GENERAL DISCUSSION (continued)
DEBAT GENERAL (suite)
DEBATE GENERAL (continuación)

Afghanistan, Sudan, Botswana, Ireland, Nepal, Somalia, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mali, Algérie, International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)

Mohammed GHOFRAN (Afghanistan): Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, please permit me to felicitate you cordially on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Afghanistan and its delegation on the occasion of your election as Chairman of the Twenty-sixth Session of the FAO Conference.

I am fully confident that under your able chairmanship, this Conference will achieve fruitful results. In particular, that the developing and least developed nations will gain satisfactory results from its deliberations, and it will take up effective steps toward the elimination of poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Mr Chairman, Afghanistan is an agricultural country whose special geographic location offers favourable climate for raising a variety of agricultural products.

During climatically favourable years, the needs of the population and requirements of industries depending on agriculture are met, to some extent, by plant and animal products. But in the past decade, the war has led to social disorder, inflicting on the agricultural sector and its supplementary installations considerable damage. As a result of the war, the majority of agrarian population emigrated from rural areas to towns inside the country or abroad. Consequently, the fields and orchards have been laid waste. The main agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems and canal headworks were destroyed and water management and conservation arrangements rendered unusable and consequently abandoned due to lack of timely maintenance. The closing of roads connecting various areas led to delays in marketing agricultural produce as a result of which total agricultural outputs were reduced each year. That is why the FAO and other international organizations were called upon to rehabilitate the irrigation systems.

Prospects exist to double agricultural outputs but there also exist formidable hurdles impeding this. Primarily, water resources for irrigation are limited. Secondly, agricultural machinery is lacking. The available tractors can cultivate less than 5 percent of the total cultivable land while draft animals cultivate more than 95 percent.

Providing better mechanized agricultural services constitutes the most urgent need of farmers. Therefore the Government of the Republic of Afghanistan has set up several mechanized agricultural stations in various parts of the country. And farmers are making use of tractors in ploughing and harvesting at subsidized rates. The country has lost, as a result of

war, a large number of pack animals and these have to be replaced. Taking into consideration the significance of mechanization in farming, this was brought under cultivation through mechanized stations and units.

About 99 percent of agricultural lands belong to private farmers but each farm consists of smaller lots of different topographical levels making the use of agricultural machinery difficult. Therefore, the most effective way of utilizing modern agricultural machinery is to collectivize agriculture. For this purpose, a total of 679 cooperatives were established.

Natural forests and range pastures have also been greatly damaged in Afghanistan. Earlier records indicate that 12 percent of the total area was covered by forests. In 1981, the FAO estimated that 3.4 percent of the total area (2.2 million hectares) comprised forests but unfortunately, due to the impact of the prolonged war, this area has shrunk to 1.8 million hectares which represented, in 1987, 2.9 percent of the total area.

According to the latest estimates, owing to the indiscriminate cutting of trees, the natural forests have shrunk more. This results in rapid soil erosion and degradation, and consequently in reduction of agricultural outputs. Protection of forests and other natural resources constitute an integral part of Afghanistan's subsequent development programme.

Unfortunately during the 13 years of the prolonged war, we were not able to carry out technical activities to protect and develop range pastures.

Our Government has approved the law to encourage private enterprise, to cultivate public virgin lands for agricultural and animal husbandry purposes on easy credit terms to raise agricultural outputs.

This decision has been warmly welcomed by the people. Many entrepreneurs have approached the government, asking to be allowed to cultivate virgin public lands in various parts of the country. A number of agricultural and animal husbandry mechanized farms were created and the Government made available to the entrepreneurs credits from the Agricultural Development and Industrial Development Banks. Likewise, agricultural services and technical advice were made available to them gratis.

In Afghanistan, women play a vital role in the socio-economic and agricultural sectors by participating in rural development programmes. Approximately 48 percent of the nation's population consists of women.

They generally engage in weaving carpets and producing handicrafts. They also work in health, education, agriculture and communication. Rural women are engaged more in agriculture and farming than in other spheres.

Stock-breeding plays an important part in the nation's economy. For this purpose, the Government of the Republic of Afghanistan is highly desirous of improving the strains of milch cows, sheep, silkworms, etc.

The sericulture project is also of great significance as Afghanistan's climate is favourable for raising silkworms and mulberry trees. Therefore, the prospects for silk production in the near future look brighter. And silkworm care in villages provide farmers with gainful employment in winter when they are out of work.

Despite a series of activities carried out in connection with agriculture and animal husbandry, lack of food arising from reduced plant and animal outputs remains a formidable problem to date.

We believe that, with the use of improved seeds, appropriate agro-techniques, effective utilization of water and fertilizers and combatting against plant and animal diseases and pests, the introduction of superior strains of animals, the protection of trees and natural forests, better management of watersheds and expansion of agricultural cooperatives, the development of agriculture will be accelerated.

The Government of the Republic of Afghanistan is greatly interested in the implementation of the programme to combat narcotic drugs. Based on Presidential Decree No. 293, dated 2 May 1991, a high state commission was set up to stop the cultivation, trafficking and abuse of such drugs.

In order to prevent the cultivation of poppy and canabis seeds and solicit the assistance of international organizations interested in fighting this global menace, a special section has been opened within the framework of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform.

The humanitarian national reconciliation policy implemented by the Government of the Republic of Afghanistan at national and international levels enjoys tangible support. Based on the concept that the ongoing war cannot be ended through the use of arms, this policy encourages discussions and dialogues between the Government and the opposition.

The Government of the Republic of Afghanistan greatly supports the five-point proposal of 21 May 1991 of the UN Secretary General to end the fratricidal war and restore peace in Afghanistan.

Likewise, the joint US-Soviet statement of 13 September 1991, regarding the ceasefire, termination of arms shipments to the two sides of the present war as of 1 January 1992 has been warmly welcomed by the Government and people of Afghanistan.

The Government of the Republic of Afghanistan pledges to the FAO and other donor organizations that their technical assistance will be maximally utilized by the poor villagers to develop the agricultural sector.

Similarly, we invite the kind attention of other participants in this august gathering to the resolution of this urgent problem. We realize that as long as hunger threatens the lives of poor people in an unhealthy environment, there will be no peace. Therefore, it is imperative for those taking part in this gathering to make decisions on elimination of the danger of hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Procurement of enough stocks by the WFP and making these available at national level is considered one of the most effective ways to achieve this end. The FAO is kindly requested to actively participate in this effort and coordinate distribution of food donations from national and international sources.

Most of the population increase occurs in developing nations. The people in poor countries are in search of meeting their daily needs such as food, fodder and fuel, and they damage the watersheds, the forested lands and the ecosystem by so doing. Therefore, this green mantle covering our planet will be destroyed by abuse or excessive use.

Hence the main problem of our country is economic weakness of our people and the continuation of war has not only affected the environment but also impeded the procurement of food for our compatriots. In certain areas, our countrymen are suffering from malnutrition and we invite the kind attention of the FAO to this problem.

Finally, Mr Chairman, I wish you further success in chairing this conference which I am confident will prove helpful for the FAO, the status of agriculture worldwide and the prosperity of the people all over the world. Afghanistan will be contributing in its own way to the UN efforts in creating a prosperous, danger-free world and the elimination of poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Mohmed Said HARBI (Sudan) (Original language Arabic): It is a pleasure and a privilege for me to address this august body on behalf of the people and Government of Sudan. I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on the confidence placed in you by the Conference on electing you as Chairman. This is a well-deserved election because of your wisdom. We are particularly proud of this choice because of the specific and strong relationship that links our two countries. We are convinced that, thanks to your wisdom and leadership, this conference will achieve positive results in a spirit of compromise. The benefits will be reaped by all the member countries.

I would also like to pay tribute to this outstanding Organization which has taken it upon itself to achieve noble objectives in order to bring development and prosperity to the world, despite the obstacles and difficulties it is facing. In this respect, I would like to pay tribute to the wise leadership of FAO by its Director-General Edouard Saouma and his staff.

We are meeting at a time when the world is being swept by major changes, some of which are a source of optimism and hope, while others are cause for concern and disappointment. All this will, undoubtedly, be reflected on FAO and its performance, as well as on the member countries and their poor. This situation has given rise to various challenges which make it imperative for FAO to muster all the forces it can in order to be able to face these increasing challenges which are impeding the march of development in the poor countries.

Let us all be aware that any shortcomings in the performance of FAO vis-a-vis these challenges are bound to reflect negatively on the poor countries for whose development and prosperity FAO has been established.

In order to play this important role, it is necessary for us to deal with the proposed issues in a spirit that transcends our differences and sensitivities and with a spirit of compromise to reach decisions by consensus. That is because the mission of FAO in essence seeks to achieve integrated development to combat poverty and to preserve the environment, vital to all of mankind. Therefore, this noble and permanent objective should not be affected by temporary stands and differences of any kind.

