LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL: En ma qualité de Secrétaire général du Conseil, j'ai reçu, dansles délais voulus, les propositions de candidatures suivantes pour les cinq sièges à pourvoir: Arabie Saoudite, Australie, Bangladesh, Canada, Etats-Unis d'Amérique.
Il y a donc autant de candidats que de sièges à pourvoir. Le Règlement général de l'Organisation prévoit dans son article XII. 9 a) que les élections ont lieu au scrutin secret, "sauf que, s'il n'y a pas plus de candidats que de sièges à pourvoir, le Président peut proposer à la Conférence ou au Conseil de procéder aux nominations par consentement général manifeste". Si vous le voulez bien, Monsieur le Président, vous pouvez faire cette proposition au Conseil et, si le Conseil l'adopte, les candidats seront déclarés élus.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous avons cinq candidatures déposées dans les délais légaux, pour cinq postes à pourvoir. Est-ce que nous pouvons considérer que ces pays sont élus par consentement général manifeste?
Applause
Applaudissements
Aρlausos
Nous déclarons donc élus l'Arabie Saoudite, l'Australie, le Bangladesh, le Canada et les Etats-Unis d'Amérique.
Guillermo Enrique GONZALEZ (Presidente del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial): Señor Presidente, distinguidos delegados y observadores: como Presidente del 11° período de sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria tengo el honor de presentar a este Consejo el informe aprobado en esta oportunidad y que aparece como documento CL 90/10
El Comité celebro su 11° Operiodo de sesiones en esca misma sala del 9 al 16 de abril de 1986.
Los importantes temas de la agenda fueron analizados, y esco deseo subrayarlo, con el mejor espíritu de cooperación y respeto, hecho que por ciertofacilitó las labores de la Presidencia.
El primer tema de sustancia que se trató fue el relativo a la evaluación de la situación de la seguridad alimentaria mundial, tanto en el corto como en ci mediano plazo.
El Comité mostró particular preocupación por las actuales limitaciones al comercio international, así como por las dificultades económicas y financieras que afectan a toda la comunidad international.
Aunque los precios de ios cereales han caído a mínimos históricos muchos países en desarrollo no pudieron beneficiarse plenamente de esos bajos precios debido a la falca de moneda convertible como consecuencia de la declinación de los precios de sus propios produceos de exportación, así como de la pesada carga de la deuda excerna y los servicios de la deuda externa, las alcas Casas de ínteres, y en algunos casos, así fue señalado por algunas delegaciones, por una disminución de la asistencia externa.
Respecto al comercio, el Comité convino en que para facilitar el acceso de los países en desarrollo a las importaciones de alimentos era indispensable mejorar el clima económico y comercial interna-cional.
El Comité recomendó que todos los países examinaran las medidas necesarias para mejorar ese clima, a fin de favorecer la contribución del comercio en el fortalecimiento de la seguridad alimentaria mundial.
El Comité expresó su satisfacción porque por segundo año consecutivo se habían sobrepasado los 10 millones de toneladas de ayuda alimentaria, así como por la extensión por otros tres años del Convenio de Ayuda Alimentaria.
El Comité también tomó nota con satisfacción de que varios países donantes y el PMA habían recurrido con mayor frecuencia a las transacciones triangulares para el suministro de la ayuda alimentaria, y se subrayó la función positiva que desempeñaban tales transacciones al utilizar excedentes de países en desarrollo y facilitar la entrega en tiempo de los suministros en zonas deficitarias.
Se señaló asimismo que el objetivo último de la seguridad alimentaria en el plano mundial debía ser el de asegurar el acceso material y económico a los alimentos básicos para la subsistencia. En este sentido se subrayó que la pobreza constituye el mayor impedimento de la seguridad alimentaria en gran número de países en desarrollo donde el insuficiente acceso a los alimentos se debe fundamentalmente a la falca de poder adquisitivo.
Sobre la base de la evaluación realizada, el Comité consideró que además de las medidas para liberalizar el comercio se necesitaba fortalecer también las áreas de producción, investigación, reservas y acceso aios alimentos.
El Comité puntualizó que para alcanzar la seguridad alimentaria nacional se debía incrementar la producción y la productividad alimentaria.
Se señaló que las buenas cosechas de este año podrían proporcionar quizás la oportunidad para invertir en programas de recuperación y rehabilitación a mediano plazo.
En lo que hace a las medidas tomadas en relación con elinforme del Director General sobrela Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, el Comité consideró los siguientes cuatro temas: a) perspectivas alimentarias a plazo medio y seguridad alimentaria mundial; b) la función de las raíces, tubérculos y plácanos en la seguridad alimentaria de Africa Subsahariana; c) el depósito preventivo de existencias de alimentos para acelerar las entregas de ayuda alimentaria en casos de urgencia, y d) la planificación de un buen estado de preparación nacional para hacer frente a las situaciones alimentarias de urgencia.
Con respecto al primero, el Comité consideró que Las previsiones preparadas por la FAO para 1990 constituían una advertencia oportuna paralos gobiernos y paraLa Comunidad Internacional. El Comité se felicitó de Las mejoras introducidas por La FAO al elaborar sus proyecciones sobre La base del modelo alimentario mundial, que permitía decerminar en forma simultánea La oferta, La demanda, el comercio y Los precios en el sistema de cereales, semillas oleaginosas, ganadería y hacer extensivas las proyecciones a Las raíces, tubérculos y leguminosas. Se observó que si bien se preveía que hasta 1990 la producción mundiaL de cereales sería cuantiosa, eL suministro per capita de alimentos básicos en Los países en desarrollo, sóLo crecería en forma marginal.
El Comité señaló con preocupación que en La eventualidad de una pérdida generalizada de cosechas, las perspectivas desfavorables paraIn seguridad alimentaria de muchos países en desarrollo empeora-rían notablemente porque pese a Las cuantiosas existencias a niveL global sus efectos se distribuirían de manera desigual, mientras que en Los países industrializados una pérdida generalizada de cosechas implicaría una disminución del uso de cereales como piensos, en el Tercer Mundo, una situación tal se traduciría en una sensible disminución deL consumo alimentario.
Es interesante destacar que Las proyecciones indicaron la posibilidad de una ampliación del comercio enere países en desarrollo, particularmente en el arroz, Leguminosas, aceites vegetales y deLos llamados cereales secundarios.
El Comité examinó también La función de las raíces. Los tubérculos y los plátanos en la seguridad alimentaria del Africa Subsahariana y subrayó La importante función de éstos y otros alimentos bá-sicos tradicionales en los modelos de producción y consumo, no solamente en Africa sino también enotras regiones. Así se solicitó a la FAO que realizara estudios concretos sobre las raíces, tubérculos y plátanos en América Latina y eL Caribe. Se reconoció, por otra parte, las diversas dificultades que impedían el desarrollo de las raíces y los plátanos en el Africa Subsahariana. En este contexto se recomendó dar prioridad a las políticas de aliento de producción y de consumo. En Lo que hace a la política de precios, se sugirió tener encuenta su relación con los de los cereales scan nacionales como importados, con el objeto de ir reduciendo La dependencia externa.
Advirtiendo el roL dela mujer en estos cultivos, el Comité solicitó se adoptaran medidas concretas en Los sectores de la capacitación, el acceso al crédito y a la tierra, así como otras formas de apoyo oficial en favor de la mujer.
El Comité examinó La propuesta relativa al depósito preventivo de existencias de alimentos, con antelación a las situaciones de urgencia. Se coincidió en la necesidad de reducir Las demoras en la entrega de ayuda de emergencia y así se recalcó que podrían introducirse mejoras en todas las etapas del proceso de respuesta y que la propuesta sobre el depósito preventivo de existencias debía examinarse en un marco más amplio.
Es mi deber señalar que algunas delegaciones expresaron que tal evaluación debía realizarse teniendo en cuenta la relación, costo-beneficio, en comparación con otras alternativas. Muchos otros delegados en cambio hicieron hincapié en que taL relación no era apropiada pues los beneficios finales no podían cuantificarse.
El Comité solicitó finalmente a La Secretaría un nuevo estudio de Las experiencias recientes, con objeto de cuantificar, con mayor precisión, el tiempo que se empleaba en las distintas fases del proceso de respuesta así como de los beneficios que podrían obtenerse con el depósito preventivo de existencias.
El nuevo estudio comprendía también el análisis delos procedimientos administrativos deLos donantes para La entrega de la ayuda de emergencia. La Secretaría me ha informado que esta parte del estudio ya se encuentra en preparación y que será presentada ai Comité en su décimo segundo período de sesiones en abriL de 1987.
EL Comité examinó el documento sobre la licitación de un buen estado de preparación nacional para hacer frente a situaciones alimentarias de emergencia o de urgencia. EL mismo cenia en cuencalos resultados y conclusiones de tres cursillos prácticos sobre el tema, organizados Los tres por La FAO. El Comité estimó que el documento ofrecía un marco útil para establecer planes nacionales en este sentido. Tales planes no debían formar parte integrante, perdón, tales planes debían formar parte integrante de Los programas de seguridad alimentaria a largo plazo.
Se reconoció que los países de bajos ingresos con deficit de alimentos tropezaban con diversos obstáculos para hacer frente a las situaciones de urgencia y que se necesitaría La asistencia técnica y financiera para establecer y reforzar los programas nacionales para un buen estado de preparación.
Por otra parte, el Comité acogió con satisfacción el rol de la FAO en el mejoramiento de los sistemas nacionales de información y alerta y en otros aspectos pertinentes de la licitación de la preparación en los países en desarrollo y solicitó que la Secretaría siguiera de cerca los progresos que se realicen en este campo e informe oportunamente al Comité.
Por último, y me excuso Sr. Presidente por haber tomado tanto tiempo, el Comité examinó por quinta vez las actividades del Plan de Asistencia para la Seguridad Alimentaria (PASA) y reiteró su apoyo general a la labor de campo realizada por la FAO en el marco del Plan.
El Comité subrayó que las actividades del PASA debían formar parte integrante del marco más alto de asistencia para el fomento de la seguridad alimentaria proporcionada a travésde organizaciones bilaterales y multilaterales y en este contexto se señaló la necesidad de coordinar mejor las actividades de la FAO con los donantes, en particular a nivel de países beneficiarios. Manifestó también su apoyo a las prioridades que en el marco del Pian está otorgando a los países en desarrollo interesados en la elaboración de planes nacionales para enfrentar situaciones de emergencia alimentaria y respaldó las sugerencias presentadas en el documento de Secretaría sobre las orientaciones del Plan durante el próximo bienio.
Me excuso nuevamente por haber tomado tanto tiempo. Creo que no se me han pasado ninguno de los principales puntos analizados en el Comité durante el 11° periodo de sesiones.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. Gonzalez, Président du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale pour son exposé introducif et je me permets à nouveau d'insister auprès de Messieurs les délégués pour qu'ils tiennent compte dans leurs interventions des contraintes de temps.
Jorge Raúl BUSTAMANTE ROLDAN (Colombia): La delegación de Colombia considera que el 11° período de sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, fue muy productivo bajo la dinámica e inteligente presidencia de su colega y amigo, Guillermo González, cuya presentación del tema ha sido excelente.
Este Consejo debe lamentar, que, como lo indican los párrafos 10 y 11 del documento CL 90/10, no obstante un aumento sustancial de la producción mundial de alimentos básicos y una parcial recuperación en Africa, persiste aún el hambre y la malnutrición en esos países.
Pero más preocupante aún para este Consejo debe ser lo afirmado en el párrafo 11: "el estado nutri-cional de la población pobre, tanto en las zonas urbanas, como rurales, estaba empeorando seriamente en muchos países, sobre todo en América Latina".
Con esta preocupación en mente, en la pasada Conferencia Regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe, los Gobiernos de nuestra región pidieron al Director General que elaborara un estudio sobre el desarrollo a largo plazo de nuestra región en los campos de la Agricultura y la Alimentación.
Estamos seguros que el Director General ha iniciado ya los preparativos para realizar ese estudio a la mayor brevedad posible, en términos pragmáticos, y en estrecha cooperación con los organismos regionales y subregionales, para evitar duplicación de actividades. En este contexto, se habla también de la convocatoria de una consulta de expertos para acrecentar el acceso de los sectores pobres de la población a los alimentos. Desearíamos saber señor Presidente, cuándo se va a realizar esa consulta y si ya se pueden adelantar algunas informaciones al respecto.
El Gobierno de Colombia concede gran importancia a la seguridad alimentaria.
Hemos decidido dedicar Los mayores esfuerzos al fortalecimiento del sector agropecuario para procurar un incremento sustancial de La producción de alimentos, Lo cual garantizará el normal abastecimiento de los mismos a Las grandes ciudades, favoreciendo las demandas de Los sectores urbanos mayoritaria-mente pobres y asegurando la seguridad alimentaria, sobre todo a los grupos más vulnerables de la poblaciòn.
Esa estrategia, dirigida por el Ministerio de Agricultura de Colombia, forma parte de un gran programa integral, cuyo componente principal es el apoyo a los pequeños y medianos productores campesinos, quienes tendrán acceso a líneas de crédito para la producción, el mercadeo y la organización de grupos comercializadores, complementariamente con proyectos gubernamentales de inversión, en obras de infraestructura: vías, acueductos, pequeños distritos de riego, electrificación, vivienda rural, centros de salud, escuelas, centros de acopio, de recreación y cultura. Asimismo, se orientarán programas de inversión para prestar asesoría y capacitación en la transferencia y aplicación de nuevas tecnologías productivas, maquinaria moderna apta para la producción campesina y todas las demandas alternativas que viabilicen el mejoramiento general de las condiciones económicas y sociales de los campesinos colombianos. Todo ello dirigido al fortalecimiento de la seguridad alimentaria en nuestro país.
El Minister. iode Agricultura se ha consolidado como el instrumento que dirige la totalidad de la política agropecuaria y ha recibido del gobierno el máximo apoyo para convertirse en el organismo líder de los grandes programas sociales que son una meta del gobierno del Presidente Virgilio Barco.
Dichos programas proponen combatir las situaciones depobreza absoluta que padecen millones de colombianos, habitantes de las zonas marginales de la ciudad y el campo.
En su reciente discurso ante la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas expresó el Presidente Virgilio Barco que, "En Colombia, a pesar de los esfuerzos realizados en favor del desarrollo y el bienestar de la población, enfrentamos en el presente una realidad dramática en relación con la pobreza. El 25 por ciento de la población, o sea 6 millones y medio de personas, se encuentran en una situación de pobreza absoluta. El desempleo abierto y el subempieo afectan a más de un tercio de la población económicamente activa".
Ante esas circunstancias, el gobierno colombiano ha adoptado medidas urgentes:Ha enviado a las Cámaras Legislativas proyectos de ley que faciliten poner en marcha, con eficacia y prontitud, reformas en las estructuras de la economía agraria yurbana; ha ordenado acciones inmediatas en programas de agua potable, vivienda, salud y nutrición y se prepara para ejecutar un plan de empleo de emergencia.
La Reforma Agraria en Colombia está concebida no solamente como un plan de redistribución de tierras, sino también como un programa de desarrollo integral y de seguridad alimentaria. Esto es, con las inversiones necesarias en infraestructura, en crédito y en transferencia de tecnología.
Es también decisión del actual gobierno colombiano, orientar los recursos públicos y el crédito internacional hacia la inversión social, en programas capaces de generar bienestar colectivo y una distribución más equitativa de la riqueza nacional.
El Presidente Barco en los diversos foros internacionales ha formulado un llamado a Los países de América Latina y del mundo entero para concertar una acción solidaria contra la pobreza absoluta. Colombia está auspiciando una reunión de los países de la región, de los industrializados y de aquellos en vía de desarrollo, que quieran hacer propuestas e intercambiar experiencias útiles en La gran batalla de la civilización contra ese degradante flagelo social.
Colombia ha recibido de la FAO, desde hace muchos años, su apoyo invaluable, conjuntamente con otros organismos de las Naciones Unidas.
La FAO ha facilitado recursos financieros y experiencia técnica para diseñar y poner en funcionamiento sistemas de información y de planificación regional esenciales para lograr la modernización del sector agropecuario y un mejor aprovechamiento de nuestras posibilidades productivas.
De igual manera, traba jamos con la FAO en la aplicación de opciones diversas para explotar recurso que, como Los de la pesca, tienen en Colombia un enorme potencial y significan soluciones reales a Los problemas de La desnutrición y La alimentación, en busca de La seguridad alimentaria.
La delegación de Colombia reconoce que-taL vez para compensar Los efectos nocivos de su política proteccionista-La Comunidad Económica Europea está financiando estudios sobre seguridad alimenta en el marco deLa Junta del Acuerdo de Cartagena (JUNAC).
Son simplemente estudios los que auspicia la CEE. Ojalá que La FAO coayudaraesa iniciativa para hacerla realmente eficaz.
Pero sigamos analizando el documento que nos ocupa. Quizá Lo más preocupante es Lo planteado en el párrafo 14. El difícil dilema en que han sido colocados los países en desarrollo, víctimas de políticas proteccionistas por parte de los países desarrollados en medio de una compleja debilidad de La demanda mundial de alimentos y de una inmensa deuda externa que nos agobia: muchos de nuestr Estados tienen que sacrificar su crecimiento económico, estancándose, porque las pocas divisas que obtienen, en un comercio internacional oprimido por las barreras, tienen que dedicarlas al servici de la deuda y no están en condiciones de importar alimentos, no obstante que Los precios de Los cereales hayan bajado.
En este contexto, la deuda externa en los países en desarrollo y particularmente en América Latina es comparable a una larga sequía que no sabemos cuánto va a durar.
Así pues, no se trata solamente de apuntalar los programas de cooperación, sino de encontrar soluciones sólidas y duraderas.
Finalmente, reiterando el llamado del Presidente Barco, en el foro mundial: "Nos corresponde mirar hacia adelante. Estamos tan solo a menos de 14 años del tercer milenio de nuestra era. La guerra y la paz, el desarrollo, ios derechos humanos, son asuntos que deben discutirse internacionaimente paralograr, por la vía de la negociación, los compromisos eficaces que nos permitan avanzar".
"Los pobres, los desempleados. , los discriminados, los campesinos que no pueden producir Lo que necesitan lo's niños, que mueren diaramente de hambre y de enfermedades que podrían ser curadas sin mayor esfuerzo. Son desigualdades, cada día más intolerables en un planeta que tiene-esa es la verdad-la capacidad de superarlas".
Solitariamente no existen salidas para tan graves situaciones. Solidariamente podemos construir un mundo mejor… existen los medios; existe la tecnología. Nos falta el propósito. Nos falta la
dec is ion.
La esperanza debe inspirar otra vez, con toda su fuerza, las acciones de la sociedad internacional
José Ramón LOPEZ-PORTILLO ROMANO (México): la delegación de México se une a Las expresiones de ree cimiento y de agradecimiento al Presidente del C. S. A. , Ministro Guillermo González, y le feLicita por la clara y comprensiva introducción al tema.
La delegación de México coincide con el informe al señalar nuestra preocupación por el hecho de que las políticas de los principales países exportadores de cereales contribuyen a reducir aún más los mercados y los precios mundiales de esos productos.
Si bien se prevé que para 1990 la producción mundial de cereales aumentará más rápidamente que la demanda, el suministro per cápita de alimentos en los países en desarrollo aumentará sólo marginalmente en vista de que la producción será inferior a la demanda y los ingresos irán a la zaga del ritmo de crecimiento de los años 70.
Para hacer frente a una menor seguridad alimentaria, la comunidad internacional debeincrementar sustancialmente su asistencia y el otorgamiento de insumos. Coincidimos en ese sentido, comose expresa en el informe, en que las operaciones triangulares deben potenciarse y en que la necesidad de que la ayuda alimentaria sea oportuna y que se ligue a la política de desarrollo es un imperativo.
La delegación mexicana reitera la importancia de enriquecer el concepto ampliado de seguridad alimentaria con un reconocimiento explícito del papel determinante que juegan ios insumos agrícolas, tales como los fertilizantes, plaguicidas, semillas, maquinaria, crédito, etc.
Por otro lado subrayamos la necesidad de que ios países desarrollados adopten las medidas necesarias para revertir los factores adversos que menoscaban Los mecanismos del comercio internacionalde productos agroalimentarios, tales como el proteccionismo, Las restricciones ai creeimienco de Los mercados internacionales de productos básicos, la inestabilidad monetaria, Las oscilaciones de Los tipos de cambio y el elevado servicio de La deuda.
En el examen del crecimiento de La producción y de Las reservas internacionales de alimentos, deben incorporarse dos elementos fundamentales, a saber: primero, La desregularización agrícola de Los países desarrollados y la manipulación de los precios internacionales de Los productos básicos que afecta principalmente a Los países en desarrollo. £1 primer elemento favorece la aceleración del proceso de concentración monopóiico de La producción en Los países desarrollados, que llevará a reducir excedentes y a incrementar los precios a mediano plazo. EL segundo, está provocando el abandono de la producción en Los países en desarrollo. EL resultado de estos dos factores es por tanto una mayor dependencia y subordinación alimentaria de Los países en desarroLLo.
