- The Locust Situation in 1988 and outlook for 1989
- La Situation acridieune en 1988 et perspectives pour 1989
- El problema de la langosta: Situación en 1988 y perspectivas para 1989
LE PRESIDENT: La séance est ouverte.
Nous allons aborder maintenant la question relative à l'invasion acridienne. Nous en avons fait une section spéciale du point traitant de la situation alimentaire et agricole dans le monde, compte tenu de son activité et compte tenu du fait que beaucoup de pays attendent de notre Organisation une action significative, en relation avec les pays donateurs et les organisations multilatérales, pour aider les pays à juguler ce fléau.
Je vais demander à M. Lucas Brader, Directeur de la Division de la production végétale et de la protection des plantes, de vous faire un exposé de la situation et d'introduire le sujet. Après quoi nous allons ouvrir le débat et je serai très heureux de voir le maximum de délégués, qu'ils soient des pays bénéficiaire ou des pays qui souffrent de ce fléau, intervenir dans ce débat.
Je donne donc la parole à M. Brader qui va nous expliquer comment il va s'organiser car il est prévu qu'il y ait une projection pour indiquer, dans un film d'une dizaine dé minutes, l'importance de cette invasion.
L. BRADER (Director, Plant Production and Protection Division): The background paper distributed for this discussion is CL 94/2- Sup. 2 and before I give you some further comments on the desert locust situation, we would like to show you a brief video of twelve minutes showing some of the events that have occurred in Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria just to serve as an example because the current invasion is, of course, far beyond only those four countries, but we think it should give you a good picture of the importance of the problem. So I would now like to ask our staff to present the video and it should appear on this screen above my head.
Visual presentation of video with additional following commentary:
1. The first part of the film is the very recent swarming of locusts in Sudan. Here you get a little image of that swarm with about 100 sq km which stayed around Khartoum for a couple of days. The film was shot at the beginning of October.
2. As it is a swarm, we are dealing only here with adults. The colour indicates that they are not yet completely mature. They change in colour and when they are fully matured and start laying eggs their colour turns to yellow.
3. Here we are 30 km north of Khartoum and see these locusts establishing themselves in the crop fields where undoubtedly damage will occur.
4. As you may have noted from the paper we distributed, the Sudan is one of the key areas at this stage with respect to the invasion. We have very, very wide-scale breeding going on and regularly swarms develop in the Sudan. They have also moved from there recently to the Near East.
5. We will now move to a number of shots taken in southern Morocco. In fact, this material was provided to us by the BBC which is making a major film on the desert locust. This was taken at the beginning of this year. You will see a number of slow motions to give an impression of how they fly and how they behave.
6. These locusts are about 6 or 7 cm long and each of them weighs about 2 grammes. Each of them eats its own weight in green vegetation. You will see that these have turned, to the yellow colour. They are copulating during the egg laying. The male stays on the back of the female.
7. It might be good to note that these swarms you see here are not very dense. When they are dense, the sky becomes so dark that it is difficult to film them.
8. Here we have moved to Algeria and we are going to see some of the operations. This is very early in the morning, because the technique, to control the adults at least, is in the evening to see where the swarms settle. At night they do not fly and so they settle. So you spot them and go there early in the morning to direct the planes to go there and spray the locusts in the particular sites where they are found. The survey teams are going to find the locusts and direct the planes over there.
9. The problem is, of course, that although the swarms may be big, to find them in this terrain -which is a very wide area - and to locate them is not all that easy. You have to set up camps. The people have to live outside villages. It means a tremendous amount of organization particularly to set up the adequate ground support for these aerial operations. In addition to aerial control, of course, you can also have spraying from the ground which is mostly done with this type of four wheel drive vehicle such as a Land Rover.
10. This locust has definitely been affected by the insecticide because normally it would put all its eggs in the soil at about 5 to 10 cm deep. Now it is laying them on the soil and these eggs will not survive, of course, because they need to keep a certain amount of humidity to develop and that will not happen with those that lay on the soil.
11. The last part of the video is the situation as it occurred in the early summer of this year in Tunisia. It is particularly taken around Sfax. Helicopters are extremely useful in control because you can use them both for finding the locusts and, if they are equipped with spraying equipment, you can spray them at the same time.
12. Locusts like to climb trees and roost there, particularly at night. Then at the same time, of course, they mate while they feed.
13. Here, for example, they are sitting on a fig tree.
14. You may be interested to know that the helicopters came from Italy and some of the planes from local companies, but also, if I remember well, from the United Kingdom. There is a whole mixture of assistance provided in all these cases.
15. One is particularly concerned in this case about damage that could be caused to the olive orchards. They like to nibble and eat on the young buds which, of course, causes the total loss of that crop for one year.
16. Here they have already been killed by the spraying apparatus. They have all died. End of video.
I will now introduce the topic verbally. I hope that the video has given you an impression of some of the events because, as I said at the beginning, this is only a very small part, unhappily, of what is happening now.
Document CL 94/2 Sup. 2 provides an update on the desert locust situation, as well as a forecast of the events that may take place in 1988 and 1989. It also gives a summary of the action taken by FAO in 1987 and 1988, and of the action that has still to be taken in 1989. In this introduction to the Council discussions, the most recent events with respect to the expansion of the plague will be reported, as well as a number of initiatives taken recently.
Never in written history have desert locust populations been present simultaneously in such a large geographical area as is currently the case. In the last weeks, very large invasions by large swarms have occurred in Morocco. Large-scale breeding continues in an unprecedented manner in Mauritania, Senegal and in Sudan, with smaller populations in between in the whole Sahelian zone of Africa. Desert locusts have further moved into Saudia Arabia and have spread into Iraq, Iran and Kuwait. An unconfirmed report of infestations in eastern Afghanistan was received recently. The locusts are now threatening other countries in the Near East and in the Arabian peninsula, but I would say that reports we received yesterday from one of our staff in Iraq indicate that conditions are currently very cold up in the north. For that reason we do not expect immediate expansion of the infestation to countries, for example, such as Syria and Lebanon but they will certainly be threatened somewhat later when it gets warmer again. This spread into the Near East and northwest Africa is taking place much earlier than expected. Indeed, infestations of the Caribbean and Cape Verde have occurred again in the last two weeks.
This simultaneous invasion of such a large number of countries increases enormously the difficulties to provide timely, and in a sufficient amount the resources required to combat the locusts. In fact, there is in particular a serious lack of experienced personnel to provide technical advice and to carry out activities ranging from monitoring and reporting the locust infestations to directing the aerial control campaigns. All parties concerned continue to work very closely together to address the problem in the best possible manner. FAO, through its Emergency Centre for Locust Operations - ECLO - has continued to give the maximum support to the various activities undertaken.
Total donor contributions to the campaign in 1988, which already has probably cost more than US$ 200 million, are now more than US$ 120 million. During this period the total value of the 50 projects implemented by FAO amounted to more than US$ 18 million of which 3.4 million were funded through TCP.
On 13 October 1988 a donor meeting was held in our headquarters to discuss arrangements required to ensure improved control of the desert locust. The meeting noted that the plague, if allowed to run its course, will most probably continue for another two to three years at least. I would add that given the current situation it will certainly be much longer. In the coming months the swarms may move to areas south of the Sahel zone and invade other West-African countries. This would be in addition to the spread to NW Africa which has already begun in September - in addition there is also a spread to the Near East. So far crop losses have been limited, this is due to the successful control operations as well as the fact that in many cases the desert locusts have been developing outside agricultural areas as a result of extremely favourable breeding conditions.
The above-mentioned meeting noted that so far during the plague the strategy has been to direct control operations primarily towards the protection of crops.However, this has made a relatively small impact on the overall population level of the desert locust.Therefore, this strategy needs to be urgently supplemented by the control of populations in certain geographically-restricted areas, in order to reduce total populations. These two activities are clearly complementary although they require different approaches and control techniques. In the case of the protection of crops, extensive use can be made of the farming community and of ground control with relatively simple equipment. Strategic control of large scale desert locust populations will require much more intensive methods. Only aerial application of pesticides against both hopper bands and adults will be likely to lead to success, although ground control can play a significant part.
The donor meeting requested that for the strategic control requirements, a plan be developed in the coming months in which the various requirements in manpower and control means are clearly identified.
The meeting unanimously recognized the need for increased efforts on matters such as information exchange, appraisal of infestations and of assistance needed to overcome these, technical guidance on control operations, as well as coordination with the various parties concerned. It recognized the key role played by FAO/ECLO in this respect and emphasized the need to strengthen the unit in order to carry out its activities in a speedy and effective manner. I am pleased to note that in separate discussions, contributions from individual donors were discussed and arrangements for a strengthening of ECLO will hopefully be finalized in the near future.
A meeting on future Desert Locust Research Needs was organized by FAO from 18-20 October 1988. The meeting addressed in particular operational research needs and recommended that work be undertaken in the following areas: survey and reporting of desert locust infestations, including aerial search techniques; characterization and systematic mapping of primary desert locust habitats; further development of a computer-assisted, information analysis and forecasting system based on remote sensing and meteorological data; improved application techniques of pesticides; development of more persistent pesticides or formulations of pesticides; improved crop loss analysis; development of biological control, and environmental impact monitoring.
This research meeting was followed by a meeting on the use and hazards of dieldrin in desert locust control, on 21 October 1988. Environmental studies presented revealed that dieldrin used at 20 gram per hectare had less impact on non-target arthropods than most other pesticides used for desert locust control. However, widely divergent opinions were expressed on the future use of dieldrin, varying from a complete bann and destruction of existing stocks to recommending its use in remote areas under technical guidance. It was finally agreed that: (i) FAO would make a detailed inventory of existing dieldrin stocks, as the production of this insecticide has now been stopped completely;(ii) a study would be undertaken of the areas where the desert locust would have to be controlled and these areas would be classified according to the potential environmental risk that application of dieldrin might entail, and (iii) on the basis of this Information, a use or destruction plan for all or part of the dieldrin stocks would be prepared.
With respect to the identification of suitable replacement pesticides for hopper control, the meeting referred to the discussion on research needs. It had been concluded that in particular insect growth regulators (that is new type of insecticide) showed considerable promise. It was recommended that an extended programme of field tests be undertaken.
I would also like to report that on October 28-29, an International Conference on the Desert Locust peril was organized at Pez at the initiative of King Hasan the II of Morocco. It was attended by virtually all countries affected or threatened by the desert locust and various donor representatives. The Conference re-emphasized the threat of the desert locust plague and adopted among others the following resolution "Propose for the current invasion period the creation under
the United Nations' auspices of a task force of international vocation in charge of undertaking specific control actions in strategic areas and ask FAO to create a working group including representatives of both the affected countries and donors to prepare as soon as possible a detailed plan and to define the required ways and means for its implementation.
I am pleased to report that work has already been initiated by FAO on the creation of this international task force and the above-mentioned working group will meet at the end of this month.
I wish to inform Council that last week the FAO Commission for the Control of the Desert Locust in South West Asia met in Teheran to review the situation and needs in that area. Perhaps I should inform Council that apart from all these emergency actions, plans have also been developed for the longer-term strengthening of regional and national structures in various countries and regions.
The desert locust plague will stay with us for at least another two to three years and will continue to be a major threat to agricultural production in Africa and the Near East. It will require the continued cooperation of all parties concerned, to continue to avoid major crop losses and to reduce the overall locust populations.At FAO steps have been taken to further improve our support to the control campaign. But success can be achieved only if there is adequate understanding by all concerned of the problems to be addressed and of the limits of the resources available. The international character of the plague should be fully recognized and it is essential that actions can be undertaken without impediments related to particular national interests. In particular, a special effort is needed to avoid duplication of efforts and to increase the human resources needed for the effective implementation of the control operations.
Mlle Faouzia BOUMAЇZA (Algérie): Que dire des images que nous venons de voir sur l'écran; elles sont assez terrifiantes, et le document que nous examinons maintenant l'est encore plus; le supplément 2 du document CL/94/2 est certainement celui de notre Conseil que j'ai examiné avec la plus grande inquiétude, car depuis deux ans mon pays est pleinement infesté par l'invasion acridienne, fléau à nul autre pareil car une fois apparu, son cycle infernal perdure une dizaine d'années en moyenne. Nous l'avons vu lors du dernier cycle des années cinquante. En outre, l'ampleur et la vitalité de ces nuées de criquets pèlerins font que cette catastrophe s'abat sur de nombreux pays, dévastant les champs de culture et menaçant la sécurité alimentaire.
Les dernières informations dont nous disposons sont très alarmantes; en effet, les prévisions établies sur la base des campagnes précédentes, des analogies historiques et des données météorologiques et surtout sur le suivi et l'observation du déplacement des populations de criquets pèlerins, laissent présager pour la prochaine saison agricole une évolution dangereuse pour de nombreux pays. Il semble que durant l'année 1989, la superficie totale touchée s'étendrait des lies du Cap-Vert à l'ouest et peut-être même des Caraïbes - nous avons vu dans un dernier bulletin de presse édité par la FAO qu'elles sont déjà concernées - jusqu'à l'Inde à l'est; c'est dire l'ampleur des dégâts que causera certainement l'Invasion actuelle, notamment dans les zones géographiques traditionnellement infestées, c'est-à-dire toute la zone soudano-sahélienne ; et même, les dernières informations qui nous sont communiquées par M. Brader, le Centre de la FAO et l'ECLO nous démontrent que l'Invasion est arrivée jusqu'au Sénégal et la Guinée; on a maintenant dépassé la mer Rouge et on arrive en Afghanistan.
Ce sont des informations terrifiantes.
Je ne rentrerai pas dans le détail technique, ni dans le schéma d'évolution du fléau acridien qui est clairement analysé dans le supplément 2; par contre, j'Insisterai sur les données suivantes sans lesquelles tous nos efforts seront voués à l'échec.
Premièrement, comme 11 est mentionné au paragraphe 5 de ce document, la prévision météorologique est d'une importance capitale, en particulier pour la zone de convergence intertropicale où les actions de lutte contre le criquet pèlerin doivent intervenir avant ou durant la production même, d'où la nécessité d'une prévision météorologique fiable. Les pays du Sahel et du Maghreb réunis à Tamanrasset ont décidé de créer un centre de météorologie spécialisé dans l’acridiologie dans cette ville afin d'assurer une meilleure surveillance de ce fléau, surtout pour ce qui concerne les pays du Sahel. Aussi notre délégation souhaiterait-elle que la FAO apporte son concours à la réalisation de ce centre.
Le deuxième aspect important - et je dirai même qu'il s'agit là d'une condition sine qua non à la réussite de la campagne de lutte contre le criquet pèlerin - c'est que l'aide internationale doit intervenir rapidement dans les pays atteints, avant même que la campagne ne soit initiée ou tout au moins tout au début. En effet, durant la campagne précédente, nous avons eu en Algérie, par exemple, une rupture de stock des pesticides car l'aide promise n'arrivait pas toujours à temps, si bien qu'une partie des 40 avions que nous avions affrétés à grand prix, pour des sommes énormes, se sont
trouvés immobilisés par manque de produits. Ainsi, une réaction rapide de l'aide vers les zones qui risquent d'être les plus touchées serait hautement salutaire pour l'ensemble de la communauté internationale, comme cela est démontré au paragraphe 16.
Les efforts de restructuration et les réformes initiées dans le secteur de l'agriculture dans mon pays et dans bien d'autres pays encore de la région risquent d'être fort compromis par l’infestation acridienne, d'autant plus que celle-ci est malheureusement apparue dans un contexte de difficultés économiques et financières qui sont autant de limites objectives aux moyens nécessaires à mettre en oeuvre pour une lutte efficace.
Dès la prolifération du criquet pèlerin en 1986, l'Algérie a mis en place un important dispositif de lutte qui agit en permanence et en étroite coopération avec tous les pays concernés de la région, notamment les pays frontaliers, ainsi qu'avec le centre FAO - ECLO dont je voudrais souligner au passage le remarquable travail accompli. Sans doute le sens des responsabilités de M. Brader n'est-il pas étranger au bon fonctionnement de cette division.
Cette lutte concertée et l'aide internationale ont permis de limiter les dégâts causés à l'agriculture durant la campagne précédente. Pour cette année et pour 1989, l’infestation acridienne s'annonce autrement plus grave. D'où la nécessité d'une mobilisation plus significative de la communauté internationale afin d'enrayer ce fléau; sinon la production agricole et la situation de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation dans la zone géographique qui va pratiquement de la Méditerranée à l'Afrique centrale et de l'Afrique de l'Ouest à l'Afrique de l'Est, pour ne parler que de la région la plus atteinte, risque fort de connaître une aggravation sans précédent.
Aussi ma délégation demande au Conseil de reprendre à son compte la résolution 2/88 adoptée par la 15ème Conférence régionale pour l'Afrique contenue au paragraphe 50 du rapport y afférent, que le Secrétariat pourrait peut-être traduire dans les autres langues officielles de la FAO et distribuer à toutes les délégations ici présentes.
Je terminerai en exprimant notre reconnaissance à tous les pays qui nous ont aidés - ils sont nombreux et je risque d'en oublier quelques-uns si je les cite - durant la campagne de 1987, en espérant qu'ils réitèrent leur aide durant cette année.
En ma qualité de Représentante permanente adjointe auprès de la FAO, je voudrais remercier tout particulièrement l'Italie et je prie son Excellence l'Ambassadeur Valenza de transmettre à son gouvernement, et notamment aux responsables du Département de la Coopération du Ministère des affaires étrangères, nos remerciements pour leur disponibilité d'esprit et l'oreille attentive qu'ils nous ont prêtée.
Amin ABDEL MALEK (Liban) (langue originale Arabe): Je tiens à remercier d'emblée M. Brader de l'excellente présentation qu'il nous a faite de cette question et du document CL 94/2-Sup, 2 ainsi que des explications très claires qu'il nous a données au moment de la présentation du film sur les criquets pèlerins au Soudan, au Maroc et en d'autres lieux.
Le fléau acridien représente une menace immédiate et l'appel qu'a lancé sa Majesté le Roi Hassan II du Maroc à différents pays africains et aux pays européens correspond bien à cette menace. En effet, le sommet qui s'est tenu à Fez a été couronné de succès étant donné le haut niveau des personnalités qui y ont participé et des discussions qui y ont eu lieu, et il a été affecté dans une certaine mesure par cette question. Si le Roi du Maroc a eu la clairvoyance d'attirer sur ce problème l'attention de ceux qui étalent présents au sommet de Fez je pense qu'il faut que nous non plus ne perdions pas de vue le risque que ce fléau puisse s'étendre non seulement au Moyen Orient mais également à l'Europe.
Mon pays, qui a connu de nombreuses catastrophes, se volt maintenant menacé par ce que l'on peut considérer comme une catastrophe naturelle. Comme M. Brader l'a dit, le spectre de cette menace s'est éloigné de la Syrie et du Liban grâce aux conditions météorologiques. Néanmoins, il convient de faire le nécessaire pour essayer d'en finir avec ce fléau car les efforts énormes que fait l'humanité dans le but de produire suffisamment d'aliments sont souvent contrariés par un fléau comme celui-ci.
Je voudrais attirer l'attention du Conseil sur la nécessité d'aider également le Liban afin de lui permettre de prendre les mesures nécessaires pour faire face à cette menace. Des mesures ont déjà été prises au Liban car 11 risque de perdre sa viabilité si jamais cette calamité s'abat sur lui. Or nous sommes dépourvus de moyens autres que la volonté de notre peuple qui, à elle seule, ne suffit malheureusement pas. Il nous faut les moyens appropriés pour lutter contre les criquets pèlerins. Nous avons besoin des moyens techniques nécessaires et des pesticides indispensables, en plus du facteur humain. Nous demandons que l'on nous accorde l'aide nécessaire sous forme d'instruments et
d'assistance technique. A cet égard, je ne peux que m'associer à ce qu'à dit M. Brader. La guerre a coûté bien des souffrances au-Liban. Essayons de lui épargner celles-ci sous forme de criquets pèlerins.
