At the conclusion of this morning's session several delegates were good enough to tell me that I must not just place my views in writing and that I must find at least a little time to say what I wanted to say. I therefore thought, since I am in the Chair,I had better take a few minutes and then request Dr. Bommer to take over. I shall deal with only two aspects. One is plant genetic resources. My first introduction to this building was through plant genetic resources in the 1960s. The first meeting I attended in FAO was on plant genetic resources, so this Organization from its inception has been involved in this question of plant genetic resources. And in the last 20 years, particularly after the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources came into being, there has been increasing activity.
I wish to say first of all that we are very grateful to the Mexican delegation for having given the subject the importance it deserves. When we were talking about plant genetic resources I was thinking how nice it would be if in the audience we had people like Vavilov the famous Russian scientist who started all this; and others such as Linnaens and De Candolle, who would have been very happy to see that at long last the topic is receiving the attention it deserves from the international community. Because unlike soil erosion which is perceptible, gene erosion is invisible to the naked eye and therefore we do not understand its significance. We would not even know if we had genes or not, if they were present or lost. But we have seen the impact of having such genetic veriability in terms of our ability to overcome a wide array of problems in animals, plant and fish breeding, and all biological organisms.
We are all mortals, we come and go, but genes can be immortal, that is the difference. Genes are immortal in the sense that they are available forever and they can be preserved in various ways, although the bodies in which they are carried die. That is the difference between the genetic carriers and hence I think this whole idea of having some kind of international convention for germ plasm conservation and utilization, a set of guidelines for cooperative work, is a very important one and FAO obviously is the right forum to discuss this.
I am also happy that there is a working party which is going to help the Director-General to prepare the paper to be put up at the Conference consisting of a very knowledgeable group of persons, including Dr. Bommer, so we hope a very good paper will come to the conference. All I want to say at the stage is in this area, like what we discussed about food security, it is a step-wise process, it cannot all be done in one day, collections are going on, they are being maintained, but how do we have an overall systems approach to the whole question of germ plasm collection and conservation and utilization. This is where there is need for vision because I always believe that where vision is limited action is equally circumscribed. Therefore it is important to have vision so that at least action can be stimulated. I would like to suggest that this working group under the Director-General, when they prepare the paper, they have this concept of the global convention or global charter, whatever you want to call it, on germ plasma conservation and utilization. Under that there are at least six major groups of activities which ought to receive attention. Number one is collection and classification; this has to be done largely at the national level, the countries which have the genetic resources, most of them are developing countries, countries of the South as they are called, they are the countries which have rich genetic variability and it is their responsibility to involve everybody, I would say, students, farmers, some countries I know are involving farmers and in some areas defence services will have to be involved because there are politically sensitive areas where it is difficult for civilians to go. Also defence services have greater mobility. I have a detailed knowledge of the state in rice so I can tell you, for exemple, that the world may have about 120 000 types of rice of which the present collection is about 70 000, so about 50 000 more can be collected. Recently we have developed a five-year plan to complete this collection before 1987 . Much of the collection which is remaining to be collected are in the endangered habitats, mountain habitats, sensitive habitats, which are more inaccessible. So I would say the first strategy of any global convention on conservation starts with collection and classification. Although the title of the Mexican resolution was Plant Genetic Resources, it is important when talking in this forum to take the view that the biological resources, in other words azole, Rhizobia, farm animals, etc. are all important. In 1980 there was a meeting here on the preservation of animal genetic wealth so that at the country level the action programme could be a little more comprehensive, in terms of plants, in terms of micro-organisms, in terms of farm animals which are of interest to us wherever genetic variability is important. Again and again we are talking about trypanosomiasis or I think African members talked about endemmas and tick-tolerant animals and so on. Many of them can become extinct. I do not want to take much time now but if you go through the proceedings of the FAO Conference on Animal Genetic Resources held in 1980 here you will find a number of examples of farm animal variability also threatened.
In work relating to collection and classification, the national endeavour should be comprehensive involving all members of society helped by competent professionals.
Then comes conservation. This is where the International Genebank was proposed. I was happy to hear the proposal now is for a global grid or network. It is not one gene bank somewhere, which is not viable, but we do really have a large number of collections. They are existing already, some of them are being coordinated by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, but there are a number of others all over the world, including our host country here, Italy, which has a big collection at Bari. Every country has one. A Scandinavian gene bank exists; Germany and United Kingdom; Japan has a beautiful one at Tsukuba, the most automated gene bank I have seen. Fort Collins, Colorado (USA) is probably the biggest repository of genetic material. So there are collections in a number of countries. What you are thinking of in an International Genebank is some system whereby we can have a multiplicity of repositories, in other words security in these collections. Even if something happens in one place, such as earthquake, etc., we should have them preserved if a duplicate set exists. So the strategy for collection and preservation is important.
The third aspect is the data bank and this is where scope exists for immediate action, for a large, international, centrally coordinated effort. A computerized system with satellite terminals, and one centre giving you all the information. I am sure this is engaging the attention of countries and that we can develop an international data bank.
The fourth is exchange and utilization and this is where there is concern that collections should be available for free exchange. I am sure the Director-General will be able to work out the methodology by which we can ensure that this is available to everyone who wants to use it through an international convention for germplasm exchange.
The fifth aspect is quarantine and safe exchange, because this is equally important as part of the global strategy of the conservation of genetic resources. The quarantine aspects for the safe exchange of material is equally important. It is particularly important in animals. I find indiscriminate introduction of animals from one place to another creates new problems which I know, from my own experience, occur inadvertently and not from anyone wanting to do any harm to others.
The last aspect to which I attach a great deal of importance is education and training. In other words the process which has been started by FAO in this hall, must become universal now because conservation is everybody's business. It was nobody's business before but ultimately conservation will take place not by just putting some seeds into cold storage, although this is also important. In many cases we will have to preserve the habitats where a lot of genetic variability occurs through bio-sphere reserves. This can be done only with people's cooperation and training of a large professional cadre. Therefore I am hoping that when we have the paper in November we have a comprehensive document which will give a blueprint for action over a period of time. It is not to be done today or tomorrow but over a period of time. It gives a broad perspective and I would very much like to see, although we may start with plant genetic resources, that we do emphasize the importance of other biological organisms which are equally important from the point of view of conservation. You can see enormous differences between different azole species, the ability to fix nitrogen varies by an order of one to ten. In many medicinal plants you will find enormous variation. If you take diosgenin content in Dioscorea you will find enormous variation. Therefore I think this concept of conservation must be a broad one, although at a particular time we might concentrate on wheat or cassava or whatever is of particular interest to a country, pulses or whatever. Thus, the global charter for Germplasm conservation we develop should deal with collection, classification, conservation, exchange and utilization, quarantine aspects and education and training.
This is the only point I wanted to deal with at length but the next point I would refer to is agricultural research. I want to welcome the FAO initiative in starting this research and technology development Division.
To my colleagues in developing countries I can only say one thing, agriculture being a highly location specific vocation unless you have a good local research system, whatever may be the data or material that may come from outside, it can sustain you for a few years, not more. One will run into a large number of problems with soil, plant and animal health. Without a dynamic national agricultural research system a dynamic agricultural production system cannot be sustained. It will be short-lived. It will all be called crash programmes and it will not succeed. This is why for a good extension machinery you need good research. This means the political
leaders must invest money on good research. It must be considered as an integral part. I have seen sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars spent on an irrigation project but not half a million dollars on irrigation research and on-farm management of water. You do not get the full benefit of the water, later you lead to salinization and so on, and this leads me to my concluding point, I think a very important ingredient to success in national research systems in developing countries is personnel policies suited for science. These are not talked about in these fora but those who have managed systems know, because at most times the personnel policies are such that we do not allow anybody to specialize in anything. In other words, one. day he may be a wheat agronomist, the other day he may be a casava agronomist for a little betterment of salary. I think the personnel policy in a scientific organization must be such that they can attract and retain the best quality people because science is a creative activity, not all can do science and therefore those creative individuals who may not be many in a country, particularly in our developing countries, they must be considered to be important assets and the personnel policies must be tailored to help and retain them.
There are other items I will put in writing because we are already delayed now.
D. F. R. BOMMER (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): In introducing the Report of the Eighth Session of the Commission on Fertilizers contained in document CL/83/22, I wish at the same time to bring the Council up-to-date on the current world fertilizer situation.
The situation is similar to that when the Commission met from 31 January to 3 February this year. Fertilizer export prices were low as they had been throughout the 1981/82 fertilizer year - that is to say, from July 1981 to June 1982. They have continued to be low during the current 1982/83 fertilizer year which ends this month and are expected to remain at this level during at least the first part of the 1983/84 fertilizer year which begins in July.
The current low prices reflect the low offtake of fertilizers during the Spring planting season in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, any change would only take place during the Autumn planting season.
Such a change could be influenced by supply management being practised by Northern American producers who have closed plants and by West European producers who have reduced capacity utilization rates.
These supply management practices resulted in a rather large decline in the production of each of the three major nutrients (N, P205 , K20) in the developed market economies in 1981/82.
With the decline in the developed market economies exceeding the growth recorded by the developing and centrally planned economies, world production of the three nutrients combined fell in 1981/82. This was, as mentioned already by the Director-General, the first time this had happened since World War II.
There also was a small decline in world fertilizer consumption, primarily due to the substantial falls in consumption of each nutrient in the developed market economies. In the developing market economies although there was continued growth in nitrogen consumption, that of phosphate and potash fell. This was mainly due to their decline in Latin America because of low prices for the major export crops and changes in fertilizer import and credit policies in some countries.
Although fertilizer export prices are currently low and were low during the 1981/82 fertilizer year, they were high in terms of local currencies in many developing countries due to the strength of the dollar, which is still very strong.
Hence the Commission expressed concern about the stagnation of fertilizer consumption in spite of the decline in fertilizer prices due to the economic difficulties and particularly the shortage of foreign exchange being experienced mainly by fertilizer importing developing countries.
The Commission therefore suggested that the Secretariat explore whether appropriate agencies, including the IMF, could offer possibilities to assist countries on the balance of payments problems. The Director-General has written to Mr. de la Rosier, the managing director of the IMF, in this regard in April, but so far has had no reply. In prevailing conditions of financial difficulties for the importation of fertilizer, fertilizer aid to developing countries, particularly by the International Fertilizer Supply Scheme, the IFS, are of special significance for developing countries.
The Council will note that in spite of an increase in 1980/81 fertilizer aid to developing countries has been decreasing. Furthermore, such aid has never reached the recommended annual target of one million tons of nutrients.
The Commission expressed its appreciation of the contributions made to the IFS by the Arab Fund and the Governments of Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands, Since the Eighth Session of the Commission the Governments of Ireland and Italy have made further contributions to the IFS.
The Commission expressed great appreciation for the IFS but also expressed deep concern about the overall and steady decline in its resources. It recommended that the IFS be continued and strengthened. It requested Member Governments to replenish IFS resources. The Commission also requested this Council to consider measures which it finds appropriate to seek increased support for the IFS.
The Commission also expressed concern with regard to investment in new capacity due to low fertilizer export prices. Unless prices rise to the level of realization prices required to encourage new investment it is possible that enough additional capacity will not be forthcoming to meet the expected demand towards the end of the present decade. No doubt as supply becomes short relative to demand prices will rise and new plants will be built, but only after having experienced a period of high prices.
The Commission suggested that the developing countries should enter into joint ventures with other countries to take advantage of the availability of raw materials and markets for the fertilizer produced. A study is currently being undertaken on the possibility of such joint ventures. It will be made available to Members of the Commission when completed.
The Commission recommended that the options system be extended for a further five-year period. They have written to the fertilizer producers who participated during the first five years to ascertain their willingness to do so. Replies received so far have been positive. Furthermore, the Commission fully supported FAO's fertilizer activities.
In evaluating the work of the Commission Members expressed satisfaction and stressed the importance for member countries to receive on an annual basis regular information on trends in fertilizer consumption and production. Under these provisions the Commission agreed to meet in future once during a biennium rather than twice as has been the case up to now. However, the Commission provided for a special session between its regular sessions if required.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Dr. Bommer, for bringing out so clearly in a short period of time the important points.
S. A. MAHMOOD (Bangladesh): I thank Dr. Bommer for his excellent presentation of the report of the Eighth Session of the Commission on Fertilizers.
The Commission have studied in depth some aspects of world fertilizer policy, with special reference to demand, supply, prices and trade as also Investment and production costs of fertilizers. However, while the in-depth study covers one facet of a rather complex situation quite exhaustively, another equally important facet appears to have not received the attention it deserves.
Concern at the possibility of stagnation in the establishment of additional capacities in fertilizer production leading to higher prices in future are quite well founded, but the reasons for the stagnation and decline in fertilizer consumption, particularly in developing economies obviously credit closer and more detailed examination.
It is the farmer who uses the fertilizers for production, and the farmer's level of economics under given market conditions which essentially determines the rate of use of fertilizer.
