CHAIRMAN: This afternoon we will go on to item 6, the Report of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture. For this Session we will have the privilege of having His Excellency Pereira Silva, the Honourable Minister for Rural Development of Cape Verde who is our Vice-Chairman, in the Chair. Mr. Silva has to leave tomorrow so he was good enough to readjust his programme so that we can have the privilege of having him in the Chair. Many of you know about him. He has been the Minister for Rural Development which includes agriculture, as a total concept, since 1977. He was a freedom fighter, an important leader of the liberation movement in his country and holds an agronomy degree from Lisbon. This morning I said farmers are crop watchers but Mr.Silva watches the interests of farmers. He is a very important man and I now request him to take the Chair and conduct the proceedings for this afternoon's session.
J. Pereira Silva, Vice-Chairman of the Council, took the chair.
J. Pereira Silva, Vice-Président du Conseil, assume la présidence.
Ocupa la presidencia J. Pereira Silva, Vicepresidente del Consejo.
LE PRESIDENT: Avant de passer à notre prochain point de l'ordre du jour, je voudrais, une fois de plus, vous remercier pour l'honneur que vous me faites en me confiant ce poste important. C'est une tâche très lourde pour moi, qui représente un petit pays, un pays qui en plus de sa petite taille, de sa petite population, est situé dans une des régions les plus difficiles du point de vue alimentaire, le Sahel, membre du CILSS. Notre pays dit qu'une des raisons de son existence est de pouvoir être utile aux autres, et de cette approche dérive l'importance que nous attachons aux organisations du système des Nations Unies, particulièrement à la FAO. C'est une raison de plus pour nous de nous réjouir d'avoir à exercer ces fonctions ne serait-ce que pour quelques instants.
Ceci étant je passe la parole à M. Bommer qui doit introduire le point suivant de l'ordre du jour.
D.F.R. BOMMER (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): I am introducing the Report of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture contained in document CL 83/9.
As you are aware the Agenda of the Committee on Agriculture traditionally consists of three main parts: firstly, Review of FAO's Programme of Work in the Food and Agriculture Sector; secondly, Food and Nutrition, and thirdly, Selected Development Problems.
This year's session included a further major item, namely the Proposals for the Establishment of an International Genebank and the preparation of a Draft International Convention for Plant Genetic Resources.
Following its review of the implementation of the activities during 1980-83 by the Agriculture and Economic and Social Policy Departments and the joint activities with the Regional Offices and Joint Divisions which fall under Major Programme 2.1 - Agriculture, the Committee had expressed its appreciation for the comprehensive overview of the Organization's work. It welcomed that under this major programme extra-budgetary funds for field programmes had been mobilized to the extent of four times its regular programme allocation. The Committee also supported the considerable rise in technical support of field projects by experts and consultants and new shifts in emphasis whereby Headquarters staff increasingly provided direct suppor to Member Countries.
As in the past the Committee discussed jointly the medium- and long-term outlook for food and agricultural development and the Summary Programme of Work and Budget 1984-85. It agreed that the long-term goals and medium-term objectives and strategies as presented by FAO fully reflected the serious problems of the food and agriculture sector. As a result the Organization's activities were geared towards supporting developing countries' efforts to achieve satisfactory growth rate in food production.
The Committee was in full agreement with the priorities embodied in the Director-General's proposed Programme of Work and Budget for the 1984-85 biennium and broadly agreed with the thrust and balance of the different programmes.
There were a large number of observations on each of the eight Programmes which are contained in the report available to delegates. The Committee fully endorsed the Natural Resources programme. In particular, it supported the increased efforts towards increasing irrigation efficiency through improved on-farm water management, and on integrated plant nutrition through the combined use of mineral fertilizers, better exploitation of organic material and application of biological nitrogen fixation. It also agreed with the importance of farming system development in small-holder areas, through a multi-disciplinary systems approach, in the context of agro-ecologically adapted farming systems.
The Committee reaffirmed the overriding importance of the Crops Programme, with special emphasis on food crop and horticultural production and similarly it supported the activities related to seed production and distribution, farm mechanisation and improved storage, conservation and processing. It also endorsed the proposed action on crop protection, including the strengthening of national and regional plant protection services and organizations. Full support was also given to the activities under the Special Action Programmes for Fertilizer, Seed Improvement and Development and on the Prevention of Food Losses.
Regarding the Livestock programme, the Committee confirmed the key role of animal production in rural develoDment and expressed satisfaction that it was directed at small farmers and addressed all aspects of animal production and health, animal products processing and training at all levels. The Committee emphasized the contribution of the International Meat Development Scheme, the comparable Dairy Development Scheme and the Programme for the Control of African Animal Trypanosomiasis and Related Development in promoting integrated agricultural development and as effective mechanisms for channelling financial resources into such development.
The Committee furthermore reiterated the importance of Research and Technology for development and agreed with the Director-General that FAO's capacity in this field needed to be enhanced through the provision of additional resources to assist national research institutions.
In this connection the Committee endorsed the proposal to group four existing units into a new Research and Technology Development Division reporting to the Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department. It stressed that this would strengthen FAO's role in support of agricultural research and the application of technology.
The Committee reaffirmed the fundamental aims of the Rural Development programme carried out by the FAO Secretariat in the light of the Declaration of Principles and the Programme of Action adopted by WCARRD. It stressed, in particular, the need to strengthen extension and training systems both at the level of small producers and at the management level, with particular reference to African countries. It renewed its support to improved marketing as well as agricultural credit and banking systems and to strengthening farmers' cooperatives and other organizations which would enable better participation by small farmers and other disadvantaged rural people in development activities.
The Committee fully endorsed the Nutrition programme and devoted to the related issues a fuller discussion under the standing agenda item on nutrition, to which I shall refer later.
The Committee also reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the collection, analysis and dissemination of Information on Food and Agriculture, one of the mandatory tasks of FAO as stated in Article I of its own Constitution. It encouraged the Secretariat to further strengthen its statistical data base and Early Warning System by also making use of modern computer developments, remote sensing techniques and satellite information, and to pursue the development of its situation and outlook work, its system of social indicators and its analysis of the behaviour of relevant economic aggregates affecting food and agricultural development.
It supported the multiform activity carried out in the area of Food and Agricultural Policy, including planning assistance, project analysis, work on commodity trade and, especially food security. In this latter respect the Committee noted that the Committee on World Food Security would undertake a reconsideration of the concepts and instruments of world food security based on proposals presented by the Director-General. This report has just been discussed extensively.
Under the item Selected Development Problems the Committee reviewed the important role of Plant Protection and agreed on the need for priority action in three main areas: the improved forward planning to reduce and better control pest and disease emergencies; an accelerated rate of transfer of plant protection technology, and a wider mobilization of international resources.
It endorsed the proposal for a new global strategy in plant protection providing for Cooperative Action for Plant Health, aiming at concerted action at international level to overcome serious outbreaks of pest and disease emergencies through the improvement of national and regional plant protection infrastructures. The Committee also recommended increased emphasis on the further development and application of integrated pest control, more effective plant sanitation for the production and distribution of healthy propagation material, and improved weed management systems especially at small farmer's level.
Following its in-depth review of National and International Strategy for Animal Health the Committee stressed FAO's essential role both in emergency disease control as well as in long-term disease control campaigns particularly in view of the beneficial impact of animal production and the requirements of active inter-country trade.
The Committee noted the success of the establishment of a buffer zone in south-eastern Europe in preventing the spread of exotic types of Foot and Mouth Disease virus to European countries and appreciated the initiatives taken by FAO for the emergency control of animal diseases particularly in regard to the eradication of African swine fever.
It expressed serious concern over the resurgence of rinderpest not only in Africa but also in the Near East and Asia and fully supported the initiative taken by FAO, together with OIE, OAU and EEC, to mobilize support for the launching of a Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign.
The Committee also emphasized the need for strengthening veterinary services for small farmers and recommended that research should be concentrated on specific needs of the small farmers and appropriate related technology.
Under its deliberations under the item WCARRD - Follow-up, the Committee appreciated the Secretariat's document on "The Role of Women in Agricultural Production" covering all the important issues related to the productive work of rural women in agricultural and rural development. It endorsed the proposed action for the medium-term and also made several additional important recommendations in respect to reaching rural women more effectively. In order to carry out effective programme planning and implementation, the Committee requested that FAO's assistance be provided to the countries in developing or strengthening the existing data base related to the participation of rural women in agricultural and rural development activities.
Under the standing item Nutrition, the Committee discussed "Malnutrition: Its Nature, Magnitude and Policy Implications", emphasizing that the level of malnutrition was the most important development indicator. Therefore nutritional considerations should be an integral part of agricultural and rural development policy. It stressed in this context the importance of targetting of agricultural production and income generating programmes towards the rural poor, especially women, encouragement of indigenous crops, management of food aid, crop breeding, improving technology and manpower training. Moreover, it agreed to the need to include aspects of seasonality of production and consumption in the solution of malnutrition problems.
