LE PRESIDENT: Je vais vous faire part des propositions de nomination des membres du Comité de Rédaction.
Différents contacts ont eu lieu tant entre les groupes régionaux qu'entre les deux grands groupes OCDE et Groupe des 77.
La proposition qui m'est soumise donnerait la présidence du Comité de rédaction au Canada en la personne de M. David Drake, Directeur des relations internationales de la forêt au Canada.
Je vous donne lecture des pays proposés: Angola, Argentine, Australie, Canada par le biais de son Président, France, République islamique d'Iran, Japon, Mexique, Pakistan, Philippines, Soudan, Suède, Zambie.
Est-ce qu'il y a des observations concernant cette proposition de Présidence du Comité de rédaction et des différents membres de ce Comité de rédaction?
Je souligne que M. David Drake est le Directeur des relations internationales de la forêt au Canada. Je n'ai pas dit qu'il était membre du Département de la forêt du Québec. Son bureau se situe à Hull, qui se trouve au Québec en face d'Ottawa, de l'autre côté de la rivière Saint Laurent.
Donc s'il n'y a pas de remarques, je considère que le Comité de rédaction est ainsi composé et que sa présidence en est assurée par le Canada.
It was so decided.
Il en est ainsi décidé.
Asi se acuerda.
Pedro KANGA (Angola): C'est pour nous un grand plaisir de vous voir une fois de plus présider cette 102ème session du Conseil. Grâce à votre expérience et à votre sagesse, nos assises seront couronnées de succès.
Nos félicitations s'adressent également aux trois Vice-Présidents et au Secrétariat pour le document qui est soumis à notre examen. La délégation angolaise n'oublie pas non plus de féliciter et de remercier M. Hjort pour l'exposé qu'il nous a présenté de façon simple et sans ambiguïté.
Ce document nous trace la situation mondiale, en présentant tour à tour le panorama économique mondial selon les régions, la production alimentaire et agricole, le commerce agricole, l'assistance extérieure et l'aide alimentaire, les pêches et les forêts. Il met en exergue la baisse totale de la production, accentuée dans les pays en développement et l'Afrique sub-saharienne en particulier; comme on peut le dire de la situation alimentaire précaire en Afrique australe, due aux calamités naturelles et aux situations provoquées par l'homme.
Plusieurs facteurs ont aggravé des problèmes qui sont désormais familiers aux pays en développement, notamment la dette extérieure, la difficulté d'accès aux marchés développés et la faiblesse des cours mondiaux des principaux produits qu'ils exportent. Ceci constitue pour les pays en développement une situation de détresse qui s'explique par un environnement général plutôt défavorable à l'agriculture.
Si les perspectives s'annoncent meilleures pour les pays industrialisés en termes de croissance en volume du commerce mondial, celles des pays en développement confrontés au protectionnisme et autres facteurs imposés par les pays développés sont décourageantes.
Je voudrais maintenant parler de l'Angola. Comme la communauté internationale le sait, mon pays a été confronté à deux problèmes majeurs: la guerre civile qui a sévi pendant 16 ans, et la sécheresse pendant plusieurs années consécutives.
Ces deux facteurs ont désarticulé le système de production paysanne et ont affecté l'état nutritionnel des populations dans leurs zones d'origine comme dans les villes. Ceci a eu comme effet direct l'exode rural et un accroissement de la population autour des grandes villes du pays, qui n'étaient pas préparées à l'accueillir.
Il y a à peu près un mois on envisageait avec optimisme notre avenir agricole, avec la garantie de la libre circulation des biens et des personnes, la promotion de la libre initiative dans le secteur productif des biens et des services, l'émergence de la tolérance politique. La situation agricole et alimentaire évoluait progressivement depuis la signature des accords de paix, unique alternative viable et logique pour une solution durable qui a permis la mise en place d'une politique agraire nationale fiable qui garantissait la sécurité alimentaire d'une part et le bien être social des populations aussi bien rurales qu'urbaines d'autres part. Des lois ont été promulguées, celle de la terre, par exemple, qui réglemente la concession et l'usage des terres. Une campagne agricole de grande envergure a été réalisée, la première en temps de paix qui a amené à la mobilisation et à la canalisation d'une grande partie des ressources disponibles au secteur agraire afin de promouvoir la connaissance des capacités créatrices et productives sans oublier la reconquête de la dignité des populations rurales. Des quantités minimum de semences et d'instruments de travail de base ont été distribuées.
Cet effort du gouvernement qui a été soutenu par un élan de solidarité de la communauté internationale et l'optimisme qui nous animait tous s'est malheureusement évanoui suite à l'intolérance de certaines personnes incapables de jouer le jeu démocratique.
Nous assistons actuellement au retour de la situation de 1975 en raison d'une forte croissance des populations de réfugiés et de personnes déplacées, d'où l'impossibilité de mettre en oeuvre le programme tracé pour leur intégration socio-économique.
Pour terminer, ma délégation ne peut qu'exprimer son désappointement quant au manque de résultats substantiels et la persistance des déséquilibres dans les négociations de l'Uruguay Round. Nous espérons que les participants mettront en pratique la libéralisation du commerce pour l'agriculture car une guerre économique serait une catastrophe pour les pays en développement.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous émettons tous, le souhait que la situation difficile que connaît l'Angola puisse se régler par la paix, dans l'esprit que vous avez décrit, le plus rapidement possible.
Piotr DABROWSKI (Pologne): Je tiens à féliciter tout d'abord tous ceux qui ont contribué à la naissance du document CL 102/2, C'est un excellent dossier analytique.
Grâce à son contenu, nous voyons de façon encore plus nette et plus claire le problème de la situation mondiale dans le domaine qui nous préoccupe et dont nous sommes responsables.
Le monde contemporain est marqué par des processus que nous essayons de prévoir et d'anticiper: d'une part, la famine et la malnutrition, provoquées très souvent par des événements politiques, concernent des millions d'humains. D'autre part, les excédents que l'on est obligé de réduire ou de détruire. C'est une situation inacceptable aussi bien du point de vue moral que politique.
Des négociations laborieuses se déroulent au GATT et les mots "guerre commerciale" apparaissent dans les discours publics.
L'Europe des 12 procède à des réformes difficiles.
Enfin la transformation de l'économie, y compris le domaine agro-alimentaire, en Europe centrale et orientale s'accélère.
Voilà quelques éléments, mais il y a aussi d'autres régions et d'autres problèmes.
Nous nous rendons compte que la nature, l'ampleur et la rapidité des événements deviennent un défi de plus en plus important et difficile à relever, défi qu'aucun pays ne pourra relever seul.
La dynamique et la mondialisation croissante de la situation exigent un effort particulier. La FAO, riche de son expérience et forte de sa compétence, est la plateforme prédestinée pour procéder à des analyses objectives et pour donner des indications de base aux pays demandeurs. Parmi tant de théories,
de doctrines, de conceptions souvent contradictoires et dictées par des intérêts particuliers, ses indications sont nécessaires aussi bien au niveau national, régional, que dans la dimension internationale. Nous partageons donc sur ce point l'opinion exprimée par nos collègues d'Australie et de Colombie.
Pour répondre aux questions de l'alimentation, il est nécessaire d'accentuer et de rendre plus efficaces les efforts consacrés à l'agriculture, plus particulièrement aux politiques agricoles, pour qu'elles soient fiables et à la hauteur du défi.
Sur cette voie, nous rencontrons parfois plus de questions que de réponses. C'est pourquoi nous fondons de grands espoirs dont le Plan à moyen terme de la FAO.
Aussi bien le passé que des problèmes contemporains indiquent que l'agriculture et l'économie agro-alimentaire de l'Europe centrale et orientale devraient devenir l'un des objets d'intérêt particulier de la FAO. La nature d'une transition sans précédent veut que des solutions échappent inévitablement aux schémas connus. La Conférence régionale de Prague nous a donné l'occasion de voir de près la nature de cette transition et de prendre des décisions concrètes. Nous soutenons donc l'idée de renforcer le Bureau régional.
Pour ma part, je tiens à vous assurer que la Pologne est prête à participer le plus activement possible à toutes les initiatives internationales visant la reconstruction, la renaissance et le développement de l'agriculture.
Notre pays est le seul pays de l'ancien bloc communiste à avoir défendu et maintenu une agriculture privée qui fonctionnait dans des conditions proches de l'économie de marché malgré son milieu économique artificiel et absurde. C'est en partant de cette situation que nous définissons les objectifs, les instruments et les institutions nécessaires en fonction des besoins et des possibilités. Nous profitons des expériences mondiales, nous cherchons des points de repère dans les différentes périodes et étapes du développement économique du monde, à la recherche de situations adéquates; nous prenons en considération les erreurs connues. Il est de notre devoir de partager le plus possible notre expérience avec les pays qui cherchent comme nous la voie vers une économie normale.
Je tiens aussi à vous informer que notre pays, définissant les objectifs de sa politique agricole active, vise parallèlement aussi bien la productivité, la restructuration et l'efficacité que la protection de l'environnement, partageant largement l'analyse faite au Sommet de Rio de Janeiro. Avec quelques régions, notamment la Silésie, gravement touchées par la pollution, nous disposons toujours de plusieurs millions d'hectares prédestinés à la production biologique favorisée davantage par la chute de l'utilisation des engrais chimiques et des pesticides.
Pour conclure, comme il s'agit de la dernière session à laquelle nous participons en tant qu'Etat Membre du Conseil de la FAO, j'ai l'honneur de remercier le Président et tous nos collègues de cette coopération aussi fructueuse qu'amicale en souhaitant plein succès à nos successeurs. Merci de votre attention.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le représentant de la Pologne de son intervention particulièrement dense. Je crois qu'il a raison de souhaiter un large soutien aux bureaux régionaux. Je le remercie également des informations qu'il nous a données concernant l'agriculture de son pays. Nous lui souhaitons plein succès.
Mohmed Said HARBI (Sudan) (Original language Arabic): At the outset I should like, on behalf of my delegation, to express our pleasure at seeing you, Mr Chairman, presiding over the deliberations of our Council Session with your customary patience and wisdom.
I should also like to thank Mr Hjort, the Deputy Director-General, for his brilliant presentation of this excellent comprehensive document.
The document under consideration contains important information in the fields of agriculture and food production. However, there are many negative aspects resulting from the adverse economic situation in both developed and developing countries. The developing countries suffer from weak growth rates, in addition to high population growth rates, resulting in severe shortage in the supply of food in most developing countries. In addition, they suffer from weak infrastructure, fragile economic structures, drought desertification, wars and the debt burden.
All this reflected itself negatively on the agricultural sector, resulting in increasing migration from rural areas to urban centres, and from developing countries, thus constituting a threat to the human resources in developing countries.
We were hopeful before attending this session to see some signs of hope in the GATT Round negotiations, but the information we are getting is really disappointing. The prices of raw materials and agricultural products of the developing countries are in continual decline, whilst the prices of agricultural inputs have increased, as well as the cost of technology, thus overburdening the developing countries.
The situation becomes increasingly worse for developing countries when we know that the developed countries which import these raw materials are imposing more protectionism and are subsidizing their production. In such a situation, the developing countries will not be able to develop their resources, conserve their environment, or repay their due debts and the debt service, let alone feed their populations.
The logic of evolution calls for moving a step forward in the field of agricultural production. We are hopeful that we shall be able to support semimanufactured goods to the developed countries. This will create employment opportunities and will raise our revenues from agricultural production, and it will be an incentive for the producer and for more production. However, in most cases the industrialized countries, in the case of any materials, insist on importing them as raw materials. This deprives us of the chances of development and growth.
The Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa as far as area is concerned, and it is endowed with natural resources. The agricultural sector, both plant and animal production, is the major sector in the economic and social structure employing the majority of the population in the Sudan. In the
past, governments neglected policies in the agricultural sector, and they did not pay attention to that sector because they lacked sound vision. The agricultural sector became a burden on the Sudanese economy, failing to provide food for the population at a time when scientists predicted that the Sudan could be the food basket of the world. Deserts encroached, drought wreaked havoc and people suffered as a result of this lack of vision.
Then the national salvation revolution took control and used consultation and equity, and gave the utmost priority to the agricultural sector, orienting all the policies of the State for the development and modernization of this sector.
The agricultural policy pursued is aimed at preserving our valuable natural resources within the framework of the conservation of the environment, paying more attention to the development of our plant and animal production and providing food security. This has been accompanied by the introduction of overall reforms in the structures of the macro-economy by moving towards a free market economy, by giving incentives to the private sector to invest in agricultural production. An investment bill was enacted to encourage nationals as well as foreigners to invest in agricultural and industrial fields, with emphasis on the provision of assistance in the form of inputs and the infrastructure. This policy is putting more emphasis on food production in the irrigated sector instead of the vulnerable rainfed sector. This led to the production in the 1991/92 season, in spite of insufficient rainfall, of 3.2 million tonnes of coarse grains and 860 000 tonnes of wheat. This season, 1992/93, thanks to the good preparations for the new agricultural season and favourable rainfall we expect a bumper crop, God willing.
A joint FAO/WFP mission will shortly visit the Sudan to assess our production and our needs. The Sudan finds itself in a peculiar situation in that the country has sufficient grains and cereals to meet its needs while at the same time we are in need of assistance from our friends. This is because most of the agricultural production is in the hands of the private sector and the Government cannot purchase cereals and distribute them free of charge to the needy, those who lost everything during the drought periods, or those who still suffer the consequences of an inherited imposed war.
The move forward of the modern agricultural sector in my country is being assisted by international organizations such as the FAO which is implementing a number of projects in some major areas, and the World Food Programme which is providing food assistance for the areas affected by the war and the drought.
We are grateful and proud of what these organizations are doing, but their actions will not be effective unless there is an improvement in the international economic environment, unless the debt problem is solved in a manner that will lead to a balanced and fair international trade, and unless we are allowed to get intermediate technology in the field of agriculture and animal production.
Nedilson JORGE (Brazil): I shall be very brief as I do not want to be repetitive. I should just like to support what has been said by the Argentinian delegation about the MERCOSUR. Brazil believes that the comments made by Argentina should be taken into account in order to have a complete
overall review of the MERCOSUR and its insertion in the world economy and trade.
