STATEMENT BY THE INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL
DECLARATION DU PRESIDENT INDEPENDANT DU CONSEIL
DECLARACION DEL PRESIDENTE INDEPENDIENTE DEL CONSEJO

STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
DECLARATION DU REPRESENTANT DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL DES NATIONS UNIES
DECLARACION DEL REPRESENTANTE DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL DE LA NACIONES UNIDAS

M. J. WILLIAMS (Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations): It is a privilege for me to convey to you on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Kurt Waldheim, his greetings and good wishes on the occasion of this Twentieth FAO Conference.

On behalf of the United Nations, Dr. Waldheim has asked me to deliver this message.

The biennial FAO Conference is an event of importance to the United Nations System, where ministers of agriculture and food meet to review and resolve food issues around the globe. This particular Conference is taking place at a time beset with difficult and frustrating emergencies. Only a few days ago Secretary-General Waldheim convened an extraordinary conference in New York to solicit humanitarian assistance for millions of starving people in Kampuchea whose catastrophe may have no parallel in history. Recently, the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development drew attention to the plight; of hungry millions the world over. The dimensions of growing hunger are staggering. Is is therefore difficult to exaggerate the urgency and importance of the tasks before you.

Five years ago this week', the World Food Conference, which was convened by the United Nations, adopted the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition. In this Declaration, as you will recall, the Conference resolved that "within a decade, no child will go to bed hungry, that no family will fear for its next day's bread, and that no human being's future and capacities will be stunted by malnutrition".

As you begin this Conference, the underlying question is: How far has the world progressed toward the goal? where do we stand?

The initial momentum generated by the crisis of 1973-74, led to action being taken in a number of key areas. There has been greater action on food production, reserves for emergencies and additional funds allocated for food and agriculture.

However, global action has been grossly inadequate in relation to the problems and to the needs at hand. Indeed, the few bright spots-as the Director-General pointed out this morning-have served only to accentuate the vast, dark areas of concern.

It is time to break free from the vicious chain of continued food insecurity, lost opportunities and the shattering effects of natural and man-made disasters. All our progress in technology and organization will remain suspect in the eyes of posterity if we do not succeed in the abolition of the "slavery of hunger".

FAO rightly places primary importance on marshalling investment resources, globally and nationally, for increased food production in developing countries. It is our hope that the resources will be forthcoming-indeed they must be-given the right policies priorities and strategies, structural and organizational changes and international political good will. Working in close collaboration, the international community should be able, as never before, to accelerate action commensurate with the human dimension of the problem. We are confident that the world can triumph over hunger.

This is an opportune moment to voice our continued concern at the failure negotiations in the International Wheat Arrangement. All participants must be urged to resume the negotiations at an early date, in a spirit of accomodation and understanding. In the meantime, a new Food Aid Convention must be concluded in order not to deny the world a semblance of food security until the grains arrangements are finalized. Any further delay in reaching the modest target of the International Energency Reserve also in unacceptable. In this connection, Director-General Saouma's Five-Point Plan of Action for world food security deserves our full support.

Ministers and representatives of governments: may we take this opportunity to pay tribute to your governments for the steadfastness with which you are addressing your task. May we also congratulate those agencies, organs and institutions of the United Nations system and outside which, over the years, have given support to your plans and programmes and which include, in addition to FAO, the World Food Council, the World Food Programme, the World Bank, UNDP and IFAD, as well as the regional economic and social commissions and regional banks.

As we approach the Third United Nations Development Decade, as we seek to make the New International Economic Order a reality, our responsibilities in the food sector range from the plight of the boat people in South-East Asia and the hungry in Kampuchea to the victims of droughts, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters, including chronic hunger. The task ahead is to ensure that the millions of women, men and children throughout the world for whom starvation is a permanent reality are enabled to overcome hunger and to lead healthy and creative lives as equal partners in the human society of tomorrow.

May our shared concern inspire your actions in this important Conference.