Subrayamos La función económica, social y cultural de las raíces, tubérculos y plátanos, así como de los llamados cereales secundarios en la seguridad alimentaria en el Tercer Mundo. En este sentido apoyamos plenamente las medidas recomendadas por el Comité para el Africa Subsahariana, para darles prioridad en el estímulo de la producción y en el consumo rural y urbano. El Africa Subsahariana nos merece el reconocimiento de prioridad indiscutible.
Por otra parte, como es del conocimiento de este Comité la región de América Latina y el Caribe, pidió al Director General en la 19° Conferencia Regional en Barbados, la realización de un estudio y plan de acción sobre el sector agrícola y alimentario en nuestra región.
Mi delegación subraya que abrigamos importantes esperanzas de tal estudio, en tanto no sea un mero análisis monográfico de situaciones y problemas que todos conocemos, sino que se concentren en las tendencias y sobre todo acciones y expectativas en el mediano plazo, es decir, 5 a LO años. Que ese estudio nos permita diseñar mejor nuestra estrategia de producción y comercialización, los cauces de la cooperación económica y técnica entre nuestros países y sobre todo que estimule a La comunidad internacional a responder a ios imperativos de asistencia, ayuda y finaneiamiento en nuestra región.
La parte medular del estudio la representa desde nuestro punto de vista, el plan de acción dela FAO hacia nuestra región, es decir, lo que nuestra organización puede hacer a fin de contribuir a consolidar una estrategia de seguridad alimentaria, y que responda también a Las caracteristicas ynecesidades de Los pequeños y medianos productores agrícolas y grupos marginados y zonas deprimidas tanto rurales como urbanas.
Debe, por tanto, evaluarse la importancia de los cultivos tradicionales de producción local enel sector de subsistencia y su transcendencia económica y nutricional en el contexto de las disponibilidades nacionales de alimentos. Asimismo, debe cuidarse el diseño de técnicas deelaboración apropiadas para obtener, de los cultivos secundarios, los alimentos convenientes para el consumo urbano, que se ajusten a los gustos y preferencias locales, con miras a limitar importaciones y a producir lo que con mayor rendimiento se da en las diversas subregiones.
En este contexto es importante que el estudio reconozca el papel prioritario que los llamados cereales secundarios, así como las raíces, tubérculos y frutos en general tienen en América Latina y el Caribe y que por ello merecen un tratamiento especial.
De ahí que los programas de investigación agrícola, producción y aplicación de variedades de plantas y sus respectivos paquetes tecnológicos, así como la capacitación y transferencia tecnológica, deban diseñarse atendiendo a las prioridades y características antes señaladas cuidando que no generen dependencia de ninguna especie.
Finalmente, tocante al estudio sobre la posibilidad de establecerdepósitospreventivos de existencia de alimentos, que se realizará de acuerdo a las recomendaciones del Comité, pensamos que debe abarcar a todas las regiones, inclusive la de América Latina y el Caribe.
E. Vernon WADE-BROWN (United Kingdom): I should like to begin by thanking Mr Gonzales for his excellent introduction. The report of the 11th Session of the Committee on World rood Security adequately reflects the harmonious and constructivediscussions which took place on a number of most important issues. Because of this my intervention on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom will be fairly brief.
Paragraph 15 refers to a study on prospects for and constraints to the expansion of trade in agricultural products among developing countries. We would be very interested to learn about progress made so far and whether it is envisaged that the findings wiLL be presented at the 12th Session of the Committee on World Food Security next April.
We retain reservations on the recommendation made in paragraph 23. In our view primary consideration must be given to the adoption of sound policies and the creation of effective markets. In our experience heavy investment in infrastructure with high recurrent costs in low-income countries has often proved to be counter-productive.
We strongly support triangular transactions where such transactions can be seen to be cost-effective. We have this year purchased maize from Zimbabwe to meet emergency needs in neighbouring countries with the assistance of WFP. We intend to continue to make use of such transactions and would encourage donors to do likewise.
At the 11th Session we voiced unreserved support for the excellent document on roots, tubers and plantains. We support the observations and conclusions contained in the report.
We would like to stress the importance of mobilizing extension services as a means to reduce losses due to pests and disease. It is important that farmers are aware of the importance of planting disease-free stock. The paper correctly points out that any extension effort should be directed particularly at women farmers.
At the CFS we expressed concern that the paper on prepositioning of foodstuffs reached conclusions without fully considering cost implications and alternatives to prepositioning. We agree that consideration of cost effectiveness is inappropriate in an emergency situation where expeditious delivery of food supplies is the primary consideration in order to alleviate human suffering and avoid loss of life. We, like most other donor countries, have the machinery to respond very quickly in a real emergency, and when we talk about cost-effectiveness we do so in terms of the formulation of a long-term strategy to cope with emergency situations.
We have responded to requests for information in connection with the analysis mentioned in paragraph 51, and we will be interested to learn the results at the 12th Session in April next year.
We welcome the conclusions and recommendations contained in the sections of the report covering national preparedness plans and the Food Security Assistance Scheme.
Finally, we hope that FAO initiatives will concentrate on assisting countries to make decisions rather than to provide advice to countries on how to pass the responsibility for food security to donors. We also hope that FAO will fully take into account the necessity to strengthen existing institutional capacity where this is possible rather than advocating the establishment of new institutions.
Temel Iskit, Vice-Chairman of the Council, took the chair.
Temel Iskit, Vice-Président du Conseil, assume la présidence.
Ocupa la presidencia Temel Iskit, Vicepresidente del Consejo.
Mounir KHORAYCH (Liban) (langue originale arabe): Ma délégation a étudié avec la plus grande attention le rapport de la llème session du CSA. Nous sommes heureux de constater que le Comité, conformément au mandat qui lui a été attribué, continue à chercher les voies et les moyens pour améliorer la situation alimentaire dans les pays en développement, conformement aux nouveaux concepts de la SAM.
Pour ce qui est de la sécurité alimentaire a court terme, ma délégation fait siennes les préoccupations consignées dans le rapport du CSA et qui indiquent que la consommation des denrées alimentaires de base par habitant a baissé dans environ la moitié des pays à faible revenu et à déficit alimentaire et qu'un grand nombre de personnes continuent de souffrir de malnutrition même dans Les pays où la consommation par habitant a augmenté. Les difficultés économiques et financières, qui limitent la possibilité d'un bon nombre de pays en développement à importer les céréaLes dont ils ont besoin, constituent à nos yeux une autre source de préoccupation-Malgré la baisse des cours internationaux des céréales par rapport aux niveaux relativement bas qu'ils ont atteints dans Le passé, La balance des paiements dans beaucoup de pays en développement continue à se détériorer à la suite de l'effondrement des prix de Leurs produits à l'exportation, ce qui alourdit Le poids de la dette et du service de la dette, et dans plusieurs cas la chute de l'aide officielle au développement.
Les problèmes alimentaires auxquels sont confrontés certains pays en développement sont dus en grande partie à l'environnement extérieur qui ne dépend pas de leur volonté. Plusieurs pays en développement n'arrivent pas à satisfaire leurs besoins en denrées alimentaires par les seules importations commerciales à cause de leurs faiblesses structurelles et à cause des barrières commerciales. La faiblesse de la demande mondiale des importations, la chute continue des prix à l'exportation et les politiques protectionnistes de plusieurs pays développés entravent la génération de revenus à l'exportation des pays développés, en outre les subventions à l'exportation et les pratiques connexes des pays développés finissent par endommager les autres pays exportateurs dont, en particulier, les pays en développement.
Ma délégation se félicite de l'étude réalisée par la FAO sur les perspectives alimentaires à moyen terme et partage les préoccupations formulées par le CSA sur la consommation alimentaire par habitant dans plusieurs pays à faible revenu et à déficit alimentaire surtout en Afrique où la consommation par habitant de céréales, racines et tubercules est estimée à un niveau en 1990 inférieur à la période de présécheresse de 1979 à 1981. Sur la base de ces projections négatives, un grand nombre de pays à faible revenu et à déficit alimentaire continueront à avoir besoin d'une aide alimentaire importante pour faire face à leur besoin de consommation même dans les années de récoltes normales.
Il faudra également renforcer les mécanismes d'utilisation des excédents alimentaires dans les pays développés exportateurs de denrées alimentaires par le truchement des transactions triangulaires. Nous appuyons les initiatives prises par la FAO pour promouvoir ce genre" de transactions et pour veiller à l'existence d'excédents au niveau des régions.
L'examen par le CSA du rôle des racines, tubercules et plantains dans la sécurité alimentaire dans l'Afrique au sud du Sahara revêt une importance capitale car ces produits de base sont entrêmement importants dans le régime nutritionnel de plusieurs pays de la région. Nous appuyons la recommandation que le CSA a faite au Secrétariat pour qu'il réalise une étude similaire au profit de l'Amérique latine et des Caraïbes. Etant donné que les racines et les tubercules sont également importants pour certains pays insulaires de l'océan Pacifique, nous souhaitons que cette étude couvre également cette région.
L'étude relative à la mise en place anticipée de stocks pour accélérer l'acheminement de L'aide alimentaire d'urgence est arrivée à point nommé et découle de l'expérience acquise au cours de la crise alimentaire en Afrique de 1983 à 1985. Ma délégation est préoccupée des retards énormes de cette aide alimentaire qui doit satisfaire des besoins d'urgence. Il est également paradoxal que diverses procédures administratives soient à l'origine de ce retard malgré la générosité des donateurs qui annoncent leurs engagements en temps approprié. Ces mesures sont contradictoires au bon sens même qui veut qu'une priorité soit accordée à ce genre d'aides. Ma délégation trouve que la proposition relative aux ressources supplémentaires, nécessaires à la mise en place anticipée de stocks pour accélérer la livraison de l'aide d'urgence est une proposition bien fondée, pratique et modérée, et invite l'Organisation à mettre en place des stocks de 150 000 tonnes de céréales avec un coût annuel allant jusqu'à 2, 5 millions de dollars environ. Il est à noter que ces coûts représentent moins de 0, 1 pour cent du coût annuel total de l'aide alimentaire fournie actuellement.
Quoi qu'il en soie, la mise en place anticipée de stocks pour accélérer la Livraison de L'aide représente énormément d'avantages puisque le prépositionnement de ces stocks dans les ports des pays donateurs diminue de moitié le temps de réponse, ce qui représente une amélioration appréciable; c'est pourquoi nous lançons aux pays donateurs un appel pour qu'iLs accordent à cette proposition le plus grand intérêt, bien que nous soyons conscients qu'ils ont leurs propres procédures administratives d'acheminement de l'aide alimentaire qui visent également à racourcir le temps de réponse. Nous nous félicitons de la proposition du CSA relative aux mesures administratives et aux procédures d'achat et de transport de L'aide alimentaire qui visent à limiter au maximum le temps de réponse.
Ma délégation se félicite enfin du ròle important joué par la planification des moyens nationaux de parer aux crises alimentaires. Et je voudrais réaffirmer à ce propos la nécessité pour les pays en dévelopement à joindre leurs efforts pour surmonter la situation d'instabilité alimentaire à court et à moyen terme.
Ma délégation appuie pleinement le contenu du paragraphe 53 où il est indiqué que malgré une bonne préparation au niveau national pour faire face aux situations alimentaires d'urgence, les pays en développement doivent mettre en tête de leur liste de priorités l'augmentation de la production vivrière à long terme s'ils veulent éviter dans l'avenir des situations alimentaires d'urgence répétées à l'instar de celles qui ont frappé le continent africain. Par conséquent les plans d'amélioration des moyens de parer aux crises a limentaires doiventêtre conçus comme étant une partie intégrante des programmes de sécurité alimentaire à long terme.
Joachim WINKEL (Germany, Federal Republic of): The World Food Security Committee's discussions on world food are an important contribution to world food security and are highly appreciated by my Government.
We particularly welcome the very differentiated account of the discussions at the eleventh CFS session which is clearly reflected in the document CL 90/10.
We consider the efforts of the CFS particularly positive to include, in addition to considering the cereal supply situation, also non-cereal staples in the discussion, as spelled out in paragraphs 8 to 11 of the document before us. As regards paragraph 12, 1 would, however, like to point out that the official development cooperation of my country has not been declining this year compared to the preceding year, but on the contrary has been increasing. The rate of growth of this item of theFederal Budget is even exceeding the average rate of growth of the overall national budget of 1986.
During the last few years we have always advocated a further liberalization of world trade. Therefore, we largely share the statements in paragraph 14 of the document and welcome the declaration on the negotiating mandate of GATT recently adopted in Punta del Este. The statements in paragraph 14 concerning the operations of transnational corporations, however, seem less differentiated to us, than the conclusions to which the discussions have led at the eleventh session of the World Food Council in Paris in June 1985.
We share the statements in paragraphs 15 to 25 of the document. The increased expansion of cooperation among developing countries (this also applies to trade, as reflected in paragraph 30) is in our opinion ofparticular importance. Strong incentives for an improvementin world food security could result therefrom. Triangular transactions (as mentioned in paragraphs 18 to 24) are also gaining momentum in the food aid provided by the European Community in which we have a share of 28 percent. We consider thestatements in paragraph 25 of the document particularly positive.
We welcome the statements in paragraphs 35 to 42 of the document before us. In our view, a greater consideration of roots, tubers and plantains in the diet is also a practicable way of strengthening world food security.
As regards the question of prepositioning food stocks to expedite delivery of food aid, my delegation shares the view stated in paragraph 51 of the document that this complex of questions still needs further analysis. In this connection let me point out that the food stocks that we have meet the criteria of prepositioning as described in the documents of the CFS. In my country we maintain several hundred warehouses where food stocks are heldand from which stocks can be withdrawn for the purpose of foodaid, and quite a number of the warehouses are in the proximity of sea ports. We normally avail ourselves of the ports of Hamburg and Antwerp. We particularly welcome the proposed strictly voluntary character of such measures of prepositioning.
As regards national preparedness planning to cope with food emergencies we particularly share the statements in paragraph 60 stressing the need for further improving coordination beteen FAO, other international organizations and donors in developing countries.
Hasim ŐGÜT(Turkey) Like the previous speaker I should like Co start with a general remark that the Committee's yearly assessment of the World Food Security situation has always been very useful forus, especially following the adoption of the broadened conceptof World Food Security a few years ago. We gladly noticed that the eleventh session of the Committee was a successful one in respect of its observations, conclusions and recommendations on very important issues. Therefore, we are glad to say that we fully support all these conclusions and recommendations. Having offered our general support for the report I now wish to make some specific remarks.
Turning to the report, one may firstly observe with regret that in the course of one year which elapsed since the tenth session of the Committee the World Food Security situation had not fundamentally improved. It may also be noted, but with caution, that certain developments have occurred in the right direction, such as global recovery of food production inAfrica and the attainment of record crops in a number of developing countries in other regions. Indeed, it would not be difficult to notice, (as the Committee draws attention to these facts) that such developments did not lead to an improvement of the food security situation in these countries, for various reasons.
First of all, the external environment did, and still does, hamper the efforts of developing countries aiming at the improvement of the food security situation. In this connection, in particular, I should like to mention the adverse effects of the decline in trade earnings from agricultural commodities on the food security situation in developing countries. Despite all their achievements in augmenting productivity and output in agriculture and the agreements in export volumes, developing countries have started to earn less due to the declining pattern of international prices and persistent protectionist policies applied to world commodity trade by some countries.
It is repeatedly said by my delegation, as well as other delegations, that trade plays a fundamentally determining role in the world food supply and demand system and consequently in the role of food security. Therefore we do not find it surprising to see the adverse effects of the worsening trade environment for the export products of developing countries and their food security situation. Monetary instability and high debt burdens further deprived these countries to meet their additional food requirements by means of imports. In the light of this we fully share the concern expressed by the majority of delegates over the worsening international economic and trading environment and its consequences on world food security.
I also wish to state that we fully endorse the recommendation of the Committee in paragraph 21 which calls on all countries toconsider actions to improve this environment. Among the various factors that adversely affected the food security situation in some developing countries I wish to point to the declining level of governments'social assistance programmes to the poor and the resulting deterioration in the accessability to food by this group of people. With this in mind, we hope that the committee will be given an opportunity at a future session to study the role played by the declining level of support to the poor and the persistent widespread hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.
As regards the subject of prepositioning food stocks to expeditedeliveryof emergency food aid, we share the view that in addition co its contribution to reducing the delivery period at the time of the food emergencies, it can also facilitate the handling at the ports by avoiding possible congestion. Taking into account the consequences on human lives of delays in food deliveries and the insignificant level of cost involved in the food prepositioning operations, my delegation encourages FAO to undertake a more detailed study referred to in paragraph 51 on this subject in order to compare the cost effectiveness of prepositioning stocks with that of other arrangements that the donor governments are presently making in this regard. We hope this comparative study will provide us with a broad framework within which all delegates can see and appreciate the relative usefulness and cost effectiveness of food ρ repos itioning.
Lastly, I should like to take up the section of the report relating to national preparedness planning to respond to food emergencies. We share the Committee's view that national preparedness plans, when formulated as an integral part of overall food security programmes, will enable governments better to cope with food emergencies. We also agree which the observation contained in paragraph 55 Chat the coverage of such plans in terms of necessary arrangements should not be established in a standard form but should be country specific, addressing specific needs and conditions.
Let me now emphasize the fact that in view of the complexity of formulating and implementing these country specific plans we believe that the training of people to assume responsibilities on this exercise should be given great importance and attention by FAO and other organizations. In this context, I particularly wish to mention the need for training arrangements on a regional basis through TCDC arrangements to help these people share their respective national experiences in coping with food emergencies.
Michel MOMBOULI (Congo): Ainsi que cela ressort des annexes b) et c) de ce rapport de la onzième session du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, le Congo, notre pays, qui est membre de • ce comité, a bel et bien été représenté aux travaux de sa onzième session. Pour cette raison et pour éviter d'ouvrir à nouveau les débats sur des sujets déjà examinés, notre délégation est heureuse de réaffirmer son adhésion totale au consensus obtenu Lors de La dernière session de ce comité sur Les différentes questions traitées. Toutefois, tout en suivant L'accueilqu'ont réservé à ce rapport les autres membres du Conseil, notre délégation voudrait saisir La présente occasion pour dire au Conseil, à titre d'indication et d'orientation pour la période après la onzième session duComité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, que, bien qu'une modeste reprise de La production agricole semble s'amorcer en Afrique, après Les dernières pénuries alimentaires qui ont endeuillé plus d'une famille, nous exortons la communauté des donateurs, et avec elle les organisations internationales à soutenir les gouvernements des pays en voie de développement dans leurs efforts pour accroître Leur production alimentaire et pour l' accomplissement total de la haute priorité qu'il est convenu de donner ausecteur vivrier dans leur politique de développement.
C'est du reste en raison de l'importance que revêt La sécurité alimentaire pour La communauté humaine, que notre pays, fidèle à sa politique de paix et de justice, n'a cessé et ne cessera de dénoncer Lesagressions perpétrées par l'Afrique du Sud dans les pays de La ligne de front en Afrique australe dans La mesure où cesagressionssont déstabilisatrices et mettent en péril la sécurité alimentaire de ces pays.
Le Congo notre pays, pour qui les racines, les tubercules, les bananes et Les plantains sont Les aliments de base de sa population et jouent un róle fondamental dans sa sécurité alimentaire, se réjouit de l'importance récente accordée à ces cultures par la FAO dans ses programmes de recherche de production et de transformation; et nous tenons à encourager la FAO à poursuivre La demande dans cette voie; cette préoccupation reste également celle des autres pays de notre sous-région d'Afrique centrale.
Le Comité n'étant pas parvenu à un consensus sur la question de La mise en place anticipée des stocks d'aliments visant à accélérer les livraisons de L'aide d'urgence, notre pays, qui voit dans ces stocks facilement mobilisables un mécanisme indispensable, attend avec grand intérêt L'étude complémentaire demandée à ce sujet à la FAO.
Enfin, pour terminer, notre délégation désire réitérer son appui aux systèmes d'information et d'alerte rapide de la FAO dont il recommande le renforcement.
Badr BEN AMMAR (Tunisie): La Tunisie voudrait tout d'abord associer sa voix à celle des délégations qui l'ont déjà précédée pour exprimer sa satisfaction de vous voir à la présidence, M. le Président, et pour remercier M. Gonzalez de son introduction claire et précise du document soumis actuellement à l'examen du Conseil.
La Tunisie exprime sa satisfaction quant au rapport de la lleme session du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale et aux conclusions et recommandations auxquelles il a abouti. Notre intervention se limitera donc à quelques observations.