Hugo TRIVELLI FRANZOLINI (Chile): En primer término, señor Presidente, y como ya lo han hecho muchos de los que me han precedido en el uso de la palabra, no podria menos que agradecer a la Secretaría de la FAO por la documentación presentada con una tan clara exposición sobre el Estado Mundial de la Agricultura y, enseguida, con una exposición de los problemas relacionados con la nutrición, el hambre, la alimentación, el medio ambiente, y varios otros temas más expuestos con galanura y maestría.
Quiero agradecer también, señor Presidente, el discurso magnífico con que iniciamos esta reunión por parte del señor Director General de la FAO. El nos ha dado una visión amplia y profunda de cuáles son los problemas que está enfrentando no sólo la agricultura mundial, sino los problemas que está enfrentando el planeta. Una visión comprensiva de estos problemas. Por esto se lo agradecemos muy profundamente.
Quisiera felicitar al Presidente Independiente del Consejo porque otra vez le estamos viendo presidir nuestras deliberaciones y, al mismo tiempo, felicitar a los tres Vicepresidentes designados por nosotros en esta reunión.
Yo querría referirme a muchos puntos del informe, pero, como todo lo que se plantea en él en términos generales, no ha merecido de parte de quienes me han precedido en el uso de la palabra puntos contradictorios, sino que más bien reafirman los planteamientos que se hacen, yo también quiero hacer esta reafirmación a la posición de la FAO en la mayoría de los problemas que plantea.
Voy a concretar mi intervención, que no va a ser muy larga, a algunas observaciones relacionadas con la economía chilena, especialmente la economía agrícola, a la cual se refiere el informe muy concreta y explícitamente, pero también muy puntualmente. Se plantea ahí, por ejemplo, fenómenos y hechos como la importancia de la política macroeconómica y sus efectos sobre las políticas sectoriales. En nuestra experiencia, la experiencia de los últimos años en mi país, en Chile, nosotros tenemos claro que las políticas macroeconómicas y macrosociales influyen más en el desarrollo o en el subdesarrollo de la agricultura que las propias políticas puntuales para el sector, que a veces quedan anuladas, neutralizadas por las políticas macroeconómicas. Así, por ejemplo, es mucho más importante una política cambiaria, una política monetaria, una política fiscal, que políticas específicas para apoyar el sector agrícola, como podría ser tecnología o políticas de comercialización. Si la macroeconomía funciona en un sentido distinto de las políticas puntuales sectoriales, evidentemente que estas últimas no tienen mayor efecto.
Ahora bien, en Chile han estado predominando fundamentalmente e influyendo en el sector agrícola más las políticas macroeconómicas y macrosociales que las puntuales. Es así como la situación en términos generales y globales de la economía chilena ha llegado en los últimos dos o tres años a mostrar un crecimiento de la economía global del seis por ciento anual y un crecimiento de la población del uno por ciento anual, aproximadamente. Si esta disminución, si esta reducción de la tasa de crecimiento demográfico no es espontánea, obedece también a políticas de tipo macroeconómico muy
importantes. La inflación ha bajado del 28 por ciento en 1989 a algo así como el 13 en este año de 1992, también debido a las políticas macroeconómicas.
La desocupación, que algunos años atrás llegó a casi al 30 por ciento de la población activa, ha bajado al cuatro y medio por ciento este año; o sea, es un récord histórico en el desarrollo del país una desocupación tan baja. La tasa de ahorro interno ha crecido al 19 por ciento, equivalente del producto nacional bruto, y la tasa de inversión es de, aproximadamente, el 21 por ciento de ahorro externo, que se canalizan en inversión extranjera en Chile.
Esta es la situación global; pero la situación agrícola de Chile podría caracterizarse por los siguientes hechos. Hay un sector moderno que crece con vigor y dinamismo empresarial. Es un gran generador de empleo y de productos de exportación: frutas, hortalizas y productos forestales. Este sector exporta alrededor de ciento cincuenta millones de cajas de fruta al año. A esto estamos llegando en los últimos años, y no por generación espontánea, vuelvo a insistir que esto es el fruto de políticas de largo plazo que han venido instrumentándose desde antes; o sea, éstos son como alrededor de doce millones de toneladas de fruta que tienen su demanda principalmente en el Hemisferio Norte. Nosotros estamos en el Hemisferio Sur y producimos la fruta en primavera y verano, cuando en el Hemisferio Norte es invierno. Esto nos favorece realmente de una manera muy importante.
Produce también, señor Presidente, la agricultura moderna parte importante de los productos de consumo interno: trigo, maíz, azúcar, con una característica muy especial en superficies relativamente pequeñas, pero contando con los mejores rendimientos del mundo en rendimientos unitarios por hectárea. En remolacha creo que somos el primer país del mundo en rendimiento. En maíz estamos muy cerca de los récords mundiales, y en trigo también. Produce, además, buena parte de la carne y de la leche que consume.
Junto a todo este sector que podría ser de producción agropecuaria está el bosque; el bosque nativo tiene varios millones de hectáreas, pero ha sido descuidado y produce poco; pero, en cambio, la plantación artificial de bosques llega ya a un millón y medio de hectáreas, con un crecimiento anual de entre cien y ciento diez mil hectáreas por año de crecimiento. El bosque se explota, y no tengo la información de cuántas hectáreas por año se están cortando, pero, en todo caso, el aumento de la superficie plantada es de más de cien mil hectáreas por año, con especies, fundamentalmente, de pinos y eucaliptos.
Este es el sector que pudiéramos llamar moderno. El sector tradicional en que prevalece el minifundio, escasamente tecnificado y con dificultades para acceder a los servicios contribuye con una proporción importante del abastecimiento nacional de alimentos básicos; encierra bolsones de extrema pobreza y marginación y constituye un gran desafío para la política agraria inserta en la política macroeconómica y social. Realmente, Chile es un país que tiene alrededor de trece millones y medio de habitantes, de los cuales hasta hace un tiempo atrás se estimaba que había cinco millones de pobres, y de éstos dos millones de indigentes. De éstos una buena parte de esta población está en el sector rural, en este sector que podríamos llamar tradicional, pobreza, minifundio, trabajadores sin tierra.
El informe de la FAO destaca que la situación actual de la agricultura chilena es el resultado de las políticas aplicadas por los diversos gobiernos, algo que ya veníamos diciendo al comienzo de nuestra posición. Desde luego, el
gobierno actual ha sabido sacar partido de los resultados de estas políticas. De hecho, las ha continuado algunas de ellas y también se mantiene toda esta política dentro de una estrategia de crecimiento con equidad. 0 sea, ir tratando de superar ese tremendo problema de la pobreza. Había cinco millones, y actualmente en dos años y medio del actual gobierno se estima que han bajado en un millón los pobres que han dejado de ser ya tan pobres y también han disminuido los indigentes. Y eso es por efecto del progreso, el desarrollo, como veníamos hablando, y de la creación de empleo, que es uno de los medios para ir superando esta situación de pobreza.
Entre las políticas aplicadas, señor Presidente, vale mencionar políticas que, como digo, no son de este gobierno exclusivamente; son políticas que han venido aplicándose ya con cierta continuidad desde hace quince, veinte, treinta, cuarenta años.
Entre las políticas aplicables vale mencionar los planes generales y sectoriales agrícolas pesqueros y forestales. Entre los planes sectoriales están las frutas, hortalizas y semillas, los planes ganaderos y los planes avícolas, la reforma agraria y el desarrollo rural, que modificó la estructura de la tenencia de la tierra y del agua y movilizó a la población campesina.
No hay un reconocimiento explícito general, pero mi opinión, la opinión de la delegación de mi país en este momento, es que si se hubiera hecho esa reforma agraria hace veinte o veinticinco años atrás, posiblemente toda esta movilización que se está viendo ahora no tendría la misma velocidad y el mismo ritmo de intensidad que si no se hubiera hecho la reforma agraria. La reforma agraria no sólo modificó la estructura de la tenencia de la tierra y del agua, sino que fundamentalmente movilizó a la población campesina, le dio un sentido de ser humano; un sentido de ser, no de estar, de ser seres humanos, muy importante.
La investigación agrícola es otra de las políticas de largo plazo y la correspondiente transferencia a los usuarios. La permanente preocupación por la defensa sanitaria vegetal y animal. Creo que conviene aquí decir, una vez más, en este foro de la FAO, que Chile ha estado desde hace muchísimos años libre de la mosca del Mediterráneo, y que solamente tenemos reapariciones en el extremo norte del país porque viene de infecciones de los países vecinos; pero la zona frutícola y de producción de hortalizas no tiene mosca de la fruta y, en todo caso, hay un desierto de dos mil kilómetros entre el norte de Chile y la zona productora de frutas, un desierto donde hay barreras para cuidar de que no pase fruta que pudiera venir infectada y hay todo un sistema para impedir la reinfectación de las zonas realmente productoras de fruta. Hay vigilancia permanente.
El otro caso importante e interesante es que nosotros, en nuestro país, comenzamos la campaña de erradicación de la fiebre aftosa ya en el año 1968, y la declaración universal de que Chile está libre de la fiebre aftosa se vio años atrás. Hemos tenido reinfecciones, pero han sido prontamente dominadas y saneadas las zonas. Estamos libres de fiebre aftosa; estamos libres de mosca en la fruta, y no quiero seguir enumerando las enfermedades animales y pestes vegetales de las cuales también estamos libres por esta acción vigilante. Además, estamos protegidos por una cordillera muy alta, por el mar Pacífico por el lado poniente y por este desierto del Norte y, sobre todo, por el profesionalismo de nuestros ingenieros agrónomos y médicos veterinarios que están atentos a que no reaparezcan éstas y otras enfermedades.
Otra de las políticas importantes que se han puesto en práctica en Chile desde hace tiempo es la educación elemental, la técnica y la profesional, la capacitación de los distintos estamentos del sector agrícola y la participación de la comunidad organizada en el quehacer nacional. Estos son puntos que están en el programa de la FAO y que son parte de una política permanente del país.
No está demás, también, mencionar aquí que la inversión fiscal en el desarrollo del regadío y de las comunicaciones, con más o con menos, ha estado siempre vigente para permitir la comunicación de los productores agrícolas con el resto de la comunidad nacional.
Por su parte, el mar -tenemos cinco mil kilómetros de costa, de Norte a Sur, larguísima,- permite una pesca de alrededor de seis millones de toneladas al año. Esto en los últimos años porque antes no había habido una política muy especializada de promoción de la actividad privada para lograr estos récords que tenemos ahora. Esta pesca de seis millones de toneladas equivale, aproximadamente, al cinco y medio o al seis por ciento de la pesca mundial que bordea entre los noventa y seis y los cien millones de toneladas anuales.
En la situación que estamos tenemos que enfrentar el gran desafío de conjugar una política de desarrollo rural con una de desarrollo urbano, donde uno de sus principales objetivos debe revalorizar el espacio rural y superar la contradicción en que estamos inmersos, en que el éxito del desarrollo económico global, que ya hemos descrito en grandes líneas, en un esquema de economía social de mercado, en que hemos liberalizado bastante el manejo de la economía - bastante, yo diría - tal vez más allá de lo absolutamente necesario, tiende a repercutir desfavorablemente en el desarrollo agrícola porque es esto, por ejemplo, una expresión de todo esto que estamos diciendo, que el balance del comercio exterior agrícola, que deja setecientos u ochocientos millones de saldo favorable, es mayor que el balance del comercio exterior global del país. La agricultura está. produciéndole dólares al país. Por otro lado, hay toda una corriente de inversión de capital externo, de manera que la llegada de divisas, de dólares, es bastante importante. Por tanto, este hecho está produciendo una revalorización del peso y esta revalorización tiende a desalentar las exportaciones y tiende a estimular la importación, en competencia con la producción nacional, especialmente de productos agrícolas básicos.
A todo esto contribuye también, a este hecho que estoy planteando yo, a esta contradicción del crecimiento y la tendencia del sector agrícola, especialmente en la producción de alimentos básicos, a estancarse. Está también el proteccionismo, realmente exagerado, que caracteriza la política de los países industrializados. El pequeño agricultor no puede competir con su producción, que a veces no es muy tecnificada y con bajo rendimiento, con la producción que llega de los países industrializados subsidiada, protegida, estimulada.
Hacemos votos desde nuestro punto de vista por la pronta y saludable solución de la Ronda de Uruguay dentro del marco del GATT, procurando liberalizar el comercio mundial agrícola, buscando beneficios para los países en desarrollo.
Por último, señor Presidente, quiero agradecer a la FAO los programas de cooperación técnica y su asistencia a nuestras políticas de promoción al desarrollo de la mujer y de la juventud rural y, en general, las políticas de
la FAO que son inspiradoras en buena medida de las políticas que el país está siguiendo, tanto en lo global como en lo específico del desarrollo rural.
EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, Sr. Embajador Trivelli, por su intervención. Quisiera felicitarle por su exposición tan completa de la situación de su país. Creo que su país, desde el punto de vista de la agricultura, está desarrollándose a gran velocidad.
A.M. LARYEA (Ghana): I know time is not on our side, so I will try to be brief and have no unavoidable repetitions. May I associate myself with the previous speakers and express my delegation's congratulations to you on being the Chairman to steer the affairs of this 102nd Session of the Council. I welcome the well-deserved and unanimous election of your three Vice-Chairmen to assist you in your noble tasks. The Ghana delegation will give you full cooperation. Permit me also to congratulate your Secretariat on the meticulous and analytical presentation of the working documents they have provided to guide us in our deliberations.
Mr Chairman, during the previous Session of the Council and at various international, multinational and bilateral fora, various delegations have identified the continuing imbalance of trade as the major weak point or factor responsible for the crippling economies of many, if not all, developing countries. The main causes and effects of this inequitable global economic order are well known to us, and one can only express utter dismay at our inability to arrive at a mutually beneficial conclusion. In this connection my delegation supports the delegation of Indonesia in drawing attention to the concern of our Leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement during their recent Summit in Jakarta at the dismal failure to bring the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations to a successful end, thus ensuring without further delay a balanced world trade regime that will take into account the development needs and interests of the developing countries. The persistent appeals to our industrialized partners by the Director-General of the FAO, on behalf of the developing countries of the Organization, to endeavour to bring about a more equitable and fairer economic and trade order by ensuring significant improvements in the prices of our primary agricultural products should be appreciated and supported by all in concrete terms.
