CHAIRMAN: The meeting is called to order. We start this afternoon on the Medium-Term Plan. We have two documents in front of us: the bulky one, C 91/23, and the comments of the Council, the Programme and Finance Committees, C 91/LIM/21. Mr Shah will introduce the item.
V.J. SHAH (Assistant Director-General, Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation): On behalf of the Director-General, I have the honour and pleasure to introduce the proposed FAO Medium-Term Plan covering the period 1992-97.
This Medium-Term Plan responds to the directives of Conference Resolution 10/89. It is submitted to the Conference through the Programme and Finance Committees and the Council. The comments of the Council and Programme and Finance Committees are submitted to the Conference in document C 91/LIM/21.
The Medium-Term Plan is recognized as a key step stemming from the positive outcome of the Review of FAO. It is a policy synthesis document which is designed to facilitate a constructive and rich debate at the Conference.
By its very nature, the Plan seeks to make a comprehensive coverage of issues, including the main factors likely to affect FAO's action throughout the nineties, the proposed relative priorities of both cross-sectoral and sectoral nature, the regional dimensions and the extensive nature of cooperative links with other organizations and partners.
The Plan is fully complementary to the biennial Programme of Work and Budget. As recognized by the Council and the Programme and Finance Committees, the Plan provides a useful framework for priority setting in successive Programmes of Work and Budget. The major policy orientations submitted in the Plan have been supported by all the bodies which have reviewed it so far and the Director-General hopes that they may find consensus adoption at the Conference.
No plan, whatever its duration, can avoid the issues of priority setting and resources, and in submitting this Plan, the Director-General wishes me to stress the following remarks from his Introduction to the Plan:
"Member Governments expect the Medium-Term Plan to be a tool for priority setting. The Secretariat has done its best to indicate relative priorities within sectoral programmes or thematic areas. Always, the comparative advantages of FAO have been weighed. However, I must state very candidly that for an international organization of 157 Member Nations, there is no rational basis for indicating across-the-board or vertical priorities six years ahead. National governments find this difficult enough even for annual periods. There is no formula or indicator which could be valid in programme terms or for the exigencies of the membership as a whole for the
period covered by three biennial budgets, which could enable us to say, for instance, that work on animal health is of lower or greater priority than work on marketing from small farmers. As befits a strategic document, in the concluding section, a number of key policy choices are offered for the consideration of the Conference. Some of them are perhaps more controversial than others, but altogether they should provide a good basis on which to build FAO's future. The conclusions also address the resources aspect."
Member Nations hold differing views on the desirability of the Plan covering the resources aspect. The Programme and Finance Committees have stressed that they should not be considered to be of a binding character on Member Nations. Accordingly, the resources aspect should not detract from the search for unanimity on the substance of the Plan.
May I now draw your attention to the need for a Conference directive on future versions of the Plan. The Director-General submits two options. He will, of course, abide by any decision the Conference may take in this regard.
In concluding, may I return to the closing remarks of the Director-General in his Introduction to the Plan:
"Differences of perception and opinion among Member Nations of this Organization are to be expected. Nevertheless, the Medium-Term Plan provides an opportunity for Member Nations to unite on a platform for strengthening FAO action through the nineties."
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr Shah for that brief introduction. We all take note of what you said at the end, a need for a Conference directive for future versions of the Report. We are dealing here with one of the main topics of this whole Conference. Therefore, two sessions have been put aside for discussing this Item on the Agenda, this afternoon and tomorrow morning. I do hope personally that you will have a good discussion on this item. This is where you will have a real chance of influencing the future direction of FAO. The item is open for discussion.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): A los representantes de Colombia nos complace que después de 20 años, haya reaparecido este Plan a plazo medio.
El Director General ha cumplido adecuadamente lo dispuesto en la Resolución 10/89 al presentar este documento que "intenta trazar el futuro de la FAO durante los próximos seis años, 1992-97".
Se nos dice que "un texto de profunda envergadura como éste deberla alejar nuestras discusiones de la controversia habitual que ha venido constituyendo la cuantía del presupuesto".
Pero ¿cómo ocultar nuestra inquietud al registrar el hecho lamentable de que el primero de los tres bienios que abarca este Plan se inicie bajo el peso de la inercia regresiva que significa la aplicación obstinada del funesto crecimiento cero?
Sin recursos, todo este magnífico ejercicio pleno de imaginación quedará convertido en letra muerta que permanecerá sobre el papel que resiste todo y seguirá siendo sonido de música celestial.
Como lo dijo el Sr. Shah en su presentación y como aparece al final del documento en las consideraciones sobre los recursos, bastó que el Director General en cumplimiento de sus obligaciones estatutarias, hiciera una tímida sugerencia de un porcentaje sobre los recursos para que en la reunión de los Comités del Programa y de Finanzas, los miembros que representan a los países bien conocidos de siempre, reaccionaran en la misma tónica de que no conviene sacrificar la calidad y el contenido de este documento para hacer referencia a cualquier recurso necesario.
Nos atrae tanto el contenido de este documento que trataremos de seguir las orientaciones de esos Comités aunque no las compartamos totalmente.
Estamos de acuerdo en que este plan debe ser "amplio por su alcance y selectivo en los detalles", pero no puede ser un plan estático sino por el contrario, un marco muy general dentro del cual las prioridades estarán continua y progresivamente sometidas a la revisión y actualización que demanden los cambios en las políticas y las propias prioridades de los países beneficiarios.
Además, la importancia creciente de la agricultura y de la alimentación, particularmente en las economías de los países en desarrollo, seguirán imponiendo a la FAO nuevos desafíos y tareas cada vez más significativas en favor de las aspiraciones, los derechos y las necesidades del Tercer Mundo.
Por ello, resultaría prácticamente imposible que un documento como éste pudiera abarcar todos los aspectos de los cuales deberá ocuparse nuestra Organización en los próximos seis años.
Es así como nos satisface que se exprese aquí en este documento, y cito "la FAO tiene capacidad de innovación y ha respondido a los cambiantes acontecimientos mundiales".
Los representantes de Colombia consideramos realista la afirmación de que "en una Organización internacional de 161 Estados Miembros, no hay ninguna base racional que permita indicar prioridades generales, con seis años de antelación".
Esto nos lleva a reiterar el principio invariable, sostenido por el Gobierno de Colombia, en el sentido de que si bien la reaparición de este plan es fruto del Examen a que se sometieron algunas actividades de nuestra Organización, sobre todo por insistencia de los Estados industrializados, ello no significará que la FAO deba ser encerrada en una torre de marfil, sometida a una camisa de fuerza por seis años, insensible a la evolución que imponen los cambios económicos y sociales, sino que aún dentro de este marco amplio, las políticas y los programas deben seguir siendo definidos, actualizados, revisados, en forma tal que reflejen siempre las prioridades, la voluntad de todos los Estados Miembros.
Al referirse al "proceso en evolución continua", este documento recuerda el dominio que los representates de los países desarrollados tenían en forma absoluta y omnímoda sobre las políticas y los programas de la FAO, en sus primeros años de vida.
Usted también, señor Presidente, y el Profesor Thomsen de Dinamarca que ocupa el lugar de su pais y otros colegas que se encuentran en esta Sala, hemos asistido como testigos directos y personales a la afortunada transformación, al curso que ha venido cumpliéndose hasta encontrarnos ahora en un plano realista, sano y honesto al nivel del cual se viene reconociendo la interdependencia de los intereses de todos los paises, en forma tal que se ha establecido una permanente y positiva cooperación entre todos los grupos de países que integran la FAO, para definir y ejecutar programas y políticas que beneficien a todos los Estados Miembros, particularmente a los del Tercer Mundo.
Los representates de Colombia, basados en ese sincero espíritu de mutua cooperación, confiamos en que este Plan a plazo medio representará un marco propicio, dentro del cual todos los Estados Miembros de la FAO van a emular por fortalecer la función esencial de nuestra Organización en medio de los graves problemas económicos, sociales y humanos que afronta el Tercer Mundo, conscientes de que los recursos, que tan generosamente venían ofreciendo los principales contribuyentes, hasta el próximo bienio cuando padeceremos los efectos del funesto crecimiento cero, que esos recursos, repetimos, deban ser reconocidos como base imprescindible de una acción eficaz, dinámica y actualizada de la FAO en consonancia con la creciente demanda de asistencia que todos conocemos.
Si quisiéramos referirnos siquiera someramente a tan sólo los principales aspectos que nos atraen de este interesante documento, nos haríamos interminables y no podríamos evitar repeticiones en relación con los otros documentos de que se ocupará esta Comisión. Trataremos de seleccionar rigurosamente.
Uno de los campos que los representantes de Colombia deseamos apoyar para la acción de la FAO en los próximos seis años, es el de la intensificación de la cooperación de nuestra Organización con las demás agencias de Naciones Unidas y también con otras instituciones fuera del sistema.