The increasing role of FAO in the light of theses changes that have taken place recently and the noticeable decrease in food production, as well as the deterioration of the environment in many Third World countries all call for raising the capabilities and resources of FAO in order to enable it to

play its role fully. However, we are surprised, regrettably to see a budget unable to meet our increasing demands and urgent needs. But, in line with the spirit of consensus we have been advocating all along, we do accept this budget, for the reasons and the explanations given by the Secretariat and we call on all our colleagues to do so in the same spirit.

In as far as the Programme of Work is concerned, we agree with the priorities proposed by the Director-General in the relevant document but we have to make it abundantly clear that important issues of interest to our African countries, like combatting drought and desertification, should, frankly, be placed on the top of the order of priorities. The efforts made by FAO should be coordinated with the other relevant organizations and donors in order to avert this disaster. I mean the overall deterioration of life in Africa because this is the major problem for many countries in the Arab and African regions.

The Technical Cooperation Programme is one of the masterpieces of FAO. It is, in fact, one of the most effective programmes. Its impact has been felt by all our countries in emergences. It has far-reaching effects in many fields like the agricultural sector, animal production and rural development.

While welcoming its increased size, we are, however, concerned by its falling short of the usual 14 percent called for by the previous general conference which also asked the Director-General to increase it to 17 percent. We urge the Director-General to continue his efforts aimed at increasing this percentage in a manner commensurate with our urgent needs. My delegation would also like to reiterate the importance of maintaining the policy of TCP without allocations by country because by so doing it will lose the necessary flexibility to meet emergencies and challenges.

Although Sudan has been, during the last years, on the list of the affected countries facing shortages in food as a result of drought and the absence of policies and strategies, we have a new and different situation today. We have achieved big increases in the production of many crops and food prices have gone down considerably. This has led to a satisfactory improvement of the food situation in Sudan. This was a natural result of the abating drought and the strategies and policies adopted by the government. These policies are aimed at transforming food production from its traditional weak base into a stable, strong base through the expansion of food production in the irrigated sector, the diversification of food crops, priority setting for the crop structure in favour of food crops, as well as the creation of a new favourable investment climate, thanks to the liberation of the prices of agricultural products.

Thanks to these policies and strategies and the results they have yielded so far, we are on the threshold of a new phase of agricultural development that would enable us to exploit the vast agricultural potential of the country through a scientific methodology and an evolving vision taking into account the environmental balance and the preservation of the natural resources for the coming generations. In this respect we have given special attention to the global concept of the environmental rehabilitation by developing an organizational structure to play this role. Thus the supreme Council for Environment and Natural Resources was set up as the highest coordinating body for environmental activities.

We are fully aware of our priorities and role when it comes to dealing with the environment because of the nature and reality of our environmental problems. From this perspective we are cooperating with the environmental bodies on both the regional and international levels.

We are always seeking to enrich the work of FAO and to expand the participation in its activities with a view to giving it more vitality and effectiveness. Therefore, we are very pleased to welcome during this session of the General Conference the three new members and the associate member.

My delegation has already supported giving membership to the Regional Economic Integration Organization following the request made by the EEC to this effect. Our support was based on a strong belief that expanding the participation base will undoubtedly enrich our collective efforts in FAO, but at the same time we stress that the criteria for granting membership status to the Regional Economic Integration Organizations should be flexible, clear, specific and in conformity with the roles of their individual members.

No doubt my delegation will comment on the different agenda items in the relevant commissions. In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere thanks to FAO for the way it is dealing with the problems of the developing countries in general and of Sudan in particular.

May God help us bring prosperity and peace to humanity.

Geoffrey OTENG (Botswana): Mr Chairman, on behalf of the Botswana delegation I would also like to congratulate you on your election to the Chairmanship of this Twenty-sixth Session of Conference. Let me assure you of my delegation's full cooperation during this current sitting. We are gathered once again in our continuing efforts as member countries of FAO to seek solutions for the problems of hunger and malnutrition which continue to face the whole world and the developing countries in particular.

In addition, there are the continued concerns of the environment and united food production in most parts of the world. Since our last meeting here two years ago we have viewed with both hope and concern a number of momentous events that have occurred throughout the world. These great events have a bearing on our efforts to tackle the problems that face us as an Organization. On the positive side, these events include the unification of Germany which was welcomed by the whole world. A year ago the revolution that took place in central and eastern Europe brought hope of the improvement of the lives of the people in those areas.

In Africa there were positive steps to resolve the conflicts that affected parts of the continent. In addition to all this, we viewed with great hope the increased cooperation between the superpowers and our allies in their efforts to reduce tensions throughout the world.

The determined efforts to reduce disarmament and reduce military spending brought hope that the scarce human resources and financial resources would be used for humanitarian efforts.

Despite this positive advance, we are of course aware of the fact that there were other events that reminded us about the volatility of world peace and it is our hope that we will all continue to work hard toward seeking a permanent reduction of differences that still cause tension and unrest in some parts of the world.

If we fail to do so, our efforts at improving the lot of those who still suffer from inadequate food supplies, hunger and malnutrition will continue to be a futile exercise.

The world food situation continues to be unsatisfactory as growth in food and agricultural production slowed down from its high rate achieved in 1989. Food production in the developing countries during the past year showed an increase which was below the average reached during the 1980s.

In addition, the majority of the developing countries failed to increase per capita food production. In Africa a large number of the countries are facing severe food shortages as a result of the decline in the per capita stable food production during 1989 and 1990 and the failure of food production to match the rate of population growth.

In Botswana the concern about the continued proponents of and the concern regarding the continued degradation of the environment has resulted in our decision to review the agricultural sector and developing the natural resources conservation strategy.

The new agricultural policy which resulted from the comprehensive review of the sector and the natural conservation strategy which recently was approved by Parliament will be the basis of our development strategy during the National Development Plan 7.

The main thrust of the agricultural policy will be food security and sustainable utilization of resources. The main objectives of the agricultural policy will be to improve food security at both household and national levels, to diversify the agricultural base so as to increase income and opportunities and to increase output and productivity through correct pricing policies and provision of subsidies. The development of manpower and appropriate technology will also be of high concern.

Additional important policy considerations will be the provision of a productive base through implementation of programmes that will conserve scarce agricultural and land resources.

While we are very much aware that the environment, especially land, is our most important resource and we need to ensure that it is used properly if it is to continue to produce efficiently for the coming generations.

This is why we are very much in agreement with the this year's World Food Day, namely Trees for Life. Our goal of increasing food production will not be obtained if we fail to protect the environment. The conservation and propagation of trees can play an important role in our efforts to arrest the continual degradation of our natural resources.

Most projects and programmes that are aimed at land reclamation and conservation are long term in nature and do not produce immediate tangible returns and require a great deal of investment in time and financial resources.

Most of the developing countries lack the necessary resources to undertake this important programme. Most of these countries are faced with a serious shortage of foreign exchange and already are greatly indebted. There will, therefore, be a need to provide increased assistance to be able to tackle these serious problems. The protection of the environment is a global issue that cannot be left to individual states nor to be done on a piecemeal basis. It is an urgent problem that should be addressed by all of us in a cooperative manner.

As member countries, it is important that when preparing our development plans, the protection of the environment should be accorded top priority so as to ensure the resources are used on a sustainable basis.

Member countries should develop programmes and projects and these must be prioritized so that cooperating partners and assistance agencies will be able easily to identify these areas in which they wish to participate within the national framework.

In many cases programmes, unfortunately, do not succeed because they have not been properly planned and integrated into the national framework but have been imposed from the outside.

Concern has been raised at this forum and at other fora about the possible reduction of assistance to developing countries, especially to Africa, as events unfolded in eastern Europe and other parts of the world. We hope that this will not be the case and that assurances that have been given by developing countries to maintain the existing level of aid and assistance will be adhered to.

In addition, it is our hope, as I said earlier, that with the easing of tension worldwide and the progress toward disarmament more resources will become more available for more peaceable development efforts.

Finally, Mr Chairman, let me thank you for this opportunity to address this Conference and we wish that our deliberations will continue to yield positive ideas and decisions that will assist us in our efforts to increase food production and reduce human suffering throughout the world.

Derick MOCKLER (Ireland): Mr President, Mr Director-General, Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates and Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is indeed a great honour and pleasure for me to speak to you today at this most prestigious international forum. I make this statement on behalf of the recently appointed Minister for Agriculture and Food of Ireland, Dr Michael Woods, who regrets his inability to be present.

Since its foundation FAO has made a major contribution to agricultural development, resource management and the improvement of living standards throughout the world. While much remains to be done, the FAO and particularly Mr Saouma and his staff are to be congratulated for the major contribution they have made over the years toward improving the plight of the peoples of the underdeveloped world.

Like previous speakers I wish to congratulate Mr Abdul Majid, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives of Pakistan, on his election as Conference Chairman. I also congratulate the Vice-Chairmen, and the Chairmen and

members of the various Committees. I wish them well in their work in the days ahead. I would also like to welcome the recently admitted new members to FAO.