My delegation views with satisfaction, the observations made by the EEC delegation on the Structural Adjustment Programmes which some of us have had to implement. It was painful, to say the least, but with bold determination, sacrifice and pragmatic programmes such as the Medium-Term Agricultural Development Programme of Ghana upon which we have embarked we shall definitely alleviate the hardships and sufferings of our peoples by ensuring (i) food security; (ii) rural employment opportunities; (iii) improvements in our balance of payments; and (iv) providing a framework for the efficient allocation of public and private sector resources in the agriculture sector for the realization of our agriculture potential.
Ghana's agricultural development programmes which have culminated in our ten-year Medium-Term Agricultural Development Programme have continued to ensure for us an agricultural growth rate of more than 6 per cent recorded since 1988. The present food and agriculture situation in my country therefore gives no cause for anxiety.
We believe that serious considerations should be given to the implementation of the various recommendations by my colleagues, African Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development at their biennial Regional Conferences held during the past decade. To this end, I wish it to be placed on record that my major concern at this Session is to draw urgent attention to the "Accra Declaration on Sound Environment for Sustainable Agriculture in Africa" solemnly adopted at the Seventeenth FAO Regional Conference for Africa and which appeals to the FAO and the donor community to mobilize new and additional resources to supplement our individual national efforts in the following areas:
(a) conservation and protection of natural resources for sustainable development; (b) food security (notably, for the implementation of recommendations of the forthcoming International Conference on Nutrition and through the launching of new special programmes and funds for Africa); (c) effective and active people's participation with special attention on women involvement; (d) post-harvest management (including agro-processing, storage and marketing); (e) national capacity building; (f) inter-regional cooperation in the fields of communication, infrastructure, trade and agricultural shows.
My delegation believes that it is essential to re-echo the tenets and importance of the declaration because it augurs well for the revamping of our deteriorating agriculture situations in the region.
FAO should be encouraged in all spheres - financial, moral, etc. to continue with its noble task.
Finally, on behalf of my delegation I would like to congratulate Dr Saouma and his staff on the excellent work done over the years at least to bring smiles on the faces of the poor and the hungry in various parts of the world and in the developing regions in particular.
CHAIRMAN: I think the Declaration of Accra is important and that the international community will follow its recommendations.
Nous en arrivons à la clôture des orateurs membres du Conseil. Nous en avons entendu à peu près une quarantaine et nous avons maintenant quatre observateurs qui souhaitent prendre la parole.
Jerome T. KARUGABA (Observer for Uganda): My delegation is very satisfied with the very efficient manner in which you have so far guided our session's deliberations.
We congratulate the three Vice-Chairmen on their election and also welcome the non-members who, because they have hope in our Organization, are willing to share their ideas with us. We hope very soon to share their experiences too.
My delegation would like to register a vote of thanks to the Director-General on his opening speech in which he has succinctly summarized for us the problems of the world; our Organization's triumphs and tribulations and the strong commitment of the hundreds of international servants, in spite of the inadequate rewards. We would like to encourage them to continue in this noble service and to assure them that although they may neither be masters of the
sea nor the wind, they sail on an understanding sea with a listening wind, both of which should be able to reward them, hopefully soon.
My delegation has been very happy with the incisive manner in which the Deputy Director-General has been able to introduce document CL 102/2. This paper's presentation and several others before the Session are a testimony to the efficiency of the Secretariat.
Effects of UN Restructuring. On a general point, I would like to share with the Director-General the fears expressed in page 8 of his speech. Centralization may have its benefits but it has also very often a minus side.
FAO is in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people. So far it has distinguished itself by the quick response it has made to the cries of the needy. It has been able to make direct appeals to its fund givers and to monitor food availability through its hardworking servants. With centralization in New York, we fear all the above capabilities may be engulfed in the huge bureaucracy. It could produce a type of gridlock on an international scale that might lead to the deaths of millions before the bureaucracy has time to respond to their needs. Money may eventually be saved for peacekeeping and development but unless centralization is done gradually, while the present serving bodies continue their work, it could be difficult to keep peace among the present hungry millions, let alone to argue with them about development!
Self-sufficiency in food. Let me say something about Uganda, which I know very well.
Uganda has been and is still able to produce enough food for its people, despite the annual increase of 3 percent in its population. We believe there are several countries in sub-Saharan Africa and perhaps in other continents with situations similar to Uganda's. Although there are many causes why food may not be sufficient, two are the major ones, at least in sub-Saharan Africa. These have been political upheavals and natural catastrophes.
While the international community has been trying to help in lessening the effects of natural disasters, such as FAO's continuous monitoring, emergency food aid and perhaps reforestation, not much has been done on the political disasters. So far what I am going to say has not been addressed by anyone at this Session; yet it is very relevant and also may be unpalatable.
Probably half of the huge millions of those in need of food are persons who are either refugees from political or racial persecution or have been displaced within their countries and are unable to grow enough food for themselves as they used to do.
While there will always be good people in the world to help the needy, recipient countries of food and other aid must do more to reduce these upheavals that bring hunger and death to their own people. Political or racial intolerance must be abandoned or reduced, so that people can settle and care for themselves. The international community, especially those who are able to do so, can exert influence and persuasion on those countries with such problems.
Uganda is a good example. With most of our people who had run out into refuge now back, we are again able to produce adequate amounts of food and are able
to export some to our neighbours. The recent continent-wide drought, of course, has also hit us. However, the shortage of food in some regions of the country is mainly because our transport infrastructure is not adequate enough to shift food from one area to another. It is in this area that we still require help.
The problem of finding markets for Third World produce, especially those of the tropics, is a great one. We are therefore heartened by the Director-General's call - page 5 of his speech - for a revaluation of agricultural exports from these regions. For Uganda it has been a disaster. Since the collapse of the International Coffee Agreement, our foreign exchange earnings from coffee (formerly equal to more than three-quarters of the total) have collapsed to only about one-third. Our efforts to diversify by the sale of food produce has not been able to cover the loss. With tighter markets in the developed world, we do not hope to do much even if we register surpluses. The failure so far of the Uruguay Round is a blow to our efforts and hopes for the future. The increasing low prices offered for our similarly increasing agricultural raw produce discourage and destabilize a country such as Uganda whose exports are mainly agricultural.
With regard to natural disaster, my delegation appeals to food aid donors to continue. We are grateful to all those who have come to the aid of Africa, especially to the Horn of Africa. Some of these disasters, like the expanding deserts and the frequent droughts, are well known and their cycles have been recorded. It is likely that even if some help is given today to countries with this type of problem, vast amounts of food will continue to be needed for a long time to come. We would wish to suggest that if more technical aid were given to neighbouring countries which have the possibility of producing more food, supplies could be purchased nearer to those in need. Such foods could reach where they are required much more quickly, perhaps even when some may still be fresh and more acceptable to the populace.
In this way producing countries could earn what they cannot now earn from the tight markets of the developed world. Besides, some of the recipient countries, even if they have been hit by such disasters, could obtain fair amounts of food directly from the neighbouring producing states, which has often happened in the past in countries of East Africa.
With regard to fisheries, as you may have seen on page 71 of the document CL 102/2, Uganda receives some of its export earnings from fish out of Lake Victoria. Over 50 percent of the country's animal protein is estimated to come mainly from fish. Considering that the vast part of the lake is in Uganda, a higher catch could be made in order to increase exports. However, the Ugandan side of the Lake is now being choked by a nasty weed. With the help of FAO some time ago, Uganda found it was able to destroy the water hyacinth and stop it from spreading and making fishing hazardous. However, considering the very fast spread of the weed, there is now more urgent need for an international effort to fight it, otherwise, in a decade or two, it could easily reach the shores of Kenya and Tanzania and even reach our second largest lake, Kyoga, along the Nile. I appeal to FAO to raise our alarm on this matter to the international level. I also appeal that, while efforts are made to destroy this weed, care be taken not to endanger the water environment.
While still on the subject of Lake Victoria, I should like to raise a point of advice which Uganda has raised before. The huge Nile perch, known as Mputa
in Uganda, has, as is said on page 71, destroyed between 200 and 300 species of other fish in the lake. It would be prudent, therefore, that whenever new species of fish are to be introduced into lakes or rivers elsewhere proper research and precautions be taken to ensure that the lakes or rivers do not end up like Lake Victoria.
Uganda has several other lakes and rivers from which it obtains its fish. In the 1960s many Ugandans were producing fish in ponds constructed near their homes. We can still do this, but need more technical advice and initial inputs to the smaller farmer. Through you, Mr Chairman, and through the FAO, I appeal to both developed and developing countries which may have modern methods to farm fish to help us. With regard to lakes, Ugandan fishermen now need good, safe boats and facilities, such as refrigerators and clean stores and prompt transport to the fish markets or the two factories which we now have in the country.
With regard to Nile perch and tilapia fishing, we have a new Italian-built factory which produces international-class smoked fish and could easily sell frozen fish if reliable markets were found overseas. At the present time only a small quantity is being exported.
Finally, all the work proposed above requires money to enable it to be carried out. It is imperative therefore that FAO be given the funds it requires in order to fulfil its duty.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your comprehensive intervention. I should like to stress the necessity for interventions to be brief, especially interventions by Observers. We have a lot of matters to examine.
Cet après-midi, il nous reste encore à examiner le problème de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale et nous avons déjà pris du retard par rapport à notre ordre du jour de cette quatrième séance plénière.
Je vous ferai donc une proposition tout en espérant ne pas avoir à la refaire dans les jours qui viennent: ce serait de prolonger notre séance afin d'en terminer cet après-midi avec les points 4 et 5.
Y a-t-il des remarques à ce sujet?
Tel n'est pas le cas, il en sera ainsi décidé.
It was so decided.
Il en est ainsi décidé.
Asi se acuerda.
T.A. ANUMUDU (Observer for Nigeria): Mr Chairman, permit me to join the many previous speakers who have congratulated you on your election as Chairman of the 102nd Session of the Council. In several ways, through wise guidance and fair apportionment of time, the leadership of a Council contributes in no small measure to its success. We are indeed assured of these qualities from you and are confident of the success of our deliberations.
Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate the Secretariat on producing the very illuminating document CL 102/2 and its supplements which have formed the basis of this debate.
It is the intention of my delegation to take up only a few of the numerous issues raised in the document which we believe bear very significantly on agricultural production and the well-being of peoples in the developing world.
Of serious concern to us is the decline in price of primary agricultural products, where, even given the quantitative increase of production, we still realise the same value, if not much less, than in previous decades. This decline in price of our commodities unfortunately comes at a time when the prices of our imports of manufactures are soaring prohibitively. It is thus clear that the well-being of countries in the developing world cannot but suffer deterioration and worsening living conditions.
A second concern is the observed net outflow of funds from developing countries, those countries which can least afford such a phenomenon. Our concept of aid is that it should assist us to increase the volume of our investable funds, but, when it turns out that we repay more than we receive, the intention of such aid programmes misses its objective. Indeed, the procedures involved in obtaining these loan facilities and the conditionality in their operations cannot but create serious bottlenecks in the easy application of these loans to our projects. Thus several years pass, with several visiting missions to our countries, and the draw-down dates of such loans stretch into years.
With these unfavourable circumstances, we still find that the little we produce for export is subjected to serious procedural hindrances in restrictions on market access, the operation of preferential treatment to some areas and the rather prohibitive quality-control conditions which are insisted upon. We are not averse to the highest grades of agricultural products being traded. We believe, however, that part of the role of FAO should be to assist our countries in improving the quality of our products for the international market.
I should like to refer to the subject of research on the improvement of productivity of our agriculture. With regard to the improvement of agriculture in the African continent, and particularly in the West African sub-region, serious attention should be paid to the contribution of relevant research, readily made available to farmers, in order to enhance the level of our production. FAO could greatly assist agricultural development in the sub-region if it consciously collaborated with our countries in agricultural research.
This renewed interest in agricultural research in the sub-region has been spearheaded by my country which, in accordance with the resolution of the Council of the Ministers of Agriculture in West and Central Africa, organized with the Special Programme of African Agricultural Research a regional seminar last October on improving research in the region. We look to the supporting countries and agencies, of which FAO is one, for a greater level of assistance in this all-important issue of research. It is only when the right type of soil, the highest quality of seeds and the right amount of water are applied to agriculture that we can look forward to bumper harvests. It is the role of research to make and propose the proper combination of these factors for optimum production.
It is gratifying to note that my country, Nigeria, in paying attention to these factors, has recorded some significant improvement in our production of root crops. This is not so much a result of the imposition of restrictions on imports - as the document we have here has indicated - as the adoption by our farmers of improved seeds and the successful combatting of plant pests and diseases. In this regard the contribution of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the role of the National Agricultural Research System deserves acknowledgement.
Changes in the prices of Nigerian farm products have resulted in the fall in value of our currency, a procedure which thereby nominally raised in money terms the earnings of our farmers, but in real terms, and vis-à-vis foreign exchange earnings, it has not been quite so significant. The impact of Nigeria's structural adjustment programme has been to remove agricultural product pricing from the monopolies of the Commodity Boards and open farm prices to market forces.
My country's search for food security has been the main driving force of improved and increased production in cereals. Indeed, we have lifted the ban on the importation of wheat. But the vast potential for all types of grain production in the country is yet to be exploited, and even with that we are importing.
My last point concerns the issue of correct statistical data on agricultural products. To us in Nigeria this is a burning issue, where the general level of the farming population is not dedicated to serious quantification and record-keeping. We perceive the role of FAO in this matter of agricultural data and the proper processing of such data to be crucial in improving our capability to yield authentic and reliable data. FAO and UNDP should therefore leave no stone unturned in assisting us to realize more dependable figures for production.
Having shared these comments with you, permit me to record the very favourable association which we have had with FAO on a number of our projects which they are funding and supervising.
Sidaty AIDRA (Observateur du Sénégal): En dépit d'une longue liste d'orateurs du Conseil vous avez bien voulu, Monsieur le Président, et nous vous en savons gré, donner la possibilité à mon pays, le Sénégal, de participer à cet important débat. Nous avons tenu à nous inscrire sur ce point, en raison de l'importance toute particulière que nous lui accordons.
Mais avant d'entrer dans le vif du sujet, permettez-moi de vous dire que c'est pour ma délégation et pour moi-même un plaisir toujours renouvelé de vous voir à la Présidence du Conseil. Dès les premières sessions de votre mandat, vous avez habitué cet important organe de notre institution à travailler, certes, dans les délais impartis, mais aussi et surtout à travailler dans un esprit constructif et pragmatique.