Namukolo MUKUTU (Zambia): I wish to thank you in the first instance for giving my delegation the opportunity to speak on this important subject of the locust situation in 1988 and the outlook for 1989. My delegation wishes to commend both the Secretary and Mr. Brader for the high quality documentation and lucid introduction of the subject.
Although the subject under discussion seems to be limited to the looming threat of the desert locust, I would like to draw the attention of this Council to a similar situation now obtaining in Zambia and in some of the neighbouring countries. This is the upsurge of the African migratory locust and to some extent the red locust.
Hoppers and mature swarms of the African migratory locust have been located in many parts of Zambia in the period September to November 1988. Damage to wheat crops and sugarcane has been reported and some limited control measures have been undertaken. Nonetheless, our fears at the moment are that as we prepare for the 1988/89 cropping season locust prevalence is becoming more widespread, thus posing a real threat to crop production. About 2 1/2 million hectares of crops will be at the mercy of locusts if the situation does not change for the better in 1989.
As some members may already know, we have in our region the International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa, headquartered in Zambia, whose major function is to control locust infestations and stem their spread, as well as those of other migrant pests. Unfortunately the organization has limited operational capacity such that Member Nations have to undertake their own locust and pest control operations.
Notwithstanding the kind and generous assistance already given to the International Red Locust Control Organization and Zambia by FAO and donor agencies, I wish to state that more assistance is being sought in the face of this mounting locust threat in the region. For Zambia, we would welcome assistance in respect of 4-wheel drive vanettes, vehicle mounted sprayers and spray chemicals, especially Fenitrothion (Technical). We believe that assistance in this regard would enhance our national capability to try and contain the threatening locust situation in 1988/89.
We are sounding an SOS to FAO and all intending donors about what we perceive as an imminent serious locust plague in 1988 and 1989 in Zambia and some neighbouring countries. We would indeed be grateful if this alert could be heeded. We certainly want to avoid the dreadful scenes we have just seen in the video. I thank you for your attention.
David W. JOSLYN (United States of America): The United States delegation wishes to congratulate the Secretariat for highlighting the seriousness of the desert locust problem. The document and film presented by the Secretariat clearly described the extent to which the desert locust is increasingly threatening important food production areas in Africa and beyond.
It seems clear to us that if this plague is to be curtailed extraordinary efforts are needed from affected countries, the donor community, scientists and the FAO. The United States will continue to provide emergency resources and development assistance funding to fight the spread of the desert locust. We will continue to work with FAO on this problem, recognizing the unique role that FAO plays in Information collection and exchange and in the provision of multinational coordination of the campaign.
In fact we would like to make clear the confidence we have in the FAO ECLO staff and its Director. Our scientists and planners are working very closely with this group to prepare the strategic plans needed to decrease the desert locust population which Mr. Brader referred to. We think the special international force to control the desert locust recently proposed in Morocco represents the kind of special effort needed to combat a problem as large as the one we face. The United States will work closely with this effort and we urge others to do likewise. Especially we recognize and support the important role of FAO in this very important international initiative. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Bashir EL MABROUK SAID (Libya) (original language Arabic): Allow me at the outset to thank Mr. Brader for his excellent presentation of this important document. I believe the film projected has clearly indicated this menace threatening many countries especially in Africa. This is really fearful, Mr. Chairman, it is really fearful. In addition to the economic crisis suffered by many
of our countries as a r suit of many reasons, such as external indebtedness, which increases day-in day-out, and the drough which extended over many countries and is still there in some countries, this menace comes in order to paralyze the efforts of our countries for agricultural development. Forecasts indicate that this locust menace will be with us for many coming years, and this is of grave concern. In spite of the modest efforts deployed, FAO was at the vanguard of encountering this menace threatening our food, even within the difficult financial situation of the Organization, and the limited resources available to it. We would like to extend our thanks to FAO for these great and commendable efforts.
However, at this stage we feel, regrettably, that the efforts deployed by the international community are very limited, and they stand short of our expectations, and we refer in this respect to that fact that, unless there is co-ordination among the international community, and unless the FAO is financially supported, and unless assistance is extended to affected countries either in the way of insecticides, vans or tractors or aeroplanes, the efforts of affected countries, in view of their limited capabilities, will be scattered and will not be fruitful and the locusts swarms will be with us for many countries.
From this rostrum, I call upon able countries to extend assistance in order to encounter this dangerous menace that threatens our food, as Mr. Brader said. Mr. Chairman, the distinguished representative of Algeria has already referred to the resolution adopted by the African Regional Conference, and I believe that this constitutes a call to the international community, and we do accept this resolution with the changes deemed appropriate by the Council. I thank you, sir.
John Redman GOLDSACK (United Kingdom): I would like to thank Dr. Brader for his clear and informative introduction to this grave subject.First let me say that the UK recognizes the key central role that FAO and the Emergency Centre for Locust Operations in particular, in co-ordinating efforts to combat the locust menace. We expect ECLC to lead on issues like the best strategy for plague suppression, the merits of different pesticides, and the cost effectiveness of different control approaches. Indeed, we in the United Kingdom are already working with ECLO on a number of issues. We are particularly aware of the need for close donor co-ordination with the affected countries, and welcome the meetings that FAO has organized.
I would like to ask the Secretariat, when the next donor or co-ordination meeting for the winter campaign on the Red Sea coast is scheduled for.Clearly meetings are costly, both in terms of time and money, but they are necessary if effective action is to be taken.However, the need for meetings can sometimes be reduced by the dissemination of Information. We therefore suggest that, in addition to the regular reports already being produced by ECLO, a monthly report on pledges, expenditure and intentions would be valuable.
On environmental aspects we are concerned at the heavy reliance on Fenitrothion.We appreciate its long track record, and the familiarity with its usage by many plant protection departments in affected countries, but there are increasing concerns of the avian toxicity of this insecticide. Other insecticides are available and some seem to be more cost effective, and this aspect, together with environmental concern, combine to make these other products better choices.
The United Kingdom Minister for Overseas Development announced three days ago, that, in addition to assistance already pledged he would make available a further 1 million pounds for emergency help for the Red Sea Coast, and in the Horn of Africa this winter.
Gonzalo BULA HOTOS (Colombia): La magnífica presentación del Dr. Brader aumentó aun más la impresión que nos produjo la película proyectada a través de la cual pudimos admirar con inquietud nubes intensas de langostas destruyendo los cultivos y afectando así tan considerablemente las economías de países hermanos del Tercer Mundo en Africa y el Cercano Oriente.
El debate sobre este tema, y eso facilita nuestra intervención, fue inaugurado de manera genial, diríamos, por nuestra colega y amiga Faouzia Bouhaiza, de Argelia. Ella hizo una excelente declaración, cuyos puntos centrales compartimos plenamente. Nuestra colega argelina, tal vez por la modestia que le caracteriza no hizo referencia a lo que aparece en el apartado a) del párrafo 20, y que nosotros queremos destacar sobre la participación de metereólogos del servicio nacional de Argelia que han cooperado con la labor de la FAO. Creemos que éste es un ejemplo de solidaridad y de eficaz cooperación sur/sur, que conviene destacar.
Desearíamos que en el informe del Consejo se transcribiera la parte dispositiva más importante de la resolución que sobre este tema adoptó la Conferencia Regional africana, en apoyo de lo que han dicho los colegas de Argelia y mi amigo Bashir Said de Libia. El colega de Libia, y luego apoyado por Reino Unido, plantearon algo que es Importante a través de la larga experiencia, y es el asunto de
la coordinación. Pensamos que esto es esencial y que debe reflejarse en nuestro informe y que el Consejo debe pedir que a las actividades contra este flagelo se suministren por parte de là FAO, no obstante la penuria de nuestra Organización, y por parte de la Comunidad Internacional, una asistencia, pero que sea suficiente, sostenida, adecuada y perfectamente adaptable al medio en que se apliquen esos recursos.
El documento indica, sobre todo en los párrafos 11, 12 y 15 que se corre el peligro inminente de nuevas crisis. Nos llama un poco la atención el hecho de que en este documento, si bien en los párrafos 3 y el apartado c) del párrafo 20, se habla de donantes, en esta ocasión no se haya hecho como en documentos anteriores, donde se especifican todos los donantes que han venido contribuyendo, y esto pensamos que es constructivo porque estimula a otros países y además situa ejemplos que pueden ser dignos de imitar.
Afortunadamente la colega de Argelia señaló en primer lugar la actitud de Italia, país siempre en primera fila, y nos complació también haber oído a nuestro colega y amigo el Sr. Yoslyn, de Estados Unidos, quien dijo que ese importante país está dedicando recursos de emergencia y recursos financieros, e hizo un llamado del Sr. Yoslyn de los Estados Unidos a la comunidad internacional de donantes, llamado que este Consejo debe suscribir plenamente.
La declaración del colega de Libia nos impresionó porque compartimos la necesidad de que a toda esta buena voluntad, y a toda esta acción coherente, dinámica y positiva de la FAO, deben suministrarse los recursos necesarios. Por ello queremos hacer alguna observación sobre el apartado c) del párrafo 20. Allí se habla de 50 proyectos por 18 millones de dólares, etc. y al final se dice que las contribuciones de los donantes a la campaña de 1988 ascienden a 117 millones de dólares, pero tal vez convendría, esto lo digo con todo respeto ya que la Secretaría es la competente, que se hubiera estimulado una meta un cálculo aproximado de qué cantidad de recursos van a necesitarse por lo menos para 1989, porque esto también pudiera ser otro elemento de' incentivaclón para los donantes actuales y potenciales.
Los delegados de Colombia, Sr. Presidente, queremos sumamos al reconocimiento unánime que se hace a la FAO sobre su acción en este campo, la acción de la FAO aparece descrita a partir del párrafo 20. Pensamos también que la FAO tiene un papel clave y nos complace destacar el hecho de que en esta ocasión de manera muy adecuada, la televisión, los periódicos y muchos medios de información, han divulgado las informaciones de la FAO sobre esta plaga, de manera que ésta es otra contribución que consideramos igualmente importante.
Pensamos también, Sr. Presidente, que merece apoyo lo que ha dicho nuestra colega de Argelia sobre la necesidad de ofrecer la mayor asistencia posible al centro de Asistencia del Magreb y del Sahel.
Finalmente, en nombre del Gobierno de Colombia, me complace expresar nuestra plena solidaridad a los gobiernos de países hermanos del Tercer Mundo, que padecen este flagelo con nuestros deseos muy sinceros de que pronto desaparezca y sus economías se recuperen.
Yousef Ail Mahmoud HAMDI (Egypt)(ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ARABIC): Thank you very much, Mr. ChairmaN. I would like to congratulate Mr. Brader on his very clear introduction of this subject. It is a subject which causes a lot of apprehension in our part of the world. You have all seen the film that was shown to us, which showed quite clearly how terrible these swarms can be, and the damage they cause in certain countries. It was quite frightening to see how the scourge actually operates.
We are attacked: from the south and from the west, and in some parts the south and southwest, and also in the northwest of my country. We have quite substantial invasions on the part of the locusts and many of the countries in that part of Africa have been affected in spite of the very remarkable and meritorious efforts made by FAO and donor countries and many other organisations. In spite of all this, the countries affected are still suffering very much and they are still very much in a position of great danger because the danger is with us, very much so, and will go on for at least two years as Mr. Brader said in his statement; and we support the recommendations made therein and we support the FAO's efforts to give the best coordination of all activities and we insist that the center should be maintained, the ECLO, that is to say, to develop all the necessary campaigns and we would urge donor countries to keep up their levels of contributions for this activity until the danger is clearly passed so that we may destroy existing swarms and stop new swarms developing or new areas being infested; and we feel that cooperation is necessary and we are anxious to announce in this connection that we have very close cooperation with Sudan which is being developed further and further so that we may do away with the locust infestation in the breeding areas in our part of the world. And we should like to express our gratitude to FAO and all the organizations which are helping us to face this danger.
Dong QINGSONG (China) (original language Chinese): First of all I would like to thank the FAO Secretariat for having prepared a very detailed document, CL 94/2-Sup. 2. We wish also to thank Mr. Brader for his oral presentation to this agenda item and the videotape clearly indicates the seriousness of the African locust scourge.
Now I have a few remarks to make on this subject. First, since the end of 1985 locusts have been a scourge on the African continent and at present there is the danger of the further spreading of locusts and the affected area continues to expand. This has not only seriously devastated the food and agricultural production of the African countries but also inflicted great difficulties on the people's daily life. Second, in order to help Africa to fight locusts, FAO especially established in 1986, an emergency center of locust operations.In the past few years, FAO collected and analyzed the occurrence of locusts and issued warnings, coordinated assistance by the international community and the disaster relief activities of the affected countries. This Organization also made a great deal of effort in sponsoring necessary meetings and providing expert consultancy. Apart from mobilizing international funding, FAO has provided the affected countries with assistance through TCP. This is the undeniable evidence of the prompt support FAO offered to emergency situations. For all this we may be grateful to FAO and at the same time, we hope it will continue its activities in this regard and play its vital coordinating role.
Third, the Chinese people have always sympathized with the locust-inflicted African people. Over the past several years, in order to help them combat locusts, the Chinese Government provided pesticides and sprayers through multilateral and bilateral means. Although due to limited capacity, assistance has been modest, it represented its good will to join efforts with the African people in combating locusts, which promptly report the Council's proceedings to our Government as a basis for its further study of the locust situation in Africa.
Noboru SAITO (Japan): My delegation highly appreciates FAO's efforts in having tried to grasp the occurrence and disseminate the related information to the countries concerned and look to other international societies to cooperate and contribute to the control and prevention of desert locust infestation in response to FAO's efforts.
My country anticipates that the FAO will take the lead in such a field as the prevention of desert locust disasters and early-warning programmes, including cooperation with related research bodies on the longer term and that it will continue to coordinate the fund-finding and technical assistance. My country would like to continue to contribute such aid as trust funds for FAO, the donation of agricultural chemicals and so on as bilateral food production increased aid.
Benson MBOGOH (Kenya):Just before I speak may I please request the Chairman, if it is possible we had understood that the representative of DLCO, the Eastern Region, is available and whether it would be possible for him, either before or after I speak, to be requested kindly to give us an update of the position of the locust campaign in the East African Region.
LE PRESIDENT: A la fin des interventions de Messieurs les délégués et de Messieurs les observateurs, je pourrai demander au représentant de l’OLCP pour l'Afrique de l'Est de bien vouloir vous donner des explications complémentaires.
Benson MBOGOH (Kenya): My delegation would wish to pay tribute to FAO and through it to DLCO, the Eastern Region for a sterling job so far encompassed in fighting the menacing migratory pest in our part of the world and also to congratulate the Director of Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO for a very effective highlight of the precise position of the locust campaign so far.If it had not been for the massive resources mobilized early in the outbreak by FAO and the international community of donors, who have availed assistance in various forms, far greater damage might have been caused and for that matter much worse for the food security in the African region, given the current prospects.
Despite the successful efforts in control of this particular pest an apparent twist of fate has led to this massive invasion and further focus would seem to show that the scourge may continue for a long period into 1989 which is a depressing prospect indeed.
In view of the massive resources which are required to control the invasion, the great damage caused and the immediate grave consequences to food security it is pertinent to review carefully the current locust control strategies with a view to determining necessary improvements for ensuring more timely and effective locust intervention in future occurrences. First, the massive and quick spread of this problem experienced this year strongly suggests the need to strengthen the focussing, surveillance and reporting strategies, including the meteorological and focussing radio communication possibilities at the regional, subregional and national levels. This review should identify areas of immediate and long-term improvements in the generation of effective and timely focus on outbreaks.
Secondly, an efficient early-warning system has to be supported by an equally effective machinery and logistical and technical support for taking quick and decisive action in the event of an outbreak. A review, therefore, of this capability at both the national and regional levels is desirable to identify any present weaknesses and institute any necessary improvements.
Thirdly, long-term measures need to be taken to strengthen locust emergency control strategies and capabilities at ECLO, the regional centers and in member countries themselves, particularly in the following crucial areas; (i) the provision and maintenance of adequate stocks of appropriate pesticides, equipment and other necessary logistics in all locust prone areas; (ii) strengthening well-trained locust emergency control teams in these areas. Now these measures require a lot of international cooperation.
We also have to be aware of the existence of other factors responsible for the exacerbation of the locust control problems but are beyond technical solutions; for example, continued inaccessability to some locust breeding grounds is certainly bound to be seen as a compromise in the efforts so far being made in the control campaign.
Recognizing the greater dangers of unpreparedness in the face of such occurrences Kenya has taken strategic emergency measures, in the event of a major outbreak, of strengthening the personnel and the logistical support capability, including a stand-by aerial spray facility, a central coordinating task force and a full-scale national alert through the field of the central network of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Environment Natural Resources and Administration.
In these efforts, my delegation wishes to express full appreciation to the FAO and the international community of donors for their support, not only to Kenya, but also to our region as a whole.In this connection I fully support the delegate of Zambia in his appeal to FAO and the international community in providing support facilities necessary to counter this menace, especially in those areas like Kenya facing the imminent danger right now.
My delegation further wishes to express appreciation for the additional donation of some one million pounds sterling from the United Kingdom for this campaign.
Omer ZEYTINOGLU (Turquie): L'introduction de M. Brader était très claire et le film que l'on nous a présenté très impressionnant; d'ailleurs nous avions étudié avec inquiétude le document qui a été préparé par le Secrétariat; la FAO rend un service considérable en coordonnant les campagnes de lutte dans ce domaine.
Nous constatons avec satisfaction les activités du centre d'intervention; il semble que devant le progrès du mouvement des criquets il faudra élargir la dimension des campagnes, renforcer les moyens nécessaires à la lutte et surtout, ce qui est le plus important à notre avis, concentrer tous les efforts le moment venu là où le mal se manifeste.
Comme le Ministre de l'agriculture de mon pays l'a mentionné lors de la Conférence de la Région Européenne qui a eu lieu à Cracovie, la Turquie est prête à apporter sa contribution à la lutte contre ce fléau.
Mme Evelyne SENGSUWAN (France): Après avoir pris connaissance des excellents documents préparés par le Secrétariat et avoir écouté les interventions des pays concernés par ce fléau, la délégation française n'a pas besoin d'insister sur la gravité de la situation. Malgré l'importance des efforts déjà consentis, il est probable, hélas, que la lutte antiacridienne va nous mobiliser encore pendant plusieurs années.
La France participe activement à cet effort international et a mis à la disposition des pays concernés des spécialistes et des moyens matériels et financiers que je rappellerai brièvement. Cette équipe, le PRIFAS, qui appartient au CIRAD, est complètement mobilisée pour analyser en permanence l'évolution de la situation et proposer les mesures de lutte les plus efficaces. Des appareils terrestres et des insecticides ont été envoyés sur place; des avions et des hélicoptères sont loués pour le compte des pays concernés afin d'effectuer des épandages aériens d'insecticides; des crédits ont été dégagés pour financer en particulier l'installation d'une antenne à Niamey.
Au fur et à mesure que la situation s'aggravait, mon pays s'est efforcé d'accroître son effort financier: douze millions de francs en 1986, vingt millions de francs en 1987 et déjà trente-cinq millions de francs et sans doute plus en 1988.
Malgré tous les efforts de la communauté internationale, la situation s'aggrave. Il faut donc renforcer les moyens et surtout l'efficacité de la lutte. Je voudrais insister tout particulièrement sur ce point.
En ce qui concerne la lutte, l'expérience des deux dernières années montre à quel point la coordination des opérations est essentielle. La FAO joue en ce domaine un rôle de premier plan, et ma délégation tient à la féliciter. La France appuie fermement le rôle de coordination de la FAO et a l'intention de renforcer les moyens dont dispose l'organisation pour exercer cette mission.
Pour être plus efficace, il faut mettre plus délibérément l'accent sur la prévention; ceci entraîne toute une série d'actions auxquelles mon pays est très étroitement associé et qu'il convient de renforcer; je pense en particulier aux prévisions acridométéorologiques, aux communications, au renforcement des services nationaux de protection des végétaux.