It is needless to say that a farmer in a developing economy works under a different market situation than a farmer in a developed economy. In most developing countries, with a high percentage of subsistence level farmers, the bulk of whom are consumer producers with marginal or no marketable surplus, working under unfavourable market conditions, incentive for consumption of fertilizer for higher farm production is often lacking. May I, in this context, draw attention to your own most valuable observation on the key role of the farmer in agricultural production and development and the rightful attention his interests deserve. Motivation at his level, which is the most essential prerequisite, cannot come unless his interests are protected through necessary governmental intervention and support.
Frequently mention is made of governmental fertilizer policy and strategy, as has been done also in this document CL 83/22, giving an impression of treatment of the subject in isolation, while fertilizer is just one of the major inputs in agricultural production and must thus be an integral part of the overall governmental strategy and policy in respect of food and other agricultural produce.
A government in a developing economy, faced with the paradoxical situation of simultaneously operating two conflicting market approaches, such as complete withdrawal from intervention in the marketing and distribution of fertilizers and other major inputs and obligatory intervention in the marketing of food to keep the same within the reach of and available to a bulk of the population close to or below absolute poverty level, grossly handicapped by extreme resource constraints, could very well be trying to reach the impossible, unless the overall strategy is designed to compromise for helping the farmer only to reach an optimal economic level of production under given conditions, even though the same may fall short of otherwise attainable higher target levels.
Against this back drop it becomes imperative for developing economies to aim at increasing the efficiency of chemical fertilizer use as suggested by F.I.A.C. through developing a system of soil and crop specific fertilizer prescriptions at the farmers' level, based on detailed expert study of soil crop relationship, residual effects and responses of various partnership crops in a cropping system so as to ensure more economical input use without seriously hampering production growth. The introduction of biological nitrogen fixation and organic recycling on a more intensive scale and improvement of fertilizer use efficiency through improved cultural practices are also essential in this context.
My country's delegation is thankful to the FAO for the sustained level of assistance it has been providing in the above fields and would request the Director-General for continued efforts in the further refinement of technology in the efficient use of mineral fertilizers and fully supports the recommendation that the FAO's activities in this area be further consolidated and strengthened.
My delegation also endorses the observations and recommendations of the Commission in respect of fertilizer aid to developing countries and the adoption of the new "Integrated Plant Nutrition System" approach.
C. VIDALI CARBAJAL (México): En relación a este tema recogido en el documento CL 83/22 nos gustaría precisar algunos conceptos que resultan inexplicablemente vagos del informe de la 8a reunion de la Comisión de Fertilizantes.
Los párrafos 8, 9 y 10 de dicho documento nos dejan la impresión de una Comisión estática que no se conmueve con la información preocupante que recibió sobre el desenvolvimiento de la industria de los fertilizantes y que solamente "tomó nota" de los gravísimos problemas que se expresan en dichos párrafos, como son la disminución de la producción y el consumo de fertilizantes a nivel mundial. El Director General de la FAO en su discurso introductorio a esta sesión del Consejo mencionó, y lo cito: "sin un aumento constante de la producción y el consumo de fertilizantes será imposible en el estado actual de la tecnología mantener el suministro de alimentos que necesita una población en constante crecimiento".
Es por esto, señor Presidente, que en vez de "tomar nota" deberíamos expresar una gran preocupación por este hecho, cuyos orígenes se ubican sólo parcialmente en la crisis económica mundial y las fuertes repercusiones que ha tenido ésta en la industria de los fertilizantes.
Decimos que el origen del problema sólo parcialmente es originado por la crisis porque nos gustaría conocer y evaluar la información relativa a la influencia que ejercen las grandes corporaciones transnacionales que dominan esta industria y que seguramente han tenido una participación importante en este fenómeno.
En ninguna parte del documento CL 83/22 encontramos una mención directa y concreta a estas corporaciones que con sus rigurosos análisis de costos/beneficios aumentan o disminuyen la producción de fertilizantes, especulando con el hambre de muchos seres humanos. Sobre este particular solamente encontramos una muy tímida mención en el párrafo 45 en donde se habla de la colaboración que se ha establecido entre la FAO y la industria de los fertilizantes. Si esta colaboración es efectiva,
señor Presidente, no vemos por qué no puede proporcionársele a los miembros de la FAO una información amplia y detallada sobre las actividades y propósitos de las corporaciones transnacionales que operan en este sector.
Por otro lado debemos enfatizar lo establecido en los párrafos 20 y 21 del documento de referencia, puesto que pensamos que los esquemas que buscan implementar efectivamente la cooperación Sur-Sur son los que debe buscar el mundo en desarrollo; en materia de fertilizantes tenemos la materia prima, los recursos humanos, la voluntad de desarrollar nuestra industria de fertilizantes. Es muy importante que los países en desarrollo tengan acceso a tecnologías y a financiamientos necesarios para impulsar su industria de fertilizantes, por lo cual comprendemos la preocupación que se expresa en los párrafos 19 y 22; es importante, entonces, que se señale en el párrafo 29 que los organismos internacionales de financiamiento ayuden efectivamente al desarrollo de la industria de fertilizantes en los países en vías de desarrollo.
Esperamos con gran interés el informe que nos prometió el Director General de la FAO sobre sus gestiones ante el Fondo Monetario Internacional, y que nos mencionaba hace un momento el Dr. Bommer, no se ha recibido respuesta todavía. Pero sugeriríamos que extendiera sus buenos oficios a otros organismos internacionales de financiamiento para que países con dificultades críticas en la balanza de pago puedan recibir apoyo para adquirir fertilizantes.
Resulta incomprensible que exista déficits de alimentos y además baje el consumo de fertilizantes cuando debería ser a la inversa, y precisamente los fertilizantes deberían desempeñar, a precios económicos como los que hay ahora, un papel preponderante en la producción de más alimentos. Por eso es angustiante lo que se señala en el párrafo 31 de que la Comisión "toma nota" que el volumen de la ayuda de fertilizantes en 1980/81 era, y cito "inferior a la de 2 y 3 años antes", y era todavía bastante inferior al objeto anual de ayuda recomendado por el Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación y está cifrado en un millón de toneladas.
¿Cómo es posible, señor Presidente, que la Comisión solamente "tome nota" de este problema en vez de transmitirnos su grave preocupación por este hecho?
En relación al párrafo 53 sugeriríamos que se incorporara al estudio que va a desarrollar la FAO el tema de las empresas transnacionales que solicitamos al principio de nuestra intervención. Dicho párrafo dice que "se realizarán una serie de estudios si hubiera fondos para ellos", y esto lo dejamos entre comillas. El tema es tan importante que deberíamos insistir que la FAO establezca una partida presupuestaria para realizar estos estudios y no lo deje solamente en términos condicionales.
Finalmente, nuestra delegación se pronuncia enfáticamente en favor de que la Comisión de Fertilizantes y su grupo consultivo de trabajo prosigan desarrollando su cometido. Señalamos que la diversidad de tareas que realiza tiende a promover la producción, la distribución, la comercialización y sobre todo la utilización de fertilizantes para elevar la producción agrícola y de los alimentos, especialmente en los países en desarrollo.
M. AHMED (Pakistan): We are in general agreement with all the observations and recommendations with the Commission on Fertilizers. We especially appreciate the emphasis placed on the use of an integrated approach to plant nutrition, combining the use of mineral fertilizer, recycled organic materials and those available from biological nitrogen fixation and even appropriate cropping patterns and crop rotations. Although we have been generously receiving support on a bilateral basis in respect of fertilizer requirements, we would also support the request made by the Commission to donor countries to replenish and augment the resources of the International Fertilizer Supply Scheme.
Pakistan has been the recipient of aid under the Scheme in the past and has been utilizing the counterpart funds in carrying out research on the improvement of efficiency of fertilizers. Fortunately, there has recently been a sharp fall in fertilizer prices. This is perhaps going to be a shortlived phenomenon. In our view it gives us a breathing spell which should be utilized in devising action programmes and creating an environment for enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer. India, in his intervention on the earlier item, has drawn our attention to the extremely low efficiency of urea application and the very simple matter of correcting the situation. This kind of experience needs to be shared on a more extensive scale. The Fertilizer Commission has no doubt stressed the need for continuing efforts to increase the efficiency of fertilizer use and boost the crop response to fertilizer, but we think the importance of this subject in view of the cost involved to the farmers on the use of this vital input warrants a much greater effort and we would like it to be so reflected in the FAO's programme.
P.M. AMUKOA (Kenya): We welcome the Report of the Eighth Session of the Commission on Fertilizers, commend and endorse the work done. We shall make comments on a few areas beginning with paragraph 10. We regret the fact that fertilizer consumption declined in many fertilizer-importing developing countries.
In the study Agriculture Towards 2000, fertilizer is recognized as a major input in increased food production in developing countries. Fertilizer will account for over 50 percent of the increase in food production. This would mean a five-fold increase in fertilizer use by developing countries as a whole. After taking into account organic sources of plant nutrients, it would mean a more than fifteen-fold increase in fertilizer use in low-income food-deficit countries, especially in sub-Sahara Africa.
I should like to observe here that in 1979/80, developed market economies consumed 127 kilogrammes of nutrients per hectare of arable land. Developing market economies in the same period consumed 31 kilos of nutrients per hectare of arable land, Africa consuming a mere 8 kilos. These figures, though old, give the general picture of consumption disparities.
In discussing food security issues, one always arrives at the conclusion that increased national food production is the cornerstone of food security. With the declining and low levels of fertilizer consumption in developing countries, especially in Africa, my delegation then would like to know from this Council the means by which these countries will rapidly achieve reasonable food security and sustain it. Of course, as you all know, these countries will not import enough food to feed themselves. They are often faced with foreign exchange problems, which is a key reason for their inability to import sufficient quantities of fertilizer even at times when prices are said to be low. Actually, I do not know if to developing countries, prices were really low when you relate the local currencies to the strength of the dollar. So it would appear that many countries, especially low-income food-deficit ones, will never in the foreseeable future be able to obtain enough supplies unless maybe sustantial grants and other facilities and arrangements which are sympathetic to the problems of these countries are generously provided.
We support new investment in fertilizer plants within fertilizer-importing developing countries, and regional or sub-regional collaboration in this area would be most useful.
Regarding fertilizer procurement, national forward planning is very important. It is important to have indications well in advance as to how much fertilizer a country will require, what type, when and where, in which parts of the country it will be used. Fertilizer imports should be based on these questions and indeed, when the fertilizer arrives at the port or point of delivery, problems like distribution arrangements to areas of use are minimized. I make this point because it is one thing to see fertilizer though, of course, always not enough, and another thing to make it available to the farmer when he needs it.
On issues for review contained in this report, we have two comments, one, on which of the areas we should consider. We urge the international community, especially donors, to strengthen the resources of the International Fertilizer Supply Scheme. In paragraph 35 of the report the Council was requested to consider measures to increase support to IFS. My delegation proposes that the Council request donors to make long-term pledges to the resources of the Scheme, as this will, inter alia, help the Scheme to plan its activities in advance. In this connection, it is sad to see in paragraph 34 of the report that only the Arab Gulf Fund and governments of Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands had made at that time recent contributions to the Scheme. My delegation requests the Council to be grateful for these efforts.
On plant nutrition and other activities of FAO, we urge the Organization to channel more resources on the development of strategies to food production with a minimim of fertilizer use.
A. PEREZ-MARSA HERNANDEZ (España): Deseo agradecer al Dr. Bommer su brillante exposición del documento. La delegación española quiere dejar constancia del excelente trabajo llevado a cabo por la Comisión de Fertilizantes en su octavo período de sesiones, cuyas conclusiones están recogidas en el informe que se nos ha presentado.
Además mi delegación quiere hacer constar, en primer lugar, su preocupación por la situación y perspectivas de la demanda de fertilizantes, afectadas muy negativamente los problemas financieros de los países en desarrollo y la erosión de la renta del sector agrario en los países desarrollados, hechos, que de no variar, pueden provocar efectos muy depresivos a medio plazo en la propia fabricación y oferta de fertilizantes y, como consecuencia, en la producción agraria mundial.
En segundo lugar, su satisfacción por los logros que, en orden a la difusión de las ideas relacionadas con los denominados "Sistemas integrados de nutrición vegetal", ha conseguido la FAO en el Programa de Fertilizantes y por la importancia dada en él al mejor aprovechamiento de los recursos orgánicos propios como vía para incrementar la eficacia de la fertilización mineral y reducir las necesidades de ésta.
En tercer lugar, mi delegación quiere expresar su apoyo para proseguir, en esa línea de actuación, por ser la forma más adecuada para multiplicar los efectos de los recursos disponibles por el PIF, recursos que, dadas las dificultades puestas de manifiesto por la Comisión en su informe, no podrán experimentar un incremento significativo respecto a las del año pasado.