EL PRESIDENTE: Gracias doctor Williams por sus palabras y rogamos trasmita al señor Waldheim nuestro agradecimiento por su mensaje.

GENERAL DISCUSSION
DEBAT GENERAL
DEBATE GENERAL

- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS
- DECLARATIONS DES CHEFS DE DELEGATIONS
- MANIFESTACIONES POR LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES

EL PRESIDENTE: Vamos a comenzar el debate general y podrán, a partir de este momento, hacer uso de la palabra los jefes de las delegaciones que hayan solicitado previamente su turno para hablar.

Recordaran ustedes, sin duda, que la Conferencia convino en aceptar la sugerencia del Consejo de que los jefes de las delegaciones como en las sesiones anteriores, limiten sus declaraciones a un tiempo máximo de 20 minutos. Hemos recibido muchas peticiones para hacer uso de la palabra y ésta es, realmente la unica forma en que podemos proceder. Ruego a los señores delegados que lean el párrafo 21 del documento C 79/12-Rev. 2 que aprobamos el sábado 10 de noviembre. En vista del elevado numero de oradores que deben hacer uso de la palabra, me permito rogarles que ciñan sus declaraciones al tiempo máximo indicado.

L. MARDONES SEVILLA (España): Señor Presidente, señor Director General, señores delegados: Tengo el honor de iniciar el turno de declaraciones de Jefes de delegación, y deseo en primer lugar, felicitar a todos los Miembros de la mesa así como a los Miembros de los restantes Comités que hemos elegido. Su capacidad nos permitirá desempeñar adecuadamente los cometidos importantes asignados a este vigésimo Período de Sesiones de la Conferencia de la FAO.

En nombre de mi Gobierno, felicito también a las Representaciones de los dos Nuevos Estados Miembros de la Organización FAO, Dominica y Samoa Occidental.

Deseo dirigir un saludo muy especial a los representantes de los países árabes, a los de Latinoamérica y a los de la Comunidad Economica Europea, a los que nos unen, para España razones históricas especiales, vínculos y lazos de amistad que se prolongan en nuestro caso de civilización y cultura hasta las Islas Filipinas.

La delegación de España agradece al Director General de la FAO, doctor Saouma y a los Miembros de la Secretaría su eficaz labor preparatoria de nuestros trabajos, así como la completa documentación preparada al efecto.

En el marco de la cooperación internacional vienen perfilándose dos elementos modernos que conviene precisar y tratar de explotar beneficiosamente para todos nosotros. Se trata, por una parte, del imperativo de reajustes estructurales, y por otra parte, del concepto de gestión de la interdependencia global mundial. Son dos ideas de fuerza que considero genéricas y que subyacen en los principales planteamientos generados por el diálogo Norte-Sur y que deberían traducirse, en la práctica, en acciones políticas e instrumentos de concierto más operativos que los actuales. Una de las principales cuestiones que centran y deberán centrar este diálogo en 1980 es la preparación de la Estrategia Internacional de Desarrollo para el Tercer Decenio de las Naciones Unidas. Ello constituye, sin duda, una excelente ocasión para mejorar la mutua comprensión de los objetivos económicos y sociales de los países en vías de desarrollo, y para definir clara y responsablemente las esferas y modalidades que se revelen prioritarias para una mayor cooperación multilateral, y que como muy bien nos señalaba ayer el Papa Juan Pablo II, si queremos verdaderamente que tal estrategia para el Tercer Decenio de Desarrollo vaya por delante de los acontecimientos en lugar de ser su simple acompañante.

En este sentido cabe pensar que una buena aportación de la FAO durante el próximo decenio sería efectuar de modo sistemático un plan de seguimiento y de evaluación de los programas realizados en el campo de la Agricultura y de la Alimentación, en relación con los objetivos que defina esta Nueva Estrategia, elaborando la serie de indicadores cuantitativos y cualitativos más importantes. Subrayo la oportunidad de que se haya celebrado el pasado mes de julio y en esta misma Sede, la Conferencia Mundial sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural donde tantas ilusiones y de tantos pueblos política y socialmente están puestos.