Enfin, je voudrais insister sur l'importance de la recherche qui devrait être renforcée sur un certain nombre de thèmes prioritaires. Premièrement, la mise au point de modèles pour la prévision des populations de criquets pèlerins. Deuxièmement, les effets sur la faune et la flore des traitements d'insecticides. Troisièmement, l'acridométéorologie, c'est-à-dire l'apport de la météorologie à l'étude et aux conditions de vie et de déplacement des criquets. Quatrièmement, les nouvelles méthodes de lutte, y compris la lutte biologique. Cinquièmement, les produits acridicides et acridifuges.
Muhammad Saleem KHAN (Pakistan): We too feel deeply concerned by the grave situation created by the growing menace of locusts and the threat it is posing to the world food security situation at this delicate juncture of reduced world supplies such as we were discussing this morning. We thank the FAO for presenting the very lucid documents and the film to bring this grave situation to our notice. It is an irony of fate that after years of drought and failing crops our brother countries in the African region see their hopes of increased production in the wake of more rains dashed by the locust menace. We fully sympathise with them and we give them all possible moral and whatever modest support we can.
Many delegates have spoken here before me and the technical aspects have been thoroughly discussed. I would like to refer to the intervention of the delegate of Algeria who brought to the notice of the session the resolution of the African Regional Conference which we fully support. Similarly recently my country had the proud privilege of hosting the third OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development at Islamabad from 18 to 20 October 1988. A key issue of the debate during this conference remained the excessive proliferation of locusts despite hectic efforts of control by the FAO. The Conference therefore adopted a resolution voicing its concern over the situation which was impairing food security in the African region, and appealed to Member States in particular and the international community at large for generous contributions to the FAO Emergency Centre for Locust Operations to enable it to control the menace effectively. My own country is already doing its best within its modest means towards this end. But I take this opportunity to bring this appeal to the notice of other member countries of the international community.
Finally, we cannot refrain from commending the FAO Emergency Centre for Locust Operations on its untiring efforts in the combat against desert locusts despite tremendous pressures and financial stringencies. We wish it to continue these efforts and hope that they will be accorded support by the Member States.
Winston RUDDER (Trinidad and Tobago): My congratulations to the Secretariat on the presentation we had at the beginning of this particular item.
The spectre of the plague, which was visually presented at the beginning of this item, serves to eliminate completely from my mind whatever trepidations or apprehensions I might have had for intervening on this particular subject. As you know, the Caribbean countries traditionally have had no experience in dealing with the desert locust. However, my delegation finds it necessary to intervene in order to dramatize the importance of concerted, continued and expanded support to the current work on locust control. We are particularly concerned over the recent westward migration of desert locusts. As you know, we already are exposed to the vagaries of the weather as evidenced by the hurricane season which attends us every year. However, we are relatively unprepared both psychologically and technically, and very much inexperienced, to deal with this new phenomenon which visited our shores earlier this year. In this regard, we are particularly concerned to note in Conference document 94/2 Sup. 2 the observation about the extraordinary fitness of the locust as demonstrated by its capability to reach from Africa to the Caribbean. Fortunately, my own country, because of sporadic breaks in the indigenous species of locusts over recent years, had sought and received technical assistance and training and allied support of the FAO. For this we are extremely grateful. Indeed, the benefit of this exposure by two of our scientists has served to assist us in dealing in a systematic manner in coordination with mutilateral technical assistance agencies, including the FAO, in closely monitoring the pattern of this recent invasion in the Caribbean.
While as indicated in the document some chemical and natural control measures have reduced the initial populations, I have to report - and this is intimated in the document - that within the last 2 1/2 weeks, new invasions have been reported or at least observed. This has served to jolt many of us out of complacency in dealing with this most serious pest. Our scientists and technicians within the region remain vigilant and in close contact with the FAO representatives in the area.Indeed, we must record our appreciation at the speed with which the Organization responded when evidence of the first swarms came to notice and help was sought. In updating the Council on this matter, my delegation reiterates its concern on behalf of all Member States of the eastern Caribbean region. It wishes to advise that given current foreign exchange stringency attending most of our economies, we are extremely vulnerable to the possibility of the locust entrenching itself within our islands and expanding its range within the region. Accordingly, it would be necessary to tap assistance in terms of appropriate chemicals and equipment to avoid widespread expansion in the region.
Moreover, further technical assistance will be required to enhance our capability to monitor and survey to ensure that the locust does not spread.
I conclude by joining with my colleagues from the other countries, more affected than we are, in calling for continued international cooperation in this effort against the terrible plague.
(Amadou S. TAAL) (Gambia): First of all, the Gambian delegation would want to put on record the local situation in the Gambia and to make a proposal on what measures should be taken in order to combat the locust invasion. In the first place, we wish to thank Mr. Brader for the presentation he has just made. We wish also to seize this opportunity to thank the FAO for the vital coordinating role it has been playing in our efforts to control the invasion of the desert locust.
At the same time we wish to thank our traditional donors for the assistance that they have given in this regard.
In the first place, it is important to note that the form and magnitude of locust invasion in the Gambia is the first of its kind for about forty years. Thanks to the assistance of the donor community in the past two or three years we have been trying to fight against the invasion of grasshoppers. The type of invasion we are now experiencing is quite new to us and we do not have sufficient experience in dealing with locust invasion. The magnitude of the problem is so grave that the future agricultural development in the Gambia is at stake in the sense that the farmers enthusiasm to grow more food will be dampened if this invasion continues. We are completely invaded by locusts. The eggs that were laid in the past weeks are now hatching, and the small hoppers that have just hatched are devastating crops and vegetation.
We are told that the kind of problem we are now facing will continue for the next two or three years. If that is so, then we will be in grave difficulty. Certainly the efforts of the farmers are laudable at this stage but they also need assistance. We believe that there is a need for a concerted effort at the sub-regional level because we believe that the problem is not just a national one, it is a regional problem. Therefore, there is need for greater effort on the part of rural communities.
Some of our farmers believe that given the nature of the problem the best solution at this stage is to destroy the eggs that are laid in the ground by lighting fires. Of course, we know that that is not the best approach. However, our forest cover at this stage is at risk in the sense that if farmers burn the grass then we will lose the entire forest cover. We are continuing with some irrigation campaigns so that fanners will be told the best approach. We believe that apart from the efforts being made by farmers, and at national level, there is a great and urgent need to mobilize more forces at sub-regional level.
We wish to make a proposal at this stage, namely, that we establish a special fund supported by the entire donor community. The special fund would be geared towards solving this colossal problem. If it is established now it will be assisting our farmers. If it is left we will be devastated by locusts. I believe that the will is with us. We have the interests of our farmers at heart and this will reinforce us to establish such a fund.
Glan Luigi VALENZA (Italie): Monsieur le President, je voudrais m'associer avant tout aux félicitations exprimées par votre délégation à propos du document présenté par le Secrétariat et des efforts déployés par le Directeur général à ce sujet.
L'Italie ne manque pas de partager la préoccupation de la communauté internationale dans son ensemble devant ce fléau qui ne connaît pas de limites, qui ignore les frontières et qui réclame la plus vive attention et le plus grand effort commun si l'on veut trouver une solution durable à ce problème historique.
L'Italie sait d'autre part gré à la FAO pour le rôle compétent et efficace qu'elle joue dans cet important secteur de la lutte de l'humanité contre la faim et la malnutrition et désire encore une fois renouveler l'assurance de son engagment et de son effort les plus entiers pour que ce fléau puisse un jour disparaître de la surface du globe et même, j'ose espérer, des souvenirs des peuples.
Dans cet effort, l'Italie est donc engagée sur le plan opérationnel et institutionnel et, en ce qui concerne plus particulièrement la FAO, elle a déjà fait savoir qu'elle était disposée à participer au Programme régional de l'Organisation. Le déracinement de ce fléau est donc le but auquel on ne peut pas renoncer. Mais il est bien entendu nécessaire de faire face d'une façon adéquate aux situations d'urgence au fur et à mesure qu'elles émergent. A cet égard et dans la ligne de participation, l'Italie a dernièrement approuvé sur le plan bilatéral des interventions en faveur du Tchad et du Soudan prévoyant l'envoi d'hélicoptères et de pesticides ainsi qu'une assistance adéquate. Sur le plan multilatéral, pour les mêmes territoires, un support logistique et d'organisation a été prévu ainsi que l'envoi en Ethiopie d'un hélicoptère, de pesticides et de toute l'assistance technique nécessaire. L'effort italien pour cette intervention spécifique sera de l'ordre de 3 millions de dollars.
Avant de terminer, je voudrais particulièrement remercier la délégation algérienne des paroles qu'elle a bien voulu prononcer en faveur de l'Italie et je ne manquerai pas de transmettre ce message à mes autorités.
(Ibranima ΚΑΒΑ) (Guinée): Avec le film dont les scènes horrifiantes nous ont ulcérés et l'exposé édifiant de l’eminent spécialiste qu'est M. Brader sur la situation acridienne, l'étendue et la gravité de l'invasion sont suffisamment illustrées.
La délégation guinéenne ne peut que s'inquiéter et appuyer fermement les appels présentés par les populations sinistrées pour que la coordination de la lutte s'intensifie. Selon les renseignements reçus, mon pays, la Guinée, se trouve menacé par ce fléau. Aussi, grâce à l'assistance da la FAO et des aides bilatérales parmi lesquelles celle remarquable du Japon, des mesures énergiques sont mises en place tout le long de nos frontières avec le Mali, le Sénégal et la Guinée-Bissau.
Nous apprécions et encourageons les activités d'information et de diffusion technique de la FAO sur l'évolution de la situation. Cela est très important pour nos pays démunis de moyens d'identification et de dépistage.
Enfin, la délégation guinéenne, à son tour, rappelle la résolution pertinente adoptée à Maurice par la 15ème Conférence régionale pour l'Afrique et notre délégation demande que notre session fasse sienne cette importante résolution.
Douramane MOUSSA (Niger): Une fois de plus, la délégation nigérienne tient à remercier et à féliciter le Directeur général de la FAO et ses collaborateurs pour la qualité des documents mis à notre disposition, notamment sur la situation acridienne en 1988 et les perspectives pour 1989.
Pour ma part, je vais à titre indicatif m'appesantir sur la situation acridienne de mon pays, le Niger.
A cheval entre la zone sahélienne et la zone saharienne, le Niger, avec le massif de l'Air et le Tamesna, constitue à la fois le couloir de passage traditionnel et de reproduction du criquet pèlerin.
En effet, pour la sous-région, les massifs de l'Aïr au Niger, ceux de l’Adrar des Iforas au Mali, du Tibesti au Tchad constituent, avec le massif du Maghreb s'étalant du Maroc en Algérie, les zones de reproduction complémentaires du criquet pèlerin, reproduction estivale au sud du Sahara et printanière au nord. Le fait marquant de l'invasion acridienne au Niger au cours de l'année 1988 est qu'il y a eu en premier lieu une pression constante sur la zone de culture qui n'a été épargnée que de justesse du fait de l'importance du pâturage, et d'autre part deux générations du criquet pèlerin, la première dans la zone pastorale et la seconde dans le massif de l'Aїr et de Tamesna.
Depuis le mois d'octobre des vols constants des essaims de criquet venant du Soudan via le Tchad traversent le pays en direction de l'Afrique du Nord, via le Mali, le Sénégal, la Mauritanie. Nos cultures d'été ont été certes à l'abri du fléau mais il est à craindre un retour précipité de ces criquets en début de saison sèche (mars-avril) qui peut constituer un danger pour les cultures des aménagements hydro-agricoles.
Au cours de cette campagne, 800 mille hectares, sur environ 2 millions d'hectares infestés, ont fait l'objet de traitements mécaniques par l'utilisation de tranchées et de traitements chimiques par l'utilisation de véhicules équipés et des avions. Les populations concernées ont été mobilisées en brigades villageoises, pour participer avec des équipements légers à cette lutte anti-acridienne,
Je voudrais saisir l'occasion qui m'est offerte pour saluer, au nom du Niger, les pays amis, les organisations et institutions internationales, pour les appuis financiers, matériels et techniques mis à notre disposition et qui ont permis de lutter efficacement contre le danger du criquet pèlerin et de sauvegarder nos récoltes, mettant ainsi à l'abri de la disette et de la faim les populations.
Je salue la FAO qui, malgré la crise financière qu'elle connaît, a su mobiliser les partenaires pour mettre au point d'une part un mécanisme de concertation et d'information, en accord avec les Etats abritant les zones grégariennes, et d'autre part un système d'intervention régional en appui aux efforts nationaux.
Il ressort de l'analyse sur la situation acridienne en 1988 que le criquet pèlerin, en débordant de ses zones traditionnelles pour atteindre les côtes du Caraïbe et de l'Europe, a fini par lancer un grand défi à l'humanité tout entière et, loin d'être localisé, ce fléau est devenu planétaire.
C'est pour cette raison que le Niger attache une importance particulière à la déclaration de Fez d'octobre dernier qui demande de mettre sur pied, sous l'égide de l'ONU, des "bérets verts" pour combattre et mettre fin au danger acridien.
Cette lutte contre le criquet pèlerin nécessite le renforcement des services nationaux de protection des végétaux des zones de rémission très bien connues afin d'assurer un contrôle et une surveillance soutenus, une circulation fluide de l'information et une intervention diligente pour étouffer le mal dans l'oeuf, la sensibilisation, la formation et l'organisation des producteurs ruraux en brigades de base d'intervention avec des moyens qu'ils peuvent maîtriser, la restauration des infrastructures rurales, aérodromes et magasins de stockage des produits, la mise en place des produits et des équipements appropriés en cas d'invasion dans les zones susceptibles de l'être.
Enfin cette lutte anti-acridienne nécessite aussi le renforcement des institutions régionales et internationales qui ont la charge de mettre en oeuvre des mécanismes d'alerte, de coordination de lutte et de circulation de l'information sur les criquets pèlerins.
Dans cette lutte sans merci contre le criquet pèlerin qui engage désormais toute la communauté internationale, il s'agira de mobiliser tous les moyens pour contenir et anéantir dans les zones de reproduction et grégariennes ce fléau.
Taghi SHAMEKHI (Iran, République Islamique d'): Je voudrais tout d'abord remercier la FAO et son Directeur général qui a répondu positivement à la demande dans le domaine matériel et financier de la République islamique d'Iran concernant la lutte contre le criquet pèlerin, qui a attaqué dernièrement le Sud et le Sud-Ouest de notre pays pour la première fois depuis plus de 20 ans.
Vous avez été certainement tenus au courant de la Conférence régionale sur le criquet pèlerin qui a eu lieu à Téhéran au début de ce mois de novembre. Cette Conférence a présenté des propositions concrètes sur ce problème qui pourront compléter le document CL 94/2 Sup. 2, en particulier le paragraphe 25.
Nous proposons en effet de rendre nécessaire une lutte à l'échelon régional et international pour maîtriser ce fléau. La FAO peut s'emparer de cette tâche en tant qu'institution internationale directement concernée dans l'organisation d'un système efficace de lutte pour enrayer les dégâts.
Les criquets pèlerins sont arrivés dernièrement en Iran sur un front de quelques centaines de kilomètres. Pour le moment les dégâts ne sont pas grands, mais nous attendons un mouvement plus vaste dans les 2 ou 3 mois à venir. Notre Gouvernement a mobilisé les moyens nécessaires à la lutte. Nous avons une bonne expérience dans ce domaine et nous espérons, avec l'aide de la FAO, organiser un combat décisif contre ce fléau.
V.K. SIBAL (India): In the first instance I would like to thank Mr. Brader for a very clear presentation of this very serious problem. The document which we have before us is very sober, well analysed and at the same time very disturbing in its implications. We have had some vivid indications through the video of the dimensions of the present plague. The last one lasted for 13 years. We hope that the affected national governments, donors and FAO will be able to concert together the will and the resources and to reduce the dimensions and the duration of this one even below the two or three years envisaged now.
The effective measures taken in July 1988 in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt referred to in paragraph 3 of the document and in the countries from Mauritania to Yemen referred to in paragraph 5 give us some confidence in the availability and the effectiveness of the skills required. These skills would however undoubtedly need to be stretched, improved and extended and backed by the requisite resources if the locust plague is to be countered with any significant success.
The outlook for 1988/89 is disturbing, although we recognize that the actual shape of things will be affected substantially by the weather and the effectiveness of the control operations. In this context the control operations in Maghreb and the Near East are crucial and efforts have to be focussed there if the situation is to be contained. The daunting scenario painted in paragraph 18 of the document seems to be actualizing even earlier than anticipated. We hope that the measures that can be taken will assist in containing the damage threatened by the plague.
We agree with the conclusions in paragraph 19 of the paper on the responsibilities of the affected and threatened governments to mobilize all resources to meet the locust menace.
The Indian delegation would like to compliment ECLO on the extremely valuable work done by it on locust control. We find that a plan of action which would cost about US dollars 240 million has been developed by FAO to meet the locust plague. We would like to know the latest position in respect of this plan, particularly its financing and time-frame. Is it the same plan as referred to in paragraph 21 of the document? It would be useful to know the progress made so far in the development and financing of this plan and its basic strategies. The research efforts launched to improve the efficiency of the control efforts and to limit the use of pesticides need to be accorded a high priority considering the seriousness and the chances of future recurrence of the locust menace. We agree with the suggestion made by the delegate of the United Kingdom regarding the monthly report on pledges, funds, etc.
In the end, I would like to thank you again for giving us an opportunity to express our views on this important subject.
Washington ZUÑIGA TRELLES (Peru): El enorme interés que está ocasionando este aspecto de nuestros debates, o sea, la lucha contra la langosta, está demostrando el peligro que existe no solo para la agricultura africana, sino para todo el mundo. Existe también la conciencia plena del esfuerzo de la FAO que, a pesar de sus limitados recursos, está haciendo un esfuerzo por controlar esta plaga.
Así como también la actitud generosa de los donantes, quienes desean ver desaparecer esta plaga de nuestro planeta. El peligro parece extenderse no solo al Africa, como he dicho, sino a otros continentes, entre ellos América Latina.
El informe señala que ha llegado esta plaga hasta Suriname; o sea, que ha tocado las costas sudamericanas. El peligro no solo significaría peligro para la agricultura, sino también para los bosques tropicales. No olvidemos que la langosta es un insecto tan voraz que consume diariamente varias veces su propio peso. Además, el informe nos señala que, al haber atravesado el océano, más o menos en 120 horas para llegar al Caribe, está demostrando que también es un animal que puede vivir varios días sin comer y tiene una resistencia tremenda. Por lo general, se ha concebido que un insecto cuando emigra a otro medio que no es el propio, a veces no tarda en adaptarse, y ése es el peligro de que pueda radicarse en otros países, además del Africa.
Recordarán algunos de ustedes un informe científico en el que se demostraba que si en el mundo desaparecieran todas las especies por un cataclismo, solamente iban a sobrevivir los insectos. Esto me induce a tocar un tema sobre el cual quisiera insistir, quizás por mi profesión: yo soy ingeniero agrónomo. Me refiero a la necesidad de incrementar la investigación. La experiencia mundial en la lucha contra los insectos ha demostrado que haciendo investigación científica, por diversos medios se ha llegado a controlar casi todas las plagas en el mundo, excepto la langosta. Quizás iniciando investigaciones, como se señala en uno de los informes que la FAO nos ha hecho llegar, quizás mediante la aplicación del control biológico; quizás inoculando enfermedades que puedan afectar y trasmitirse entre la langosta; quizás el uso de machos estériles o el empleo de isótopos radioactivos, u otros medios sofisticados que emplea ahora la ciencia. No sé, yo no tengo experiencia sobre esto; he estudiado algunas bases de la entomología, no es mi especialidad, pero sí se que la literatura entomológica es rica en el mundo que describen de cómo se han llegado a dominar diversas plagas diversos métodos ingeniosos.