Por ultimo, quiero insistir en la trascendencia de los trabajos de la Comisión y estimularla para que siga mejorando y completando los estudios e informaciones sobre la evaluación y perspectivas de la oferta/demanda y comercio internacional de fertilizantes y sus materias primas; precios de los mismos y expectativas de la inversión industrial por la evidente y gran utilidad que ese tipo de información tiene para países en desarrollo y para toda la comunidad internacional.
Para finalizar, señor Presidente, consideramos una obligación, a la vista de lo expuesto por el Señor Director General en su declaración del lunes pasado, agradecerle muy sinceramente la labor realizada al dirigir, por escrito, al Director Gerente del Fondo Monetario Internacional, en relación a la posibilidad de que el FMI, en colaboración con la FAO, presten su apoyo a ciertos países para que puedan adquirir fertilizantes. Esperamos que los resultados sean positivos.
ABDUL WAHID bin ABDUL JALIL (Malaysia): The Malaysia delegation would like to express our appreciation to Dr. Bommer for his introduction on the work of the Commission which had reviewed the current situation and future outlook of this very important input for increasing food and agricultural production. My delegation endorses the conclusions of the Commission.
However, there are four distinct components in the Report which our delegation would like to recommend in the way of emphasising the points that have been expressed before.
1) The information on fertiliser situation and outlook. In paragraph 6 the Report refers to the documents containing an analysis of world production and consumption of fertilisers, nutrients, of trade in fertilisers, of spot prices of the main fertiliser material in international trade and of short and long term outlook of the supply and demand. It has been requested, as contained in paragraph 7, that this monitoring should be continued and the information provided to member countries on a regular basis. This has been further underlined in paragraphs 41 and 51. The information mentioned above would be of immense value for planning purposes, and an arrangement to provide an authoritative set of data on the basis of regular analysis should be strongly supported.
2) Fertiliser production capacity. World fertiliser consumption fell in 1981-82 in most parts of the world - this is referred to in paragraph 9 - in spite of lower fertiliser prices. The combination of lower prices and market for fertilisers was likely to become a disincentive to investment in new fertiliser plants. Such a decline in production capacity would result in an increase in fertiliser prices in the future and could lead in turn to further decrease in fertiliser consumption.
This matter was obviously of great concern and several paragraphs, namely paragraphs 13, 19, 20, 21,28 and 49 were devoted to discussing the various arrangements for ensuring that such a stagnation in the establishment of additional fertilizer production capacity did not in fact occur.
The above is obviously a matter of great concern to all member countries. It is of even greater concern to developing countries where a rise in price of fertiliser will place this very valuable agricultural input out of the reach of most of the farming community. It is of special concern to countries like Malaysia where a rise in fertiliser cost would greatly increase the cost of production of many agricultural commodities and reduce the competitive edge on the world market. It would be prudent therefore to study carefully all possible efforts to avoid the vicious circle about which the Commission has already expressed its concern. In this connection the cooperative efforts by the member countries of the ASEAN to set up fertiliser plants for the benefits of the member countries is in line with the present need and situation.
3) Efficiency of fertiliser usage. It appears that many developing countries would remain importers of fertilisers, and the Report argues in paragraph 12 that it might be advantageous for countries to import fertilisers rather than food. This would be true only if the return to applied fertiliser is assured. This would call for an upgrading of all related areas of agricultural technology as well
as an increase in the efficiency of fertiliser usage. The later component is recognised in the report as contained in paragraphs 14, 40 and 43. Sufficient importance is attached to this question that the Report makes specific reference that it should be taken into account in the formulation of future programmes of work and budget of the Organization. While this obviously merits support it should be emphasised that improved fertiliser technology alone will not ensure adequate return to a plant fertiliser, and there has to be concomitant improvement in related areas of agricultural varietal improvement practices, cultural and crop protection.
Finally, the alternative sources of nutrients. The Report also referred to increased efforts to tap sources of nutrients other than chemical fertilisers, increased reliance on biological natural in fixations, and the recycling of organic materials was specifically mentioned. These efforts demand a high level of support as improvements of technology are necessary in order to overcome constraints of an economic and logistical nature in many instances.
G. ABU BAKIR (Afghanistan): I would like to say briefly that my delegation supports the Report of the 8th Session of the Commission on Fertilisers.
In Afghanistan we have a factory for manufacturing Urea fertiliser with a production capacity of 105 thousand tons a year. The phosphate and triple super-phosphate are imported each year. About 84 443 tons of Urea and 29 810 tons of DAP, a total of 114 253 tons of fertilisers were distributed by the Afghanistan Fertilisers and Agricultural Services Company last year. The estimated figures for this year are more than 110 thousand tons of total fertilisers.
With regard to Item No. 12 of the Review of Current Fertilisers Situation and Outlook, I would appreciate FAO's contribution in phosphate fertilisers as it has been done in the past. Being a developing country, these items hinder the supply of phosphate fertilisers very much; a) no raw phosphate material is available locally, b) there is no phosphate producing factory in the country, and c) lack of foreign currency.
Mr. Chairman, the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan wishes that the present Counciil of FAO should come out with such a solution for people of its member states to overcome their difficulties, and also we are sure that its decision fosters the spur of cooperation among member states.
Sra. G. SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): Mi delegación solamente quisiera expresar su apoyo al Informe presentado por la Comisión de Fertilizantes y que se presenta en el documento CL 83/22. Nos referimos a problemas muy concretos que fueron analizados por esa Comisión.
En primer término, consideramos que efectivamente la escasez de divisas es un grave problema para los países importadores de fertilizantes. Apoyamos, por consiguiente, la sugerencia que se hace en el párrafo 11 del documento, de que la Secretaría indagase si los organismos apropiados podían ofrecer posibilidades para ayudar a los países a afrontar sus problemas de balanza de pagos, y nos complace que la FAO se haya ocupado debidamente de este asunto, aunque sin resultados, según lo ha expresado el Sr. Bommer en su presentación.
En lo que se refiere propiamente a las actividades de la FAO en materia de fertilizantes, apoyamos específicamente la labor del Programa de Fertilizantes de la FAO destinada a ayudar a los Estados Miembros en sus esfuerzos por aumentar la producción agrícola. Asimismo, ha sido muy importante su acción como medida complementaria de la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural, ya que en parte ha concentrado su atención en la participación del pequeño agricultor y su acceso a los fertilizantes como un factor importante de la producción.
Apoyamos, asimismo, el párrafo 38 del documento referente a que la ayuda en fertilizantes suministrada a través del Plan Internacional de Fertilizantes y de otras formas se integren mejor con la asistencia técnica proporcionada dentro del Programa de Fertilizantes de la FAO.
Por último, quisiéramos elogiar la labor que está realizando la ONUDI en materia de fertilizantes, especialmente en su interés en el desarrollo de las miniindustrias de fertilizantes en los países en desarrollo, siempre que esto no se contradiga con la soberanía de esos países.
J. BELGRAVE (New Zealand): First my delegation would like to record its appreciation of the very clear introduction of the Commission Report which was given by Dr. Bommer in which he also outlined the main recommendations and conclusions. We have read the Report with considerable interest and would like to make one or two brief observations.
It seems to us that fertilizers are one of the most important inputs into agriculture but usually, because of its comparative cost and the fact that at least in the short run, the effects of a reduction in the level of fertilizer application can take some time to become apparent, farmers are often inclined to reduce their application of this most important commodity as soon as the product prices fall, or when market prospects become uncertain even before they start to deteriorate.
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, it seems to the New Zeland delegation that the decline of fertilizer consumption mentioned in paragraph 10 of the Commissions Report is one important manifestation of the state of the world economy and the depressed state of agriculture, particularly in developing countries, but also in some developed countries.
I think it is also important to note that the effects of a reduction or stagnation of fertilizer application can be seen in both short-run agricultural production and of course in long-term agricultural development. There appears to us, Sir, to be no simple answer to the capacity problems
mentioned in paragraph 13 of the Commission's Report. The joint venture approach recommended by the Commission will hopefully be of some help, the confidence in the future in the form of improvement of market prices and the strengthening of the demand for agricultural commodities is probably an important prerequisite for any long-term improvements to the capacity problems identified by the Commission.
We also looked at the question addressed by the Commission to the FAO Council in paragraph 35 of the Commission's Report, a comment that was also mentioned by Dr. Bommer and a number of other delegations. I wonder whether there have been any studies on the efficacy of the IFS Scheme or perhaps particular case examinations which might demonstrate the way in which the Scheme is contributing to agricultural development in recipient countries. This may help the expressed concern of the Commission, but of course reductions in contribution to the IFS Scheme are indeed matters of concern.
The programme of work of the Commission does include, we note with some satisfaction, given the vital importance of adequate levels of fertilizer application, the comment that Member Governments had expressed during the Commission's meeting, their satisfaction with its work, and indeed this comment has been re-echoed by delegations this afternoon. We agree, as recommended by the Commission at paragraph 51, that member countries should be provided with fertilizer demand, supply and price information on an annual basis.
New Zealand also supports the proposed study in paragraph 52 on the effect of price changes on fertilizer consumption and food production, and so on; in particular the part of the study as it concerns the efficiency of fertilizer use will, we hope, be of particular benefit to developing countries, since in times of falling market prices for commodities, it is of course important that existing inputs be made to go further.
Sra. SUAREZ MELO (Colombia): La Delegación de Colombia agradece la presentación del Documento hecha por el Dr. Bommer, de manera tan clara e informativa.
Al referirnos al tema 7, nuestra Delegación piensa que será necesario consignar en nuestro informe que se aumenta el estancamiento del consumo de fertilizantes especialmente en los países en desarrollo. Esto se debe a la difícil situación económica por la cual atraviesan estos países, como lo dice el párrafo 10 y, naturalmente, afecta el aumento de la producción.
En el párrafo 12 se hace una afirmación curiosa acerca de que, cito el texto: "podía ser más conveniente para los países en desarrollo importar fertilizantes en vez de alimentos". Naturalmente esa actitud dependerá de muchos factores, porque hay países que tienen necesidades inmediatas de alimentos y no pueden dar prioridad a la importación de fertilizantes. De todos modos sería conveniente seguir explorando las posibilidades de financiación para aquellos países que necesitan importar fertilizantes, y así tratar de aumentar la producción.
Naturalmente, recomendaremos también que el Banco Mundial y la ONUDI ofrezcan financiación y asistencia a aquellos países o grupos de países en desarrollo que están en condiciones de construir pequeñas, medianas o grandes fábricas de fertilizantes. Para los países que consideren la posibilidad de construir fábricas de fertilizantes deberán aplicarse los criterios que aparecen en el párrafo 20 y no sólo los criterios económicos.
La delegación de Colombia destaca la valiosa colaboración del Plan Internacional de Fertilizantes que sigue ayudando a los países en desarrollo, lo cual es más conveniente aun cuando se combina con la asistencia tecnica requerida.
Señalaremos el reconocimiento al Fondo del Golfo Arabe y a los países que han contribuido al PIF, párrafo 34, pero lamentaremos la disminución general y constante de recursos que impiden al Plan cumplir más eficazmente sus importantes funciones.
G.J. DIETZ (United States of America): I also would like to thank Dr. Bommer for his remarks and his excellent analysis of the situation. We will make a short statement because of time constraints.
We have read with great interest the report of the Eighth Session of the Commission on Fertilizers, The fertilizer needs of the developing nations have been a major concern of the Commission on Fertilizers since its inception in mid-1970 when serious world-wide shortages occurred. We wish to commend FAO's continuing interest in fertilizers as one of the principal requirements of developing nations in meeting food needs and improving their agriculture as well as their total economies. We believe one of the major FAO goals should be research and development efforts to improve fertilizer production and utilization efficiency in both developing and developed nations. We should note, however, that fertilizer is only one component of the total development programme and should be considered only as appropriate to the general development goals of the nation.
The United States prefers to provide fertilizer aid exclusively through bilateral assistance programmes and does not believe that assessed Regular Programme funds should be used to increase the IFS. We agree, however, that the IFS provides a useful aid channel for some donor nations. Nevertheless, facts show that the overwhelming share of aid - I believe some 98 percent in recent years -has been provided through bilateral programmes. The United States strongly opposes IMF funding activities for importing or purchasing fertilizers; as the central monitoring institution for the world economy, the IMF serves member countries in the financing and adjustment of balance-of-payments problems. Any proposal to consider the IMF facility to finance fertilizer imports would be inconsistent with the Fund's traditional focus on overall balance-of-payments position. The IMF's new policy of enlarged access which permits members to draw up to 450 percent of their quota if they are willing to undertake sufficient adjustment measures, should provide more than sufficient financing to cover balance-of-payments problems arising from increased cost of imported fertilizers.
The United States agrees with most other agenda items and supports the Fertilizer Commission's observations and recommendations. The regular meetings provide a useful means of information exchange. With specific reference to paragraphs 6 through 10 we commend the FAO/UNIDO World Bank Five-Year forecasting activity as an extremely valuable planning document.