Es forzoso reconocer que subsisten todavía importantes razones para tener que trabajar y avanzar más hacia los objetivos de un desarrollo rural integrado, que permita una mejor utilización de los actuales recursos disponibles, lo que obliga de manera especial a una mayor dinamicidad en el uso de la tierra y a unas mejores posibilidades de realización personal para todos los habitantes de las zonas no urbanas, y por tanto eminentemente rurales.

Parece hoy cada vez más evidente, que la existencia y continuidad de un sector agrario eficiente sólo resultará posible en los países que emprendan una decidida política de valoración social y defensa económica del medio rural. No es posible seguir formulando políticas agrarias aisladas, sin incluir con imaginación, y con responsabilidad y con la conveniente audacia, perspectivas de ordenación territorial, seguridad alimentaria y balances energéticos no solamente cuantitativos sino fundamentalmente cualitativos.

Por ejemplo, y sin que la sociedad acepte, porque finalmente lo llegue a comprender, que la brecha secular que existe entre la ciudad y el campo, y por analogía, entre los países industrializados y los que se hallan en vías de desarrollo, debe resolverse mediante las transferencias que sean necesarias para generar en el medio rural y pesquero unos mayores estímulos que conduzcan a una mejor calidad de vida.

Por todo ello, parece lógico que los programas de desarrollo que propicie una organización como la FAO, deben incluir las líneas operativas básicas para conseguir en los Estados Miembros una más eficaz y justa política de rentas económicas y sociales, para los trabajadores del sector primario, ya que hasta ahora las rentas agrarias se hallan irremediablemente comprimidas entre un sistema de costos crecientes y de precios no suficientemente remuneradores en muchos casos y según la economía de cada país. Además, en ocasiones, las diferencias entre lo que el consumidor pago y lo que el agricultor percibe, llegan a ser excesivamente amplias en muchas localidades del mundo.

En resumen, preconizo la adopción de políticas de desarrollo económico y social en donde la Seguridad Alimentaria, la Adecuación Nutricional, la Calidad de Vida y la Ecología sean las disciplinas fundamentales que inspiren un nuevo modo de resolver la doble dialéctica entre campo y ciudad, entre pro-dución y consumo, que todavía hoy, enfrentan a distintas categorías de los colectivos sociales. La seguridad en los abastecimientos, las reservas estratégicas y los niveles de precio y de calidad de los alimentos deben constituir un elemento de tranquilidad para las economías familiares, pero sin que resulten dañadas comparativamente, por ello, las rentas de los productos agrarios y pesqueros. Resulta preciso, a este respecto, considerar la conveniencia de remodelar y hacer más transparente el funcionamiento del complejo sistema mundial agroalimentario, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, porque en las esferas de la producción, transformación y consumo de los productos alimentarios, creo que estamos asistiendo a alteraciones de equilibrio que se traducen, generalmente en que los operadores no primarios detentan una posición dominante en todo el proceso, sin la debida compensación para los productores. A nivel internacional, pienso, debería evitarse la progresiva consolidación de un sistema agroalimentario basado fundamentalmente en importantes transferencias de alimentos desde países industrializados a países en desarrollo, ya que así se estimularía un tipo de producciones de altos costos por unidad calórico/alimentaria obtenida, con evidente perjuicio para una más racional asignación de recursos a escala mundial.

Y hablando de costos de producción creo que debería ser preciso reflexionar documentalmente, y quizá en el seno de la FAO, sobre las consecuencias que las modificaciones previsibles en la disponibilidad y precios del petróleo y sus derivados, como fertilizantes, plaguicidas y plásticos, ocasionarán, o quizá están ya ocasionando en muchos países, sobre las políticas y objetivos de producción agraria y pesquera, así como sobre las repercusiones que las nuevas condiciones de la oferta energética internacional tendrán sobre el volumen y la distribución actual de los intercambios agrarios y alimentarios. En el caso concreto de mi país, las elevaciones de precios en fertilizantes, combustibles y plásticos, están creando serios problemas a la economía agraria que debemos intentar paliar en el futuro.