Many points on you Conference Agenda are of great interest to Ireland. The subject of The World Food and Agriculture Situation holds a special interest for me and I would like to make some remarks on this point.

Since our last Conference many changes have taken place which have given rise to new aspirations for peace and freedom, and greater prospects for international cooperation. I refer, in particular, to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which have taken important steps toward democracy and market-based economic systems. To bring the opportunities offered by these events to fruition will require international understanding and cooperation. I believe FAO is well placed to offer technical advice to the Governments of these countries to help them in their development.

Among the major challenges facing the world community today are the demands to meet the requirements of an increasing world population, and to halt and reverse environmental degradation.

The world's population now stands at about 5 000 million. By the year 2025 it is expected to increase to 8 500 million. At present about 10 percent of the world's population suffers from malnutrition. Food supplies must meet present requirements, but they must also be able to respond to future demands. Ireland has long since recognized the inadequate access to food supplies by many vulnerable groups, and my Government has responded through its contribution to the World Food Programme. The Global Information and Early Warning System, set up and operated by FAO, provides very useful information on the food supply and distribution situation.

Information emerging over the past twelve months indicates that the pattern of growth in financial flows to developing countries has been uneven. Official and private disbursements to these countries in 1991 are expected, overall, to maintain the progress achieved in 1989/90. However, in many food-insecure countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the volume of total flows has remained disappointing. Indeed, 1991 has been a year of crisis in food security in Africa where over 30 million people were threatened with famine. Poor harvests, combined with the disappointing net financial inflows, depressed commodity prices, debt servicing and continuing civil conflicts, created a disastrous situation in several countries. As the scale of these developments became clear the international community responded with large scale food aid. Unfortunately, lack of coordination between donor and recipient governments as well as the state of infrastructure often complicated the already difficult task of delivering the aid to the people most in need. Many of us here today felt a sense of frustration, indeed an angry impatience, as reports emerged of deaths from starvation while food aid accumulated in ports or was spoiled in inadequate storage depots.

Indeed, as I speak, many of these problems remain unresolved. UN agencies and non-governmental organizations continue to search for solutions to the most basic problems of delivering available and desperately needed food to vulnerable populations in areas made inaccessible by lack of transport or acts of war.

We must not fail to learn the lessons of the present emergency. There are hopeful signs that we may be more successful than in the past. The proposed appointment of a special UN coordinator of emergency aid is a significant step forward in this regard. Within the European Community also we are examining urgently how the delivery of emergency aid can be made more effective in future. But ultimately we shall fail in our task unless both donors and recipient governments demonstrate a willingness to treat the delivery of emergency aid to all sections of the population as an absolute priority.

In the longer term than, we must redouble our efforts to eradicate the causes of hunger. It is unacceptable that, as we approach the next millennium, the problem of hunger in the world continues to confront us. It is timely, therefore, that the FAO and the World Health Organization should sponsor a major International Conference on Nutrition next year, to be held in Rome. I note that among the objectives of the conference are the elaboration of a coordinated strategy for national and international action to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, the mobilization of the necessary resources and the establishment of a world information system to monitor human nutrition.

These are ambitious objectives. The sad experiences of so many countries and peoples in the past year must reinforce our determination to achieve them.

The need to counter the dangers that threaten us is clear, and it is also clear that in today's world, all problems assume an international dimension.

As a result, the role of the United Nations is increasingly recognized; the UN is ready to review situations, to organize consultations, to propose solutions and to help with their implementation. In particular, FAO's role in averting potential dangers and preparing for a brighter future is well known. Whenever international action needs to be undertaken and seen through effectively and impartially within its areas of competence, FAO goes into action.

A good example of this action is a scourge which has emerged in North Africa. I refer to the screwworm fly, which attacks livestock and even human beings and causes terrible harm. The FAO in 1990 launched a two-year programme for the eradication of screwworm in Libya and the prevention of its spread to neighbouring countries. Ireland in common with other Member States of the European Community and of the FAO is supportive of this programme. My Department has contributed to the programme since its inception. I was very glad to know that this effort is now paying off and will be followed by an intensive surveillance campaign which will continue until next summer when the Libyan government may be able to declare the country officially free of screwworm.

Other current issues of concern touch on the environmental issue which has been mentioned at length by previous speakers. Protection of the environment and sustainable agricultural development are now major issues. Of particular concern are atmospheric quality, soil loss, deforestation, desertification, drought, the maintenance of biodiversity and our ocean and fresh water resources. I am pleased to note that FAO has incorporated the concept of sustainable development in its projects and programmes. Policy makers must be aware of the consequences of environmental degradation and

be encouraged to implement policies that are environmentally sound. The issue of the environment has also been recognized by the UN General Assembly and a UN Conference on the Environment and Development will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992.

The FAO is playing a well-recognized role in this area of conservation through its Genetic Resources Conservation Programmes, the main objective of which is to maintain biodiversity. Ireland is pleased to be part of the international effort on Plant Genetic resources and also to be associated with another major international effort, the Tropical Forestry Action Plan.

In Europe itself, a number of Eastern European countries require economic, technical and even food assistance as their stocks have fallen. The European Community is directing resources toward these countries. In this context, I should mention the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). FAO is also playing its part, and sends experts to these countries to analyse the agricultural situation, examine the production systems and identify feasible new farming models.

It must be said that even within the developed world small countries such as Ireland have their own economic problems and that their contributions to development are not made without sacrifice. Donor funds must be used in an efficient and effective way. Recipient countries should also show their commitment to development by avoiding inappropriate policies, expenditures and hopefully armed conflict can be avoided. The international environment has now changed for the better. It can be hoped that international trading will be established on an improved and equitable footing and that the least developed countries in particular will now be able to make the desired economic progress.

Ireland has participated in the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations almost from its inception. From the beginning we fully supported the Organization's aims of raising nutritional levels, improving the production and distribution of food and agricultural products and improving the living conditions of rural people. The priorities and direction of FAO's efforts today to eliminate hunger and poverty are the product of more than forty years experience in dealing with those problems. Ireland remains fully committed to the Organization's work.

I would like to say a few words now, but briefly, about the agricultural concerns of my own country. Ireland's position is, and must be, heavily influenced by the central importance of agriculture to my country's economy. That is no abstract position. Behind it lies the need to safeguard the future of rural people in a country which is a good deal less than affluent by European standards. Irish farm families and workers in associated industries have legitimate fears and concerns at the present time. In discussions with our EC partners on the Common Agricultural Policy, we in Ireland have recognized that changes in that policy are necessary. However, the central plank of our approach to CAP reform is that there must be balance between the legitimate expectations of our smaller producers for a fair level of income and the need to ensure that the commercial element in our agriculture, which is of crucial importance to the maintenance of a competitive and vibrant food industry, is not undermined.

The GATT Uruguay Round negotiations which are now entering a delicate and decisive stage are another very important element for the future of my country's agriculture. In the GATT negotiations, as in the CAP reform process, one of our national tasks is to ensure that within the overall EC position the needs of Ireland's agriculture and food sector are properly taken into account. Furthermore, we regard it as a basic requirement that any commitments undertaken by the European Community should be fully and fairly matched by the other major negotiating partners.

Irish agriculture will have to confront many challenges in the future. We will be seeking to ensure in the CAP and GATT negotiations a better market balance than in recent years. But domestically too we are preparing to meet those challenges in a number of ways, of which I will mention just a few. Firstly, we are promoting a full commitment within the Irish agriculture and food sector to meet the demands of the market place by improving quality standards and by diversifying the product range. We are helped in this endeavour by Ireland's widely acknowledged status as a country with a relatively unpolluted environment and a reputation for natural methods of animal production.

Secondly, we are building on experience gained through a Pilot Programme on Integrated Rural Development. This initiative has attracted widespread international interest and has demonstrated the willingness of rural people to become involved in the development of their own areas, in setting the objectives and in taking the necessary action to bring them to reality.

Thirdly, we are working, through a recently established Organic Farming Unit, to develop all aspects of organic production.

I will not comment in any detail on another item on our agenda, namely, the possible revision of the Basic Texts of the FAO to admit to membership regional economic organizations. I will merely express my hope that when we meet again in this forum, the European Community will have been welcomed as a Member of the FAO, consistent with its responsibilities. I have no doubt that this would be an entirely logical development which, by acknowledging the progressive transfer and evolution of EC Member States' competences, would facilitate the work of the FAO.

B.P. SINHA (Nepal): First of all, on behalf of the Nepalese delegation and on my own, I would like to express my heartfelt felicitations to you on your election as Chairman of the Conference, and our congratulations are also extended to all the Vice-Chairmen and the Committees Chairmen. Mr Chairman, we are fully confident that under your able chairmanship, this Conference will lead to many fruitful results. I, along with my delegation, would also like to welcome and congratulate the newly admitted members of our Organization - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania and Associate Member Puerto Rico.