The most extensive discussion by COAG was on the proposals for the establishment of an international genebank and the preparation of a draft international convention for plant genetic resources. The Committee appreciated FAO's efforts to raise the awareness of the international community to the need to collect and conserve crop genetic resources which in the words of the Committee were "a heritage of mankind and should be freely exchanged between countries and their respective institutions for scientific purposes and use in national crop-breeding programmes".
The Committee stressed the urgent need for developing countries to strengthen their national capabilities in plant genetic resources, plant breeding and seed multiplication. It appealed to the Director-General and countries with advanced expertise for assistance in these areas.
A wide range of views were expressed on both the proposals for an international convention as well as on the international genebank.
The Committee concluded its debate by requesting that the Director-General should be assisted by a working party of Member Nations which would help him prepare his report to the November Session of the Council when the proposals would be further elaborated before being submitted to the Twenty-Second Session of the Conference. The first meeting of this working party was held on 10 June 1983. It was a very constructive meeting which had resulted in clarifying a number of issues with regard to the scope and contents of the report to be prepared by the Director-General. A further meeting is scheduled to be held on 21 - 22 July 1983.
Before concluding, I would like to draw the attention of the distinguished representatives to the specific development topics which the Committee selected for possible inclusion in the agenda of the next COAG Session in the spring of 1985. These are given in paragraph 241 on page 30 of the English version of the report.
LE PRESIDENT: Merci M. Bommer pour cette introduction exhaustive. Pour ceux qui desiderontprendre la parole la discussion est ouverte.
Y. A. HAMDI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): My country's delegation has participated in the work of COAG and approved its report and we wish to present the following remarks:
First, the Summary Programme of Work and Budget for the period 1984-85; I wish here to express the appreciation of our country for the DG's efforts to reduce administrative costs to the minimum and to concentrate on the support of all vital programmes and projects. We shall be referring to this subject later on. We also agree on the importance of the research and technology sectors and their contribution to agricultural development.
To this effect the Arab Republic of Egypt is making great efforts for the expansion of agricultural research and linking it with extension. We also agree with the suggestion for the setting up of a special department for the development of technology and research, which will clearly support FAO's role in the strengthening of research and the application of technology.
Second, malnutrition: Malnutrition is due to interrelated factors which are numerous and usually of an economic and social character. My delegation shares in the Committee's concern for the magnitude of malnutrition problems resulting from lack of proteins, energy, anaemic xerophtalmia and we agree with the basic recommendations which are set out in the report and which summarize the various activities undertaken by FAO as to the role it should play in assisting developing countries at various levels, such as the formulation of national policies for food and nutrition, the inclusion of nutrition considerations in the formulation of agricultural and rural development programmes, the expansion of national and regional training activities and its support of training in nutrition. We also agree with the particular recommendation contained in paragraph 163 calling upon all nations to devote their efforts for the implementation of such strategies as were contained in the report.
Third, follow-up to WCARRD: We support FAO's strategy to reach rural women and its continued intensive endeavour for sending high level missions by WCARRD in order to highlight attention on the interrelationships between the objectives of development and justice and women's contributions. We also welcome the forthcoming Consultation on Women and Food Staples which will be organized by FAO. We also agree on the middle-term programme. In the Arab Republic of Egypt we emphasize the vital role of women in rural development. There is a number of programmes to improve the standard of women, affording them opportunities for education and improvement of their health and life standards. Hence we do look forward to FAO's assistance in this field.
Fourth, plant protection: Plant protection occupies an important role considering that it is a basic factor for increasing agricultural production.
Here my delegation agrees with FAO's proposal for merging plant protection in an overall programme of agricultural development. We also support the integrated protection programmes to combat pests and diseases biologically, chemically and mechanically. We should of course pay attention to insecticides and their harmful effects on man, animals, plants and soil. This of course requires a closer control of the varieties of these insecticides by special research laboratories. We should also pay attention to biological protection and the development thereof. We also should be very careful in the use of herbicides which are indispensable in the developing countries, in particular where weeding requires long time and effort. We attach particular attention to plant protection in Egypt, be it in the area of insects, plant deseases and pests. We are on our way to establishing a centre for research on seed diseases and we hope that this will be given attention by FAO. We also agree with what the report contains on the necessity of expanding bilateral and multilateral assistance to national plant protection programmes. We also support the proposal for the setting up of a data bank and we support the international strategy for plant protection and the priorities established.
Fifth, animal health: My delegation agrees that all extension services should be merged for those of animal protection and animal health at the farm level. We also support the priority given for manpower development in veterinary services as well as an increased support to training at all levels. My delegation wishes to pay tribute, on this occasion, to FAO's direct and immediate response to control accidental animal disease through the Programme of Technical Cooperation, as happened with the Rift Valley disease, rinderpest, and all such other diseases which have recently reached our country. My delegation also attaches importance to vaccine production and control and special storage and distribution systems, which will help us to vaccinate cattle as a main and essential function of control. The UAR attaches considerable importance to vaccine production and we look forward to FAO's effective assistance in this field. We also welcome friendly countries to cooperate in order to produce vaccines which will serve both UAR and the neighbouring countries.
Sixth, the establishment of a genebank: I wish to summarize here my country's view in two points. We agree on the establishment of the International Genebank and we imagine it as a network of storage, and UAR welcomes the idea of one of the branches of this network. We also welcome an International Convention for Plant Genetic Resources and look forward to the decision of the working, party which the Director-General was authorized to set up.
A. F. M, de FREITAS (Brazil) : The report of COAG VII in front of us is, in the view of my delegation, a balanced document which faithfully reflects the fruitful discussions held by the Committee on Agriculture during its March session. My delegation was an active participant of the last session of the Committee, where it expressed the view of the Brazilian Government on the main topics of the agenda. Accordingly it sees no difficulty in reiterating its support of the conclusions and remarks contained in the report. So I will limit myself now to making a few brief comments on some of the topics contained in document CL 83/9.
With respect to the implementation of the Programme of Work 1982-83, I wish to stress the need for the Secretariat to give a more precise information regarding the implementation of the different subprogrammes, even in spite of the natural constraints which the vastness of the subjects imposes. While commending the effort done in this area, my delegation believes that some progress can still be obtained in that direction. As to the question of priority setting and programming, my delegation recognizes the difficult economic framework of the present times, and its negative reflexes on the international cooperation, particularly on the cooperation towards economic development in general, and on the agricultural development in special. This situation imposes an increased attention on the definition of priorities and the allocation of resources. In fact, we believe that some measures contribute more than others to increases in agricultural production and to improvements in agricultural productivity. It is the task of the Governing bodies of the Organization, especially of the Council, to see to it that the right priorities are adopted, and the best allocation of resources is obtained, especially in times of scarcity of resources, as those we are now living. My delegation favours the constant debate on the validity of any proposal and the continuous scrutiny on the implementation of the decisions taken.
Coming now to the eight programmes contained in the major Programme, Agriculture, I would like to express the full endorsement of my delegation to the priorities adopted. I would only emphasize the particular importance my government attributes to the programme of research. While acknowledging the fact that the magnitude of research support activities are bigger than what appears from the published documents, the Brazilian delegation would like to see a strengthening of the resources allocated to agricultural research in general, and to agricultural research in Latin America in particular.
As regards the Medium-and-Long-Term Outlook for Food and Agricultural Development, my delegation is in full agreement with the view that the corresponding document prepared by the Secretariat defines the objectives of the agricultural programmes in consonance with FAO's study "Agriculture : Toward 2000", and with the targets contained in the International Development Strategy for the Third UN Development Decade. With respect to the Programme of Work for 1984-85, for the Major Programme Agriculture, my delegation concurs with the view that it reflects the recommendations and resolutions of the several Governing bodies of the Organization. We also subscribe to the priority attributed to food production, food security, research and technology development and training. My delegation particularly commends the effort done by the Secretariat to reduce administrative expenditure in order to offset an increase in the substantive programme for Agriculture.
As regards the individual programmes, I would like to single out the programme for Research and Technology Development, and express the support of my delegation to the proposal to establish a new division, which would group the four units which until now deal with matters pertaining to research and technology. My delegation favours an increasing role for FAO in these areas, and it hopes that the new division may become a useful tool to accelerate agricultural development in the developing countries.
With respect to the proposals for the establishment of an International genebank and the preparation of a Draft Convention for Plant Genetic Resources, my delegation wishes to acknowledge the results of the working party which assisted the Director-General in the preparation of the proposals to be submitted to the 22nd session of the Conference. My delegation is looking forward to reading these results as soon as possible.
My delegation would like on this occasion to reiterate its belief that the genetic resources constitute a common heritage of all mankind and that access to those resources should be open to all interested parties. I wish to express the hope that the efforts of the Director-General and of the working party may meet with success in the not too distant future.
W.A.F. GRABISCH (Germany, Federal Republic of): My delegation would like to give its thanks to Professor Bommer for his lucid introduction given to us on the agenda item before us reflecting briefly the proceedings which took place in the Committee on Agriculture and complimenting in such a way document CL 83/9 before us. Thus, the report and the introduction facilitate our work and allow us to be brief.