Las políticas y los programas de la FAO deben reconocer la necesaria e indispensable relación que existe entre todos los sectores de la economía mundial, sin pretender como sucedía hace algunos años, que en el seno de la FAO se imponía el criterio obtuso de que en el marco de esta Organización sólo debían tratarse los problemas de la agricultura y de la alimentación, sin tener en cuenta los otros acontencimientos que en el plano mundial o regional afectaban directamente esos campos.
Lo que sucede en la Asamblea General, en el ECOSOC, en las Cumbres de la Tierra, del cielo o de los mares, en las Conferencias internacionales, todo ello debe producir impacto en los programas de la FAO, pero nuestra Organización no deberá limitarse a participar en esos acontecimientos, a contribuir a la celebración de todas esas Conferencias, sino que la FAO debe, sobre todo, extraer lecciones y experiencias para incorporarlas a sus propias actividades.
Después de celebrada la Conferencia de Naciones Unidas sobre Desarrollo y Medio Ambiente, la Cumbre de la Tierra, la FAO deberá prepararse para contribuir en los dominios que le corresponde y en la mayor medida posible, a asistir a los países en desarrollo para implementar las recomendaciones que surgirán de esa imponente Cumbre de la Tierra.
Al concluir, como lo esperamos con buen éxito, la Ronda Uruguay en el GATT, la FAO deberá hacer esfuerzos y asignar recursos para ofrecer su asistencia a los países en desarrollo y que al implementarse esa asistencia puedan obtenerse los resultados de esa Conferencia, puedan obtenerse los mayores beneficios en favor de un amplio, libre y justo comercio.
Es en esa forma dinámica, constructiva y eficaz como los representantes de Colombia concebimos la acción de la FAO en el plazo medio.
La Cooperación Económica y Técnica entre países en desarrollo, las redes de cooperación y toda otra actividad que estimule el intercambio de apoyos y experiencias entre los países del Tercer Mundo, todos estos son aspectos fundamentales que la FAO debe seguir atendiendo en su Plan a plazo medio.
Sobre la dirección de la FAO en el plan futuro de las actividades de campo, nos expresaremos en el examen de esas actividades que vamos a seguir más adelante. Por ello, nos vamos a limitar a referirnos al párrafo 104, en el cual se hace referencia a la posibilidad de que el asesoramiento y el apoyo a los proyectos puedan potenciarse "a nivel subregional", mediante agrupación de países en una Oficina de la FAO.
¿Querrá ésto decir que podríamos volver a las Oficinas Subregionales que existieron hasta 1969? En ese o en caso semejante, será necesario que esas Oficinas que apoyarán la acción de la FAO en grupos de países, estén debidamente dotadas de personal y de recursos, que posiblemente mediante cierta movilidad del personal profesional puedan cumplir una eficaz labor de asesoramiento y apoyo, con alcance más amplio que si los expertos debieran ser enviados en cada caso desde la Sede.
El marco dentro del cual se pretenda diseñar la función de los Programas Especiales de Acción debe ser realista y, como lo dice el documento sujeto a examen constante, que pueda determinar los cambios y modificaciones oportunos.
Los Programas Especiales de Acción no pueden ser monumentos erigidos a la moda de turno de cada actividad, sino que los Programas Especiales de Acción deben ser concebidos y puestos en ejecución sobre conocimientos directos de las necesidades de los países, a la luz de las prioridades que fijen los gobiernos, y sobre todo, cuando haya la seguridad de contar con recursos extrapresupuestarios para que, en realidad, esos Programas Especiales produzcan resultados efectivos.
Este Plan a plazo medio representa un marco más o menos adecuado para preparar a nuestra Organización a su mejor desempeño en los próximos seis años.
Los representantes de Colombia opinamos que la FAO, como lo dice este documento, no sólo debe ser el Vigilante Mundial de las situaciones de emergencia y el portavoz internacional "de las preocupaciones e inquietudes de la comunidad", sino que la FAO está llamada a continuar su función de gran actor insustituible en la aportación de sus experiencias, recursos y conocimientos, seguros de que nuestra Organización con el pleno apoyo de todos los gobiernos, trabajará cada vez mejor y con mayor eficiencia en favor de todos los Estados Miembros, particularmente los del Tercer Mundo.
Finalmente, sobre las versiones futuras del Plan, nos manifestamos en favor de la Opción I.
Dixon NILAWEERA (Sri Lanka): Mr Shah has presented this document which, as you quite correctly mentioned, Mr Chairman, sets out the future directions of the FAO and which is a useful guidance for us to decide how the activities should be fashioned. Mr Shah should be congratulated for again presenting it not only succinctly but effectively, highlighting the ideas on which we should concentrate.
Let me touch on two points. One concerns the reference made to the Environment Sustainable' Development Programmes. I think that all the emerging Member Nations would consider these areas to be extremely important. It is heartening to observe that FAO has grasped the subject for special treatment in the Medium-Term Plan.
The period when the environment had to be sacrificed in the alter of development is no longer in existence. All countries are now concerned with the preservation of the environment, conservation of resources and developing sustainable programmes. I would urge the FAO to pay increasing attention to this particular aspect and perhaps try to assist the member countries in the identification, formulation and preparation of programmes. I also observe that the FAO is now contemplating providing policy advice to major donors specifically with regard to structural adjustments. This is a very welcome proposal. FAO is an independent agency which is primarily concerned with the small farmers and fishermen. FAO could certainly influence the thinking of the donor agencies by analyzing the impact of certain stipulations dictated by them.
Carl THOMSEN (Denmark) : On this item of the Agenda I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries as a whole, and I would like to first pay tribute to Mr Shah for his introductory remarks and drawing our attention to the important points. The Nordic countries very much welcome the Medium-Term Plan as it is presented in document C 91/23. In fact we consider the preparation of this Plan to be one of the most important outcomes of the Review process.
As you know, the Nordic countries have for a long time been advocating medium-term planning as an important instrument to ensure a better priority setting in FAO's work and to facilitate fruitful dialogue among member countries. It is through discussion of the Medium-Term Plan that member countries have the best possibility of providing guidance for FAO's actions over the coming years, as you yourself have pointed out, Mr Chairman. We are satisfied that the plan as now presented contains many of the elements we have proposed but there is, of course, still room for improvement. We much appreciate the intellectual effort and the hard work which has gone into the preparation of this important and comprehensive document. The Secretariat should be commended for this accomplishment and for the coordination of the document on the Programme of Work and Budget for the coming biennium.
At the same time it has become a somewhat bulky document and as it is the intention to focus the discussion on strategic issues we suggest some of the more descriptive parts of the document, particularly in Part Three, could well be shortened or even omitted. With regard to the excellent introduction by the Director-General we find ourselves in general agreement with the list of forthcoming challenges to the Organization.
As far as the guiding principles for the preparations of the Plan are concerned, we should like to emphasize the statement to the effect that the size of the professional staff of the Organization is very limited. As indicated also in the introduction it is, therefore, important for FAO to act as a catalyst for inter-country cooperation but it is equally important to concentrate the available resources in a limited number of fields if substantial results on efforts are to be obtained. In other words, the Organization should not attempt to cover every possible subject but try to sharpen its priorities for practical action as much as possible. Admittedly this is a most difficult task and we should like to compliment the Secretariat on its efforts to indicate relative priorities within sector programmes and thematic areas. Nevertheless we sometimes find ourselves getting lost in a multitude of priorities when going through Part Three of the document. There is a conspicuous lack of clear indications of lower priority areas, although there will have to be some in this category. We recommend that even more attention should be given to this aspect in future versions.
We fully agree that there is a beneficial relationship between the Regular and Field Programmes and that it is important to maintain those links between the two. In our view this should pose no problems, however, when, as a result of the revised UNDP system for support costs, the Field Programmes will be moving more offstream on the project side but it is of crucial importance for the reputation of the Organization that the size of the Field Programme is determined by the capacities of the Technical Programmes to provide proper backstopping and servicing. Any overstretching of the Regular Programme resources is bound to have negative effects.
With regard to the resource considerations in the conclusions of Part Four, the Director-General is to be commended for the efforts made to address the controversial issue of the resource dimensions in the context of the proposed Medium-Term Plan. There can be no question that even provisional indications of the relative - and I emphasize the word relative -allocation of resources will be of value for the understanding and the overview of the implications of the Plan. On the other hand, we are of the opinion that a discussion of the substance of the Plan will be a most important aspect of the exercise. In any case it seems clear from the table on page 214 of the document, the one on relative figures, that unless it is feasible to give relative indications below the macro-level that is within the Major Programmes, the informative value will be very limited.
With regard to the future versions of the Plan our main concern will be to ensure that there will be a regular and continuous consideration in each biennium of the Medium-Term Plan and we understand this has been underlined in the last Report of the Programme. I believe it is also in line with what the representative of Colombia was saying about the continuous need for adaptation. Even so we recommend Option I should be followed according to which short supplements to the Plan will be submitted to the Conference in November 1993 and 1995. A fully revised version of the Medium-Term Plan would then be submitted early in 1997. In our view such a procedure will provide a sufficient basis for the deliberations of the Governing Bodies.