Yo quisiera hacer una sugerencia. Los países desarrollados no han sufrido, por lo general, ataques de langostas y por ello no han hecho, seguramente, investigación sobre estas plagas, pero tienen una tecnología básica que debe ser aprovechada. Además de eso, tienen laboratorios y otras infraestructuras científicas. Habría que pedir la colaboración de estos organismos entomológicos mundiales, para que se concentren -no sé si en Africa o en el sitio que ellos juzguen conveniente-, para instalar laboratorios especiales en donde puedan hacer un investigaciones intensivas sobre la forma de hacer un control de estas plagas; no sólo por medios químicos, sino por otros medios sofisticados que la ciencia ya ha desarrollado en diversos campos de la lucha contra los insectos y depredadores. Me permito también sugerir que en estas conferencias y en otras en que se trate sobre langostas, deben participar organizaciones entomológicas mundiales. No sé si la FAO ha tenido en cuenta este hecho. Mi Delegación estaría intresada en saber si se ha invitado a estas organizaciones cuál es su opinión, desde el punto de vista científico, para lograr los éxitos que mi Delegación y todos deseamos para la desaparición definitiva de esta plaga bíblica.
Real LALANDE (Canada): Je crois que l'envergure de l’infestation a déjà été bien décrite par M. Brader dans sa présentation et par certains intervenants. Je ne désire donc pas intervenir sur ce point·
Mon intervention vise tout d'abord à indiquer que la délégation canadienne désire souligner le rôle central et caractéristique de la FAO dans la coordination des efforts internationaux dans la lutte contre le criquet pèlerin, en Afrique et dans d'autres réglons qui sont malheureusement affectées ou seront affectées, selon les prévisions que l'on nous présente dans le document.
Nous désirons donc inviter la FAO à mettre en oeuvre tous les moyens dont elle dispose pour remplir ce rôle de coordination souhaité par la plupart des intervenants jusqu'à maintenant. Le Canada, quant à lui, a maintenu d'étroits contacts avec le Centre d'urgence de lutte contre les acridiens de la FAO et avec l'équipe de M. Brader. J'aimerais souligner le dévouement et les efforts que cette équipe a démontrés dans un environnement de travail qui n'était pas toujours facile dans la situation actuelle. Je désire donc indiquer que le Canada continuera les efforts qu'il a déjà déployés en coopération avec différents pays africains, et nous chercherons a coordonner ces efforts avec l'ensemble des pays impliqués, avec les différents donateurs, mais évidemment aussi avec les pays bénéficiaires, dans le but de renforcer, tel que cela a été souhaité, l'efficacité de la lutte menée jusqu'à maintenant.
Sra. Mónica DEREGIBUS (Argentina): Brevemente, Sr. Presidente, permítanos expresar, en primer lugar, la preocupación y la solidaridad del Gobierno y del pueblo argentino con los países afectados por el problema de la langosta. En segundo lugar, nuestro aprecio a la Secretaría y especialmente al Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia contra la Langosta, por la tarea ya realizada y por el Programa de Labores para 1989.
Quisiéramos destacar, especialmente la importancia que nuestro país concede a la FAO en la función de investigación, prevención, intercambio de información, transferencias de tecnología, apoyo logístico y coordinación de esfuerzos para erradicar éste y otros flagelos de la naturaleza. En este contexto, permítanos, Sr. Presidente, expresar nuestro apoyo a las sugerencias de acción formuladas por las distinguidas delegaciones de Kenya, Argelia y Francia.
Esta ocasión es oportuna para dejar en actas constancia del convencimiento de nuestro país de que el rol de la FAO, en éste como en otros campos del desarrollo agrícola y rural, resulta insustituible por cualquier otro mecanismo; y que, una vez más, comprobamos que es en interés de toda la comunidad internacional el que se provea a la FAO de los medios necesarios para poder continuar cumpliendo eficazmente su labor.
Masuhla LETEKA (Lesotho): We wish to join other delegations in commending the Secretariat for the job well done, and also the excellent presentation by Mr. Brader, which highlighted the present campaign and future outlook of this threat. Although we have never been exposed to the threat in Lesotho, we feel obliged to register our grave concern over the devastating effects of this menace. Whilst we are discussing problems of developing countries within the framework of food security and the state of agriculture, stagnation of the economy, reduction of their per capita income, soaring debts, the environmental and other natural calamities, we are at the same time confronted with a threat more serious than ever.
Structural change is in itself an expensive exercise. It has many considerations, among which are policy considerations, financing and the political will of the government and nationals of the most unfortunate regions of the developing world. As third world countries join the band-wagon of adjustment,they at the same time have to do so faced with another menace, that of locusts. The infestation of this desert locust, as it were, has unavoidably become an awesome factor in affected areas of the Sahara, North-West and Eastern Africa. The list is long. This means resources which could be positively deployed and invested in the agricultural sectors, of necessity have to be diverted to the control operations, formulation of appropriate policies and strategies and their financing, together with the environmental implications of this plague.
Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of these countries. Grave food supply difficulties have evidently been compounded, as it were, by the widespread threat of heavy crop losses from locust infestations. It becomes ever difficult for these areas, therefore, to feed their majority poor and to assure them of food security under such conditions.
The threat to cereal crops in itself justifies the foregoing conclusion that in the speedy assistance by donor countries, logistical support by FAO would go a long way in relieving these areas of this annual threat, the result of which is evident to us all. We have considered the conclusions of the experts at the June 1988 Session of the Desert Locust Control Committee at FAO and can only hope that by herculean efforts something could be done.
Once again the direct supervision of FAO, in co-ordination with the National Control Unit and the Regional Control Organization, are commendable moves. At the same time, the move of donors in leading to and contributing to the reversal of the situation financially and materially cannot be overemphasized. It is a good sign and an honest spirit of international co-operation towards guaranteeing and improving the state of world agriculture.We hope more would be added.
We cannot conclude our intervention without stressing the important role that national and regional systems could play, especially in areas where this threat has not yet shown itself.We realise the difficulties caused by lack of trade personnel, information exchange channels, limited research, limited equipment and suitable pesticides in the course of combating and arresting this threat. We hail the move to create an international task force for this purpose and the co-ordinating role that FAO plays in this field.
The donor meetings to show improved control measures of this plague are appreciated, and implementation of their resolutions and actions thereon could ensure all concerned of a brighter future. We support any resolution which alms at ensuring the elimination of this plague from the face of the earth.
Gamal Mohamed AHMED (Observer of Sudan)(original language Arabic): Allow me to extend on behalf of my delegation my thanks to the Secretariat for the document CL 94/2 Supplement 2, which is of high quality and an excellent presentation of a serious danger threatening countries in the African and Asian area. I would like to join previous speakers in extending my thanks to Dr. Brader for his
excellent presentation of this document, in addition to the video film which highlights this plight, hoping that we shall benefit in establishing sound foundations, and strategies for the control of this dangerous pest.
The Sudan suffered a ferocious invasion of desert locust in its summer reproduction habitat over an area of 5 million hectares. The Sudan could, with the assistance of FAO, and donor countries, reasonably contain the infestations so as to protect its food crops. Since the area treated represents 25% of the total area of 5 million hectares, remaining locust swarms infiltrated into the winter reproduction habitat, especially those of the Red Sea and North-West Africa.
There are currently in the Sudan various locust swarms and egg and hatching fields. The Red Sea area forecasts indicate that climatic conditions are favourable to intense desert locust reproduction of unprecedented levels. It is clear, that the Red Sea area in the Sudan, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen is a focal outbreak area that threatens African states and Middle East countries. The outbreak may spread to Asia and Central Africa, thus constituting a menace to all these developing countries as far as their food security and economies are concerned. In view of the severe economic conditions of the Sudan, which render the country unable to counter this imminent danger, despite the technical assistance extended by FAO and other UN Agencies, and the friendly donor countries, we feel duty bound to indicate that this danger may result in a catastrophe threatening all the developing countries referred to earlier.
Therefore, we formulated two plans based on two scenarios. The first, the Sudan with its present resources and the current traditional assistance of donors, can contain the infestation over an area of half a million hectares only to protect its food crops in the Red Sea area. We shall not be able, however, to protect neighbouring countries in addition to protecting the central and western areas of the Sudan. Secondly, the Sudan, with the generous help of donors, and through co-ordination with FAO, contains an additional area of about one half a million hectares.Hence, we shall be able to effectively check this plight threatening Third World countries in Africa and the Near East for over a decade.This would cost about twelve million dollars, as experts estimate.
We are confident that your august Council, in its customary exemplary spirit of co-operation and keen interest in the concerns of developing countries and in line with the general orientation of FAO in assisting poor developing countries in their continual endeavour in raising their developmental capabilities through agriculture and provision of food security, shall adopt recommendations in support of the first Conference held in Morocco to this end. We are also confident that FAO and donor countries, who assisted us during our plight, will continue their unflinching support so as to expand control operations according to the strategy just outlined. This will enable the Sudan, other affected countries and potential victims to ward off this threat, and break this vicious circle within the framework of true environmental control in order to keep an environmental balance.
In conclusion, I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to FAO for the efforts extended and still extending in the control operations, and our thanks and appreciation to donor countries who have assisted us in controlling this plight. We were delighted when we heard interventions by some donor countries talk this afternoon that they follow closely with interest this plight and will consider FAO as a co-ordinator and a focal point of controlled operations through assistance and the strategies agreed upon.
Mohamed ABDELHADI (Observateur de la Tunisie) (langue originale arabe): La délégation tunisienne apprécie l'initiative du Conseil pour la tenue d'une réunion spéciale sur le fléau acridien; le Directeur général, dans son introduction, a souligné l'importance accordée par la FAO à la lutte contre ce fléau et nous sommes en plein accord avec lui quant à la nécessité de poursuivre les activités qui s'imposent pour assurer le matériel et les besoins indispensables pour cette lutte.
Le Directeur général a fait mention du fait que le matériel utile pour une telle campagne contre les criquets est évalué à près de 240 millions de dollars; c'est une somme extrêmement importante et nous estimons que tous les efforts doivent être conjugués dans cette direction ainsi que pour consolider les programmes de la FAO pour la lutte acridienne.
A ce sujet, nous espérons que la crise financière de la FAO n'affectera pas les efforts déployés par cette organisation dans le domaine de la lutte acridienne et que les pays donateurs poursuivront et augmenteront l'aide accordée à la FAO et aux pays bénéficiaires pour poursuivre la lutte avec la plus grande efficacité.
Nous avons écouté l'exposé tout à fait clair et exhaustif de M. Brader sur ce fléau effroyable; nous avons également assisté à la projection du film qui nous a donné une idée exacte de son étendue; et nous tenons à saisir cette occasion pour le remercier et rendre hommage au centre de la FAO pour les efforts et les activités qu'il déploie et que nous connaissons tous; en effet, les contacts avec M. Brader sont quotidiens sur ce sujet de l'évolution de ce fléau, et sur la nécessité de coordonner les efforts des pays intéressés et ceux des pays donateurs.
Les pays du Maghreb arabe ont déployé une activité intense en vue d'une coordination aux niveaux gouvernementaux, techniques et régionaux, et le gouvernement tunisien accorde une importance toute particulière à ce sujet. En effet, il a pris toutes les mesures nécessaires pour faire face à la situation et pour aider la FAO.
Je saisis cette occasion pour exprimer nos remerciements et notre gratitude à toutes ces organisations et à tous ces pays donateurs; de nombreuses réunions ont été tenues au niveau du Maghreb arabe (Tunisie, Algérie, Maroc, Libye), réunions qui ont été mentionnées par la représentants de l'Algérie et de la Libye. Au cours de ces réunions, il a été décidé de créer un fonds spécial, avec l'aide de la FAO, fonds qui sera alimenté par les pays intéressés et par les pays donateurs.
Dans ce cadre, nous estimons qu'il faudra adopter une stratégie totale et qu'il faudra veiller à ce que les pays bénéficiaires ou les pays atteints par ce fléau ne soient pas les seuls intéressés; en effet, d'autres régions sont touchées directement ou indirectement et nous estimons qu'une intensification et une coordination de la coopération, grâce à la FAO, sont nécessaires pour tous.
Nous ne pouvons qu'exhorter tous les pays nantis, toutes les organisations et tous les pays donateurs à aider les pays intéressés et à leur fournir le matériel, les instruments et les insecticides nécessaires, ainsi que le financement pour le fonds commun du Maghreb arabe; c'est ainsi qu'ils aideront les pays africains atteints par ce fléau; il faut aussi consolider le centre ECLO dépendant de la FAO, et qui joue un rôle important dans cette lutte acridienne, en coordonnant les efforts des pays intéressés et ceux des pays donateurs.
Nous attendons les résultats des recherches mentionnées par M. Brader; nous voudrions qu'il nous dise si elles ont effectivement été initiées, quand elles seront terminées, car le document, dans son paragraphe 21, est très bref sur cette question, qui a été soulevée par de nombreux collègues dont les représentants de l'Inde et du Pérou.
Serait-il également possible à M. Brader de nous donner certaines informations sur le fonds commun pour les pays du Maghreb arabe car la FAO essaie d'alimenter ce fonds qui en est actuellement au stade de l’exécution pratique?
Assane FALL (Observateur de Sénégal): Je voudrais m'associer à tous ceux qui sont intervenus pour remercier le Secrétariat ainsi que M. Brader pour la présentation très claire et très détaillée qui a été faite du péril acridien. Les différents intervenants ont décrit le phénomène mais je me demande si l'on peut le dépeindre dans toute son ampleur.
La sécurité alimentaire est menacée et nous sommes tentés d'aller plus loin en disant que c'est la vie même des hommes qui est menacée. Au Sénégal, nous avons vu des villages entiers envahis, des populations chassées de leurs maisons, des puits infestés. Dans une ville du centre, la semaine dernière, des trains ont été bloqués pendant des heures, des lycées fermés, de nombreuses activités quotidiennes paralysées. Il s'agit donc d'un phénomène très difficile à qualifier et dont l'ampleur est difficile à montrer. Je crois qu'il faut vivre cette réalité pour la comprendre.
C'est pourquoi, avant même d'être envahi, le Sénégal a appuyé toutes les initiatives qui ont été prises dans ce domaine. Il a appuyé la résolution que la déléguée de l'Algérie vient de rappeler. Il a rappelé la résolution de la 3ème Conférence islamique sur la sécurité alimentaire à Islamabad. Il s'est associé à l'appel de Fez. Il appuie fortement toutes les initiatives prises par la FAO et par son unité régionale de coordination. Nous nous félicitons donc de toutes les actions entreprises et nous nous associons à tous les pays qui ont lancé un appel en faveur du renforcement des movens de la FAO pour mener efficacement cette lutte car nous avons pu constater que, malgré les moyens mis en oeuvre pour barrer la route à ce fléau et mener une lutte préventive efficace, le mal s'est installé.
Bien sûr, de nombreux pays africains ont reçu l'aide et l'assistance des pays plus nantis et nous apprécions tous cette manisfestation de solidarité. Nous signalerons seulement peut-être non pas une insuffisance mais une certaine lenteur dans les réactions. Les secours d'urgence sont une bonne chose mais nous pensons qu'il faut mettre l'accent sur la prévention. Mettre l'accent sur la
prevention, cela veut dire renforcer les moyens d'intervention d'urgence - j'allais dire de première intervention - des pays qui sont menacés pour leur permettre de résister ne serait-ce qu'un laps de temps en attendant que tous les mécanismes puissent être mis en place.
J'ai parlé des initiatives du Sénégal au niveau des conférences internationales, au sein des organisations internationales, régionales ou sous-régionales et même d'autres initiatives entre voisins. Le ministre de la Gambie vient de lancer un appel et, justement, le Sénégal, conjointement avec la Gambie, a formé un comité de lutte. La même action a été réalisée avec la Guinée-Bissau. Le Sénégal collabore étroitement avec la Mauritanie et tous ses voisins.
Je crois que c'est le délégué de la Turquie qui a dit qu'il faut attaquer le mal là où il se trouve. C'est là une suggestion très pertinente parce que - on l'a dit aussi - le phénomène n'a pas de frontières et le criquet pèlerin peut naître dans un pays et aller infester un autre pays. La lutte contre ce fléau doit donc susciter toute la solidarité humaine. Personnellement, nous avons mobilisé tous nos moyens, nous nous sommes appuyés sur les populations, nous les avons organisées, nous avons mobilisé les services de tous les ministères, y compris l'armée. Mais le mal est là et nos populations sont dans le désarroi le plus total et ne comprennent pas qu'un tel fléau s'abatte sur elles. Il est vrai que, malgré les dégâts, une bonne partie des cultures a pu être sauvée in extremis, mais nous nous interrogeons, pour l'avenir très proche, au sujet des cultures maraîchères qui sont une source appréciable de revenus pour les ruraux, et des cultures irriguées dans des régions où des investissements énormes ont été réalisés avec l'édification des barrages de Manantali et Diama dont l'exploitation risque d'être anéantie par ce fléau.
Je ne voudrais pas m'étendre davantage sur cette question qui a été abondamment commentée car je crois que le Conseil a été suffisamment sensibilisé à ce sujet et nous avons l'espoir que la communauté mondiale tout entière donnera l'appui voulu pour, si c'est encore possible, juguler ce fléau qui est considéré par notre population comme une fatalité.
LE PRESIDENT: Permettez-moi de demander au reste des délégués qui vont prendre la parole de bien vouloir tenir compte de notre contrainte de temps car, comme vous le savez, nous allons prolonger la séance jusqu'à 20 heures avec le point relatif à la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
McDonald P. BENJAMIN (Observer for Dominica): I doubt that there was any need for that warning, because I had intended to be extremely brief in this intervention.
A few months ago I got a newspaper from my country, and when I looked at the front page I could not believe it. There was a picture of a locust in Dominica. I said to myself, "Somebody must have smuggled this in through the airport, or whatever it is, to photograph this" because I could not figure how a locust could get to Dominica, Saint Lucia and so on. However, this extremely well-written document here has information of a very basic nature. The most significant part of this paper to my delegation is the dramatic change that has occurred between 1963 and 1988 in the maximum duration of flight which has doubled from 60 hours in that first period; now these pests can be airborne for up to some 120 hours. I hate to do the projection, but if one were to project that rate of change by the year 2010 these locusts would be travelling up to 250 hrs in the air. This has very serious implications for the question of the spread of this bug, or however we might call it. What we are pleased about is the very big response of FAO on this matter, and this is very well expressed. Operations were mounted immediately with the object of preventing the desert locust from becoming established in the western hemisphere.
As I read the paper, I see that these results were very positive but then I see another alarming statement. However, further new invasions have recently been reported, and this has been corroborated by our colleague from Trinidad.
This case of FAO's field of involvement with matters of urgency demonstrates the need for this Organization to be kept fully supplied with resources. I am particularly pleased about the flexibility with which the FAO has been able to use TCP funding for this type of exercise. That is exemplary and I congratulate the Organization on this.
José Eduardo MENDES FERRÁO (Observateur du Portugal): Nous avons bien conscience des dégâts produits par les criquets et du péril que représenterait une expansion accrue du Shistocerca gregaria. Les interventions antérieures sont bien claires et révélatrices.
J'aimerais ajouter simplement que le Portugal, grâce à des accords de coopération bilatéraux, donne son appui aux travaux de lutte contre le criquet dans deux pays d'Afrique, avec l'octroi de pesticides et des moyens aériens considérés appropriés.
D'un autre coté, en tenant compte de nos études et des informations que nous avons reçues de la FAO, que nous remercions très vivement, nous avons organisé au Portugal un groupe de vigilance et d'urgence dans l'hypothèse où le criquet viendrait s'installer au sud du pays. Nous pensons qu'en même temps que l'on mènera un combat aussi efficace que possible pour répondre à la situation actuelle, il sera nécessaire de développer l'étude de la biologie de l'insecte et de maintenir les systèmes de vigilance et les moyens de lutte avec la sélection de pesticides plus efficaces et moins dangereux pour l'écologie des régions affectées.
Il serait très désirable et très utile, dans une situation analogue future, que nous n'aimerions certainement pas voir se produire mais dont nous ne pouvons pas garantir qu'elle n'existera pas, d'être chaque fois mieux préparés pour réduire le fléau.