Mr Chairman, I feel greatly honoured to have this opportunity to address this august gathering and to share with you the views of my delegation on mutually beneficial issues. The Agenda of the Conference session includes a wide range of topics which are important to the FAO and most of the developing countries. But I will limit myself to some selected issues which my delegation considers to be of more direct relevance to Nepal.

I would like to discuss briefly about the efforts undertaken by the newly elected, democratic Government of Nepal toward increasing performance in agriculture and rural development sectors and toward raising the living standard of the people, particularly the rural poor. The Government's commitment to uplift the living condition of the down-trodden people living in the rural and hitherto by-passed areas is evident by the allocation of 70 percent of the development budget for these areas. Commensurate with this commitment, the Government has recently launched a rural self-reliance programme with the objectives of creating income and employment opportunities in the rural areas, expanding social sector services to the disadvantaged population, and developing self-reliant villages by mobilizing people's participation. In keeping with the last objective, the Government is promoting users' committees at the grass-root level for effective operation and maintenance of rural infrastructure, for protection and management of community forests, for easy technology transfer, and to reduce the Government's liability in their maintenance. In addition, target-group oriented programmes like the Small Farmers' Development Programme, Intensive Banking Programme, and Special Credit Programmes for Women being implemented in the country will be expanded further and their implementation will be monitored closely so that only the targeted beneficiaries will be served by these programmes. The Government will also establish a women's cooperative bank for the economic upliftment of rural women. These poverty alleviation programmes are consistent with the principles and programmes of action agreed by the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (WCARRD).

Although some progress has been achieved in the structural transformation of the Nepalese economy in recent years, agriculture continues to be the most important sector in terms of contribution to gross domestic product, employment, and exports. In order to improve the performance of this crucial sector, the Government has adopted several new strategies. Recognizing the fact that previous efforts in technology development have by-passed the rainfed areas, hill crops, horticulture and livestock, so research efforts will now focus on these areas and commodities. In order to make agricultural research more responsive to farmers' needs, functional autonomy has been granted to the agricultural research system. An outreach research programme has also been initiated so that research and extension can work together with farmers in technology verification and problem identification.

Mr Chairman, since the active participation of farmers is the key to increasing agricultural production, the Government is strengthening the mechanism to deliver production inputs, credit and other technical services in a unified manner at the grass-root level. The participation of the private sector is promoted in the production and distribution of agricultural inputs and delivery of other services. In order to provide remunerative prices to farmers for their produce, the Government is determined to provide price supports for major food grains and cash crops. Agricultural cooperative societies are in the process of being reorganized by making them autonomous so that they can play an active role in the distribution of inputs and credit as well as in the marketing of agricultural produce and other essential commodities in rural areas. It has been increasingly understood that problems relating to post-harvest operations have adversely affected our efforts to increase our production. Our Government is, therefore, undertaking programmes to expand both on-farm and off-farm storage and processing facilities for such commodities as fruits, vegetables, spices, other cash crops, and dairy products which are

mostly produced by small-scale and marginal farmers and which involve a high degree of participation of rural women.

Mr Chairman, our major challenge in Nepal has been to design and implement sustainable agricultural development programmes for various agro-ecological zones which can generate employment and income for rural people and at the same time protect the environment. We are cognizant of the fact that sound natural resource management is a necessary condition for sustaining the productivity of farming systems that depend upon crop production, livestock and forestry. Furthermore, programmes designed for both environmental protection and agricultural production must be coordinated for their successful implementation. Our Government feels that watershed management plans should be prepared and implemented on the basis of an integrated land use approach involving agricultural, forest and grazing land management as well as soil and water conservation measures. My delegation therefore fully supports FAO's emphasis on sustainable agricultural, forestry and ecological development. In fact, the Forestry Sector Master Plan which is in effect in Nepal is in keeping with the Tropical Forestry Action Plan emphasized by the Director-General. Therefore, I would like to urge the FAO to mobilize additional support so that Nepal can take more advantage of international experience on natural resource management in hill and mountain environments.

Mr Chairman, allow me to take this opportunity to highlight on the strong linkage between environment and development in developing countries, particularly Nepal. Our problem is primarily related to economic disparity and widespread poverty. To overcome these, we are forced to speed up the pace of all-round development, which is likely to affect the overall condition of the environment. Therefore, we are now at a critical stage of identifying a trade-off between environment and economic development. In this area, we would like to be benefited from the experiences of the developed countries so that we could avoid undesirable future consequences and make the outcome of our endeavour a sustainable one. We are hopeful that the contribution of the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED-1992) would be significant in addressing such issues.

Currently, our Government and the FAO have jointly completed a review of all the projects and programmes implemented with international assistance in the past and have identified four important areas for future FAO/UNDP cooperation in Nepal: (a) sustainable farming systems, (b) management of natural resources, (c) food security issues, and (d) policy and planning along with effective implementation and monitoring. These areas are critically important to bring about sustained development in Nepal's agriculture and our Government hopes that future FAO programmes will be guided by these programme thrusts. Over the last four decades, Nepal has much benefited from FAO's technical and policy assistance and therefore we would like to see this association grow further to the benefit of our people.

Finally, Mr Chairman, my delegation fully endorses the Director-General's proposed Programme of Work and Budget of the Organization for the biennium 1991-92. I would like to take this opportunity to plead the Member Nations, particularly the developed nations, to contribute generously to the Organization. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the support provided by FAO Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices to our development efforts.

I wish grand success to this Conference. Thank you all for your kind attention.

Mohamed Sheikh Mohamud GULED (Somalia) (Original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Heads of Delegations. I would like firstly, Mr chairman, to say how pleased and honoured I am personally for my delegation to be able to congratulate you on your election to the chairmanship of the Twenty-sixth Conference of FAO, and I am certain that with your wisdom and personal experience, yours is indeed a great country in agriculture, and will enable us through this important international event to arrive at positive and important decisions which will strengthen our unity and strengthen cooperation among different countries in food security, and likewise add to our confidence in this great institution which brings us together, the FAO namely, Mr Chairman.

Mr Chairman, I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the Director-General, Dr Edouard Saouma, for the considerable efforts which he has made in the different bodies of this Organization in preparing the work of this Conference. And I am sure the Director-General and his helpers will contribute great importance to the development of the agricultural sector in the developing countries.

Mr Chairman, the proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Conference which brings us together coincide with major changes occurring throughout the world and which have positive and negative consequences. There is a reconciliation between East and West, the fall of dictatorships in Africa and elsewhere in the world, the demands for self-determination of other countries. But these successes are not achieved without a large price.

The figures that we see in the Conference documents show, as we hear every day on the television and other media, that people are suffering in many countries, particularly developing ones. The convergence of internal and external factors constantly worsen the problems of hunger and poverty, despite all the efforts undertaken by international agencies and the donor countries to attempt to better the lot of those suffering this human tragedy.

The rich countries, the international organizations and those affected by these disasters should take steps to improve this serious position and find the best remedies to it.

I would like to express my thanks to all the countries and organizations which do grant aid to developing countries, in particular to those which suffer from droughts, civil wars and other catastrophes.

I appeal to these countries and agencies that they should increase their emergency aid, and I would also say that the best way to deal with these matters is to increase investments from the rich to the poor countries so as to make the latter more able to resolve their own problems through their own efforts.

Mr Chairman, as for my country, Somalia, I can only tell you a rather tragic position of which everyone is aware. Major human suffering due to civil war, which has lasted for three years, and a lengthy drought. More than 4.5 million people who are living in rural and urban areas may starve today because of the collapse of economic infrastructure and the paralysis

of development projects, in particular those intended to promote the agricultural sector, the mainstay of our economy.

We have received emergency aid, but I can say frankly that it is far from being enough, given the huge problems which beset the country throughout from north to south and east to west. And it is the farmers, small-scale farmers in particular, who are the most affected by these troubles and difficulties.

Food production has naturally been affected. Harvests in the last three years have fallen to only 20 percent of their previous level. Our main agricultural exports, bananas and cattle, have ceased altogether, and the food situation in my country is extremely grave. That is the message which my delegation would like to convey to you from this podium; it is an appeal which we are making to the advanced donor countries and to all international organizations, and to all non-governmental organizations, so that they should give us emergency aid and do everything they can to help our country to recover a normal manner of life. Since the FAO can contribute decidedly in this enterprise, we exhort it to take the initiative in convincing the others to help us to get Somalia out of this terrible position by increasing their technical assistance to farmers in our country.

Mr Chairman, if we set aside all the problems besetting us at the moment it will be seen that my country does have considerable advantages in agriculture. We have 8.5 million hectares of land, 40 million head of cattle, the longest coasts in the African continent after South Africa, which are filled with riches, with these advantages during the new political era which has commenced, our country has undertaken a more open agricultural policy in terms of the interior and abroad, and we have concentrated our efforts on the human factor, because whatever the importance of modern machinery in development, men will always be the mainstay of the dynamic, and by working out a development programme for rural areas, a theoretical and practical training programme will be vital for increasing agricultural output. During coming years these two programmes will be given the highest priority in our country's economic policy which tends, mainly, to firstly, increase the growth rate in agriculture, fisheries and stock breeding in order to improve the earnings of the population; secondly, to reduce inequalities between towns and countryside, in order to reach a fairer balance and to prevent unemployment and rural exodus; thirdly, to protect the environment to stop the degradation of forests and pastures to increase the productive capacity so as to combat erosion and desertification, and fourthly, to encourage national private investments and to welcome foreign capital for agriculture.