L'importance du rôle joué par le Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale n'est plus à démontrer. Depuis onze années ce Comité se réunit périodiquement pour étudier la situation de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, proposer des solutions à moyen et court termes, et assurer la réussite des opérations d'aide alimentaire. Il s'agit ici d'un rôle humanitaire que joue la FAO dans le but de contribuer à l' eradication progressive de la faim et de la malnutrition dans le monde. Les efforts fournis par la FAO ont été couronnés par le dépassement, pour la seconde année consécutive, du volume de 10 millions de tonnes d'aide alimentaire. Cette performance ne peut qu'être un stimulant pour la FAO dans le sens de la persévérance et de l'intensification de ses efforts afin de contribuer davantage à l'amélioration de la situation de La sécurité alimentaire dans le monde. Cependant si le dépassement de 10 millions de tonnes constitue une performance en soi, cela ne peut être que la résultante d'une détérioration de la situation alimentaire et nutritionne 1 le dans certaines régions du monde, et plus particulièrement en Afrique. En effet, on ne peut parler de sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle sans parler de l'Afrique, ce continent qui ne fait que subir des calamités de différentes sortes et qui n'est pas encore parvenu à assurer une adéquation entre l'évolution démographique et l'accroissement de la production alimentaire. Pire encore, les projections prévoient une détérioration de la situation alimentaire et nutritionnelle à moyen terme; la préoccupation mondiale à l'égard de ce problème ne peut à elle seule résoudre ce problème.
Il revient donc aux pays concernés eux-mêmes, avec l'appui de la communauté internationale d'améliorer la situation alimentaire en accordant plus d'attention au développement du secteur agricole, en définissant des politiques claires on faveur du développement de l'agriculture. Toutefois, cet effort ne saurait aboutir à des résultats positifs sans l'appui de la communauté internationale. Cette dernière devrait appuyer les efforts des pays concernés et garantir ainsi Va réussite de leurs programmes par l'assistance technique, le transfert de technologies appropriées et adaptées, et l'assainissement de l'environnement économique international, tout particulièrement par l'amélioration du climat du commerce mondial.
La onzième session du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale a introduit l'idée de La mise en place anticipée de stocks pour accélérer la livraison de l'aide d'urgence. Cette formule devrait assurer pLus de rapidité et par conséquent rendre plus efficaces les opérations d'urgence. Il est proposé dans le rapport un examen plus large et plus approfondi de cette proposition; nous en convenons, tout en lançant un appel afin que cet examen soit réalisé aussitôt que possible et que l'on essaye d'identifier la meilleure formule de son exécution.
Trois formules sont proposées dans le rapport; nous avons une certaine inclinaison pour la troisième alternative, à savoir l'établissement et la gestion des stocks prévisionnels sur une base multilatérale, et la détention de ces stocks par un organisme international tel que le PAM.
L'initiative prise par le Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale d'étudier de plus près le role des racines, des plantains et des tubercules dans la sécurité alimentaire, ne fait que démontrer la nécessité de baser cette dernière essentiellement sur les ressources propres des pays vulnérables. Cette proposition garantit le développement de la production agricoLe locale dans les pays en considération et éviterait le changement dans leurs habitudes alimentaires qui, une fois basées essentiellement sur les aliments importés, affecteraient négativement leur sécurité alimentaire. Ainsi dans le sens du renforcement de cette idée, les opérations triangulaires pourraient servir de support.
Mrs Marasee SURAKUL (Thailand): The Thai delegacion noces the statement in document CL 90/10 with interest. As regards world food security, it is clearly indicated that the world security situation has improved since the last meeting on world food security because of the increase in food production both in developed and developing countries, including the low-income food-deficit countries, although world trade in stable foods and food aid slightly declined.
The problem of undernourishment and malnutrition of people is evident in the developing countries. This is one of the most critical problems of the world. Both the developed and the developing countries have the same common interest in this problem and have made efforts to alleviate it. The other problem is food insecurity. It is important to highlight this food insecurity. The cause of food insecurity lies not only in the recent drought and floods but also in the failure of nations to develop economic systems that generate real income for the poor to help them to improve this situation of malnutrition.
Dietmar KINZEL (Austria): I would like to thank Mr Gonzalez for introducing the Report on the Eleventh Session of the Committee. We have noted with satisfaction, a certain recovery in the world food situation. We are, however, concerned that in a number of lower income food deficit countries in Africa the per capita consumption of food has declined in spite of increased production.
We believe that considerable efforts are needed to stabilise and extend the partial success so far achieved, in view of the relatively good crop in 1986, and considering the fact that some 60 million people are without any purchasing power. The world food problem seems to be mainly an employment problem. Productivity increase in food production as well as the improvement of storage capacities and the infrastructure of transport are, therefore, urgent requirements. In 1986 numerous developing countries harvested bumper crops. Unfortunately, we have to note that there are great difficulties in selling their surpluses at declining prices in the world market. Production increased by 2 percent in the developing countries thus exceeding the rise in the industrialised countries.
In this connection, may I repeat that in developing countries, following falling incomes, production is decreasing, whereas in developed countries, farmers are producing more and more for increasing earnings. In particular, the production of maize, millet and sorghum could be raised in the African region. The overall food situation in Africa thus improved in 1985.
The area under cultivation was above the average yields and meat production increased, whilst in 1984, 21 countries of the continent still suffered great deficiencies. One year later, this situation was found only in six countries. The prices of agricultural products often fell sharply in 1985. In real terms the world market prices of staple foods dropped to the level of 1966.
The recession in export earnings added to the deterioration of the Crade balances recorded over the last ten years. The expert consultations envisaged by the FAO, wich a view co providing the poor with better access to foods, should, in our opinion, also include measures to improve the employment situation. The improvement of storage facilities for cereals, and the improvement of the transport infrastructure undoubtedly deserve our support. As stated in paragraph 40 to 42 when formulating national policies for the developing countries, greater priority should be given to roots and tubers, the importance of which has so far been under-estimated. Their production should be encouraged by adequate incentive.
Michael J. RYAN (Australia): Australia considers the Committee on Food Security as a most useful mechanism for international consultations on the key issues affecting the state of world food security. In our experience, the Secretariat's research is thorough and the documentation well prepared and presented, thus we welcome this Report.
We recognise the fact that food insecurity results basically from poverty, for instance the lack of purchasing power racher Chan from inadequate physical availability of food at the global level. Con-sequently, a significant share of Australian overseas development assistance is directed toward activities designed to improve food security in developing countries.
This assistance is provided in the forms of food projects, training and research, especially through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. We are fully aware of the constraints imposed upon the achievements of developing country food security by developed country protectionist trading policies, including subsidisation of agricultural trade. I do not wish to labour this point as we have spoken at length on this subject under a previous item, suffice it to say. Australia is also adversely affected by such policies and inappropriate international fora and is actively seeking the liberalisation of world trade, especially agricultural trade.
On the question of pre-positioning of stocks to expedite delivery of emergency food aid we recall that, importantly, the analysis considered by the Committee on Food Security at its Eleventh Session, did not encompass, as an element of total emergency response time, the time required in the recipient country for internal transport and distribution of emergency food aid from the port, or point of entry, to the target beneficiaries.
According to the World Food Programme, lack of internal logistics capacity appeared to be a major, if not the most important, handicap to an efficiency emergency response to the African food crisis. Therefore, any administrative response, time-saving realised through pre-positioning in getting food aid to the recipient's port of entry, can be more than offset by lack of internal logistics capacity. It is relevant to ask whether funds invested in establishing and managing a pre-positioned emergency food aid stock could yield a greater return, in terms of savings in delivery to target beneficiaries, by being invested in strengthening internal logistics capacity, in countries vulnerable to food emergencies.
We note that the Twenty-first CFA, earlier this year, considered inter alia the WFP recommendation for improving the operation of IEFR in order to reduce WFP's total emergency response time. Implementation of these recommendations could conceivably diminish the need for pre-positioning.
On the question of national preparedness planning to cope with food emergencies, Australia believes that the effectiveness of any national preparedness plan depends entirely on a degree of government commitment to it, including the level of authority and resources given to the administrative mechanisms established as part of a plan. In this context, serious political commitment to the nationalisation of agricultural sector policies is essential in countries vulnerable to food emergencies.
On the question of the Food Security Assistance Scheme, Australia has contributed a total of around 6. 5 million to specific FSAS activities and, in general, we have been disappointed with the scheme. Some projects appear to have been inadequately designed and very slowly implemented. The FAO's record of reporting to Australia on the expenditure of our contributions and on project progress has, in general, been unsatisfactory. However, we are happy to inform the Council that there has been an improvement in this area in recent months. Nevertheless, Australia supports the CFS request for a more analytical assessment of the scheme in the next review report.
I would like to refer to a couple of specific paragraphs in the document before us. On page 2, paragraph 12, we would say that whilst the recent declines in the value of the US dollar, real interest rates and petrol prices are likely to improve the economic situation in many developing countries, it is important to noto that they will not necessarily benefit all such countries. For example, the depreciation of the US dollar will increase the competitiveness of US exports and will make it more difficult for the developing countries' exports, both agricultural and manufactured, to compete in world markets. Secondly, lower world oil prices will reduce the export revenues of oil exporting developing countries.
On page 3, paragraph 13, we believe it is questionable whether the falling grain prices will encourage output by efficient low cost producers in developed countries. The agricultural support systems in both the European Community and the USA insulate farmers from the full effects of world price fluctuations. Consequently it is unlikely that there would be any reduction in output by the least efficient producers in those countries which could be taken up by more efficient producers either in the EEC, in the USA, or elsewhere.
Finally, a point on paragraph 14, on page 3, the point made regarding the inconsistency of certain developed countries in using subsidies to first produce and then dispose of surpluses, we feel is an extremely valid one. The economic irrationality of these policies should be strongly emphasized.
Leopoldo ARIZA HIDALGO (Cuba): Nosotros queremos felicitar primeramente por la presentación del tema que nos hizo nuestro colega y amigo el Ministro Guillermo González. Hizo un recuento pormenorizado de las cuestiones fundamentales, si no de todas, que se examinaron en este período del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria. Este período del Comité la delegación de Cuba lo considera como uno de los más fructíferos de los que se han efectuado en los últimos tiempos. Fue una discusión bastante amplia, como lo refleja el documento y muy profunda. Puede que el tiempo de abril a noviembre haya hecho variar algunas cuestiones que habrá de análizar. Sin embargo, consideramos que este período ha sido digno de que probemos este informe en su totalidad.
Nosotros, en realidad, no tenemos observación alguna, por lo que entendemos que debe ser aprobado por este Consejo. Durante la discusión se ha hecho referencia a algunas de las cuestiones discutidas. No tengo intención de aburrir un poco con cuestiones que ya han sido discutidas y que este informe recoge con suficiente claridad, si lo aprobamos en todas sus partes. Consideramos que el análisis hecho por el Comité en sectores tan importantes para la seguridad alimentaria mundial, como producción, investigación, comercio, reservas alimentarias, transacciones triangulares y acceso a los alimentos, demostraron una vez más la importancia que se le da en esta Organización a aspectos tan prioritarios como sin lugar a dudas es la seguridad alimentaria y que claramente se pueden constatar en los párrafos 19 a 24 del documento CL 90/10 que se nos presenta.
Asimismo, una muestra mis de la preocupación constante del Director General, es la propuesta hecha al Comité de que se examinaran las perspectivas a plazo medio de suministro y las necesidades mundiales de alimentos con el objeto de mejorar la base analítica para la labor. Creo que es una cuestión muy importante. Si no hacemos realmente un análisis de base tendríamos que seguir machacando sobre las mismas cuestiones.
En realidad son dignas de elogio las medidas introducidas por la FAO al elaborar sus proyecciones sobre la base del modelo alimentario mundial, lo cual permitió determinar en forma simultánea la oferta, la demanda, el comercio, los precios en el sistema de cereales, semillas oleaginosas, ganadería y hacer extensivas las proyecciones a las raíces, tubérculos y leguminosas.
No queremos, como dije al principio, entrar en consideraciones de la situación mundial de la crisis y los problemas exógenos y endógenos que cada país tiene a la hora de analizar los problemas de la seguridad alimentaria mundial. Pero si teniendo en cuenta la importancia de este 11° período de sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, que para nosotros puede tener repercusiones si llevamos sus acuerdos a seguimiento, porque se puede convertir en un gran recuento de buenos deseos. Creo que lo que hay que buscar es salir de los buenos deseos y entrar en la implementación de ellos.
Teniendo en cuenta esto, esta reunión se efectuó en el mes de abril y estamos finalizando noviembre, a mi delegación le gustaría conocer en qué estado se encuentra la implementación de las recomendaciones hechas por el Comité, especialmente en lo referente al incremento de las investigaciones y la difusión de sus resultados mediante actividades de extensión y capacitación, haciendo énfasis en la necesidad de asegurar las ventajas de toda mejora de la productividad que llegarán a las mujeres, las cuales desempeñan un importante papel en el cultivo de algunos productos recomendados como las raíces y los tubérculos. Creo que hay que buscar cuándo implementamos y nos interesaría conocer qué medidas se han tomado para subsanar las deficiencias de los sistemas de comercialización. Todas estas recomendaciones aparecen en los párrafos 40, 41 y 42 del documento en cuestión. Por lo tanto, creemos que si podemos ya llegar a dos aspectos muy importantes para nosotros, como son la comercialización" y la capacitación, ya hemos ganado algo en la cuestión que veníamos discutiendo hace mucho tiempo y que este Comité logró reunificar y coordinar ordenadamente.
Queremos hacer nuestro planteamiento de acuerdo con la delegación de México sobre el estudio para América Latina y el Caribe que se propuso en la Conferencia Regional de la FAO celebrada en Barbados.
Dong QING SONG (China) (original language Chinese): First of all I would like to thank Mr González for his concise and clear introduction to the report of the 11th Session of the Committee on World Food Security and we approve the content of the report. Having said that, allow me to make a few brief comments.
First, in recent years world food production has experienced a period of continuous growth. Critical food situation is showing signs of improvement in certain developing countries, particularly in Africa. However, as is stated in the report, in paragraph 11, basic food consumption per capita has declined during the present season in about half of the low-income food-deficit countries. Even in countries where this consumption has increased, a very large number of people are still suffering serious malnutrition. This shows that we can in no case neglect the world food situation.
Second, as everybody knows, encouragement of food and agricultural production in developing countries is an essential measure for solving the food problem. What has to be done now is to ensure the implementation of such a measure. We continue to consider that developing countries should give priority to agriculture in developing their natural economies and for its part the international community should supply financial and technical aid to developing countries for their agricultural production. For several years the Organization has undertaken activities in this sector and they are to be congratulated on this.
Third, factors that affect world food security are many. What is essential for developing countries is to rely on their own efforts and on international cooperation to improve their productivity but other factors should not thereby be neglected, factors such as the international economic and social environment. For instance, policies for distributing agricultural commodities, the international commercial order and also agricultural assistance and food aid are also closely linked with the achievement of the objective of food security and therefore on this we must all harmonize our efforts.
Fourth, as has been indicated in the report, roots, tuber and plantains play a very important role in food security. It is absolutely necessary for FAO to undertake specific studies on this subject so that it can be given greater priority. Furthermore, FAO has also undertaken a series of global, regional and national activities in the framework of the implementation of the Food Security Assistance Scheme and under-preparedness plans for food emergencies and has achieved a success here.
We hope that FAO will continue to play its role in this sector so that the world food security should continually improve.
Mohd. Mazlan BIN JUSOH (Malaysia): First let me express my pleasure to see you on the podium chairing this session.
My delegation is very pleased with the contents of the document in the report CL 90/10 and would like to commend the Secretariat and give our special thanks to Mr González as Chairman of the Committee on World Food Security for his clear and comprehensive introduction.
We are particularly pleased with the striking recovery made in many low-income food-deficit countries which have resulted in a widespread increase in output of staple food such as maize, millet, sorghum, and cassava. According to the latest FAO Food Outlook issued in November 1986, it seems that favourable harvests are now assured in most regions. Nevertheless there has been mention of concern in some of the papers discussed by the Committee on Rural Food Security regarding the decline in local prices in some of the African countries which have managed to produce surpluses. Therefore, my delegation firmly believes that in order to maintain a momentum of recovery and to provide the proper incentives, a greater amount of purchase of surpluses tor triangular transactions would alleviate this problem of surpluses in these countries. Consistent with our stand in our first intervention of this Council session, my delegation thinks that food-aid flow from surpluses generated from developed economies should be reduced in the light of fairly good harvests of the previously-affected regions. It must be realized that food aid has been a necessity due to the emergency situation and also largely due to decreases in overall development assistance.
We would like co see chis trend reversed and urge donor countries to increase the overall development assistance rather than going the opposite way. Perhaps it would be a logical step and even cheaper to transfer funds using export subsidies and other supportive measures to be used for financial and technical support to the low-income food-deficit countries.
Despite the ample global supply of cereals there seems to the still the major problem of the planning projector consumption among the poorest sectors of the population. This stems mainly from the lack of purchasing power of this group.
Programmes must therefore be undertaken in trying to improve the access to food for this underprivileged group by providing better incomes and also allowing them to grow food themselves. Most of these problems are connected with the economic health of the country itself. In this respect we fully support the call for improving the international economic trading environment in order to stimulate trade and allow market access to agricultural export products of the low-income food-deficit countries. it is now of paramount importance that we should take advantage of the momentum so far achieved to increase food production and totally rehabilitate agriculture in the food-deficit countries.
On the role of roots, tubers and plantains, my delegation is supportive of the recommendation made by the Committee to intensify efforts for the production of these commodities. The favourable agroclimatic condition in Sub-Saharan African countries should be exploited to increase the production of these food items which can greatly supplement the diet of the population. Since these are indigenously grown crops, it should be an important step towards enhancing self-reliance and meeting the food security requirements of the countries concerned and reduce the over-dependence on imported cereal grains. Further active programmes should be pursued to improve varieties in planting systems. In view of the bulkiness and perishability of these foods, infrastructure for storage, transport and marketing facilities will have to be improved. We support the programmes in this direction.
On the proposal to preposition stocks with the intended purpose of expediting delivery of emergency food, my delegation wishes to express our reservation on the said proposal if such storage facilities are meant to be built in donor countries. Although we still do agree that emergency food aid is necessary, perhaps it would be more appropiate to meet emergency situations through the expediting of triangular transaction mechanisms.
It should be noted that about 2. 7 million tons of exportable coarse grains are now available from countries such as Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tonga and Zimbabwe. Twenty-three other countries in Africa require these grains. Perhaps it would be better to build storage facilities either in these surplus-producing countries or emergency food-deficit countries for eventual use to triangular transactions. Purchase funds from donor countries using this storage could greatly enhance and expedite triangular transactions. These storage facilities could also be utilized to help accummulate reserves for emergencies through sub-regional or regional arrangements. My delegation believes that in this way, emergency response time could be shortened.
While enhancing triangular transactions, this would also mean giving incentives for the process of African nations themselves to keep on producing food and alleviate the problem of disposal. In line with this we are supportive of the idea of establishing sub-regional or regional food security reserves. In fact Malaysia is actively involved in the ASEAN food security reserve system which is complementary to our own national food reserves. Such regional or sub-regional food reserve systems would greatly enhance food security and would not be of too great a burden on individual countries. Now with rising stocks worldwide and depressed prices, countries should take advantage of building up stocks to face future emergencies.
Anwar Mohammed KHALED (Yemen, People's Democratic Republic of) (original language Arabic): First of all, I would like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, and tell you how delighted we are to see you in the Chair. We would also like to congratulate Mr Gonzalez for his clear and precise presentation. We have carefully studied this document on world food security and this perusal was accompanied by some concern for World Food Security, especially in low-income food-deficit countries where the situation has been preoccupying. As appears from the document, the majority of these countries were not in a position to take the necessary measures to ensure their food security or co be prepared to meet food emergencies. With this in mind, I would like to review the situation in my country.
In spite of the measures taken by the authorities of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen to develop agricultural production and in spice of the resources allocated to chat sector, we are facing enormous difficulties in food security. There are many reasons for this and there is no need for me to go into them here because in a previous statement on the situation of food and agriculture our Minister of Agriculture described these difficulties. Nevertheless, the distinctive aspect is the drought which continues in our country and has been in existence for a very long time. Rains are irregular and they vary in intensity. This has damaging effects on land, irrigation systems and the rural infrastructure as a whole. Added to this is the problem of the desert locusts and grass hoppers which have infested our country this year. This has of course limited our capacity for food production.
As was said by the Minister of Agriculture of my country when he spoke on the food and agriculture situation, the world economic situation is not a wholly favourable one. This is why we once again wish to state what was said by our minister. Above all, there is a need for collective activity internationally to ensure food security, to ensure peace and better dialogue between North and South and to prompt a fairer international economic order.
We wish once again to affirm the importance of the role of international organizations in the aid they provide for developing countries to improve their agricultural production and solve their food security problems. Therefore what was said during this Council meeting on the need for strengthening FAO resources and those of WFP and IFAD will certainly go towards improving food security in all developing countries, as shown by the response to the African crisis.