Hamisi MWINYIGOHA (Observer for Tanzania): First of all, I would like very much to thank the Secretariat for the preparation of the documents. I would also like to thank the FAO for all the work that it has done to make the international community aware of this particular problem. We have had a lot of meetings concerning locusts in Rome and all the time Mr. Brader has been keeping us informed on how serious this problem is. Indeed, it is serious and we have come to a point whereby FAO cannot do anything more than just keep us informed, coordinate our activities and make us aware of this particular problem. The international community has certainly helped the African countries to deal with this particular problem, but I have a feeling that all the efforts which have been made are not being effective in the control of locusts.
As far as I can see, this problem is getting worse and worse every day and possibly it could get out of hand. The future with locusts is very serious and will be very frustrating to the entire community of the world. If the locusts were to cross the Atlantic into the Caribbean, I do not know but I think there is a possibility that the locusts could emigrate to Latin America and some of the southern parts of the North American countries.
Therefore, I would suggest that this Council can do the world a tremendous service if we actually come up with a resolution which will point to the extinction of the locusts. We can talk about this over and over and over but we cannot combat locusts just by talking. I am particularly concerned, and I ask the International community to double or treble their efforts to finance operations on locusts so that the entire host can become extinct. This is a threat to the world, not only to Africa and the Caribbean.
Giuseppe VASTA (Observateur de l'Organisation de Cooperation et de développement économiques): Je voudrais tout d'abord vous féliciter ainsi que les Vice-Présidente de votre élection. Je félicite aussi le Secrétariat pour l'ensemble de la documentation qu'il nous a fournie. Je remercie, en outre, M. Brader pour son excellente présentation du document que nous venons de commenter.
Après avoir vu le documentaire, je dois avouer que je suis resté bouleversé et terrifié. Devant le fléau acridien, 11 est impossible de rester muet. Les pays et les populations intéressés et menacés doivent trouver l'aide et la solidarité nécessaires pour combattre ce fléau diabolique. Je ne manquerai pas de souligner d'une façon toute particulière à l'OCDE, que j'ai l'honneur de représenter et qui connaît le problème, la gravité de la menace internationale de ce fléau.
Sans doute l'aide doit-elle être bien coordonnée car, comme du reste cela a été souligné, cette coordination doit être considérée comme le catalyseur indispensable pour provoquer la réaction nécessaire afin d'obtenir la victoire dans cette bataille.
Après avoir assisté à cette projection, nous pouvons dire que nous avons vu l'enfer sur terre. J'ai en effet l'impression d'avoir assisté à la projection d'une attaque diabolique. Le soleil s'est obscurci et un appel urgent de caractère universel est indispensable. C'est de notre devoir car, entre autres, tout le monde doit se sentir menacé. Nous devons être conscients du fait que nous sommes en train de frôler une terrible catastrophe. La prévention est indispensable car nous pouvons dire ici qu'il serait inutile de fermer les portes de fer lorsque les voleurs seront déjà passés.
Teshale AΒΕΒΕ (Observer for the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa):I should like to express my sincere appreciation for having this opportunity to speak, and through you I should like to thank the representative of Kenya who requested me to report on the current locust situation in the Eastern Africa region.With your permission I should like to introduce the Desert Locust Control Organization in Eastern Africa to those who may not know what the Organization is or what it does. The DLCO is a regional organization established by seven Eastern African countries in October 1962.
Its membership includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Its objectives are to promote the most effective control of the desert locust in the region and to assist member countries in the control of other pests provided the locust situation so permits.
It obtains its finances from annual contributions paid by member countries and is supported by external assistance in the form of money, equipment and technical support from various donors. The major donors are ODA (of the United Kingdom), FAO, EEC, USAID, GTZ, IDB and UNDP. Its headquarters is based in Addis Ababa, while the air unit base is located at Nairobi in Kenya. In addition it has field bases spread throughout the region which are equipped with the basic control needs of the Organization.
At the present time the Organization has eight serviceable spray aircraft and one transport and survey plane at its disposal. These planes are deployed to assist the affected member countries as follows: three spray and one transport/survey aircraft in the Sudan, two survey and control aircraft in Northern Ethiopia, one survey and control aircraft in Djibouti and one aircraft on standby to reinforce where the locust threat becomes serious.
The current desert locust situation in the DLCO region has severely affected the Sudan and northern Ethiopia, while Djibouti has been invaded recently by swarms from across the Red Sea. The other countries are free from desert locust but they are under imminent threat.The source of the present locusts in the affected countries is from extensive breeding which took place in West, Northwest, and North Africa in late 1987 and early 1988. Sudan became invaded by mature locust swarms from Chad through its western borders. Large-scale breeding took place in the western Sudan starting late June when the rainfall was heavy and widespread. This created conducive ecological conditions for the rapid multiplication of the desert locust.
Some of the swarms from West Sudan moved further into central, northern and eastern Sudan carried by the westerly winds in early July. By late July they had reached the Kassala area and by the last week of July had crossed into Ethiopia. The rainfall in Ethiopia was exceptionally good during the season which also created conducive breeding conditions and the swarms deposited their eggs in the western lowlands of Northern Ethiopia from which many newly emerged swarms invaded the Eritrea administrative region and the Tigre administrative region on a smaller scale.
To combat the locusts a joint ground control team of the DLCO and Ethiopian National Plant Protection Department was launched and deployed.Later, aerial control action was mounted from early September when successful control work has been conducted. This action greatly reduced a number of swarms and thereby saved the crops of the season from devastation.
In the Sudan the floods caused disruption in the transportation system and made difficult timely positioning of insecticides and ground logistics to the sights of operation ·However, despite the difficulties encountered, significant aerial operations have been mounted with satisfactory results. The following are actions taken by the DLCO from late June to late October. In the Sudan 16,000 hectares have been treated by spraying 8,000 litres of insecticide and by using 149 flying hours. In Ethiopia 15,400 hectares have been treated by spraying 12,095 litres of insecticide and by using 122 flying hours.The operations have continued in all the three countries affected.
Turning to the current situation, the desert locust situation in the Sudan yet remains serious. Swarms which escaped control actions in the west have now moved to their winter breeding habitats to eastern Sudan and the Red Sea coastal areas. The situation in Ethiopia is only second to that of Sudan. Again, swarms which escaped from the summer campaign are moving east to the winter breeding habitats along the Red Sea coast.
Many swarms have been successfully intercepted during their eastward movement in late October and early November.
We believe this kind of interception will drastically reduce the winter breeding which is expected to take place along the coastal and subcoastal plains of the Red Sea in both Sudan and Ethiopia.
Large-scale operations are planned along the Red Sea coastal lowlands from Zula in Ethiopia to the Egyptian border in the Sudan.The latest and most serious development is the invasion of Djibouti by desert locust swarms which we believe come from across the Red Sea.
This report came to the DLCO headquarters from our Djibouti field base on 12 November. On the following morning (13/11/88) the reported area was aerially surveyed and one immature, dense swarm measuring 24 km2 was located. Aerial control started in the afternoon of the same date. Survey to detect other two swarms is underway.
If the latest situation is not contained in time, and if more swarms move into the DLCO area from the Arabian Peninsula and invade the south and southeast Ethiopia and the Somali Republic, it may result in breeding taking place in those areas during the short rain season which could pose a serious threat to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, in late December 1988 or early January 1989. That is a brief resume of the situation in the East African Region.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous sommes arrivés à la fin des débats sur le criquet pèlerin.
Avec votre permission, je donnerai la parole à M. Bonte-Friedheim, et ensuite à M. Brader qui répondra à vos questions et à vos suggestions et qui éclairera le Conseil.
CH. BONTE-FRIEDHEIM (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): Before I ask Mr. Brader to reply to some of the questions and comment on the technical points raised in discussion I should like to make three points.
First, the topic this afternoon was discussed as a sub-item on the State of Food and Agriculture. The supplementary paper in front of you was meant as a supplementary paper - no more and no less. It was to identify the possible effects of the locusts on the State of Food and Agriculture in the next, and hopefully not following, years. It was prepared as an Information paper at the last minute, to be up to date in its Information. It was not meant to be all-inclusive and to cover all aspects of the situation or all experience or activities undertaken by the many parties involved in fighting this plague.
Secondly, I should like to extend our thanks to all. the speakers this afternnoon for the undivided appreciation by Council Members and Observers of the past work of your organization as an early warner, as a lead agency in this fight against locusts, as a coordinator of the aid and as a supporter of national and regional campaigns and activities.The future success will depend on continued cooperation by all, and I repeat by all, concerned if the Secretariat is to meet the expectation of Council, of governments and last, but certainly not least, of the farmers.
This afternoon we have seen many signs of solidarity and this discussion indicates to us that the solidarity will continue, hopefully until the plague is under control and until research results will be there to ensure that this will be the last of the plague of mankind.
Thirdly, as regards the proposal to adopt Resolution 2/88 of the Africa Regional Conference, the proposal has also been made to adopt the relevant operative parts of this resolution. I hope that Council will agree that this will be discussed by the Drafting Committee to see which of the ways is the best. I believe that there are three possible approaches which could then be discussed by the Drafting Committee - for example, adoption of the Regional Conference resolution, or an amendment of this resolution especially in the non-operative parts.As has been said this afternoon there are many more resolutions which have passed before and after the Mauritius resolution.At the moment the Second Committee of the General Assembly in New York is discussing a resolution.There was a previous resolution of the General Assembly of 1986. There is a resolution from the Council of Ministers of OAU of May 1988 and there is the Islamabad resolution which of, course, can all be referred to.
We will leave it to the Drafting Committee, if Council agrees, to see that the points made in this discussion will be included in the report or - and I repeat or - in a resolution. With this, Mr. Chairman, I would like, with your permission, to ask Mr. Brader to take care of the other points.
L. BRADER (Director, Plant Production and Protection Division): I would certainly like to thank all the delegates for the strong interest shown in this particular problem and in the work carried out. We certainly feel strongly encouraged by your positive appreciation of objectivities undertaken by FAO. ECLO has often been singled out in the statements this afternoon. I would like to emphasize very strongly that many other units in the Organization were directly involved in these various
activities and certainly the work of ECLO would be impossible without their support. I would also like to mention that the Director-General follows our work very closely and that we rely virtually daily on the help of many of our colleagues. So we thank you for your acknowledgement, but I think it goes far beyond ECLO. It is the whole of FAO which works on this matter.
Many comments were made. I will not try to deal with all of them. There was strong emphasis and support for coordinating effectively all the work to be undertaken. It was stressed that it is a regional problem, goes far beyond the possibilities of individual countries.
With respect to the coordination of aid and the amount of aid provided there was a question from the delegate of Colombia, who would have liked to have seen more details. I can promise him that in the next donor and country meeting which we will hold in January next year all these details will be presented. I have the strong feeling that we did not give details here because we tend not to separate anymore too much donors and affected countries because we are all in the same activity trying to solve this problem together without identifying too much who is who.In fact, I would not be surprised if one of our major donors, the United States, could by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow receive some locusts so that they would become an affected country also. This is a very speculative prediction of the further developments, I would like to put that in parentheses.
But also in respect of identified donors and affected countries I would like to emphasize the aid provided by various countries in Africa to other countries in Africa. I am thinking particularly of the Maghreb countries who have assisted particularly the Sahelian countries in the locust campaign, and a number of countries in the North East have also given assistance to various African countries. So there is a very wide range of donors and I would say that all the donors who are traditionally known as donors have contributed in one way or another to the success of the campaign as far as we have undertaken it now.
The need to provide timely assistance has been stressed very strongly. The delegate of Algeria mentioned it first and then a number of other delegations emphasized it also. This is of course true because it will allow at an early stage to intervene in the basic control operation against the desert locust. But I must admit that this may become more and more difficult, as I stressed in the introduction. The problem becomes so big that the resources needed will also become so large that I think it will not always be easy and possible to, receive all the assistance in time.In fact the delegate of India made reference to the plan we had forwarded and that plan was presented to donors and countries at a meeting we held here in late August/early September where we predicted that until June next year it might well be needed that about 12 million hectares had to be treated and that would mean a cost of US $ 240 million. That is not the same plan as the strategic plan recently put forward for a strategic task force in the meeting of FEZ. That was a question raised by the delegate of India. The strategic task force that was proposed in its definite form at the international conference at FEZ on 28/29 October has been given endorsement by many delegations. I would certainly place also the proposed action to be undertaken in Sudan, as was announced by the delegate of Sudan, on avoiding the international spread of the infestations there, within the framework and consider it in this context for its further elaboration so that it can become part of it, because within this overall plan the Red Sea coast of Sudan is certainly one of the critical and strategic areas to break the plague.
In that respect I would like to answer the question raised by the delegate of Tunisia on the common fund for Maghreb. The first contribution has been made by the Islamic Development Bank to the amount of US $ 1 million. I think this fund will get an even more complete form now with these preparations for the strategic task forces and it can become an important element in it. We will strongly endorse the initiative of this common fund. This is closely linked with our Regional Campaign for the Control of Desert Locusts in North West Africa. We have taken good note of the remarks made on the importance of meteorology in this whole work and a number of initiatives have been taken, as was noted by the delegate of Algeria in particular. We will continue to support these activities, strengthen it further, depending of course on the means that are also being made available to us or directly to activities of this type. Sometimes there is a little confusion in this whole campaign, that FAO are a little bit a donor agency through their Technical Cooperation Programme, but the overall magnitude of the funds required mean that that is only a very limited contribution in order to satisfy the overall needs.
The United Kingdom delegate asked when the next meeting will take place.I have already said that it will be at the end of January. I am not quite sure when, but probably in the last week of January there will be a meeting of all affected countries and donors to evaluate the campaign of 1988 and to plan the actions needed for 1989.
The United Kingdom delegate also raised the point on providing even more information. He specifically asked for a monthly report. The delegate of India supported this proposal. At this stage I would not like to commit ourselves in view of the tremendous amount of work we have already. We are looking into an improved distribution of the information we have to make it a more popular
presentation, a litt bit less technical, and I am hopeful that this will satisfy the request put forward by the delegese of the United Kingdom. We continue of course to distribute our monthly technical report, but that is again a very technical report not always very comprehensible for a larger audience.
The question of pesticides was raised by the United Kingdom, Portugal and others. We are continually looking at new alternatives, new pesticides. We are aware of the need to find new products and when we do that we look very strongly particularly at the potential environmental impact that these pesticides can have and also of course the whole question of cost effectiveness of the campaigns. In fact in mid December we will have another meeting to evaluate the best of pesticides this year and eventually come up with recommendations on what should be done next.
A number of delegations, Peru among them, stressed the need to look for alternative control techniques. I reported in the introduction that we have looked at the research needs and I can now re-emphasize that work on biological control will have a very high priority and actions will be undertaken and that organizations and institutions will look into the matter. There will be another research meeting organized in Cairo by UNDP in the middle of December. There will be another research meeting in the middle of January next year in Paris organized by the Special Programme for African Agricultural Research. So this whole matter of research is receiving a considerable amount of attention. The number of meetings on this was also something that led to my remark that there is a need to avoid duplication of effort because sometimes we get a little concerned about too many of these initiatives which diffuse too much the various means available. But let me stress that we give high priority particularly to operational research to find solutions quickly. To answer the delegate of Tunisia, I do not know when these research efforts will lead to results. For example, the work on biological control will take at least four, five if not more years before practical results can be expected from that. Other research on improved pesticides, improved applications, can lead in one or two years to useful results.
The delegates of France and Kenya insisted on the long- and medium-term measures needed to strengthen the national and regional structures. We support them fully in these ideas and we try to take action on it although of course at this stage our main emphasis is on the emergency and to carry out as well as we can this desert locust control campaign and overcome the immediate problem.
While we are all aware of the invasion of the Caribbean, I do not think we need to expend too much on that. We are still hopeful that the desert locust will not establish itself in the Caribbean in view of the environmental conditions, it is probably too humid. We have so far not received a report that breeding takes place so they may die a natural death there. But we will continue to follow the matter closely, we will have to follow it closely in order to be absolutely sure that they will not establish themselves there definitely.
It was also mentioned that they may spread further into Latin America. The desert locust is really an animal of the semi-arid tropics. It will not grow in the very humid tropics and it will also not grow in the cold environment of Europe in particular. There may be incidental invasions of Southern Europe and some may even spread south into humid tropical areas. If they go there I think they will probably die very quickly and that gives us less locusts to control.
I agree with the delegate of Zambia that we have not given attention in this presentation to the other locust species. A number of them, the African migratory locust and the red locust, are of some concern, but we have every ten days in our bulletins a special paragraph on these locusts and try to keep everybody informed as we do on the desert locust situation.
We have noted the specifc request for help from a number of countries, Lebanon, Zambia and some others.
I think I have answered most of the questions.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie en votre nom le Dr. Brader et le Dr. Bonte-Friedheim pour l'information qu'ils nous ont donnée; cette discussion a été très intéressante et nous a permis de mesurer l'ampleur du phénomène; je suis, je pense, l'interprète de certains membres lorsque je dis que le Conseil enregistre avec satisfaction le travail fait par le Secrétariat l'année passée pour répondre au danger acridien, et qu'il apprécie l'élan de solidarité internationale qui s'est manifesté en 1988 et qui se traduit par des engagements de l'ordre de 117 millions de dollars.
Malgré tous ces efforts, force est de constater que la situation s'est aggravée et que les prévisions pour 1989 sont particulièrement préoccupantes. Comme vous le savez, le Conseil a fait appel à la communauté Internationale pour que les pays atteints puissent disposer des moyens techniques, humains et financiers leur permettant de faire face à ce fléau qui, dans des conditions acceptables et sérieuses, à ce fléau qui a pris une ampleur exceptionnelle.
Suite à la suggestion de M. Bonte-Friedheim, il faudrait demander à notre comité de rédaction d'essayer d'analyser les différentes résolutions de 1988 - l'appel de Fez, les décisions qui ont suivi la réunion d'Islamabad - de les récapituler de sorte qu' elles émaneraient aussi de notre Conseil, tant il est vrai que tout le monde a reconnu que la FAO joue un rôle central de leader dans cette action. Il est donc normal et nécessaire que soient consignées dans le rapport toutes les recommandations et les lignes directrices de travail, et que cela y figure de façon complète, peut-être pas sous forme de résolution mais tout au moins de manière officielle.
Tous les Etats Membres ont admis le rôle central, le rôle de leader dévolu à la FAO dans le cadre de cette lutte contre le criquet pèlerin, tout le monde a admis que le criquet pèlerin ne connaît pas de frontière et que la lutte contre ce fléau implique une coordination au niveau régional comme à celui des pays donateurs et des pays bénéficiaires.
Il est bon que l'on dise que le Conseil a insisté sur la nécessité de promouvoir, de la part de la FAO et d'un grand nombre de pays, une action pour la prévention contre ces invasions; cette action peut prendre plusieurs formes, que cela soit le renforcement des prévisions acrido-météorologiques, que cela soit la mise sur pied d'actions de surveillance et d'alerte rapide, que ce soit la coordination d'un programme de recherche avec les institutions et les instituts des pays développés pour organiser une action préventive.
Ce sont quelques idées qui ont prévalu dans cette réunion et il est très important que dans notre rédaction finale nous puissions mettre le maximum d'éléments sur ce dossier.
Ceci étant, et compte tenu du retard que nous avons sur notre calendrier (le Conseil siégeant un jour de moins que d'habitude, et ne travaillant ni le samedi ni le dimanche), compte tenu du programme très chargé et des questions qui nous attendent, que cela soit la réforme du Comité financier et du programme, que cela soit les comptes vérifiés, toutes ces questions sont très importantes et nous vous proposons de continuer vos travaux aujourd'hui avec une première lecture du document sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiale; je suggère que nous prenions également demain nos précautions pour travailler jusqu'à huit heures du soir. Nous avons à étudier des textes tels que celui sur les forêts, le rôle des femmes dans le développement, et vous savez tous que l'an dernier en juin beaucoup de délégations au Conseil (je pense au Canada entre autres) ont insisté pour que ce sujet soit étudié à bras le corps par la FAO; la Conférence générale l'a confirmé dans l'une de ses résolutions; et ce sont des questions qui méritent toute notre attention.