I would like to join those before me who have expressed their support for the EEC joining our family. The accession of such an important regional organization can only strengthen this organization and make it better able to deal with the main problems concerning food and agriculture, particularly in developing countries.

We would also like to express our support in general terms to the Programme of Work and Budget presented by the Secretariat.

I would close by saying that the resolutions of this sessions should give rise to solutions adapted to the problems of our countries, particularly those most affected, in the hope of a better tomorrow when there will be food, peace and security for all.

I thank you, Mr Chairman, and all the guests here for your attention. I also thank those who work in this organization under the guidance of Mr Saouma and the representatives of regional organizations.

May the blessings of God be upon you.

Ali AYOUB (Observer for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)): It is my privilege and great pleasure to address the Twenty-sixth Session of the FAO General Conference on behalf of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and to convey to you all his best wishes for a successful meeting. Dr Tolba very much regrets being unable to participate in this Conference personally. Therefore, it is on his behalf that I renew his pledge to this meeting and to his colleague and friend, Dr Saouma, for continued cooperation between FAO and UNEP in the numerous areas of mutual interest.

The mandate of UNEP, namely, to coordinate the environmental activities of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, act as a catalyst for their efforts, keep the world environmental situation under review, and ensure that the emerging environmental problems of international significance are considered by governments, was specified nearly 20 years ago following the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. This broad goal remains valid today even as we prepare for next major global conference on the Environment - the so-called Rio de Janeiro “Earth Summit”.

Environmental phenomena are interrelated and the implications of this interrelatedness have to be taken fully into account in the formulation of policies for agriculture, industry, energy and in the management of terrestrial ecosystems, atmosphere and marine resources. A more systematic approach towards sustainable agricultural practices is required.

Several major developments took place during 1990-91. These are: one, the dramatic events in the Middle East arising out of the situation between Iraq and Kuwait and the heightened concern over the current and potential dangers to the environment in the area; two, the preparations for the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED); three, the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating process under the General Assembly's auspices, supported by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), for the negotiation of a framework convention on climate change; and four, the establishment of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention on biological diversity.

Other major developments show the urgency attached to solving environmental problems. For example, the heads of the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme and UNEP reached an agreement to cooperate in the establishment of a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) of more than US$1.5 billion. UNEP has established the Scientific and Advisory Panel to advise GEF on technical issues.

We enter the 1990s knowing that the state of the world's environment is now worse than it was a decade ago, despite growing awareness of the dangers, and that the major global issues - among them, climate change, loss of biodiversity, destruction of water quality, loss of productive soils and desertification - remain to be solved.

In the run-up to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, progress towards agreement on the two mutually reinforcing treaties on climate change and biological diversity will test our collective commitment to save the planet. While 1992 is our target date, no one is willing to sacrifice content for expediency in preparing either Convention. However, in the negotiations towards global treaties on climate change and biological diversity, on the elaboration of necessary financial mechanisms and technology transfer agreements - in these and other issues, we have shifted gear, from debating the necessity of cooperative action to defining their details. While progress has been made, it is critical to understand that we have only begun to tackle global problems in earnest. The task ahead is daunting. Climate change and global warning; ozone layer depletion; the proliferation of hazardous wastes; the extinction of biodiversity and genetic resources vital for species evolution, biotechnology and medicines; the mismanagement of oceans and coastal areas, of fresh water and land resources, are global problems demanding global strategies.

There is wide recognition that strategies intended to halt ecological destruction cannot succeed unless they tackle the underlying economic and development causes of such destruction. There is little point in crusading for greener policies, if they are consistently offset by powerful though short-sighted economic forces. There is little point in crusading for sustainable development, if unfair terms of trade, Third World debt, unstable and unpredictable commodity pricing continue to deepen the development crisis in the global South. Indeed, there is no point in imposing hefty theoretical environmental solutions to issues in a world steeped in hunger, squalor and poverty.

We will not save our Earth unless, first, ecological considerations become integrated into all facets of economic, fiscal, monetary and industry policies, and second, market mechanisms are needed to generate new revenues to address global environmental problems and at the same time, address the real causes of poverty. Transfer of environmentally-sound technologies to developing countries is one of those pivotal steps to be taken in the next global environmental agenda. The 1990 amended Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer is a pointer on how effective mechanisms can be put in place once a global consensus exists.

FAO and UNEP have continued to work closely with each other on policy issues that can assist countries to achieve sustainable development and implementation of an international programme for the conservation and management of genetic resources of all types, and has been the main catalyst in raising to a higher status the hitherto neglected animal genetic resources. UNEP also hopes that the genetic resources of aquatic systems will begin to receive the due attention they deserve.

The ongoing project between FAO and UNEP concerning tropical forest mapping is well under way, and a letter of intent between UNEP and FAO was signed recently. Long-term expanded scope of forest resource monitoring and assessment will continue. UNEP/FAO cooperation for the development of a

methodology for forest cover monitoring, and assessment of the real value of world forest continues. The Tropical Forestry Action Plan (TFAP) has been one of the major focus of attention in the past five years.

As one of the activities under the Plan of Action for the Implementation of the World Soils Policy and the World Soil Charter, UNEP is collaborating with FAO and ISSS to assist developing countries to draw up and apply their national soil policies. In the regard UNEP also appreciates efforts by FAO in the preparation, for the first time, of a world map on the Status of Human-induced Soil Degradation prepared by UNEP and the International Soil Reference and Information Centre in Wageningen.

UNEP and FAO are co-operating in the implementation of projects on mycotoxin control and establishment of a training network in Asia.

With respect to the integration of information leading to improved environmental assessments, UNEP is pleased to note that FAO GIS might become a Cooperating GRID Centre. We assure FAO that we continue to be willing to cooperate in both system development and project applications, as has been done in the past in the fields of fisheries, forestry and land degradation.

We welcome FAO's interest in a cooperative effort with UNEP to improve or generate a sub-tropical vegetation map of the world. The choice of South America as the first pilot area, because of availability of information and willingness of the countries to cooperate in such effort, is agreeable with UNEP's Plan of Action for Latin America and the Caribbean.

With a view to a future sustainable society, and within the context of preparation of UNCED, FAO has spearheaded a global strategy for sustainable agriculture. In its elaboration, UNEP has played an active role, as was mandated by its Governing Council in Decision 15/24. We hope that this strategy will gain wide acceptance at the UNCED and we will continue to play an active role in its implementation.

Mme Sy Maîmouna BA (Mali): M. le Président, je voudrais de prime abord vous remercier pour l'insigne honneur et l'immense privilège de prendre la parole devant cette auguste assemblée. C'est pour moi un très grand plaisir de saisir l'occasion solennelle qui m'est ainsi offerte pour vous adresser au nom du peuple malien et de son Gouvernement mes très vives félicitations pour votre brillante élection à la présidence de cette vingt-sixième session.

Vous me permettrez aussi, au nom de la délégation qui m'accompagne et en mon nom propre, de vous assurer de notre totale et franche collaboration dans l'accomplissement de votre haute mission.

Nous voudrions également réaffirmer notre haute appréciation des efforts inlassables déployés par le Directeur général de la FAO avec le concours de tout son personnel, en vue de l'accomplissement des nobles idéaux de notre Organisation.

Il me plaît aussi de souhaiter, au nom de mon Gouvernement, la bienvenue aux nouveaux pays adhérents de notre Organisation, la Lettonie, l'Estonie et la Lituanie, ainsi que le Porto Rico comme membre associé.

Il est de tradition que chaque session de la Conférence de la FAO offre à juste titre, l'opportunité pour la communauté internationale de méditer sur la situation alimentaire mondiale.

A cet égard, force est de reconnaître que celle-ci ne cesse de se détériorer.

Le rapport C 91/2, qui est soumis à la présente session, n'indique-t-il pas que la production alimentaire et agricole mondiale s'est ralentie en 1990 par rapport au niveau qu'elle avait atteint en 1989. Le commerce agricole est resté déprimé dans les pays en voie de développement et les termes de l'échange ont contribué à se détériorer considérablement.

On estime que la consommation alimentaire des céréales par habitant en 1990-91, a diminué dans toutes les régions en développement.

La Conférence mondiale de l'alimentation qui s'est tenue en 1974 n'avait-elle pas fixé une échéance de dix ans pour enrayer la famine dans le monde?

Dix-sept ans après, cet objectif n'est, hélas, pas encore atteint!

La pauvreté interdit à des centaines de millions d'âmes l'accès à la sécurité alimentaire. De graves pénuries alimentaires continuent à se poser dans nombre de pays africains, mais aussi dans d'autres parties de notre planète.