In this connection we should like to emphasize once again that we attach the utmost importance to a continuous consideration of the Medium-Term Plan by the Governing Bodies of the Organization in each biennium. This procedure would, in our view, also cover the need for a follow-up to the
Review process. Finally, we should like to underline the principle that the actions of FAO should continue to form an integral part of the collaborative efforts of member countries as well as the efforts of other international organizations and agencies involved. This is imperative in order to obtain the optimum use of the resources available and at the end of the day it is results achieved that matter more than anything else, thank you.
Hermann REDL (Austria) (Original language German): Mr Chairman, permit me to start by congratulating you most warmly on your election. I am convinced with you in the Chair, thanks to your lengthy experience, we will do a good job of work in Commission II and do our best to work on time.
Austria was sorry to see that important Conference documents such as the one we are discussing today, C 91/23, was only submitted to us when we contacted Director-General Saouma even though it has been known for years that documents should be sent to Austria normally in English. These were only made available in mid-October in French. Accordingly, I would like to ask the Secretariat to act in the future, as they have in the past, and make available documents to my country in English.
Could I now address the document itself, Chairman? Austria was particularly interested in studying the document under discussion. We believe that in the future this paper will be seen as being closely related to the Programme of Work and Budget and we believe that it will be useful to update the Medium-Term document on a two-yearly basis. It should be as flexible as possible. As far as programme priorities are concerned and new activities of FAO, account will have to be taken of these. I think consideration might be given as to whether in the future the regional aspects on pages 185-189 might not perhaps be dealt with at greater length.
As far as the conclusions are concerned, these should serve as the basis for fashioning for future budgets. Certainly the medium-term planning must be linked as to considerations to financing activities. As you know, FAO designs its Budget and Work Programme on a biennial basis. In many states, such as my own, national budgeting is an annual matter. Longer-term commitments such as might flow from the medium-term plans must be entered into in a circumspect way. The medium-term plans should be couched in as flexible terms as possible. It should serve as a framework plan for determining future priorities. In the light of the Austrian statement to the Plenary on matters of basic principle we have pointed out that important changes have occurred in many parts of the world. I have mentioned the GATT negotiations, the European economic area, the new Europe and also the situation in developing countries.
Agriculture is more and more coming to be the key issue of international disputes. In the document before us today the passage on the regional dimension from page 185-189 fails to do full justice to these new developments.
Europe as a region only has a few pages devoted to it. We welcome what is stated in paragraph 395 and we believe that the FAO and the ECE can play an important role in those countries in transition in central and eastern Europe, and that it should play a role in helping them. This should apply particularly in the field of training and further training and vocational training and advice. One matter of particular importance here is the
position of women, and women and families in agricultural development. Useful policy tools have already been created in this field. I think we need to build on those results.
We were sorry to note that forestry is hardly mentioned at all. Reference should be made to the joint FAO/ECE Department in Geneva, though forestry should not be addressed in isolation apart from agriculture generally. We also think it is necessary that the problem of the decline of the forests should be addressed. When we talk about the environment we need also to address particularly matters such as avalanche protection and erosion, particularly in the European section. There is not a single word on the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. We welcome what is stated in paragraph 402 about the socio-economic programmes and in particular the activities planned by FAO.
In this connection might I mention that Austria has offered to host the next meeting on Women in Agricultural Development, and we were delighted that FAO accepted the invitation. We look forward with great interest to the deliberations on that in October 1992, scheduled for Innsbruck.
Agro-tourism is also a very important sector we believe. Austria again has offered assistance and invited FAO to hold a network meeting in Vienna.
In summary, the document before us sets out the right road for FAO's programme drafting, but as we have said we believe that medium-term planning is still susceptible to further improvement.
John Bruce SHARPE (Australia): This Medium-Term Plan is one of the positive outcomes of the Review of certain aspects of FAO's goals and operations. It is something we supported then and something we continue to support. We would like to congratulate the Director-General and the Secretariat for the constructive approach they have adopted in the preparation of this plan. Obviously considerable effort has gone into producing what we can only describe as a very worthwhile document. While the Plan is a very useful information source on FAO's directions, a main attraction also is the usefulness of the process which leads to its development. That is the process provides the membership with a more effective role in shaping FAO's programmes, and future directions. To a large extent the process is as important as the outcome. The plan should prove to be a very useful point of reference for other organizations working in related fields.
The Plan is a large voluminous document of over 200 pages but I would like to take some time to note specific areas in which Australia has an interest and which it supports, and comment on others where we have some reservations.
In the opening Guide to the Plan it is recognized that FAO does not operate in isolation and that its work is meshed with the work programmes of other organizations which have a bearing on its mandate. Australia supports recognition by international organizations of the need to cooperate with other international bodies in order to avoid, wherever possible, duplication of effort.
Australia concurs with the five main themes of the document. Of particular interest to Australia and the ones for which we are staunch supporters are environment and sustainable development, women in development and policy advice.
We applaud the commitment in the Sustainable Development and Environment Chapter to this area and its priority in future programmes of work.
Australia supports FAO's view of what the essential objectives of SARD should be, as outlined in paragraph 17, and the prerequisites listed: namely the implementation of appropriate population policies, fair terms of exchange in agricultural trade at national and international levels, measures in favour of agriculture as a vital economic sector and adequate financing.
We also support all of the areas of emphasis requiring specific, high priority action as outlined in paragraph 34.Particularly FAO policy advisory work in the areas of trade liberalization and environmental policies on the long-term sustainability of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
However, we feel that the document should have given greater emphasis to the fact that achieving sustainable development is also in the farmers' own interest.
There are particular aspects of the Chapter on Policy Advice which we would wish to see emphasized. These are:
- that there is a continuing interest on the part of FAO in being associated with the many UN and non-UN international organizations involved in policy advice in the same area such as the World Bank and UNDP. An example also given in the Plan is the support to GATT and active participation in the Uruguay Round aimed at both providing technical assistance to developing countries and negotiations on sanitary and phytosanitary regulations;
- the recognition that cutting across FAO’s policy advice activities is the need to consider environment and sustainable aspects together with women's critical roles and special needs.
We consider that it is important that an influential international organization like FAO provide policy advice to Member Governments that is gender sensitive and reinforces to them the importance of women in development. We strongly support the proposed provision of this advice especially as the areas outlined in paragraph 76 of the Chapter on Women are key ones, covering the very varied roles of rural women.
Naturally we, like all other members here, have an interest in what the Plan holds for our own geographical region in the medium-term. In our case the Asia and Pacific Region, where it is acknowledged many problems exist. The Plan refers to the continuing population and development pressures on the environment, the problem of deforestation in the region and the need to rethink intensive agricultural practices.
We have no problems with the Focus of Work for the region which the MTP considers of particular importance. These are the follow-up to the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, the International Conference on
Nutrition, Multilateral Negotiations on Trade and the implementation of the Tropical Forestry Action Programme. We support the nine areas it lists for concentrated effort in the region in the medium-term. These include: the strengthening of national capabilities as regards sustainable use of the land, the promotion of trade in live animals and animal products, and expanded animal disease free zones in the region, food and safety standards for local consumption and trade, improved capabilities in fish stock assessment and management, promoting tree growing by rural people and forestry education and research.
A main priority listed in the Plan's Chapter on Crops is the harmonization of plant quarantine principles, pest risk assessment and quarantine procedures. We are pleased with the reference in the Plan to the recognition in the GATT Uruguay Round of the importance of reducing trade barriers caused by irrational and unjustified use of quarantine procedures.
We note the planned establishment in the 1992-93 biennium of a Secretariat to the International Plant Protection Convention to carry out this work, in close cooperation with Regional Plant Protection Organizations. This was one of the recommendations of this year's Third Technical Consultations among Regional Plant Protection Organizations in which Australia participated. We therefore support this recommendation and would wish to see similar FAO support for the other recommendations of the Third Technical Consultations. These involve the status of the Secretariat, the establishment of an International Committee on Phytosanitary Measures, the creation of an international approval process and support for Regional Plant Protection Organizations within FAO. The report of the September meeting of the Finance Committee also welcomes the establishment of the Secretariat and attaches importance to the other recommendations of the Third Technical Consultations.
One area of the plan where we do have reservations is the Chapter on Resource Considerations. While it is not perfectly clear what is actually being proposed here it would appear that it involves an automatic, built-in, commitment to growth in the budget.
We are not alone in our reservations concerning this matter. The report of the joint September meeting of the Finance and Programme Committees stressed that the resource aspects of the Plan should not be considered to be of a binding character on Member Nations.
This is something to which Mr Shah referred during his eloquent introduction. We think it would be unwise for any Government to commit itself to increasing contributions years ahead. Australia would certainly not be prepared to do so. We think that future MTPs should be both practical and achievable within likely available resources. It should not be assumed, and they should not be prepared on the basis that there will be, increasing resources available.
