International cooperative programme framework for sustainable agriculture and rural development (ICPF/SARD)

Creation of a general policy framework
Action plan: areas for concentrating efforts

Creation of a general policy framework

The general strategy proposed for ICPF/SARD rests on two main points:

• increasing a population's options so that they do not need to undermine their environment; and
• creating the necessary conditions for the market to operate efficiently while anticipating adequate corrective measures if the market is unable to ensure viable management of natural resources.

The strategy comprises three basic objectives:

• food security by ensuring an appropriate and sustainable balance between self-sufficiency and self-reliance;
• employment and income generation in rural areas; and
• natural resource conservation (water, soil and vegetation) and environmental protection.

In arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid zones, the particular position of farmers at the quasi-subsistence level calls for the following options:

• decentralization by devolving more responsibility to local level and by encouraging communities to take the initiative instead of relying on autocratic administration;

• granting clearly defined rights concerning resource use;

• easing pressure on natural resources by undertaking work to improve, rehabilitate and conserve resources in order to be able to use them more productively, such as:

• encouraging demand for products that can be obtained using viable methods;
• improving the land: population relationship through agrarian reform; and
• encouraging transmigration where it is possible and desirable; and

• applying technologies that meet the need for sustainability, in order to ease pressure in areas where the population is particularly high, by:

• supplying technology packages for the whole farming system instead of tackling each problem separately; and
• searching for solutions based on good practices and expertise rather than external inputs and mechanization.

Action plan: areas for concentrating efforts

The action plan has a number of elements.

Sectorial and subsectorial analysis and policy advice. This is the uppermost level, where the results of the whole agricultural sector or subsector analyses are refined into a set of policy parameters for consideration by national decision-makers. Such advisory work takes into account existing or planned national development strategies, together with available or potential resources, and identifies gaps in these national strategies in order to make them sufficiently comprehensive to deliver the desired benefits.

Planning and programming assistance. Within the whole range of FAO activities in this field, three areas of critical importance are identified:

• food security and nutrition;
• national forestry action programmes; and
• responsible and sustainable fisheries.

Integrated rural development. This has two major levels:

• community level (people's participation and human resources development); and
• household level.

Conservation and rational use of critical natural resources for sustainable development. This includes land, water, and plant and animal genetic resources.

Safe use of key inputs and technologies. This addresses essentially two areas:

• pest control; and
• maintenance of soil fertility.

This action plan, approved by the Hundred-andSecond Session of the FAO Council in November 1992, will be implemented through the activities of Special Action Programmes (SAPs) currently being restructured by FAO.

On first analysis, the SAPs would be the following:

• a sectorial and structural adjustment programme grouping a number of activities in policy analysis and advisory services;
• a food security and improved nutrition programme to cover activities related to nutrition problems;
• the recently revamped Tropical Forestry Action Plan, with a possible extension to other types of forest;
• a fisheries and aquaculture programme based on elements of the strategy developed by the World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development;
• a human resources development programme which would encompass the human resources aspects of the following programmes Plan of Action on People's Participation; Women in Development; Forest, Trees and People; and Artisanal Fisheries;
• a sustainable household farming systems programme, including ongoing projects on farm management and on diversification of farming systems;
• an integrated plant nutrition systems programme, incorporating the Fertilizer Programme and current related projects;
• a pest control programme; and
• the International Action Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development (IAPWASAD), which includes an important section on managing water resources in drylands.

One of the main objectives in grouping activities under a Special Action Programme is to enable FAO to use its capabilities fully and to attract sufficient funding for maximum impact. Such an arrangement also meets the increased coherence called for by the donor community; donors prefer to work with a programme approach rather than disconnected ad hoc projects. This should catalyse financial support for the programmes.

Finally, the emergence of ICPF/SARD and the related SAPs undoubtedly contributes to giving them a clear identity and will encourage the interagency cooperation and coordination that FAO is actively seeking.