report. These documents are full of information concerning the state of food and agriculture throughout the world. FAO has indeed carried out a very valuable study of the situation. We feel that document C 89/2 stresses the importance of food aid, forestry, food security and the protection of the environment.
We think that the ecological dangers are of a magnitude likely to be a threat to the whole of humanity. There is, for example, the problem of the tropical forests, the degradation of the ozone layer, atmospheric pollution, the dangers to our seas and oceans, and the dangers to our groundwater - all matters that preoccupy and worry us greatly.
With respect to world food and agriculture, I would like to say that my country is prepared to make a contribution in line with its means with respect to FAO's emergency reserves, food emergency reserves. Austria will in fact carry out the task that it has set itself and in fact we do intend to increase our contribution.
It has been mentioned a number of times, and indeed negotiations are underway, that, as far as agriculture and forestry are concerned, a new direction is essential worldwide.
In Austria, we are contributing towards controlling production and matching market demand. In Austria, we have formulated new objectives, and we are seeking to develop an eco-social policy, particularly with regard to our ecological options. An ecological cooperation, first of all to protect the forests, to protect the water from environmental damage from outside, but also to correct the modes of agricultural forestry production, if those modes pose ecological problems.
We particularly seek to arrive at a situation whereby FAO's future work takes greater account of ecological problems and addresses even greater attention to the protection of natural resources.
My country will lend FAO every support in such endeavours.
Then, to conclude, I would like to express our pleasure at the close cooperation between FAO and UNEP as suggested by the Nordic countries.
Ghassem TEHRANI YAVARI NEJAD (Iran, Islamic Republic of): First of all, I have to point out by opening this discussion in this Commission, there are many cases that should be discussed deliberately in this regard.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that at the end of the century, there are about 6 billion people on this planet and responding to their food demands is our responsibility. How can we do that? On one hand, with a glance view at the document C 89/2, the economic growth in the industrial countries in 1987 was unexpectedly vigorous, benefitting from lower oil prices and interest rates. On the contrary, however, the overall growth in the developing regions was strong in the same year. But due to being unevenly distributed, the per capita incomes were dropped in many areas.
On the other hand, agriculture in these countries constitutes the basis of their economies. These countries mainly export raw materials which represent their principal resource of foreign currency/ and hence finance their imports, which are mostly agricultural inputs. They are also due to ever-increasing populations that are frequently unable to produce enough food to feed their people, because their needs increase with the population.
In spite of the great changes, particularly in political issues, which have taken place in the world, there are still regions in some African and Asian countries which are combatting, as before, hunger and malnutrition. In addition to that, in the developed and industrialized world; not because of the poverty or exploitation of farmers, nor because of drastic lack of food, but because of food surpluses, which cannot be eliminated,- there is strong demand for agricultural reform.
We are gathered here and are talking at a time when the problems and challenges in world food and agriculture are both acute and pressing. A number of countries are reeling under a series of droughts and floods. The terms of trade of developing countries have further deteriorated. Damage to the environment and ecology is continuing unabated. The available food resources are still beyond the reach of a large number of poor people.
There are about 14 million refugees in the world, and these refugees should be fed in sane manner. Out of this figure, there are 2.5 million Afghan refugees in Iran, and the same figure, more or less, are in Pakistan. One thing should be noted, that is the majority of these refugees are the farmers who left their own lands and became consumers in neighbouring countries.
If the social and political disputes in relevant regions of the world had been settled, we would not be faced with such circumstances. Anyway, having taken into consideration all aspects, an effective review process on the state of world food and agriculture is very important.
I now would like to turn to my country policies in agriculture. Since independence and self-sufficiency are among the main objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in order to achieve these goals, the 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 make the best use of water, soil and other natural resources in maximizing the production output to its fullest.
Finally, we hope that this commission, together with the other Commissions of the Conference, will help in solving the food and agricultural problems of the world, in alleviating the condition of the masses and in increasing the role of FAO in the service of the deprived. It would not be forgotten that the responsibility of all of us is a part of the FAO system.
Ayhan ElCI (Turquie) : Je voudrais tout d'abord remercier le Secrétariat de la qualité des documents qui sont à notre disposition. En analysant la situation et les perspectives mondiales de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture, je voudrais tout d'abord mettre l'accent sur certains points.
Le point le plus saillant pour ma délégation, en ce qui concerne la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture pendant la période qui s'est écoulée depuis la dernière Conférence, est la chute spectaculaire de la production de céréales et par conséquent l'épuisement des stocks au-dessous du niveau nécessaire pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale. Il est intéressant de constater, dans les documents préparés par le Secrétariat, que depuis 40 ans jamais, pendant deux années consécutives, la production de céréales - comme ce fut le cas en 1987 et 1988 - n'a été au-dessous des besoins de la consommation.