The Medium-Term Plan ends by addressing future versions of the Plan. Of the two options given, Australia favours Option II. The sliding six years coverage would enable Member Nations to be able to continually look six years ahead while, at the same time, be aware of and able to assess the changes which had occurred in the previous two years. As a strong advocate of the reintroduction of the MTP Australia wants it to be effective,
achieve the purpose for which it was intended and provide a greater flow of information to members on the direction FAO will be taking, and the reasons. We consider that Option II would be better able to achieve this.
Once again we congratulate the Director-General for the preparation of this very useful and comprehensive document and would like to express our gratitude to you, Mr Chairman, for the opportunity provided for Australia to present its reactions to it.
Harald HILDEBRAND (Germany) (Original language German): My delegation regards this document, the Medium-Term Plan, which is of course susceptible to improvement, as nonetheless one which to a considerable extent does justice to its claim to be medium-term thinking and planning ahead, I think because it fulfils one compelling conclusion of the FAO Review. In this fundamental document the role function and mandate of the Organization are updated as they need to be and geared to the challenges of the 90s. In that way it becomes possible to give continuity to the pursuit of priority horizontal and vertical tasks. Accordingly the German delegation welcomes the holistic approach which is expressed in this document.
We support the proposed procedure which involves rolling development of the plan, with the first one-third being incorporated as rationally and flexibly as possible in the two-year work programme amplified with the necessary technical and financial details. But what is very informative is the tabular comparison of the five horizontal priorities, that is to say environment and sustained development, policy advice, the promotion of women in agricultural development, the development of human resources and economic and technical cooperation between the developing countries. Tabular comparison of those areas on the one hand with the Sub-programmes on pages 47 to 49 is particularly important for us because by ordering the availability of funds the thematic priorities become particularly clear. By means of that table and other conspectuses the document has become more user -friendly.
As time is short I do not think that I need here address the individual priorities. Previous speakers have already gone into these in some detail. Moreover they have already been accepted over the floor and from the means to address problems in all their regrettably oppressive magnitude and complexity and to resolve them on a subject by subject basis by the concerted actions of all concerned. This leads my delegation back to one crucial pre-condition for the implementation of the Medium-Term Plan, that is the availability of sufficient financial resources.
For that reason this valuable and, we think, well-balanced document should also prompt all Member Nations to ponder their respective responsibility for that latter aspect.
As far as future work on the MTP is concerned, the German delegation throws its support behind the rational and cost-saving procedure of Option I, whereby on the occasion of the next two Conferences, in 1993 and 1995, brief amplifying supplements would be submitted, and certainly that would help to facilitate work on the Work Programme for 1994-95 and 1996-97. Accordingly, my delegation would like generally to support this interesting paper.
CHAIRMAN: Before going on to the next delegate, which is Lesotho, I would like to read out the list now: Lesotho, France, China, Kenya, Japan, Yugoslavia, India. I have received from the two groupings the proposal for the composition of the Drafting Committee. I will read out the members of the Drafting Committee as proposed. Chairman, Cameroon; the Members: Zambia, Cameroon, Philippines, Indonesia, Haiti, Mexico, Sudan, Iran, Belgium, Japan, United States of America, the Netherlands and Australia. The list will of course be given in the Journal of Conference. Members of the Drafting Committee should be prepared to work on Thursday evening. I will come back to that again.
Gerard P. KHOJANE (Lesotho): We first of all wish to commend the FAO Secretariat for a well-prepared document introducing a rolling six-year Medium-Term Plan which deals with the setting of priority areas across the spectrum of FAO programmes and activities. We also recognize an excellent introduction to this topic.
The medium-term challenges outlined by the Director-General of FAO Dr Edouard Saouma in the Introductory Chapter of document C 91/23 now under consideration are consistent with accumulated expressions of Member States in different meetings of the Governing and Advisory Bodies of FAO. We also accept and endorse the description of the environment in which FAO should base its Medium-Term Plan as seen by the Committee on Agriculture during its meeting in April this year, and as ably reflected in document C 91/23, Part III, paragraphs 8-67.
It is widely acknowledged that eradication of hunger, malnutrition and poverty are among the major challenges of the international community in modern times. FAO and other international organizations responsible for food and agriculture are especially well placed to confront these challenges, but they can effectively do so only if there is a concerted joint action by all concerned. FAO's plans in this regard should therefore be properly coordinated with those of other multilateral organizations while at the same time recognizing the contributions of regional organizations, national governments and non-governmental organizations. Consequently, incorporation of the coordination element into the Medium-Term Plan is fully justified. We are particularly happy with the contents of paragraphs 42-53 of document C 91/23, Part I. It is also understandable that in the process, unprogrammed and unbudgeted activities of the cooperating partners will emerge and biennial budget flexibility provisions should be envisaged when this Medium-Term Plan is adopted. Such a consideration should enable FAO to play its part as required and expected.
We are sure that both the developing and the developed countries should be comfortable with the maintenance of evolution in the prospects and changing roles of FAO, responsive to the perceived and changing needs of Member States. The TCP Programme, developed through various stages since the late fifties to exploit food and agricultural potential and to meet the needs for emergency and quick action in technical cooperation with governments, through small-scale interventions, should be continued on the basis of demand and FAO comparative advantage. FAO should also continue with the Trust Fund Programmes as long as both donors and recipients derive mutual benefits from this activity.
It is encouraging to see in the FAO Medium-Term Plan an increasing emphasis on the greater involvement of national personnel, institutions and procurements. It is our wish to see the present numbers of professional staff and national directors within the organization's field programmes double in five to six years' time. It is also hoped that the welcomed increased resort to sub-contracting methods in both cases where FAO is responsible for projects overall, or for components of projects under national execution, will as much as possible avoid an element of conditionality on the one hand and that of nepotism or corruption on the other. There should be insistence on the procedure for selection of private sector companies, non-governmental organizations and public institutions proposed by FAO in document C 91/23, Part I, paragraph 98.
On decentralization and the field structure, our supportive views were expressed during the discussion of the "Review of certain aspects of FAO goals and operations" during the Twenty-fifth Session of FAO Conference in November 1989. At that time we made the following statement in this regard: "We support the decentralization policy without reservation, provided that appropriate steps are taken within the limits imposed by FAO Rules. Improvement of decentralization policy should start with Regional Offices down to Country Representative Offices as required". The Medium-Term Plan now under discussion goes even further to suggest improved modalities in practical terms. The suggestion to have grouping of countries with one particularly strengthened FAO Office is important and should be pursued. We also endorse the idea that strengthening of Country Offices needs to be accompanied by greater delegation of authority in field programme matters to FAO Representatives.
The complexity of confining priorities of cross-sectoral actions within a specified timeframe and single institution is well illustrated in Part II of the document before us. It is reasonable therefore to accept the advice of the Secretariat to allow ourselves to be guided mainly by the specific recommendations and resolutions already made, or adopted related programmes of action by FAO Governing Bodies and other cooperating agencies of the United Nations system. It is in order that such recommendations and resolutions or programmes of action be implemented in an incremental fashion. We should also provide for some flexibility to allow necessary adjustments to refine priorities during the implementation period as new discoveries are made and/or some concepts and perceptions become clearer.
In particular, we want to endorse actions taken, actions in progress and actions planned in relation to the implementation of:
(a) Tropical Forestry Action Plan of 1985, and Agriculture: Towards 2000 of 1987;
(b) Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Development adopted at the Twenty-fifth Session of the FAO Conference in 1989; and
(c) Conference Resolution 3/89 on FAO activities related to environmental and sustainable development which culminated in the Den Bosch Declaration, which in turn gave particular prominence to food and income aspects.
We endorse the increased involvement of FAO in UNEP' s endeavours towards environment monitoring and control. We also see the need for FAO to fully cooperate with WHO on environment health and climate change, as well as with Unesco on basic environment research and education.
On human resources development, we consider the definition offered on paragraph 87 of Part II of the document as all -embracing. We agree that, within the FAO's broad development work, human resource development should mean enabling rural people to make sound decisions and to apply and benefit effectively from them. In that context, the new concept of people's participation in the design and implementation of policies concerning them as contained in the FAO's plan of action for people's participation approved by the Council and hopefully to be endorsed by this Conference should constitute an important element of the Medium-Term Plan under discussion.
With regard to ECDC and TCDC activities, we believe the approach shaped through the assistance of the Expert Meeting on ECDC in Food and Agriculture: Regional or Sub-Regional Integration and FAO's Role, held in December 1988, is the right one and should be pursued. We however share the frustration that lack of finance, particularly to cover external costs, is and will continue to be a major constraint to TCDC efforts, especially in Africa. We can only hope that donor countries will follow the example of Japan and generously come forth with extra-budgetary resources to support FAO in its plans for TCDC at least in the short- and medium-term.