Our assessment of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture is positive. It had a good participation, and the great majority of its members took an active part in the discussions. The documentation was on the whole sent out in time, allowing for discussion at national level prior to the session. The future Programme of Work for 1984-85 and in particular its priorities regarding plant production, animal production, rural development, research, training and extension were broadly supported without prejudice to financial implications. The result of this discussion is being regarded by my delegation as an important element for the shaping of FAO's overall Programme of Work.
This is also valid for the discussion of the very well-prepared documents of sectorial areas such as malnutrition, follow-up to WCARRD, plant production and animal health.
Concerning the discussions about an International Convention for Plant Genetic Resources and the eventual setting up of an International Genebank, an item on which, as the Director-General also stated in his introduction, controversial positions were voiced, my delegation notes with satisfaction the action taken in the meantime by the Director-General and looks forward with interest to the report which he will present to the forthcoming Twenty-Second Conference.
As regards the future sessions of the Committee on Agriculture, my delegation feels that the custom of in-depth discussions on specific areas should also be continued. In our view, this discussion could perhaps even be improved by concentrating on a more limited number of items. Non-cereal food plant production and irrigation could for example be items for the next session.
J. R. LOPEZ PORTILLO (México): Agradecemos al doctor Bommer su presentación que, en verdad, mejora y aclara muchos aspectos confusos del documento CL 83/9.
Por la trascendencia del tema y las limitaciones de tiempo nos referiremos en esta ocasión exclusivamente al punto relativo al Convenio del Banco General de Genes.
Felicitamos al Director General por el interés que en todo momento ha puesto en relación a la Resolución 6/81; el Director General ha mostrado a los largo de sus intervenciones un interés especial por los asuntos de fondo de la agricultura y la alimentación; por eso nos complace mucho que presida las reuniones del grupo de trabajo que le asiste en la preparación de su informe en la parte relativa al Banco y Convenio de Genes.
Estamos satisfechos porque también estamos seguros que con su talento y capacidad de síntesis podrá sacar el mejor provecho de ese grupo.
El espíritu de la Resolución 6/81 es tan añejo como la lucha por reivindicar el valor de los recursos con que cuentan los débiles y por darles un uso justo y útil en función de los intereses de toda la humanidad.
Muchos países desde hace años han manifestado la necesidad de garantizar la conservación y justa utilización de los recursos genéticos en beneficio de todos. Tan solo, para citar algunos ejemplos, hacemos referencia a lo que la distinguida primer ministro de la India, la señora Indira Gandhi manifestó en la Conferencia de la FAO de 1981. Decía ella: "Los recursos genéticos vegetales y animales constituyen un patrimonio común y vale la pena cooperar en su conservación y su utilización". "Es necesario -decía la señora Indira Gandhi en otra ocasión- que cuanto antes los países eviten la dependencia en cuestión de germoplasma, y en ese sentido la India se está moviento y se moverá para conseguir la creación de un Banco Internacional al servicio de todos los pueblos".
Asimismo en la reunión sobre recursos fitogenéticos del sudoeste asiático los representantes de Afganistán, Irán, Iraq, Turquía, Pakistán y Siria manifestaron en aquella ocasión el interés por establecer un Banco de Recursos Fitogenéticos bajo la custodia de la FAO.
También en una reunión celebrada en Lima, Perú, los representantes de Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y.Venezuela.acordaron la conveniencia de establecer un Banco de Genes bajo la custodia de la FAO.
Sabemos también que importantes grupos de preeminentes científicos de países desarrollados coinciden plenamente con la necesidad de garantizar la libre disponibilidad, preservación y justo uso de todos los recursos genéticos para evitar la pérdida de material o retrasar la mejora de materiales cuando están sujetos casi en exclusiva a los intereses privados.
Queremos destacar también, de manera muy especial, la forma y autoridad moral con que un país desarrollado ha venido apoyando desde sus orígenes el concepto y realización del mandato de la Resolución 6/81.
Debemos agradecer a España su leal y solidaria participación en un asunto fundamental, en el rescate de los principios y la dignidad de los países en desarrollo. España ha ofrecido al mundo un ejemplo estimulante al poner a disposición del sistema de Naciones Unidas su Banco Nacional, con lo que se da un paso adelante en la concretización de la voluntad internacional.
En fin, los ejemplos son muchos, la filosofía y la proposición de instrumentos tales como el Banco Internacional de Genes y los elementos para un convenio no son nuevos. Ciertamente existe actualmente un sistema o red de Bancos que de acuerdo a sus intereses y patrones de evaluación es altamente eficaz, pero los sistemas, las acciones, las cosas no son buenas o malas por sí mismas, sino depende del patrón axiológico con que las evaluemos.
La casi totalidad de los estados libres y soberanos del mundo representados en FAO hemos coincidido en reconocer ciertos principios de objetivos en materia genética; primero, los recursos genéticos son un patrimonio universal y la forma de garantizarlos es poniéndolos bajo soberanía y custodia internacional.
Segundo, debe establecerse un instrumento que garantice la preservación, el libre intercambio y la plena disponibilidad de los recursos genéticos y la información científica correspondiente.
Señor Presidente, queremos subrayar que el sistema existente no contempla resolver los problemas legales y políticos que permitirían cumplir cabalmente con el principio y objetivos señalados. La existencia de la red de Bancos nacionales regidos por leyes nacionales los hace susceptibles a cambios a voluntad de los gobiernos y por tanto pueden pasar por alto cualquier convenio internacional, y aún las propias recomendaciones de FAO.
Por otro lado, el grupo consultivo de investigación agrícola internacional y el CIRF pueden perfectamente mejorarse, pero la FAO no puede responsabilizarse por ello ni tampoco plantear como solución alternativa al cumplimiento de la Resolución 6/81 actuar en un campo totalmente fuera de su responsabilidad y su capacidad de acción. Ciertamente la FAO puede hacer sugerencias, recomendaciones, auscultaciones, pero eso no puede ser considerado como alternativa del estudio sobre el establecimiento bajo los auspicios de la FAO de un Banco Internacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos y del examen y preparación de los elementos de un proyecto de convenio internacional, como lo indica la resolución 6/81; y no queremos, como bien lo mencionó el Director General en su estupendo discurso ante la UNCTAD, que las resoluciones de los organismos del sistema de Naciones Unidas se consideren más como obras de arte que como normas de conducta.
Hemos planteado esto porque consideramos que es fundamental y porque creemos que orienta muchos los trabajos de este Consejo y que próximamente la Conferencia deberá desarrollar en. la discusión del tema.
Existen, sin embargo, todavía algunas cuestiones de principio y de política en materia del Banco y del Convenio sobre las que no se ha discutido; me refiero en términos generales a la necesidad de incluir la información científica y el material genético ya procesado o en proceso para ser usado como materia prima de interés económico y considerado como parte inseparable del concepto de recursos genéticos.
Otro punto fundamental consiste en la disponibilidad y uso de la información genética existente y la necesidad de organizar programas de capacitación para el uso de germoplasma y su información.
Otro tema es el relativo a la forma en que participa la FAO y el CIRF, el papel del Grupo Constructivo y del TAC en la determinación de las políticas de recolección, evaluación, documentación, conservación, uso, etc. de los recursos de manera que respondan al interés general de los países miembros de la FAO.
En fin, el grupo de trabajo se está reuniendo eficazmente bajo la presidencia de nuestro Director General y está ayudándole a preparar los criterios que le permitirán presentar el informe correspondiente. Tenemos toda la confianza en que en el seno de la FAO sabremos resolver estas cuestiones de principio y también darle salida a un sistema multilateral que respete y asegure los intereses de todos en materia de germoplasma. Sería muy penoso, como en algunas ocasiones ha acontecido, que los países o las regiones se cerraran al intercambio del material genético que es estratégico para garantizar la alimentación de hoy y de mañana.
LE PRESIDENT: Merci de ce vibrant plaidoyer qui va dans le sens du point le plus important sur lequel la présente session devra se prononcer.
A. PAPASOLOMONTOS (Cyprus): The report of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) covers a wide but important range of subjects in FAO's efforts towards improving agricultural production. My delegation is in broad agreement with the Committee's conclusions and recommendations.
We would only like to highlight certain aspects which in our view need particular attention. We note, and we do welcome in the 1982/83 Programme the substantial increase in training courses, in workshops and study tours. We believe that these are important components in the process of development and we fully support the emphasis being given in concentrating FAO's resources to the poorer countries and to the small farmers. We believe that this commendable thrust on behalf of FAO should be strengthened considerably at the national levels to appropriate incentives aimed at the smaller farmers. These should be tied up amongst others with the availability of imputs and credits as well as marketing facilities etc. Such action would remove the measure of constraints now being faced by the small farmers. In this connection we agree that urgent priority needs to be given to the availability of improved seeds, to fertilizers and water, as well as the development of small scale water measurement systems. Plant protection, pre- and post-harvest, is applicable. It is also important, and we welcome FAO's efforts towards the promotion of safe and effective use of pesticides.
We would like to draw particular attention to the need of strengthening the capability of developing countries in monitoring pesticide quality, perhaps through the establishment of a regional quality control authorities. Any plans towards the implementation of quality control authorities should
of course be considerably strengthened through increased imputs into training and extension in plant protection, since failures in pest control, even after pesticide application, can very often be traced back to their inefficient use by farmers themselves in the first place.