Voilà les raisons pour lesquelles ma délégation continuera comme par le passé à vous apporter, comme à l'ensemble du Bureau du Conseil, sa coopération la plus active.
C'est dans cet esprit que, observateur, mais observateur attentif des travaux du Conseil, le Sénégal entend apporter sa contribution au débat sur les grandes questions qui nous préoccupent tous, pays développés comme pays en développement et FAO elle-même.
Ce faisant nous tenterons, dans la déclaration de caractère général que nous nous proposons de faire, d'être aussi bref et concis que possible en intervenant sur cette question importante relative à la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture en 1992,
Ma délégation a bien évidemment étudié la documentation préparée par le Secrétariat sur cette question, et en particulier le document fondamental CL 102/2; documentation de haute qualité s'il en est, qui présente une analyse objective de la situation de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture.
Comme beaucoup d'autres délégations, nous partageons les idées essentielles qui sont développées dans cette documentation. Nous avons noté au passage l'optimisme affiché en ce qui concerne les perspectives de reprise économique dans les pays en développement et notamment en Afrique. Nous aurions bien voulu partager cet optimisme, mais dans le même temps nous devons nous rendre à l'évidence et la réalité nous impose peut-être un peu plus de prudence.
Il suffit de regarder autour de nous: les termes de l'échange continuent de se dégrader et bien des délégations, dont celle de la Côte d'Ivoire, l'ont rappelé; les flux de capitaux ne retrouvent toujours pas leur direction originelle vers les pays en développement pour soutenir les efforts de développement de ces derniers; la dette des pays en développement continue, notamment en Afrique, d'être un lourd fardeau malgré les efforts des créanciers et de la communauté internationale dans l'effacement et le reéchelonnement de ces dettes à des conditions de faveur; les politiques et programmes d'ajustement structurels continuent de prélever un lourd tribut social dans les pays en voie de développement-qui se sont engagés dans cette voie; la croissance du PIB reste toujours marquée par une forte croissance démographique qui exerce, de manière d'ailleurs conjointe avec un certain type d'agriculture et d'autres facteurs, une lourde pression sur l'environnement; les investissements dans le secteur agricole continuent de baisser; les marchés sont toujours étroits; l'épargne est difficile à mobiliser et la formation brute du capital se réduit de plus en plus; l'instauration de l'économie de marché par la libéralisation du commerce et la privatisation n'a pas encore positivement répondu aux attentes des pays africains.
A tout cela s'ajoutent bien sûr les taux d'intérêt élevés dans les pays industrialisés, les incertitudes qui pèsent sur les négociations du GATT de l'Uruguay Round, et les difficultés, par ailleurs, de mobiliser des ressources adéquates pour la mise en oeuvre des décisions de la CNUED, notamment de l'Agenda 21.
Je voudrais d'ailleurs dire à ce sujet que certains pays africains se sont engagés avec la FAO dans la préparation de leur Agenda 21 national.
Comme pour aggraver ce tableau déjà sombre, la sécheresse et la désertification, la famine et la malnutrition, les catastrophes dues à la nature comme à l'homme continuent de frapper de plein fouet l'Afrique faisant d'innombrables victimes au Sahel, en Afrique centrale, en Afrique australe et en Afrique orientale.
Au sud du Sahara, il n'y a pas un seul pays qui ne soit victime d'une des situations que j'ai décrites.
Comme chacun le sait, plus de la moitié des pays du continent africain souffre de pénuries alimentaires aiguës et fait face à des situations d'urgence alimentaire exceptionnelles. Même s'il y a une amélioration dans la situation alimentaire agricole, même si quelquefois il arrive qu'il y ait une bonne campagne, il ne faut pas oublier que cela ne couvre pas totalement les besoins des pays. Dans le cas, par exemple, du Sénégal, quand nous disons que avons une bonne campagne, cela veut dire que nous ne pouvons couvrir nos besoins qu'à 52 pour cent. Il y a là un déficit structurel continu qu'il convient constamment de résorber.
Cette situation, d'une gravité particulière, conduit ma délégation à se faire l'écho de la déclaration du Directeur Général de la FAO sur la Réserve internationale d'urgence en matière alimentaire.
Nous pensons en effet, comme nous l'avons dit au cours de la Conférence Régionale Africaine sur la Nutrition tenue à Dakar en février dernier, que le temps est venu de revoir l'objectif de la RAIU, si l'on veut que cette réserve soit vraiment efficace et qu'elle réponde aux besoins sans cesse croissants des pays en développement.
Ma délégation partage les points de vue exprimés aux paragraphes 41 et 42 du document CL 102/2. Nous pensons qu'il y a là des propositions qui peuvent inspirer les pays en voie de développement et même la communauté internationale pour trouver des solutions durables aux problèmes alimentaires et agricoles.
Mais ces solutions supposent une meilleure organisation de la solidarité internationale et une meilleure organisation des marchés sous-régionaux dans l'optique d'une intégration économique régionale. Et je voudrais ici me féliciter de l'appréciation tout à fait positive de la délégation française à ce qu'il est convenu d'appeler désormais l'initiative Cissokho, du nom du ministre sénégalais du développement rural et de l'hydraulique, qui a eu l'idée d'organiser à Dakar, en 1991, la Conférence des ministres de l'agriculture de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre consacrée principalement à organiser le marché sous-régional africain, filière par filière, notamment dans le cadre des céréales et de la viande.
L'établissement de la Communauté économique africaine à Abudja (Nigeria), en 1991, s'inscrit dans cet esprit et traduit la volonté politique manifeste des chefs d'Etat africains de prendre à bras le corps le problème de l'intégration économique régionale.
Les solutions dont j'ai parlé supposent aussi et surtout des moyens accrus en ressources pour accroître la production - parce qu'il s'agit pour nous d'un problème de production - améliorer la productivité, promouvoir une agriculture durable, assurer la sécurité alimentaire et un bon état nutritionnel aux populations, et dégager, dans le même temps, des surplus commercialisables pour soutenir la balance commerciale et les paiements des pays en développement. Ces ressources ne peuvent être qu'additionnelles car ni les pays en développement ni la FAO n'ont les moyens de s'attaquer à ces problèmes à partir des maigres ressources ordinaires de leur budget; et tant que les contraintes dont j'ai parlé ne seront pas levées, il sera difficile
d'envisager, en Afrique tout au moins, continent que je connais le plus, une reprise économique dans les pays.
Me référant au nouvel Accord des Nations Unies pour le développement de l'Afrique dans les années quatre-vingt-dix qui a fait l'objet de la Résolution 46/51 de l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies, en date du 18 décembre 1991, je voudrais citer le paragraphe 5 de cet accord qui est contenu dans une brochure qui a été distribuée récemment - et j'engage d'ailleurs vivement les délégations à se procurer cette brochure. Il se lit comme suit: "Il serait souhaitable d'atteindre un taux de croissance réel du produit national brut d'au moins 6 pour cent par an tout au long de la période du Nouvel ordre pour que le continent africain connaisse une croissance soutenue et durable et un développement équitable, qu'il accroisse ses revenus et qu'il élimine la pauvreté."
Or il est évident, encore une fois, que cela ne sera mis en oeuvre - et d'ailleurs, l'Accord le prévoit - que sur la base de ressources supplémentaires et additionnelles. Nous ne cesserons jamais de dire combien nous attachons d'importance à ces ressources additionnelles et supplémentaires. C'est pourquoi ma délégation voudrait saisir l'occasion que lui offre la cent deuxième Session du Conseil pour lancer un appel pressant en direction de la communauté des bailleurs de fonds afin qu'elle accroisse son assistance aux pays en développement pour les aider non seulement à surmonter les situations d'urgence mais surtout à financer les actions de développement. A cet égard, l'aide publique au développement (l'APD) devrait, à notre sens, être revue et corrigée, en hausse bien sûr, pour tenir compte des besoins en croissance continue des pays en développement. L'appel que nous lançons s'adresse également aux Etats Membres de la FAO afin qu'ils mettent à la disposition de notre Organisation les moyens financiers nécessaires à la mise en oeuvre de sa politique et surtout de ses programmes de terrain qui, je le rappelle, sont vitaux pour nous, pays africains, en tout cas.
Enfin, nous voudrions dire l'espoir que nous, pays africains, plaçons en la Conférence internationale sur la nutrition qui se tiendra prochainement à Rome, du 5 au 12 décembre 1992, et à laquelle, bien sûr, en tant que Sénégal, nous participerons, et en tant qu'Afrique également parce que nous avons eu l'occasion, à Nairobi comme à Dakar, de préparer cette conférence.
Je vais conclure. Le monde contemporain est devenu un village planétaire aux problèmes multiples immenses et complexes. Nous avons tous besoin de solidarité agissante et de coopération internationale pour unir notre compréhension de ces problèmes à la volonté politique de les résoudre.
Sra. Graziella DUBRA (Observadora de Uruguay): Seré muy breve. Mi delegación quiere, antes que nada, felicitarlo a usted por presidir estos debates, asi como a la Mesa, dando por descontado el éxito de sus gestiones. A su vez, quiero agradecer y felicitar a la Secretaría por la calidad de la documentación presentada.
Deseo referirme ahora al documento CL 102/2, que en su página 117 se refiere al MERCOSUR. Al respecto mi delegación, como uno de los cuatro miembros del MERCOSUR, se adhiere y apoya plenamente a lo expresado por la representación argentina en la mañana de hoy y posteriormente Brasil. Esta adhesión de apoyo la hacemos también en nombre de Paraguay, que nos ha solicitado señalarlo.
Para terminar, señor Presidente, nuestra delegación desea aquí expresar la preocupación del Gobierno de Uruguay por la situación de las negociaciones de la Ronda Uruguay del GATT, esperando que ésta llegue pronto a su fin con un resultado positivo que permita establecer un comercio multilateral, abierto, viable y duradero en beneficio de todos los países.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous arrivons au terme de la discussion générale sur la situation de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture en 1992. Le document qui nous a été soumis l'a été pour examen et non pour décision.
I shall ask Mr Hjort to answer some questions raised during this very interesting discussion.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Let me begin by expressing appreciation for all of the compliments on the documentation, and let me in turn compliment the Council for the quality of its interventions and statements. We have had some very thoughtful and serious quality interventions at this session.
Secondly, I want to express appreciation for the additional information that many of you have provided on the situation within your own country, and the updating as well as some corrections in that process. In this connection, I take note of the comments that have been made by Argentina, supported by Brazil and supported by the last observer that we just listened to, with respect to the box that covers MERCOSUR.
I also take note of the comments made by the European Community with respect to the association agreements. These matters will of course be corrected. The basic documents that you have before you, as you know, are turned into the annual publication that is made available to the public, and three matters will be attended to before that document is released in that form.
There was a specific question from Portugal with respect to the reforestation figures included in paragraph 149. The answer to his question is yes, that this includes all types of forests, including plantation and others.
There were comments by more than one member country about the box on page 44 that concerns the costs and returns from fishing fleets. These figures are summarized in this document. The State of Food and Agriculture document that will be released to the public has a special chapter each year. This year's special chapter, on fishery, has the details in which the methodology is made clear. We would be pleased to meet with those delegations that expressed particular interest in knowing about the methodology. I do not believe it would be appropriate to take the time of the Council to try to go through that at this point. Finally, in addition, the matter can and I expect will be brought up when the fishing items are being discussed tomorrow morning.
I suspect the one item that attracted more comment and a total consensus was disappointment that the Uruguay Round had not been successfully completed. Of course that is a matter of concern. We were encouraged to continue to do what we can to facilitate that process, and you can be assured that we shall do so to the limits of our ability.
There were many points made that could perhaps be best summarized under the title "Policies". The point was made, I recall, in particular by Chile, of the
importance of the links between macro-economic policies and the performance of the sector, and vice versa. There was the comment about the links between economic growth and trade. That is obviously important, in that slow growth means slow trade. Hopefully an improved economic situation in the future would lead to an acceleration in trade.
We had a number of comments about sector policies and the importance of those policies to the sector. There were comments about the poverty situation and the stress on resources that sometimes simply has to take place to keep food on the table, if you will.
Concerning the transition process and structural adjustment, there were a good number of comments, generally saying that in some cases we hear that the process seems to be working out reasonably well, making some progress. A more frequently heard comment is that the transition process is taking longer than one might have expected, and certainly longer than one would have hoped, and that there are significant side effects associated with that transition and adjustment process.
Also, we were reminded that success can lead to failure in that one can have agricultural policies that induce or stimulate an increase in production, and if there is no marketing system or other means of making effective utilization or moving those commodities to where they can be utilized, and if there is no safety net under prices - in other words, if one relies solely on the forces of the free market - there can be devastating prices to producers, particularly if they lack adequate storage capacity. Unfortunately, once producers go through that scenario it takes some time before one can convince them that they should move forward and increase production that they would have to sell at distressed prices. I think there was in addition to the dismay over the fact that the Uruguay Round had not been concluded, and linked to that, but probably going beyond it, an appeal that export subsidies should be abolished. In some cases it was not quite that strong, but I believe that was essentially what Argentina said to us, and others certainly were in favour of the elimination of export subsidies.
Recalling the figure that I quoted in the introductory comments, and taking note of the flow of resources to agriculture, and taking note of the reverse flow of resources from developing to developed countries, one would have to conclude that export subsidies and export prices are more important than these alternative flows of resources to the countries themselves.
We have had a number of comments in response to the section about the undernourished and the fact that not only the proportion but the number had declined, largely a consequence of rapid improvements and changes that had been made in Asia Pacific and particularly in China. These comments related to undernutrition. The plea for further action, the comments about food security all lead me to conclude that this set of member countries that make up the Council will in fact be strong supporters of the International Conference on Nutrition where an action plan will be laid before you for approval.
There was talk about the Global Information and Early Warning System. We will have an opportunity to talk about that again in a few minutes so we will not dwell on that. There was also considerable comment about the links, and the implications of, the surge in emergency situations for relief, rehabilitation and development.
I recall in particular one statement, that we cannot forget development, and that emergencies threaten to crowd out development; this is so. We see it every day. I have the task of trying to watch over our emergency-related activities, and I can assure you it takes considerable time and effort, and there is the constant threat. But the links really are more important; it is fortunate that FAO is one of the bodies who has a responsibility from the first point of relief, the early warning of an emergency, on through to helping you in response to your requests for development.
We have a whole series of other bodies in the UN System that are there for relief, and others who are there for development, who sometimes are called upon to be coordinator of these matters at the local level and at times it does not work very well at all either. Nevertheless they try.