N'est-il pas paradoxal que, très récemment encore, le problème se soit posé au niveau des excédents de produits agricoles entassés dans les entrepôts et de leur écoulement tandis qu'aujourd'hui, nous sommes contraints de chercher des solutions pour reconstituer les stocks qui sont tombés à des niveaux dangereux pour la sécurité alimentaire? Il ne serait pas erroné de dire qu'à l'origine de cette évolution, il y a le souci de trouver une solution à ce même problème d'excédents qui a amené les pays gros producteurs à adopter des mesures afin de limiter leur production; metis, la sécheresse aidant, nous nous sommes trouvés face à une situation des plus précaires.
Mon pays figure parmi les pays touchés par une sécheresse telle qu'on n'en avait pas vu depuis un demi-siècle et qui a eu pour résultat la diminution importante de la production agricole. Pour un pays comme la Turquie, qui est considéré parmi les pays qui jouissent d'une autosuffisance en matière de production agricole et alimentaire, cette évolution a créé une situation délicate qui a pu être franchie grâce à des importations mais surtout aux capacités que lui confère la flexibilité des ses structures agricoles.
En conclusion, quelle qu'en soit la cause - limitation volontaire de la production, conditions météorologique ou autres - le fait de la chute brusque de la production agricole de ces dernières années doit retenir notre attention et, profitant de cette expérience, nous devons penser dès maintenant aux mesures à prendre au cas où, à l'avenir, la même situation se manifesterait.
Je me félicite du fait que, pendant cette session de la Conférence, on mette de plus en plus l'accent sur les négociations dites Uruguay Round. Bien sûr, je ne parle que de l'aspect agricole de ces négociations. Je le fais volontiers parce que le lancement du cycle de négociations comerciales multilatérales que nous appelons couramment Uruguay Round a incité les pays développés gros producteurs agricoles à adopter une approche nouvelle. Ces mêmes pays, enfin conscients des déséquilibres et des politiques protectionnistes qui caractérisent le commerce des produits agricoles, se sont attelés à la dure tâche de réorganiser le commerce international des produits agricoles dans le sens d'une plus large libéralisation.
A cause de la spécificité du secteur agricole et parce qu'il s'agit d'un secteur qui influence directement la sécurité alimentaire de chaque pays, on peut considérer que les négociations au sein du GATT ne seront pas des plus faciles. Mais rien ne sera non plus comme avant. Nous espérons que les pratiques qui perturbaient le commerce mondial des produits agricoles seront dans une large mesure éliminées à la fin. Nous entendons par là que toutes sortes de soutien, à savoir des subventions, que ce soit à la production ou au commerce, seront diminuées. En ce qui concerne les subventions à la production, nous pensons que des mesures adéquates doivent accompagner leur diminution afin de maintenir les revenus des agriculteurs; et cela ne doit pas non plus perturber le libre jeu du marché. Plus haut, j'ai souligné le rôle qui revient aux pays développés en particulier pour réduire les obstacles au commerce des produits agricoles. Dès maintenant, ils peuvent jouer un rôle moteur sans attendre les résultats des négociations commerciales multilatérales en révisant leurs programmes de réajustement.
Par ailleurs, les pays en développement, notamment ceux ayant une haute potentialité agricole, pourraient appliquer des politiques cohérentes pour soutenir leur développement et contribuer dans la mesure du possible à la libéralisation du commerce dans ce secteur.
Dans ce contexte, je voudrais citer un exemple de mon pays. Vous savez bien que la réduction de l'intervention de l'Etat dans la production, l'approvisionnement et la distribution des intrants a permis de faciliter la production et l'utilisation de ceux-ci. Ces dernières années, en Turquie, nous avons procédé à des changements radicaux dans le secteur des semences. Avec cette nouvelle politique, l'Etat, qui monopolisait ce secteur auparavant, a progressivement cédé sa place au secteur privé. C'est ainsi qu'un marché de libre concurrence a été établi et des progrès considérables ont été réalisés dans le secteur des semences.
Mme B. LO TURCO (Italie): La délégation italienne a examiné avec beaucoup d'intérêt les documents concernant la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture. Il s'agit d'excellents documents au sujet desquels nous aimerions faire des commentaires d'ordre général.
Dans la première partie, la situation économique mondiale et ses répercussions sur l'agriculture du tiers monde sont décrites de Manière exhaustive et complète. L'analyse qui a été faite ne montre que quelques signes encourageants: la tendance la plus positive correspond à l'augmentation des prix des produits agricoles qui est, pour plusieurs pays en développement, la condition indispensable pour résoudre la crise de l'endettement. Cependant, l'augmentation des prix ne concerne pas tous les produits exportés du tiers monde; elle ne concerne pas, par exemple, de nombreux produits tropicaux tandis que, par ailleurs, à cause notamment des quotations élevées, l'accroissement de la demande mondiale en produits agricoles, tant dans les pays en développement que dans les pays industrialisés, reste fort faible.