Le Comité de rédaction se réunira samedi pour pouvoir rattraper un peu le retard pris par le Conseil.
Ceci étant, je vous propose de passer la présidence de ce Conseil à M. Rudolf de Pourtalès qui est notre Vice-Président et qui conduira ces débats sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
Rudolf de Pourtalès, Vice-Chairman of the Council, took the chair.
Rudolf de Pourtalès, Vice-Président du Conseil, assume la présidence.
Ocupa la presidencia Rudolf de Pourtalès, Vicepresidente del Consejo.
US PRESIDENT: Honorables délégués, permettez-moi tout d'abord de vous remercier pour la confiance que vous m'avez octroyée en me nommant Vice-Président de cette session du Conseil.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous allons traiter maintenant le point 5 de l'ordre du jour: le Rapport de la treizième session du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale. J'aimerais vous demander d'être à la fois concis et précis au cours de vos interventions, d'une part vu l'heure avancée, et d'autre part vu la présence très limitée que nous avons du Président du Comité de la Sécurité alimentaire parmi nous, et également en vue de donner au Secrétariat et au Comité de la Sécurité alimentaire des orientations précises pour la suite de leurs activités.
J'aimerais commencer par donner la parole au Président du Comité de la Sécurité alimentaire, M. P.A.L. De Rijk.
P.A.L. DE RIJK (Chairman, Committee on World Food Security): Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates and observers, I am pleased to introduce Agenda Item 5 - document CL 94/10 - the Report of the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
The CFS at its Thirteenth Session held in Rome, 13-19 April 1988, dealt with a number of important issues. Firstly, in accordance with its mandate, it assessed the current world food security situation and the recent policy developments. Secondly, with a view to learning from experiences of developing countries in their efforts to improve food security and in line with the Conference recommendation to step up FAO's food security policy advice at a national level, the Committee considered case studies of two African countries: Tanzania and Niger. Thirdly, the Committee reviewed approaches and specific measures pursued by developing countries to improve access to food by the poor. Finally, Mr. Chairman, the Committee reviewed the activities and future orientation of the Food Security Assistance Scheme (FSAS) taking into account its expanded terms of reference. I would like to report on the Committee's deliberations on these four items, in turn.
On the basis of the information available at the beginning of April this year, which permitted only a preliminary assessment of the 1988-89 demand/supply balance, the Committee, expressed concern at the anticipated large decline in global cereal stocks. It noted further, that total world cereal consumption was expected to be above total world production for a second consecutive year, so that in the 1988-89 season the level of world stocks could be less than 17-18 percent of world consumption, the minimum level considered necessary to safeguard world food security. Indeed, it has now been confirmed that world cereal stocks at the end of the current season are expected to be at about 16 percent of anticipated world consumption in 1989-90.
Thus, the member-governments of the Committee expressed concern at the anticipated and probably unique insight into the emerging precarious world food security situation, and indeed this was at a time when this potential problem was not yet foreseen by other bodies.
The Committee also considered the analysis contained in the Secretariat document on longer term trends in food production in developing countries and expressed its serious concern about the decline in per caput staple food production in 64 out of 114 food-deficit developing countries during the period 1970-86.It underlined the necessity to reverse these unfavourable trends and urged that the highest priority be accorded to the development of the food and agricultural sector of the low-income food-deficit countries and to the formulation of suitable policy frameworks to achieve it. The Committee pointed out in this regard that the financing of development, and stable conditions for a growing and liberalized trade, are indispensable for sustained economic growth and food security.
The Committee also urged that in the formulation and implementation of food and agricultural policies, environmental issues should be taken into account. In this connection, it underlined the importance of maintaining the environmental balance through conservation of soil, water and forest resources, and requested that the effects of ecological problems on food security be included in the future work of the Committee.
A new subject in the Committee's work was the consideration of national food security policies and programmes. At this Session it considered the experience of Niger and Tanzania in their efforts to achieve food security, on the basis of documents which had been prepared by the Secretariat in collaboration with the countries concerned. The Committee commended the two governments for making continued efforts to improve the food security and standard of living of their population, and noted that both countries had demonstrated flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances in their approach to food security.
A number of policy issues were highlighted by these case studies which needed to be considered in the process of developing national food security policies and strategies. These included, inter alla, the appropriate relationship between state marketing agencies and the private sector; the role of cooperatives in the production and marketing of agricultural commodities; the importance of overcoming bottlenecks in the marketing infrastructure; the constraints on implementing incentive pricing policies; the role of the agricultural export crops in food security; and the importance of macro-economic policies and external economic factors in determining the success of food security policies. The Committee agreed that no unique guideline on these policy issues would be applicable to all countries and that the strategy and the choice of apropriate policies would depend on the specific situation of each country. In this connection, it underlined that efforts to improve national food security should be an integral part of an overall economic development strategy which should, inter alia, take into account resource endowments, comparative advantage, population growth and ecological factors.
The Committee considered that developing countries could take advantage of FAO's experience in food security policy advice in the formulation of their food security policies and programmes, as well as in strengthening the data and information base needed for the development of such policies and programmes. It also requested the Secretariat to continue to undertake additional national food security case studies for consideration at future sessions.
In its consideration of the document dealing with measures to improve access to food by the poor, the Committee stressed that as poverty was at the root of the problem of hunger and malnutrition, the long-term solution must lie in increasing the rate of economic growth, a better distribution of income and improved access to the means of production. In addition, it recognized that along with such longer-term measures, programmes that could have an immediate effect on the distribution of food supplies to the poor were also needed.
The Committee, noting the wide variety of instruments which have been used by developing countries to improve access to food, agreed that such interventions needed to be tailored to the specific circumstances of each country or geographical area involved. It stressed the importance of targeting and cost-effectiveness considerations in the design and implementation of measures to improve access. However, it was felt that experience so far and the complexity of the problem did not permit the drawing up of guidelines for programme design which could be applied universally.
The Committee considered that the subject required further research and analysis, especially for the development of specific indicators to identify the target groups, more specific measurements of the cost-effectivenes and viability of different interventions, and in-depth case studies of different country experiences. It also recognized that structural adjustment programmes could have a negative impact on access to food by the poor, and urged that special measures be taken to overcome such effects. The Committee requested the Secretariat to carry out an analysis of the impact of structural adjustment programmes on food security, in cooperation with other international bodies working in this field.
An important item in the agenda of the Thirteenth Session of the CFS was the review of the activities of the Food Security Assistance Scheme (FSAS) and proposals for its future orientation following the recommendations of the external evaluation team for the Scheme. The Committee recalled that the report of the external evaluation team had been presented to the 24th Session of the Conference in November 1987 and noted with satisfaction that the proposals for the Committee's consideration had taken into account many of the ideas and suggestions which had been made during the discussion at the Conference.
The Committee endorsed the gradual two-pronged approach to enable the FSAS to carry out the expanded mandate recommended by the external evaluation team. This approach would involve both the fielding of multidisciplinary missions to provide policy advice and assistance in the formulation of comprehensive national food security programmes, as well as continued activities in traditional areas of emphasis i.e. establishing and strengthening food security, food information and early warning systems, training of national staff involved in food security oriented activities, and technical assistance to national food agencies as well as to national food reserves.
The Committee stressed that national food security programmes should be developed in close consultation with recipient governments and underlined the need for cooperation with bilateral and multilateral donors, in particular the World Bank. The need for FAO to play a more prominent role in improving food security, particularly by proposing policy options based on a thorough and objective analysis of the problems was emphasized.
The Committee broadly endorsed the new terms of reference for FSAS to reflect the expanded concept of food security. It generally agreed that an enhanced policy advisory role of FSAS in regard to the three elements embodied in the wider concept of food security would be the most effective way for FAO to help countries in their efforts to strengthen food security. The Committee also generally agreed with the proposed structural arrangements. It recognized that the merger of the policy analysis and field activities within a single Service created the potential to raise the effectiveness of the Scheme in fulfilling its broadened mandate. The Committee endorsed the creation of an upgraded Steering Committee and of Country Task Forces, and welcomed the arrangements for increased consultations with donor countries.
Finally, the question of the frequency of the Committee's Session was brought up and discussed at some length. The Committee agreed that since its inception in 1975, it had evolved new ideas and concepts that were universally supported and had promoted national and international policies aimed at improving world food security. Most delegates felt that in view of the great importance of the subjects discussed at the Committee and the volatility of the world food security situation, the Committee should continue to hold annual meetings. Some other delegates, while agreeing with the important role of the Committee in food security matters, felt that there was merit in considering
the holding of only one session of the Committee in each biennium.Some of these delegates also suggested that, if a radical deterioration in the world food security situation were to occur, additional sessions of the Committee could be convened.
I referred earlier in my statement to the Committee's timely discussion and concerns about emerging food security situation in the light of the anticipated decline in world cereal stocks during the current season. Unfortunately, developments this year reconfirmed how volatile the world food security situation can be and how indispensable it is to have a regular forum to discuss emerging food security problems. And that is the CFS, this is the adequate forum where all member-governments could undertake this very important function. In view of the uncertainty surrounding the current world food security situation and the importance of the Committee's annual deliberations, I would like to mention that the Director-General has decided, in consultation with me, to convene the Fourteenth Session of the Committee in Rome from Monday 3rd April to Friday 7 April 1989, so in fact a shorter five-day period from Monday to Friday, in line with the preference expressed by the Committee.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. de Rijk, Président du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
Ms. Marasee SURAKUL (Thailand): I would like first of all to thank the Chairman of the Committee on World Food Security and the Secretariat for the lucid presentation.
To improve the world food situation, it is essential for each food-deficit country to give agricultural the highest policy priority. It is fully recognized that securing food for its people is the very foundation of that country's economics and social development because the food problem is not just an isolated economic issue, but it is closely related to the social and economic development of a country.
Therefore, the food deficit countries should accelerate the growth of food production. The strategies recommended are to utilize agriculture and human resources, such as the engagement of women, in food production; introduce policies conducive to developing food production and guaranteeing food supply; build up reserves; vigorously popularize existing agro-technology; effectively increase agricultural input; accelerate the development of food production; and try to improve self-reliance in food.
It is suggested that in addition to sufficiency of food, attention must be paid to food production and investment in agriculture should be made. Moreover, it is also necessary to monitor - along with the level of investments - secondary factors such as possibility for transport, port facilities and marketing which are needed for distribution.
We should not forget the fact that there are still some considerable gaps between developed and developing countries in food production, trade, reserves and consumption. While the number of hungry and malnourished people is increasing and the international trade of agricultural commodities has stagnated, protectionism hindering trade development is being reinforced. To lessen those gaps, world trade in grain should be improved and promoted for developing countries to develop their economies. The strategies are to rectify and prevent various restrictions and distortions in trade for agricultural commodities, to improve the terms for farm products of the developing countries to enter the market of developed countries, and to strengthen discipline in agricultural trade and expedite its liberalization.
Whilst the structure of production needs to be improved and liberalization of trade is to be promoted, it is also necessary for developing countries to take supplementary social measures, such as family planning, in order that population growth corresponds to the improvement in living standards and food availability.
Those are all of our comments and suggestions.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Nos complace, Sr. Vicepresidente, intervenir bajo su dirección esta noche. La mesa directiva elegida para el bienio 1988-89 encabezada por el Presidente de Rijk, de Países Bajos, presidió muy bien el décimotercer período de sesiones. La presentación del Sr. de Rijk ha sido clara e ilustrativa. Por tanto, nuestros comentarios se limitarán a los asuntos que requiere la atención del Consejo.
Apoyamos plenamente el párrafo 8, en cuanto a la necesidad de que en la evaluación de la situación de la seguridad alimentaria, se ofrezcan más informaciones sobre las consecuencias negativas que se derivan de la deuda externa y el proteccionismo. Son elementos que vienen incidiendo negativa y profundamente en la seguridad alimentaria y deben ser analizados muy a fondo.
Es evidente la interrelación que existe entre este tema y el anterior sobre el Estado Mundial de la Alimentación y de la Agricultura. De manera, que no vamos a repetir nuestros comentarios sobre los párrafos 9, 10, 11 y 13 del documento, cuyos conceptos apoyamos firmemente.
El párrafo 14 contiene algunas sugerencias específicas, que podrían contribuir a mejorar la seguridad alimentaria, y que debería incluirse en nuestro informe.
En el párrafo 15 se habla de nuevo del decenio perdido de los 80 y de la necesidad de establecer un Nuevo Orden Económico Internacional más justo y equitativo, conceptos que el Gobierno de Colombia comparte plenamente. Sobre las medidas para aumentar el acceso de la población pobre a los alimentos y en relación con los párrafos 31 y 42, que hacen referencia a América Latina y el Caribe, la delegación de Colombia se complace en comunicar al Consejo que la Conferencia sobre la Pobreza, citada en el párrafo 31 se realizó en la linda ciudad colombiana de Cartagena del 29 de agosto al 1º de septiembre pasados, con asistencia de alto nivel de los 33 países de la región y observadores de importantes países desarrollados y organizaciones internacionales.
En nombre del Gobierno de Colombia, queremos reiterar nuestro agradecimiento a la FAO por la activa y eficaz participación que los Representantes de nuestra Organización tuvieron en la preparación y en la realización de esa Conferencia, en la cual tuvo brillante desempeño nuestro amigo el Dr. Rafael Moreno, Subdirector General, Jefe del Departamento de Asuntos Económicos y Sociales.
La declaración final de la Conferencia sobre la Pobreza contiene muchos puntos relacionados con la agricultura y la alimentación. Confiamos en que la FAO ofrecerá su asistencia a los gobiernos de nuestra región para implementar esas iniciativas.
Sobre la frecuencia con que debe reunirse el CSA, nos complace la información que nos ha trasmitido el Presidente Sr. de Rijk, en el sentido de que el Director General, y él de común acuerdo, han convocado el Comité para abril de 1989. Esto está justificado porque refleja la opinión de la mayoría de los miembros del Comité y, además, como lo acaba de recordar la distinguida colega de Thailandia, la gravedad de la situación así lo justifica.
Finalmente, Sr. Presidente, deseamos reiterar nuestro aprecio positivo a la labor que la FAO viene realizando en favor de incrementar la seguridad alimentaria.
No sólo en reuniones de la FAO, sino también en otros organismos, los delegados de Colombia hemos destacado la gran importancia del nuevo, ampliado y revisado concepto sobre la seguridad alimentaria; tuvimos discursos y hasta votos en el Consejo y en la Conferencia para lograr la aprobación del Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria. Y ahora, aquí en el Consejo, como lo expresamos en el CSA, nos preguntamos con desencanto, ¿qué ha quedado de todo ello?. Al pobre Pacto no se le mencionó en ninguno de los documentos presentados al CSA, y en este informe sólo aparece citado el Pacto en medio del olvido, al final del párrafo 15 como referencia accidental.
Son hechos decepcionantes que confirman nuestra larga experiencia en el sentido de que en general, repetimos, en general, las organizaciones internacionales periódicamente suelen agitar propuestas para atraer la atención, pretextos para buscar apoyos, desplegar intensas campañas propagandísticas, y luego todo desaparece.
¿Acaso podría alguien de la Secretaría de la FAO decirnos en qué parte de los archivos, en qué viejo y empolvado escritorio dormirá el sueño de los justos, el tan controvertido y difícilmente aprobado Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria?.
José Ramón LOPEZ PORTILLO ROMANO (México): Nos complace verle a usted presidiendo esta reunión de nuestro Consejo. Agradecemos al Presidente del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial su clara y amplia exposición y las informaciones nuevas y positivas que nos ha proporcionado.
La delegación mexicana desea reiterar la importancia de los planteamientos hechos en la reunión del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria aquí reportados, actualizados, por otra parte, en este Consejo y, en particular, lo relativo a la disminución de la producción de los alimentos en los países más pobres y al incremento de la desnutrición, así como al hecho de que la falta de financiamiento y de un comercio estable para el crecimiento económico sostenido impiden alcanzar la meta de la seguridad alimentaria en la gran parte, sino en la totalidad de los países en desarrollo. Asimismo me permito señalar los efectos nocivos que para los países en desarrollo tiene el pago del servicio de la deuda
externa, y hacer alusión a la declaración de un alto funcionario de mi Gobierno en el sentido de que, indudablemente, México, como otros países, no quiere una guerra de trincheras con la comunidad financiera internacional, pero los acreedores deben entender que tenemos el imperativo de crecer por todo tipo de razones, inclusive de tipo ético o, de lo contrario, podríamos, tendríamos que asumir una posición unilateral; es decir, se nos da el financiamiento o lo tendremos de alguna manera que tomar. La deuda externa constituye, probablemente, el principal obstáculo para consolidar el desarrollo nacional en el futuro cercano y hacer valer las estrategias de austeridad que ahora pesan, después de una década perdida para nuestro desarrollo.
Nuestro país no tendrá sin duda otra salida si no se le prestan los recursos necesarios, sino actuar por su cuenta, aunque claro esto no quisiera que implicara caer en la moratoria. El abrumador pago del servicio de la deuda ha originado que los citados países en desarrollo se conviertan en exportadores netos de capital, reduciendo así su disponibilidad de divisas para importar alimentos o insumos para producirlos.
Por otra parte, es necesario que los países en desarrollo incrementen su nivel de actividad agrícola. Para esto se requiere un mejoramiento del ambiente económico mundial, en particular que los países desarrollados reviertan su creciente tendencia proteccionista. La delegación mexicana desea señalar que en virtud de la disminución generalizada en la producción de alimentos básicos y de la insuficiencia de recursos en divisas para financiar importaciones se ha hecho evidente que los países en desarrollo quedan a expensas de donaciones que ofrecen otros países para hacer frente a la escasez de alimentos en situaciones de urgencia.
Asimismo, cabe señalar que los Programas de Ayuda Alimentaria directa, han jugado un panel relevante en situaciones graves, sin embargo para que estos constituyan una solución de fondo al roblema alimentario, deben incluir acciones que apoyen directamente actividades agropecuarias, tales como políticas de financiamiento agrícola, asistencia técnica, investigación agrícola, organización y capacitación, así como comercialización.
La preocupación de la FAO por apoyar a los países en desarrollo para obtener su seguridad alimentaria, se materializa en existencia del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, que propone otorgar máxima prioridad al desarrollo agrícola alimentario en los países de bajos ingresos mediante la formulación en el marco de políticas adecuadas que consideren mejoras tecnológicas para incrementar la productividad, mayores incentivos a la producción, asistencia y capacitación a productores, el fortalecimiento de cooperativas, servicios de créditos y mejoramiento de las instituciones de mercadeo.
Al respecto, así como el delegado de Colombia lo ha hecho, nos cuestionamos que ha ocurrido, qué progresos ha tenido el ejercicio y la vigencia del Pacto Mundial de Seguridad Alimentaria. Información al respecto se hace indispensable en vista de la urgencia que conlleva el ejercicio pleno de tal Pacto y los grandes esfuerzos políticos para su aprobación.
Nuestra política nacional en materia de seguridad alimentaria, coincide en los aspectos generales con aquéllos que ha propuesto reiteradamente la FAO, y, en consecuencia, apoyamos sus propuestas, ya que están dirigidas principalmente a fomentar el desarrollo agropecuario y lograr que la población en general se beneficie con ello. Sin embargo, debemos considerar que cada nación presenta una problemática específica, lo que obliga a elaborar diagnósticos particulares para cada país con el propósito de evaluar su potencial productivo y definir acciones acordes a sus necesidades. Ello deberá ser una tarea conjunta de la FAO con los gobiernos.
Mi delegación, Sr. Presidente, se opone firmemente a la tendencia de varios países desarrollados a utilizar los alimentos como instrumento de control o intimidación política, y se manifiesta a favor de una política de soberanía alimentaria que considere el derecho de cada país a decidir internamente en que alimentos desea ser autosuficiente y como lograrlo, y obtenga de la Comunidad Internacional aquéllos que necesita en los precios justos.