With reference to paragraphs 12 through 15 regarding concern over declines in world fertilizer consumption, we in the United States share this concern. However, improved fertilizer efficiency and current facility expansion plans hopefully should be adequate to meet expected short-term demands. We look forward to participating in the forthcoming Consultative Working Party on Fertilizers.
M. TATIETA (Haute-Volta): La delegation de Haute-Volta félicite M. Bommer pour la synthèse concise faite du document.
Nous tenons à féliciter les participants à la 8ème session de la Commission des engrais.
La délégation de Haute-Volta soutient le chapitre 13 qui préconise la création de coentreprises pour tirer un meilleur parti des matières premières.
La consommation d'engrais en Haute-Volta est en moyenne de dix kilos par hectare et de 4 kilos par personne, ce qui est bien insignifiant. Comme nous le disions précédemment, en dépit de la baisse des prix des engrais sur le marché international, cela n'a pas encore eu de répercussion au niveau des producteurs de notre pays, bien au contraire, puisqu'avec l'allégement d'une subvention aux engrais faite par le Gouvernement on assiste actuellement à une hausse importante des prix, ce qui n'est pas de nature à encourager la consommation.
La contribution des engrais étant prépondérante dans l'augmentation des productions, toutes les mesures doivent être prises pour la vulgarisation et l'utilisation des engrais. Ce qui nécessite que des efforts soient faits pour fournir des engrais accessibles aux agriculteurs les plus démunis.
La Haute-Volta dispose de gisement de phosphates relativement importants. L'extraction, le broyage et l'utilisation de ces phosphates sur une petite échelle ont donné des résultats très encourageants, pour la bonne raison que nos sols sont très carences en phosphore. Pour une mise en valeur de ces phosphates, nous soutenons fermement les chapitres 20 et 21 du rapport qui nous est soumis, qui recommandent la création de nouvelles usines dans les pays en voie de développement, en jouant sur une coopération horizontale, et qui invitent la FAO à aider les pays dans ce sens.
Tout en reconnaissant que le problème de la fumure organique doit être résolu par les agriculteurs eux-mêmes, il n'en demeure pas moins vrai qu'il s'agit là d'un aspect de la fumure difficile à résoudre à cause des difficultés de l'intégration agriculture-élevage.
La délégation de Haute-Volta pense qu'une assistance de la FAO serait utile pour aider à envisager les meilleures solutions pouvant résoudre le problème de la fumure organique dont l'utilisation devient nécessaire dans certains sols dont le taux d'humus est nettement en-dessous de la teneur normale.
Y.A. HAMDI (Egypt)(original language Arabic): The delegation of my country wishes to thank Dr. Bommer for his introduction to this report. The Egyptian delegation attended the work of this session and we were among those who adopted this report. Nevertheless, we should like to draw attention to two key issues: the amount of fertilizer available and used in the IFS (International Fertilizer Supply Scheme). This scheme has dropped and this gives us cause for concern because this programme is aimed at assisting developing countries, especially the low-income food-deficit countries. These countries in turn also require foreign earnings to pay for the imported fertilizers. This indeed is one of the main factors if they are to increase their production.
My delegation therefore wishes once again to reassert this need to pursue the application of this programme and invites donor countries to renew their contributions.
The second point I wish to make regards the activities of the Organization, and its help with fertilizers would be as follows. My country's delegation wishes to express its appreciation of the efforts engaged in by the Organization as regards the use of fertilizers and plant nutrition to help member countries achieve greater production especially food crops. Now that we wish to highlight the importance of mineral fertilizers, we should likewise insist on the need to develop the utilization of new and renewable resources of plant nutrition within the framework of the recycling of organic products and the biological nitrogen fixation. We feel that the importance of this element is due to the fact that it could complete or even replace costly mineral fertilizers which are not available to a great number of developing countries. We would also in this context point out that the Arab Republic of Egypt is participating in the work of the African Regional Centre for Fertilizer Production, a centre which is being set up in Zimbabwe.
A. RODRIGUES PIRES (Cap-Vert): Nous voulons associer notre voix à celles des délègues précédents pour appuyer le rapport de la 8ème session de la Commission des engrais. Nous appuyons notamment le paragraphe 40 qui fait une proposition concrète de la Commission puisqu'elle recommande que la FAO continue à s'efforcer d'assurer l'utilisation plus efficace des engrais minéraux. En effet, le programme de démonstration et de vulgarisation au niveau des paysans, ainsi que la formation sur place dans le contexte de chaque pays doit également mériter une attention particulière de l'Organisation. Nous pensons aussi que l'utilisation judicieuse des engrais chimiques et organiques á l'avenir dans les pays africains mérite une étude très détaillée.
S.P. MUKERJI (India): My delegation feels that fertilizer is a most important component of increasing agricultural production. It has been established that in a country like India the increase in food grains with per unit increase in fertilizer in terms of nutrient goes up anything from five times to ten times so therefore we are very much concerned about the increased use of fertilizer for agriculture production yet today we are faced again with a very paradoxical situation in the world scenario that whereas the international price of fertilizers has been crashing the consumptions level of fertilizer in various countries, including developing countries, is going down. Now it has been indicated in this excellent document that one of the reasons for this falling consumption of fertilizer is the lack of capacity in terms of foreign exchange of the developing countries to purchase fertilizer. Could I add one reason for that. I feel that apart from shortage of fertilizer, what is lacking is our approach to farmers and demonstrable proof to the farmers that with every increase in fertilizers used the increase in food production would be much much more than what they would invest in fertilizers. So though we may bemoan the lack of foreign exchange for purchase of fertilizers we must not overlook the fact that we have to do our homework in making fertilizer popular and favourable to the farmers.
In this report of the Commission on Fertilizers my delegation wholly supports the conclusions and analyses drawn in the paper. We are particularly interested in the recommendations of the Commission regarding the monitoring of demand and supply of fertilizer in the world scenario, the price jl:^-situation, fertilizers supplementing chemical fertilizer with organic, importing fertilizers rather than food and we are as much concerned regarding stagnation in fertilizer consumption as indicated in the report. The recommendation that the feasibility of having small fertilizer plants is very interesting to us and my delegation would request that the FAO or the Commission on Fertilizers could give some more force to it and make more facts and figures and feasibility studies to us so that these can be tried.
The recommendation that there should be a study of the relationship between price of fertilizer and consumption is very relevant to the situation in the developing countries.
A few suggestions and I will close. I would suggest that a conscious effort should be made by all industrial countries and even in the developing countries which produce fertilizer to reduce the price of fertilizer and in this respect if the FAO could bring out certain norms of production of fertilizers and the cost norms of the production of fertilizers it would go a long way in having some sort of discipline so far as fertilizer costing is concerned because in India for one thing we are very much concerned about the shooting price of fertilizer production costs and we do feel that some sort of discipline and norm is very necessary and in this respect the international intervention by the FAO would bring some order in a rather near-chaotic condition that prevails in the cost analysis of fertilizer production.
We are also very much concerned with maintaining the quality of fertilizers because if the quality of fertilizers is not up to the mark it is the farmers who suffer and the credibility in the use of fertilizer is shattered. We have to see that more and more fertilizer plants are set up and in are areas where raw material is easily available so that the cost of production comes down.
Efficient use of fertilizer is one of the most important recommendations made in the report and here we have to give some sort of consultative service to the farmers, extension service to the farmers and in this respect I do feel that in the matter of fertilizer use soil test is very necessary and I feel that every fertilizer manufacturer should have some sort of mobile laboratory for testing the soil so that the dosage of fertilizer to be used by the farmer is very accurately indicated to him.
The conjunctive use of organic and non-organic fertilizers is very important and, for instance, the use of Rhyzobium culture for pulses and leguminous crops will to a great extent reduce the need for using chemical fertilizers. The use of blue green algae and azola in high-rainfall areas will also help the farmers in increasing the productivity of their land and avoiding high use of chemical fertilizers. As in India we would suggest that the manufacturing industry should try to adopt certain regions and certain countries where they would take up an intensive extension programme of demonstrating to the farmers and training the farmers, free of cost, on the benefits accruing from the use of fertilizer. In India about a few years ago our fertilizer consumption went up at the rate of 17-20 percent annually. In spite of a 60 percent rise in fertilizer price we are still maintaining last year a 6 percent annual rate of growth of fertilizer consumption and this has been made possible because of the interest that the industry is taking by adopting villages and I feel what we are doing on a national plane could be done also on the international plane.
D.F.R. BOMMER (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): There is not very much I have to reply to but I would like to start by making reference to the last speaker, the delegate from India who very ably described a possible policy to increase further the production of fertilizers. I think the key issue is to demonstrate to farmers and to provide the incentives to farmers that fertilizer use becomes an economic proposition. I think India itself gives an excellent example, as a number of other countries, and I think the studies the Director-General has commissioned on the price policy certainly will include this aspect as all the inputs price aspects are a very important component in the general agricultural price policy.
The delegate from Mexico asked more specific questions. First he was disappointed in the wording of the text of this report. May be. he had not read some of the paragraphs because there the concern of the Commission on Fertilizers was very well expressed, it is underlined, but it was expressed, the concern, not only noted, about this question, and his question, what is the role of the multinational company, we do not have very exact figures but it is roughly that the whole fertilizer market is divided 50 percent and 50 percent between the government and the private sector and within this private sector then you will have a large area which you can quote to the multinational companies and there is certainly some definition, I think this is roughly the thumb rule, as you can read in the documents provided to the Commission.
The question of some kind of guide on fair protection cost related to investment, this has been the subject of two sessions of the Committee and if I can refer the delegate from India to the very thorough papers of the World Bank presented to this discussion which have tried to come up with the formulas related to the cost of raw materials, certainly the time of the investment, and because it is one of the most worrying points, that investment has become so very expensive in recent times compared to the. costs and production costs certainly have to be balanced between these investment costs, raw materials and actual market situations.
The delegate from New Zealand asked on the report on the efficacy of the International Fertilizer Supply Scheme. We provide regular reports to each of the Commission meetings. There are a number of reports in the scheme, actually on the use of the fertilizer by the government concerned and the revolving funds established out of the fertilizer contribution and the particular note of the International Fertilizer Supply Scheme is that it has combined with FAO efforts in the fertilizer programme to demonstrate the efficient fertilizer use, to establish these revolving funds and to see further effects from the fertilizer contributions into agricultural development and this might be the difference between the lot of the bilateral fertilizer aid and the multilateral channels through the IFS.
I think these were most of the questions asked and I will stop here because your time is very limited.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much Dr. Bommer. We now pass on to the next item of our agenda for today.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL: In my opening address to the Council I offered some comments on the Summary Programme of Work and Budget for 1984/85. It is almost a tradition when a governing body examines a proposed programme of work and budget for it to concentrate on the budget level and the proposed increase. The real programme increase I propose - of $2.2 million for the biennium - is so modest that it is hardly an issue for the most ardent advocates of restraint. I have deliberately chosen a very circumspect path in formulating my proposals for the next biennium.
Let me review the main features of this proposal. The world economic situation continues to be of serious concern. There is no fundamental progress in the North-South dialogue under the framework of "Global Negotiations" or under any other name.
The effects of the global economic situation are particularly harsh on the developing countries, which face a compounded burden of debt servicing of historically unique dimensions, deteriorating trade balances and the consequences of severe adjustment policies, the impact of which is the most harsh on the least developed countries. At the same time the richer developed countries continue with the most stringent measures required to combat problems of inflation, productivity, unemployment and budgetary deficits. It is a comprehensive examination of all these problems and the utmost sober assessment of the needs and constraints which have led me to submit the proposal before you.
While the proposal deal with the Regular Programme, as always it is impossible to consider this without also reviewing the developments and likey trends under our Field Programme
The issues of gravest concern on this score are the decline of official development assistance in general and the resources to multilateral institutions in particular, especially as they have affected the replenishment of IDA and IFAD and Pledges to UNDP.
Despite some modest improvements in our delivery under the Trust Funds, the same resource constraints affects our special action programmes - a situation which I view with the utmost concern.
The strategies and priorities have been framed after taking full account of the previous guidance of the Conference, the Council, the Programme and Finance Committees, the Regional Conferences and the entire range of technical committees wich deal with work of our Organization. The strategies and priorities regarding the major programme, Agricultures, have recently been fully endorsed by the Committee on Agriculture at its last session.
I am also pleased at the reaction of the recent sessions of the Programme and Finance Committees to the proposed strategies and programme priorities. Both Committees have expressed themselves in full agreement and recommended to you to approve the level and the balance of the resources to be allocated,
Here too I wish to emphasize the restraint I have had to exercise. The Technical Cooperation Programme has in the view of the Conference itself been fully recognised for its importance and its effectiveness. The Regional Conferences for Africa, the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean all requested me to increase the resources of the Technical Cooperation Programme. My proposal prom vides for only a modest increase in the Technical Cooperation Programmed share of the total budget, rising from 12.9 percent to 13.5 percent. The Programme and Finance Committees both supported the programme and the proposed increase.