In the field of animal health, my delegation strongly supports the extension of the buffer zone in south-eastern Europe in order to prevent the spread of exotic types of foot-and-mouth disease virus into Europe.
We would also like to highlight the significance of livestock insurance schemes. We cannot really expect the small livestock keeper to adopt improved breeds of animals or to make available increased purchase imputs to hic herds unless he does carry insurance against losses. To urge him to adopt improved packages aimed at improving the productivity and enhancing his income should in our view be tied up with an insurance scheme which would fairly compensate him against losses.
Mr. Chairman, in the field of research support we must also stress that the resources available are clearly insufficient in view of the requirements. Nevertheless the CGIAR does provide additional resource support and training, often in association with FAO and other international agencies to most developing countries. Undoubtedly ISNAR would play an increasingly important role in this field.
We particularly welcome, Mr. Chairman, FAO's active role in the forthcoming FAO/Islamic Conference, meeting aimed at determining the priority needs in the field of agricultural research in the Near-East and the North Africa region.
With reference to the suggestion for conventional plant genetic resources and the proposition for the establishment of an international gene bank, my delegation gives full support to the recommendations of the Committee and the stops followed by the Director-General in establishing a working party to assist him to prepare his report for the November session of the Council.
We would also like to stress the main issues associated with this item,namely the preservation of plant genetic resources engaged in this field which should be clearly available to all countries without restrictions now and in the future for the benefit of mankind.
Mr. Chairman, my delegation finally wishes to support the Committee's recommendation on the choice of selected development items which could be included in the provisional agenda for the next session of the COAG as Indicated in paragraph 241 of the document before us. They are all important and relevant and will enable the Committee to continue its investigation of serious professional as well as political commitment to the problems which affect the food and agricultural sector of member countries, but especially òf the developing ones.
We also are especially pleased at the Director-General's decision to initiate a measure study on agricultural price policies, and look forward to the report which will be submitted to the Committee on Agriculture in 1985 and which will no doubt offer the Committee the opportunity for an interesting and fruitful debate on this very important subject.
LE PRESIDENT: Merci honorable délégué de Chypre.
Avant de passer la parole au prochain orateur inscrit, et puisque, en raison d'autres engagements, je dois m'absenter, je vais maintenant laisser la place à notre Président indépendant.
Je vous remercie tous de votre compréhension et vous souhaite bon travail et plein succès.
M.S. Swaminathan, Independent Chairman of the Council, took the chair.
M.S. Swaminathan, Président indépendant du Conseil, assume la présidence.
Ocupa la presidencia M.S. Swaminathan, Presidente Independiente del Consejo.
Z. GROCHOWSKI (Poland): In the discussion of item 6 now under consideration, my delegation wishes to limit its comments to three subjects, namely to the international gene bank, to research networks and to the importance of forest management for agriculture.
As it appears from the report of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture, opinions on setting up the international gene bank and international convention for plant genetic resources are very differentiated. The differences of views confirm not only problems of a technical nature. Some of the Member countries maintain that the present organization in the forms of international cooperation in this field, developed by FAO/IBPGR, are completely satisfactory and there is no need for setting up a new organization.
The implementation of different international undertakings, particularly those involving many countries, requires great patience and calm in action. Only then a compromise can be achieved and a standpoint agreed. In this situation the suggestion of the Committee on Agriculture seems correct, that further work on these problems be continued by a working group as an advisory body of the Director-General.
Mr. Chairman, the question which, according to the Polish delegation, has not been sufficiently emphasized in the section "Research Major Programme Agriculture" are the research networks. For the past few years they have been organized in the European region. Although it is too early yet for their full evaluation, this form of cooperation seems to be very effective. That is why it seems advisable to expand this type of research cooperation to other regions and, in some cases, setting up inter-regional cooperation.
Mr. Chairman, problems of forest management only apparently are not connected with agriculture. The role of forests in developing the environment, agricultural area included, is generally known. Therefore serious problems of forest management, which have the character of elementary disasters in a vast area, cannot remain without unfavourable influence on agriculture. This is the situation found in Polish forests now. An outbreak of nun moth population has occurred on an unprecedented scale in recent years. This year the fighting is expected to cover about 1.5 million hectares. Fighting of the nun moth, considering of the scale of occurrence and of danger, stops being the problem of Poland only. The nun moth moves gradually from east to west. If its gradation is not checked it can become dangerous also for coniferous forests of other European countries.
In a wider aspect, the problems of forest damages and endangering of forest existence become of such high importance that they should be taken into account in the work programmes to a much higher degree than so far by international organizations, FAO included.
J.M. BOLIVAR SALCEDO (España): Deseamos comenzar por referirnos al tema de los Recursos Fitogenéti-cos.
En la séptima sesión del COAG, celebrada en marzo, la delegación española expuso su convencimiento de que era necesario un Convenio Internacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos que estableciera el marco jurídico para asegurar la libre disponibilidad de estos recursos, dentro del espíritu de la Resolución 6/81 de la Conferencia General de la FAO. Asimismo, considera nuestra delegación que dicho Convenio debería estar respaldado por la asistencia duplicada de las colecciones más importantes puestas bajo la soberanía internacional.
La posición española pretende ser conciliadora y realista en un tema tan debatido; pretende apoyar una solución viable. Pensamos que una solución inmediata definitiva y total no es posible hoy. Habrá que llegar a ella por soluciones parciales y aproximaciones sucesivas mediante el esfuerzo compartido y la buena voluntad de las partes.
Para ello, un primer paso es considerar unicamente las semillas ortodoxas, cuyas especies representan una gran mayoría de las plantas utilizadas por el hombre. Y para garantizar la libre disponibilidad de las mismas proponemos un sistema global que conste de tres elementos básicos y complementarios, que reconozca e integre los esfuerzos ya realizados y las estructuras existentes.
Un primer elemento, que es el que existe, es la red de bancos y centros bajo soberanías nacionales y los pertenecientes al CGIAR que están coordinados y apoyados por el CIRF en sus funciones de recolección, conservación, multiplicación, evaluación, documentación y distribución de germoplasmas.
Un segundo elemento, la existencia de duplicados, debidamente documentados de las colecciones más importantes bajo soberanía internacional, con el fin de garantizar la libre disponibilidad del ger-moplasma y su documentación por encima de cualquier barrera política o económica que exista o pueda existir en el futuro.
Y un tercer elemento, un Convenio Internacional que regule y establezca el marco jurídico de este sistema global, así como el apoyo tecnológico de los países desarrollados a los países en desarrollo, para utilización del germoplasma en la producción de nuevas variedades.
El sistema global enunciado sería a los recursos fitogenéticos lo que la ley del mar a los recursos marinos.
El primer elemento, la red de bancos, garantiza a cada país su soberanía nacional sobre el germoplas-ma que posee, y contribuye a su salvaguardia, utilización e intercambio mediante su cooperación con el CIRF. El uso y disfrute de este material cae, sin embargo, bajo leyes nacionales que pueden ser modificadas por el gobierno o el Parlamento del país correspondiente. Esto hace que un sistema basado en solo este elemento sea muy vulnerable, principalmente en épocas de conflictos o tensiones internacionales, y justifica la necesidad del segundo y tercer elementos mencionados y que desarrollamos a continuación.
El segundo elemento, o sea la duplicación de las correcciones más importantes y de su documentación bajo soberanía internacional y bajo la bandera de las Naciones Unidas evitará la creación de monopolios u oligopolios nacionales de la materia prima esencial para la alimentación humana, porque es evidente que el material vegetal puede ser utilizado como elemento estratégico y de poder ante las necesidades alimentarias de una población creciente. Esto no duplicaría las actividades de la red de bancos nacionales coordinada por el CIRF o de aquellas que puedan crearse, sino que las completaría, ya que el propio CIRF recomienda que todas las colecciones estén triplicadas o al menos duplicadas .
Para minimizar los gastos de funcionamiento estos duplicados, bajo soberanía internacional tendrían el carácter de colecciones base, dejando a la red de bancos nacionales del CIRF las funciones de recolección, multiplicación, evaluación e intercambio, como se ha venido haciendo hasta ahora bajo el sistema de bona fide. Sólo en casos específicos en que la bona fide se viese traicionada, sería precisa la utilización directa de estos duplicados internacionales.
En otras palabras, creemos que la existencia de estos duplicados de propiedad internacional es la mejor garantía de que el sistema bona fide del CIRF continuará funcionando en el futuro.
Para minimizar los gastos de instalación, este segundo elemento podría implementarse:
a) con la utilización de bancos nacionales ya existentes, dispuestos a colocar su germoplasma bajo soberanía internacional, renunciando a su propiedad sobre el mismo. España ofreció durante la reunión del COAG poner su banco bajo esta soberanía internacional y reitera su ofrecimiento.
b) Con la utilización de los bancos ya existentes en los centros internacionales del Grupo Consultivo, si éste acepta el establecimiento de un status legal que reconozca la soberanía internacional a través de las Naciones Unidas del germoplasma almacenado. España, como país donante del Grupo Consultivo, considera que esto es posible y deseable.
c) La creación de otros bancos bajo soberanía internacional en lugares técnicamente apropiados para los cultivos que no estén suficientemente cubiertos. Si para ello fuese posible contar con la asistencia económica del CIRF, España, como país donante del mismo, estaría dispuesta a incrementar sustan-cialmente su aportación.