We are a food and agricultural organization. Our mandate is broad and we do not have any desire to go beyond our mandate though we do stand ready to try to respond to your requests for assistance. I might point out in particular too the concerns of Colombia that our Field Programme is bigger than our Regular Programme. The staff we have to produce the documents which are before you consists of four professionals. We have about 1 500 times that number of persons in the Organization working on one thing or another - not all in the field certainly, but action is extremely important to us.
There were many comments made about the deterioration in export prices and there were two specific calls in particular concerning coffee. It reminds us that an important role of this Organization - which is your Organization - is to provide a forum for member countries and interested parties to come together to discuss matters.
The suggestion was made that perhaps the coffee matter might be taken up at the next meeting of Council. May I suggest that consideration instead be given to your Committee on Commodity Problems which may be a more appropriate forum? That body will meet I think a week before the next session of the Council, early in June of 1993, and should there be interest on the part of the member countries I see no reason why the matter could not be taken up and discussed in that forum.
Finally, I express appreciation for the comments that were made in response to my requests about reform of the documents. Unfortunately I think if one kept track of the additions that people were suggesting and also the minuses, I believe the pluses won. I was trying to find some way in which you would agree with me that we should cut these down and reduce their size rather than expand on them but we will look at your comments carefully. We do appreciate them and we will try to take them into account. I believe that was the essence of the points that I picked up.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous avons procédé à un examen complet si tant est qu'il soit possible d'être complet dans une telle matière qui ne pourra jamais être épuisée. Nous avons en effet abordé des secteurs extrêmement divers et de ce fait il est quasiment impossible de faire une synthèse exhaustive. Le document qui nous est soumis, qui est d'ailleurs une tentative de synthèse de la situation de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture en 1992 dans le monde et qui apporte un certain nombre d'exemples concrets, mérite d'être étudié et médité.
Je pense que l'ensemble des réflexions présentées par les honorables membres du Conseil et par les observateurs vont rester présentes dans l'esprit des spécialistes de la FAO qui, dans les mois qui viennent, auront l'occasion d'en tirer tous les enseignements souhaités.
Avez-vous des remarques ou des questions à poser à M. Hjort?
Tel n'étant pas le cas, je vais considérer le quatrième point de notre ordre du jour comme clos et nous allons passer au point 5 qui recouvre en partie le domaine qui vient d'être examiné.
LE PRESIDENT: Le point 5 est le rapport de la dix-septième session du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, session qui s'est tenue à Rome du 23 au 27 mars 1992 et qui comporte un certain nombre de considérations et propositions sur lesquelles notre Conseil est appelé à prendre des décisions. Certaines questions sont soumises à l'attention du Conseil non seulement pour examen mais également pour décision.
Le document qui vous est soumis est le document CL 102/10 et je voudrais attirer votre attention sur le document CL 102/INF/19, c'est-à-dire la déclaration de compétence de la Communauté économique européenne. Ce rapport de la dix-septième session du Comité de sécurité alimentaire couvre une matière de compétence mixte qui donne à la Communauté le droit de parler et qui laisse aux Etats Membres le droit de voter.
Nous allons immédiatement passer à la présentation du rapport, auquel de nombreux Etats Membres ont déjà participé et je donne la parole à M. Hjort, Directeur général adjoint de la FAO.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates and members, I now have the pleasure to present to the Council the Report of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security. As the Chairman has mentioned, the document is CL 102/10. The Committee on World Food Security at its Seventeenth Session in Rome during 23rd - 27th March 1992 considered a number of important food security policy issues. Firstly, the Committee reviewed the current world food security situation and outlook. Secondly, it examined approaches to monitoring access to food and household food security. Thirdly, the Committee reviewed the contribution of ruminant livestock to food security. Fourthly, it assessed the activities of the global information and early warning system as well as of the FAO's supported national and regional early warning systems. Finally, the Committee considered the frequency of CFS sessions.
The Council has discussed the world food security situation and outlook at least in part, so with respect to this topic I shall only highlight the Committee's concern over the difficulties faced by countries undergoing
structural adjustment programmes and to recall that the Committee ask the Secretariat to continue to monitor their impact closely.
The Committee reviewed approaches to monitoring access to food and household food security and broadly endorsed the proposed approach for developing and testing a composite index for monitoring household food security. It reviewed the list of possible indicators considered for the composite index and noted that these indicators provide, as an initial step, an acceptable compromise between analytical precision and the measurement of the problem of food access on the part of insecure food groups and the need for easily monitorable indicators for purposes of annual world food security assessments.
The Committee welcomed the opportunity to review the contribution of ruminant livestock to food security. It expressed the hope that future work of the Secretariat in this area would also cover reviews of the contribution of non-ruminant livestock as well as fishery to food security. Several delegates expressed the view that negative aspects of the interaction of ruminant livestock with the natural environment had not been sufficiently addressed. In this context it was stressed that it was essential to find ways for better organization of livestock producers at the local level for appropriate management of common property resources. The Committee was informed of a study under preparation on the links between food security and sustainability which could also address these questions.
The Committee also reviewed the activities of the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS). It considered that good progress has been made for strengthening the system to cope with the growing demands placed upon it. This has enabled the system to continue to improve its monitoring of the crop and food outlook at national and global levels. It added that the system as a whole has been accepted internationally as a low-cost, flexible and operational instrument for detection of emerging food supply demand situations throughout the world. It also noted with satisfaction the growing recognition within the UN system of the GIEWS as a mechanism for food disaster detection.
The Committee endorsed proposals to improve both the monitoring of social economic indicators of food demand and the agro-meteorological assessment of crop growing conditions.
In addition, it expressed its appreciation at the improvement that had been made in cooperation with non-governmental organizations and mechanisms set up by their institutions, leading to intensified support for the system in terms of both resources and information.
The Committee reiterated its full support for the work of the system and urged that this high priority should be reflected in future allocations of resources.
The Committee finally reviewed the frequency of CFS sessions on the basis of a document which considered the pros and cons of the options.
A number of delegates referred to possible upcoming discussions in the economic and social areas of the United Nations, the outcome of the ICN, the UN Conference on Environment and Development and the Uruguay Round, that might need to be taken into account in ascertaining the appropriate frequency for the CFS sessions and its procedures.
In view of this, the Committee considers that it was not timely to reach a decision at this stage and agreed to hold a regular session in 1993, at which time it will examine its future procedures in the light of such developments.
Mr Chairman, since most of these matters previously referred to continue to be unsettled, it would be hoped that the Council need not engage tonight in a debate on the frequency of the sessions of the CFS.
LE PRESIDENT: Comme les membres du Conseil le savent, le Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale est un Comité qui a été créé en application de l'article 33 du Règlement général de notre Organisation. Cet article 33, point 5, définit clairement les fonctions de ce Comité. Il est important de signaler que le règlement général prévoit que le Comité tienne normalement deux sessions au cours de chaque période biennale. Il est évident que le règlement de notre Organisation n'est pas intangible mais que pour modifier un règlement il y a nécessairement des procédures qui doivent être respectées.
Le rapport comporte un certain nombre de points particulièrement importants, dont: la référence, dans le discours du Directeur général, à la Déclaration de Barcelone, le problème de la fréquence des sessions que nous venons d'évoquer, le problème du Système mondial d'information et d'alerte rapide (SMIAR) qui a fait l'objet de longues considérations et qui permet une bonne articulation entre les activités de notre Organisation et celles du Programme alimentaire mondial - qui est un des principaux utilisateurs du système d'information et d'alerte rapide.
Il est souhaité que dans le document, à l'avenir, on incorpore une section sur la sécurité alimentaire des ménages. Il peut être utile de connaître les avis des membres du Conseil. Il y a également une autre suggestion qui me parait intéressante, à savoir l'étude de la contribution du secteur des pêches à la sécurité alimentaire et la nécessité, compte tenu de l'importance de ce secteur, de réaliser cette étude.
Il est éminemment souhaitable que les membres du Conseil puissent clairement se prononcer sur les propositions faites par le Comité de la sécurité alimentaire.
Je demanderai à tous les intervenants qui se sont fait inscrire de répondre aussi brièvement que possible aux questions précises qui sont actuellement posées afin que nous puissions, au terme de nos débats, prendre des décisions en fonction de l'éclairage que vous donnerez à l'examen de ce rapport.
D. PUTNAM (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom delegation would like to draw this Council's attention to paper CL 102/INF/4. In paragraph 1.4 of this paper the 60th Session of Council examined the role of Council in reviewing the activities of subsidiary bodies such as the Committee on World Food Security. This review process is a requirement set out in the basic text but we would, in particular, like to highlight paragraph 1.4(c) of the document, CL 102/INF/4. This paragraph states that the Council should "ensure that the discussions of these bodies are not repeated".
The logic of this decision becomes even more apparent when one compares the membership of the Seventeenth Session of the CFS and this, the 102nd Session of Council. Almost all of the members of this session of Council were
represented here in March when this report was unanimously adopted without amendment.
The Secretariat and the Committee on World Food Security have done their duty by submitting the report of this meeting to the 102nd Session of Council. We would, therefore, urge that we, the Council, do our duty by endorsing this report as quickly as we can.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le délégué du Royaume-Uni pour le soutien qu'il apporte à ce que j'avais déclaré dans l'introduction de ce point. J'avais rappelé la mission du Conseil dans le cadre du Règlement général de l'Organisation. Comme vous le savez, le Comité de la sécurité alimentaire dépend du Conseil. Dans le rapport du Comité, il y a un certain nombre de questions qui ont été posées et qui doivent recevoir des réponses et des décisions. Il est de la compétence du Conseil, et seulement du Conseil, de prendre les décisions qui s'imposent, compte tenu des questions posées. J'aimerais que les membres du Conseil se prononcent clairement sur les questions signalées par le Directeur général adjoint, notamment en ce qui concerne la fréquence des sessions et des examens futurs, l'accent mis sur le problème de la sécurité alimentaire des ménages, la pêche. Le Conseil est appelé à se prononcer sur toutes ces questions. Il n'est pas souhaitable que des discours soient prononcés, mais il faut que des réponses soient données aux questions posées. Cela ressort du rapport qui est fait par le Comité au Conseil, seule instance habilitée à prendre les décisions qui s'imposent.
Francisco Javier Alejo LOPEZ (México): Agradecemos a la Secretaría por el documento. En relación con su capítulo I, la delegación mexicana estima necesario reiterar que la visión intersectorial constituye un elemento importante en el seguimiento de la Seguridad Alimentaria. La CNUMAD y la CIN hacen patente la relación entre recursos naturales y alimentación, vista esta última en su máxima expresión, la nutrición.
Esta relación, que representa una extraordinaria conexión de procesos biológicos para el desarrollo, alentada en el sistema de Naciones Unidas, a través de dos grandes Conferencias, constituye una novedad en materia de política y debe ser objeto del mejor análisis del Comité, tal como lo propone el documento CL 102/10.
En lo concreto, estimamos necesario que el Comité debería conceder mayor importancia a la pesca y a la acuicultura como alternativas para mejorar la nutrición.
El consumo de los productos pesqueros, por su alto valor proteínico debe alentarse, ya que además de mejorar la dieta y la calidad alimentaria, es sin duda un elemento que contribuye a la seguridad alimentaria mundial.
El capítulo IV del documento, relativo a la aportación del sector pecuario a la seguridad alimentaria, es por demás interesante y estamos de acuerdo con el párrafo 30, que sugiere "un examen de la aportación de los animales no rumiantes" a esta seguridad.
El párrafo 32 advierte que el documento específico de trabajo con que el Comité abordó el tema, "no subrayaba suficientemente los aspectos negativos de la interacción del ganado rumiante con el medio ambiente". Afortunadamente
el párrafo 33 precisa que se informó al Comité que estaba en curso un estudio sobre los vínculos entre la seguridad alimentaria y la sostenibilidad y que, entre otras cosas, trataría del posible impacto ambiental de los distintos sistemas de producción pecuaria.
Llamamos la atención de ustedes al párrafo 35 que habla de la necesidad de eliminar distorsiones en el comercio de productos pecuarios por sus efectos negativos en la seguridad alimentaria.
En relación con el capítulo IV del documento es interesante recordar que en julio de este año se realizó en Bolivia la tercera reunión de la Comisión de Desarrollo de la Ganadería para América Latina y el Caribe.
Cabe destacar que la Comisión solicitó a la FAO realizar un estudio sobre la producción y comercialización de la leche y los subproductos lácteos en la región, con énfasis en la utilización que se da a la leche, a través de donaciones a los países y el efecto que esto tiene sobre los productos locales.
La Comisión también estimó conveniente que la FAO realice un estudio que clarifique los factores que incriminan a la ganadería como una actividad que deteriora el medio ambiente y afecta a los diferentes ecosistemas en la región. Con la colaboración de los países, será posible difundir la información que genere el estudio y mostrar a la opinión pública y al consumidor de productos pecuarios, la imagen positiva y real de las ganaderías.
Por último, Sr. Presidente, estimamos que las sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial y sus futuros informes pueden enriquecerse, si se abordan aspectos de campo o proyectos de cooperación que resalten el sentido práctico de los debates y el concepto ampliado de la Seguridad Alimentaria en forma aplicada.
Christodoulos CHRISTODOULOU (Cyprus): On behalf of my delegation I wish to highlight some points on this item and to register our support for the report of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on Food Security.
The world food security situation continues to be crucial, especially for low-income, food-deficit countries. This is mainly due to the fluctuations in stable food production and stock level conditions. In many of the low-income, food-deficit countries famine and malnutrition for years have been permanent phenomena.
As regards the production side, the situation is even worse. During the same decade the number of low-income food-deficit countries, with a per capita production of cereals below the base index, has also increased.
Surely, for most of the developing countries, the ever growing burden of their external debt servicing, associated with the reduction of prices of their export commodities, is inevitably worsening their financial position for stabilizing food supplies through imports.
The recent political and economic developments in the former socialist countries of central and eastern Europe create new dimensions to this complex problem of world food security. Already, in most of these countries, millions
of the people are facing great difficulties in securing food and, in the light of the huge socio-economic problems, such as unemployment, high inflation, land ownership, inadequate infrastructure and market mechanism, etc., the food shortages will affect vulnerable populations in the region, at least for a transitional period, subject to political stability and adequate economic reforms.