La situation dans le domaine des fertilisants semble tout à fait significative: on constate, en effet, une baisse durant la première moitié de l'année 1989 tant en ce qui concerne l'utilisation que les prix. Ainsi qu'il est souligné dans les documents, cet état de fait trouve sa cause dans une demande plus restreinte de la part des pays importateurs tandis que la baisse du niveau de l'utilisation pourrait être attribuée à l'écoulement de stocks trop importants ayant pu s'accumuler lors de la récolte précédente. La création des stocks a été due à la crainte répandue d'une augmentation probable des prix des fertilisants, hausse qui par la suite n'a pas eu lieu.
De plus, le spectre de l'inflation réapparaît encore une fois, ce qui suscite une grande inquiétude dans les pays industrialisés. Le scénario économique de ces dernières années a été caractérisé par la présence de deux blocs opposés: d'un côté, les pays ayant les surplus agricoles, surplus qui sont actuellement en diminution; et de l'autre côté, les pays où sont toujours présents les importants problèmes de la faim et de la malnutrition. Une telle situation devient exaspérée par l'instabilité des produits agricoles sur les marchés mondiaux. Les quelques symptômes de reprise des quotations pour certains produits et dont ne bénéficient, en outre, que quelques uns parmi les pays en développement, ne sont pas suffisants pour améliorer la situation.
En ce qui concerne la sécurité alimentaire, la situation est fort inquiétante. La réduction des productions mondiales due à la sécheresse qui a eu lieu pendant la dernière campagne et, par conséquent, la diminution des stocks ont favorisé une hausse des prix mondiaux des principaux produits destinés à l'aide alimentaire. Il en résulte une réduction des quantités destinées à l'aide alimentaire, plusieurs pays ayant déterminé 1 'importance de l'aide alimentaire en valeur et n'ayant été disposés à aucune variation de leur budget. Les stocks mondiaux de céréales sont tombés à un niveau très bas et, à court terme, on ne prévoit aucune possibilité de les intégrer pour maintenir la consommation à son niveau actuel.
L'analyse faite par le Secrétariat montre que les aides céréalières tomberont à 9,8 millions de tonnes et donc à un niveau plus bas que l'objectif visé de 10 millions de tannes. En conclusion, la situation suscite des inquiétudes et doit être suivie de près, comme l'a dit le Représentant de la Communauté Economique Européenne.
Si vous le permettez, je vais maintenant laisser la parole à mon collègue, qui s'occupe du secteur forestier, pour qu'il fasse une intervention spécifique sur ce sujet.
M. MARIANI (Italie): Parler de la situation des forêts, ou des problèmes de forêts en cette période de grands bouleversements des équilibres sociaux, environnementaux et démographiques, et dans ce contexte mondial limiterait, c'est le moins que l'on puisse dire, la discussion.
Comme il a été souligné par notre Ministre aujourd'hui ceux qui sont appelés à faire des choix de fond tant dans le domaine de la politique nationale proprement dite que dans les échanges de collaboration et d'assistance avec les autres pays, ceux-là doivent absolument se placer devant la dualité: forêt/alimentation, forêt/énergie, forêt /environnement et ce en prenant en compte les différentes priorités de situation à situation toujours plus liées et indépendantes.
C'est avec cette conviction que l'Italie soutient et participe au Plan d'action forestier et tropical, avec une attention plus grande là où la forêt est plus fragile et où les différentes actions sont plus fortes.
Parmi les objectifs du plan, celui qui prévoit une gestion favorisant la durée et la constance de l'utilisation des forêts tropicales nous semble le plus important et c'est celui vers lequel nos efforts porteront davantage.
Le document C 89/19 rappelle l'étude "Agriculture: horizon 2000" selon laquelle entre 1985 et l'an 2000 environ 80 millions d'hectares de nouvelles terres devront être mis en culture dans les pays en voie de développement (Chine non comprise); cela ne se fera pas entièrement aux dépens de la forêt mais sa contribution à la survie des populations qui dépendent d'elle sera remarquable, sans compter d'autres facteurs d'atteinte.
Dans cette optique, ainsi qu'il en a été discuté au cours de la IXème Session du Comité pour la mise en valeur des forêts tropicales en septembre dernier, le secteur forestier jouera un rôle essentiel dans la planification de l'utilisation des terres qui, il ne faut pas l'oublier, sont une ressource limitée face à des besoins croissants.