Similarly I am proposing keeping the FAO representative scheme to its present level, despite the importance attached to FAO representatives by the countries which benefit from their collaboration and services.
I do not need to single out all programme priorities which have received the unanimous endorsement of COAG and the Programme and Finance Committees. The proposals also involve significant sacrifices willingly offered in order to enhance further the effectiveness of the Organization's programmes and to concentrate further the use of resources of technical and economic programmes.
With a proposed net elimination of 40 post the percentage of expenditure on established post in the total budget comes down further to 58 percent. Only a decade ago it was over 77 percent.
The entire emphasis of the proposed budget has been on eliminating activities of relatively low priority, reducing administrative and support costs and channelling the resources thus freed together with the minimun net additional resources to the technical and economic programmes of the Organization. These are proposed to be increased by $7.3 million, or 3.5 percent over their current level. This is offset by a reduction of $4.2 million in the resources devoted to administrative support and common services, or 6.4 percent of their current level. The resources for general policy and direction are also curtailed by 1.2 percent and those for development support programmes by 0.9 percent. Thus while the net programme increase is kept to a minimum, instead of a freeze in programmes you have a significant shift in resources in favour of the most urgent priorities with the most appropiate means, aimed at the highest impact.
My records show that I am not in a favour of structural changes and reorganization of staff for its own sake, or as a symbolic evidence of change. This time, however, I propose two structural changes -the establishment of a Research and Technology Development Division, regrouping four existings units, and the strengthening of the Office of Internal Audit and Inspection.
The reactions of the Programme and Finance Committees are before you in their reports, and the Chairmen of these two Committees are present with us in order to draw your attention to the outcome of their deliberations. I have followed their work with close attention and assured the two Committees that, in the light of the Council's own reactions to their views and recommendations, I will certainly carefully examine what programme changes may need to be further reviewed prior to the finalization to the full Programme of Work and Budget.
I have already referred to the question of cost increases in my opening statement. You will recognize that these are not based on speculative assumptions or inspired guesses. They are built on the effects of higher costs which have already occurred in this biennium, firm indications of increases in the rest of this biénnium and restrained and moderate estimates of the cost increases expected in the next biennium.
There is no change in the methodology for calculating and presenting the cost increases, which has been accepted by the Finance Committee, the Council and the Conference. As in the past, estimates of cost increases can be improved and be on a firmer basis, the closer we get to the start of the next biennium. In the interest of a more accurate provision, therefore, I must reserve the right to propose changes in the full Programme of Work and Budget, bearing in mind that there might be unforeseen increases for which no provision is made which would cut into the real programme resources. However, you may rest assured that to the maximum extent possible, I will continue to exercise downward pressure on our costs.
The deliberations of the Council at this Session are a crucial stage in the formulation of my proposals for the full Programme of Work and Budget. This consideration is based on summary proposals. The full Programme of Work and Budget document will contain much more information, in much more detail. The Council itself will consider the full Programme of Work and Budget at its pre-Confer-ence Session in November and of course it will be the Conference which will utter its final pronouncement on my proposals,
Mr. Chairman, I do hope that your own deliberations will provide an endorsement to the summary proposals with the same degree of consensus, if not unanimity, which characterized their passage in the Programme Finance and Committees.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Director-General, for that clear and precise statement on the philosophy of the purpose underlying the Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium. We are grateful to you.
M. TRKULJA (Chairman, Programme Committee): I am much obliged to you for giving me the opportunity to address the Council on behalf first of the two Committees and then I will try to highlight the main points in the report of the Programme Committee.
First, on behalf of the two Committees I am very pleased to say that the Committees welcome very much the improvement in format and presentation. Of course the Committees fully agree that the summary Programme of Work and Budget now represents an appreciable improvement over past efforts. But of course we are fully aware that further progress perhaps is still possible.
With regard to the so-called background of the overall situation in which the Director-General had framed his proposal, we were of course very much concerned with the present world political and economic situation and in particular of course with the situation in food and agriculture.
I will not go into the matter. I am fully aware that one delegation at least was not very satisfied with the position of the two Committees. I want only to assure you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Council, that this did not really reflect the commercial side of the world food situation but a much more profound one, the fact that most likely the number of those who are seriously malnourished or hungry has increased in recent years as a consequence of the global economic situation in the least developed countries.
With regard to strategies and priorities, the Committees were in full agreement with the proposal of the Director-General for the next biennium, 1984-85. The Committees fully agree that the priorities and strategies faithfully reflected the policy guidance of the Conference and the Council, the views of the Council on a number of occasions and the views of the Committees, as well as, as the Director-General has just now explained, a number of standing committees, including also Regional Conferences, the General Assembly, the whole UN System, ECOSOC, and so on and so forth.
With regard to the most tangible issue, the level of the Programme and the level of the Budget, the Committees, as you can see, reached a consensus, one which reflects our agreement with the Director-General's proposal, that it fully respected the priorities, especially the highest priorities of the Organization, the needs of the Member countries as well as the overall situation, the global economic recession, including the difficulties of all countries and in particular the developing ones to meet their external obligations.
Finally, the Committees recommended to the Council to give its support to the proposed level of the Programme and Budget and, as we said, a sound basis for the preparation of the full Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium.
Now coming to the Programme Committee part of the report, I will not address the matter of format and presentation because the Programme Committee was in full agreement with the joint views. I will not even speak about the overall situation, the background, because I feel the Director-General has again very clearly indeed explained the background situation, the circumstances in which he had to frame his proposal.
I will just come immediately to Section III, Field Programme. The Committees were very much concerned with the decline of official development assistance and in particular the decline of all sources of multilateral finance. We single out especially the IDA and IFAD as the most essential sources of conventional financing, given the share of food and agriculture in these two resources. The Committees spent a lot of time discussing the problem in the investment area. We again fully appreciate the work of FAO in assisting the developing countries as well as financing institutions. We were to a certain extent concerned with the resource situation of the World Bank but at the same time, nevertheless, we were to a certain extent encouraged with the indications of the World Bank's wish to increase its pipeline of agricultural projects.
With regard to UNDP, I doubt that I have to say more than a couple of words. Fortunately or not, the situation is quite well known. The decrease in UNDP resources is indeed enormous. It could even reach a 30 percent decrease as compared with the delivery in 1982. Of course, the Committee could do nothing more than express the very strong hope that the trend in UNDP resources would be reversed. In that context, we strongly suggest that the Council urge all donor countries to provide the funds necessary to execute UNDP programmes and in particular programmes in the field of food and agriculture.
On other extra-budgetary resources,we realize that the situation is likely to be much better than that in UNDP, but at the same time, we are fully aware that the increase in trust funds, and other extra-budgetary resources could only compensate in part the decrease in UNDP resources, so on the whole it is unfortunately very likely that the field activities of FAO would decline in the next year and the next biennium.
With regard to so-called "New Dimensions", that means TCDC type of activities, we welcome the emphasis of the Director-General, and the Committee was very much pleased with the progress already made, but at the same time the Committee again encouraged the Director-General to pursue the same trend with renewed vigor.
With regard to Special Action Programmes, I will be very brief. What is common to all.FAO Special Action Programmes is unfortunately lack of resources to finance already identified and praised projects. Here again the Committee recommended to the Council to again address all donor countries, all those who are able to provide necessary funds to do so, especially taking into account the high efficiency of all FAO Action Programmes.
With regard to the financial framework, the Committee was certainly very much pleased that the Director-General was able to increase technical programmes, allocations to technical programmes of FAO by as much as US$ 7.3 billion in real terms - that means in prices of 1982/83 - and even more that he was also in a position to propose very substantial shifts within the base within various programmes, which amounted to US$ 8.9 million in the same base; that means in real terms. So although the real term increase overall is very limited, even a symbolic 2.2 million with a decrease in administrative support costs and quite substantial shifts in base which only reflected further the trend which was recognized by the Committees and indeed the Council in the numbers of the last biennia, we were, as I said, very much pleased to see the quite appreciable increase in technical activities of FAO.
With regard to Strategies and Priorities, here again we were in full agreement with the proposal of the Director-General. We emphasized that in framing his strategies and policies he fully followed the guidance of the Conference and the Council, the comments and suggestions of the Programme and Finance Committee, other standing committees of the Council, Regional Conferences, his direct relations with the member Member nations, so on and so forth, including, of course, as has been mentioned, also the various activities initiated in the UN system, especially those that can be asked about by the General Assembly of the UN.
Though the Committee was fully in agreement with the Director-General as far as reduction of administrative and support costs or services were concerned, I have to emphasize that the Committee tried its best to assess to what extent the reductions proposed by the Director-General could have a negative impact on the quantity and especially the quality of the administrative and support services. We were assured that all necessary precautionary measures were contemplated by the Director-General and his colleagues to minimize potential negative impacts.
As regards programme priorities, the Committee was by and large in agreement with the General thrust. In particular, we fully agree with the Director-General's proposal to establish a new division on Research and Technology Development. We found that it was in compliance with the thinking in the Committee and indeed in the Council, though the Committee I might add only addressed on a number of occasions a programme scheme because we did not discuss the organizational scheme, it was under the authority of the Director-General himself. We are very pleased that the Director-General found a proper way, indeed an excellent way, to give effect to the views of the Committee and the Council.
With regard to the Technical Cooperation Programme, here again the Committee was fully satisfied with the operation of TCP. In the given circumstances, we were also very much pleased to see the role of the TCP in alleviating the negative bearings of the current UNDP resource crisis on FAO field activities, of course, by ensuring to the extent possible continuity of the, as we said, essential field activities. The Committee expressed the wish that the activities of TCP should be strengthened in the future. One member of the Committee, though he fully recognized the TCP efficiency in general and the useful role that the TCP activities play, nevertheless again emphasized the policy of his government that all technical cooperation activities in the UN system should be centrally and voluntarily funded.
I have nothing more to add but to underline the full agreement of the Committee with regard to the investment activities of FAO. We realize of course the Director-General had been given the position to decrease the proposed increase in the FAO World Bank Cooperative Programme but it will be partially offset by the rest of the Investment Centre of FAO.
With regard to FAO's representative scheme we again recall the decision of the last Conference that the scheme could be considered for the time being to reach a stable level, but in this regard I have to mention that it was the view of the Committee that flexibility should be exercised in this regard so as to enable the Director-General of FAO to respond with a certain amount of elasticity, for the express needs of the member countries.
On regional priorities I have nothing particular to say. At the summary stage it is perhaps premature to make any definite assessment of the regional priorities but by and large the Committee was in agreement with the regional impact in the priorities proposed.
Very briefly indeed, on the objects of expenditure, I will single out only one point. The Committee of course placed a note of caution with regard to the share of established posts in the FAO Regular Programme Resources. We felt, and we felt quite strongly, Mr. Chairman, that the limit to such a tendency is nearing and that perhaps if the reduction of our share is going to continue it would be of certain detriment to FAO efficiency.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, again the Programme Committee, like the Committees in the Joint Session, reached a full agreement to recommend to you to give your support to the proposed level of resources. We fully took into account the fact that the circumstances in which the Director-General had to make his best judgement this time were especially difficult, that he was able to realistically assess the external and internal factors, inputs of various sides, particularly from FAO Governing Bodies, the Member countries, its Standing Committees, directly or at Regional Conferences, and on that basis, Mr. Chairman, we reached that consensus. Of course the consensus was not reached without certain divergency in feelings.
Again we addressed the issue of zero growth, and the majority again on the Committee reconfirmed its opposition with regard to a zero growth theory as applied at least to FAO, I have to say, the majority of the Committee expressed concerned with regard to proposed increase in the resources. The majority of my friends and colleagues felt that the real term increase proposed by the Director-General was indeed symbolic when compared with the needs for FAO assistance, and the majority strongly hope that the Director-General would be able in the future to continue his policy of judiciously developing the Organization's capability to respond of the express wishes
of FAO membership, here again, one member while commending the Director-General for his efforts to increase the efficiency of the Organization with only a small increase in resources and bearing in mind the economic situation throughout the world, expressed again his government's view that the UN organizations should absorb a significant portion of inflation as well as holding the real growth to zero. I myself do not entirely understand the message but of course the representative, and very able one of the country concerned, would if necessary elaborate the position of his government.
Before I stop, I have just to draw the attention of the Council on two further things. I cannot go into any detail about the programmes and sub-programmes. As you are fully aware, the annex to the document is the basis of our work. Just to illustrate, we spent one day on the general salient features of the Programme of Work and Budget , and then the next three days we had a very detailed discussion on major programmes, programmes and sub-programmes.