All these countries possess a strong agricultural potential, especially human resources, which, through the proper structural reforms and policies and surely other assistance, can become net food exporters in a short period of time, of course under normalized socio-economic conditions. In this historic process the role of FAO in providing policy advice and technical assistance aimed at improving the conditions of food production and food supply is surely of fundamental importance.
At this point, I wish to express the full support of my delegation to the relevant FAO efforts waged so far, as well as to the future FAO initiatives in assisting these countries to overcome the consequences of the big shock. This additional role of FAO proves its ecumenicality and its readiness to respond to new challenges.
The second point of our intervention is concerned with the role of ruminant livestock in stabilizing and enhancing household access to food over the seasons.
According to estimates, around 50 percent of world population of ruminant livestock are found in countries of food deficit. Surely, these animals constitute a vital source of highly nutritional food for human consumption. They also provide employment, inputs to crop agriculture and income to buy consumer goods or for investments in production. The raising of these animals enables a better land use through mixed farming and the exploitation of marginal lands.
In the light of experience gained in my country, Cyprus, we can say that the raising of livestock is the key issue for increasing food supplies and incomes in rainfed areas. This can be achieved through proper livestock management, including genetic upgrading, animal health and animal nutrition.
The existence of the proper extension services, including home economics, as well as the training of livestock-keepers, namely on aspects of livestock management, are of fundamental importance for increasing livestock production and productivity.
As regards the raising of overall agricultural income, namely under rainfed conditions, we have practised in Cyprus the benefits of a mixed-farming system based on the raising of sheep and goats together with the production of cereal crops in rotation with World Food Programme leguminous fodders. This system has been applied by our farmers, during the 1960s, with FAO and World Food Programme assistance. The results were really impressive from the viewpoint of income increase, land use and agricultural employment.
Finally, we wish to state that we consider the forthcoming International Conference on Nutrition as an event of historic importance for world food security. We expect that the conclusions of this Conference will create greater awareness and renewed commitments of the international community for resolving the pressing problems of hunger and malnutrition.
Pinit KORSIEPORN (Thailand): The report of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security is a good one. My delegation appreciates the efforts of those involved in preparing the document. We have four points on which we wish to comment.
Firstly, when I finished reading this report I found that the words "Uruguay Round" "protectionism", "liberalization of international food policies", "reduction in trade", "trade-distorting support" and "removal of distortion" have been mentioned frequently in this report in connection with agricultural products. You may find these words in paragraphs 14, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 35. I am certain that the issues are very important and closely related to world food security. In short, we believe that the unjust practice in world agricultural trade definitely has negative consequences for food security at the national level of developing countries, as well as at a global level as a whole. We should therefore like to see certain developed countries paying serious attention to these issues.
Secondly, my delegation totally agrees that the secretariat of the Committee on World Food security should examine the conclusions of the International Conference on Nutrition. In relation to household food security, we hope that the Secretariat could make this study available at its next meeting.
Thirdly, my delegation is fully aware of the important role played by the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System. We would appreciate it if the Secretariat could give us more details on the future plan to train national and regional staff in the use of modern technology to strengthen the monitoring of crops and food supply.
Fourthly, concerning the frequency of CFS sessions, my delegation supports the status quo option, option (a).
Finally, I am afraid that I have to mention the food security scheme at a regional level, even though it is not discussed in the report. My Government is very interested in the regional security scheme, namely ASEAN's food security reserves. We sincerely appreciate the work which has been done by FAO for the ASEAN project. We should be very happy to hear more from the Secretariat on the recent developments, since the project protocol was sent to the Government of Japan to consider financial assistance some time ago.
Duck SOO AHN (Korea, Republic of): My delegation welcomes the report of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security, which gives us useful information for the food security debate. We also welcome the concise explanation of it given by the Deputy Director-General, Mr Hjort.
Firstly, my delegation would like to point out their concern that the world food security situation has deteriorated in 1991/92 because the world supply of staple food has fallen in 1991, mainly through a decline in cereals levels. Also, the distribution of food stocks is imbalanced among countries and among different cereals. The subsequent economic situation of developing of countries seriously affects food security in the vulnerable crops. Therefore my delegation shares the view of the importance of a positive outcome of the international trade negotiation, which should produce substantial benefits for all countries on a balanced basis and make a significant contribution to world food security.
At the same time, my delegation is of the opinion that, especially for developing countries, efforts to increase staple food production should be increased for international and national food security.
With regard to the relationship between the new international trade order and food security, my delegation would additionally like to point out that the comprehensive implications and effect of market liberalization methods towards food security should be carefully examined through various kinds of studies, including case studies. These studies will show the possible effects and enable us to clarify the strategies to secure short- and long-term national food security.
My delegation believes that the Global Information and Early Warning System has played a very important role in covering the emergency situations caused by natural and man-made disasters. It has also contributed to the improvement of nutritional levels in the various parts of the world, to which more attention has been given this century through FAO activities such as the International Conference on Nutrition. I should therefore like to reiterate that, as emphasized in many other fora, the agricultural information sector, including GIEWS activities for food security, is one of the most important areas for FAO to put priorities for its work.
Nusyirwan ZEN (Indonesia): The Indonesian delegation wish to express their appreciation to the Committee on World Food security for their assessment and review on the global food situation. We do not have any basic disagreement with the report. We warmly welcome and support the assurances by some major food aid donors that their food aid allocations to the economies in transition would be additional to existing commitments and would not result in a diversion of food aid allocations from traditional recipients among developing countries. We also support the appeal, as well as the recommendation, to international organizations to provide assistance to countries experiencing difficulties in their food supply. In this regard, we should also like to reiterate the Barcelona Declaration of 1992 and the results of the Non-aligned Movement meeting of 1992 that food aid should not be used as an instrument of political and economic pressure. Food aid should be seen as an instrument for developing human resources for better income, household food security and nutrition. The NAM summit meeting decided to convene a Conference of Ministers of food and agriculture of the Non-aligned Movement and other developing countries to formulate policy guidelines on food and agriculture and to take major steps to establish schemes to provide substantial food aid to relieve critical shortages such as those occurring in certain parts of Africa.
With regard to the Global Information and Early Warning System, the Indonesian delegation wish to express their support on its development to enhance efforts in monitoring the global food situation, especially in developing countries.
The Jakarta NAM in 1992 also called for the importance of the continuous close monitoring of development of global food situations.
With regard to the frequency of CFS meetings, the Indonesian delegation would like to support the one plus option in view of (a) the efficiency and higher quality of work of the CFS; (b) delegations' costs for preparing and attending the meetings; (c) advanced levels of the Global Information and Early Warning Systems operated by FAO; and (d) the availability of more advanced technology for disseminating information.
We support the view that, even under the reduced frequency of meetings, the policy studies presented to CFS can continue. In addition, topics such as policy studies can be discussed in other FAO bodies such as COAG in Conference years.
Finally, the Indonesian delegation shares the concern of the delegate of Thailand at the absence of a report on the implementation of the previous Council's decision on FAO assistance to study Asian food security reserve in the Report of the 7th Session of the Committee on World Food Security.
Vishnu BHAGWAN (India): My delegation participated actively in the last Session in the Committee on Food Security held in March this year. The leader of my delegation also had the opportunity to give his comments on the developing world food security situation and related issues. Therefore, I shall restrict myself to only a few comments.
First, with reference on paragraphs 23 and 25 of the Report, we agree with the operational definition of household food security. However, this definition does not include the nutritional dimension of the food security. In our view, household food security and malnutrition are interrelated. Therefore, while considering food insecurity at household level, the underlying causes of malnutrition should also be kept in mind.
The identification of possible indicators for mapping household food security should also be country- and region-specific. It would be desirable to associate the Member Nations while preparing the indicators for monitoring household food security. Further, any statistical information in this regard should be obtained from the Member States without incurring any extra costs on household surveys independently by FAO.
Second, my delegation appreciates the recognition of the contribution of livestock wealth to food security. Livestock wealth is an integral part of the rural household system in the developing countries during natural disasters and induced stress situations. The non-ruminant livestock particularly contributes to the food security of the households. However, during the stress situations, the market forces operate to the disadvantage of the rural households whose income depend upon the sale of such livestock. Hence, efforts need to be made and policies to be introduced to ensure that the market fluctuations of the livestock do not unduly undermine the income of rural households. FAO can initiate steps to identify measures which can ensure stability of the prices of the livestock during stress situations.
Third, we also appreciate the improvement made in the Global Information and Early Warning System for the detection of emerging food supply difficulties to ensure timely intervention in averting major food scarcity induced disasters. The System is a low-cost, flexible operational instrument for monitoring the food availability in fragile areas. It is based on crop monitoring and harvest indicators. However, we feel that in addition to these two indicators, the hydrological indicators such as water level in the reservoirs and tanks would give an early clue to the impending difficult situations. Hence, we suggest that FAO incorporate these indicators into the existing Global Information and Early Warning System which, in our view, will improve its quality.
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Fourth, with regard to the frequency of the CFS, as decided at the last meeting, the next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held in March/April next year, and will itself be taking a decision on this issue.
With these comments, my delegation endorses the Report of the CFS held in March this year.
HUANG YONGNING (China) (Original language Chinese): My intervention will be very brief. The Seventeenth Session of the CFS conducted a comprehensive review of five Agenda Items related to the current food security situation. The Chinese delegation participated actively in the March meeting and its discussions. We endorse wholeheartedly the relevant analysis and the conclusions reached by the CFS.
We should like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the document and we should like to thank the Deputy Director-General for its preparation. We fully endorse the adoption of the Report.
Daudi NGELAUTWA MKAKAWAGO (Tanzania): My delegation expresses our appreciation, Mr Chairman, for your excellent lead in this Council Session. We should also like to congratulate the three Vice-Chairmen.
Tanzania participated fully in the Seventeenth CFS Committee session here in Rome. We reiterate our support for the conclusions.
However, I need to highlight a few points as a matter of emphasis. Firstly, we emphasize the need to underscore the importance of household food security. In the case of Tanzania, liberalization has tended to distort the age-old traditions of household security. This needs to be looked into because of the obsession with the selling of produce to the market. They find they have the money and they need to buy the food, when they could have their food in their own local storages.
Tanzania has been campaigning with the farmers to ensure that they have enough stocks for their needs and are only selling what is surplus. It is an uphill task but it is very important and needs to be looked into.
Secondly, it should be noted that women are the largest force of producers of food. Therefore, focus should be directed towards their getting adequate and nutritious food. Furthermore, their working conditions require attention, especially the kind of implements that are used. This area of technology should also be looked into, especially lessening the work burden of the women.
Thirdly, there is the question of post-harvest losses. Here we need to emphasize the question of strengthening the cooperation between people and FAO and the other donors in the construction of grain storage. Our experience in Tanzania has shown quite remarkable results.
In conclusion, in Tanzania structural adjustment has led to cost escalation, especially of fertilizers. There are areas in Tanzania where, without chemical fertilizers, there can be no meaningful production and productivity. This is a serious problem on which the Council needs to focus its attention.
Harald HILDEBRAND (Germany): Being a member of the Committee on Food Security, my country endorses the approval of the Report of the Seventeenth Session of CFS.
We are pleased in particular that FAO is continuously improving its Global Information and Early Warning System. The quick information which this system allows is of decisive importance to forecast natural disasters and, if this information is translated into prompt action, catastrophic hunger can at least be alleviated. Its proven value is evident again these days in the crisis areas in Africa.
The establishment and further development of this warning mechanism was a great success also for the CFS. It should continue with its efforts. However, we are convinced that the strict annual frequency of CFS sessions should be avoided. We feel that a biennial frequency which allows for specific exceptions would be sufficient and would release valuable resources for other tasks of FAO.
Mlle Evelyne SENGSUWAN (France): La délégation française approuve les conditions opérationnelles qui sont recommandées, notamment au paragraphe 16 du rapport, lorsqu'il s'agit de favoriser les achats locaux ou les opérations triangulaires de livraison d'un pays du sud vers un autre pays du sud. Elle tient également à souligner que les efforts dans le domaine de la prévention ou de la lutte contre les fléaux naturels, comme le criquet pèlerin ou la protection des cultures en général, doivent être poursuivis, complétant ainsi ceux du SMIAR.
Une contribution au règlement de la question de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale viendra certainement aussi de la plus grande efficacité à donner aux opérations et engagements en matière d'aide. A cet égard, la France tient à rappeler l'importance qu'il y aurait à ouvrir un débat sur l'aide alimentaire, son utilisation optimale et son impact sur la sécurité alimentaire dans le contexte bien connu de la réforme des institutions économiques et sociales des Nations Unies.
En outre, lorsque l'on parle de sécurité alimentaire, il est nécessaire d'en envisager toute la dimension politico-sociale. Cette remarque est valable non seulement pour ce qui concerne les groupes vulnérables mais aussi pour la maîtrise de la démographie. A cet égard, le document CL 102/10 ne consacre pas assez de place à la mise au point de stratégies qui prennent également en compte la question démographique.
Enfin, pour ce qui concerne la philosophie sous-jacente à l'aide alimentaire, la délégation française tient à rappeler, en s'inspirant à ce propos de la Charte de l'aide alimentaire signée le 10 février 1990 avec de nombreux pays d'Afrique subsaharienne, que celle-ci ne doit ni créer des phénomènes de dépendance définitifs ni perturber la production ou la commercialisation de produits locaux.
J'ajouterai que les opérations triangulaires d'aide alimentaire reçoivent notre plein appui, et cela pour deux raisons principales: elles garantissent un débouché aux agriculteurs des pays susceptibles de perdre leurs récoltes à cause de la sécheresse ou d'autres raisons écologiques; les agriculteurs, assurés de vendre leur production, sont ainsi incités à produire plus que ce dont ils ont besoin pour leur autoconsommation; ils approvisionneront mieux
le marché national. D'autre part, des dépôts seront construits pour entreposer ces produits avant leur expédition vers le pays destinataire; ces mêmes entrepôts serviront ensuite de réserve pour une éventuelle pénurie locale ou nationale.
Le deuxième effet direct est dû à la fourniture aux habitants du pays bénéficiaire de l'opération de produits qu'ils consomment normalement; le risque de changement d'habitudes alimentaires est ainsi supprimé: la substitution des aliments traditionnels par des aliments importés plus faciles à préparer peut provoquer un abandon durable de ceux-là, provoquant l'appauvrissement des agriculteurs et accélérant de ce fait l'exode rural.