Mi delegación, señor Presidente, desea con sinceridad que el problema energético que nos afecta, y que muchos califican ya de crisis, no sirva de motivo para dividirnos, sino más bien para que agrupemos nuestras voluntades e inteligencias y responsabilidades en el convencimiento de que es necesaria una concentración y colaboración internacional más positiva que hasta ahora bajo el punto de vista de la solidaridad humana.

Uno de los grandes problemas que lleva a cabo esta Organización y que es un programa verdaderamente importante porque tiende a erradicar el hambre, es el de la pesca. Entendemos que la FAO debe favorecer la cooperación en materia del aprovechamiento y explotación de los recursos pesqueros entre países en desarrollo y países industrializados, con el fin de alcanzar una más racional ordenación de los recursos en las denominadas "zonas económicas exclusivas". Esta cooperación comporta una utilización óptima de los mismos, de manera que al mismo tiempo se contribuya a resolver el déficit alimentario mundial cuantitativa y cualitativamente hablando y al aporte de proteínas nobles, plásticas de la fisiología humana y evitando desequilibrios estructurales.

A estos fines es preciso que la Organización favorezca una cooperación internacional dirigida a la transferencia de la tecnología pesquera, bien en el marco de acuerdos bilaterales, bien a través de la constitución de empresas pesqueras conjuntas, o mediante otro tipo de acuerdos.

Mi delegación desea subrayar también la importante función que la FAO puede ejercer en los próximos años en el seno de las organizaciones regionales de pesca, contribuyendo a poner en práctica las normas del nuevo ordenamiento jurídico de los mares, que se debaten en la tercera Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Derechos del Mar.

Otro de los campos en los que la FAO podría desarrollar en los próximos años una actividad muy importante y significativa, es el referente a la conservación de los recursos genéticos. Estos creo que deben ser considerados como recursos naturales limitados y perecederos, que proporcionan unas materias primas, los genes cada vez más utilizados por los técnicos en mejora vegetal y animal, para su transformación en productos finales, como son las nuevas variedades de plantas y razas de animales o productos de hibridación o domestizaje.

Mi delegación considera que dichos recursos constituyen realmente un patrimonio internacional, y por ello veríamos con agrado el estudio y la posible creación de un Banco Internacional de Genes de interés agrario y ganadero dependiente de la FAO donde todos los países que lo deseen puedan depositar duplicados en su materia y material genético, asegurando su salvaguardia, su utilización y su disfrute indiscriminado, tanto en el presente como en el futuro y a favor de los países que lo necesiten.

Para terminar, señor Presidente, deseo referirme al plan de acción sobre la seguridad alimentaria mundial. Ante la imposibilidad de llegar, por ahora, a resultados satisfactorios en la negociación sobre el Nuevo Acuerdo Internacional de Cereales, que contenga normas sobre constitución y gestión de reservas, ayuda alimentaria, y niveles de precios, el Plan de Acción de 5 puntos presentado por el Director General, y aprobado por el Consejo de la FAO, representa una iniciativa necesaria y realista que merece nuestra felicitación, pero está claro que se trata del sustitutivo temporal e insuficiente de unas cláusulas más eficaces sobre la seguridad alimentaria que, sin duda, todos deseamos ver reflejadas en el futuro acuerdo.