I want to draw your attention only to crops where we suggested that the Director-General might give further thought to the possibility of strengthening the crops programme. I am not going to elaborate at length. I believe the discussion took into account all relevant factors. We recognized all FAO cooperation with national and regional institutions and the FAO needs to promote further its cooperation with all these international institutions, the FAO promotional role in all these things has a progressive orientation to the crop system as opposed to the longstanding orientation on individual crops, but as the final result of our debate we nevertheless felt that perhaps reconsideration might be given to the possibility of strengthening the crops programme.
I want to draw attention to a small change which is reflected in paragraph 2.132. It concerns Statistics. We fully agree with what the Director-General proposed in general. In principle, the Programme Committee emphasised a number of times, the need for keeping the gap between the programme and the organizational schemes as low as possible, and we feel that the change in scheme proposed by the Director-General was just intended to produce such an effect.
Finally, before I end I do not need to assure you that I have no particular aptitude for courtesy, but as I used to say to my colleagues, you can expect anything from a Balkanian but certainly not for him to be unduly polite. When I say that I really feel privileged - very much so - that I have been in a position to guide the deliberations of a very very able, very dedicated, very competent group of my colleagues, then I mean it. I am really very grateful to all of them for increasing effort, and the effort invested by all of them when we met last time in April/May was very appreciable, and I am presonally very happy and I want too express my gratitude to all of them.
D.H.J. ABEYAGOONASEKERA (Chairman, Finance Committee): Thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to present the views of my Committee on this very impoirtant item. The Chairman of the Programme Committee has already reported to you the views not only of his Committee but also on the outcome of the deliberations in the Joint Sessions of our two Committees. I will try my best to avoid repetition of the things which have been mentioned al ready by the Chairman of the Programme Committee, but if I do so it is only to remind you of the importance of the item.
Your attention is drawn to the main points resulting from our deliberations which are contained in document CL 83/3. The paragraphs which are relevant to our discussion are paragraphs 3.4 to 3.37 of the report.
Regarding the document itself, the Committee considered it was well-p.repared and provided an excellent framework for the full Programme of Work and Budget. The improvements made in its format, presentation and content were appreciated.
About the world background the Committee agreed with the Director-Geneiral's assessment and felt. he had exercised sober judgement and a considerable amount of restraint in formulating his proposals.
In its review of the financial resources situation the Committee noted with great concern the steady decline in resources available to the UNDP although a compensatory factor was the increase in delivery under Trust Funds.
The latter cannot replace the damage in the effects of the decrease in UNDP resources which in 1983 is still some 463 million dollars lower than the target set for the year. In this connection the Committee stressed the importance of the Special Action Programmes of FAO and the urgent need for continuous resources to finance the activities. The Committee expressed full support for the strategies and priorities set for the coming biennium and agreed with the priorities proposed by the Director-General.
Since I do not wish to go into details, let me at this stage highlight a few of the main features in the proposed Programme of Work and Budget. The Committee endorsed the establishment of a research and technology development division by combining four existing units, namely the Research and Development Centre, the TAC, the Environment and the Energy Programmes Coordinating Unit and the Remote Sensing Centre.
The Committee also endorsed the proposed increase for the coming biennium of the Technical Cooperation Programme from 12.4 percent to 13.5 of the total budget. However, the majority of the members felt that this increase was insufficient considering the Technical Cooperation Programme's proven record for efficiency and effectiveness.
The Committee noted the proposal also to stabilize the FAO representative scheme in 1983. Many members felt that this level was too low in view of the great importance attached to the services of FAO representatives by developing Member Nations. The Committee, in considering the weightage given to the regions in the distribution of resources, agreed with the special focus accorded to Africa because of the special nature of that continent's problems. The Committee also endorsed the important role of the regional offices, particularly in dealing with other regional institutions and in providing advice and technical assistance to the countries they served.
The Committee also agreed to the proposals to substantially strengthen FAO's Internal Audit management inspection activities, as it had in its earlier sessions given favourable consideration to the comments made by the external auditors regarding the strengthening of resources to this unit.
In examining the proposed objects of expenditure the Committee endorsed the Director-General's proposals including the reduction in the resources spent on staffing and the cut in the number of posts by 40 under chapters 5 and 8 in the Regular Programme. While the Committee welcomed this proposal it expressed concern lest the reduction have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the Organization's technical and economic programmes, and cautioned against pursuing this policy further, Mr. Chairman, in the review of every Summary Programme of Work and Budget it is the special responsibility of this Committee to examine the proposals of the Director-General on cost increases. Before doing so the Committee took into account the manner in which these cost increases were built. In doing so it observed that the basic methodology for calculating and presenting the cost increases was that used for the current biennium which was approved by the Conference, Council and Finance Committee and was therefore acceptable as a basis for the 1984/85 Programme of Work and Budget. The cost increases proposed were not based on speculative assumptions. Instead they were based on firm estimates with regard to each item.
We were provided with clarifications and further information in response to all the questions raised. We were also informed that more detailed information would be provided in the context of the full Programme of Work and Budget in the autumn session, which would enable an even fuller discussion. We looked very carefully at chapters 5 to 7 covering administrative, personnel and financial activities. The cuts proposed are quite substantial. They reflect how seriously the Director-General has taken note of the serious resource situation. However, the Committee strongly felt that such cuts should be exercised with estreme care and caution because any damage to FAO's capacity to provide administrative support in implementing its full programme would be very difficult to rectify.
In our examination of the Summary Programme of Work and Budget we were fully aware of the very difficult situation the Director-General is facing in formulating his proposal. It was the view of many members that the proposed net programme increase of 0.5 percent was inadequate in comparison to the enormity of the tasks which a specialized agency such as this Organization should endeavour to achieve under prevailing conditions. Some members felt, however, that in the present economic and financial situation prevailing in the world, the Director-General's efforts should be welcomed. Only one member reserved the position of his government because of the prevailing economic uncertainty and need to study the additional information provided to the Committee, but even he supported in principle the level of the budget, the thrust of the Director-General's programme and the need to allow for budget growth occasioned by unavoidable cost increases.
The Committee accordingly agreed that a spirit of consensus would prevail and recommended to the Council the proposed budget level.
In conclusion, I wish to say that the discussions in the Committee were cordial and the conclusions it reached were clear. On behalf of my Committee I wish to express the hope that the same positive spirit and agreement will prevail in the Council in endorsing the Committees views and recommendations on this item.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Abeyagoonasekera. We all agree that we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the Chairmen and members of both the Programme and Finance Committees for going into this matter in such great detail. Within five weeks after the end of those meetings we had had the reports. We are also grateful to the FAO Secretariat and to the Committees for having made this possible. We will now start the general discussion.
M. GONZALEZ (Colombia): No quiero empezar sin antes expresar mis agradecimientos al señor Director General por la clara y objetiva presentación que ha hecho del tema. Asimismo agradecemos al Presidente del Comité del Programa y al Presidente del Comité de Finanzas por sus ilustrativas explicaciones.
La delegación de Colombia apoya el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto presentado por el Director General para el bienio 84/85.
Lamentamos que el aumento del programa deba limitarse a 0,5 por ciento en esos dos años. Una organización como la nuestra debe estar dotada de medios y recursos que le permitan servir cada vez mejor a los países en desarrollo; sin embargo, destacamos el esfuerzo del Director General por compensar ese aumento limitado en el programa con nuevas reducciones en los gastos de servicios de apoyo y servicios comunes, así como la eliminación de cuarenta puestos.
Esas medidas acertadas han permitido al Director General proponer un gran impulso a los programas técnicos y económicos.
La delegación de Colombia ha apoyado siempre el fortalecimiento de las oficinas regionales y las representaciones en los países. Por ello debemos resignarnos a que en el próximo bienio esas Oficinas deban limitarse a su consolidación sin ningún crecimiento. La delegación de Colombia considera que en los años futuros la política de descentralización de la FAO tendrá que seguirse desarrollando; los problemas, las tierras, los agricultores, los campesinos, todos los elementos primarios de la agricultura están en nuestras regiones.
El gobierno de Colombia desea dejar testimonio de su aprecio positivo y reconocimiento al señor Director General por la forma eficaz, rápida y oportuna como el programa de cooperación técnica ha venido atendiendo las inmediatas necesidades de nuestro país. Pensamos que el PCT es una de las grandes realizaciones de la FAO y una idea afortunada e innovadora del Director General y, por lo tanto, apoyamos el aumento propuesto para el Programa de Cooperación Técnica,
La delegación de Colombia rechaza todo intento de perpetuar en los presupuestos de la FAO la lamentable tendencia del crecimiento cero.
Apoyamos estas propuestas como un mínimo; pensamos que es un presupuesto muy modesto y realista.
La metodología para el cálculo y la presentación del incremento de los costos ha sido aprobada por el Comité de Finanzas, el Consejo y la Conferencia. En el pasado el cálculo del incremento de los costos ha sido siempre aceptable y no deberán existir dudas sobre la validez de la metodología ni sobre su aplicación.
La delegación de Colombia piensa que debe haber un consenso sobre el incremento de los costos en el caso de una eventual reducción. En el incremento de esos costos el producido debería aplicarse como nuevo aumento real del Programa.
Por el momento estas son nuestras observaciones. La delegación de Colombia se reserva el derecho de una nueva intervención sobre este importante tema, si fuere necesario.
G.J. NEWELL (United States of America): The United States delegation has studied the Director-General's Summary Programme of Work and Budget in considerable detail. This is probably the most studied single document on the agenda. This summary is an indication of the general scope and emphasis of the full Programme of Work and Budget proposal we shall be studying even more diligently later this year.
In his introductory remarks the Director-General stressed his hope that when the full Programme of Work and Budget is considered next fall, it will receive the support of all members of FAO. I can assure you, Mr. Chairman that my Government shares the Director-General's hope. We too want the full Programme of Work and Budget to be one with which we can all agree. Since this agenda item is one of the few opportunities for the membership to discuss the Organizations's programmes as a whole, my delegation has a number of observations which we would like to make.
We consider the overall real programme growth rate proposed in the summary document a marked improvement over the current budget and strongly support the Director-General's efforts to improve the Organization's efficiency by reducing administrative costs. The fact that some sharp cut-backs have been made in the Director-General's own office and staff sets an excellent example for the FAO as a whole.
The United States largely endorses the strategies and priorities put forward in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget. We are especially pleased to see that the Director-General has accepted the difficult task of identifying specific programmes of a lower priority which may be reduced or eliminated to free resources for those of a higher priority. Such choices are not easily made but are essential to a carefully targetted effective programme.
Turning to specific programmes, the programmes on crops and livestock are, we believe, the core of FAO's programme. The food loss prevention and seed improvement special action programmes have particular support. The effort to control African animal diseases is an excellent example of FAO's world-wide expertise being put to good use. We are very pleased to note that FAO and IFAD have developed the non-duplicative collaboration which was envisaged when the World Food Conference called for IFAD's creation.
The United States continues its long-standing support for FAO's work in assembling world-wide agricultural statistics and in-training programmes. While we support the majority of the management decisions and programme activities, there are some new proposals for which we desire further information. For example, the Director-General's proposed consolidation of diverse units into a single research and technology of fice appears to be good, sound management. Yet the Summary Programme of Work and Budget suggests a programme increase of 15.3 percent for this item. This is one of the largest percentage increases in the summary budget. The streamlining and combination of functions should result, of course, in greater efficiency. We believe that the increases in funding and proposed addition of four positions are not adequately justified in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget. My delegation would therefore appreciate additional information on the requirements in the final Programme of Work and Budget.
In terms of the overall balance among major programmes, we are concerned about the relatively low priority given to the forestry portion of the technical and economic programmes. For our part we would have preferred to see some of these resources devoted to the TCP Programme redirected to forestry,particularly tropical forestry.
Regarding the field programme, FAO's role in the execution of UNDP and trust fund projects is a major contributor to the assistance provided to developing countries in their efforts to increase and improve their agricultural production and marketing capabilities. We are most concerned, however, with the continued use of Regular Programme subsidies for the field programmes. As is well known in the United Nations system my Government generally opposes, the use of assessed funds to support voluntarily funded field programmes. We would recommend that the Secretariat take steps as it can to ensure that the overhead charges for trust fund programmes reflect the true costs of administering such programmes.
With respect to the budget, we emphasize that despite considerable improvement over previous budgets, the Director-General's budget does not meet our fundamental objective of zero programme growth and significant absorption of non-discretional cost increases. Nevertheless, we recognize that the Director-General is confronted with a difficult job in balancing the interests and concerns of the many Member States of this Organization; and we recognize further that the Director-General has done his very best to reconcile these various interests and to strike a reasonable balance that should appeal to all parties.
In the light of this consideration, while we must necessarily reserve our final position until we have seen the full Programme of Work and Budget we believe that the Summary Programme of Work and Budget provides a sound basis upon which the Director-General might proceed to prepare the Organization's agenda of action for the coming biennium.
A. PIERRET (France): Je voudrais, pour commencer, vous féliciter, au nom de la délégation française pour la manière dont vous présidez nos débats. Je tiens aussi à remercier les présidents du Comité des programmes et du Comité financier pour l'excellente présentation de leurs travaux dans le document conjoint qui nous a été soumis.