Morad Ali ARDESHIRI (Iran, Islamic Republic of): Mr Chairman, first allow me to express my appreciation to Mr Hjort, the Deputy Director-General, for his clear and concise introduction to the subject of our present discussion. Secondly, as you recommended, I shall try to be as brief as possible.
Since the question of food, hunger and malnutrition is the main problem of the least developed and developing countries of the world, sustainable agricultural development, population growth control and equitable distribution of food and agriculture production are the only solution to this problem.
In order to overcome the problem, a specialized and competent organization such as FAO should undertake this responsibility. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, through international efforts and in cooperation with other international organizations, should take effective measures to ensure that food and agriculture products are not used as a political weapon, and also that international, regional or local blockades should not create any limitation for food access in the least developed and developing countries. In this context, controlling the international food markets could be another effective measure by FAO. In this case, the effective cooperation of all countries and other relevant organizations will be very necessary.
Given the above-mentioned issues, on behalf of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I fully support the Barcelona Declaration of March 1992 on the Food Rights of Man, as indicated in paragraph 12 of document CL 102/10.
Regarding the food security issues, in our view the policy of utilizing triangular transactions and local purchases is fully supported.
Concerning the contribution of livestock to food security, it should be noted that in developing countries, and particularly in those countries which are located in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, over-grazing is one of the main causes of destruction of the natural environment. In particular, the negative aspects of the inter-action of ruminant livestock with the natural environment are entirely evident. In order to achieve the sustainable utilization of natural resources which leads to sustainable contribution of livestock to food security, all environment resources including grazing resources should be utilized through the comprehensive integrated management plan of natural resources. In this regard, FAO's inter-departmental activity is the most appropriate and effective.
In regard to the frequency of the CFS sessions, we believe that one biennial meeting in non-Conference years is sufficient, and during Conference years the review of the assessment of the world food security situation would be done by another FAO body.
Finally, in general we support FAO's activities in relation to the Global Information and Early Warning Systems programme. In particular, the application of this system and its role in world food security is fully supported, and its improvement is necessary.
Kiyoshi SAWADA (Japan): My comment will be brief and concise. World food security was an old but fundamental and crucial theme of FAO before the environmental issue became so large. Looking at the world food situation now and foreseeing the future, we recognize the necessity for FAO to continue its activities in this field, including monitoring and analysing the world food situation and disseminating that information to the world, as well as giving technical and political guidance to developing countries in an effective manner.
In this context, my Government expects FAO to perform its function within its mandate, which includes the activities I have just mentioned, in a positive manner. We should like to discuss FAO's activities in this field, including the frequency of the Committee on World Food Security, at the next CFS meeting.
Sra. Mercedes FERMIN GOMEZ (Venezuela): Nosotros comenzaremos por dar nuestro apoyo en líneas generales a este documento, pero quisiéramos hacer algunas observaciones probablemente por nuestra necesidad de información al respecto.
En primer lugar, el concepto de seguridad alimentaria que ya en años pasados expuso aquí uno de nuestros ex-presidentes del Consejo, el Dr Swaminathan, de buen recuerdo para nosotros, sobre la conveniencia de ir pensando no en seguridad alimentaria per se, sino en un concepto de seguridad nutricional, porque realmente no siempre los alimentos que ingieren las masas de la población son alimentos que van a garantizar su seguridad alimentaria, y que por eso habría que pensar en afinar los conceptos de seguridad alimentaria para crear el concepto de "seguridad nutricional", y ello necesitaría, por consiguiente, una afinación también de los métodos de recolección de datos o de investigación, que la FAO tiene a su disposición.
Eso, en principio, que creo surge de la lectura del documento y que no estaría en desacuerdo, pero que sí nos llevaría a la conclusión de que no podíamos estar pensando en distanciar las reuniones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, puesto que tendría un mayor trabajo. Este mismo documento habla de la necesidad de la investigación en los hogares en cuanto a seguridad alimentaria y si eso lo vamos a hacer así, investigar la seguridad alimentaria en los hogares, no es precisamente alargando la periodicidad de las reuniones del Comité como lo logramos, sino, por el contrario, yendo más en profundidad a su conocimiento.
En segundo lugar, por eso, ya que ellos consideran que sería conveniente incorporar a su debido tiempo una sección sobre la seguridad alimentaria en los hogares en el documento anual de evaluación, no podemos estar pensando que eso lo hagamos cada dos años, porque este trabajo de investigación en los
hogares va a llevar un minucioso estudio y probablemente una capacitación de personas que deban hacerlo, inclusive a las amas de casa o a las campesinas, puesto que creemos que no vamos a hacer solamente investigación a los hogares de la clase alta o de la clase media, vamos a ir precisamente a los que tienen una mayor necesidad de ayudarlos en su alimentación.
Otro punto que nos merece una pregunta o por lo menos una reflexión, es el que se refiere a la denominación o a la incorporación, esto que dijo nuestro excelente expositor, lo que se llama el "Sector pecuario no rumiante".
A mí me gusta trabajar con mi lógica, y, además, mi profesión es geógrafo y un poco sé de agricultura. No sé cómo podemos incluir en el sector pecuario a los no rumiantes. Podríamos entonces hacer una definición del sector ganadero en el cual podemos incluir toda clase de ganadería, desde la ganadería mayor a la menor pasando, si ustedes quieren, por toda la pequeña ganadería que siempre será rumiante y hacer una separación que sería una cuestión de metodología, para colocar allí los peces, las aves, los que no son rumiantes, entonces tendríamos una separación del sector ganadero y, si queremos, podríamos hacer una denominación del sector animal rumiante y no rumiante. Yo quedaría satisfecha con esta definición; pero hablar de un sector pecuario no rumiante no nos satisface, puesto que la característica pecuaria lleva, porque sí, animales hervíboros que se alimentan de hierbas; no conozco todavía peces ni gallinas que se alimenten de hierbas, pero yo tengo poco conocimiento de eso. Por eso, nos permitimos abusar de la paciencia de la Comisión para hacer esta sugerencia. Hablemos entonces del sector ganadero y del sector animal no rumiante. Así quedaría sector ganadero y sector animal no rumiante y ahí podríamos meter todo lo que es la apicultura y también todo lo que es la acuicultura, si lo que queremos es incorporarlo todo. En ese sentido, me permito hacer esta sugerencia y creo que salvaríamos la claridad de los conceptos con esta denominación. En cuanto al sector pecuario per se, estamos completamente de acuerdo en lo que se refiere a la aportación directa e indirecta de los rumiantes a la seguridad alimentaria. Sabemos que ellos contribuyen no solamente su carne, su leche, sino que también son capaces de aportar elementos fertilizantes y algunas otras actividades como el transporte, etc.
Por esa razón, pues, apoyaría todos estos artículos que se refieren a la seguridad alimentaria dependiendo del sector pecuario y sugiero que busquemos un apartado, que supongo es más capaz la Secretaría que yo, y así separar el sector animal no rumiante, en el cual incluiríamos apicultura, aves y peces, como ya lo estableció el Señor, que hizo la creación del mundo, que un día se lo dedicó a las aves y los peces.
En cuanto al concepto de la elaboración de datos y a la recolección de datos, nos parece que con la incrementación de este trabajo si mantenemos el statu quo. Sin ánimo de desatar ninguna discusión en este momento, creo que una reunión anual sería lo deseable, porque cualquiera de las otras posibilidades recargaría esa reunión con el trabajo que habría que hacer ajustando este documento a las posibilidades y observaciones que han hecho los que han intervenido en el uso de la palabra antes que yo.
Creo que por lo demás es un documento bastante certero, muy completo y que con esas observaciones de mi parte, lo apoyo totalmente, apoyando también la Declaración de Barcelona que indudablemente nos compete y tratando de estudiar si nosotros pudiéramos introducir aquí el concepto de "seguridad nutricional", agregando además los elementos que corresponden a esta seguridad nutricional.
Ello serviría, no solamente para la gente, para la masa consumidora, sino también para mucha gente de alto nivel económico que consume una cantidad de cosas que no alimentan nada y que en realidad, sobre todo ahora que están de moda las dietas, la gente consume un montón de alimentos que tienen mucha fibra y poca nutrición. Sería conveniente entonces contribuir a la educación de esa clase en la mejor manera de lograr su nutrición adecuada.
Creo que con esto satisfacemos nuestras preocupaciones con relación al documento y doy las gracias por darme la palabra, pidiendo excusas a la Secretaría por tratar de hacer esa enmienda que me parece necesaria.
Ms Simone ROBIN (Canada): Having participated in the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on Food Security, the delegation endorses the proposed report of the CFS and wishes to make the following comments in relation to paragraph 52, referring to future decisions likely to affect the food security issue and the CFS in the near future.
First, we wish to stress our strong belief that a successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round should be achieved, as it remains fundamental to enhancing food security for all countries.
Second, the increased food security uncertainties prevailing in many countries demand an intensified focus by the UN, in order to mobilize the political support and to promote greater coordination between food policies and development policies. In our view, the importance of finding the most effective mechanisms, within the UN system, to achieve that goal in the context of UN reform is critical.
With reference to the discussions on the future of the World Food Council that are about to take place in New York, Canada intends to continue to pursue a solution previously articulated in Nairobi and New York, the key elements of which address three critical questions: firstly, how to ensure the integration of food security into broader development policy and the effective implementation of operational decisions within the overall UN System; secondly, how to strengthen analyses of the food security issue; thirdly, how to ensure ministerial attention and profile to the food security issue.
We flag these Canadian views in the context of this meeting because we perceive an eventually more significant role for the CFS in analysing the range of issues which have an impact on global food security. Where the CFS lacks expertise, it would be our expectation that it would request the collaboration of other UN bodies with that expertise.
Aguinaldo LISBOA RAMOS (Cap-Vert): Monsieur le Président, nous voudrions tout d'abord vous manifester notre joie de vous voir une fois de plus à la présidence du Conseil. Nous adressons aux autres membres du Bureau nos félicitations pour leur élection.
Nourriture pour tous doit devenir le souci de tous et s'ériger chaque jour davantage en droit fondamental de l'homme. S'il est vrai que la production d'aliments de base est en baisse, que les stocks tombent à des niveaux critiques, que ne cesse la montée des prix internationaux des céréales, il n'en est pas moins vrai que l'humanité dispose aujourd'hui de ressources alimentaires suffisantes pour se nourrir. Et tout cela, malgré les
sécheresses, les catastrophes naturelles, l'instabilité et les troubles civils qui sévissent un peu partout dans le monde, en Afrique, en Europe et en Asie.
Mais quel sera l'espoir pour les pays à faible revenu et à déficit vivrier, en ce qui concerne l'accès aux vivres? De nombreux groupes deviennent particulièrement vulnérables, et la consommation par habitant baisse. Est-ce qu'il y aura une augmentation des engagements d'aide alimentaire face aux besoins accrus d'importation des pays en développement, conjuguée à l'accroissement des coûts des importations commerciales?
Il est de notre devoir de rappeler le Pacte mondial de sécurité alimentaire, et donc le droit de tous aux aliments dont nous avons besoin pour vivre avec dignité. La RAIU doit pouvoir répondre aux besoins des pays en développement.
Le CSA a examiné quelques approches pour évaluer l'accès des ménages à la nourriture et suivre leur sécurité alimentaire. La délégation du Cap-Vert reconnaît la nécessité d'assurer la durabilité de l'accès aux aliments, réaffirme l'importance des activités d'évaluation et encourage la poursuite de l'étude qui pourrait devenir utile dans la prise des décisions pour l'allocation de l'aide internationale au développement, selon les recommandations du Comité.
Pour ce qui est du fonctionnement du SMIAR, nous aimerions féliciter et remercier le Groupe d'alerte rapide de la FAO qui travaille en étroite collaboration avec le Bureau des opérations spéciales de secours, le Centre de télédétection, le Groupe acridiens, migrateurs nuisibles et opérations d'urgence, le PAM et diverses ONG pour les rapports périodiques sur la situation météorologique et l'état des cultures au Sahel, les pays concernés et la communauté internationale.
Permettez-moi de reprendre maintenant l'information sur la sécurité alimentaire dans mon pays, le Cap-Vert, depuis la réalisation de la 17ème session du Comité de sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
Suite à la sécheresse périodique qui sévit dans cette partie du Sahel, la sécurité alimentaire demeure précaire. Le pays traverse des moments difficiles surmontés grâce à l'aide de nos partenaires internationaux.
Une mission d'évaluation conjointe FAO/CILSS a eu lieu du 17 au 22 octobre et a fait une estimation préalable dépendant d'une suite favorable de pluies, qui ne s'est pas malheureusement vérifiée. Par rapport à l'année dernière, de meilleures conditions se sont vérifiées pour la culture du maïs et des légumineuses qui ont connu des attaques importantes de sauteriaux et d'autres insectes. La situation de l'élevage du bétail s'annonce plus favorable et il ne sera pas nécessaire de faire des importations d'urgence de fourrage ou d'aliments pour le bétail.
Revenant au document soumis à notre examen concernant la fréquence des réunions des comités, nous aimerions appuyer le paragraphe 49 du rapport et nous conformer au contenu de la première partie du paragraphe 52, selon lequel la session de 1993 "examinera ses futures procédures à la lumière des faits nouveaux survenus dans le système des Nations Unies et prendra en considération les recommandations des diverses réunions internationales".
Rolf AKESSON (Sweden): The monitoring of the global food situation (covered in paragraphs 7-21 of the Report) is a central task not only for the CFS but for the Organization as a whole. We are anxious that this task is carried out in a way consistent with its importance. Along with others we have - primarily in the CFS - suggested improvements in the traditional approach used for monitoring.
On this occasion I just want to put on record our view that much remains to be done in this respect and that the progress so far has been a little bit slow, although we clearly recognize that this is easier said than done. We are, however, concerned about the fact that the monitoring is still heavily focused on the supply side - production, trade and stocks - while factors determining demand and access, such as prices, wages, employment, at most play a fairly minor role, at least in the written assessment which is shown to Members. I recall that the last conference - and I quote - "... urged that more emphasis be placed on factors affecting access to food in future Secretariat assessments".
We appreciate very much the efforts made to pay more attention to the household level (Part III of the Report) and we urge a forceful continuation along that line in such a way that the result very soon will be visible in the regular practical monitoring work.