Et pourtant, les disponibilités pouvant couvrir les besoins alimentaires de la totalité de la population mondiale existent. Des initiatives internationales plus vigoureuses s'imposent afin de résoudre cette situation inacceptable. La FAO peut et doit jouer un rôle de premier plan à cet égard.

Permettez-moi à présent d'évoquer la situation alimentaire et agricole qui prévaut dans mon pays.

Le Mali, vaste pays sahélien enclavé, fait partie des pays les plus défavorisés de l'Afrique. Son économie essentiellement agricole a été durement éprouvée par deux décennies de sécheresse qui ont anéanti les efforts des populations rurales.

La dépendance alimentaire de l'Afrique s'est globalement accrue au cours de la dernière décennie. Cette évolution négative est due à l'effet conjugué de facteurs endogènes et exogènes, notamment la crise économique qui secoue le monde et qui se manifeste par deux faits majeurs sur les marchés internationaux des produits agricoles qui intéressent le continent africain. Il s'agit de:

Il est indéniable que tout développement agricole dans les pays en voie de développement, et particulièrement dans les pays africains, restera gravement hypothéqué tant que des solutions globales ne seront pas trouvées aux problèmes d'une dette de plus en plus étouffante et d'une baisse des cours des matières premières de plus en plus persistante.

Cette situation de crise aggravée par les calamités naturelles a favorisé la paupérisation du monde rural en le privant de ressources qui lui permettaient d'acquérir les intrants nécessaires à l'amélioration de la productivité.

Malgré la priorité accordée à l'agriculture dans le Plan d'action de Lagos et le Programme des Nations Unies pour le Redressement économique et le développement de l'Afrique (PANUREDA), les besoins essentiels restent encore non satisfaits. En conséquence, il nous faut trouver ensemble les moyens d'une croissance économique durable, car nombreux sont les besoins essentiels non encore satisfaits en Afrique.

Compte tenu du poids économique de l'agriculture, tous les plans nationaux de développement du Mali élaborés à ce jour ont accordé une priorité au secteur de l'économie rurale. L'objectif fondamental demeure l'autosuffisance alimentaire et la sécurité dans le cadre de systèmes de production et de systèmes agraires assez rémunérateurs, l'effort du paysan ne devant pas dégrader l'écosystème.

Dans cette optique, la politique de développement au Mali repose sur les piliers suivants:

L'évolution récente de la production au Mali démontre que les cultures céréalières demeurent globalement tributaires des aléas climatique. Ceci explique les fluctuations interannuelles compromettant la sécurité alimentaire. Ainsi, la production alimentaire a atteint, selon les conditions et la situation phytosanitaire, un million de tonnes en 1984/85, 1 780 700 tonnes en 1986/87, 2 154 729 tonnes en 1989 et 1 767 816 tonnes en 1990/91.

En résumé, l'autosuffisance alimentaire à base de céréales au Mali est presque réalisée quand la pluviométrie est satisfaisante, et en l'absence de pertes importantes dues aux déprédateurs. Mais il suffit d'un accident climatique pour qu'un déficit important apparaisse.

C'est dire, que la mise en oeuvre de notre politique de développement de l'agriculture avec le concours de notre Organisation, la FAO, et celui des partenaires au développement du Mali a permis d'obtenir des résultats significatifs qui n'ont cependant pas répondu à toute notre attente pour les multiples raisons évoquées plus haut. Je voudrais donc saisir cette occasion pour remercier à nouveau tous les partenaires au développement du Mali pour l'élan de solidarité que nous enregistrons chaque année en faveur de nos programmes de développement économique et social. Ceux-ci s'inscriront très prochainement dans le cadre du Schéma directeur du secteur du développement rural, en cours de finalisation.

Au Mali, nous sommes profondément convaincus que la sécurité alimentaire et la prospérité que nous voulons pour les populations dépendront essentiellement des efforts que la collectivité nationale est prête à

fournir en recherchant la participation active et consciente des hommes et des femmes en milieu rural.

Cependant la pleine manifestation de la solidarité internationale ne peut qu'améliorer les chances de succès de notre lutte commune contre la faim, la malnutrition, la pauvreté et la maladie.

L'ajustement entre les objectifs de production et les besoins de consommation sera à la fois quantitatif et qualitatif afin d'assurer l'équilibre nutritionnel des populations. Nous recherchons activement un tel équilibre par la mise en oeuvre de programmes de diversification des productions végétales d'une part et de développement de l'élevage et de la pêche d'autre part.

Dans le domaine de l'élevage, la situation a évolué favorablement au cours des deux dernières années.

Dans le souci constant de rechercher des solutions viables visant à améliorer les performances et l'efficacité des systèmes du production animale, divers projets et programmes sont mis en oeuvre.

Dans l'optique d'imprimer une nouvelle dynamique au sous-secteur élevage afin de contribuer plus efficacement à la réalisation des objectifs fondamentaux de développement économique et social, il s'avère nécessaire de procéder à un réexamen plus global des politiques et stratégies en vue d'entreprendre des programmes de développement plus efficaces et mieux adaptés au contexte actuel.

La formulation et la mise en oeuvre de ces programmes seront réalisées en fonction des réformes actuelles et des nouvelles options de développement, à savoir, la libéralisation de l'économie et la décentralisation. Pour le sous-secteur de l'élevage, ceci devra se traduire, par un désengagement de l'Etat en vue d'une participation plus accrue du secteur privé et d'une plus grande responsabilisation des organisations d'éleveurs.

Cette révision de la stratégie et de la politique du sous-secteur et l'identification d'un nouveau programme d'investissement entrent dans le cadre de l'instruction de la deuxième phase du Programme d'ajustement sectoriel agricole (PASA II).

Tout comme les sous-secteurs de l'agriculture et de l'élevage, les sous-secteurs de la forêt, de la faune et de la pêche, sont pris en compte dans le programme de la gestion des ressources naturelles consacré par le Programme national de lutte contre la désertification (PNLCD) adopté en 1987 par le Gouvernement.

Le PNLCD est une approche globale et multisectorielle d'utilisation rationnelle des ressources naturelles avec la participation des populations.

D'ailleurs, le Gouvernement du Mali, en accord avec ses partenaires, est en train de finaliser un plan d'action pour la mise en oeuvre efficiente du PNLCD.

En outre, le Mali a été parmi les premiers pays à souscrire au Plan d'action forestier tropical (PAFT) qui constitue un volet très important du PNLCD.

Le domaine de la pêche et de la pisciculture connaît un regain d'intérêt. La pisciculture est de plus en plus prise en compte lors des actions de maîtrise de l'eau et de l'élaboration de petits projets de développement. L'amélioration de l'équipement des pêcheurs, leur organisation et le contrôle des pertes après capture ont non seulement retenu l'attention mais fait également l'objet d'efforts constants de la part des divers intervenants dans le développement de ce sous-secteur. Outre les séries de formation entreprises, une vaste étude sur le stock et la dynamique des populations aux fins d'une organisation rationnelle des captures est en cours dans le Delta intérieur du Niger.

L'apiculture moderne s'est rapidement développée et continue de se développer depuis l'intervention de la FAO (1983) et du PNUD (1985).

Quant à la faune, des actions plus rigoureuses de restauration sont encore nécessaires en vue d'éviter la disparition de certaines espèces et de procéder à son aménagement pour en tirer le meilleur profit possible.

Des études en cours doivent définir les moyens d'une gestion rationnelle du patrimoine faunique du pays, dont l'importance dans l'alimentation des populations n'est plus à démontrer.

Je voudrais, à présent, évoquer la position de ma délégation à propos des principales questions soumises à notre attention, à l'occasion de la vingt-sixième session de la Conférence.

Ma délégation se félicite de l'élaboration, pour la première fois, d'un plan d'action à moyen terme pour la période 1992-97.

Nous approuvons également la proposition d'adopter par consensus le programme de travail et budget de notre Organisation.

Toutefois, nous insistons sur le respect du niveau de financement affecté au PCT, conformément à la Résolution 9/89 de notre vingt-cinquième session.

Par ailleurs, mon pays souscrit aux amendements proposés quant aux Textes fondamentaux afin de permettre l'acceptation de la candidature de la Communauté économique européenne.

L'acceptation des organizations d'intégration économique au sein de notre Organisation permettrait assurément à celle-ci de réaliser plus rapidement et plus efficacement ses objectifs.

Enfin, le Mali s'intéresse vivement à la Convention mondiale sur les Ressources forestières et à la Convention mondiale sur la Biodiversité.

S'agissant de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'environnement et le développement durable, les deux premières sessions préparatoires ont connu une participation très active du Mali.

Lors de la récente Conférence des Ministres de l'agriculture des Etats de l'Afrique de l'ouest et du centre tenue à Paris, nous avons partagé l'idée de relever le défi de la Sécurité alimentaire et celui du maintien de la part des produits agricoles du continent africain sur les marchés mondiaux dans un cadre rénové de concertation favorable à la création de zones de libre échange intrarégional en améliorant la productivité et la compétitivité des filières céréalières et de la viande.