A cette occasion le profil du technicien forestier d'aujourd'hui a été tracé. Il doit d'une part enrichir sa propre formation en se plongeant dans les réalités socio-économiques différentes et en évolution permanente, mais d'autre part il doit être constamment présent aux rencontres où se prennent les décisions concernant l'aménagement du territoire. Cette discipline devient de plus en plus l'art du compromis entre les nécessités conflictuelles de l'agriculture, de l'élevage, de la flore et de la faune sauvage, de la forêt, des sources d'énergie, de l'urbanisation, des infrastructures, et dans des situations moins critiques, du tourisme et du loisir.
La politique forestière doit être une soudure unifiant les pays du monde. Il y a besoin de bois et de sous-bois en termes locaux, mais il y a aussi besoin de leurs effets bio-physiques pour le climat de la planète, et de leur variété génétique comme banque de ressources et de réserves à étudier; il faut que cette politique soit à la base d'un circuit de production en termes non seulement alimentaires et énergétiques mais aussi de qualité de la vie.
Il nous faut donc faire le maximun d'effort pour récupérer les terres abandonnées ou dégradées, les forêts en voie de disparition ou endommagées, et ceci non pas en terme de calcul économique mais écologique, non pas en terme de calcul local mais universel.
Nous devons également mener la défense des forêts en tant que création, reconstitution et conservation d'un habitat à risque.
Dans le même temps qu'une attention accrue envers le monde forestier prend forme, une action multiforme en faveur du développement, de la sauvegarde et de la mise en valeur des forêts se développe de plus en plus.
Cette tendance va dans le sens des grandes lignes du plan forestier lancé dans notre pays à la fin 1987, et qui est le point de départ de la politique forestière nationale dont il trace les finalités et la ligne directrice.
On est en train d'organiser, sur la base de cet instrument d'orientation, des interventions au niveau régional, dans le but de conserver des espaces toujours plus grands pour les initiatives récemment définies par la Comminauté Economique Européenne en mai 1989 sur les mesures forestières. Naturellement ces programmes pourront utiliser les résultats de l'Inventaire Forestier, et probablement, les indications qui seront utilisables après l'achèvement de la Carte Forestière Nationale que le Corpo Forestale dello Stato est en train d'élaborer selon des critères et des méthodologies appropriés pour mettre en relief la valeur de la forêt et les services publics qu'elle rend sur le plan hydro-géologique, du paysage, de l'écologie, des loisirs, etc..
Notre pays est prêt à collaborer dans tous les secteurs et à offrir son expérience acquise dans les domaines de la bonification, de la récupération des terres abandonnées, de l'utilisation des terres arides, de l'aménagement des bassins versants, de la conservation du sol, de la prévention et de l'extinction des incendies de forêts.
Sra. Graf ila SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): A estas alturas del debate, seremos sumamente breves, señor Presidente. En primer lugar la delegación de Cuba considera un deber de elemental justicia agradecer a la Secretaría de la FAO por la documentación preparada para el análisis del tema "El estado mundial de la agricultura y la alimentación".
Coto bien ha expresado hace unos minutos nuestro Vicepresidente del Consejo de Ministros en la Plenaria de esta Conferencia, es lamentable que nuevamente tengamos que manifestar con pesar que el panorama de la situación de la agricultura y la alimentación no ha experimentado cambios que permitan siquiera avizorar que los esfuerzos que ha venido realizando la FAO por establecer políticas que se implementen de manera efectiva a fin de lograr el mejoramiento de la situación de millones y millones de seres humanos que padecen de hambre y malnutrición, tengan perspectivas inmediatas de adoptar las soluciones, que con urgencia, tal situación demanda.
Las injustas relaciones de intercambio y el proteccionismo continúan caracterizando las relaciones económicas internacionales, y el agobiante problema de la deuda externa, como bien lo han expresado otras delegaciones, agrava desmesuradamente la situación de los países subdesarrollados, quienes continuan dedicando dolorosamente los escasos recursos procedentes de sus exportaciones - que pudieran destinar al desarrollo - al pago de los servicios de la deuda.
Lamentamos nuevamente la pérdida del decenio de los 80, como bien se expresa en los documentos analizados; pero estamos seguros, después de oír a varias distinguidas delegaciones, que todos aunaremos nuestros esfuerzos para que las acciones que se derivan de la colaboración multilateral y la defensa de los principios que animan a la FAO a impulsar la asistencia técnica, la transferencia tecnológica, la plena integración de la mujer en el medio rural, la protección del medio ambiente, así como otras prioridades que en su fin nos lleven a garantizar la seguridad alimentaria, encuentren respaldo seguro para su realización.
CHAIRMAN: Canada has sent me a note saying that it wishes to make a small addition to their statement, the one that was made this morning. However, they do not wish to take the time of this Committee and ask if this additional text could be added to the verbatim records. If that is so agreed, we will decide accordingly.
The meeting rose at 17.45 hours
La séance est levée à 17 h 45
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.45 horas