El tercer elemento, el Convenio Internacional, proporcionaría el marco jurídico legal en el que se moverían las relaciones entre los países y de éstas con las Organizaciones Internacionales en materia de recursos genéticos. El Convenio debería de tener en cuenta los precedentes establecidos en una línea similar por la Ley del Mar para los recursos marinos e incluir normas que regulasen la asistencia tecnológica de los países desarrollados a los países en desarrollo, para la utilización de sus recursos fitogenéticos y creación de nuevas variedades mejor adaptadas a sus necesidades.
Finalmente, lo que desearía la Delegación Española es que se llegase a un acuerdo sobre la conveniencia de establecer un sistema global basado en los principios expuestos y, consecuentemente, que el Grupo de Trabajo ya constituido para asistir al Director General, estudie la estrategia, fases, financiación y formulación concreta para hacer operativa esta propuesta.
A. PEREZ-MARSA HERNANDEZ: (España): Como continuación a la intervención de nuestro compañero de la delegación española, queríamos agradecer al Sr. Bommer y felicitarle por su magnífica introducción del documento CL 83/9, que nos ha aclarado algunos asuntos y puntos de importancia esencial.
En primer lugar, Señor Presidente, mi Delegación apoya el resumen del Programa de Labores y Presupuesto para 1984/85, deseando vayan encaminados a las prioridades de mayor interés y urgencia. Asimismo, apoyamos el Programa de Actividades Complementarias en lo que se refiere a mejorar la participación de la mujer en el desarrollo rural. Entendemos que estas acciones pueden ir encaminadas a información y capacitación que ayuden a paliar la falta de oportunidades laborales para la mujer, permitiendo así su mejor contribución al desarrollo. En nuestro país, esta capacitación adopta las modalidades de la formación agraria en producción, gestión económica y manipulación de productos y formación extraagraria, industria y artesanía, muchas veces en forma de cooperativa asociada, así como turismo rural.
Todas las actividades que se propongan en las políticas locales, siempre serán bien aceptadas para posibilitar la participación de la mujer en el desarrollo rural.
Por último, Señor Presidente, dada la importancia de la protección vegetal en el desarrollo agrícola como base esencial para aumentar la producción alimentaria, nos obliga a la elaboración de una estrategia mundial al objeto de integrar la protección fitosanitaria en un enfoque más amplio.
Mi delegación ha estudiado detenidamente los párrafos 183 al 201, del documento en cuestión, y está completamente de acuerdo con el contenido de los mismos; pero queremos resaltar algunos puntos que consideramos de esencial importancia.
En primer lugar, con relación al párrafo 188, tal como reflejábamos en nuestra intervención de marzo pasado, creemos es urgente que el código de conducta sobre la distribución y empleo de plaguicidas que está elaborando la FAO, quede terminado cuanto antes.
Por la trascendencia del tema, queremos poner de relieve con especial interés, la potenciación de programas de lucha integrada y de manejo de plagas, como base para evitar desequilibrios biológicos y ecológicos y posibles efectos nocivos para los seres humanos.
Tal como indica el punto 196 del Documento, señalamos el interés de potenciar en cada país los Servicios Nacionales de Protección Fitosanitaria y de Inspección Fitopatológica.
Para terminar, Señor Presidente, quiero destacar la gran importancia que tendría la creación propuesta, tal como se señala en el párrafo 197, de un banco de datos, en estas materias, junto con una mayor y mejor difusión de la información y si fuera necesario con la transferencia de tecnología apropiada a través de asistencias bilaterales o multilaterales.
Ms. G. DÅNMARK (Norway): On this occasion my delegation has the pleasure to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Nordic countries consider the discussion at the last COAG meeting to be of great importance in the field of food and agriculture development. They also consider the agriculture sector to play a crucial role in the general economic development, especially in the developing countries. Seventy to eighty percent of the population in developing countries live in rural areas. Many of these earn their living from agriculture. Increased productivity and improved economy of these groups would lead to increased demand from other sectors of the economy. This in turn would mean these other sectors are given the possibility of expanding and that new employment opportunities are created.
Increased emphasis on the agriculture sector would therefore in the long run form the basis for increased economic growth" and a higher standard of living in the developing countries.
As stated on previous occasions, the Nordic countries are of the opinion that agricultural research is vital with regard to production increases, improvement of technologies, etc. Research in these areas would lead to economies and better utilization of limited resources.
It is therefore important that the developing countries give higher priority to agricultural research. Many developing countries do not have the infrastructre nor the resources to establish independent research activities. Assistance from international organizations and institutions is therefore still necessary. Furthermore, it is, in our view, important that national agriculture research give priority to crops and technology that are essential for low income groups and small-scale farmers. However, it is not, in our opinion, sufficient only to concentrate on and give priority to agricultural research. Marketing of food and measures to stimulate the use of new techniques are also essential. Stable and incentive prices are in this connexion vital in order to stimulate increasing food production, also taking into account the problems and interests of low-income groups.
The Nordic countries are very pleased to note FAO's initiatives to strengthen its activities with regard to the analytical studies of the effects on national price policies of increased production and consumption of food. Studies of this kind could assist many developing countries when elaborating an adequate price policy in accordance with a country's own objectives, economic/systems and capabilities. The nordic countries feel that there is, both within FAO and elsewhere, a general need for increased emphasis to activities in the area of food and agricultural policy. We think that the initiative taken is a step in the right direction and that it will result in further increased priorities to agro-economic and agriculture policy aspects.
As mentioned earlier, agriculture plays a crucial role in economic development. One of the many important questions facing us in the present difficult world economic situation is what effect a more cautious and increased emphasis on the agricultural sector will have for the general economic growth. In order to study this question further it will be necessary to examine the economic interaction between the agricultural and the other sectors of the economy. Through the study Agriculture Towards 2000 FAO has made a valuable analysis of the conditions for and the consequence of an increased priority of the agricultural sector. The work done is most useful. As mentioned by the Nordic countries at the COAG meeting this work could be broadened.
In the long-term perspective we also want to draw special attention to the UNEP/FAO report regarding the alarming problems of desertification. In view of the problematic situation, especially in many African countries, it might also be an idea to take up the discussion with effected countries to reintroduce studies on the country level.
During the COAG meeting the Nordic countries gave special attention to malnutrition and the follow-up of WCARRD. The Nordic countries want to take this opportunity to stress once more that the WCARRD principles, the situation of women and nutrition aspects, should be integrated.into all activities of FAO.
At the COAG meeting we were pleased to note the increased interest for WCARRD projects but at the same time we were informed that funds were lacking for their implementation. The Nordic countries would like to take this opportunity to urge other donor countries to make pledges to this important programme. A common feature of the follow-up activities to WCARRD is that they must be based on acceptance and understanding by governments, technical experts and the rural populations. In this connection we want to draw attention to the role of farmers' organizations. These organizations must also be involved in the process of WCARRD follow-up. This is especially important in the case of the subsistence farmer. It is in the subsistence sector that a great potential for increased food production and for improving the standard of rural areas lies.
Finally, we have noted with satisfaction that the working party regarding plant genetic resources has been established and that it has had its first meeting. We are looking forward to the report from the Director-General and the further discussion of this question at the next Council meeting.
N. DIMITRIÜ (Roumanie): La delegation roumaine apprécie comme positive l'activité déployée par le Comité surtout pour ce qui concerne la mise en pratique des programmes de terrain et d'assistance technique, l'échange important de matériel à semer, la propagation de la production de nouvelles plantes cultivées, la prévention et la lutte contre les maladies, les insectes et les animaux nuisibles.
Eu égard á ce qui a été présenté ci-dessus, nous exprimons notre accord sur le rapport de la septième session du Comité.
Quant à la création d'une banque internationale de gènes concernant les ressources phytogénétiques, nous désirons quand même informer le Conseil que la Roumanie peut apporter une contribution notable à l'organisation de cette banque parce qu'elle a une riche expérience dans cette direction et dispose d'un matériel phytogênétique abondant. La position géographique de notre pays peut faciliter l'échange international de matériel génétique et les spécialistes roumains pourraient participer à l'organisation d'expéditions de collectes.
Au cas où serait soulevé le problème relatif au siège de cette organisation, ou celui d'une filiale, dans la zone balkanique, la Roumanie pourrait examiner la possibilité de l'installer auprès de l'Institut de recherche pour les céréales et les plantes industrielles de Fundulea et de faire connaître ces considérations avant la Conférence générale du mois de novembre 1983.
J. BELGRAVE (New Zealand): Firstly on behalf of my delegation I would like to congratulate Dr Bommer for his excellent presentation of the report of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture. We feel this presentation has set the scene very clearly for the Council's consideration of the wide range of issues which the Committee has reported for our consideration at this session.