Finally, in the interests of brevity, I wish once again to support the comments made by our colleague from Lebanon on emergency measures and also on national preparedness plans for food crisis as well as on national foodstuffs and national stocks. We also support the medium-and short-term study on food security proposed by the Director-General.
Akbar Mirza KHALEELI (India): I would like to join my colleagues in thanking Mr Gonzalez for his extremely useful report. It has helped us to further crystalize our views and to understand the direction in which the world community has to move so that we benefit from the progress chat has been made over the last two years, especially in tackling emergency programmes, and also take advantage of certain positive trends in development and production in the agricultural field in the developing world.
I would like to take this opportunity to state that on the whole a conclusion of the last year or two is that despite the many problems, economic and otherwise, in the world, Asia as a whole has been doing quite well. That ancient continent which was the first object of external interest, exploitation and forced sale of goods has also been the first to emerge if one takes it as a major entity. Countries like China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, in fact almost all the Asian countries, despite demographic and other problems, have more or less succeeded in solving the basic problems of food production. We have no doubt that in the present atmosphere of international cooperation which seeks to put behind all the nations the rivalries, conflicts, tensions of the past, the concept of food security and food for development, which are interlinked, will have to gain ground. We are also sure that our brothers in Africa and Latin America, who are equally, if not better, endowed than Asia, will sooner or later become self-sufficient and in fact produce surpluses. Viewed in this context, I think the role of FAO, the role of ourselves, the role of this meeting, is Co see what we can do during this interim period of maybe 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, during which the inevitable course of history can be anticipated to lessen the problems which face those
countries that have certain imbalances and problems. With, our developing countries in Asia, including India, the fact that we are agriculturally self-sufficient has not solved many of our problems. Large sections of our population, which we call the weaker sections of society, still do not have adequate employment or nutrition. Therefore the government has to deal not merely with self-sufficiency but with tackling different problems. The government is responsive and thoughtful; action is being taken for rural development programmes, integrated development programmes, which in due course are bound to raise the standards of those who have not directly benefited from the Green Revolution and other agricultural developments. This is true of a number of other countries also. However, there is no guarantee that particularly smaller countries, who have had similar or even greater agricultural successes, can make the transition. I would think that larger countries always have something to buy or sell and if they are not able to sell one item, they are able to sell something else. But what happens to the smaller countries who have invested so much time and effort and sacrifice in one or two products to make themselves self-sufficient and then find that their surpluses become a burden? It is here in the report, paragraph 21, improvements in the international economic and trading environment, and paragraph 24 regarding triangular transactions. These are all interlinked. On the one hand we are witnessing a certain tussle between developed countries where the policies of subsidization in exports and production are making for new rivalries. We understand that there are problems even for them in adjusting. After all, there are agricultural groups whose interests have to be met. But I would go along with our Malaysian colleague to state that somewhere we will need to help or encourage those developing countries who have not only developed agricultural self-sufficiency but also have surpluses. They cannot immediately compete in the international market as they may not have all the advantages of production or skills but it is better to anticipate this rather than create pressures for developing countries which find that even if they have substantial surpluses they are unable to sell them, and it is increasingly expensive to store them.
If one recalls development in the early part of the century one would find a country such as India, when it was unable to deal with certain political or economic problems, it resorted to a thing called "non-cooperation", where one virtually stopped buying things. That is not the world in which we are living today. The fact chat we sit together means that we have a deep interest in each other. Effectively, what is happening is that in a more effective and legitimized way where chose who have the advantages of cheaper production and more efficient production (even in the basic field of agriculture) are able to supply wheat or rice in the neighbourhood of the developing countries which have got surpluses and these developing countries are not able to compete. I do not think that this situation can last forever. To some extent I think we should occupy ourselves with anticipating matters in a cooperative spirit.
We in our region, which we have called the SAARC region, have also tried to learn from our colleagues in ASEAN so that we would have regional or sub-regional food reserves. I think this is also quite useful for many other countries because one country or the other happens to have a surplus in certain items and it can always help a neighbour.
I would not like to continue unnecessarily on this report because I think it covers many of our concerns. I should like to end by stating that food security is too important a matter for us to be divided on. Both donor countries and the developing countries have played important parts. I would urge that this positive trend should continue so that the developing countries which develop surpluses would be able to anticipate that these surpluses would become part of world trade.
Milan KARIC (Yougoslavie): Je voudrais dire que la délégation yougoslave souhaite exprimer sa gratitude à M. Gonzales pour l'introduction claire et complète qu'il nous a faite de cette question importante et qui nous préoccupe actuellement, et qui a fait l'objet du document CL 90/10, consacré à l'examen du problème de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
Ma délégation réaffirme l'importance de la sécurité alimentaire et, dans ce cadre, nous donnons notre appui aux constatations principales et aux recommandations faites par le Comité de la Sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
Avant de passer à l'examen de ce point de l'ordre du jour, je voudrais constater que les problèmes concernant la sécurité alimentaire ont été partiellement mentionnés dans l'exposé du chef de ma délégation au cours du débat sur la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture.
Nous supportons les recommandations du Comité contenues dans le paragraphe 9 du rapport, afin que dans les rapports futurs les renseignements utiles tels que les aliments traditionnels, les questions macro-économiques nutrìtionnelles et démographiques soient inclus en évitant bien sur double emploi et en tenant compte des activités des autres organismes internationaux dans ces domaines. Les stocks céréaliers mondiaux, au cours de l'année courante, ont augmenté et représentent 24 pour cent de la consommation mondiale, mais ils sont concentrés dans un petit nombre de pays et restent insuffisants dans la plupart des pays à faible revenu.
Nous voudrions signaler que la situation actuelle qui se manifeste par des excédents céréaliers et des prix relativement bas offre une chance à la communauté mondiale d'appliquer les recommandations et les lignes d'orientation adoptées par la Conférence de la FAO, le Conseil et le Comité de la sécurité alimentaire dans sa résolution visant à assurer une aide alimentaire suffisante et à apporter une aide accrue aux pays à faible revenu et à déficit vivrier, afin que ces derniers soient mieux à même d'augmenter leurs productions et d'améliorer l'accès des pauvres à la nourriture.
Dans ce contexte, nous appuyons les efforts pour la mise en place anticipée de stocks pour accélérer la livraison de l'aide d'urgence.
De même, nous partageons les appréhensions du Comité relatives à la diminution de la consommation de base par habitant dans un grand nombre de pays en développement; et nous exprimons nos inquiétudes quant à la présentation par la FAO et le PAM indiquant qu'aujourd'hui les besoins d'aide alimentaire s'élèvent à 20 millions de tonnes et que cette quantité ne diminuerait pas avant la fin de la décade.
Nous sommes témoins de ce que la plupart des pays en développement sont confrontés à des difficultés financières et économiques limitant leurs possibilités de développement économiques et surtout agricoles. La balance des paiements, la dette extérieure, la baisse des prix d'exportation des produits traditionnels des pays on développement sont un obstacle à l'importation des céréales; c'est bien la preuve que la sécurité alimentaire n'est pas déterminée seulement par la production nationale mais également dans une grande mesure par des circonstances extérieures, tout particulièrement dans les domaines financiers et commerciaux. Nous sommes certains que l'amélioration du climat commercial pourra aider dans une grande mesure les pays en développement à atteindre leur sécurité alimentaire et nous tenons à souligner l'importance des négociations commerciales multilatérales du GATT.
Encore une fois, nous considérons que la situation actuelle confirme la nécessité du renouvellement des négociations des clauses économiques pour un accord international sur les céréales. Une telle solution serait une contribution substantielle vers la stabilisation du marché et des prix céréaliers mondiaux; ce serait un facteur crucial de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale à long terme.
Adel Helmy EL SARKI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): My delegation would like at the outset to express our sincere appreciation to the Committee for its commendable efforts in the preparation of the report on world food security. It is heartening to note the increase in food and agricultural production as well as signs of recovery in African economies. Moreover, we share the concerns voiced by the Committee concerning the decline in food per capita in some developing countries and the balance of payments imbalances resulting in adverse effects on the agricultural sector.
The assessment contained in the document indicates a decline in trade in agricultural products. On this score we reiterate what we have already said while commenting on the document on the situation of Food and Agriculture, namely to express the hope that the multilateral trade negotiations within GATT be successful. However, mere wishful thinking will not suffice. Egypt joins ail those who call for the reform of the international economic order. We fully endorse cooperation among developing countries to counter economic disruptions in developed ones.
Egypt has participated in the Eleventh Session of CFS. We also welcomed the preparation of a study on trade in agricultural products: its prospects and constraints. We also welcomed the measures proposed by CFS for increasing agricultural production and utilising crop surpluses in developing countries within the framework of triangular transactions.
My delegation endorses the conclusions of the Committee as regards the importance and efficiency of national measures in food security. My country is prepared to put its training facilities in the field of remote sensing for forecasting locust attacks and natural disasters, in the service of brotherly developing countries thus enabling them equip national cadres in the implementation of relief programmes.
Egypt accords great importance to food security. We have formulated a new agricultural programme based upon the utilisation of modern technology in agriculture, proper linkage between research and extension, provision of necessary investments for this important economic sector, supply of inputs at appropriate prices, and raising the prices of some commodities to bring them closer to world prices.
In conclusion, we would like to express our thanks to the Chairman of the Committee, Mr González, for his lucid and simple introduction of the document.
Mohammad Hasan PAIMAN (Afghanistan): My delegation has studied the document CL 90/10 thoroughly, and the report given in the document, as covering most of the problem of food security.
Regarding paragraphs 12 and 22, my delegation believes that the economic crises of some developed countries has adversely affected the economic development of developing and low-income countries. As a result of the development of such crises, trade tariffs are increased and more burdens are put upon the exports of developing countries. Ail these obstacles prevent economic development in those countries. This is why the poor do not assist in food production.
In recent years, a drastic change in climatical conditions in Afghanistan has resulted in a major decline of rainfall from 244 mm annual average, to 218 mm in general. It was very variable, as low as 94 mm on average in northern Afghanistan in the current year. Therefore, there is a large deficit in cereals, especially in the wheat crop, as noted-390, 000 tonnes in the current year, as I mentioned in my previous speech on document CL 90/9. The drought is not affecting only the crops and cultivated plants, but has dangerously affected the pastures and forests too.
In connection with pastures, we have about 20 million sheep in our country. Out of that, more than 4. 5 million are the Karakul sheep which graze in the northern part of the country. As you know, the Karakul skin is a major earner of foreign cash in our country, but now they are unfortunately severely suffering from drought and dried out pastures. They cannot feed because of the shortage of fodder crops, especially in three months of the winter season. The sheep owners are slaughtering these sheep due to the shortage of fodder materials. If any donor organizations do not consider the matter as an urgent case and do not devote emergency aid, the situation will be much more difficult in the near future.
On the question of the role of roots, tubers and plantains in food security in sub-Saharan Africa, we would note paragraph 42. In the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan several governmental organs are in charge of purchasing potatoes, carrots and onions at harvest time, and after storing they redistribute them to the main consumers at cheap prices. The object of this action is to stabilize the prices of those products which are the main foodstuffs of the people through cutting the middlemen out of the market. The economic benefit and nutritional value of tubers and roots are taught to people in health centres, schools, and other training institutions, and as well through public mass media.
Paragraph 48 concerns prepositioning of stocks to expedite delivery of emergency food aid. The Afghan delegation believes that WFP should own the stocks which are prepositioned but the stocks should be kept at the ports of the donors. WFP has long experience in the distribution of food aid, and by having complete information and statistics they could estimate in which parts of the world food shortage will occur and what should be the facilities for shipment and distribution.
As regards national preparedness planning to cope with food emergencies, paragraph 53 is noted. In the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan there is a department of emergencies. The department is in charge of assisting casualties of famine, flood and other natural disasters. The department mainly distributes foodstuffs, as well as other basic needs. The department also has close contact with other institutions such as Red Crescent societies, municipalities, cooperatives and other social departments, but it is not so powerful and cannot serve well as far as financial materials and funds are concerned, so it needs some assistance by donor organizátions, too. We welcome the report in the document as far as that aspect is concerned.
Augustine K. OSUBAN (Uganda): Mr Chairman, may I take this opportunity to express our satisfaction at seeing you chairing this session.
I should like to thank the Chairman of the Committee on World Food Security for his introduction of the paper. Ugaada participated in the 11th Session of the Committee on World Food Security and we endorse the findings of the Committee. Here I should like to take the opportunity to highlight only a few points.
We would like to reiterate the Committee's request that future reviews on world food security should include more information on non-cereal staples, particularly roots, tubers and plantains, as these would constitute a very important element of diet in many developing countries. Research for high-yielding and pest-resistant varieties requires to be intensified, as well as research into lessening perishability and bulkiness of some of these crops.
Secondly, my delegation also supports the idea of prepositioning of stocks, to be established and managed multilaterally under some international agency. We feel that as the objective of prepositioning food is to have supplies available to reach destitute peoples in situations of emergency quickly, the need to upgrade internal transport and transport infrastructure in recipient countries is equally important.
On the question of national preparedness, we fully endorse paragraphs 53 and 54 which call on governments to establish plans comprising institutions for carrying out early warning and food relief activities, and for contingency plans outlining activities to be undertaken and the administrative procedures to enter into force when these are signalled.
Regarding the Food Security Assistance Scheme, my delegation appreciates the activities of the Food Security Assistance Scheme, especially its assistance in the preparation and funding of national early warning projects and its assistance to countries preparing national preparedness plans. We believe that the activities of FSAS could be expanded to reach the target of $10 million established by the Conference.
With these remarks, we endorse the report of the Committee.
Α. K. M. Kamaluddin CHOUDHURY (Bangladesh): The Bangladesh delegation thanks Mr Gonza'lez for his introduction to the report on the Committee on World Food Security, document CL 90/10.
As a low-income food-deficit country we attach high priority to the establishment of a global system of food security. Therefore, we welcome any measure that would improve the availability of food grains for the needy and poor in Asia, Africa and Latin America. On the national front, agriculture, irrigation and rural development has been accorded high priority in allocation of funds in our Third Five Year Plan, and we in Bangladesh expect to achieve food self-sufficiency in the not too distant future.
Although achievement of food security is the primary concern of national governments, in the intervening years LDCs will need food aid and other imports to promote agricultural development, particularly increased production of food grains. These countries will also need food aid to meet their existing food gap. Therefore, we strongly urge continuation of food aid and other economic assistance to increase food production in these countries.
As a matter of policy, Bangladesh is trying to set up a national food security reserve to meet unforeseen contingencies and food-related emergencies arising out of crop failures or natural disasters. Bangladesh is also working toward the establishment of a South Asian Food Security Reserve in cooperation with regional countries. A meeting on the South Asian Food Security Reserve will be held shortly in Bangkok. We hope such a proposal will receive the support of the donor countries, FAO and other multilateral agencies.
Our delegation endorses the report generally of the CWFS session, and we hope that the positive suggestions will be put into effect.
Mrs. Millicent M. FENWICK (United States of America): What I wanted to talk about is something which was referred to by the delegate of Mexico, and I would like to touch on it, that is the question of transnationals. I believe that a report has gone to the Transnational Committee in the United Nations in New York and that we will be able to study such a report in the FAO Council. I want to encourage people to think about transnationals.
One country in this world, not my own, has invested $62 billion in different transnational companies abroad. We struggled to get some of that, and we got $19 billion of it. We were very happy. The Governors of our States competed. We had a tremendous fight. The Governor of Tennessee wanted the plant, and the Governor of Missouri wanted the same plant, and they were entertaining people and offering. Why do we want foreign investment in this way? Because they pay taxes, because that is what pays for our schools, because that is what maintains our roads. Some of these transnational companies built new plants, which was wonderfuL; there were whole new buildings and employment. It has been spoken of here. I think the delegate of Austria talked of 600 million without any purchasing power in this world. But I would like to say something else to the developing countries: be sure that you have lawyers adequate to defend your country's interest. You cannot sign up blindly with some companies.
In Rome there is an Organization called the International Development Law Institute. It has been set up with foundation and other funds and it is operating here in Rome. What does it do? It allows lawyers, or would-be lawyers, which governments want to send to Rome to study these international and contract laws. There are professors, some of them seconded by their universities or businesses to teach contract and international law so that when a company comes in and says, "Now let us have a wonderful deal, " the government can say, "Indeed, that is perfect and we have just the lawyer who will be able to talk to you about these interesting things. "
I cannot emphasize too much the International Development Law Institute. It was started with foundation money just as IRRI was, the Rice Institute in Los Baños, and now it is also getting money from the United States government through our aid.
Humberto CARRION M. (Nicaragua): También yo quiero felicitar al señor Guillermo González, representante de la República Argentina ante la FAO, que en su calidad de Presidente del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, nos presentó con mucha competencia el documento 90/10.
Nuestra intención en esta oportunidad es la de reiterar la solicitud de que la FAO realice un estudio sobre la situación económica en América Latina y el Caribe que contenga un plan de acción para el sector de la agricultura y la alimentación. Esto mismo fue solicitado al Director General por la Conferencia Regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe celebrada en Barbados en Agosto del año en curso y se especificó el enfoque y el contenido que debería tener ese estudio.
También deseamos apoyar aquí la iniciativa del Presidente de Colombia, Sr. Virgilio Barco Vargas, de convocar una reunión para emprender una lucha activa y coordinada para erradicar la pobreza absoluta de nuestra región. Esperamos que la FAO esté en capacidad de participar en esa reunión, una vez convocada. A nadie escapa que la región de América Latina y el Caribe está atravesando la peor crisis económica de su historia y que el sector de la agricultura y la alimentación se encuentra muy deprimido.
Coincidimos con el documento 90/10 en que existen factores internos y externos que limitan la producción y la distribución de los alimentos en los países en vías de desarrollo. La principal causa interna es la pobreza, pero los países que estamos haciendo grandes esfuerzos para disminuir la pobreza nos encontramos con una serie de factores limitantes externos de carácter económico, financiero y comercial enumerados en la parte II del documento 90/10: evaluación de la situación actual de la seguridad alimentaria mundial, particularmente en los párrafos 12, 14 y 21. Creemos en el concepto revisado de seguridad alimentaria en el plano mundial debe ser asegurar que todas las personas tengan en todo momento acceso material y económico a los alimentos que necesitan. Este concepto realizado puede ser una realidad sólo a través de la concertación de las voluntades políticas de la Comunidad Internacional, de los países industrializados y los países en desarrollo.
En el caso específico de Nicaragua, la voluntad política nacional de lograr un desarrollo gradual y uniforme de nuestras fuerzas productivas tropiezan no sólo con los factores negativos externos, de carácter económico, financiero y comercial, sino también con una agresión sistemática que no tiene justificación alguna y que nos obliga a mantener involucrados en la defensa de la soberanía a más de 200 mil personas que equivalen al 20 por ciento de la población económicamente activa, a quienes se les destina el 10 por ciento del producto material del consumo básico.
Para concluir, apoyamos el contenido de ios párrafos 22 y 23 referentes a las reservas alimentarias y el párrafo 24 sobre las transacciones triangulares, y el párrafo 20 sobre la investigación para aumentar la productividad agrícola de los países de bajos ingresos y con déficit de alimentos, dando prioridad ai mejoramiento de los cultivos alimentarios autóctonos, como las raíces, tubérculos y plátanos.
Sra. Mercedes FERMIN GOMEZ (Venezuela): Vamos a ser muy breves porque, en primer lugar, sólo queremos expresar el apoyo de la delegación de Venezuela a la aprobación de este informe, pero aunque sea brevemente, queríamos referirnos al. contenido del párrafo 35 con relación a los estudios sobre las raíces tubérculos y plátanos que deben incluirse en el estudio propuesto en la Conferencia de Barbados para la América Latina y el Caribe.
Desde hace mucho tiempo a nosotros nos ha correspondido llamar la atención sobre este problema de la atención que debería prestar la FAO a estos cultivos autóctonos y muy especialmente a Las raíces, tubérculos y plátanos, y a lo que la FAO llama cereales secundarios, que nosotros nos oponemos a esta denominación porque no podemos considerar que haya cereales principales y cereales secundarios. Ya dijimos una vez que entre los cultivos más antiguos está precisamente el del maíz, el del arroz, y esos no pueden llamarse cereales secundarios, pero las circunstancias del predominio económico hacen que hayan sido aplazados y colocados y nosotros queremos traerlos a su sitio correcto.
Pero hoy vamos a pasar a lo que llamamos cultivos autóctonos, que son las raíces, los tubérculos, los plátanos y otros cultivos" indígenas como yo prefiero llamarlos. El carácter perentorio de estos productos es lo que hace que el comercio no les dé la importancia que ellos requieren, precisamente porque con el desarrollo de la agricultura comercial estos productos no pueden ser almacenados, no pueden ser transportados, porque no están en condiciones de resistir, porque todavía los países llamados desarrollados no han descubierto cómo conservarlos para mantenerlos en condiciones de rendimiento comercial, y es por eso por lo que todavía en el desarrollo de la investigación agrícola que actualmente avanza en el mundo, estas potencias comerciales no han caído ni en la yuca, ni en el ocumo, ni en el maíz, yo puedo dar una lista de ellos, son más de 20 productos, de estos productos autóctonos que son y han constituido la base de la alimentación de nuestros pueblos indígenas.