Je souhaite que nos réflexions et échanges d'idées pour répondre à ces défis permettent à l'Afrique d'ouvrir une nouvelle porte sur l'espoir.

CHAIRMAN: I would like to announce that the delegation from Algeria has given me its country's statement which will be included in the verbatim report of this morning's session.

Mohamed Elyes MESLI (Algérie): Permettez-moi d'exprimer en premier lieu les sentiments sincères de fierté et de satisfaction qu'éprouve la délégation algérienne pour sa présence dans cette enceinte et pour l'occasion qu'elle a de confronter son expérience, ses préoccupations et ses idées avec celles de l'ensemble des pays de la planète.

Nul doute, M. le Président, que nos travaux déboucheront sur des solutions, au moins partielles, aux multiples problèmes de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation dans le monde. Et ma délégation voit dans votre brillante élection, dont vous me permettrez de vous féliciter, un gage certain de réussite.

M. le Président, vous comprendrez aisément que ma délégation veuille également saisir cette occasion pour rendre hommage au travail accompli par la FAO dans les domaines qui nous préoccupent tous et dans lesquels elle a déjà tant fait. Au demeurant, nous ne saurions assez féliciter son Directeur général, M. Edouard Saouma pour les efforts qu'il ne cesse de déployer pour concrétiser les idéaux que représente la FAO.

Ceux-ci, M. le Président, ne sont hélas pas atteints, mais c'est précisément à cette fin que nous nous réunissons périodiquement. Faire état de nos réflexions respectives sur l'évolution de la situation alimentaire et agricole mondiale et mettre au point les solutions qui répondent le mieux aux grands défis de notre époque sont en effet les objectifs premiers de nos conférences. Et aujourd'hui plus qu'hier, nous nourrissons l'espoir que nos travaux ne seront pas vains. Le monde évolue vers des jours meilleurs semble-t-il. Pourquoi n'en serait-il pas ainsi pour les problèmes qui nous préoccupent?

M. le Président, mon pays connaît également de profondes mutations tant sur le plan politique qu'économique. Consolider la démocratie est certes l'objectif primordial à court terme. Mais ce dernier est conditionné par tous les autres. L'Algérie a entamé ce processus bien avant les derniers changements politiques intervenus ces deux dernières années. S'il n'est pas adéquat d'en retracer ici toutes les réformes, je voudrais cependant en exposer le volet agricole, que l'on peut résumer en cinq points.

1. Organisation de la profession agricole

La libéralisation des initiatives a permis la création d'un grand nombre d'associations professionnelles, de coopératives constituées et gérées par les producteurs et, depuis cette année, de chambres d'agricultures qui commencent à oeuvrer avec la ferme intention de s'affirmer progressivement comme des partenaires crédibles et privilégiés de l'administration agricole.

2. Organisation foncière et mise en valeur des terres

L'organisation foncière a fait l'objet d'une loi particulière qui a permis d'unifier le régime juridique des terres par la réorganisation des exdomaines agricoles socialistes et la répartition de leurs terres à des agriculteurs organisés en exploitations collectives ou individuelles et auxquels l'Etat consent un droit de jouissance perpétuelle sur la terre et un droit de propriété sur les biens autres que la terre.

Cette législation s'est renforcée par une loi de novembre 1990 qui fixe la consistance technique du patrimoine foncier et le régime juridique des terres, pose le principe de la liberté des transactions et mutations foncières et met en place des instruments de régulation du marché foncier.

L'extension de la surface agricole utile a fait l'objet d'une loi portant accession à la propriété foncière par la mise en valeur qui a donné des résultats probants et a été étendue à toutes les régions du pays après avoir été limitée aux seules régions du Sud.

L'Etat a mis en oeuvre un certain nombre de mesures destinées à favoriser cette action. Celles-ci vont des facilités accordées aux producteurs pour l'acquisition de matériels agricoles, à la construction et à l'équipement de forages. En outre, l'Etat prend en charge les actions liées aux infrastructures de base (électrification, voies et accès aux périmètres de mise en valeur...) et accorde des bonifications de taux d'intérêt aux promoteurs.

3. Financement agricole

L'Etat n'intervient plus dans les modalités d'octroi de crédit au secteur agricole et le secteur bancaire oeuvre librement dans ce domaine.

Cependant, l'Etat intervient par le biais de la bonification des taux d'intérêt pour les activités jugées prioritaires (mise en valeur, stockage sous froid, forages...). Il intervient également sur concours définitifs par le canal du Fonds national de développement agricole et du Fonds de garantie contre les calamités agricoles et par des exonérations fiscales sur le revenu réalisé par des producteurs qui pratiquent les cultures stratégiques ou de large consommation.

4. Politique des prix

Volet important des mesures d'encadrement du secteur agricole, elle vise à protéger les activités prioritaires par le biais de prix minimum garantis à la production, à assurer un revenu acceptable aux producteurs et la vérité des prix de tous les facteurs et moyens de production.

Le soutien des prix à la consommation qui concerne les produits de première nécessité va disparaître progressivement (ces produits ont connu des hausses sensibles cette année) pour laisser place à un système de soutien des couches sociales défavorisées selon des mécanismes en cours d'élaboration (allocations aux bas revenus, allocations chômage...).

5. Commerce extérieur

La réforme du commerce extérieur a supprimé les situations de monopole dont jouissaient les opérateurs économiques publics et mis en place de nouveaux

mécanismes d'intervention. Désormais, toute personne physique ou morale détentrice du registre du commerce peut accéder au commerce extérieur.

Des conditions tarifaires favorables sont consenties aux importateurs de facteurs de production qui bénéficient d'une exonération totale du paiement de taxes douanières.

Par ailleurs, l'Algérie essaie de développer une politique de partenariat avantageuse pour les parties concernées. Cette politique trouve dans le secteur agricole un cadre propice à son épanouissement si l'on considère tous les créneaux extrêmement porteurs et non encore investis. L'Algérie s'est également engagée dans une dynamique d'intégration régionale à laquelle elle croit fermement. L'Union du Maghreb Arabe est une réalité qui se construit progressivement et sans à coup, sur des bases saines qui ne manqueront pas d'influer positivement sur les échanges commerciaux intra-maghrébins.

M. le Président, j'ai tenu à rappeler succinctement les grandes lignes de la politique de réforme engagée en Algérie pour permettre une meilleure appréciation de ce qui se fait. Mon pays n'est pas le seul à s'être engagé dans cette voie et nombre d'Etats oeuvrent actuellement pour édifier une société nouvelle. Tous nos pays respectifs ont besoin plus que jamais du soutien de la communauté internationale, particulièrement dans le contexte économique actuel très défavorable.

A cet effet, les conclusions auxquelles aboutira notre conférence devront répondre à ce voeu afin qu'elles constituent une source d'inspiration pour l'élaboration de nos politiques de développement agricole.

Ainsi, ma délégation se réjouit de constater que cette volonté peut se concrétiser dans la majorité des domaines d'actions prévus au programme de travail de l'Organisation, programme auquel, au demeurant, nous adhérons globalement. Nous sommes également disposés à accepter le montant de budget proposé dans le cadre d'un consensus que nous appelons de tous nos voeux.

Nous estimons pour notre part que les propositions de reconstitution du compte de réserve spéciale et d'augmentation du fonds de roulement aux niveaux suggérés par le secrétariat sont parfaitement légitimes et devraient susciter un plus gros effort des pays développés et ce, en raison du poids énorme de la dette extérieure sur la situation financière des pays en développement.

A ce propos, je voudrais souligner que l'Algérie a toujours fait les efforts nécessaires pour être à jour dans le paiement de sa contribution, mais ne peut, compte tenu d'une situation difficile, envisager de contribution supplémentaire sans entamer sa crédibilité.

A cet effet, la proposition relative à l'instauration d'un système de remises pour favoriser le paiement anticipé emporte notre adhésion pleine et entière et constitue une mesure susceptible d'encourager l'ensemble des pays à une gestion rigoureuse de leur contribution financière au budget de l'Organisation.

Enfin, le thème relatif à l'environnement et au développement durable mérite de notre point de vue plus d'attention et plus de moyens compte tenu notamment des besoins des pays en développement...

Je suis convaincu que nous sommes à l'aube d'une ère nouvelle en matière de coopération internationale et que le concept de solidarité sur lequel sont fondées les Organisations internationales comme la FAO se trouve revitalisé, comme l'a montré la récente opération contre la lucilie bouchère en Afrique du Nord.

D'autres indices probants montrent que cet espoir n'est pas irréaliste.

Ne faut-il pas en effet voir comme tel la demande d'adhésion de la CEE en qualité de membre de notre Organisation? A ce propos, l'Algérie est heureuse de constater que les travaux concernant cette question progressent rapidement et qu'ainsi, dans le cadre de l'Organisation s'établira un dialogue nouveau entre pays développés et pays en voie de développement.