Reflecting on the substance of the Medium-Term Plan programme-by-programme as contained in Part III of this document, we are particularly satisfied with the inclusion of the following among the main priorities:
1. Conservation of soil and water and reclamation of land using new methods which will ensure participation of farming communities and which will also ensure that the applied practices lead to increased production;
2. Integrated Crop Management (ICM) approach with special emphasis on vegetables, cereals, oilseeds, grain legumes, multi-purpose tree crops, roots and tubers, forage legumes and fodder shrubs ;
3. Strengthening developing countries' capacity of evaluation, adaptation and transfer of traditional and emerging technologies to farmers, taking into account gender aspects of these technologies;
4. Promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), striga control and sound pesticide management; and finally
5. Promotion of appropriate quality assurance programmes at all levels of food chain, and harmonization of international standards and regulations for food and agriculture products.
Lesotho can immediately be considered as a candidate for assistance in these five major priorities of the FAO Medium-Term Plan. We therefore invite the donor countries to generously provide extra-budgetary resources to enable FAO to implement this Medium-Term Plan without financial constraints.
Jean-Pierre POLY (France): Pour ma délégation, comme pour les délégations qui se sont exprimées avant moi, ce Plan à moyen terme répond à un réel besoin de notre Organisation d'inscrire son action dans un cadre plus large que celui du Programme de travail et budget présenté tous les deux ans à la Conférence.
Tant dans sa forme que dans son contenu, le document que nous examinons aujourd'hui rejoint très largement la plupart des préoccupations exprimées par mon pays dans le cadre notamment de l'examen des buts et opérations de la FAO.
Ces préoccupations concernaient en particulier:
- la nécessité d'approches plus globales, dépassant le cadre strict des activités sectorielles de divisions et services de l'Organisation;
- l'adoption de priorités clairement définies et leur prise en compte effective dans les divers programmes de la FAO tout en assurant la cohérence et l'équilibre nécessaires dans la mise en oeuvre de ces programmes.
Le plan à moyen terme qui nous est proposé identifie deux grands défis majeurs: l'élimination de la pauvreté et la promotion d'une agriculture durable.
Ma délégation partage pleinement l'avis du Directeur général selon lequel l'élimination de la pauvreté constitue le plus grand défi pour la FAO, comme pour la plupart des institutions, multilatérales ou bilatérales, qui se consacrent au développement.
La promotion d'une agriculture durable, deuxième grand défi, n'est pas sans rapport avec le premier défi, tant il est vrai que la pauvreté est souvent à l'origine de la surexploitation du milieu naturel.
La lutte contre la pauvreté constitue donc bien la ligne directrice autour de laquelle doivent se concentrer les priorités de la FAO pour les années à venir.
Dans ce contexte, le Plan à moyen terme propose, dans sa première partie, un certain nombre d'approches qui, sans être toutes nouvelles, devraient, aux yeux de la délégation française, prendre une importance accrue dans les activités de l'Organisation.
C'est le cas de l'approche pluridisciplinaire, indispensable pour aborder de façon cohérente et efficace un nombre croissant d'activités qui impliquent une étroite collaboration entre plusieurs divisions. L'approche par programme en est le corollaire et les difficultés rencontrées dans le cas de certains grands programmes comme le PAFT doivent être surtout considérées comme le révélateur des obstacles à surmonter. L'expérience acquise par la FAO dans de tels programmes, le dialogue approfondi entre tous les partenaires concernés, constituent un pas important vers de nouvelles méthodes plus globales et plus participatives, susceptibles d'être appliquées à la plupart des grands domaines d'activité de notre Organisation.
Dans le même ordre d'idée, ma délégation appuie pleinement l'orientation proposée dans le Plan à moyen terme visant à renforcer la coordination entre les institutions des Nations Unies et la coopération avec des entités extérieures au système, comme les organisations non gouvernementales. Nous soutenons également le principe d'une décentralisation accrue se traduisant par un renforcement du rôle des autorités nationales dans les pays bénéficiaires et des représentants de la FAO dans ces pays. Il serait
souhaitable aussi que dans l'avenir, et si possible dès 1992, les conférences régionales de la FAO se voient confier des responsabilités accrues dans la formulation des priorités soumises aux organes directeurs.
J'en viens maintenant aux activités intersectorielles présentées dans la deuxième partie du Plan à moyen terme et plus particulièrement aux deux premières activités.
L'environnement et le développement durable, tout d'abord, constituent, je le disais il y a un instant, le second grand défi auquel, avec d'autres partenaires - tous ceux qui seront réunis à Rio en juin 1992 -, la FAO doit faire face d'une manière générale et permanente. Sur ce sujet, qui sera abordé plus en détail par la Commission I, ma délégation se limitera ici à un simple commentaire sur l'approche de l'Organisation. S'il est une préoccupation qui doit être intégrée - et non pas ajoutée - aux autres, c'est bien le développement durable. Aussi, la France ne peut que se féliciter du choix qui a été fait, dans le cadre d'approches pluridisciplinaires, de prendre en compte dans toutes ses activités et à tous les niveaux - conception, mise en oeuvre, évaluation - la priorité au développement durable.
Les avis en matière de politique, deuxième activité intersectorielle examinée par le Plan à moyen terme, constituent - la délégation française l'a d'ailleurs souvent dit ici - une priorité qui, dans les années à venir, devrait prendre une place de plus en plus importante dans les activités de l'Organisation. De nombreux pays en développement sont confrontés à de grandes difficultés, sur les plans social et économique notamment, dans la mise en oeuvre des plans d'ajustement structurel. Pour en rester au secteur agricole, fragile et menacé quand les conditions économiques et sociales sont défavorables, le risque est grand de le voir dépérir si les autorités responsables de la conception et de la mise en oeuvre des plans d'ajustement ne disposent pas des avis et des conseils leur permettant de prendre leurs décisions. Au sein du système des Nations Unies, la FAO occupe dans ce domaine une position unique. Elle ne peut se limiter à donner des avis et des conseils techniques. Ils sont nécessaires, indispensables même, mais dans le cadre de politiques agricoles solidement étudiées par des experts impartiaux et hautement compétents que la FAO a vocation à fournir.
En conclusion, ma délégation voudrait aborder brièvement deux questions évoquées dans la dernière partie du document; il s'agit des ressources et des versions futures du Plan.
En ce qui concerne les ressources, la France partage tout à fait l'avis du Secrétariat selon lequel il convient ici d'éviter tout débat inutile sur le volume et la répartition des moyens financiers à prévoir dans le cadre des budgets à venir pour les exercices biennaux 1994-95 et 1996-97.
Ma délégation a bien noté le caractère indicatif des données chiffrées par le Secrétariat et ne peut que se limiter à rappeler que les engagements financiers des Etats Membres relèvent exclusivement de la procédure d'adoption du Programme de travail et budget.
Enfin, s'agissant des versions futures du Plan à moyen terme, la France considère que le caractère "glissant" de ce plan - au demeurant non chiffré - ne devrait pas se traduire par un réexamen complet tous les deux ans mais par des réorientations ou des inflexions dans le budget biennal de l’Organisation.
Dans ces conditions, comme le propose la première option présentée par le Secrétariat, la Conférence se limiterait à examiner de brefs suppléments au Plan à moyen terme en 1993 et 1995. Une version entièrement nouvelle, portant sur la période 1998-2003, lui serait soumise en 1997, en vue d'un examen de même nature que celui auquel nous procédons aujourd'hui.
DONG QING-SONG (China) (Original language Chinese): I shall be very brief, Sir. First of all, I should like to thank the Secretariat for their preparation of this document, C 91/23. We should also like to thank Mr Shah for his presentation.
We believe that document C 91/23 and its presentation should be supported by us. It is a concise document and the priorities have been fully highlighted. It tells us not only what the world agricultural and food prospects of the 90s are and the challenges which will have to be faced, but we also found the priorities for FAO's work in the next three biennia. Therefore, it is a useful basis on which we can hold our discussions on the strategies for world agricultural and food development, and also for defining FAO's policies and guidelines. This applies not only to the next biennium, that is to say the sectoral and inter-sectoral priorities, but it also covers priorities according to region. We naturally support this. Of course, this is still an outline plan, but there is no doubt that it will have more specific manifestations in future Programmes of Work and Budget. This Programme will require constant resources in order to be firmly based and we must ensure that FAO is not required to remain at a state of zero growth for too long. The resources should be consistent with the challenges and needs which have to be met. We agree with what is stated in the Fourth Part, the conclusion of the document, which is the analysis of FAO's role in order to improve its work further, particularly concerning the continuation of decentralization policies, strengthening of management of field programmes, modernization of work systems and computers and so forth.
As to the methods for working on the future Medium-Term Plan, we are in favour of Option I, because medium-term plans should be drawn up taking in the long-term perspectives of the food and agricultural situation throughout the world. Two years is too short a period for great changes to come about. Therefore, we consider that Option I has the advantage of avoiding duplication and reducing costs.
After 21 years a review of the Medium-Term Plan is once again included on the Agenda for the Conference. This is the result of the application of Resolution 10/89. This document helps us to reach unanimous agreement in defining the priorities of the Programme of Work for the next biennium, and we hope that this approach - that is to say the drafting and discussion of a Medium-Term Plan - will be carried out in future, and that, whilst continually improving, this will continue to be done.