Por supuesto, ya hace mucho tiempo que los plátanos pasaron a la primera categoría, desde que las grandes empresas transnacionales bananeras descubrieron cómo transportarlos, si bien quienes sabemos lo que es comer un plátano o una banana en su verdadero momento de consumo y comerlo en cualquier país europeo después de que han pasado cinco semanas navegando en un barco, sabemos muy bien que hay una gran diferencia de uno a otro; pero ellos no conocen aquí lo que es una banana en buenas condiciones y están muy felices con lo que comen acá, y de esa manera pueden consumirlos y satisfacer las necesidades del comercio de quienes lo producen.
La misma cosa pasa con los tubérculos y con las raíces. Estos productos no están realmente hechos por la naturaleza para ser guardados en depósitos como el trigo, sometidos a procesos industriales para conservarlos en forma de corn flakes, en forma de germen de trigo, en forma de grano o como cualquier cosa que quieran llamar, no sé como lo llaman los italianos, cruspa, o cualquier conserva de esas. No se presta para hacer esa dicotomía de venderle a uno el gérmen de trigo, a otros la harina de trigo y ahora la integral y la perfeccionada, la revisada, etc. De esa manera el comercio es más floreciente. Con la yuca y el ocumo y estos otros productos no se ha podido todavía llegar a ese refinamiento, y es por esa razón que no han merecido la atención que mereció la papa o que ha merecido el maíz o que han merecido otros frutos. Esos productos corresponden más bien a la agricultura de subsistencia y ya ustedes ven cómo Afganistán, cómo Uganda, cómo cualquiera de ios países africanos y algunos de nuestros países de América Latina-estoy viendo la cara de Guillermo, el delegado de Argentina que dice que nosotros no comemos eso, o probablemente los del Cono-Sur de América, nosotros no comemos eso, pero nosotros los de los sitios intertropicales sí porque nosotros sabemos lo que es eso, lo que es una yuca, lo que es un ocumo, etc. México dice que tampoco lo come; pero de todas maneras, esos son los productos que la naturaleza ha dado a esas latitudes ecuatoriales, a esas latitudes intertropicales y ¿porqué razón no puede la FAO, y los organismos que corresponden a las Naciones Unidas que tienen centros de investigación dedicados a ello, dedicarse a que los habitantes de esos países los cultiven en mejores condiciones?
Digo que corresponde a la agricultura de subsistencia porque es precisamente en los huertos familiares en donde pueden servir el consumo de la familia, sin necesidad de que los saquen y los pongan en el refrigerador o los metan en el freezer. Ellos pueden estar allí sembrados y ser utilizados progresivamente sin necesidad de sacarlos y ponerlos amontonados en depósitos, como se está planteando en este informe.
Estos cultivos, pues, podrían ser desarrollados en sus mejores condiciones y servir a la alimentación de estos países en estas condiciones naturales que es como ellos realmente tienen un valor nutritivo.
Hay algo que no quiero dejar de pasar por alto y es el hecho de que en ios países llamados desarrollados se está comenzando a hacer la reclan de los llamados alimentos orgánicos. ¿Qué son los alimentos orgánicos?. Usted va a cualquiera de esas ciudades-no voy a mencionar alguna, voy a mencionar a Boston en la cual yo más he vivido-y allí hay unos pequeños mercados nuevos en donde se venden estos alimentos orgánicos, bastante caros, no tienen un precio barato. ¿Qué son los alimentos orgánicos? Son alimentos cultivados sin fertilizantes químicos, que son buenos para la salud y que no producen esto, esto y lo otro. Esos son Los alimentos orgánicos que no se producen con estas artificiosas maneras de rendir.
¿Por qué razón estas pequeñas atrasadas comunidades tienen que ser obligadas a comer alimentos sofisticados mediante todo ese procesamiento de que son objeto, con artículos comerciales, cuando ellos pueden ser enseñados a cultivar sus huertos familiares en donde el ama de casa va y arranca su yuca y la cocina ella misma, donde se cosecha el racimo de plátanos para consumirlo, y lo mismo con cualquiera de los tubérculos, que son una lista larga y algunos de ellos excelentes, mucho mejor que la papa?
Entonces, pues, nosotros podríamos, a través de la FAO, reeducar a estas comunidades para persuadirlas, estimulando el cultivo de estos productos, de que esa es una alimentación satisfactoria para conservar la salud, y que así como de repente los investigadores del primer mundo descubrieron que la papaya tiene una gran cantidad de vitaminas, lo descubrieron, pero hace cuestión de 50 años no la comían porque daba fiebre y de repente descubrieron que era muy buena, y que la guayaba tiene gran cantidad de vitaminas, pero es cuando ellos lo descubren que se convierten en buenas, mientras tanto la desprecian, nadie las presta atención y los pobres campesinos de esos países atrasados que lo consumen se sienten un poco acomplejados y quieren comer manzanas, peras, fresas, etc. cuando ellos tienen allá su guayaba y su lechosa y los productos tropicales que son de gran valor nutritivo, de gran valor alimenticio.
Mi conclusión es que la FAO, al lado de la investigación de la utilidad de esos productos y de la enseñanza para estas comunidades de cómo deben cultivarlos, va a tener que decirles también que ellos tienen una fuente de vitaminas, de alimentos de verdadera capacidad nutritiva y que verdaderamente deben consumirlos y cultivarlos y no que seamos agentes del cambio de alimentación para que coman trigo y papas cuando ellos no producen eso. Digo el trigo y la papa porque son los más universalmente apreciados en Europa.
Por esa razón mi intervención va a detenerse aquí porque pedí apenas dos minutos y creo que he sobrepasado el tiempo, pienso que los países desarrollados, y la FAO como representantes de los intereses de todos los países, pudiera en su investigación, en su programa de capacitación dar orientación a estos países, y me están acompañando en esto Afganistán, Uganda y otro país; hablo sobre el uso que debemos darle, la importancia que tienen los tubérculos, las raíces, los plátanos y las frutas tropicales en la alimentación, en el beneficio de la alimentación de esos pueblos.
Termino con esto porque en todo lo demás creo que es innecesario, pero este es un punto que está muy cercano a mi interés de la investigación que yo he hecho, que he estudiado, y por eso se que vamos a necesitar todavía un trabajo largo para regresar al punto de que los países se convenzan de que lo que ellos tienen es bueno y no tienen que estar aspirando a lo que tienen los demás.
CHAIRMAN: Before giving the floor to the following speaker may I repeat the plea of our independent Chairman, Mr Lassaad Ben Osman, when he said that given the time constraints delegates are requested to be as brief as possible.
Javed MUSHARRAF (Pakistan): You have given me a very difficult task. But please cut me short immediately whenever you feel so inclined. Unfortunately, it has to be abruptly cut short because I do not think I am able to summarise it!
I am very happy that I am speaking just after the delegate of Venezuela because I will have a chance to refer to her in glowing terms towards the end of the statement-if we come to that at all!
First let me thank the Chairman of the Food Security Committee for the very clear and useful introduction. At the very first page of the document, at the inside of the cover page, the Secretariat has drawn the attention of the Council to only three aspects of the Committee's report as listed on the inside of the cover page of the document, which is page ii. I will therefore confine my intervention to these aspects turn by turn. It is good to be reminded in the document at page 25 that the ultimate objective of the world food security as agreed to
under the revised concept of food security is to ensure that all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the basic food they need. We would like to refer a little later in passing to some of the things this definition logically implies, aspects to which the Committee's report, perhaps due to its brevity, has not been able to touch upon. A second thing to keep in mind is that food security can be conceived at several levels, at the global level, at the regional level and national level, at the household Level and even beyond, at the individual level. Furthermore, distinction is to be made between chronic or long-term insecurity arising from pervasive malnutrition and under-nutrition and transitory or short-term, suddenly arising insecurity from outside the trend variations of food availability and food access. It is the former type, the chronic insecurity that has proved to be the most intractable.
Turning to the agreed role or the definition itself, one may point to two noteworthy aspects of it, first that food security should be ensured to all people at all times. This part of the definition would seem to create problems for policy formulation and recommendations on account of the conflicts and trade-offs between achieving security for one group of people against another so that security may not simultaneously be achieved for all groups, to one, the producers versus the consumers, rural versus urban and so on.
Similarly, there often is a conflict between the short-term and the long run so that the phrase "At all times" does not recognize this trade off: as, for example, between achieving rapid growth for the future and short-term satisfaction of needs, Policies therefore need to balance these conflicting considerations.
The other noteworthy aspect that introduces problems of interpretation is when it says "Physical and economic access to the basic food they need". The word "basic" begs a question. "Basic food needs", from what point of view? Basic from the point of view of preventing death? Basic from the point of view of preventing severe health risks or stunting of growth among children; or basic from the point of view of active role and participation in life and work for an individual? Which point of view is selected would determine the clientele, the number of food insecure people to be catered for. From the economic point of view, the human capital aspect, the last one of these points may be the more relevant point of view to adopt so that the number of food insecure people in the world would, according to some estimates, be-nearly one billion, that is one thousand million people.
Given this broader definition that we in the Committee on Food Security have been entrusted with, the implication is that the focus has to be on security at the household individual level and for the chronic long-term insecurity. The food situation in the world seems to be riddled with paradoxes. While the world seems to be awash with grain, as it were, with production going through bumper crop after bumper crop and the grain stocks virtually bursting at their seams, these surpluses, in the eloquent phrasing of the Director-General in his speech the other day, which is attached to this document were in many cases hard to market, lending to the real danger that for small farmers good harvests turn out to be as disastrous as the bad ones.
Coming down from the global level to the regional and country levels in a region such as Africa the picture does not even contain the paradox of poverty amongst plenty. Here the picture seems more of a unparadoxical poverty amidst poverty barring a handful of grain surplus countries of Africa. The African situation does, however, seem to contain a paradox of a different sort. The representative of Tanzania, the Minister of Agriculture, the other day had in his wise intervention described Africa as the youngest continent asking the elder brothers for help. Africa may indeed be the youngest continent in many respects, may be politically, perhaps even geologically, but more important for our purposes agriculturally. However, it has had a long hunting and pastoral tradition and is not young therefore in that respect but has less of settled and sedentary agriculture. What appears to be a paradox is that in a continent in which historically all the biotic pressures of degradation should presumably have been more on animal resources rather than on land resources given the lower land mass ratio compared to other continents, it is surprising that the land resources should be facing degradation more than in other continents, while the animal life is not under such a great threat. Purely a priori would not one have expected the reverse? In explaining the reasons for this apparent paradox I might
be permitted to advance the hypothesis, albeit a simplistic one, that has a broader significance. The hypothesis is that the wildlife and their habitat had indeed been equally or more threatened but timely human intervention and human resolve saved it. They did not start in Tanzania with a couple of dedicated naturalists-I think they were Germans-resolving from 50 years ago, and then persuading everyone, including finally the Government machinery and exerting massive efforts, so that as they said "Serengeti shall not die" which subsequently became the title of their pioneering book. Whatever credit one may like to give to the German couple, the essential fact is chat the first and necessary step, though not a sufficient step, in rehabilitating and safeguarding the land resource base of Africa as was the case in the wildlife base, will be the human resolve, the human commitment and the priority, as indeed is the very first point in the FAO's four point strategy for Africa. Long-term food security hopefully will follow from that.
Serengeti was outstandingly alive 20 years ago when I saw it and must, I hope, be so today. We from the young as well as the old continents may resolve once more that Serengeti shall not die and with it Africa shall not die. The lesson of Serengeti might be that serious resolutions do matter. Of course, when one talks of food security many matters besides mere resolve are at play. So many complex and overlapping factors have to be addressed by policy, overall agricultural production, the kind of technology used, national stockpiling policies, provision of employment opportunities, on-farm as well as off-farm, international factors involving aid and trade, and so on and in all the areas Listed at paragraph 25 of the document which are listed as the factors one may comment on the last of these, namely what is stated at paragraph 25. Whatever these factors, however, the implication of really adopting the broader definition and conception for the work and the document of this Committee would be incorporating and emphasizing more than at present the nutrition and the consumption consideration of the type contained in FAO's world food survey which, in turn, might mean that several other FAO Divisions, such as the Nutrition Division and the Policy Analysis Division should be servicing the Committee along with the Trade and Commodities Division.
If the conclusions drawn throughout are that the food security at the more important household and individual levels will continue to stagnate or deteriorate, the obvious question is what are the critical factors or causes behind this? Food insecurity at the household level has often been attributed to lack of purchasing power which, in turn, is considered to be rooted in poverty. But poverty itself is a cause and one has to identify what causes it. It is often recognized but not often stressed adequately that in some settings, poverty may be rooted in the distribution of income and assets within and across the countries. In many cases, access to capital and other yield increasing inputs may mirror rural, economic and political hierarchies, making it more difficult for smaller, poor farmers to increase their production. In other words, man himself, in his institutions and his policies and in his political views or opinions, actually determines the state of security or insecurity in the world. Often to increase food production as rapidly as possible is emphasized with an explicit or tacit assumption that increased production will benefit the hungry but if the position of the poor in the vulgar setting of political and economic structures is seen, the possibility cannot be discounted that increased food production may further impoverish those who are already undernourished.
Thus while on the one hand is the perception, the more conventional perception, that it would be to the benefit of the poor to have food production increased as quickly and as efficiently as possible through an open market system and market expansion etc. , there is also the perspective that stresses the need for significant structural changes prior to attempts to increase food production. According to this perspective there can be strategies that both increase total production and meet basic food needs. But they are possible only after significant changes have taken place in existing economic and political structures, including patterns of land holding, wealth concentration, consumption patterns, political power, and so on. The contention is that existing structures act as impediments to both greater productivity and minimum food security. The policy implications of such alternative perceptions which may be valid for certain parts of the world obviously have policy implications that are usually not mentioned in documents produced by national governments and international organizations.
Turning to the second aspect, namely the role of roots, tubers and plantains, which is the second aspect to which the Council's attention has been drawn in this document, the inclusion of the special agenda item in the last session of the CFA is a tribute to and in no small measure due to the keen interest, almost to a crusading degree, of some delegates and colleagues of ours, in particular the Ambassador of Venezuela, Madame Fermin Gómez, who spoke just now.
The importance of roots and tubers is little recognized. Sweet potatoes mixed with milk makes an excellent breakfast, and a tumbler of raw potato juice drunk early in the morning is excellent for ladies' complexions.
The importance of root crops has even been somewhat underrated in the document itself when at page 39 it says that roots and tubers are low in protein so that diets which depend too heavily on them would be nutritionally deficient. Though the first part of the statement is correct, namely that they are deficient in protein, they nevertheless have an important protein value on account of the fact that in the calorie-deficient diets of poor people, who are the major consumers of roots and tubers, these protein-poor foods prevent the conversion of proteins into energy in the body and thus by preventing protein break-down have a protein value. As badly stated in paragraph 40, however, this aspect is ignored.
The benefits of roots and tubers could be recounted ad infinitum. Suffice it to say that the image of these products needs to be improved, as pointed out in paragraph 42.
As my delegation's contribution to building up the image of these heroes among the vegetable kingdom, I will recount to you the following true occurrence.
A French gentleman by the name of M. Lotito from the town of Evreux performed a feat at the end of March 1977 which has since enshrined his name in the annals of the annual Guinness Book of Records. M. Lotito was very much, like Her Excellency Madame Gomez, an ardent believer in roots and tubers. His painstaking researches in this field had convinced him that there were many more roots and tubers in the world than are commonly recognized, and one of his original discoveries was that a bicycle is in fact a root and tuber. He held that in its original habitat, namely the streets of mid-19th century Europe, the bicycle was the "root" to. progress. Besides it was also the first ever tuber, since it was at the time the only thing that rested and moved on tubes, pneumatic tubes. M. Lotito, greatly fearing that the world at large would dispute these brilliant theoretical niceties of his, took it upon himself to embark on an unassailable empirical verification and substantiation of his theory-and this is the true part of the story. He ate the complete bicycle, with the tires, tubes, handles, body, every bit of it, with no adverse nutritional consequences, but rather beneficial consequences, he claimed, as with any ordinary root and tuber. This story can be verified by anybody by looking at page 535 of the 1983 edition of the Guinness Book of Records, whose factual authenticity is always immaculate. M. Lotito, besides thus improving the image of roots and tubers, achieved something even greater, he domonstrated that if bicycles can be eaten with benefit because they are tubers so can other possible hard tubers, such as all types of guns and weapons, all of which are basically barrel-like tubes. The implication of this discovery obviously has colossal global significance, since weapons, if eaten, can be harmless, while if used in other ways, can destroy humanity. M. Lotito, therefore, like Her Excellency Madame Gomez, will go down as a true pioneer of our times.
The last we heard of M. Lotito was that he was conferred the highest national honours by the French Government and other western countries and the world's arms industry for demonstrating that there is nothing inherently abominable about guns and bombs: it is the use to which they are put by the users and recipient Third World countries which is perverse. They can eat them, if they like, to fill their empty stomachs, rather than throw them at each other.
Coming to other matters, perhaps of less importance, namely the economic aspects of roots and tubers in relation to cereal alternatives mentioned in paragraph 40 and the broader question of, is nutritional problems one aspect of the problem of poverty or the only aspect of the problem of poverty? I think not in many ways. The rest of the intervention, which is rather long, I might leave until next meeting.
CHAIRMAN: I thank the delegate of Pakistan, especially for leaving the rest of his intervention to the next meeting, and since he is my friend, he will take my comment as a joke, I am sure. With that we have exhausted the list of speakers and if there are no other delegates who ask for the floor I think I can give the floor to Dr Islam to respond to some of the queries and to make some comments.
Nural ISLAM (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): I will respond to a very few queries which have been made in the course of the debate. The delegate of Colombia enquired about the timing of the expert consultation on measures to improve access to food by the poor, which is mentioned in the document. We planned to hold this expert consultation in the third quarter of 1987. However, due to resource constraints we had to revise our plans and it will not now be possible to hold the consultation in this biennium. However, we hope to present a paper on the subject to the Committee on World Food Security at its session in 1988.
The delegate of the United Kingdom asked about the status of the study on expanding trade among developing countries and whether this study will be presented to the Committee on Food Security. This study is already at a very advanced stage and we hope to publish it in 1987. This subject, however, is not included in the agenda of the Committee on Food Security. It will be put to the Committee on Commodity Problems at its session in October 1987.
The delegate of Australia stressed that the advantages that could flow from prepositioning stocks need to be compared with the time saving that can result from improving the port handling, transport and logistics within the recipient countries. We quite agree about the importance of improving the capactiy of the recipient countries to handle and transport food aid that is received. However, we would like to point out that this problem of logistics and transport facilities within the recipient countries is being exacerbated by bunching of food aid supplies imports of receiving countries, which, as the document presented to the Committee pointed out, could be avoided through judicious prepositioning of stocks. However, as is noted in paragraph 49, the Committee has invited the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes to consider the question of upgrading internal transport and storage infrastructure at a future meeting. We hope that the conclusions of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes on this subject will make an important contribution in dealing with this question. To conclude, action on both fronts, namely a more expeditious delivery of the food aid and more efficient handling of food aid in the receiving countries, are mutually complementary and action needs to be taken on both fronts.
Reference was made by many delegates to the need for more complete coverage of roots and tubers in the analysis of the world food security situation. We have been doing this for some time and will certainly expand this coverage as data and information on this subject is improved. In this connection I may mention that there are two documents which will be presented at the forthcoming meeting, one in the Committee on Agriculture earlier this year entitled "Strategies and Requirements for Improved Production of Roots, Tubers and Plantains", and the second document at the next year's Committee on Food Security on the role of roots, tubers and plantains in food security covering both the Latin-American and Caribbean as well as the Pacific regions.
Referring to the comments made by delegates on the Food Security Assistance Scheme, I would like to recall that the Deputy Director-General in his earlier intervention has already referred to the initiatives taken to have evaluations made of FAO programmes. The Food Security Assistance Scheme is one of the special action programmes which is being currently evaluated by a team of external consultants. Their report will be submitted next year to the Programme Committee, the Council and the Conference in conjunction with the review of the Regular Programme. The Council can accordingly expect it at its 92nd Session in November 1987.
Guillermo Enrique GONZALEZ (Presidente del Comité de la Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial): Solamente dos palabras. En primer término, para agradecer las gentiles palabras que muchos de ustedes tuvieron el gesto de señalar durante sus intervenciones. Segundo, el más importante, comprometer a todos los miembros del Comité para que participen en el próximo período de sesiones con el mejor espíritu de cooperación ya que les puedo asegurar que tenemos una agenda muy interesante, pero les advierto desde ya, muy extensa, y tendremos que hacer un esfuerzo todos nosotros para poder estudiarla y analizarla en la medida en que se merece.