S'agissant du sommaire du programme de travail et budget, je souhaiterais successivement faire quelques remarques sur les orientations générales qu'il propose et les perspectives d'économie dans lesquelles il a été préparé.
Tout d'abord, la délégation française se félicite des orientations générales des objectifs et des priorités proposées, ainsi que des efforts entrepris en matière de renouvellement des analyses, des méthodes et des moyens d'intervention. En effet, nous considérons que les orientations mises en avant par le Directeur général depuis quelques années sont essentielles.
L'aspect le plus important et le plus difficile de la situation agricole et alimentaire mondiale réside dans la crise que traverse une fraction étendue et croissante de la paysannerie des pays en développement. Elle est essentiellement concentrée dans les pays les moins avancés dont elle constitue souvent la seule base économique. L'affaiblissement, voire la destruction de cette paysannerie alimente le chômage et la marginalité urbaine. Elle compromet gravement l'équilibre alimentaire, et, partant, l'équilibre économique de ces pays. En outre, si l'aide alimentaire reste indispensable à court terme, à plus long terme en revanche la sécurité alimentaire des pays en développement doit passer par le développement prioritaire des productions vivrières. La restauration de l'économie paysanne, et en particulier le sauvetage de sa fraction la plus menacée à travers une politique vivrière volontaire, constituent donc bien l'axe principal d'une stratégie
efficace visant l'instauration d'une sécurité alimentaire véritable. Parallèlement - et je rejoins sur ce point ce qui vient d'être dit par le représentant des Etats-Unis d'Amérique - les systèmes forestiers doivent jouer un rôle essentiel dans l'élaboration de cette stratégie. Dans la zone intertropicale ils sont en pleine évolution, sous la triple influence de la croissance démographique, de l'extension des économies de plantation, et de la puissance des grands moyens mécaniques de défrichement. La deforestation, qui s'est opérée anciennement sous d'autres latitudes, est en marche. Dans ces conditions, la mise au point de systèmes agro-sylvo-pastoraux équilibrés capables de satisfaire les besoins en aliments et en bois reproduisant la fertilité et préservant les bioclimats reste à découvrir et à promouvoir. Dans ce contexte, il est clair que les programmes techniques et économiques, et en particulier la mobilisation des résultats de la recherche, de même que le programme de coopération technique à l'appui des actions sur le terrain, sont prioritaires.
A cet égard, nous appuyons tout particulièrement le renouvellement des analyses et méthodes, qui devra être poursuivi. Ainsi, l'étude des systèmes agricoles d'économie paysanne, de leur origine, de leur structure, de leur fonctionnement et de leur dynamique est-elle indispensable. Cette étude permettra d'identifier et d'évaluer l'héritage technique de ces sociétés, de déterminer les besoins, d'orienter les recherches vers les technologies les plus appropriées à la situation et aux possibilités techniques, économiques et culturelles. Pour être appropriées, ces technologies devront être d'une part plus économes, en privilégiant systématiquement les ressources renouvelables, d'autre part plus autonomes, en utilisant en priorité les ressources locales, enfin plus progressives, en favorisant une meilleure protection de l'environnement, et plus faciles à reproduire et à entretenir localement.
A cet égard, la création de la nouvelle Division du développement, de la recherche et de la technologie ainsi que la réorientation qualitative de ces activités peuvent jouer un rôle décisif pour animer, coordonner et renouveler les problématiques d'analyse et les méthodes d'intervention de l'organisation, l'efficacité future de l'OAA en dépendant. Toutefois, cette efficacité dépend aussi du bon usaee d'un budget limité Dar les possibilités du moment. Ceci, fait l'objet de la deuxième partie de mon intervention.
La délégation française félicite le Secrétariat de l'esprit d'économie, de la volonté de rigueur, et du souci d'efficacité qui ont présidé à l'élaboration du sommaire du programme de travail et budget. Nous apprécions l'orientation prise par le Directeur général dans ce sens, et l'encourageons vivement à poursuivre ses efforts.
La croissance réelle du budget global de l'organisation par rapport à celui du biennium précédent s'élève à un demi point. Exprimée en dollars, cette augmentation se monte à 2 223 000 dollars, soit dix fois moins que pour le biennium précédent. En outre, malgré la création de certains postes, on constate une réduction nette de 40 postes en 1984-85 pour le Programme ordinaire, ceci pour l'essentiel au siège. A cet égard, il convient de noter l'évolution favorable de la part des dépenses consacrées au personnel qui passent de 77 pour cent en 1974-75 à 58 pour cent dix ans plus tard. Toutefois, le net ralentissement de la croissance des dépenses et les réductions de personnel ne devraient pas affecter le volume et la qualité des opérations. En effet, la ventilation des accroissements de programme proposés s'effectue au bénéfice des programmes techniques et économiques et du programme de coopération technique.
En ce qui concerne les bureaux régionaux, nous avons constaté avec satisfaction, pour la première fois depuis le biennium 1978-79, une réduction réelle de programmes de 1,1 pour cent par rapport au biennium précédent, alors que les représentations de l'OAA dans les pays sont maintenues à leur niveau actuel. En effet, lorsqu'en 1976 la délégation française a donné son aval à l'instauration de représentants de l'OAA à l'échelon national, nous avions demandé que dans le même temps soient revus le rôle et la taille des bureaux régionaux. Toutefois, s'il nous paraît justifié de réduire la part des bureaux régionaux dans le budget global de l'Organisation, nous ne sous-esti-mons pas pour autant l'importance des activités régionales. C'est pourquoi nous appuyons la priorité élevée accordée dans le document aux programmes du siège qui ont un impact régional, particulièrement pour l'Afrique. Nous apprécions donc que l'effort de rigueur budgétaire ait porté sur les bureaux régionaux et les dépenses administratives et de soutien; nous espérons qu'il sera poursuivi dans ce sens.
Avant de terminer, je souhaite faire quelques remarques sur la présentation du sommaire du Programme de travail et budget.
Il aurait été souhaitable en particulier de faire apparaître plus clairement les efforts faits et proposés par l'OAA en faveur des pays les moins avancés, conformément aux recommandations de la conférence des Nations Unies sur les pays les moins avancés, tenue à Paris en septembre 1981. Le même souci de clarification et de meilleure transparence devrait conduire le Secrétariat à préciser les créations, transferts et suppression de poste par programme départemental et bureau régional, ainsi que les variations de crédits par sous-programme, objet de dépense et département.
Enfin, si le groupement au sein d'une nouvelle division des activités de recherche et de développement technologique est effectivement de nature à accroître l'efficacité du soutien au développement des recherches nationales et une plus grande coopération entre les institutions nationales et régionales, cet effort d'unification doit s'accompagner de la mise en évidence des liens existant entre les actions menées par l'OAA et les thèmes de recherche et de formation retenus comme prioritaires.
Il nous semble aussi que les programmes biennaux seraient d'une interprétation et d'une discussion plus commodes si des perspectives techniques et économiques à long terme régulièrement mises à jour étaient élaborées et présentées devant les instances de l'Organisation.
En conclusion la délégation française tient á souligner que les priorités annoncées en faveur du soutien des productions vivrières et de la revalorisation des sociétés paysannes, en particulier des plus pauvres, rejoignent les analyses et les orientations de la politique française d'aide au développement.
Par ailleurs, l'effort de rigueur budgétaire entrepris devra être poursuivi. Le contexte international actuel et les politiques de maîtrise des déficits budgétaires mises en oeuvre par la plupart des Etats Membres de l'Organisation justifient en effet pour les années à venir une grande modération et une meilleure rationalisation dans l'emploi des fonds mis à la disposition des organisations internationales, même de celles comme l'OAA, dont la finalité correspond à l'une des priorités essentielles de la communauté internationale.
A.H. EL-SARKI (Egypt) (original language Arabic): My delegation to start with wishes to express its thanks to the Director-General for his excellent presentation of the Programme of Work and Budget and wishes to thank the Director-General and his assistants for the excellent effort they have made in preparing this summary. We also welcome the broad outline of the Director-General's suggestions for priorities and strategies and we support giving the Director-General all liberty of transfers between the various programmes and the suspension of programmes that have fulfilled their objectives.
We notice with satisfaction the increased activity of the investments centre which has proved its utility, as shown in paragraphs 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 of Chapter 3 of the document in English. We wish that more material support will be given to this centre so that it may fulfill its objectives.
Also in discussing FAO's field programme we should bear in mind the importance of the extra-budgetary financial resources needed for the implementation of these programmes. Since the UNDP is one of these sources, and in the light of the Pledges announced by countries participating in this programme during the year 1982 and the subsequent reduction of the indicative planning figure for each country,we wish that the list of programmes financed by UNDP will be constantly reviewed so that we maintain the more useful of them. We also wish in this connection to thank all countries participating in and financing the trust funds.
My country's delegation after having studied the new dimensions of the Programme of Work and Budget, as shown in paragraphs 3.14 and 3.15 of Chapter III of this document which contains FAO's reliance on the abilities and capabilities of developing countries in the implementation of the field programme, my country supports these new dimensions, particularly the" exchange of knowledge and experience.
The EAR fully appreciates FAO's special action programmes and the effect of these programmes in helping developing countries achieve food security programmes.
Among these programmes we mention the Desert Locust Programme which has helped my country in controlling desert locusts, and the IFS, yet what has been mentioned about these special programmes should not minimize the positive effect of FAO's Regular Programme, which is the main approach and the sound basis of several national programmes.
Since we fully realize the economic problems faced both by developing and developed countriesj and after having studied Chapter IV of this document in connection with the financial framework of the proposed budget, my country wishes to support the contents of paragraphs 4.10 to 4.12 for distribution of financial burden on the various countries, and here we can see the Director-General's experience in the preparation of our Budget.
My country's delegation fully welcomes the Director-General's new definition of policies and strategies for 1984-85, which fully reflects the resolutions of international fora, and responds to the requirements of countries.
Yet we will welcome more support to the technical cooperation programme which we have always paid tribute to, for it's quick response to our requests and for covering the execution costs of the projects.
Likewise we wish to see more activities under the research programme, and both in the economic and social fields, and fisheries.
FAO embarked on decentralization in 1976 by establishing 62 Country Offices and by the end of 1983 74 offices will have been established. In the light of Egypt's experience of this policy we find that it is successful for direct contact and communication between FAO and EAR, through the country representative, which has made more readily available development requirements. We therefore wish that the Director-General should continue and intensify these efforts in support of this policy. In this connection we wish to pay tribute to the role of the regional offices for fulfilling the targets of regional cooperation.
In conclusion we support the Director-General to maintain only the required experienced personnel for the implementation of projects and to benefit from consultative services. Again we reiterate our support for the proposed summary Programme of Work and Budget.
A.F.M. de FREITAS (Brazil): I have some comments to make on documents CL 83/3 and CL 83/4. As a member of the Programme Committee I subscribe to the remarks contained in the introductory pages of both documents which faithfully reflect the debate both in the Programme Committee and the joint meeting with the Finance Committee.
I would like to highlight some of the topics which are of particular interest to my delegation. The summary Programme of Work and Budget for 1984-85 indicates a relative increase in the technical and economic programmes as compared with the other programmes. This development is seen in a positive light by my Government. It shows that the general framework of economic difficulties and scarcity of resources has been duly taken into consideration in the drafting of the new Programme of Work and Budget.
The Brazilian delegation has consistently expressed the view on different occasions and in different fora that the major agricultural programmes, the technical and economic programmes, like natural resources, crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry, together with research and technological development, are those which effectively contribute to the production of food and to the agricultural productivity in the developing countries, and as such they deserve the highest priority in the Programme of Work and Budget.
My delegation wishes to commend the Director-General, who put special emphasis on saving in the administrative and support services and on shifts among different programmes so as to obtain balanced overall results in keeping with the proposed priorities.
My delegation would like to express full agreement on the main priority indications contained in document CL 83/3. First among them we find research and technology development. I wish to endorse the importance given to this topic, as I have often done during the present session of the Council, and to approve the vital approach proposed by the Director-General in this matter, the additional strengthening of FAO's support of the development of national research activities, the regrouping of the four existing units which deal with matters relating to research into a new division, and finally a new presentation of these activities so as to give a more complete picture of research activities in the structure of the Programme of Work and Budget.
In the section dealing with follow-up to WCARRD my delegation wishes to support the priority given to the sub-programmes relating to agricultural education, extension and training of women in agricultural production in rural development.
My delegation would also like to express its endorsement of the FAO investment activities, both in cooperation with the World Bank and with other international institutions, especially IFAD.
With respect to the Technical Cooperation Programme my delegation acknowledges the important role which it has been playing, both in supporting new projects and in complementing existing ones in the developing countries and it supports the priority assigned to it.