B.K. KISILU (Kenya): I shall be brief because my reaction will be in the form of seeking clarification on certain issues raised in the document. In this regard, my priorities are clearly indicated, but the analysis on how they are arrived at may be necessary as further improvements on the document. However, the Kenyan delegation notes and appreciates the fact that FAO has given due care to ensuring complementarity between the Medium-Term Plan and the Programme of Work and Budget in order to address its activities in a coherent manner.
Further, one wonders what FAO's experience has been on similar efforts to establish complementarities within the Member States' national development plans, most of which, especially in the developing countries, cover a period of five years.
This is important because those countries are addressing seriously the development of agricultural and rural areas as a priority, which I see are also a priority for the FAO within the context of sustainable development and conservation of environment for the future generation.
My delegation is satisfied with FAO's thrust on Policy Advice, Women in Development, Human Resource Development, Sustainable Development and Environment, as well as Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.
On environment and development my delegation was pleased about yesterday's awards to individuals who, through FAO, have come up with programmes to increase agricultural productivity for food security. However, it is important to have some indications of what is likely to be recognized at that level within the Medium-Term Plan, if it is possible.
We agree with the Secretary and the Council that there should be no difficulties in reaching unanimity on the substance of this plan, and hence recommending its adoption by the Conference through consensus.
Kazuo HANAZUMI (Japan): We have recognized that it is very important for FAO to draw up the Medium-Term Plan, because activities in the field of food and agriculture have been increasingly of a global and intersectoral nature. We also believe that it is indispensable that FAO make its activities effective and its priority areas clear through FAO's Governing and Advisory Bodies discussing the Medium-Term Plan. Therefore, we are pleased to welcome document C 91/23 submitted and explained in the Twenty-sixth Session of the Conference.
As regards the Medium-Term Plan, it is a very important guideline for FAO for the next three biennia. In conjunction with the UNDP support cost successor arrangement applied from 1992 onwards, FAO should clarify the point that FAO will show its presence by using its accumulated technical skill and know-how to maximize and increase the expertise.
Secondly, in Part IV of document C 91/21, Conclusions, we could examine the resource considerations concisely.
We recognize that some coherent policy will penetrate through the Medium-Term Plan and the percentage of the total budget for each chapter in successive biennia will not change, as we could show in paragraph 21 of Chapter IV. Therefore, it is unnecessary for resource consideration to be explained in the Medium-Term Plan.
In addition, the Japanese budgetary procedure does not allow any financial commitment beyond a single fiscal year, as the Director-General mentioned in paragraph 12 of Chapter IV.
Thirdly, concerning future versions of the plan, once the Governing and Advisory Bodies detect the FAO's possible future direction and policy, it should not be changed drastically for a few years. In light of the huge cost and complex processes of the issuance of a fully revamped version of the Medium-Term Plan, we will choose Option I.
Ms Ljiljana VELASEVIC (Yugoslavia): I wish to express my special pleasure that the proposal on the Medium-Term Plan of Work and Budget for the 1992-97 period has been placed on the Agenda of this Session. We believe that it constitutes a most important instrument which will enable the strict establishment of FAO priorities and generate useful discussions among the representatives of its member countries. It will constitute the basic material on the future activities of the Organization. We are confident that in its future activities FAO will increasingly focus its attention on those priority areas where it has comparative advantages in relation to other agencies.
We support the proposed medium-term approaches in relation to the five major cross-sectoral priorities covered in Part II: Sustainable Development and Environment; Policy Advice; Women in Development; Human Resources Development; and Economic Cooperation Among Developing Countries.
In the framework of this Agenda Item I would like to draw the attention of the Conference to the expectations from FAO, not only of Yugoslavia, but also of other East and Central European countries. Those countries are going through a complex process of reform in agriculture with a view to ensuring food security and strengthening the economic efficiency of agriculture through a market economy approach, privatization and entrepreneurship. Our main expectations from FAO are intellectual inputs in the reform process. We are in need of replies to some of the fundamental issues, and our objective is to establish a dynamic, efficient and stable agriculture able to integrate eventually into Europe and the internationally market-oriented agriculture. Thus, we propose a fundamental re-orientation of the activities of the Regional Office for Europe. We think that FAO has a unique historic opportunity to prove its role in the process of re-structuring agriculture in Central and East European countries.
Furthermore, although what I am about to say might seem a somewhat illogical follow-up to what I have just said following the suggestions of Mr Shah, I will not go into details about financial matters, but I should like to point out that the proposal for a five percent budgetary increase for the 1994-97 period against the present budget should be re-examined during this Session.
Irrespective of how much this increase would improve the quality of the Organization's work, I have to underline that there are no great prospects that, in the next few years, developing countries might be able to improve their economic position, and each additional financial obligation pushes them deeper into the crisis.
R.C.A. JAIN (India): Let me state at the outset that I am deeply impressed by the quality of document C 91/23, Medium-Term Plan, on the key challenges and prospects in the food and agriculture sector. While documents such as Agriculture Towards 2000 A.D. and Long-Term Strategy for the Food and Agriculture Sector continue to provide a consistent long-term framework to identify and assess issues, document C 91/23 has very competently outlined the policy and programme options before the FAO in the medium-term.
It is indeed painful to note that unless there are unprecedented shifts in income distribution, both from North to South and from rich to poor within the South, the 500 to 1 000 million people who are currently underfed largely because they are too poor to buy sufficient food will continue to go hungry. Besides, there will be over 1 billion more mouths to feed by the end of this decade in the world. Transcending the purely technical aspects of developing and managing natural resources for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, the document rightly focuses on human beings as the primary beneficiaries of development process.
It is true that a major imperative for eliminating poverty is agricultural, rural and human resources development through national and international policies. Emphasis to direct income and nutritional benefits on food-deprived people and households, both in urban and rural areas, and to overcome the underlying causes of poverty and malnutrition with sufficient rapidity therefore needs to be commended. In this context, the role of FAO as the multilateral technical and developmental agency in the food and agricultural sector in ensuring global food security, that is, adequacy of and stability in supply and access to food, has been very clearly spelt out in the Medium-Term Plan.
The prospects and challenges enumerated in the Director-General's introduction to the Medium-Term Plan document ably spell out the dimensions of the tasks confronting FAO. The guiding principles in formulating the medium-term response to these tasks in identifying substantive thrust areas and in determining the major thematic priorities, namely Environment and Sustainable Development, Policy Advice and Strengthening of the Information Base, Women in Development, Human Resource Development, and Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, provide a sound basis for strengthening FAO action for meeting global food security.
Paragraphs 8 to 35 in Part II of the document detail the context, role and medium-term approach of FAO in regard to the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) which aims at providing food security by ensuring a proper and sustainable balance between self-sufficiency and self-reliance, employment and income generation in rural areas particularly to eradicate poverty and natural resources conservation, and environmental protection by mounting priority action in areas of emphasis listed in (a) to (f) of paragraph 34. While endorsing this approach, I would like to emphasize that FAO action should be directed more towards the area-based approach in implementing specifically designed programmes taking into account resource specificities and agro-climatic conditions in different regions. The National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) being implemented in India may perhaps provide a suitable model for sustainable development for similar ecologically and economically disadvantaged areas.
The decade of the 1990s has been declared as International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). Recurring droughts, floods and cyclones have had adverse effects on crops and seriously erode the incomes of the farmers and act also as obstacles to development in developing countries. FAO can play a vital role in implementing non-physical mitigation methods such as crop insurance, contingency crop planning, crop diversification techniques, etc. It is suggested that FAO may include natural disaster reduction programmes in medium-term priorities.
Full advantage of effective information systems such as Early Warning System also can be derived only if an appropriate institutional mechanism exists at national level. FAO's efforts in this regard should therefore be directed towards building up national capabilities like a Food Security System at the national/regional levels to ensure quick delivery of food commodities in periods of emergencies caused by natural disasters.
In regard to FAO's approach to policy advice and dissemination of information through WAICENT, I would like to mention that there is a need among developing countries for having market information on a real-time basis. The importance of timely, accurate and relevant market information with regard to agricultural commodities will be of considerable assistance to developing countries not only in formulating right pricing policies but would also help in promoting international trade in agricultural commodities.
The agricultural research in developing countries need to be made more area, time, and farmer specific. High yielding varieties of coarse cereals, pulses and oil seeds, dryland agriculture, recharging of ground-water resources, post-harvest technologies, agro-processing for farm level value addition are some principles of research to be supported by the international bodies like Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and national institutes. Greater attention also needs to be paid to the development and use of hybrid seeds while simultaneously ensuring that mankind's genetic heritage does not suffer. FAO needs to place greater emphasis on ensuring that benefits of new technologies like bio-technology, genetic engineering, tissue culture, bio-insecticides, embryo transplant, remote sensing and non-conventional sources of energy research reach the farming community in the developing countries.