CHAIRMAN: I shall try to be as brief as you because I shall not attempt a summing up. Indeed, I believe in any case that the discussion followed in general terms the support of the Committee, so my summing up would be a repetition chapter by chapter of the report.
In the course of the discussion some new ideas emerged and some ideas were re-emphasized. However, as I have indicated time constraints can only lead me to the broad conclusion that our Council finds the work of the Food Security Committee very useful and is satisfied with the report of the Committee. Therefore, the Council endorses the report before us.
With those brief words I think I have fulfilled my duty. Before proceeding further I give the floor to the Secretary-General who wishes to make an announcement.
LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL: Après avoir achevé l'examen du point 5, rapport de la onzième session du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, le Conseil doit maintenant procéder à l'examen du rapport de la huitème session du Comité des Forêts, point 6 de son ordre du jour, ainsi que le Président indépendant l'a annoncé à l'ouverture de la séance.
Il était prévu une réunion du Comité de rédaction à 18 heures; elle ne peut avoir lieu à cette heure puisque le Conseil continue ses travaux; elle aura lieu immédiatement après la fin de la séance du Conseil.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Ciertamente no quiero interferir el plan de trabajo de la Secretaría, pero creo que hemos tenido una intensa jornada, estamos cansados al final de un largo día. Sr. Presidente, no sería tal vez provechoso prolongar la reunión del Consejo y retardar la reunión del Comité de Redacción. Creo que con buena voluntad mañana temprano y con presidentes tan dinámicos y eficaces como el colega Iskit de esta tarde, podremos avanzar; lo más prudente ahora es levantar la reunión y permitir al Comité de Redacción que avance en sus trabajos ya que tenemos muchas cosas pendientes.
CHAIRMAN: The chair is in your hands. If delegates so desire we can adjourn now until tomorrow but I must draw your attention to the fact that we are very much behind our schedule. We have so many items before us. With these pressures, I repeat I can only follow the wishes of the Council. However since there is a proposal perhaps it could be seconded.
I want to emphasize that I am not following a strict procedure. However, if the Council is a little reluctant to continue-we are in your hands. Are there any other remarks on this particular subject?
E. Vernon WADE-BROWN (United Kingdom): I have just received a signal from my delegation leader and he has indicated that he would like to continue on Forestry tonight.
Eiichi KAWAHARA (Japan): I would like to repeat the words expressed by the Chairman and the distinguished delegate of the United Kingdom. We have a lot of work to do and we have to carry on as much as possible.
Joachim WINKEL (Germany, Federal Republic of): I want to support the United Kingdom delegation.
CHAIRMAN: So we now have several delegates who wish to continue the work. If other delegates do not have very strong feelings about stoppping now, I think we may continue at least for a while.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): ¿Sería acaso posible que la Secretaría dispusiera de un equipo adicional de intérpretes que permitiera sesionar simultáneamente el Comité de Redacción con el Consejo?
LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL: Nous n'avons pas ce soir une équipe supplémentaire d'interprètes nous permettant de tenir simultanément une réunion du Comité de rédaction. Une équipe supplémentaire a déjà pris le relais à 17 heures 30, et il n'était pas prévu d'en avoir une autre. Nous pourrions éventuellement avoir une équipe demain, pour tenir simultanément une séance du Comité de rédaction et une séance du Conseil demain soir.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Sigamos entonces, Sr. Presidente.
CHAIRMAN: I think the Council has decided to go on, I thank you for your courage. With chat I leave the chair to our Independent Chairman Mr Ben Osman.
Lassaad Ben Osman, Independent Chairman of the Council, took the chair.
Lassaad Ben Osman, Président indépendant du Conseil, assume la présidence.
Ocupa la presidencia Lassaad Ben Osman, Presidente independiente del Consejo.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous allons poursuivre nos travaux. Je donne la parole à M. M. A. Flores Rodas, qui va faire un exposé introductif.
M. A. FLORES RODAS (Subdirector General Departmento de Montes): La octava sesión del Comité de Montes que se llevó a cabo del 21 al 25 de abril del corriente año se caracterizó por un alto nivel de participación y de asistencia: más de 200 participantes de 93 países miembros asistieron a ella.
Las discusiones demostraron una preocupación profunda sobre los efectos negativos, a nivel socioeconómico y ecológico de la destrucción incontrolada de los recursos forestales. En este contexto se discutieron las interacciones entre las actividades forestales y la conservación de un medio ambiente productivo, la seguridad alimentaria y el aumento de las rentas del empleo para la población particularmente al sector más pobre. Especial atención merecieron las carencias de leña y de energía basada en la madera. Muchas de estas discusiones hicieron más énfasis en la justicia social y en la contribución de estas actividades forestales al desarrollo, que a los asuntos puramente técnicos.
Los dos puntos de política discutidos se centraron sobre el papel de las industrias forestales, el transporte, mercado y comercio de los productos forestales en el desarrollo socioeconómico, y en el mayor reconocimiento de los niveles públicos y políticos a la importancia de los bosques para mejorar la calidad de la vida.
El Plan de Acción Forestal en los Trópicos, preparado por la FAO, fue reconocido como una oportunidad única para mejorar las políticas y estrategias existentes y para llevar a cabo programas forestales innovativos que sean una verdadera respuesta a las necesidades de desarrollo de los países tropicales. El Plan está recibiendo un apoyo muy fuerte de parte de todos los países que lo consideran como un marco coherente para aumentar y armonizar las asistencias técnicas y financieras en materias forestales.
El Comité reconoció el liderazgo y el papel central que la FAO debe ejercer en la puesta en práctica de este Plan y en su traducción en acciones concretas a los niveles ya sean de país, subregional y regional. También recomendó que durante la identificación de las prioridades para el futuro programa de trabajo para el Departamento de Montes se tenga muy en cuenta a los análisis que condujeron a la formulación del Plan de Acción Forestal en los Trópicos. Asimismo, el Comité recomendó que la más alta prioridad debe continuar dándose a las actividades forestales y al desarrollo rural.
El Comité también recomendó que el Director General presentara un informe al Consejo sobre los requisitos financieros necesarios para la protección y el desarrollo de los bosques del mundo, con particular referencia al Plan de Acción.
En conclusión, esta Octava Sesión del Comité de Montes puede ser considerada como una de las más constructivas en que, sin duda alguna, se reflejó el alto grado de interés del Comité tanto sobre las implicaciones de la destrucción continua de los recursos forestales, como sobre el potencial que tienen tales recursos para contribuir tanto al desarrollo rural como al desarrollo nacional en general.
Mrs. Millicent M. FEIWICK (United States of America): I am very anxious to speak to this. as, indeed I have very often before. I think FAO has taken the absolutely correct approach because it is true that we must preserve the environment. It is also true that that is not just some hobby of a few intelligent people--it is an absolute necessity for the world.
However, FAO has done it in such a good way because they have taken into account the fact that people live near and around these forests. Therefore, you have somehow to make it possible for them to understand that there is going to be something in it for them, with the planting of fruit trees and other trees that are going to be useful to them and for the preservation of the forest themselves. These points have been emphasized with respect for the local people and their needs and their feelings. As I say, it is not just some hobby of people who want something interesting to be involved in. It is an absolutely essential part of living in this world, not just from the point of view of the environment, erosion and all the things we understand, but the plants-about 80 percent of all the plants that are. interesting are going to be in the tropical or semi-tropical forests of this world.
I have also just learned from my friend from Colombia that there is a forest in Colombia which is being very well protected by the government They are buying up the land around it, and there is a small lake there. All the moths in Canada and the United States go there every year as an outing. They wind up in Colombia, very happy and protected. They have just discovered this. We do not like to say I am very happy that 7 percent of the budget of FAO is in forestry, and if it could be increased by perhaps some savings in another area I think it would be to the long-term good of the planet.
Milan KARIC (Yugoslavia): I should like to thank Mr Rodas for his very clear presentation and to say that Yugoslavia finds the report of the 8th Session of the Committee on Forestry a very useful document. It provides a useful assessment and conclusions, and we will carefully consider the issues it raises and the policies that should be addressed.
We think that the current state of forestry in some regions is critical, and we agree that forest conservation should be included in the regular agenda at sessions of the Committee during the the present decade, and as soon as feasible.
We support FAO's Tropical Forestry Action Plan as a framework for harmonizing international action. In this connection, we agree that FAO should play the central coordinating role in the implementation of this plan.
As the present situation shows, the capacity of forest industries in developing countries has not been fully utilized. Therefore, we think that FAO and the international community should direct their efforts to rehabilitating and upgrading forestry in the world, and particularly assist developing countries in their efforts.
In the area of forest industries, we support among others the recommendation that greater attention should be paid to increase processing, marketing and trade of forestry products of developing countries, particularly by improving the competitiveness and access to export markets of developed countries.
In regard to the state of forestry in Yugoslavia, unfortunately it is not satisfactory as much of the forest is strongly affected by air pollution. This problem is of great concern to us, and the Yugoslav authorities have elaborated an appropriate methodology comparable to the methodology of other European countries in assessing the real situation, and have elaborated an action plan on how to face and fight the degradation of the forests by air and water pollution which, among other problems, is one of the major problems of almost all European countries.
Therefore, at the end of my statement I should like to stress that Yugoslavia expects a close cooperation with FAO and other countries affected by air and water pollution.
Mohd. Mazlan BIN JUSOH (Malaysia): First, let me congratulate Mr. Flores Rodas for his very clear introduction to this subject. We think it is important that policy makers of member countries realize the vital role that forests can play both as a source of foreign exchange as well as for the social and economic well-being of a nation.
On the matter of international trade in forest products, we would like to echo the concern expressed in the report on the measures to liberalize trade which still exist in the form of direct tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Very few people in the government and the public realize the importance of forests in ensuring the conservation of the environment and its contribution to the economy of the country.
We are therefore agreeable to the strategy as contained in the report which suggests the use of important personalities in heightening public awareness of the vital role of the forest. Nongovernmental organizations and local voluntary groups should also be mobilized to help in establishing effective communications with the public and political leaders.
On the matter of forest conservation, countries should not lose sight of the importance of conserving this valuable resource which could easily be over-exploited, leading to degradation of the soil and the environment. The figures quoted with regard to the state of degradation and deforestation of 11 million hectares per annum by FAO and UNDP is very alarming indeed. It is therefore imperative that efforts be intensified to implement forest conservation measures.
Regarding the Tropical Forestry Action Plan, Malaysia voiced strong support for the said plan in the COFO meeting and wishes to reiterate our stand here. We also agree to the proposed establishment of a working party aimed at mobilizing resources to finance the plan.
On the role of forestry in food security, the recommendation that FAO increases its work in the area of agro-forestry systems appears logical to us. Forestry, farming and livestock production are closely linked and should not be viewed as conflicting; rather they should be taken as an integrated wise land use management concept. Joint systems such as forest pastures in food production can ensure environmental stability. Communities living on the fringes of forests which exist on agriculture, livestock, as well on forest products including wildlife, could greatly benefit from this integrated approach.
Hasim ÖGÜT (Turkey): In our opinion, the 8th Session of the Committee on Forestry will constitute a milestone in the history of the Committee in that besides its other important conclusions this very session endorsed the Tropical Forestry Action Plan as a sound framework and guidance for future forestry activities of national governments, the FAO and other international organizations.
My delegation wishes to praise the effective work of the forestry department of FAO that has been devoted for several years now to the preparation of this action plan. We earnestly hope that the plan will be given the political and financial support which it deserves by donor and recipient governments. To this end, I wish to refer to paragraph 68 of the report where mention is made of increased financial resources needed for the implementation of the programme. As the coordinating role of FAO in the implementation of the TFAP will be an important one, it is unfortunate to experience the present financial difficulties which may not allow for the implementation of the programme. As the coordinating role of FAO in the implementation of the TFAP will be an important one, it is unfortunate to experience the present financial difficulties which may not allow for allocating increased levels of funds to its programmes on forestry. Let me at this point emphasize the fact that TFAP should be regarded as a model for priority setting processes and for operational arrangements of the other FAO programmes. In fact, the programme is so unique with its operational structure that it foresees linking FAO with national institutions in the recipient as well as in the donor countries to regional organizations, financial organizations-a mechanism which ensures that its implementation will be in a harmonized manner. We therefore reiterate the hope that despite the financial difficulties, the financial requirements of the TFAP will be adequately met by the donor community.
Let me now turn to other sections of the report and offer some brief comments on them.
As for forest industries, we are particularly glad to see that the Committee supported the concept of the holistic approach in establishing forest industries. In particular, we would like to stress the social content of this approach aiming at contributing to the rural development by providing new employment possibilities to the people living in forest areas. Not only will the small-scale forest-based industries provide direct employment to the people in these rural areas, but they will also contribute to the expansion of those economic activities serving the forest industry, thus providing additional income to the rural families.
The role of forestry in improving the nutritional status of people is not limited to the contribution of forest industries in this regard. I recall chat the strong linkage between forestry and food security was best illustrated by the late Prime Minister of India, Mrs Gandhi, during the 21st FAO Conference by referring to a saying: I quote "Food will last so long as forests do. " We are gratified so see that this relationship was further elaborated by the committee on its various aspects. In this connection, permit me to point out that this relationship should go beyond our general acceptance and recognition but be regarded as a guiding principle in formulating policies for forest development in general, and in particular for agricultural development. It is encouraging to note that the past conflict between agriculture and forestry planners is coming to end, even though some conservative views are still in existence in the policy-making circles. We believe that the future development policies should incorporate forests into the overall land use planning exercise as a resource interacting with other productive resources, in the attainment of a sustainable social and economic development. Taken in this way, we believe that even the issue of forest protection and conservation can also be addressed in a more effective manner. We therefore attach great importance to an increased FAO assistance to developing countries in the formulation and implementation of agro-forestry programmes.
Having touched upon one aspect of forest conservation, I lastly wish briefly to refer two recommendations of the committee to FAO on forest conservation to which we accord relatively high importance. The first recommendation relates to the updating of information on tropical deforestation and on damage to forest by fires, air pollution, pests and disease. The updated data which this recommendation calls for will no doubt serve various purposes. Above all, they will be a valuable source of information which foresters and policy makers can use to raise awareness among the public about the severity of forest losses, and environmental degradation, and about the responsibilities of the public in preventing these losses.
The second recommendation on forest conservation, which we believe is of particular importance, is contained in sub paragraph (vii) of paragraph 45, and it deals with the development and intensification of studies related to comparative forestry legislation taking the new socio-economic relations into consideration. We do encourage the PAC) to itensify its activities in this area and we look forward to benefiting from them in the future design of our efficiency programme. The role of forests to maintain an ecological balance and the use of it for the production of timber and wood for various regions and its role in food security is absolutely vital.
The April 1985 meeting of the Committee on Food Security stressed the very important role forests can play in their contribution to food security. The role of the forests becomes more obvious when you see the real dangers of deforestation. Therefore, we must support the proposal that we allow forestry industries to recover and we also help them week new outlets for various forestry producs, because we are convinced that it they have a guaranteed market that is really the cornerstone for the development of production of such products.
The international community has an important role to play in the development of forests in developing countries, particularly as they can provide technical assistance. Forestry will be developed only if there is an awareness on the part of public opinion, particularly-those populations who are in direct contact with forests. They must realize the importance of these forests for the well-being of mankind. The forest has to be taken as part and parcel and as a component in agricultural development. For these reasons we certainly support the proposals made in this Report regarding national programmes for raising consciousness and we also feel there has to be a link between extension in agricultural and forestry areas.
We also feel that there has to be a financial fund for publicity exercises. We would also like to give our full support to the Plan of Action on Tropical Forestry put forward by the FAO and would like to avail ourselves of the opportunity to inquire how much funding has already been mobilized for that purpose, particularly regarding extra-budgetary contributions. What is the state of play at the moment?
Badr BEN AMMAR (Tunisie): Compte tenu de l'heure tardive à laquelle nous entamons l'examen de ce point de l'ordre du jour, et conformément à votre recommandation, notre intervention sera brève.
Le rôle des forets dans la préservation de l'équilibre écologique, dans la production de bois et autres produits forestiers pour le développement de l'élevage, dans la sécurité alimentaire, est, à notre avis, essentiel. Le Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, à l'occasion de sa dixième session en avril 1985 a, à juste titre d'ailleurs, insisté sur le rôle important que peuvent jouer les forêts dans la contribution à la garantie de la sécurité alimentaire. Le rôle des forêts serait davantage mis en évidence si l'on considérait l'état de la déforestation. C'est pour cela d'ailleurs que nous ne pouvons qu'appuyer la proposition visant à l'amélioration et à la relance des industries traitant les produits forestiers ainsi que celles relatives á l'étude des débouchés actuels et potentiels des différents produits forestiers. Nous restons convaincus que la garantie d'écoulement d'un produit constitue la pierre angulaire du développement de la production de ce produit. La communauté internationale pourra jouer un rôle important dans le développement de cette foresterie dans les pays en développement, particulièrement par la fourniture de l'assistance technique. Toutefois, le développement des forêts ne saurait se réaliser sans la prise de conscience, par l'opinion publique, et particulièrement celle des populations en contact direct avec les forêts, de l'importance de ces dernières pour le bien-être humain. Les forêts doivent être considérées comme une partie intégrante et une composante à part entière du
développement agricole. Pour ces raisons, nous soutenons les propositions contenues dans le rapport-relatives à la mise en place de programmes nationaux de sensibilisation, et au renforcement des liens entre la vulgarisation agricole et la vulgarisation forestière-ainsi que la nécessité d'un soutien financier pour les campagnes de sensibilisation et le renforcement des moyens audiovisuels des pays en développement.
Enfin, nous voudrions exprimer notre plein appui au plan d'action forestier tropical de la FAO et nous saisissons cette occasion pour demander quelques éclaircissements sur l'état d'avancement de la mobilisation des ressources financières pour l'exécution de ce programme, surtout en ce qui concerne les contributions bénévoles extrabudgétaires.
Ms. Anne-Lise PETERSEN (Denmark): First of all, I wish to thank the Secretariat for the introduction of the Report on the deliberations of the Committee on Forestry which my government can generally endorse. We have noted that the Committee has stressed the urgency for improving public awareness of the importance foresteries play in human welfare. We strongly support the Report's viewpoint on this matter.
We also agree that the environmental aspects are becoming more and more important. Likewise, we have noted that the Committee, in the light of the growing stringency in the availability of funds, underlined the importance of establishing clear priorities within FAO's Forestry Programme. The work of FAO's Tropical Forestry Action Plan is supported by my government and we hope that this Plan will supply a framework for harmonising international action in this important area.
We agree that FAO should play a central role in the implementation of the Plan. In this connection we find that FAO especially should assist in the education and the training of national personnel so that they can play an active role in the implementation of the Action Plan.
Concerning the financing of the necessary support of the TFAP we agree with the Committee that so far the Regular Programme resources are insufficient and FAO should seek voluntary extra-budgetary contribution for this purpose.
Philippe PIOTET (France): L'arbre et la forêt ont de tout temps joué un rôle central dans nos sociétés. Leurs fonctions sont multiples, intimement liées aux activités humaines sous tous leurs aspects et l'on peut dire, sans risque d'erreur, que les générations futures auront tout autant et sans doute plus encore qu'aujourd'hui besoin de la forêt. Bien rares sont les régions du monde où la forêt n'est pas menacée.
Dans de nombreux pays elle connaît en réalité une dégradation, ou recul, qui suscite les plus vives inquiétudes. Aussi, la France tient-elle à apporter tout son appui aux actions visant à sensibiliser les responsables politiques et l'opinion publique en faveur de la forêt.
L'année internationale de la forêt, célébrée en 1985, a joué à cet égard un rôle essentiel et ma délégation apporte un soutien sans réserves à la recommandation du Comité des forêts, invitant tous les pays à accorder une haute piorité à la poursuite des activités visant à maintenir et à accroître cet effort de sensibilisation. Le plan d'action forestier tropical, actuellement mis en oeuvre, constitue un instrument tout aussi important dans la poursuite de cet objectif. Ce plan, qui recoit un plein appui de la France, fournit le cadre conceptuel des actions concrètes définies au niveau de chaque pays. Ces actions, nous semble-t-il, seront d'autant plus efficaces qu'elles seront appliquées à un nombre limité d'objectifs prioritaires et qu'elles seront menées avec le souci de dépasser les seuils quantitatifs à partir desquels leur effet positif sera réel pour les populations.
Comme le souligne justement le rapport du Comité des forêts dans son paragraphe 68, l'exécution du Plan d'action forestier tropical exige un effort financier multilatéral, bilatéral et national absolu. S'il n'est pas certain que la création d'un nouveau fonds soit le meilleur moyen de mobiliser les financements supplémentaires en faveur des actions forestières, dans les circonstances actuelles ma délégation constate avec satisfaction que des ressources accrues peuvent être déjà obtenues par des donateurs multilatéraux et bilatéraux qui interviennent dans ce domaine, comme le FIDA et le PAM. Ceci implique que l'on doit mener parallèlement deux séries d'actions. Au niveau du terrain tout d'abord pour concevoir et mettre au point des projets prenant en compte les multiples composantes du développement rural, tant agricole que forestier, bénéficiant directement aux populations concernées. Aux niveaux national et international aussi, pour que dans nos pays, dans nos organisations, les plus hauts responsables comme l'opinion publique reconnaissent dans leur choix et dans leur comportement une juste place à l'arbre et à la forêt.