Finally, I would like to reiterate the old and widespread wish for a reappraisal of the grain stocks indicator which traditionally plays a prominent role in the assessments. Fundamental changes in grain markets have taken place since the concept was launched, and the role of stocks have been re-evaluated, so it is only logical that we take a close look at the possible implications for the FAO grain stocks indicator.
E. Wayne DENNEY (United States of America): We appreciate and agree with Mr Hjort's excellent introductory remarks. The United States participated fully in the Seventeenth Session of the CFS and we endorsed its Report. Most of the Agenda Items were handled expeditiously. Discussion of the current food security situation closely parallel the state of food and agriculture discussions we have just completed.
During the important review of the Global Information and Early Warning System Members agreed that the system should not become overly dependent on extra-budgetary resources or that as it is stated in paragraph 45, the main source of financing of the system's score operations must remain the FAO Regular Programme.
While a wide array of views on the frequency of CFS Sessions prevented consensus, the Committee wisely decided to revisit this issue again in 1993. Paragraphs 49 and 50 adequately reflect those views. We were among those countries arguing for biennialization of the CFS meetings. We look forward to reaching a decision on this matter at the Committee's 18th Session.
Adel EL-SARKI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God the Merciful and Compassionate, Mr Chairman, having carefully studied the document and the discussion, particularly at paragraphs 8 to 21 related to the assessment of current world food security situation and the recent policy development, my delegation wishes to express its concern over what is
contained in these paragraphs, namely the deterioration in the global food security situation in 1991-92, the decline in the world cereal stocks, the continuous pressures on the international prices of major cereals, and the adverse effects on food-deficit countries in addition to the multiplicity of problems related to the regional food supplies.
However, paragraph 12 dispels some of the concerns. An appeal was made to donor countries to provide all possible assistance to the countries affected in order to support food and agricultural production in these countries. We do hope that this appeal will be heeded and have a positive impact. In addition, paragraph 13 stressed the importance of the Global Information and Early Warning System in monitoring food supply developments with the aim of monitoring the situation and taking timely measures.
My delegation, having reviewed paragraphs 22-28 dealing with the different ways of monitoring access to food and household food security, wishes to welcome the content of this paragraph, in addition to the importance given to supplying a pragmatic approach to the food security concept at the household level through the composite index.
My delegation recognizes the importance of the livestock contribution to food security. We make the necessary efforts in order to promote this sector, with special importance given to the species with higher productivity in providing meat and milk. We also secure sanitary care and the implementation of animal food and fodder production programmes.
Having studied paragraphs 36-46, my delegation wishes to express its satisfaction at the positive results achieved by the Global Information and Early Warning System supported by FAO.
My delegation supports the present frequency of the CFS meeting until the relevant amendments are introduced into the UN system.
In conclusion, we wish to thank the Deputy Director-General for his fine introduction to this important document.
John Bruce SHARPE (Australia): Along with many others here, Australia actively participated in the work of this Committee in March of this year. Along with others, we also noted with concern that the level of world cereal stocks was declining and that at the forecast level the ratio of global stocks to trend consumption had fallen to the minimum level considered necessary to safeguard global food security.
The report stresses the importance of examining links between the environment, sustainable agricultural development and agricultural trade policy in relation to world food security.
It agrees that changes in the international economic and trading environment, such as the outcome of the Uruguay Round and the transition to market economies, could have profound implications on food security.
It recognizes that a move towards liberalized trade and reductions in trade distorting support and protection in agriculture, would have positive consequences for world food security. There are, however, many issues involved in the concept of food security. All the aspects of food security should be
fully examined following the Uruguay Round. Australia stands ready to join others in exploring the issues involved.
We support the definition of household food security mentioned in paragraph 23 of the Committee's report; that is, that a household is food secure when it has both physical and economic access to adequate food for all its members and when it is not at undue risk of losing such access.
We were among those countries mentioned in the Committee's report which stressed that the concept of adequacy should include nutritional adequacy as well. Household-level food acquisition should not be considered adequate unless it is sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of the household.
It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a growing recognition internationally of the merit of the Global Information and Early Warning System and the important role that it plays in food needs assessment and identification of emergency food situations.
Australia considers that FAO has a comparative advantage in this area of work and we support fully FAO's continued development of the system. We favour the proposal outlined in paragraph 42 of CL 102/10 regarding the proposed further expansion of commodity coverage, particularly to traditional subsistence foodstuffs.
While we acknowledge the difficulties in obtaining useful data, it is important in the context of assessing food needs to know whether subsistence production is likely to be realized and, if not, whether the shortfall is likely to be extensive or moderate.
On the question of frequency of meetings of the Committee on Food Security, Australia favours the one plus option which is holding one full agenda session per biennium during non-conference years, whilst during conference years a review of the assessment of the world food security situation would be done by another FAO body, perhaps the Committee on Agriculture.
Carlos BASCO (Argentina): La delegación Argentina, como miembro del Comité, apoya la presentación del documento y quiere hacer sólo algunas precisiones. En principio la delegación apoya la preocupación de la Organización por el fracaso de la Ronda Uruguay de Negociaciones Comerciales Multilaterales y su implicación sobre la seguridad alimentaria. La delegación también apoya los estudios sobre la aportación de los sectores pesqueros y del ganado rumiante a la seguridad alimentaria. También apoya las inquietudes acerca de que las asignaciones de ayuda alimentaria para las economías en transición sean adicionales a las ya establecidas. También se apoya el incremento del flujo de ayuda alimentaria para situaciones de emergencia y el valor de la utilización de transacciones triangulares y compras locales.
La delegación expresa su apoyo a la liberalización de las políticas comerciales internas e internacionales. Estas mejoran las perspectivas de la seguridad alimentaria a plazo mediano y ofrecen la mejor garantía para los agricultores, productores de alimentos. Estos actualmente enfrentan problemas de falta de competitividad por las prácticas desleales de comercio por parte de algunos países desarrollados.
Entendemos que los grupos de bajos ingresos, vulnerables por aumento de los precios de los alimentos, constituyen principalmente grupos urbanos a quienes se les quiere mantener artificialmente bajos los precios de los alimentos para pagarles bajos salarios. Es pues, éste, un problema de distribución de ingresos del sector urbano y no un problema de los agricultores. Sobre este tema, la delegación Argentina exhorta a la FAO y a los Estados Miembros a una nueva reflexión sobre el tema, porque considera que en varios documentos de la FAO se confunden los términos del problema.
Winston RUDDER (Trinidad and Tobago): Permit me a few brief comments on this particular topic to reflect the concern both of my delegation and the CARICOM states. Let me first of all endorse the comments made by the representative of Venezuela and echoed by many others in respect of the linkage between food security and nutritional security.
May I also observe that it is ironic that while we are discussing a report of the Committee on Food Security - in fact we do have within FAO a Chief of Food Security Service - we speak in the document of household security.
At the national level food security seems an anathema when we come to policy dialogue, with many of the multilateral organizations within the context of structural adjustment. I feel that this is indeed ironic.
We wish to make particular note of paragraph 21 of the document before us reflecting the trade distorting support and protection in agriculture and the fact that, if these distortions are removed, there will be more than adequate opportunity for improving the world's food security situation. We want to reflect some concerns that were raised at the recent Latin American Caribbean Regional meeting when it was stressed that, while many countries would benefit from trade liberalization, the advantages will not be adequately shared and some countries could indeed even lose out. In fact, the delegation of the CARICOM states stressed that their states' economies were extremely vulnerable to the changes currently under way in the world market. They also believe that the vulnerability of their economies would make it very difficult for them to adapt to changes that are taking place.
I make these points to underscore the need to ponder on the point raised in the last sentence of paragraph 21 on the importance of perhaps adequate compensation to food importing countries, particularly small, poorly resourced island states like the ones in the Caribbean.
I wish to refer to paragraph 14 which refers to the importance of examining links between the environment, sustainable agricultural development and trade policies in relation to food security. I wish to add that another important consideration in that package is science and technology policies, particularly the changes that are taking place in biotechnology, the technological revolution and the likely impact that can have in a sense in changing what is comparative advantage which some countries now have viz-a-viz production of a range of commodities. We hear of cocoa butter, for example, being made from crops which are not grown in tropical countries.
I figure that has to be part of the dimension that must be looked at in this whole context of food security.
I also make this point to emphasize the need for continuing vigilance of individual countries and continuing assistance by FAO of the work that they must do in this area of food security analysis in support of the concerns that small countries like my own now have.
Mohmed Said HARBI (Sudan) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God the Merciful and Compassionate, I thank you, Mr Chairman.
I was very happy to see FAO attach importance to the sector on livestock. I am also very pleased at the report of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on World Food Agriculture. This Committee dealt with the contribution of livestock and ruminant animals to food security.
I am the Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the Sudan. I am deeply honoured to welcome the experts from FAO who are helping us to promote animal species in my country through various techniques and also in order to combat various illnesses and abortion cases in animals.
We also attach importance to the quality of meat. We hope that this expertise will help our country and the region as a whole. This sector is very important. We hope that everyone recognizes the importance of animals and livestock because animals provide us with meat, with skins and with hides; the horns have uses as well. Calves' horns are even used by artists. Various animals have different uses at the household level and at the national level. In Paris each May there is a meeting related to epidemics in animals. This is a way of recognizing the importance of animals in securing food supplies.
We think that FAO has a unique role in this connection, in cooperation with the international bureau dealing with this issue. We hope the necessary support will be given to the CFS in this connection.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous avons terminé la liste des orateurs. Il n'y a pas d'observateurs inscrits. Je vais donner la parole au Directeur général adjoint.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: I believe there were two specific questions. First, in connection with training of national staff in early warning methods, FAO has limited resources to finance periodic workshops at the regional levels at which national staff engaged in national early warning activities participate. The most recent workshop for Asia and the Pacific was held in Bangkok in 1991. In addition, FAO provides technical assistance through the Food Security Assistance Scheme to member countries which request it for the establishment and strengthening of national and regional early warning and food information systems. These are financed with extra-budgetary resources, however. In this connection, work is under way on the preparation of an FAO manual on the establishment and operation of food security information systems which will be available for widespread dissemination, and a proposal is currently under development for establishing an ASEAN early warning network. With regard to the specific question about the status of the proposal for FAO assistance in the evaluation of the ASEAN food security reserve, this has been sent to the Government of Japan for consideration. We are awaiting the reply on the prospects of financing from that Government. FAO will be represented at the forthcoming meeting of the ASEAN Food Security Board in Bangkok later this
month, at which time other options for making an early start may be considered. Further information on this important matter will be communicated to the Food Security Committee at its next session, when the Secretariat will also be reporting on the results of related work in the South Asian region.
Turning now to the more general points, as is always the case when we discuss food and agricultural matters, the Ambassador from Venezuela gives us "food for thought", as did many others at this particular session. We appreciate those thoughts and will take them into account in our further work. There were some references which permit me to make the point that I know member countries have alternative sources of advice on food and agricultural matters including food security. I know that some of you take advice from bankers or financing institutions instead of your food and agricultural organization. I fully understand that the person with the cheque book sometimes has greater access and that maybe you listen more carefully in those circumstances, but I want to remind you that this Organization is your organization; it stands ready to respond to your request for assistance on your food and agricultural policy matters, so try us.
In connection with the comments of Sweden on the Global Information and Early Warning System and in the general context of monitoring, a point was made that much remains to be done, that we are still heavy on the supply side in our monitoring work in general. That is fair enough. There is always much that remains to be done. However, to capture or summarize the comments that were made about the Global Information and Early Warning System and to recall the experience, particularly in this year when it has been tested very hard in connection with the phenomenal number of emergencies which have taken place, it has become the standard. There is no comparable source of information. It is the Global Information and Early Warning System which provides the information for consolidated, complex emergency appeals which are coordinated by the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. It is the Global Information and Early Warning System which clears and updates the monthly reports which all concerned receive from the United Nations system on updated emergency matters. It has been tested. There is a long way to go. But at the present time it is number one. I think that was generally the sentiment which was expressed here.
As far as other matters are concerned, I did not hear anyone say that one should not go forward with the approaches to assessing food security which are outlined: the additional studies, the study of livestock, other than ruminants - I think we should use that expression rather than "non-ruminants" - and on fish. Certainly there was strong support for the Global Information and Early Warning System.
With respect to the frequency of sessions, there were some views expressed on "one-off" and so on, but here again I did not hear anybody suggest an approach other that which came out of the Committee, and therefore I assume that there is general endorsement that the matter should be taken up again at the next session of the CFS.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous arrivons au terme de nos travaux. De nombreuses questions intéressantes ont été abordées, et de manière très brève. La dimension nutritionnelle du problème de la sécurité alimentaire a été bien soulignée. Nous pensons également que l'étude concernant l'élevage et les ruminants doit être faite ainsi que l'étude concernant la contribution du secteur des pêches à la sécurité alimentaire.
En ce qui concerne le SMIAR, tout le monde a exprimé sa satisfaction à l'égard du fonctionnement de ce système et tout le monde est parfaitement conscient du fait que ce système ne fonctionne bien que grâce à un certain nombre d'apports extrabudgétaires. Le souhait a évidemment été émis que le budget ordinaire puisse prendre le plus possible en charge l'ensemble du coût du SMIAR mais il est entendu que cela aura des implications financières importantes dans le cadre de la discussion du prochain Programme de travail et budget. Mais je crois qu'au stade actuel, ce soutien extrabudgétaire reste indispensable.
En ce qui concerne la fréquence des sessions, il est décidé que, lors de la dix-huitième session, en mars ou avril 1993, la question sera abordée et résolue étant entendu que, si des modifications au Règlement général concernant le statut du Comité de sécurité alimentaire prévu à l'article XXXIII doivent être apportées, c'est à la Conférence de novembre 1993 qu'il appartiendra d'adopter les amendements voulus au texte qui régit ce Comité.
Je voudrais dire que la discussion porte sur le Rapport du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire et pas sur d'autres problèmes qui pourraient être abordés dans d'autres cas, notamment au sujet de propositions de résolutions dont n'avons pas connaissance et qui seraient présentées dans d'autres enceintes, peut-être à New York à propos du Conseil mondial de l'alimentation.
Nous aurons l'occasion de discuter des événements survenus récemment dans le système des Nations Unies intéressant la FAO à propos du point 9 qui sera discuté jeudi matin.
S'il n'y a pas d'objections, nous allons considérer que le Rapport du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire est adopté.
The meeting rose at 18.30 hours.
La séance est levée à 18 h 30.
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.30 horas.