As regards the regional programme priorities for Latin America and the Caribbean my delegation fully agrees with the proposals contained in the documents under consideration. I wish to refer particularly to the technical cooperation networks amongst national institutions. The seven networks that are already established have been producing satisfactory results and they are becoming an important element in the horizontal cooperation among Latin American countries. My delegation believes that the success of the Latin American networks clearly indicates that the technology already available for the developing countries through their experts, equipment, consultant firms and research institutions are and should be increasingly utilized by FAO. In fact I believe that the greater utilization of these technologies, both in the context of TCDC and ECDC as it has been fruitfully proved through Latin American networks is bound to be beneficial to all parties involved in view of the similar social economic conditions in the developing countries.
The Brazilian delegation is convinced that in this way FAO will contribute to an increased effectiveness and efficiency, which, it I may quote the opening statement by the Director-General, are not the monopoly of one group but of all of us in common.
Allow me now to make some comments on the fundamental question of the level of the budget. I would like to recall first that the last session of the Programme Committee considered as symbolic the real increase proposed for the next biennium. I wish to reiterate the view of my delegation that the proposed budget is a balanced one. My delegation appreciates the efforts of the Director-General to adjust the proposed Programme of Work and Budget to such substantially reconcilable elements as the overall world economic situation on the one hand and the glaring and urgent needs of the developing countries on the other. The Director-General proved himself concerned with both the increase in problems of the poor countries, especially with respect to hunger and malnutrition, and with the financial and budgetary difficulties which beset most of the developing countries of this Organization. The summary Programme of Work and Budget which resulted from this effort is a praiseworthy achievement and deserves the acknowledgement of this Council.
C. NTSANE (Lesotho): This summary Programme of Work and Budget is the culmination of a profound and sober consideration of all the important topics that have been tabled before this body. We have gone through the current world food situation, we have gone through the report of the Committee on Agriculture, we have gone through the report of the Committee on World Food Security, all of which give us little comfort if any.
The Programme of Work and Budget is the alpha and the omega of every biennium. It is the question and the reason why this Organization exists and continues to function. It is the reason why so many of us sit in this room, on the podium or as delegates or as observers, and our children are assured of a daily meal, but above all it is the only hope of millions and millions of starving mothers and children who keep hoping that some day someone will make the right decision at the right time to give them comfort and natural justice - bread.
It is for this reason that we register our full support for the proposed Programme of Work and Budget and call on all the Members of this august governing body to approve and recommend to Conference.
In an earlier intervention we made a happy reference to the Rinderpest Control Programme. But we later learned with dismay that this programme is now not receiving the support originally promised and that not enough interest is shown even by those who eat African meat. We encourage all who are concerned about the world food situation and are in a position to do so, to give this programme full financial support, because when there is no rinderpest, African cattle constitute a significant part of world food security and can positively change the world food situation. Knowing as we do that this Council is concerned about these two issues, we confidently but humbly request Council to ask the Director-General to make every effort to mobilize the necessary resources and take the lead in collaborative efforts with other agencies in order to stamp out the plague in a timely fashion.
For too long and with no sign of change for the better, Africa is called the hungriest continent on earth. Africa is hungry because it sits and waits for water to fall from heaven. When there is no rain everybody starves to death as we currently do in southern Africa, and yet lakes and rivers abound with clean water which is good for irrigation.
We submit that irrigation is a tradition in Asia and therefore FAO should help to foster links that will secure Africa the technology from Asia. I should be ashamed of what I have just said about the role of FAO in this matter of irrigation in the face of all the talk about political will, national food strategies, importance of agriculture, as the backbone of economies and south/south cooperation etc. But you know how it is, these things have to be pushed from all angles, so we do it here, and if inclusion of an item on irrigation for Africa in the Programme of Work is the only way that Africa will realize that it has no reason to starve with so much water at its doorstep, I am willing to Wear the shame for what it is worth.
I propose that Council should ask the Director-General to urgently explore ways of exploiting the water resources of Africa in order that the deleterious effects of drought should be brought to a halt in a permanent way.
What we find in the report of the Committee on Agriculture and in the joint report of the Programme and Finance Committees is not specific enough and is half-hearted; it talks of small-scale irrigation. The problem of drought for example, in Southern Africa and in the Sahel is widespread and big. Irrigation in these areas must be tackled as a regional and intercountry issue, otherwise it is a contradiction to apply small-scale solutions to big-scale problems.
We are aware that irrigation as a concept, a technique and a system is said to be expensive and therefore should be considered with caution. But one may ask, is it more expensive than the tens of thousands of lives lost every day because of hunger? Is it more expensive than the indignity that Africa has suffered since the dawn of colonization? Is it indeed more expensive than what the world spends on armaments?
It is for this reason that we already plead with those who customarily oppose this item on the budget not to bring up untenable arguments but rather accept that zero growth is an unacceptable concept by all standards.
We should also sound an early warning to the Director-General that we note a relatively insignificant increase in the overall budget. We hope that he will not try another time to perform a miracle of running an organization and its programmes with less than what it takes to do so.
The progressive decline of official assistance is a constant reminder that global negotiations are stalling to the disadvantage of developing food-deficit countries. It is also a reminder that FAO is one of the few organizations that still offer a talking, peaceful atmosphere to all nations of the world.
Finally, we should thank and continue to encourage the benefactors of our Organization, because let us face it, it could be worse.
E. HRAOUI (Liban) (langue originale arabe): Je prends la parole, Monsieur le Président, pour discuter de cette question excessivement importante à savoir le Programme de travail et budget proposés par le Directeur général, car cela me donne l'occasion, non pas simplement de vous faire part du point de vue de mon Gouvernement sur les propositions qui nous sont faites, mais cela me permet aussi de commenter un certain nombre de points importants.
Tout d'abord, je tiens à exprimer l'appui total de mon pays a toutes les propositions figurant dans le document CL 83/3. Je tiens également á remercier le Directeur général et ses collaborateurs pour cet effort méritoire.
Cependant, Monsieur le Président, cet appui ne doit pas signifier que nous n'avons pas été quelque peu étonnés en constatant la faible augmentation contenue dans les propositions sous étude. Si nous tenons compte des problèmes complexes auxquels se heurte le monde en matière d'alimentation, et d'agriculture, problèmes que nous connaissons tous, et convaincus de la nécessité urgente d'aider les pays en développement où vivent les trois quarts de la population mondiale, et compte tenu de la maigre augmentation tant de l'aide bilatérale que multilatérale et de notre profonde conviction et de notre foi en l'efficacité de l'aide fournie par la FAO et sa capacité à entreprendre de plus grandes tâches; si nous tenons compte de tout ce qui précède, nous ne pouvons, Monsieur le Président, que nous demander avec étonnement, comment nous pourrons étudier un budget pour deux ans ne comportant qu'une augmentation d'un/deux pour cent.
La délégation de mon pays partage le point de vue d'autres délégations, notamment des délégations des pays en développement, qui auraient souhaité que le Directeur général propose une augmentation plus importante du budget des programmes d'aide et de coopération sur lesquels nous comptons tous.
Cependant, nous avons très soigneusement examiné l'étude que le Directeur général a faite de cette question, d'où découlent les propositions qui nous sont soumises. Notre appréciation pour les décisions qu'il a prises et qui se caractérisent par une claire vision des choses, une analyse précise et une profonde perspicacité, nous poussent à approuver ces décisions, mais à regret. Le Comité du Programme et le Comité financier nous ont fourni, comme à l'accoutumée, une aide précieuse. Le Comité du Programme a examiné les programmes soumis sous tous leurs angles pour savoir dans quelle mesure ils étaient compatibles avec les objectifs fixés et les priorités recommandées à tous les niveaux gouvernementaux, en tenant compte de leur parfait équilibre et de leur concordance, et la possibilité de leur mise en oeuvre efficace, la bonne administration de leurs ressources. La délégation du Liban approuve le point de vue du Comité du Programme, à savoir qu'il est possible d'approuver le sommaire du Programme de travail et budget pour l'exercice biennal 1984-85, aussi bien en ce qui concerne les programmes proposés ou en ce qui concerne le niveau et l'équilibre des ressources qui leur sont affectées.
Nous le disons en dépit de ce que nous aurions voulu pour certains programmes. Je voudrais vous rappeler qu'il y a deux ans de cela et dans cette même salle, le Liban avait longuement parlé du programme d'assistance technique. Il avait manifesté le désir de son pays de voir les ressources de ce programme augmenter. Or, deux ans plus tard, aujourd'hui, nous constatons que l'augmentation est insuffisante. En effet, la proposition du Directeur général revient à accroître les crédits de ce programme de 0,6 pour cent. A l'origine, ces crédits représentaient 12,9 pour cent du budget;
maintenant, ils représentent, tel que proposé, 13,5 pour cent du budget total. Nous ne pouvons pas être convaincus que cette maigre augmentation soit suffisante ou qu'elle dépasse les limites logiques, comme l'ont dit certains délégués, et nous nous rallions aux nombreuses délégations qui ont considéré que cette augmentation était modérée et auraient souhaité qu'elle soit plus importante que celle proposée par le Directeur général.
D'autre part, nous ne pensons pas qu'il soit de l'intérêt de ce Conseil que certains membres expriment des opinions rigides à propos de certains programmes, car les programmes proposés constituent un tout conforme aux instructions du Conseil et de la Conférence ainsi qu'à toutes les recommandations adressées au Directeur général. Il ne suffit pas lors de l'étude de ces propositions que chaque délégation cherche à assurer les intérêts de son pays. Mais au contraire, nous devons au cours de ce Conseil et au moment de la Conférence, en novembre, être en mesure d'exprimer nos points de vue en tant que reflétant la conscience collective de la FAO.
Monsieur le Président, tout en exprimant notre satisfaction pour les programmes proposés et notre entier accord, nous nous déclarons pleinement conscients des implications financières de ce programme. Le Comité financier a étudié l'augmentation proposée, reposant sur les lignes approuvées par la Conférence. Il va réexaminer cette question lors de sa prochaine session en automne où il sera saisi de l'intégralité du Programme de travail et budget et nous exprimons notre entière satisfaction à ce sujet.
A la lumière de toutes les considérations que je viens d'évoquer, nous demandons instamment au Conseil d'appuyer à l'unanimité les propositions dont il est saisi par le Directeur général.
A.A. KHALIL (Sudan) (Original language Arabic): We have given particular attention in studying the Programme of Work and Budget proposed by the Director-General for the bienniurn 1984-85 both with respect to the activities contained therein and the funds to be allocated, and before I start commenting on the important points, I wish to express my government's support of the proposals covered by the document and would heartily congratulate the Director-General for this valuable document presented to us.
I do not believe that we should bring to mind here again the fact that the developing world is facing an ever-increasing problem, namely, providing food to the millions of inhabitants of developing countries suffere suffering from malnutrition and hunger. I said not to remind everybody of this, for the Director-General has repeated it over and over again here and on all occasions in order to draw the attention of the world to this danger. It is a big and complicated problem, and so you should rely on the efforts which should be made by the developing countries themselves. This has been clear in the sense that all governments with all their resources and possibilities should increase their food production in order to alleviate poverty and hunger. Yet there is a truth we cannot ignore, namely, the necessity of technical and financial assistance required by these countries so that they may better use their technical possibilities. There are indeed huge technical possibilities available to FAO through which it can provide technical assistance to the needy countries.
I say this with extreme wonder and surprise. How can FAO face the situation and assist developing countries when it is presenting to this Council a budget where the effective increase is only 0,5 percent? Can we stop at this indeed painful situation and not afford FAO the ñeans to solve this difficult hunger problem? It has so many activities to tackle, and we here have to provide it with all support.
I cannot speak on this important subject without congratulating the Programme and Finance Committee for their valuable assistance and to express our support of the view of the Programme Committee for the programme presented for the year 1984-85. The Programme Committee has given their view after scrutiny of the various programmes so they make the recommendations of the various governments for maintaining a balance between these programmes. This was indeed an enormous problem that the Programme Committee has overcome and we have to congratulate them.
There is another point I have to insist upon. The valuable assistance given by FAO to developing countries through the technical cooperation programme which was supported by most countries, and the excellent results will be more palpable when FAO will move forward to respond to all the requirements. The major increase raising the allocation from 12,9 to 13,5 percent of the total budget can only be considered as a modest increase imposed by necessity. For this kind of assistance my country's delegation wishes continued support to this important programme and the. approval of the funds allocated to it without any reduction. I wish to draw attention that in Council we should look at the complementality of the various elements and factors in the various programmes as one of our own integrated programmes, and not just to concentrate on certain parts of the programme according to our own individual interests. This overall view of the programme before us is to our view the best way to express our views and to accept the programmes, be adhered within the Council or at the Conference in November.
I wish to conclude my comments by reiterating our support to the proposals submitted by the Director-General and will appeal to the Council to give it its full support.
CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much. I think this will bring this afternoon's meeting to a close.
The meeting rose at 18.00 hours
La seance est levee a 18 heures
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.00 horas