C'est dans cet esprit que le Président de la République française, M. François Mitterrand, a accueilli, dans le cadre de la Conférence SILVA les chefs d'Etats et de gouvernements de nombreux pays d'Europe et d'Afrique ainsi que les chefs des grandes organisations internationales concernées et, au premier rang d'entre elles, l'OAA, afin d'examiner en commun les problèmes de nos forêts et d'entreprendre des actions concrètes pour les protéger et les développer.
C'est ainsi que les coresponsables des pays et des organisations internationales qui ont participé à SILVA ont pris auprès de la communauté internationale des engagements précis quant aux actions à mener en commun ou au niveau national pour lutter en Europe contre le dépérissement des forêts et en Afrique contre la désertification. Comme le souligne justement le paragraphe 21 du rapport du Comité des forêts, les participants à SILVA ont également exprimé le voeu que d'autres pays dans d'autres régions du monde se réunissent aussi et mettent en commun leurs efforts en vue de leurs forêts. Dans cette perspective, il apparaît clairement que l'OAA a un rôle éminent à jouer et qu'elle constitue, en particulier pour les questions forestières, le forum où tous les pays peuvent faire part des politiques et des actions qu'ils mettent en oeuvre. Il lui revient aussi d'harmoniser ces actions, notamment dans le cadre du Plan d'action forestier tropical. A cette fin, ainsi que l'a recommandé le Comité des forêts, il semble à la délégation française que la prochaine conférence de l'OAA, qui se tiendra en novembre 1987, constituera l'instance la plus appropriée pour examiner en profondeur les actions menées à la suite de SILVA, tout comme dans le cadre des activités analogues de coopération internationale dans le domaine forestier.
Joachim WINKEL (Germany, Federal Republic of): The Federal Republic of Germany welcomes the Report on the Eighth Session of the Committee on Forestry. We particularly share the view that forests, within the framework of national economies, can make important contributions to development, to the solution of labour market problems, and to the strengthening of the foreign exchange earnings.
The recommendation of the Committee to promote the production and marketing of non-wood forest products is also, in our opinion, a promising additional opportunity to stimulate forest development, as mentioned in paragraph 16.
The periodic review of forest conservation is also of real concern to us. We particularly welcome the statements in paragraph 45 (i) concerning the problem of tropical deforestation; and (iii) concerning close cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe with the aim of minimising the negative effects of air and water pollution to protect the forests. The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany welcomes the establishment of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan. We feel FAO should play the central coordinating role in its implementation as is shown in paragraph 61, and propose that this coordination be carried out on a broad basis.
Furthermore, we propose an intensive participation of all agencies involved in the implementation of the Action Plan. From the very outset, and particularly at the beginning of November this year, we have taken an active part in the implementation of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan. We invited the group of forestry experts of the donor community to hold their third meeting in Berlin with the aim of harmonising the approach and financing the country evaluation missions in the Forestry Sector.
We fully endorse the statements in paragraph 66 which states that the responsibility for the increasing awareness of the problems of tropical forests primarily rests with the countries themselves. Moreover, we also support what is said in paragraphs 69 and 70. We also consider it necessary to increase the forestry activities of FAO within the framework of the resources available. In this connection we recommend FAO programme priorities in future biennia be re-examined. We cannot however endorse the Austrian proposal for the establishment of a World Forest Fund. It is our opinion that suitable financing instruments are already available and in this respect we welcome the statements in paragraph 71 of the document. We approve the statements in paragraph 88 of the document. We propose to decide on the question relating to the country hosting the next World Forestry Congress at one of the next Council's sessions with a view to giving the host country sufficient time for preparations.
Finally, we would like to support strongly the suggestions of the French delegation that the forthcoming Conference of FAO, . in November 1987, should have an in-depth discussion on the findings of the SILVA Conference held in Paris last February.
Almir F. de Sá BARBUDA (Brazil): My delegation wishes to reiterate its support to the Report of the 8th Session of the Committee on Forestry, a specially important session to the tropical countries. The 8th Session endorses the Tropical Forestry Action Plan, a very important initiative that already counted on international support and whose actual implementation had already supported international and bilateral action. The delegation of Brazil was very active during the debates of that session, presented its report to the TFAP and stressed, as indicated at paragraph 62, that the preparation of national programmes and ranking of priorities for implementation are the exclusive responsibility of the governments involved. We pointed out as well that the Tropical Forestry Action Plan must be adapted to the national forestry policies and that particular attention should be given to initiatives in semi-arid regions.
Taking into account the present financial crisis faced by this Organization, we do hope that the donor community will be generous in regard to the extra-budgetary resources needed for the implementation in the interests of countries involved.
On the other hand, we noted with concern that among the adjustments that in the 1986-87 programme of work proposed by the Director-General in document CL 90/23 and already approved is the cooperation that was going to be established between FAO and the International Timber Trade Organization, a newly established organization which went into actual operation the first semester of 1987. Taking into account the consensus needed for the approval en bloc for the adjustment proposed in order to help to overcome the most immediate financial difficulties. My delegation refrained from raising this particular concession at that point. We do hope, however, that as soon as possible an effective relationship and cooperation will be developed between these two organizations. In the longer term this relationship will prove to be the more rational and economical way to avoid duplication of activities under the Tropical Forest Action Plan and specific activities that determine the establishment of the other organizations. Finally, my delegation would as well like the Secretariat to inform us if, after the 8th Session held last April, if any action has been taken in relation to the Austrian proposal mentioned at paragraph 74 of the report for the establishment of a World Forest Fund. We would like to learn if any consultation has been made and which countries have been approached and as well to which session of the Council the Secretariat plans to submit the report requested by the Committee on Forestry.
Vladimir STOYANOV (Bulgaria): On behalf of the Bulgarian and Czechoslovakian delegations I would like to express our understanding and some considerations about the item discussed. We have examined with great care document CL 90/8, 1985, which reflects the work and the decisions on the 8th Session of the Committee on Forestry.
The document before us is really excellently prepared. The FAO report includes the most important recommendations and decisions. It contains also the strategy and the actions which are necessary to be undertaken from the member countries and FAO in the future. In this sense our thanks are addressed to Dr Flores Rodas, the Assistant Director-General, for his concise and very good introduction to his assistants and to the FAO Secretariat for the preparation of the report. Indeed,
the document summarized the plans of the practical activities of the Organization in the next few years. We also wish to stress that the report combines many of the suggestions of the delegates which make it more creative and applicable. We wish to support and to underline the conclusions and recommendations, and more exactly those in the part "heightening political and public awareness of the importance of forests for the quality of life", paragraphs 19 to 34, "Forest conservation" paragraphs 38 to 45, and "Forestry and food security" paragraphs 46 to 63.
During the 8th Session of the Committee on Forestry we exposed our opinion concerning the importance of the afforestation, properly adapted to the local conditions and so-called agro-forestry system and the production of food, raw materials, etc.
In this connection, I would like to present you one particular example from the practice of my country which pays a great attention to the importance of the afforestation. Thirty years ago, near to Sofia, the biggest dam in the country was constructed. The main object was to supply the capital regularly with more water, industrial and irrigation purposes included. According to a very precise study and estimations, technical, biological, etc. , the dam is going to be used during fifty years. Thanks to the large scale afforestation and re-afforestation during five consequent years, the estimation of highly qualified domestic and foreign experts show now that the dam will be used for more than 200 years. Some of the FAO officials know this dam. Our specialists are ready to share their experience in this field.
The problem of the afforestation and re-afforestation has a global and exclusively important role for the preservation of the equilibrium between oxygen production and carbon dioxide fixation. Because, as you are undoubtedly aware, the contemporary increase of the carbon dioxide in the air, up to 0. 2 percent, is becoming very dangerous. According to the opinion of many prominent scientists from different countries, if this process continues, due to the life activities, great consumption of oxygen by engines, explosion, etc. , including mankind in the future will be exposed to the catastrophic situation. So that ail activities of the FAO, as well as the member countries, have to be focused, not only to preserve, but also to increase, the main natural and even artificially created sources of oxygen by the process of the photosynthesis. That practically means, to increase the area of the forestry, area under cultivation, pasture, etc. I am convinced that the mutual collaboration of the countries ail over the world and the increasingly important role of FAO as a Special Agency of the United Nations, directly involved in these humanitarian activities, and other institutions, will solve the problem for the benefit of our generation and the next generations.
John R. GOLDSACK (United Kingdom): We endorse the Committee's recommendation on paragraph 14 for further strengthening of FAO's programme of collection, evaluation and dissemination of information related to forest resources and research development. Member countries which are also concerned with the International Tropical Timber Organization should encourage a similar approach by that organization to effective collaboration with FAO and the avoidance of wasteful duplication of efforts in such fields where FAO is already skilled and experienced.
We endorse the Committee's encouragement at paragraphs 18 and 62 of cooperation between FAO and other UN Agencies and recommend that this be vigorously extended to ensure efficient coordination of action by FAO and the International Tropical Timber Organization to avoid wasteful duplication.
Referring to paragraphs 35 and 74, we would not support the establishment of a World Forest Fund and would recommend the Tropical Forestry Action Plan as the most appropriate basis on which to secure investment in the forestry sector using existing channels for international assistance from multilateral and bilateral resources, in accordance with individual countries' perception of their needs and priority.
With regards to paragraphs 60 and 61, the United Kingdom Government supports the Tropical Forestry Action Plan as a logical and coherent framework for harmonized international action and as an aid to reviewing priorities for assistance in economic development more widely.
We also endorse the Committee's recommendation at paragraph 70 that FAO's programme priorities be re-examined considering the importance of the TFAP and that every possible effort be made to accord higher priority to forestry programmes.
In conclusion, the United Kingdom supports the proposal of the delegate of France that the recent SILVA Conference should be followed up by FAO.
Sra. Mercedes FERMIN GOMEZ (Venezuela): Como la brevedad es lo que se impone en esta última parte de nuestra sesión de hoy yo no voy a ser la que desluzca y por esa razón me voy a referir muy brevemente, dándole apoyo a este Comité y mis congratulaciones al Dr. Flores Rodas por el excelente documento que ha presentado para nuestra consideración.
Voy a referirme concretamente al apoyo que debemos darle al Plan de Acción Forestal de los llamados Trópicos, que en realidad es de la región intertropical porque si nosotros vamos a poner solamente "a los trópicos", vamos a dejar a todo el sector ecuatorial huérfano de protección. Es la ultima esperanza para la humanidad y ahí están precisamente centrados los recursos fitogenéticos hacia los cuales miran hoy los países superindustrializados buscando la posibilidad de retenerlos y buscando también la posibilidad d conservar los germoplasmas que tanta falta hacen para la continuidad de nuestra vegetación en el planeta. Pero as muy importante apoyar a la FAO en el Programa de Conservación, en el criterio de conservación que nos parece que es realmente lo mis indispensable en este campo. Los bosques están amenazados constantemente y tienen depredadores muy poderosos e importantes. Entre ellos tenemos a las grandes compañías urbanizadoras en los países en vías de desarrollo, a los señores industriales, que, aun con el pretexto de industrias agroforestales, contribuyen a desforestar grandes extensiones precisamente en los países, en las áreas intertropicales, y también, por qué no, a los ingenieros constructores de grandes carreteras, autopistas y aeropuertos, que se llevan una buena parte de las superficies de estos países, que antes eran cubiertas de bosques y que ahora quedan cubiertas de asfalto o de cemento.
Esto es parte de la tragedia que viven los países llamados en vías de desarrollo con relación a la cubierta de bosques en sus territorios, y esto deberían ser medidas que deben estar tomadas muy en cuenta para la permanencia del bosque.
El proceso de aforestación y de protección de los bosques, que está planteado aquí en el documento, merece todo nuestro apoyo, y solamente nos falta pedir un favor o hacer un ruego a los traductores al español de FAO en favor de los lectores cultos de habla española, sobre todo de los latinoamericanos, para quienes la palabra "forest" (en inglés) no es "montes", es "bosque". Algunos de los intérpretes han traducido correctamente la palabra, pero, en general, empezando porque se llama este Comité de Montes…entonces yo le rogaría, que, en aras de la verdad y en favor de los pobres latinoamericanos, nos pongan la palabra como es y lo llamen Comité de Bosques y traduzcan la palabra forest por bosques y no por montes, que es perfectamente otra cosa en nuestro idioma cuando se refiere a la vegetación. Yo no les explico qué es porque me haría fastidiosa, pero hasta aquí llega mi apoyo ai Programa y le doy las gracias ai Sr. Presidente por darme la palabra.
Allele ELHADJ HABIBOU (Niger): Au stade de ces débats, je voudrais au nom de ma délégation remercier notre ami qui vient de nous faire un exposé bref, concis mais très instructif, sur une situation extrêmement importante et sur un problème au coeur même du Sahel donc je suis membre. Je voudrais également, Monsieur le Président, vous féliciter de la manière fort éloquente dont vous diriger les travaux de ce Conseil auquel nous accordons une importance toute particulière.
Dans la zone sahélienne qui est la notre, la désertification est un fléau redoutable qui dégrade de façon souvent dangereuse notre environnement, et qui affecte dangereusement la terre nourricière. La sécheresse, tout comme la désertification, est un phénomène avec lequel nous devons désormais compter, qu'il nous faut savoir gérer, comptabiliser, avec lequel il nous faut cohabiter. Face à ce fléau, les pays du Sahel se sont retrouvés à Nouakchott en Mauritanie en 1984 pour élaborer une stratégie commune de lutte contre la désertification. Au Niger, mon pays, s'est tenu du 21 au 24 mai 1984 un débat national sur le problème de la désertification. Les participants sont venus de toutes les couches sociales du pays; des participants de divers pays, ainsi que des organisations internationales et non gouvernementales ont pris part à ce débat qui a abouti à unconsensus national de lutte énergique contre la désertification de notre pays. Suite à ce débat, des millions et des millions d'arbres ont été plantés, la sensibilisation des populations a pris de l'importance et un plan national de lutte contre la désertification a été élaboré; ce plan est le fruit d'une coopération fructueuse entre le Gouvernement du Niger, le CILSS et le Club du Sahel.
Le plan d'action forestière tropicale dont il est fait mention dans le document dont nous débattons vient donc à point nomme, car notre voeu est de voir se réaliser concrètement les idées qui y sont contenues. Cela permettra également de voir se concrétiser sur Le terrain les projets prévus au plan et cela pour le bien-être de nos populations rurales. Le concours de la FAO et des pays amis sera déterminant pour l'élaboration du programme et sa mise en oeuvre.
Un point très important a été évoqué dans le document, qui est celui ayant trait à la sensibilisation des populations. Mon pays qui accorde une très grande importance à cet aspect fait de la participation des populations le point essentiel de sa politique, car dans lé cadre de la société de développement, nous avons pris pour triptyque, pour devise: concertation, consultation et participation. C'est pourquoi le débat national auquel je faisais allusion a été tenu à l'initiative du Conseil national de développement, organe suprême de la société de développement. Chez nous, Monsieur le Président, la consultation, la concertation et la participation sont les principes de base de cette politique de la société de développement. De ce fait, dans toutes les structures dépuis le village jusqu'au niveau national un bois est planté, et ce bois est entretenu et chaque année les surfaces sont en augmentation.
Ma délégation se réjouit de la priorité accordée par la FAO au problème de la lutte contre la sécheresse et la désertification, et je voudrais, sur ce point, appuyer ce qu'ont dit le délégué de la France ainsi que le délégué de l'Allemagne, sur le fait que ce que nous sommes en train de dire sur l'arbre, la forêt, la lutte contre la désertification, le reboisement, puisse aboutir à des résultats concrets aux fins de la réalisation de l'autosuffisance alimentaire pour laquelle nous luttons tous.
Mounir KHORAYCH (Lebanon): As a member of the Committee on Forestry the delegation of Lebanon wishes to confirm its full support to the report of the 8th session of the Committee. In our view COFO made an outstanding contribution during that session towards shaping international strategies and action programmes to broaden the role of forestry in the development process. We consider of fundamental importance the fact underlined by COFO that the Tropical Forestry Action Plan emphasized the relationship of forest lands and forestry with the most crucial development issues--that is, agriculture and food security, rural and industrial development, energy supply and environmental stability. We also appreciate particularly that political commitment to forestry development and peoples' participation are seen in the plan as key elements of success.
Concerning the technical content, I would like to recall that the plan covers a variety of forest lands and ecological conditions ranging from the humid forests to the dry steppes and from coastal formations such as the mangroves to the mountain watersheds.
The delegation of Lebanon has examined with special care and welcomes particularly those parts of the plan that deal with the problem of desertification, with arid zone forestry, with watershed management and with the protection of endangered plant and animal species as being particularly relevant to our country's situation. However, we fully share the Committee's view that the contents of the plan are not to be seen in isolation but as an integrated whole which can be translated into national plans, programmes and projects, according to each country's own policies, needs and priorities.
We know that the Director-General has already taken important decisions to ensure that the Forestry Department and the Organization as a whole take leadership in facing that challenge posed by the implementatioan of the plan and in realizing the promise that the plan offers.
With the focus and opportunity offered by the Tropical Forestry Action Plan the programmes of work of the Organization in the field of forestry can respond even more effectively to the true ecological, economic, political and social dimensions of forestry development so clearly identified in the plan and recognized by COFO.
My delegation strongly supports these programmes and wishes to urge all Council members to extend to them as well as to the Tropical Forestry Action Plan their full endorsement and support.
Finally, I would like to cake this opportunity to thank FAO for the valuable assistance which it is rendering to Lebanon and aiming at rehabilitating its cedar forests. These forests that covered large areas of Lebanon's mountains and provided timber for constructing houses, palaces, shrines and shops thousands of years ago, have almost become extinct nowadays. We thank FAO for its efforts to revive these forests, establish protected national parks and maintain the existence of this important and valuable tree.
Sra. Margarita LIZARRAGA (Mexico): La delegación mexicana congruente con su interés y participación en las actividades forestales, acoge con satisfacción el informe y recomendaciones del octavo período de sesiones del Comité de Bosques y felicita ai doctor Flores Roda por su excelente presentación.
Consideramos muy acertada la selección de ios temas que se someten a la atención de este Consejo y le damos todo nuestro apoyo, pues consideramos que la salvaguarda y desarrollo de los recursos forestales están ligados a todas nuestras actividades, no sólo básicas sino vitales por su papel de regulador climático, por ser un factor básico en evitar ios procesos de desertificación, por contribuir a la sanidad ambiental, por ser utilizado en el medio rural como leña para la preparación de ios alimentos y como energético, y por su función como base de industrias a escalas diversas.
Por todo ello, señor Presidente, la explotación debe ser planificada y manejada técnicamente y el comercio revisado en un marco justo y adecuado.
Consideramos que la FAO debe reforzar su papel conforme el Comité lo propone. Damos, pues, todo nuestro apoyo al Plan de Acción Forestal en los trópicos de la FAO, esperando que conforme a lo propuesto por Austria, y en base a la respuesta positiva de la reunión oficiosa de los expertos forestales en los países donantes celebrada en abril pasado en esta ciudad, puedan incrementarse ios esfuerzos y recursos financieros tanto bilaterales como multilaterales y a través de la FAO, de acuerdo a las prioridades definidas en los párrafos 76, 79, 81, 83 y 85 del Informe.
Apoyamos las medidas recomendadas por el Comité para impulsar y fortalecer las industrias forestales, particularmente aquellas medidas que fuerzan el programa de FAO para el acopio, evaluación y difusión de información sobre recursos forestales y su desarrollo: explotación forestal, desarrollo tecnológico, productos, mercadeo e inversiones, así como el impacto cultural y ambiental de las actividades forestales.
Esperamos que la FAO ponga mayor énfasis en el mejoramiento de la producción, elaboración y comercialización de productos forestales distintos de la madera a fin de aprovechar las especies que actualmente quedan sin utilizar en los bosques. En este sentido deben impulsar las actividades que reduzcan al mínimo ios daños causados al medio ambiente y a la conservación de ios bosques a través de programas de reforestación.
Las medidas recomendadas en el párrafo 45 del Informe, deberían iniciarse cuanto antes. Enfatizamos la urgencia de que ios países europeos así como los de Norte América eliminen las barreras proteccionistas que impiden o limitan drásticamente la exportación de los productos forestales elaborados en las regiones Latinoamericanas. Asimismo, debe ampliarse el financiamiento exterior a las actividades forestales con América Latina y el Caribe.
Nuestra región ha recibido un presupuesto menor y un escaso numero de proyectos, aun cuando en esta región se encuentran ios mayores recursos forestales tropicales del mundo. La FAO debe corregir esta tendencia.