Il y a quelques mois à peine, certains se demandaient si la notion d'organisation internationale n'avait pas atteint ses limites. Aujourd'hui, nous pouvons affirmer que cette potion a encore de beaux jours et surtout de grandes choses à réaliser. Faisons de telle sorte que l'histoire ne nous démente pas.

Je vous remercie.

H.O.A. KJELDSEN (Observer for International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)): The International Federation of Agricultural Producers, IFAP, of which I have the privilege of being President, represents several hundred million farmers in developing countries and virtually all the farmers in the industrialized countries. The last biennium has been a very difficult time for farmers in most countries and the farmers find themselves in a situation of considerable uncertainty and instability - uncertainty created by the national agricultural policy reform process, and by delays in reaching a multilateral trade agreement in GATT; uncertainty about the ramifications of the dramatic changes in Central and Eastern Europe especially on future trade patterns, and also on aid flows to sub-Saharan Africa; uncertainty regarding the increased interest in negotiating regional trade agreements; uncertainty about prospects for an international economic recovery.

Many farmers today are asking themselves what is the future for agriculture and for the rural areas. They are seeking a long-range strategy for sustainable agricultural development specifying clearly-defined goals to be followed with the means and time to make necessary adjustments.

FAO has an important role in developing such a strategy for agriculture on an international basis. IFAP strongly supports a farmer-centered approach to sustainable agricultural development, an approach which regards farmers as the key to the solution, not part of the problem.

Agricultural producers have much to offer society. They strive to provide adequate quantities of high quality foods. They assume responsibility for the protection of the natural environment; they manage natural resources in a long-term perspective and they assure rural settlement and the economic and social vitality of rural areas.

Farming practices which are respectful of the environment require not only accurate and reliable techniques but also a favourable economic and social framework. It must be clearly recognized that only an economically viable

agriculture will be capable of achieving the objectives of environmental sustainability.

Four fifths of mankind live in the developing countries. They depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. For these farmers sustainable growth is a prerequisite for survival. Poverty is one of the fundamental causes of environmental degradation in developing countries. Since agriculture is the largest single economic sector in the developing countries, poverty can only be reduced through the sustainable development of agriculture. Farming in developing countries cannot be sustainable until farmers receive payments for their produce which are high enough to give them both the financial means and the motivation to conserve their land.

Solutions must be global. Environmental issues know no boundaries. Hunger, poverty, third-world debt, instability of farm commodity prices, rules for fair competition, harmonization of legalization on food safety and environmental protection all have a direct and dramatic effect on the environment in which farmers operate. There is, therefore, a need to establish international rules for the protection of the environment and particularly where these affect world trade. Sustainable development is a shared endeavour. It cannot be achieved by farmers alone.

This sharing implies a dialogue among the many sectors of society. It also means that the other sectors must live up to the same standard as agriculture. Insufficient attention is given to the fact that agriculture itself is often the victim of environmental degradation such as acid rain, industrial pollution and damage caused by visitors to the countryside.

Let me also say or underline that the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices cannot be successfully imposed from above. Farmers' participation, the harnessing of the individual efforts of millions of agricultural producers throughout the world is crucial. Consultation with and involvement of farmers through their own representative organizations is critical to achieving sustainable agricultural development. As the FAO document on the Assessment of Field Projects, C 91/4, correctly points out, Ultimately sustainability is in the hands of people, the main actors in development.

On several occasions in the past we have in IFAP urged closer cooperation between FAO and IFAP and I am happy today to report that this intensification of contacts has actually taken place during the past biennium at both the technical and political levels and a basis for future cooperation has been established. In particular IFAP appreciates that the Director-General addressed IFAP's Executive Committee when it met in Rome this year; a third informal consultation on Commodities between FAO and IFAP was held here at the FAO headquarters; a delegation of four farm leaders from developing countries led by IFAP were able to participate in FAO's Den Bosch Conference on Agriculture and the Environment, thanks to the generous support of the Government of the Netherlands, their views were taken into account in the final declaration; FAO participated in IFAP's Conference on Environment and Sustainable Growth, the Key Role of Farmers, held in Reykjavik last month. The conference expressed support for the FAO Den Bosch Declaration and follow-up Agenda for Action. Our Conference was part of a mutually-supportive effort in the preparation of the agricultural input for the 1992 UNCED Conference in Rio de Janeiro.

In addition to this, proposals for further joint action will also be made in relation to FAO's Plan of Action on People's Participation in Rural Development and FAO's Plan of Action for Integration of Women in Development. The preparation of the International Conference on Nutrition is another important area for cooperation.

We are gratified to note that the principle of people's participation advocated by IFAP over many years is now gradually but steadily penetrating FAO policies and programmes. IFAP is pleased to see that the Plan of Action on People's Participation has been finalized and submitted to the Conference for approval. We would also like to see included in terms of reference of programming or advisory missions - for example, those on marketing reforms - the importance of seeking contact with national farmers' organizations. Representatives from these organizations should be systematically invited to participate in relevant workshops, expert consultations and training courses at international, national, and even at local levels.

In conclusion, I stress again that farmers represented in IFAP are committed to the pursuit of sustainable agricultural development, to the health of the physical environment and to a dynamic future for rural areas. IFAP will work for a society and agriculture which, in industrialized and developing countries alike, continues in harmony with nature with the aid of ecological, technological, educational and economic knowledge. We look forward to working with FAO in this endeavour. I hope that when we meet again in 1993, significant progress will have been made.

In closing, I would like to thank the Director-General and his staff for the good working relationships with IFAP, particularly with our Permanent Representative in Rome, Ms. Pelà. I trust that governments will provide FAO with the necessary financial resources to carry out its important work programme, and I wish this Conference every success.

Lino VISANI (Observateur pour l'Alliance coopérative internationale (ACI)): Merci, M. le Président de m'avoir donné la parole au nom de l'Alliance coopérative internationale. L'ACI estime que le Plan d'action sur la participation populaire est une initiative très importante de la FAO. Ce Plan d'action peut devenir la réponse forte et équitable au problème fondamental d'aujourd'hui du développement durable, compatible avec la protection de l'environnement, indivisible du développement participatif. Ce sont deux aspects interdépendants du développement. Dans ce sens-là, les documents de la FAO et la déclaration du Directeur général à la Conférence accordent de l'importance à cette interdépendance. Je voudrais souligner l'actualité de cette position par rapport aussi à la déclaration sur la participation populaire de la Conférence mondiale sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural qui correspond aux grands changements et aux grandes contradictions de la situation mondiale avec des répercussions inévitables sur le système agro-alimentaire international. Cela exige, selon nous, des modifications stratégiques des politiques des gouvernements et de la FAO. Nous estimons que les sept domaines d'action proposés dans le Plan d'action sont valables. Il est donc nécessaire de trouver des formes, des méthodes et des priorités pour la mise en oeuvre rapide du Plan. S'agissant de ce Plan, nous estimons que les propositions qui figurent dans le document sont encore faibles, trop timides, même si nous nous rendons compte des différentes situations propres à chaque pays.

Permettez-moi de citer un exemple: l'ACI est la plus grande organisation internationale de coopératives qui représentent la forme d'association la plus répandue dans le tiers monde. La richesse d'expériences que possède cette organisation est fondamentale.

L'ACI affecte un rôle prioritaire à l'assistance pour le développement des mouvements coopératifs du tiers monde et dans l'Europe de l'Est. L'ACI est prête à apporter toute sa collaboration à la réalisation du Plan d'action dont la mise en oeuvre ne serait pas possible sans le recours à l'expérience directe sur le terrain de notre organisation, bien entendu en raison de son propre rôle et du rôle de la FAO. Nous pensons que cela vaut aussi pour les autres organisations sociales internationales à forte présence sur le territoire.

Dans le document, il est question de la nécessité de renforcer le dialogue entre ONG et gouvernements, nous aurons plaisir à collaborer avec la FAO pour que cela puisse se réaliser. Par contre, les propositions de collaboration entre FAO, ONG internationales et ONG sont un peu faibles. Au paragraphe 62 on propose d'assigner la supervision de la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action à la Division des ressources humaines et à un comité interdépartemental; nous proposons au contraire de créer un point focal dans la Division des ressources humaines qui soit le point de repère et d'initiative pour établir un rythme régulier de relations consultatives et de collaboration avec les ONG et les ONG internationales et qu'il soit en même temps le point de convergence de l'action des différentes Divisions de la FAO.

Nous croyons que le Plan d'action nécessite une modification des relations entre la FAO et les organisations non gouvernementales; c'est un enseignement qui nous vient de la situation mondiale. Il s'agit de s'engager progressivement, en puisant dans le trésor de l'expérience. Nous souhaitons que le Plan d'action soit approuvé pour concrétiser l'action de développement agricole durable et participatif.

The meeting rose at 12.00 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.00 horas.