En ese sentido, y entre otras acciones, resulta indispensable que la FAO continue estudios sobre la evolución, extensión, penetración e influencias de las empresas trasnacionales. En la determinación de los precios internacionales y nacionales de productos agrícolas y alimentarios, el condicionamiento del comercio y del consumo y la transferencia de tecnología para la producción, procesamiento, comercialización, investigación y desarrollo de tales productos. Las empresas trasnacionales llevan a cabo actividades que no responden generalmente a las prioridades e intereses nacionales, por el contrario, con frecuencia sus intereses y decisiones extranacionales condicionan, o aun suprimen, la soberanía alimentarla que postulamos.
La FAO preparó un estudio general al respecto para el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial y el Consejó de la FAO, que en su oportunidad discutimos y consideramos, y concluimos que era insuficiente, a pesar de la petición reiteradas de muchos miembros de continuar tales ejercicios y estudios, nada más se ha hecho por parte de nuestra Organización.
Consideramos que un monitoreo, un seguimiento permanente de la acción de las empresas trasnacionales es fundamental para un diagnóstico acertado de la problemática de la seguridad alimentaria y para perfilar estrategias coherentes, para superar obstáculos estructurales, como los que pueden representar los intereses y acciones de tales empresas.
Pedimos al Director General que incluya este tema como uno permanente en la próxima y siguientes reuniones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria y Mundial y que se lleven las conclusiones de dicho Comité al Consejo y Conferencia próximos. Instamos a la Secretaría de no olvidar tampoco incorporar este importante asunto en el proyecto de informe que elaborará para este Consejo.
Por ultimo, Sr. Presidente, deseamos reiterar nuestro firme apoyo a que el Comité continúe reuniéndose anualmente y por eso expresamos nuestra complacencia por el anuncio que acaba de hacer el Presidente del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria.
Sra. Monica DEREGIBUS (Argentina): Permítame en primer lugar, Sr. Presidente, expresar la complacencia de mi delegación por verle presidir nuestros trabajos en esta delicada cuestión.
Habiendo participado nuestra delegación en el décimo tercer período de sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, en abril pasado quisiera intervenir sólo brevemente resaltando algunos aspectos del Informe que estimamos de especial importancia.
Coincidimos plenamente con lo expresado en los párrafos 14 y 15 del Informe del Comité y en la última parte del párrafo 8·
Respecto de la necesidad de aplicar mejoras tecnológicas para aumentar la productividad del sector agrícola en los países en desarrollo, mi Delegación se refiere a la parte pertinente de su intervención en el Tema 4, que resulta ocioso repetir en esta ocasión pero que espera se dé por reproducida. En lo que se refiere a la necesidad de creación de condiciones estables para un comercio creciente y liberalizado de productos agrícolas, también nos remitimos a la larga exposición que sobre el particular efectuáramos en el día de ayer.
Quisiéramos asimismo proponer que el Consejo adoptara las formulaciones que figuran en la penúltima oración del párrafo 15 sobre la deuda externa de los países en desarrollo, la primera oración del párrafo 30 sobre las causas del hambre y la malnutrición, la formulación del párrafo 32 sobre los programas de reajuste estructural, y la del párrafo 40 sobre la labor futura del PASA.
En cambio, lamentablemente, tenemos que expresar que disentimos con la afirmación contenida en la última oración del párrafo 38· Estimamos que el PASA constituye un instrumento útil pero que el reforzamiento de su función consultiva en materia de políticas, no será el más eficaz ni el único con que cuenta la FAO para ayudar a los países a mejorar su Seguridad Alimentaria.
En lo relativo a la situación de la Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial y a las novedades recientes en materia de políticas, nuestra Delegación se remite a las conclusiones a que arribara el reciente Período de sesiones del Grupo Intergubernamental sobre Cereales.
Hacemos nuestro asimismo el llamamiento que figura en el Informe de dicha reunión a los grandes países donantes para que adopten medidas especiales a fin de asegurar que no disminuirá el volumen de sus embarques de ayuda alimentaria como consecuencia del creciente aumento de precios de los cereales.
El anuncio efectuado por el Presidente del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial me eximiría de efectuar consideraciones con relación a la frecuencia de las reuniones del Comité. No obstante, me voy a permitir leer lo que había pensado expresar mi Delegación porque creo que puede llegar a ser útil para el futuro, una vez que la actual situación crítica sea superada.
"Como fuera correctamente recordado por el Presidente del Comité, éste en su último Período de sesiones previo las condiciones que actualmente prevalecen en el mercado internacional de cereales. Ello confirma, a juicio de nuestra Delegación, la utilidad de las labores del Comité. Estimamos que la situación actual requiere de un seguimiento adecuado. Por ello, no podemos endosar las propuestas que tienden a reducir la frecuencia de las reuniones del Comité sin que se prevea un mecanismo idóneo que asegure su rápida convocatoria en el caso de un agravamiento de la situación de la seguridad alimentaria mundial".
Angus MACDONALD (Australia):The Committee on Food Security was established with the mandate to help countries ensure that every person has access to the food that they need for themselves and their families. This, simply stated, is what we mean by food security and in its thirteen years of existence the Committee on Food Security has produced a range of commendable and worthwhile initiatives towards this end. We commend the latest initiatives described in the report before us.
My delegation believes that responsibility for ensuring the elimination of hunger lies primarily with national governments and we acknowledge individual sovereignty is involved in putting together the appropriate agricultural policy mix, the right rural development strategy and in setting the environment for the correct market incentives and price levels in order to allow for access to food by all. When governments falter in their approach we believe that the Committee has a role to play in offering advice and guidance.
The Thirteenth Committee of Food Security had before it two case studies - Tanzania and Niger. We found these studies to be most informative. However, we feel that greater analysis and concrete recommendations would have improved the exercise. We believe that future case studies should address these points.
While internal domestic mechanisms and policies must be in place to enhance food security we also recognize the importance of external factors in the whole equation. It will little benefit a country if, despite it being a most efficient producer of a particular export commodity, it is denied access to international markets or meets barriers to its free trading.
You will be pleased to hear that I will spare the Council another recitation of our views on this issue of free and liberal agricultural trading policies and the benefits which accrue to both developed and developing countries, even food importers, in following such a course. You will recall my colleague covered this matter very thoroughly this morning. Suffice to say we believe the Committee on Food Security has a role to play in both domestic and international dimensions of the problem.
Turning specifically to matters in the Committee's report requiring attention by this Council. We have given some attention to ways of improving the work of the Committee. Quite frankly we have felt that the debate in the last two CFS sessions have lacked some specific focus and substance despite the complete and thorough documentation provided for the Committee members by the secretariat and the importance of the issues before us then. In its wider sense food security is now partly caught up in the broader issues of international agricultural reform and trade liberalization. As such, it is under active consideration in other UN fora.Therefore, should we not be considering whether or not the undoubted importance and status of the Committee could be enhanced by a move to the biennialization of its regular meetings? By meeting once in two years, and not annually, we would better ensure that the fullest attention is paid to its deliberation (in capitals) and that its recommendations and pronouncements are given the intention and action they deserve. Of course, there would always be provision to resort to more frequent meetings if deterioration in the world food security situation demanded. We believe that this could be decided by the Director-General in consultation with the Committee bureau. A biennium session would also have the advantage of saving scarce FAO resources and ease the burden on an already heavily pressured secretariat. We believe that less urgent food security matters needing consideration in intermediate years perhaps could be put to the Committee on Agriculture or other appropriate fora for resolution.
We recognize that such a change would require an amendment to the rules of procedure, but of course the Conference would need to consider this issue in detail.
Regarding the other issues, we endorse the general thrust of proposed future studies by the Committee as stated in the document. We note the proposed measures to improve access to food by the poor. We believe that the single most significant contribution by the poor to improve access would be through government action to ensure the correct mix of market or intended agricultural development strategies in conjunction with poverty reduction programmes. However, to achieve this food and agriculture must be given the highest priority by the food deficit and food insecure countries involved.
Finally, we support the Food Security Assistance Scheme while recognizing that there are some problems which exist at the individual project level.
V.R. SIBAL (India): The issues to which we are to address ourselves are clearly focussed on page 2 of document CL 94/10. The Indian delegation agrees with the assessment of the world food security situation by the Committee on World Food Security. We share the committee's concern at the anticipated large decline in food stocks of developing countries and the serious deterioration in
the food security situation in a number of low-income food-deficit countries. The locust menace is costing a further shadow on the food security of these countries. This has accentuated the need for higher levels of food aid to enhance the food security and improving the access to food by the poor.
We agree that the highest priority needs to be given to the food and agricultural sector of the low-income food-deficit countries under a suitable policy framework and the efforts of these countries in this area need to be supported with adequate technical and financial assistance. We also support the need for action to bring about a better balance in the cereal markets and greater export market access to enable developing countries to earn the requisite foreign exchange to meet their needs. In view of the importance of food security for the developing countries and the rapid fluctuation in the global set-up for world food security, annual meetings of the committee are imperative so that the situation can be monitored closely and effectively. In this context we welcome the holding of the next meeting in April 1989.
We support the need to analyze the impact of structural adjustment programmes on access to food by the poor and the compensatory measures that may be required and hope that the Secretariat can come up with a paper on this subject in the next session of the committee.
Research for development on indicators and for identification of target groups for improving access to food by the poor, more precise measuring of the cost effectiveness and viability of different interventions also needs to be initiated early.
We agree with the new terms of reference for the FSAS and the new structural arrangements that have been put in place. These would have to be monitored closely so that they could be further refined to make them more effective. The responsibilities here under the new scheme are larger and would therefore need more funds.
We also agree that the Food Security Programme should give particular attention to ECDC and TCDC and greater attention also needs to be given to the food security of the lowest income groups in these countries.
We thank you, for the opportunity given to us to express our views on this subject.
Sra. Miriam IHZAULGARAT GARCIA de FEREZ (Cuba): Yo también le felicito por estar con nosotros presidiendo esta reunión de esta noche. El Informe que se presenta a este 94º Consejo de la FAO refleja los debates sostenidos durante las sesiones de este importante Comité, y mi Delegación lo apoya totalmente. El programa que se ofrecía en aquellas sesiones del mes de Abril motivaron serias reflexiones que, meses después, han confirmado la gravedad de la Situación Alimentaria Mundial, y que ya fueron señalados tanto por el Director General en su declaración, como por los documentos presentados por la Secretaría para el tema 4.
La persistencia de fenómenos naturales están provocando descensos en la producción agrícola y habrá menos alimentos. Son los pronósticos que nos llegan a través de los estudios autorizados de la FAO, sin que haya podido avanzarse en otros problemas acuciantes que los países en desarrollo hemos venido denunciando sistemáticamente y así se hizo en el pasado Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial: los efectos nocivos de la deuda externa y sus servicios, el proteccionismo y otros.
La Delegación cubana, en este 13º Período de Sesiones, solicitó que en el futuro los documentos de evaluación de la Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial contuvieran mayor información sobre ellos y se pronunciasen por la implantación de un Nuevo Orden Económico Internacional más justo. Mi Delegación reitera hoy esos planteamientos.
Permítame referirme a un tema analizado en otras reuniones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial y en Conferencias Generales de la FAO, y en el Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación. Se trata de condenar la utilización de los alimentos como instrumento de presión política, el bloqueo económico y el embargo comercial. La reciente Conferencia Regional de la FAO para América Latina también hizo suya esta condena.
Mi Delegación quiere referirse además a los estudios monográficos sobre el Programa de la Seguridad Alimentaria en los distintos países que despertó interés en el Comité.
Esos estudios, si bien no presentaban alternativas de soluciones en los casos enunciados, sí destacaban una serie de cuestiones de política que era preciso tener en cuenta en el proceso de formulación de políticas y estrategias nacionales en materia de Seguridad Alimentaria. Y se subrayó que los esfuerzos para mejorar la Seguridad Alimentaria deberían formar parte integrante de una estrategia de desarrollo económico global. Por otra parte, se resaltó que las reformas macroeconómicas y la reforma agraria contribuirían de manera importante a la equidad y a una mejor distribución de los suministros de alimentos disponibles.
La Delegación cubana reitera la importancia de la aplicación del Programa de Acción aprobado por la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural que este informe señala. Por segunda vez en este 940 Consejo, expresamos la importancia y necesidad de contar con la FAO al analizarse los programas de ajuste estructural en lo concerniente al sector agrícola.
Queremos también referirnos al Plan de Asistencia para la Seguridad Alimentaria, PASA, que debe formularse en estrecha consulta con los Gobiernos beneficiarios y que su ejecución exige una intensificación de la presencia y acción de la FAO a nivel nacional en lo cual tendría una participación decisiva el Representante de la FAO en esos países. Otra solicitud sobre el PASA y que mi Delegación apoya, es la necesidad de que éste no sólo formule políticas internas en los países en desarrollo sino también incluya las repercusiones de los factores económicos externos como son la falta de acceso de nuestros productos a los mercados mundiales, el proteccionismo, la deuda externa y sus servicios, los bajos precios de los productos básicos y el deterioro de las relaciones de intercambio que afectan a la seguridad alimentaria en los países en desarrollo.
Por ultimo permítame decirle que apoyamos la decisión de celebrar las reuniones de este Comité en 1989 en la forma que ha sido decidida por el Director General.
EL PRESIDENTE: Honorable Delegada: La pido disculpas por haberla calificado de Delegado y no Delegada.
Bashir EL MABROÜK SAID (Libya) (Original launguage Arabic): Mr. Chairman, we are indeed delighted to greet you and welcome you now that you are chairing this session. It gives us great pleasure to see you here guiding the work of Council during this session. I would also like to express my thanks to the Chairman of the Committee on World Food Security. He gave us a splendid introduction, and in view of the limited amount of time available I shall be as brief as possible.
My delegation is of the view that these issues which were studied at the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on. World Food Security are very important issues indeed. My delegation endorses the concensus reached during this Thirteenth Session. We agree with the contents of the report. Nevertheless the assessment of the situation of world food security is such that a high-level evaluation is indeed an excellent idea and we are grateful to the Committee for having reached such a decision. We recognize the fact that the Committee has done its utmost to achieve the consolidation of national policies guaranteeing world food security.
I should like to draw your attention to a number of specific points that I should like to make in connection with what was said by Cuba and Mexico. I can tell you that the guaranteeing of food security for developing countries has deteriorated because of very negative situations which have affected world food security, as is already mentioned in this document. We would more than ever encourage the need to move towards a new international economnic order and we agree with the Compact for Food Security which is referred to in paragraph 15. There is this reference at the end of paragraph 15 to the World Food Security Compact.
We have to take into account the changes in economic and political conditions and it is necessary to have an appropriate assessment of these conditions. There is also a need to have close contact and consultations between governments and donor countries and all those other countries which may be benefiting from these services. We believe that all of them should be consulted. This was mentioned by our friend the head of the Indian delegation. So we reiterate with great enthusiasm our appeal that the Committee should meet every year as has been the case, and for all the various reasons that have been mentioned by other speakers.
Mme Evelyne SENGSUWAN (France): Monsieur le Président, ma délégation se félicite de vous voir présider l'examen de ce point de l'ordre du jour. Je souhaiterais centrer won intervention sur deux points importants qui relèvent de la compétence de ce Conseil.
En premier lieu, le Comité s'est déclaré préoccupé par la baisse de la production alimentaire par habitant dans un grand nombre de pays en développement et ses conséquences sur la consommation, c'est-à-dire la sous-alimentation et la faim. Je souhaite insister sur plusieurs éléments pouvant contribuer à renverser ces tendances.
Un premier point concerne la nature des politiques agricoles. La France soutiendra toute action visant à accroître la cohérence des politiques agricoles et alimentaires nationales autour de l'objectif de l'autosuffisance. Le développement des productions nationales de denrées alimentaires doit en effet constituer l'axe central des politiques de sécurité alimentaire. Recourir systématiquement au marché mondial constitue une fausse solution et amènerait à l'abandon d'un grand nombre de productions sans espoir, à l'orientation de l'activité agricole vers d'autres productions ou au transfert des ruraux vers d'autres activités non agricoles.
Un second point concerne la coordination régionale des politiques. Ainsi l'objectif d'une plus grande autosuffisance reste prioritaire. Il nous apparaît que cet objectif peut-être grandement favorisé par l'harmonisation et la coordination des politiques agricoles nationales au sein d'espaces régionaux. En effet, la coordination des politiques nationales en matière de prix à la production, de consommation, de taxation et de politiques douanières, autrement dit la constitution d'espaces régionaux protégés, peut contribuer grandement à l'obtention de la sécurité alimentaire. La mise en place de telles structures permettra de conduire une politique efficace de protection contre les importations à bas prix de céréales. La France soutient tout développement des échanges intrarégionaux entre pays en développement.
Le troisième élément de cette réflexion concerne l'aide alimentaire. En matière d'aide alimentaire, je rappellerai que la France considère que cette aide ne vient constituer qu'un volet limité d'une politique de sécurité alimentaire. En tout état de cause, lorsqu'elle se révèle nécessaire, elle devrait à notre sens prendre les formes suivantes: l'aide alimentaire doit être intégrée dans des projets de développement et des plans de développement; les aides sous forme de transactions triangulaires sont à encourager. La France a récemment réalisé des opérations de ce type, notamment avec le Zimbabwé et le Malawi, le Mali et la Mauritanie.
Le second point de mon intervention concerne les effets des politiques d'ajustement structurelles. On parle beaucoup actuellement, et non sans raison, des effets sociaux négatifs de l'ajustement. En premier lieu, il conviendrait d'améliorer l'information dont on peut disposer sur ces problèmes en engageant les études nécessaires à la détermination de l'incidence des programmes d'ajustement sur l'accès des pauvres à la nourriture. La France, par conséquent, soutient les activités que mènera la FAO dans ce domaine. Nous considérons que l'objectif d'une telle démarche ne doit pas être de colmater les effets négatifs de programmes d'ajustement qui sont certes justifiés. Mais au contraire, nous considérons que ces analyses doivent permettre de définir les programmes d'ajustement structurels en tenant compte de leurs conséquences sociales. Nous nous interrogeons sur l'utilisation qui sera faite de ces évaluations, si elles conduisent à la conclusion que les effets négatifs de la diminution de la demande annuleraient les effets positifs attendus des réformes.
L'essentiel n'est pas ici l'adoption de mesures paliatives en faveur de tel ou tel groupe particulièrement défavorisé. La définition de nouveaux programmes d'ajustement permettant un retour à la croissance, y compris de certains secteurs jugés prioritaires, devrait être l'objectif central de toute démarche dans ce domaine. Par son expérience et ses compétences, la FAO devrait contribuer de manière active aux réflexions menées pour résoudre ces problèmes avec les autres institutions multilatérales et bilatérales compétentes.
Enfin, pour terminer cette intervention, ma délégation rappellera qu'elle est favorable à la tenue d'une session du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale chaque année. La situation alimentaire est par nature instable et mérite aussi chaque année une étude attentive.
Igor KIPMAN (Brazil): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of my delegation I am pleased to express our satisfaction to have you, sir, chairing the Council during discussion of this agenda item. I begin by thanking Mr. de Rijk for the clear and comprehensive introduction of the report. The Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security was a very fruitful one, and debates held during that meeting dealt with issues of the utmost importance for developing countries.
Even though running the risk of repeating some aspects my delegation already mentioned during discussion of agenda item 4, I consider it important to call the Council's attention to the contents of paragraphs 15 and 16 which underline the strong impact of adverse external economic factors on the food security situation in developing countries, such as restrictions on access to markets, the heavy burden of external debt servicing, low prices for export products, deteriorating terms of trade, as well as the development of substitute products.
Almost all delegations expressed their concern regarding the protectionist policies adopted by a number of developed countries which are detrimental to global economic growth and food security.
Regarding the external debt crisis I can shorten my intervention, by supporting the views expressed by the distinguished delegate of Mexico. As to the frequency of the CFS meeting, Mr. Chairman, my
delegation was pleased to learn its Fourteenth Session will be convened in 1989, since that was the will expressed by the great majority of the members of the Committee.