As one of the participants in the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture New Zealand sees the document before us, CL 83/9 as setting out very clearly the practical activities of FAO at the front end of agriculture, as it were. These activities are, of course, vitally important to developing countries, including those small developing countries located in the South Pacific. We are encouraged that the criteria used for priority setting and programmes established by FAO in implementing the 1982/83 programme of work which was considered by the Committee. Building on this approach we would like to see, as resources permit, the Committee on Agriculture become even more involved in evaluation of major programmes, given the technical expertise that is available to that Committee. Indeed, the Committee in its consideration of the implementation of the 1982/83 work programme recommended that the impact of activities on a selective or illustrative basis be reported on in the future and thus depending on the work of such selective programmes, extending the major evaluation programme generally perhaps might be considered.
New Zealand has stressed traditionnally the need to place great emphasis on FAO's work in the field. Indeed, from time to time we are able to provide technicians and other experts to help FAO's field programmes and other programmes. We are therefore pleased to note, and support fully, the clear emphasis given to field programmes, to training and to research in the programme of work and agriculture for 1984/84 and I can assure the Council, New Zealand will continue to do its best to give on-the-ground support to FAO's activities in these areas, particularly in the South Pacific region.
New Zealand supports the proposal to establish a research and technology development division in the agricultural directorate with a consequent rearrangement of staff resources and we feel the higher priority now being recorded to agricultural research by FAO is to be commended highly. This proposal can be seen in the context of the recognized importance of research to agricultural development and indeed reflects developing countries' own priorities. From New Zealand's own experience the results we have had from the extensive research we continue to undertake in many areas of agriculture provide ample evidence why research needs to retain the high priority accorded to it by FAO.
My delegation would also like to comment briefly on the topics that the Committee on Agriculture recommended be considered at its next session under the heading of Selected Development Problems, this is referred to in paragraph 241, document CL 83/9. We support generally the topics recommended but if the work could perhaps be concentrated in areas where perhaps the Committee might be able to recommend specific action by FAO given the present pressure on Secretariat resources. Of the four topics set out in paragraph 241, my delegation has, of course, already endorsed action under agricultural research and of the other three items there suggested it seems to us that the last item listed is probably capable of the more immediate practical application.
The New Zealand delegation supports the conclusion of the Committee that the Director-General be assisted by a working group of member nations to help him prepare his report to the Council on the International Gene Bank proposal. We are pleased to learn that the working party has met already, which is indicative of the Director-General's concern that the matter be progressed. We hope that the working party will be able to come to a mutually workable recommendation for the Council.
New Zealand, at the meeting of the Committee on Agriculture, suggested in the discussion on plant protection, the establishment of a panel on integrated weed management. As Council members are well aware, farmers in developing countries spend a large amount of their time on land clearing and weeding and we feel this area needs more attention. We were gratified with the attention the proposal received at the Committee and in due course my delegation looks forward to hearing how the suggestion is proceeding.
S.A. MAHMOOD (Bangladesh): First, my delegation would like to congratulate Dr Bommer on his excellent presentation of the report on the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture.
The Bangladesh delegation has carefully studied the report of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture in which my country was also a participant. The report is quite comprehensive, for which we congratulate the COAG and the FAO.
Amongst other subjects the Committee has studied in detail the problems relating to animal health but apparently adequate attention has not been given to the serious problem of animal food in some developing countries like Bangladesh. Under Bangladesh conditions, with scanty land resources the pressing need for producing more human food has resulted in almost the complete disappearance of grazing land in most rural communities. Moreover, with the introduction of H. Y. V. cultivation of paddy, the supply of straw is diminishing and whatever straw is produced is also being used to a substantial degree as thatching material and some is also being diverted to packaging of industrial and other goods. Even the stubble is largely being used as cooking fuel in a situation of acute domestic energy crisis in rural Bangladesh. Moreover, the supply of cereal processing byproducts, such as brand, has become commercialized following the large-scale introduction of community level husking mills and have gone beyond the reach of the average farming household.
In my country breeding of livestock and poultry has been traditional at the homestead level directly related to other agricultural activities, providing draft power, protein nutrients and also a degree of organic recycling. The developments over the last decades have grossly disturbed the traditional system, resulting in a considerable decline in the livestock population and a deterioration of their health. In fact in rural Bangladesh the nutritional status of a farming family almost always corresponds with the nutritional status of its livestock holdings. The aggravating situation is therefore causing serious concern and needs immediate attention.
At the national level we are trying to find and adopt remedial measures. However, we feel that this is an area which needs more detailed study and the sharing of experiences amongst countries with similar problems, which are not many.
My delegation would therefore request that the FAO should give a higher priority to the problem of animal and poultry feed in developing countries simultaneously with its programme on animal health.
With the above observation my delegation generally finds itself in full agreement with the contents, conclusions and recommendations of the Committee and notes with appreciation that the Committee while reviewing the Programme of Work for 1982/83 have given the right stress on the need for the Programme to concentrate on the poorer communities, lower income and handicapped groups, small farmers, landless labour and women.
Regarding the summary Programme of Work and Budget my delegation agrees with the priorities accorded to different programmes and sub-programmes of the major programme 2.1 Agriculture. These priorities reflect the wishes of the member countries and recommendations and resolutions of the Council and the Conference as also regional conferences and inter-governmental bodies. My delegation fully supports these priorities, particularly in areas of food production, food security, research and technology development, and follow-up on WCARRD, including the role of women. My delegation also fully endorses the overall priorities given to the problems of the low-income food-deficit African countries.
On the subject of plant genetic resources and the two proposals, my delegation, subscribing to the basic concepts that crop genetic resources are a heritage of mankind and that they should be freely exchanged between countries, thinks that all related technical, political and legal issues should be addressed fully and we are confident that the Director-General with his sustained interest in the field would be able to help elaborate the proposals for the consideration of the November session of the Conference.
M. PHOOFOLO (Lesotho) : From the outset as a member of the Committee on Agriculture who took an active part in the deliberations of the March COAG session we fully support the contents of document CL 83/9. We endorse the emphasis that has been given to training in this document, particularly as it relates to Africa. Attempts to take corrective action on education and skills have brought a series of disappointments, especially in regard to trained African women in agriculture and nutrition. Well qualified African personnel have been employed by our Organization, but the bulk of technically competent African women in the service of our Organization are not lucky enough to remain in their posts for a long time. Some are given very short terms of service. How can these women gain the skills and the competence which document CL 83/9 talks about if their contracts last for a maximum of six months? Indeed we realize that these women must work in their countries of origin to have a lasting impact. However if their academic training permits them to work with an international organization like FAO they should be given the chance to prove themselves both at FAO Headquarters and in the field. Here I am addressing myself to the nine or more paragraphs which refer to training in Africa especially for women.
On trade we recognize that the exports of the developing countries face much fiercer competition from advanced countries than these countries did when they themselves were developing. Expansion of these exports is further handicapped by policies of protection pursued by the rich countries.
On mechanization, we recognize the utility of mechanization in ironing out seasonable bottlenecks which occur in planting, weeding, harvesting, resulting in expanded cultivable acreage. However, mechanization has not proved economic in African agriculture and it therefore needs to be applied judiciously. The precondition of mechanization is that the physical and social conditions should permit the use of appropriate machines, taking into account the most optimum combination of crops, livestock and farming activities. We agree that the backbone of agricultural production in the African continent is the smallholder rather than the estates or plantations. Unfortunately the economic. development of many African countries has been tied to the introduction and production of cash crops. In consequence food production for home consumption has declined. Thus it is important to examine in more detail the differences in the marketable surplus per head of population in those countries which depend on small farms for their livelihood.
With regard to the indigenous crops a tendency does exist to underestimate the importance of non-marketed food production in the agriculture of developing countries, and more so in African agriculture, and to over-emphasise that of cash crops. Increasing the quantity and variety of food produced in this part of the world is important.
On questions of policy we realize that there are problems with concepts like economies of scale in agriculture and the relative efficiency of large and small farms. But what we think should be developed are policies to assist farmers to effect an increase in what they have as resources available to them and therefore try all possible ways of minimizing the incidence of inequality.
On the issue of research we fully support the efforts that are described in the document. However, we realize that there still is a case where agricultural researchers and officers attempt to transfer the superior technical methods employed by agricultural research stations to small farmers without recognizing the resource availabilities to those farmers. Therefore we suggest that the research support should take action to avoid repetition of this technical error.
Referring again to what we said in our intervention relating to worlds food security on irrigation assistance to sub-Saharan Africa we wish to request the Director-General to marshal international intervention in the provision of an infrastructure which will make use of cheap irrigation techniques like gravity irrigation, combined with partial pumping to ensure popular participation in the efforts to eliminate the effects of the imminent drought. Efforts are already under way to enlist participatory action through the formation of cooperative societies in southern Africa. This effort should be launched within the SADCC and we hope that the Council will adopt this recommendation.