We feel that Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) is a very practical concept and ideally suited for achieving agricultural development objectives. In this context the stress being given by FAO to TCDC to enhance creative capabilities and collective self-reliance is appreciated. In addition to acting as catalyst and supporting promotional activities FAO needs to earmark greater resources to support implementation of TCDC bilateral activities. We also agree that FAO needs to augment its activities in providing training of national staff in TCDC methodology and procedures for securing greater expansion of TCDC activities.
With regard to improving the agricultural extension services we agree that public extension systems need to be re-oriented to make them more cost-effective, more relevant to the requirements of dryland areas, small farmers and cooperating with NGOs and private sector efforts in this field. The technical base of extension messages also requires to be widened by covering not only cereal production but also related fields such as horticulture, livestock, fish-pond cultivation, socio-forestry, etc. It is also necessary to re-orient both research and extension to a farming
systems approach which would look at the small farmer's total production context. FAO should extend the systems for establishment of national and state level training institutes, farming training centres, training of national experts and trainers to upgrade their capabilities. The training needs of farm women also need to be addressed on a priority basis.
We share the Director-General's belief that the policy of zero growth being advocated by some Member Nations cannot be pursued indefinitely without seriously affecting the programmes of the Organization. The challenges of the 1990s, especially those relating to sustainable development and poverty alleviation would also require more concerted efforts from FAO over the last three biennia can effectively be resolved only if all the Member Nations pay their assessed contribution in time. The developed countries also need to make additional contributions to enable the Organization to meet increasing demands being made on it for Special Action Programmes, etc. While the concept of Budgeting may sound interesting the feasibility of getting voluntary contributions from Member Nations to meet the expenditure from this fund should finally determine the approach in this regard.
The concise and highly readable document C 91/23 Medium-Term Plan fully vindicates the expectations of the Twenty-fifth Session of the FAO Conference. This new document stemming from the Review of FAO has provided an excellent opportunity to the Member Nations to generate a constructive debate on the strategic issues confronting the Organization and for strengthening FAO action in the medium-term. We support Option II with regard to the future versions of the Medium-Term Plan under which revised versions of the Medium-Term Plan would be submitted to the Conference each biennum with a sliding six-year coverage.
CHAIRMAN: Before giving the floor to the next delegate I would like to get an impression of the further proceeding on this item. We have reserved tomorrow morning for this item too and it would help a lot if we could get an indication now of how many more delegates are wanting to speak on this item; Pakistan, Switzerland, Poland, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mexico, the United States of America, the Netherlands, Malawi, Zambia and Canada. We move on and the next delegate is the delegate of the United Kingdom.
Ray ALLEN (United Kingdom): My delegation welcomes the document which is before the Conference today and we would like to thank Mr Shah for his very useful introduction. We consider the introduction of the medium-term planning process is indeed, as the Director-General states in his introduction, one of the key positive steps to issue from the Review of FAO. This is a valuable opportunity for the membership to comment on the broad policy and strategic issues which will shape the activities of FAO for the coming six years and, as Mr Shah pointed out in his introduction, to contribute to the definition of priorities which will in turn be embodied in the future Programmes of Work and Budget for the Organization.
We have a number of detailed comments on this document but before entering into these details I should just like to outline broadly the main issues which we see as the most important ones upon which this Conference should focus. Firstly, my delegation regards it as of the utmost importance that FAO use the medium-term planning process as a means to address the key
issues of FAO's comparative advantage and of the priority setting which follows from this. In this regard we should like to congratulate the Secretariat on the structure and the presentation of this document which clearly identifies the Plan as a priority-setting tool within the context of the medium-term challenges which are prominent in the development agenda for the 1990s and beyond.
However, we would stress that prioritization involves facing difficult decisions including a reduction in resources allocated to low-priority activities. This was also highlighted by the delegate of Denmark earlier this afternoon. The document under consideration only quantifies priorities at a level of Major Programmes and even at this level the budgetary shifts appear relatively small. In no case is a budgetary reduction in real terms proposed. We would have hoped to see an implicit statement of priorities within Major Programmes just as we would have hoped to see low-priority activities cut back further in order to allow growth in the high-priority ones.
We recognize the indicative nature of the figures in the Plan. It would, however, appear from paragraphs 18 and 19 that any significant moves towards prioritization appear dependent on a five percent growth rate in FAO's budget. Whilst accepting that it is difficult to manage change at a time of restrictive budgets we do not accept that prioritization should be dependent on budgetary increases. It would be more realistic, in our view, to the task of priority setting assuming continued budgetary restraint.
The second and related issue which the United Kingdom considers to be of vital importance is that of the relative roles of the Regular and Field Programmes. This issue is already being extensively discussed in the context of the Review process, and the complementarity of FAO's main roles fully accepted by the members of the Organization. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the nature of FAO's involvement in Field Programmes be carefully scrutinized in order to ensure that it is fully complementary with the priorities identified for the Regular Programme and for the Organization as a whole.
In our opinion FAO's comparative advantage encompasses collation and dissemination of information on a global basis, quality control and nominative functions, global or regional coordination, policy advice, but not project implementation at country level. We expect FAO's involvement in field projects to change in nature over the coming six year period as national execution is strengthened and the Organization becomes increasingly engaged in more upstream advisory and backstopping activities.
We would therefore urge that the medium-term planning process focus on the appropriate collection of field projects and the development and evaluation of supervisory systems which are needed in order to prepare and enhance the complementarity of the Field and Regular Programmes. This is indeed one of the key issues identified in the document in paragraphs 78 and 80 to 88 which speak of the sometimes difficult relationship between the demand-led nature of FAO's Technical Assistance Programme and the need for selectivity and the importance of the guiding principle of comparative advantage. In our view Member States would do well to focus their discussion on this extremely important issue which has widespread implications for the future of the Organization.
A third key issue for my delegation is that of decentralization of responsibility to FAO Country Offices. This is mentioned in paragraphs 100 to 106 of the document. The Medium-Term Plan places great emphasis on the growing importance of country policy work in FAO's activities, and the United Kingdom endorses this emphasis. Increasing involvement in country policy advice will require a stronger geographical focus in FAO's work, and it will fall to the country officers to add the bulk of the geographical input and expertise which will be called for if such policy advice is to be effective and appropriate.
Country Offices therefore need strengthening to a considerable extent and the document under discussion outlines some of the ways in which the accomplishment of this is envisaged. My delegation considers that it is unrealistic to assume that extra resources will be readily available for this purpose, given the current climate of financial restraint which affects not only FAO but also other UN agencies and indeed national budgets. The membership of FAO is unlikely to be in the position to accept an increased burden of contributions to the Organization in the six-year period which lies ahead. The strengthening of the Country Offices will therefore have to be achieved by the transfer of posts and responsibilities from Headquarters.
We endorse the prospects for food and agriculture in the remainder of this century; in particular, emphasis which is readily given to the critical inference which population growth will have on these prospects. However the discussion of population in the body of the medium-term planning document is relatively limited and in some respects we consider quite weak. There are strong two-way linkages between population and agricultural development. Population structures and growth will influence landholdings, tenure and the size of population dependent wholly or partly on agriculture for its livelihood.
These factors should be central themes in policy analysis and development, especially at the country level. Again agricultural development will itself influence fertility, through its efforts to improve the status of women and through change in agricultural labour pratices. These dimensions, too, should be explicit in policy analysis and developments and we would like to see them brought out more clearly in the body of the Medium-Term Plan. In this respect we believe it is crucial that FAO staff have a broad awareness and understanding of key population issues and their relationship to development policy.
The Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom is currently conducting a programme of population awareness training for all members of its staff. If the Secretariat considers that our experience in this field may be useful to the Organization, as indeed that of any other Member Nation might be, we would be happy to share our ideas.
Paragraph 8 of the document discusses the means by which increased global food production will be achieved. We would like to stress that there are only limited opportunities for bringing new lands under cultivation. By and large future increases in production will stem from increased productivity per unit area of land. In the developed world environmental concerns are likely to reverse the trend towards further intensification and high input/high output agriculture. Hence much of the onus for increasing production is likely to fall on the developing world and middle income countries.
Paragraph 20 of the document lists those activities which are considered to be of high priority. We would welcome a more detailed breakdown of how the positive discrimination in favour of fisheries and forestry will influence individual activities. We question whether the relatively small increase in funding for forestry will be adequate to cover FAO's increased commitments if it continues to be an active participant in the TFAP.
As regards fisheries, we support the priorities and objectives outlined in the Medium-Term Plan but have one comment to offer regarding paragraph 303 on Fisheries Research. This states that FAO will give collective priority to strengthening national and regional research activities. We feel that this needs some clarification. There is an important role for FAO to play in activities of fisheries research which is centered upon the identification of research needs, field programme activities, and regional fisheries bodies. The storage and dissemination of information collected by research activities and the application of research results through its field programmes in fisheries policy development and planning. If these are the areas to be given relative priority then my delegation can lend its support to this objective.