The great relevance of the subjects discussed and the volatility of the world food security situation are to be taken into account, and information delivered during the discussion of previous items of the current session of the Council, as well as the Director-General's opening remarks, seem to confirm that since the Thirteenth Session of the CFS circumstances in the world supply of food have already changed enough to confirm the wisdom of such a decision.
Discussion on item 4 of the Agenda of the Thirteenth Session of CFS was also very important. Measures to improve access to food by the poor. It goes without saying that such is a key issue not only in that Committee but, in fact, in the backbone of FAO activities, and the main concern of any country.
As it was agreed by the Committee, improving access of food by the poor is of vital importance, Mr. Chairman. I dare say, however, that even more important than that is reducing poverty so that we would not have to worry about people not having access to food. In that case, of course, there would not be a need for any meetings of the CFS. I am sure all member countries of the Organization would agree to that.
Dong QINGSONG (China) (Original language Chinese): The Chinese delegation carefully studied the Report of the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security. An objective analysis is given in the report of the food security situation in the world, attesting to the success of the deliberations of the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security. We endorse the report and hope that the Council will approve it. However, seven months after the meeting, the global food situation has changed unfavourably. The major food producers and exporters in North America have experienced a drastic decline in food production as a result of the drought, rendering the food security situation all the more serious for this year. According to the forecast by the end of this year, the world food reserve will have declined from 400 million tonnes of last year to 283 million tonnes, accounting for only 16 percent of the consumption needs for next year. It is the first time since the world food crisis in 1972/74 that the food reserve will fall below the minimum level considered by FAO to be necessary for ensuring world food security. The present world food security is marked by an aggravating hunger against the backdrop of food supplies.
Therefore, it is only fitting and proper that the Thirteenth Session took this important item on the agenda. We believe that work in the following three areas will be of practical importance to the promotion of world food security.
Firstly, it is essential to formulate and implement food security plans. As is well-known, the work in this regard has already begun in some countries, regions, or sub-regions, and results have been achieved. The food security of today is a global issue which is a source of great concern by the international community. It is our view that, in order to solve the problem completely, it is necessary that member countries and the international community at large take planned and concerted actions at all levels, and arrangements be made as far as production, circulation, distribution and final consumption with a view to ensuring food security.
Secondly, we find ourselves in total agreement with a view expressed in paragraph 15 of document CL 94/10. Some external factors are exerting serious and active influence on the food security of developing countries. To overcome these external factors is a complicated matter. However, the problem can be solved if all the parties concerned can take into account the need to invigorate world agriculture and take practical and sound measures, particularly those measures that offer preferential and discriminatory treatment to low-income deficit food countries, and these problems can be solved finally.
One of the main causes behind the uncertainty that characterizes the food security situation of developing countries, is the weak foundation of food and agriculture production. The overcoming of this fragile ability requires, on the one hand, the countries' concerned to make their own efforts and, on the other hand, the international community to provide technical and financial assistance which should help recipient countries to get over present difficulties and, at the same time, improve their production capabilities in the long run.
We have taken note of the discussion by the Committee on Food Security at its Thirteenth Session on the frequency of its meetings. Given the uncertainty in the world food security situation, we consider it necessary for us to have one meeting a year for the time being.
Luka RADOJOCIC (Yugoslavia): With regard to the Report of the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security, I would like to state that the Yugoslav delegation supports the Report of this Committee and commends the positive trends in its work, particularly with regard to channelling the activities for ensuring world food security, especially in low-income and food-deficient countries.
Our country attaches great importance to the work of the Committee bearing in mind the benefits derived from it so far, as well as its role in mobilizing public opinion to deal with topical problems in the area of world food security. For this reason we feel that it is important that the Committee meet once a year.
We share the deep concern and regret that the world food situation continues to be characterized by the contrast between the abundance of food on the one hand and hunger and malnutrition on the other. Particularly worrisome is the continued trend of lower per capita food production and consumption, which certainly aggravates the problem of hunger and malnutrition in the world, and imposes the need of extending greater food aid to the afflicted countries.
We support the stance of the Committee that food must not be used as a political weapon, and particularly its recommendations for exerting efforts to improve national policies so that food security should be an integral part of the economic development strategy of developing countries.
Hasim OGUT (Turkey): I would like to extend my delegation's thanks to the Chairman of the CFS for his very clear and comprehensive statement which enabled us to refresh our memories of what took place at this Session and the main points contained in the report.
My delegation notes with satisfaction that the report of the Thirteenth Session of the CFS represents in a balanced manner most of the views expressed at the Session, including those of my delegation. I therefore can limit my intervention to stressing certain observations and conclusions which are of particular interest to us.
Firstly, I wish to call the attention of the Council to Paragraphs, in particular Paragraphs 9 and 10 which refer to the declines in global cereal stocks due to production failures and certain policies. These paragraphs touch also upon the deteriorating situation in developing countries with respect to production, consumption and stocks of staple foods and portray even a more disturbing picture in this regard. Our assessment of the State of Food and Agriculture in 1988 at this Council Session has likewise confirmed this undesirable development. My delegation, noting with concern this situation, calls on the concerned governments and the international community to intensify efforts to redress this situation in the light of the broadened concept of world food security.
We agree with the Committee's view that large-scale actions are needed first to deal with the adverse consequences of the present world food security situation under human nutrition and welfare. More importantly, joint efforts are needed to cope with the factors causing reduction in the capacity of countries and persons to produce or to buy food. In this connection, I would like to emphasize the need for the elimination of external factors leading to distortions in the international commodity markets as mentioned in Paragraphs 15 and 16 in view of their unquestionable adverse effect on the food security of developing countries, particularly low-income food deficit countries.
As for the future work of the Committee and the frequency of its sessions, my delegation feels that of the subjects suggested for future works the one entitled "Effects of Food Security on Structural Adjustment Programmes" deserves high priority as such programmes are presently widely implemented by many countries and their adverse consequences are mostly felt in the form of additional nutritional problems among the poorer sectors of population.
Coming to the frequency of the sessions of the CFS, we share the view of those delegations who stressed the need for examining the world food security situation at annual intervals. We are pleased to learn from the Chairman that the Director-General and the Chairman himself have agreed to hold the next session in April 1989. However, noting that some delegations could not associate themselves with this procedure and that this subject was suggested to be put on the agenda of the Programme or the Finance Committee we would like to put forth the following proposal for consideration at an eventual discussion in the Programme and Finance Committee. The Committee should meet annually but one of the sessions in a biennium could be held in a host country, preferably in the country whose food security policies and programmes are to be discussed at the session as a case study. In this way, case studies themselves could be made even more useful and meaningful.
I would like to conclude by saying that my delegation endorses the Report of the Fourteenth Session of the CFS and recommends that it be approved by the Council in full.
Roger PASQUIER (Suisse): Pour faire gagner un peu de temps j'ai le plaisir de parler au nom de deux délégations, celle de la Suisse et celle des Pays-Bas.
Les délégations de nos deux pays ont pris connaissance avec beaucoup d'intérêt du rapport de la 13ème session du Comité de la Sécurité alimentaire mondiale. Si ce rapport reflète bien les débats du Comité, nos délégations ne peuvent se cacher que les résultats de ces débats restent en-dessous de leur attente, malgré la présidence efficace de M. de Rijk. On aurait beaucoup de peine à tirer des conclusions concrètes et utiles aux Pays Membres de ce document.
La partie consacrée à la situation de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale contient un catalogue d'éléments qui ont tous leur importance à divers degrés selon les pays pour la sécurité alimentaire, mais nous aurions souhaité que le Comité soit en mesure de mieux lier les éléments pour en faire un tout logique donnant une orientation au Secrétariat pour son travail futur.
Pour nos délégations, la Sécurité alimentaire reste toutefois une responsabilité essentiellement nationale, comme l'ont souligné plusieurs délégations avant moi. La présentation des monographies sur les programmes de sécurité alimentaire de Tanzanie et du Niger nous semble un exercice qui procède d'une bonne intention, mais qui est resté trop superficiel.
Nos délégations aimeraient proposer d'intensifier cet exercice, comme elles l'ont indiqué à la session du Comité et suggèrent que, pour approfondir les débats, le pays faisant l'objet d'une monographie et qui choisit de la présenter au Comité invite un nombre limité de pays de toutes les régions, environ une douzaine de pays au total, à étudier le dossier en détail. Un tel exercice permettrait d'intensifier les échanges d'expériences et serait plus profitable aussi bien pour les pays examinés que pour les autres pays membres.
Le problème de l'accès des pauvres à la nourriture concerne pratiquement tous les pays du monde, même certains pays très riches qui ont naturellement plus de ressources pour le résoudre. Les échanges d'expériences, notamment sur l'identification des groupes cibles et les méthodes d'intervention, devraient à notre avis être intensifiés, non seulement entre les organisations internationales qui traitent de ce problème, mais également entre les pays afin de rationaliser l'approche et éviter que des groupes dans le besoin soient ignorés.
Finalement, en ce qui concerne le rôle du programme d'assistance pour la sécurité alimentaire, la délégation suisse et la délégation des Pays-Bas aimeraient aborder deux aspects complémentaires l'un de l'autre. Ces deux aspects sont, d'une part le renforcement des capacités de la FAO à offrir les services efficaces aux pays membres dans le cadre du concept élargi de la sécurité alimentaire, et d'autre part les relations entre la FAO, ces pays membres et d'autres organisations comme la Banque mondiale, les banques régionales, le PNUD, etc.
En ce qui concerne le premier aspect, nous constatons avec satisfaction que des mesures concrètes ont été prises pour donner suite aux recommandations de la mission d'évaluation et de divers organes de la FAO qui ont examiné ce problème.
Afin que l'unité chargée du PASA soit en mesure de faire un travail réaliste et utile aux pays membres, elle doit être en mesure de profiter des expériences de tous les services de la FAO qui, directement ou même indirectement, peuvent apporter une contribution utile, par exemple la division des ressources humaines et les services s occupant des technologies alimentaires.
Lors de la dernière session du Groupe intergouvernemental sur les céréales, on a évoqué dans la même optique le rôle que peut jouer l'alimentation animale pour l'équilibre de la production et l'approvisionnement en céréales.
Nous aimerions également souligner l'importance des statistiques dans les pays comme base de travail.
Tous ces éléments, et d'autres encore, doivent pouvoir être pris en compte pour la formulation de politiques viables de sécurité alimentaire.
Nous pensons aussi que les équipes spéciales par pays (en anglais task forces) devraient être mises en place rapidement pour permettre un travail efficace.
D'autres ajustements des structures internes de la FAO seront peut-être proposés par les experts et les sociétés d'études qui examinent actuellement l'Organisation. Il conviendra d'en tenir compte, le moment venu, pour assurer une efficacité optimale du travail.
En ce qui concerne le deuxième aspect que je viens d'évoquer, voici notre opinion.
S'il est indispensable que la FAO démontre sa capacité, il est aussi important que les pays fassent appel à cette capacité, comme l'a souligné le Directeur général dans son allocution au début de la présente session.
J'aimerais illustrer ce propos en comparant la préparation et la mise en oeuvre d'une politique de sécurité alimentaire par un pays à la construction d'une maison par un particulier. Si je veux construire une maison, j'ai besoin de deux éléments majeurs: un architecte et une banque pour compléter mes ressources. Il ne me viendrait jamais à l'esprit de demander à ma banque le plan de construction pour cette maison, ni à l'architecte de financer cette maison. La FAO doit jouer le rôle de l'architecte, mais pas du banquier. De même une institution financière devrait servir de banquier, mais pas en même temps d'architecte. Une concentration d'influences savoir le rôle de l'architecte et du banquier dans une seule institution, ne nous paraît pas saine.
E. Wayne DENNEY (United States of America): Mr. Chairman, we would join with others in congratulating you, as well as Mr. di Rijk for introducing this item and, more importantly, we feel Mr. de Rijk did an excellent job of serving as Committee Chairman.
The United States actively participated in the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security. In our view, the report accurately reflects what transpired during the meeting. Discussions were professional and sincere. Whilst not everyone was satisfied with the case studies on national food security programmes, there was widespread support for doing additional case studies taking into account suggestions made by the Committee. Most members felt that preparation of case studies would enable the Committee to address real world issues and offer practical solutions.
Perhaps the most important item discussed was improving access to food by the poor. Discussions once again revealed the difficulty associated with identifying vulnerable groups and targeting meaningful programmes for their benefit.
The United States and several other countries referred to the possibility of convening the CFS on a biennial basis. Paragraphs 20 and 45 accurately portray the sentiments of various countries on that issue. In this context, the United States believes that the length and frequency of all meetings, including the CFS, should be periodically reviewed.
Comments made by the United States during the Thirteenth Session were similar to those expressed earlier by Australia, but before we render further judgement on the matter we want to see what recommendations are made by the high-level group of experts.
Regarding comments relating to the status of the World Food Security compact, we would tend to believe that Ambassador Bula Hoyos of Colombia may have been right in suggesting that it appears to have been merely a proposal to attract attention.
Finally, we question the advisability of making a decision to reassess the role of trans-national corporations on a regular basis. Given proposals made at the Thirteenth CFS for specific agenda items to be addressed, the FAO reviews underway and concerns expressed about the frequency of future CFS sessions, we believe it' is premature to consider such a decision at this time.
Noboru SAITO (Japan): My delegation fully agrees that whilst the prime responsibility for resolving food programmes in developing countries lies in their own efforts, assistance from international society to support their efforts is also important. Bearing this in mind, my Government attaches the highest priority to the increase of food production through agricultural assistance to food deficient countries. It also attaches high priority to food aid as a transitional or urgent measure for all low-income food deficient countries. My country is of the basic viewpoint that the principal role of agricultural policies is that of securing a stable food supply for the people. With this in mind, my country is endeavouring firstly to maintain the domestic supply and capacity for basic foodstuffs; secondly to secure a stable import; and thirdly to keep an adequate reserve of major cereals in preparation for an emergency.
Whilst the improvement in access to food by the poor should be approached basically under national long-term programmes relating to the economy, employment and income-generation of each country as a whole, urgent measures to assist the poor are also important. There are a number of policies and measures to meet the objectives mentioned above. It is vital that those measures be taken, placing priority on encouraging the efforts of the poor to overcome poverty for themselves.
My delegation also appreciates FAO's having placed priority in the FSAS to promote relevant activities and hopes that the recipient countries themselves will endeavour to consolidate domestic institutions and to strengthen follow-up action so as to achieve maximum effect with limited resources in the future, and that sufficient consideration will be given in order to keep efficient corporate relationships between FAO, other international organizations like UNDP, and donor countries.
As to the proposed structural arrangement for the intensification of FSAS activities, FAO's efforts for the reorganization should be conducted by the best use of current available financial as well as human resources. At the same time, it might also be important that those matters proposed by FAO be examined in the context of the review of FAO as a whole.
Finally, although my delegation agrees with the importance of committee work in this field, we suggest that biennial meetings would be preferable unless there is an urgent need to convene a meeting.
Hidayat Ganda ATMADJA (Indonesia): Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to see you chairing these deliberations.
The Indonesian delegation would like to join other delegates in endorsing the report of the Committee, and in commending the Committee for its comprehensive report and sharp observation on various issues concerning world food security.
My delegation is in full agreement with the conclusion emerging from the two case studies, as stated by the Chairman of the Committee on World Food Security in his introduction, that there is no unique guideline on food security issues which would be applicable to all countries, and that the strategy and the choice of appropriate policies would depend on the specific situation of each country.
We agree with the view that efforts to improve national food security should be an integral part of an overall economic development strategy which should, inter alia, take into account resource endowments, comparative advantage, population growth and ecological factors.
In this respect, allow me also to stress that strengthening of stocks at national, regional and sub-regional levels is urgently needed to overcome food problems and to achieve the objective of world food security. The need for developing more adequate arrangements for reserve stocks at national, regional and international levels should in this respect be given particular consideration and be promoted accordingly. It would naturally be equally important to take into account the need for strengthening the necessary infrastructures in the developing countries such as adequate storage facilities, transportation, communications, as well as ports and shipping facilities. These can only materialise with sufficient flow of resources devoted to the efforts of food security advancement provided at national government level and supported by external sources in terms of technical as well as financial assistance.
At the outset my delegation would like to reiterate its support for the prominent role that FAO plays in promoting and coordinating Food Security Assistance Schemes. My delegation would also like to appeal to the developed member nations and international donor agencies to increase their assistance to the developing countries to enable them to improve their food security situation.
Michael McGILL (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom participated in the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security but I have to say that we were disappointed with the quality of the meeting. In our view, the debates lacked substance. Whilst we found the country case studies stimulating and informative, we wonder whether the Committee on Agriculture would not have been a more appropriate forum for full discussion.
It is true that poverty lies at the root of the problem of hunger and malnutrition. The resumption of sustainable economic growth is a prerequisite for improving food security.
May I thank the Chairman of the CFS for the news of the reduction in the working days allocated to the Committee meetings. This is indeed most welcome.
Let me say that whilst we generally support the concept of the CFS and believe it could have the potential to play a significant role, our experience of the actual meetings leads us to question the need for the Committee to meet every year. Given the present financial position and budget shortfall, there is a need for administrative flexibility in the non-operational activities. In this respect, we agree with the distinguished delegates of Australia and Japan that consideration be
given to make the Committee on World Food Security a biennial event, with, of course, a provision to call an emergency meeting should the overall picture of world food security rapidly deteriorate. The Director-General and the Chairman of the CFS could keep in close liaison over food security matters and call for an emergency meeting if and when required. The financial savings incurred by the "biennialization" of the CFS could be channelled into operational areas which must have priority, and there are many priorities as we have heard so far during the Plenary. We know that there has been a drop in cereal production for the second successive year, but grain is not grown by the CFS. Less meetings mean that more money can be given to projects to raise food production.
My delegation hopes that serious consideration is given to this matter. It would also be helpful if the Secretariat could provide a breakdown of savings if the CFS were to be held biennially. I should be grateful for that.
Finally, we should like to record a note of caution about generalization as to the impact of structural adjustment programmes on food access by the poor. This is dealt with in paragraph 32 in document CL 94/10. As of yet there is a lack of hard evidence on the impact of structural adjustment programmes on the poor, but in some cases the introduction of higher producer prices for foodstuffs will increase production and actually make food more readily available.
Gerhard LIEBER (Germany, Federal Republic of): My delegation would like to thank the Committee on World Food Security for the work done at its Thirteenth Session. We welcome the informative and realistic report of the CFS. Much could be said and commended, but I will keep my statement short.
We agree especially with the assessment of the world food situation. We have to state with regret that the world food situation has deteriorated since the last CFS meeting. As we all know the cereal harvests in 1988 were below consumption accompanied by the decline in stocks below the minimum level FAO considered to be necessary to safeguard world food security. Already this has resulted in a marked increase in cereal prices. This increase in price has already led to a deterioration of the food supply situation in particular, and that is most worrying for the poorest sections of the population in the low-income food deficit countries.
In view of the present food situation, which is particularly critical for many developing countries, we feel that for the time being it is necessary that the CFS should maintain its sessions on an annual basis in order to be able to respond adequately to any new development.
My government is fully aware of the fact that solutions of general validity to achieve food security worldwide do not exist. The necessary measures have to be adapted to the special conditions prevailing in every country concerned. Nevertheless, we feel that there are some basic important requirements that must be met in order to be able to increase sustained food security in developing countries throughout the world. We feel that these basic requirements are inter alia. The list is certainly not complete.
First, there should be an increase in local food production and control of population growth also through social development.
Secondly, liberalization of food markets and, in our opinion, very important, realistic internal price policies.
We are prepared to take an active part in the elaboration of viable solutions in these fields. For this reason the Federal Republic of Germany has always endeavoured to keep the markets of the European Community open for food imports from developing countries. Moreover, we hope that a strengthened role of agricultural policies within the framework of GATT negotiations, in particular for tropical products, may be able to achieve at least limited success.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you honourable delegate of the Federal Republic of Germany for your short and precise statement. I think I will close the meeting at this stage.
The meeting rose at 20.00 h.
La séance est levée à 20 h 00.
Se levanta la sesión a las 20.00 h.