We commend the efforts of FAO in the livestock area and we support its livestock programme. Nevertheless, we want to indicate that those pastoral people of Africa may be considered poor herd managers who overgraze pastures, mainly because their programmes are not really well understood. It must however be recognized that nomadism has been forced upon them by ecological circumstances which compel them to move their livestock around in search of tufts of grass nurtured by erratic rainfall. So far the measures taken to assist them have neglected this fact and endeavoured to confine nomads to areas too small to guarantee water and pasture availability throughout the year. In this connection we wish to request the Director-General to contact donors and potential donors with a view to raising funds for a Pan-African campaign to control and eventually eradicate rinderpest. This programme should be launched by FAO/OIE/OAE. We look forward to the endorsement and adoption of a recommendation to this effect by this Council.
Lastly, we support the conclusion of the Committee on the Establishment of the International Genebank.
P.M.AMUKOA (Kenya): My delegation participated in the deliberations of the 7th Session of the Committee on Agriculture and was party to the consensus which was reached at that successful session. In our view the Council should endorse what is contained in the Committee's report.
We wish however on this occasion to emphasise some areas very briefly and in some cases in a point form.
The focus of the agricultural programme on small farmers, women, the rural poor and pastoralists is a correct one considering that agriculture has an important role to play in employment and income generation and in rural development as a whole.
The emphasis on training, especially in Africa, is also in the right direction. The agricultural sector needs to be adequately supplied with necessary knowledge, skills and experience for it to play this significant role in development.
Intensification of soil and water conservation measures, irrigation activities and environmental management are urgently needed.
We support the development of smallscale agro-industries as these help to create employment opportunities and raise the income levels of the poor.
We welcome the emphasis on farming and farm systems approach elaborated in this document. We support the development of sound marketing strategies, delivery systems and the building of institutions relevant to rural development, especially in Africa.
It is encouraging to see in the report some innovative approaches in rural savings and credits. Conventional banking systems have not served the rural farmers, as some of their requirements for credit have almost always ignored the realities of smallholder farming.
My delegation supports the idea of programme evaluation to see if they have had an impact. This should apply to all programmes whenever possible, including animal health programmes in Africa, such as the rinderpest control programme. In this connexion, the development of the necessary evaluation indicators becomes very important.
The agricultural programme emphasis on indigenous food crops, including roots and tubers, is in the right direction and we commend FAO for this. We wish, however, to endorse the fact stressed in paragraph 80 of the COAG report, the last sentence of which states: "In this connexion the Committee urged the reorganization and strengthening of the Plant Production and Protection Division in order to give food crops a higher priority". Actually, this sentence should have fitted better as a last sentence of paragraph 81 under Programme 2.1.2, Crops, as it has a direct bearing on crop priority. In fact, the report of the 44th Session of the Programme Committee, which we shall discuss later, conveys the same idea under paragraph 2.1.2, Crops. We would for example wish to see some of the proposed forty FAO staff reduction posts shifted and filled with staff who will handle activities of indigenous crops, including roots and tubers, sorghum and millets.
As regards livestock, we need also increased emphasis on the development of animal breeding, nutrition and management and also the production of small animals, such as sheep and goats.
We welcome the emphasis given on research and urge that research activities should focus on problems of small farmers.
As regards nutrition, we support the fact that rural development projects should contain nutrition intervention components. There is also need for nutrition education among school children, adults and pre-service front-line agricultural extension agents, both men and women.
We request the Council to endorse what is expressed in paragraph 125 on National Liberation Movements in southern Africa which are fighting for noble goals of liberating their countries, and compliment FAO for its continued assistance to these movements.
As regards the role of women in agricultural production, we wish to emphasize (a) the role of community forestry in fuel wood energy supply to rural households; (b) the need to bring water closer to these households to save women from going long distances to collect water for their families and, in some cases, for their livestock and (c) the development of tools and technology which will make farming more productive and less time-consuming.
Many rural women in the developing countries live and work in socio-economic environments where their roles are defined by society, and any programmes directed at women in such communities must understand these societies and the roles they give to women before the implementation stage.
Regarding plant protection activities, we believe (a) that activities in this area should be integrated with those of crop production; (b) in the development of more efficient tools for hand weeding and weed management; (c) that methods of estimating crop losses be made simple and more applicable by extension agents, and (d) in increased training activities in this area, especially in Africa.
Animal health strategies should (a) give priority action to Africa's serious animal health problems; (b) develop veterinary manpower especially in sub-Saharan Africa; (c) integrate livestock activities and systems within the total farm system concept.
On the question of the International Gene bank, proposals for its establishment and a preparation of the Draft International Convention for Plant Genetic Resources, we have no comment at the moment except to say that we look forward to the next Director-General's report on this subject.
Finally, we endorse what is contained in paragraph 241 on selected development problems for consideration in the near future.
JIN XIANGYUN (China) (original language Chinese): As a member of COAG, China attended the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture in March this year. We endorse the Committee's report submitted to the Council. However, we wish to make the following remarks:
First, the item concerning an international convention for plant genetic resources and the establishment of an international gene bank is an important one for the Seventh Session of COAG which attracted attention of the delegates. The views expressed by various delegates have been fully reflected in paragraphs 219-238 of the report. We don't wish to repeat what we said at the 7th Session of COAG. The Committee decided to set up a working party . We voiced our support for the proposal and we hope that the working party will draw from ideas of all sides and assist the Director-General in the preparation of a report to be submitted to the November Council Session.
Second, paragraphs 241-242 of the report list the items suggested by the delegates for consideration at the next session. We deem that all the suggestions are constructive and so we hope that the Director-General and the Chairman of COAG will give them full consideration when finalizing the agenda for the Eighth Session. It is usual practice that every COAG session will discuss the implementation of the Programme of Work, the chapter "Agriculture" in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget of the following biennium as well as the medium-and long-term Outlook for Food and Agriculture Development and Nutrition. These are major items on the agenda for all COAG sessions. However, due to time constraint, prolonged deliberations of other items will inevitably affect the effectiveness of meetings. Besides, agriculture is a multi-disciplinary science with each part covering a specialized field. Therefore, in mounting delegations for COAG, member nations have to designate experts in the corresponding professions. As a result, if there are more items, there are bound to be more delegates, which will impose a heavy burden on member nations. Thus, we suggest that the number of selected specialized items be limited within an appropriate scope. In making this proposal, we have no other intention, but hope to ensure the practical result of the discussions and the quality of the sessions.
ABDUL WAHID bin ABDUL JALIL (Malaysia) : From both the Director-General's opening speech and Dr. Bommer's complete and clear introduction on the report of the Seventh Session of the COAG, we can conclude that the Committee on Agriculture had had a successful session in which many issues were well received and commented. The Committee was also able to gather and put before us a number of issues and matters requiring the attention of this Council. My delegation, while fully endorsing the various conclusions and recommendations put forward by the Committee in the report would, however, like to make some further observations.
As this delegation had indicated before, meeting increased demand for food required a variety of measures tailored to the specific needs of the individual countries. Basically, all countries must improve their agricultural technology. This involves higher and more efficient use of inputs, increased research and extension, better organization and management of farms, incentives to producers to innovate, improved desease and pest control, better roads and other ural infrastructures and reduction of post-harvest losses. These are no doubt some of the priority areas in food and agricultural development which should be given due consideration. Few countries in the developing world will be able to implement these activities on their own under the present constraints faced by many of them. Much therefore remains to be done through the assitance of international agencies involved with the development of food production in the developing countries. FAO, being the lead agency in the matter related to food and agricultural development, will have a tremendous task to perform to privide a catalyst for developing countries to meet their food needs. Through its programmes and activities, FAO had helped to bring about significant improvement in the food and agricultural situation in these countries.
We have no problem in following the activities of the Organization in the past. The Organization had been receptive to the suggestions and ideas for improvement of its activities and it responded effectively to the needs of developing countries. The FAO had gathered a tremendous amount of experience in the various fields of food and agricultural development, and it is hoped that this experience could be transferred to the countries through its publications and programmes. Development agencies must be sensitive to the needs of these countries for these programmes and activities to be effective. It is therefore with satisfaction that my delegation noted that FAO had taken into consideration the various factors necessary and useful in the drawing up of its medium and long-term programmes. In view of the differences in priorities to be assigned to the various regions and countries within the regions, the task of the Director-General to give his programme thrust and balance is not an easy one, particularly under the present tight financial constraints. We therefore must congratulate the Director-General on the manner in which he has drawn up the priority programme in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget for Agriculture, and based on the reality of the situation this Summary Programme should get the support of all of us.
With regard to the role of women in agricultural production we agree fully that more attention should be given to ensure the effective participation in the economic development of the countries. Many agricultural studies have shown the significant role of the rural women in the decision-making process of their families and in the economic activities of their community. National development strategies should therefore include the improvement of this very important sector of the population. However, we also agree with the view that the strategy for the development of rural women should not be carried out in isolation. It should be carried out within the context that women's activities are closely related to that of men. More generally, these strategies should focus on lightening the burden and the task that rural women are engaging in now.