The section of the document which deals with FAO and the concept of international relations identifies the linkage between environment and development as the central concern not only of FAO but of the international community as a whole. The need for multidisciplinary approaches and integrated responses to the challenges of sustainable development bring into relief the importance of cooperation both within and outside the UN system. We note with interest that the Medium-Term Plan in paragraphs 50 to 53 states that it is the Regional Offices which will have the greatest role to play in coordinating with both intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Given that the Regional Offices are areas of reduced resources in current budgetary proposals, does the Secretariat consider that they will be able to cope with an expanding role such as the one suggested in these paragraphs?
Paragraph 56 of the document mentions the need for Member States of the UN family to harmonize their positions in the diverse bodies in which they participate. This is a very valid point and one which we would wholeheartedly support. We trust that efforts in this regard will be matched by FAO's own dedication to appropriate inter-agency coordination.
The section of this document which discusses communication with FAO constituents focuses on the critical importance of information-sharing and information technology in FAO's activities. FAO's strategies for computerization and telecommunications is outlined in paragraphs 136 to 146. The emphasis on an information infrastructure capable of linking information systems for providing office information facilities and for giving access to external information is, in our view, sensible and appropriate. FAO has a key role to play in disseminating information on computer software in its work. In addition to advising on hardware and adopting computer packages, technical divisions of the Organization must be well informed in order to share the benefits of suitable software as widely as possible in order to save duplication of effort in member countries.
Paragraphs 147 to 153 which deal with capital budgeting seek Member Nations' reactions to an outline proposal for the introduction of a equipment fund designed to meet the costs of major purchases. My Government
procedures do not allow us to pay money in advance or in excess of current requirements and we would therefore not be able to support such a proposal.
On the subject of future versions of the Plan, the Director-General has proposed two options. Much was made at the debate at the last Conference of the rolling nature of such plan. We should nonetheless take note of the need for economies of costs without losing the essential rolling nature of the Plan. We therefore support Option I of the Director-General's proposal.
Ms C. FORTHOMME (Secretary, Commission II): I have been asked to announce that the Papal audience will take place on Thursday, 14 November at 12 o'clock. All delegates are kindly requested to collect application forms regarding their attendance from the Documents Desk as soon as possible. Once completed, the forms should be submitted to Office of Protocol, Room A132 in this building.
Kwang Wook AN (Republic of Korea): My delegation carefully reviewed the proposed Medium-Term Plan and concluded that the project was appropriate in the light of the current financial situation. We all know that the Organization is experiencing financial difficulties. It is, hence, very desirable that the FAO Secretariat keeps expenditure on administration and management as low as possible. However, my delegation would like to emphasise that FAO itself and the medium-term plans should take the international agricultural reform discussed in the Uruguay Round agricultural negotiations into consideration. Even now it is very difficult to compromise each country's needs for its own agricultural development. However, the proposed agricultural reform is trying to regulate the world agriculture through a standardized liberalization scheme. Therefore after the Uruguay Round negotiations, the necessity that international organizations, including FAO, should help the agricultural adjustment procedure of developing countries will be ever-increasing. In this context my delegation strongly believes that the harmonization of the activities of the Medium-Term Plan with each country's efforts to survive will be very important.
Hanif QAZI (Pakistan): A lot has been said but we would like to make a very brief statement. The course of action recommended by FAO in the Medium-Term Plan for finding solutions to a number of issues such as environmental degradation, Women in Development, Human Resource Development, etc., is most appropriate.
Also, the valuable suggestions made by the honourable delegates from member countries during this session we believe will further strengthen the Plan. Pakistan has in the past participated in FAO-sponsored projects and will also collaborate in the context of the Medium-Term Plan presented here in order to enhance productivity, protect the environment, and improve the lot of the rural poor, both men and women. Pakistan agrees with the first option.
António MAGALHAES COELHO (Portugal): Le document C 91/23 a été l'objet d'une analyse soigneuse au niveau du Conseil dans lequel mon pays a participé et a donné son accord au contenu du document C 91/LIM/21 qui est un extrait du rapport du Conseil.
Permettez M. le Président que la délégation portugaise intervienne dans le domaine des pêches, face à l'importance que cette activité représente pour le Portugal, détenteur d'une des plus larges aires économiques exclusives de l'Europe.
En analysant le document C 91/23, nous considérons très appropriée la référence aux paragraphes 25 à 26 sur la dégradation de l'environnement, une fois que les eaux côtières où se vérifient la déposition des oeufs et le développement des premières phases de la vie des organismes aquatiques, sont bien vulnérables aux diverses formes de pollution provoquées par l'homme. Et il est difficile d'évaluer, si en zones de pollution intense, les effets sur les ressources marines sont moins graves que les effets dûs à une pêche excessive.
Au paragraphe 259, au-delà des barèmes de qualité que les pays en voie de développement ont besoin d'améliorer, on évoque la valorisation des espèces qui ne sont pas courantes aux pays en voie de développement, lesquels se sont limités à pêcher seulement les espèces de haute valeur commerciale.
Le progrès de la pêche dans les pays en voie de développement dépendra aussi d'une meilleure participation des pêches dans la valeur ajoutée.
Nous sommes d'accord avec ce qui est affirmé au paragraphe 261, mais on doit prendre en compte que si la motorisation permet une meilleure efficacité, elle peut difficilement être appliquée à des communautés économiquement plus fragiles, ou plus éloignées des centres d'approvisionnement.
En ce qui concerne les paragraphes 263 à 266, on considère qu'un des aspects plus complexes de l'activité de la pêche dans les eaux internationales, est l'inexistence d'une organisation internationale avec des pouvoirs de gestion concernant les surfaces sous l'influence des organisations multilatérales dont les problèmes ne sont pas encore surmontés.
Au paragraphe 274, on devrait prendre en compte un autre objectif, celui d'étudier les moyens de garantir une gestion adéquate et une bonne exploitation des ressources, surtout quand l'activité de la pêche est pratiquée en dehors de la zone de juridiction d'un état côtier.
Au paragraphe 253 du document C 91/LIM/21, M. le Directeur général fait deux propositions concernant le délai qui doit être considéré entre la présentation de nouvelles versions du Plan en analyse (C 91/23).
La délégation portugaise, tenant compte: 1. Que la présentation de ces documents implique des frais importants; 2. Que les avantages de la présentation d'un document intérimaire résumé se rapportant aux progrès et difficultés enregistrés dans des aires plus importantes peuvent être très relatifs; considère que la présentation des plans tous les six ans sera suffisante.
P. Natigor SIAGIAN (Indonesia): Let me at the outset express my delegation's sincere appreciation to the Director-General and his staff for their efforts in preparing document C 91/23 as a response to the request of Conference contained in Resolution 10/89. As the Director-General said, this is a new document. We underline his views that discussion on this
document gives us an opportunity to engage in a fruitful discussion focusing on strategic issues, free of the more immediate concerns of budget level and cost increases. The merit of the Medium-Term Plan lies in its role in identifying the forthcoming prospects and challenges and seeing how policies and priorities can be shaped towards them.
On page 11 the document states that "FAO must remain useful to all its Member Nations". We feel it is an important message in the Medium-Term Plan that FAO should always be a useful and meaningful Organization for the small and poor farmers. It is in this light that we welcome the DG's policy message explaining that the alleviation of poverty posed the greatest challenge in the MTP. Poverty is at the roots of the World's problems, hindering the way to peace and prosperity for all. A massive programme of activities should be launched to address this problem. We are only wondering whether the scenario of 5 percent growth per biennium will be the appropriate answer to the aforementioned challenges.
Turning to other points, we agree that the MTP should be used as a guide for the selection and refinement of priorities in successive PWBs within realistic resource parameters. We welcome the thematic as well as the cross-sectoral priorities indicated in the MTP, which may be useful for reference purposes. It is general in nature, and therefore open to necessary adjustment at national level to bring it in mind with national policy and planning requirements. With regard to Programme priorities, we support the view that more attention should be paid to agro-industrial development. In Indonesia, Government and private sectors are currently working together in the preparation and implementation of this Major Programme. The launching of this programme, in which farmers' participation is fully guaranteed, will hopefully pave the way to a strengthening of their economic and social conditions.
In the field of fisheries we refer to the report of the last Council's meeting. In the coming six years the problems of responsible fishing operations, the issue of large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and matters regarding high-sea fisheries will be critical issues for Member Nations needing more of FAO's attention and involvement.
We welcome the substantive thrusts of policy orientation as clearly stated in the conclusion of the MTP. My delegation places high priority on the Human Resources Developmental Programme and the promotion of Women's Participation in Development. We wholeheartedly support the ECDC/TCDC Programme. Indonesia actively participates in this programme and we are in close contact with other developing countries in the implementation of these activities. Mr Chairman, we follow with close attention the views of the Programme and Finance Committees with regard to resource considerations.
The meeting rose at 17.15 hours.
La séance est levée à 17 h 15.
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.15 horas.