En este entendido apoyamos ios objetivos y programas de la FAO en el mediano y largo plazo.
Finalmente nuestra delegación desea agradecer muy atentamente a nombre del pueblo y del Gobierno de México el reconocimiento hecho en el Comité a nuestro país en ocasión del análisis del Manifiesto de México por la organización y celebración del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial.
Shamsur RAHMAN (Bangladesh): My delegacion thanks Dr. Rodas for the excellent presentation of the subject.
My delegation appreciates the role of FAO in promoting forestry development activities in developing countries; the technical cooperation in forestry that is of a pre-investment nature-frequently leading to investment projects. In 1985 one forestry project was proposed by FAO for Bangladesh under the Investment Support Programme.
The role that forest industries sector plays in a national economy has been described and quantified in many FAO publications. The fact that the importance of forestry should not be limited to technical aspects of forestry but should take into consideration the environmental, economic, social and cultural context of the country, has also been emphasized in FAO publications.
FAO efforts in structuring forestry field programmes, in support of national objectives of development in general, and rural development in particular, is also appreciated.
My delegation appreciates FAO's role in preparation of Tropical Forestry Action Plan and the Director-General's concern for its implementation.
Several developing countries are endowed with mangrove forest which unfortunately are converted either into agricultural use or for shrimp culture. Information of the adverse nature of such practices is not plentiful. Also not much research work has been undertaken in this regard by developing countries.
My delegation feels that FAO can provide leadership in this field by a research project, formulation and its successful implementation.
Plantations of teak are an important wealth of Bangladesh. Unfortunately a large scale infestation of loranthus has been noticed. Control of the pest is essential to save valuable teak plantations.
This situation may not be unique to Bangladesh. There are other countries which are facing similar" problems affecting their national economy.
In the light of this it may be worthwhile for FAO to give serious consideration to the possibility of undertaking a project so as to help the affected countries to face the situation.
Hermann REDL (Austria): First of all I should like to thank Dr Flores Rodas for the introduction to the report of the Eighth session of the Committee on Forestry. Document CL 90/8 before us clearly describes the activities of the Forestry Committee.
Austria welcomes FAO's contribution to the International Year of the Forest in 1985, namely to publish a worldwide estimate of the forestry resources in 1980. As you know, according to this study in 1980 an area of 4. 32 billion hectares was covered by forests. The share in Europe amounting to only 160 million hectares. In the developing countries the conversion from forest land to farm land has accelerated in recent years. A respective inventory of the tropical forest stands shows an annual decline in forest areas of 11 million hectares, mainly for agricultural purposes.
One of the objectives of forestry must therefore be the increase in food production by protecting hard water regions, fighting erosion and improving the micro-climate in arid zones, by growing belts and wind screens. The biomass of the forests contains a number of edible products which together with the forest fauna, if carefully managed, may assist in raising food production.
I should like to refer to the fact that the demand for fuel wood is the highest demand for forest products in the developing countries. As you know in those countries two billion people rely on wood to meet their energy requirements. The employment prospects are of particular importance in forestry, mainly for young people. The development of forest industries should not only be adequate in the technical sense but should be geared to the local conditions. The future activities of the Forestry Committee and the Forestry Department should also be seen in the light of the Manifesto of Mexico and the subsequent discussions. In this context, I should like to refer to the discussions at the
eighty-eighth Session of the FAO Council and at the Fifteenth Regional Conference for Europe concerning the conservation of forest resources.
The Austrian delegation advocates the pertinent initiatives of the Director-General and joins those who plead for an increase in the budgetary means of the Forestry Department. In particular, FAO's field activities should be strengthened. FAO should play an active part in the fight against the decline of forests and include concrete proposals in its Programme of Work for 1988/89.
Michael J. RYAN (Australia): I should like to make a brief comment on a particular matter arising in paragraph 45 of the document, where a number of recommendations of the Committee on Forestry are listed. Recommendation (v) reads that FAO should "assist member countries in activities related to tree genetics and in the establishment of seed banks;".
Members of the Council will be aware of Australia's long-standing concern to avoid duplication between the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (a CGIAR Centre) and to ensure that the role of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources is maintained. Given this concern on our part we would not wish this particular recommendation to be interpreted as an avenue whereby FAO can exert influence over the current activities of IBPGR, nor as a green-light for FAO to increase its activities which could result in duplication of effort in this area.
On this subject we would point out that some 50 percent of the total effort on plant genetic resources in developing countries is already undertaken by CGIAR centres and IBPGR has a vital coordinating role in this effort.
Furthermore, we understand (and I am sure that FAO is aware) that the technical advisory group of CGIAR is currently developing a policy statement on the role of plant genetic resource activities within the CGIAR system. An additional factor here is that CGIAR is paying increasing attention to the role of trees and shrubs in farming systems and in resource conservation.
Several years ago a detailed programme and management review of IBPGR led to decisions by CGIAR that the Board needed to be more autonomous of FAO. To date, progress along this road has been rather slow. Consequently, Australia has reservations about the implications of the COFO recommendation and believes that consideration by Council should be deferred for the time being until the current issue of IBPGR's views on FAO's proposals have been considered by CGIAR and conveyed to the Council. Naturally, we would encourage FAO's continued participation in this process.
Mohammad Hasan PAIMAN (Afghanistan): My delegation has gone through the report of the document, which is a useful report and result. Due to the shortage of time I will give a very short comment in regard to the report of the Eighth session of the Committee on Forestry, and this document. Referring to paragraph 11, the Afghan delegation believes that FAO could play an important role in the formulating and implementation of small scale forest industry projects in developing countries. However, in those countries forestry is declining. UNDP and other international organizations should implement the forestry development projects with the cooperation of FAO. Of course, to equip the forestry projects and training of the local personnel in different aspects of forestry would be part of the project objectives. Attention should be given particularly to the security of forest wild life. This point is missing in the document. Also this is a main economic source of the forests. I hope it will be considered in future.
Concerning paragraph 20, the Afghan delegation appreciates all types of efforts in drawing public attention to the importance of forestry development in community development, and the preservation of the environment. In the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan "Tree Planting Day" is the first day of the Afghan year and is celebrated as a big farmers' festival with special ceremonies. This contributes to the important role of public awareness in forestry development. On that day thousands of different kinds of plants are distributed to the farmers free of charge and thousands of plants are planted throughout the country by the Forestry Departments.
Augustine Κ. OSUBAN (Uganda): I should like to say that we endorse the conclusions of the Committee, and we would like to spotlight the following points. We believe that since the protection and production management of tropical forests is vital to the protection of our environment, the need and urgency for improving public awareness of the importance of forests in human welfare is of paramount importance.
We would like to emphasize paragraph 25 of the report. We believe that this strengthens the basis for understanding the mutuality of agriculture and forestry.
Finally, we would like to voice concern about accidental environmental hazards such as Chernobyl and the recent Sandoz accident, which are beginning to occur very frequently. We fear that if these kinds of accidents spill over to developing countries, when we are unable to handle the natural hazards which are occurring now, it is easy to imagine what would happen when we were faced with this new type of hazard. Suffice to say that the environment would definitely be affected and perhaps along with that even the people in those countries.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): El señor Rodas ha hecho una excelente presentación.
Pensamos que en nuestro informe deberemos incluir la afirmación del Consejo en el sentido de que los estados del Tercer Mundo no han podido utilizar plenamente su capacidad efectiva de las industrias forestales y apoyar el llamado que el Comité ha hecho a la FAO y a la Comunidad de Donantes para que asistan técnica y economicamente a los estados en desarrollo a fin de que avancen en este campo importante.
Además de las industrias forestales destacamos la función importante de la ampliación del comercio y mercadeo y apoyamos a la distinguida colega de México en el sentido de que este Consejo debe estar de acuerdo con el Comité sobre las conveniencias de eliminar las barreras arancelarias y no arancelarias que han venido entorpeciendo la expansión del comercio forestal.
Este Consejo debe sumarse a la opinión del Comité al reconocer al gobierno de Francia la actitud positiva de haber acogido en París en febrero pasado la Conferencia Internacional sobre el Árbol y el Bosque, iniciativa francesa que el Gobierno de Colombia destaca complacido y debería ser imitada por otros Estados.
Queremos igualmente señalar el papel importante y positivo que cumple otro país, Austria, cuyo representante el señor Redi hace poco nos ha descrito algunas de las actividades austríacas en ese campo. Nos asociamos al colega de Brasil para preguntar que si ha corrido la iniciativa positiva de Austria sobre el establecimiento del Fondo.
La delegación de Colombia apoya el párrafo 34 sobre la falta de voluntad política y el inmenso peso de la deuda externa que han contribuido mucho a que falten adecuadas inversiones en el sector forestal.
Apoyamos plenamente el plan de acción forestal en los trópicos y la conveniencia de que la FAO y los donantes auspicien el envío de misiones a los países en desarrollo para asistirles en la ejecución de sus respectivos planes.
A principios de octubre pasado se reunió en Berlín un grupo de asesores forestales de los países donantes y en esa reunión se concedió atención sobresaliente a la riqueza forestal colombiana. Entre esos donantes estuvieron particularmente el PNUD, el Banco Mundial, el BID, la República Federal de Alemania, Canadá, la Agencia AID de los Estados Unidos, los Países Bajos y Francia. Esperamos que estos y otros donantes se sumen a la FAO en la misión que próximamente será enviada a Colombia para la elaboración de nuestro plan de acción. forestal. De antemano gracias a todos ellos
Una vez más, el Gobierno de Colombia apoya los principios y objetivos del Manifiesto de México, síntesis de los buenos éxitos logrados en el Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial celebrado en ese hermano país latinoamericano. Apoyamos igualmente a México en cuanto a la mayor atención que la FAO debe ofrecer al inmenso potencial forestal de nuestra región.
Finalmente, la delegación de Colombia reitera su pleno apoyo al Departamento de Montes de la FAO dirigida con acierto y competencia por el señor Flores Rodas.
Mme Anna Teresa FRITTELLI ANNIBALDI (Italie): Il est très tard mais je ne peux pas renoncer à remercier de l'excellent rapport qui nous a été présenté et à nous associer aux voeux qui ont été exprimés pour la solution des problèmes forestiers dans le monde. Mon pays attache une importance fondamentale à ces problèmes.
En ce qui concerne les recommandations de SILVA, ma délégation est certaine que tous les pays, comme le mien, feront tous leurs efforts pour que l'appel lancé reçoive la meilleure réponse.
José Ramón LOPEZ-PORTILLO ROMANO (México): Solamente para hacer una breve aclaración; le pido disculpas, señor Presidente, por intervenir de nuevo. Me refiero a las opiniones expresadas por una delegación en relación a la función de la conservación de recursos fitogenéticos y el papel que en torno a estas cuestiones tiene el CIRF.
Nosotros creemos que éste no es un asunto que se deba debatir en este foro; no es ésta ni la ocasión ni el momento para hacerlo; pensamos que en la comisión de recursos fitogenéticos creada al respecto debemos dirimir esas cuestiones. Por tanto, señor Presidente, quería hacer esta aclaración para que quede en las actas y que estas cuestiones las tratemos en el foro adecuado.
Eiichi KAWAHARA (Japan): The Japanese delegation has no objection to endorsing this report. However, I wish to clarify one point regarding a report to the Council on the financing requirement for action to protect and conserve the world's forests which appears in paragraph 74. I would very much appreciate if the secretary could provide information on how the process of formulating such a report is going, and provide a time schedule for the completion of that report and submission to this Council. In this connection, in the process of compiling such a report, when can we expect the opportunity for any member of the Committee, including Japan, to convey its views on this report?
Suharyo HUSEN (Indonesia): I should like to express my government's support for the work of FAO in the field of forestry. I share the views of other delegations in welcoming and supporting the report of the Committee as set out in document CL 90/8.
In supporting this report I should like to underline the importance of forest industries, marketing and trade of forest products and their role in socio-economic development. In this connection the Indonesian government strongly supports the recommendations in paragraphs 9, 12, 13, 14 and 16. In heightening political and public awareness of the importance of forests for the quality of life, my delegation agrees with the Committee on emphasizing the importance of people's participation in forestry deployment, communicating values of forests to the community, harmonizing agricultural and forestry extension programmes and training and extension for women in the forestry activities.
The Indonesian government fully supports the Tropical Forest Action Plan, including all the Committee's recommendations in the document before us. My delegation stresses the importance of technical economic cooperation among the countries in supporting the implementation of TFAP.
Finally, I should like to express my delegation's appreciation to Mr Flores Rodas for his brief and very clear introduction.
Donac CHINKUMO (Cameroun): La delegación camerounaise félicite le Comité forestier et son "Directeur pour l'excellent document qu'ils nous ont présenté et surtout en ce qui concerne le Plan de développement forestier. Comme vous le savez, le Programme de développement des forêts intéresse le Cameroun d'autant plus qu'une bonne partie de notre pays touche la région du Sahel et cette région du pays n'a pas été épargnée par la grave sécheresse qui a frappé l'Afrique ces dernières années. En effet, de nombreuses familles de cette zone ont été obligées de déménager vers des régions plus clémentes et plus propices. C'est dire que les effets de l'avance du désert laissent, de temps à autre, choir ses retombées sur la partie de l'extrême nord du pays, sur cette partie de la région du pays. C'est pour cette raison que le Cameroun a créé il y a quelques années une superdirection générale chargée du reboisement sur l'ensemble du territoire, mais surtout dans la région de l'extrême nord.
C'est également pour cette raison que le thème de la Journée mondiale de l'alimentation de l'année 1985 a connu un grand encouragement au Cameroun et ce thème a été débattu sur l'ensemble du territoire, tant par des conférences que par des tables rondes. Le temps nous fait défaut.
Raphael RABE (Observateur de Madagascar): Permettez-nous de féliciter M. Flores Rodas pour la présentation claire et concise du sujet. La délégation de Madagascar voudrait faire quelques commentaires l'endroit du chapitre traitant du plan d'action forestier tropical.
D'emblée, notre délégation réitère les félicitations qu'elle a adressées au Secrétariat lors de l'examen du Plan d'action à sa huitième session. Grace aux efforts inlassables du Secrétariat, nous pouvons disposer d'un outil très précieux pour le développement du secteur forestier dans les cinq années à venir. Nous convenons, avec le Comité des forêts, que le PAFT constitue un cadre logique et cohérent. dans lequel la communauté internationale peut agir d'une manière coordonnée. Plus que jamais, la FAO devra jouer un rôle de catalyseur et de chef de file lors de son application dans les pays. Elle devrait recevoir cependant, les ressources financières définies au paragraphes 68 et 71 du document. Dans cet ordre d'idées, nous renouvelons notre conviction sur la nécessité et l'opportunité d'entreprendre sans tarder les investigations tendant à la concrétisation du Fonds forestier national, système permettant de collecter efficacement les fonds requis pour le financement de la mise en oeuvre du PAFT dans les meilleurs délais et dans les meilleures conditions. Nous partageons les avis des délégations allant dans le sens du renforcement des moyens d'intervention du Département des forêts par des ressources volontaires extra-budgétaires.
Enfin, nous tenons à manifester notre satisfaction à la FAO pour l'aide très précieuse qu'elle nous a fournie dans la constitution d'un silo national de semences forestières. Pour notre part, nous sommes aussi convaincus que la création de banques de semences forestières est primordiale si l'on veut constituer des formations forestières performantes. Aussi, nous n'avons aucune difficulté à appuyer dans leur totalité les recommandations figurant au paragraphe 45.
LE' PRESIDENT: Je remercie tous les intervenants qui ont bien voulu parler malgré l'heure tardive et qui ont contribué à ce débat important. Je voudrais passer la parole au Directeur général adjoint de la FAO pour qu'il réponde aux interventions.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: I would just like to comment on three issues that have been raised in the course of the debate, each of them being of an institutional character.
First of all I would like to warmly welcome the proposal put forward by the representative of France and supported by a number of other speakers, that the FAO Conference would provide an appropriate forum for focusing on the follow-up of the SILVA Conference as well as other similar conferences in the forest area. This certainly seems to be a suggestion that we on the Secretariat can warmly support. I would like to suggest that this process might usefully start at the session of FAO's Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics which is scheduled for September next, a couple of months ahead of the Conference.
Secondly, there have been several references in the course of the debate to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). Only a few days ago the first Executive Director of ITTO, Mr Freezailah, was in FAO for discussions with the Forestry Department and I had the pleasure of a fairly lengthy discussion with him. These discussions have been extremely welcome and supportive. We are agreed on a general principle of complementarity, in other words, there would be no duplica-of activities. They would be able to benefit from the FAO data base and FAO's work and, conversely, we would hopefully be able to benefit from their future activities. The relations between FAO and the ITTO will be worked out through an exchange of letters.
Lastly I refer to the comments made by the representative of Australia on one of the recommendations of the Committee on Forestry relating to tree genetics. I agree entirely with the representative of Mexico that this is not the forum at which to enter into any controversy regarding the IBPGR, its role and its relations with FAO. However, I do not believe that any controversy should arise.
The activities advocated by COFO do not represent anything fundamentally new in the FAO Work Programme. The FAO is cooperating with Australia in this area and is even providing, in the literal sense, seed money to the Australian Organization, known by the initials CSIRO, for the provision of seeds to developing countries.
In the second place the IBPGR is not, to the best of my knowledge, engaged in, or envisaging, sponsoring collections of forest genetic resources. The interest in trees and shrubs, mentioned by the representative of Australia, refers to the use of trees in farming systems and not to any plan for the systematic collection and conservation of forest genetic resources.
M. A. FLORES RODAS (Subdirector General, Departamento de Montes): Seré muy breve, nada mas quiero referirme a dos puntos: la consulta del distinguido representante del Brasil y otra de sus colegas acá sobre el reporte, sobre el financiamiento internacional que, según lo instruido por COFO, debemos presentar a este Consejo en el futuro. En primer lugar, el estado del trabajo: Se ha contratado ya a los consultores correspondientes para hacer el trabajo; la agenda y su índice están siendo distribuidos a todos los países miembros de FAO, precisamente a los miembros del Comité Forestal de FAO; y, en tercer lugar, correspondiente a su pregunta, este caso será presentado al próximo Consejo de la FAO que creo que es en junio del próximo ano.
En segundo lugar, me quería referir, en términos, generales, al apoyo total de parte del Consejo al Programa de Acción Forestal en los Trópicos que ha sido apoyado totalmente, principalmente haciendo énfasis en la característica integral del uso del recurso forestal y no sólo el uso del recurso forestal per se, sino la incorporación de los recursos forestales en general en los programas de desarrollo. Por lo tanto, la participación de la sociedad, la participación del hombre, principalmente aquel que vive en la zona rural, es muy importante, ya ha sido reconocido con gran satisfacción de parte de ustedes. Creo que en general estos son mis comentarios.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie beaucoup M. Flores Rodas pour ses éclaircissements, il se fait tard, mais je voudrais faire quelques contributions à ce débat.
On peut admettre que le Conseil est unanime à se féliciter de l'approche de la FAO sur le rôle de la forêt comme composante essentielle de l'économie agricole et des forêts qu'il convient d'exploiter dans le cadre d'une vision intégrée avec l'élevage et la culture.
Je crois également pouvoir noter l'unanimité du Conseil pour recommander à la FAO d'accroître ses activités dans le domaine de la forêt, de la foresterie et de l'agroforesterie. Le Conseil appuie pleinement le plan d'action forestière tropicale et a recommandé que, malgré la limitation des crédits, ce programme soit préservé dans l'activité de la FAO et que toutes les possibilités de financement-régionales, nationales ou internationales-puissent être prospectées selon les sensibilités des organes et des pays qui désirent s'y intéresser.
Il a également été souligné que la FAO devrait avoir un rôle prépondérant et jouer un rôle de coordinateur dans la mise en oeuvre de ce plan d'action forestière tropicale.
Il convient également de souligner la préoccupation manifestéee par un certain nombre de délégués quant à l'importance et l'acuité particulières attachées à la conservation des ressources forestières et à la lutte contre la désertification. Il a été noté en effet qu'environ 11 millions d'hectares par an de forêts disparaissent du fait de la surexploitation et du déboisement. De nombreux délégués ont souligné le role de l'homme et la sensibilisation des populations à cette action de conservation des ressources naturelles.
II faut enfin noter l'appréciation du Conseil pour l'initiative française de réunion de la conférence SILVA sur les arbres et les forêts en février 1986 à Paris et nous avons noté la demande que la FAO réalise le suivi de cette conférence lors de la prochaine Conférence générale de 1987.
Telle est la contribution que je pouvais faire. Je tiens à remercier tous les délégués qui ont bien voulu, malgré l'heure tardive, admettre le calendrier assez sévère demandé par le Secrétariat et la présidence du Conseil, mais nous aurons demain une journée encore plus chargée et, comme le disait M. Walton l'autre jour: "to-morrow is another day".
The meeting rose at 20. 00 hours.
La séance est levée a 20 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 20. 00 horas.