We are also in full agreement with the various national and global strategies of action from malnutrition, plant protection and animal health. Mr. Chairman, while the issue of the Establishment of an International Genebank and the formation of an International Convention for Plant Genetic Resources is important for the conservation of genetic material from being eroded, but, in view of the differences of opinion expressed on the subject during the Committee's session we agree fully with the decision of the Committee to recommend that the Director-General be assisted by a working group of Member Nations to help him prepare his report to the Council. We hope the Director-General's report that he is making based on the advice of the members of the working group will be the basis for the development and improvement of future activities in this important aspect of agricultural development which has not gained our full attention before.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, my delegation endorses the new areas of study to be undertaken by FAO as suggested in paragraph 241. We feel and hope the finding and discussions on the issues will be useful in the determination of factors needed to enhance food and agricultural development now and in the future.
D. WHITE (Argentina): Ante todo, mi delegación quisiera agradecer al Dr. Bommer su muy clara y precisa presentación del documento CL 83/9. Somos sumamente conscientes de lo difícil que es efectuar un orden de prioridades en un marco de necesidades y urgencias tan amplio. Mi país reconoce los esfuerzos que realiza la FAO en este aspecto, detectando las prioridades y actuando en consecuencia. Es absolutamente lógico que cada región, cada país, presente necesidades distintas, por lo menos de diferente intensidad, y es por ello por lo que nos parece natural que sean las propias naciones las que determinen los sectores donde las necesidades de apoyo sean más importantes.
Estamos de acuerdo, como principio general, que en la realización de planes y acciones deben primar las urgencias. Y en este sentido nos parece sumamente lógico que el mayor énfasis de los programas esté dirigido a las regiones y/o países con déficit alimentarios más acentuados. Consideramos también que para el logro de objetivos de mediano y largo plazo debe prestarse particular atención a aquellos programas con efectos multiplicadores en las economías de los países en desarrollo. Es decir, que coadyuven al crecimiento integral de los mismos. Tampoco debemos olvidar, en la fijación de programas, metas y acciones el sano principio de las ventajas comparativas. Con recursos cada vez más escasos debe ponerse énfasis, a nuestro criterio, en aquellos aspectos que con menor dosis de inversión se logren incrementos de producción mayores.
Nuestra delegación está de acuerdo, en líneas generales, con lo expresado en el documento COAG 83/4 referente a las perspectivas a medio y largo plazo para el desarrollo de la agricultura, así como aprueba el resumen del programa de labores y presupuesto para 1984-85. Nos parece muy atinado el equilibrio proyectado para los diferentes programas, dado el insignificante crecimiento presupues-tario que se nos propone.
Quisiera referirme a continuación, brevemente, a algunos aspectos del programa. Consecuentes a las ideas expresadas anteriormente, mi delegación apoya enfáticamente el contenido del capítulo 2.1.4, referente al fomento de la investigación y la tecnología. Consideramos que toda iniciativa que tienda a incrementar los esfuerzos en la investigación es la mejor manera de asegurar una tendencia positiva de la productividad. La investigación debe estar apoyada sobre bases realistas, lo que es sinónimo de responder a esas necesidades del sector agropecuario y reunir condiciones de economici-dad. Mejorar los sistemas y métodos de extensión y transferencia tecnológica es, a nuestro juicio, realmente importante, pues de ello depende, en gran medida, la adopción de las nuevas técnicas por parte del productor.
Dentro de los planes de investigación, le damos gran importancia a la labor que realiza la FAO en el campo de la energía, sobre todo, en los aspectos relativos a la fijación biológica de nitrógeno y al mejor aprovechamiento de fuentes de energía nuevas y renovables como se menciona en los párrafos 76 y 111.
En este sentido, nuestro país ha desarrollado un sistema de producción altamente eficiente, en términos energéticos, basado en la rotación de leguminosas y nuestra experiencia en ese campo, que es larga y completa, está permanentemente a disposición de quien la solicite.
Nos parece importante, a su vez, insistir en la necesidad de una mayor cooperación entre los países para realizar actividades de investigación mediante programas de colaboración entre instituciones especializadas. Dentro del programa de actividades, del reciente creado Comité de Acción sobre la Seguridad Alimentaria Regional (CASAR) en el marco del SELA, se le ha dado una particular importancia a la cooperación técnica entre las naciones latinoamericanas.
También nos parece particularmente importante y por ende apoyamos todos los esfuerzos que puedan realizarse en la capacitación del personal rural. La mano de obra capacitada es un recurso escaso en los países en vías de desarrollo; es realmente un cuello de botella muy notorio que puede frenar los esfuerzos que se realicen en otros sectores.
Por último, Sr. Presidente, quisiera referirme a la propuesta para el establecimiento de un banco internacional de genes y la preparación de un convenio sobre recursos fitogenéticos.
Mi delegación quisiera agradecer y felicitar a la Secretaría nuevamente por la elaboración del documento que nos fue presentado en su oportunidad y que nos ilustró en un tema tan complejo y especializado. Mi país le ha dado una particular importancia a la genética, tanto en lo que hace a la investigación, a la experimentación, como a la difusión del material genético mejorado, y es consciente de que es el instrumento tecnológico más contundente y económico de que el hombre hoy dispone para incrementar la productividad de los cultivos.
Nuestra delegación considera indiscutible el principio de que los recursos fitogenéticos son patrimonio de la humanidad y que deben buscarse los mecanismos para asegurar el libre intercambio entre los países y sus respectivas instituciones para fines científicos y para su utilización en programas nacionales de mejoramiento genético de cultivos.
Mi país es consciente de la importancia y la complejidad del tema que estamos abordando y aprueba la formación del Grupo de Trabajo que asesora al Director General en la formación de su informe y espera ansiosamente sus resultados.
En Argentina se ha formado un grupo interdisciplinario de especialistas del más alto nivel para estudiar el tema en su conjunto, así como para analizar y formular mecanismos que faciliten alcanzar los objetivos propuestos.
A.A. KHALIL (Sudan) (original language Arabic): Mr. Chairman, I am starting to speak at a time when everybody is a bit tired, but I would like to comment on the report of the Seventh Session of COAG, a document which we have before us under CL 83/9 on behalf of my delegation. First of all I would like to thank COAG for the efforts which have been made in the course of the Seventh Session in order to present such a report. Furthermore, the Committee has given its support to the Director-General s proposal to limit administrative costs and to strengthen the technical and economical activities in the Organization's Programme for 1984-85, and we believe that this deserves our congratulations. We would like to congratulate the Director-General and his staff on the excellent orientation they have selected, and the priorities which they have adopted for the Organization.
We would also like to say that we agree with the results of the Committee in discussing the different programmes it had before it. We also agree with the priority which has been given to certain development projects, in particular those concerning the control of malnutrition at the national level, and the strengthening also of resolutions and follow-up of WCARRD, and in particular the role of women in rural development and the increase of production. Also we support too the recommendations concerning plant protection and animal protection, especially with regard to the harmful effect of the extension of FMD.
We would also like to give our support to the emphasis given by the COAG to direct these activities to help small farmers.
With regard to the setting up of an International Genebank . and an International Convention for Plant Genetic Resources, we fully agree with the setting up of a working party to deal with this subject, and we are impatiently expecting the report which will be presented by this working party in November.
Mr. Chairman, the problems of development which were chosen by the Committee for review at the next session are problems of the greatest importance, and this proves that the Committee is going to make all its technical and political qualifications available in order to help solving agricultural problems in all countries especially in the developing countries which are encountering many difficulties in food and agriculture. In this connection, Mr. Chairman, I would like to record that the work of the Committee on these lines facilitates the activity of FAO in the assistance which it gives to the needy countries in order to solve their development problems and increase their food production.
I. would also like to say that my delegation is greatly interested in the. global study concerning the policies of agricultural products prices which the Director-General has decided upon and which is going to be reviewed by COAG in 1985. This study will be very important and I think that the Organization should give it all the attention which is due to it.
And finally, without wishing to take too much time, I should like to say that rinderpest is a threat to our health, especially in the African countries; a threat with which we are familiar and with which FAO is familiar, because of the great number of Experts in agriculture and animal husbandry attending its meetings.
Mr. Chairman, we consider that FAO with its Division of Animal Production and Health, its large complement of field experts operating in many affected countries, its network of FAO Representatives, its Regional Office with specialized staff in this field is the logical and indispensable organization to support the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources of the Organization of African Unity (OAU/IBAR) which has been charged with the task of executing the large-scale field actions required in the campaign. The African countries give a great importance and a high priority to these activities which will save its resources of livestock from the extension of this disease. The support from FAO should cover not only technical assistance for OAU/IBAR but should include responsibility for the backstopping, monitoring the progress of the campaign as well as coordination of the very substantial bilateral and multilateral donor inputs. We also request the Director-General to pursue his efforts with the donor countries and regional organizations in view of supporting the African rinderpest campaign. We also hope that the Director-General will find it possible to approve the use of additional TCP resources, in response to the urgent requests of governments for assistance.
We would request, Mr. Chairman, that the Council formally agree on this matter and that the Council's Views be conveyed to the Directorate-General of the European Economic Community.
And finally, we would like to request the Council to endorse this request and to transmit this opinion to the responsible in the EEC and in all other organizations which participate in the funding of this control campaign. I hope the Director-General will be able to present a report to the next Session of the Council on the efforts he will have made.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your valuable suggestions. With this we come to a close for this afternoon.
The meeting rose at 17.30 hours
La séance est levée à 1/ h 30
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.30 horas