Nuestra posición de solidaridad con los principios que informa el Plan de Acción nos ha llevado a estar presentes en los foros internacionales en los que se ha debatido esta cuestión. Nuestro país no está exento de problemas. Es conocido que somos deficitarios en la producción de cereales secundarios. Por lo que se refiere al trigo, nuestra producción está equilibrada con el consumo interior, teniendo en cuenta la necesidad de mantener los stoks establecidos en las campañas para necesidades propias. Como indicó el señor Presidente de la República de Zambia, Dr. Kaunda, la solución a largo plazo para la seguridad alimentaria mundial estriba en asegurar la autosuficiencia del Tercer Mundo en productos alimentarios básicos y esta solución pasa por la ayuda al desarrollo en todos los órdenes.

Señor Presidente, los temas de nuestra agenda son todos muy importantes y actuales. Mi delegación tendrá ocasión de manifestar su postura al respecto en los trabajos de las respectivas Comisiones.

Deseo concluir estas palabras, reafirmando nuestra voluntad de utilizar al máximo las oportunidades que nos brinda este período de sesiones de nuestra Conferencia en la FAO para construir un sistema de convivencia concertada, que corresponda mejor a los imperativos, cada vez más evidentes de equidad y de justicia sociales con amplio sentido de la responsabilidad de una tierra que nos es patrimonio común.

XING CHONG-ZHI (China) (interpretation from Chinese): First of all, allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to congratulate you warmly on your election as Chairman of the present Session and sincerely wish our Session every success under your able guidance. I should also like to welcome cordially the Independent State of Western Samoa and the Commonwealth of Dominica as the latest members of this Organization. We believe that they will certainly make useful contributions to the activities of FAO.

The Chinese delegation has noted that within the framework of the struggle for the establishment of a New International Economic Order, the current Session will, in the light of the characteristics and requirements of the world food and agriculture situation at present, lay special emphasis on the discussion of action programmes on world food security and the development of marine fishery, as well as such important topics as long-term strategies of world agriculture and follow-up actions for WCARRD. The Programme of Work and Budget of this Organization for the next biennium will also be worked out in conformity with these activities. For an international organization to be so practical and action-oriented in its support and promotion of agricultural development in the developing countries is certainly a trend that merits commendation. The Chinese delegation is indeed very pleased to have this opportunity to compare notes with colleages on the current state of food and agriculture so that we can benefit from each other's experience and deliberate together on questions of common concern.

Mr. Chairman, over recent years, a number of positive developments have evolved in the international food and agriculture arena. The promotion of food production in the developing countries has been recognized by the international community as a strategic task for overcoming global hunger and malnutrition. Many developing countries producing and exporting agricultural raw materials have organized themselves in the arduous struggle to improve their unfavourable position in the world farm produce trade, and put forward rational proposals at UNCTAD for reforming the old international structure of trade and establishing an Integrated Programme of Commodities. The WCARRD convened here last July adopted a Declaration of Principles and a Programme of Action which point out new possibilities for the development of rural society and economy. More and more countries have declared a 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. This new ocean regime has opened up new prospects for fishery production in the developing countries. TCDC has been gathering momentum in the agricultural realm. The burning task confronting us in agriculture is to translate these important policy-decisions into action benefitting the whole of mankind.

Mr. Chairman, it is universally acknowledged that the development of food production, especially in the developing world, is and will continue to be, for a long time to come, the pivot of action in the world food and agriculture sphere as well as an essential component of the NIEO yet to be established. I should like to take this opportunity to refer to some of China's policies and measures in this regard.

For years we have given priority to agriculture as the foundation of the entire national economy. This is not just because over 80% of our population live in the rural areas, but also because only the development of agriculture can provide enough food for the urban people including the workers, as well as sufficient raw material and markets for industry, speed up the accumulation of capital and guarantee the economic independence of the country.

By taking agriculture as the foundation, we mean that in planning the development of the national economy as a whole, we should proceed from the actual situation in agriculture, and coordinate the development of light, industry, heavy industry and other sectors of the economy accordingly. The Chinese government has recently decided to pursue a policy of "readjusting, restructuring, consolidating and improving" the national economy and adopted, for this purpose, "Decisions on Some Questions Concerning the Speeding Up of Agricultural Development". In accordance with these "Decisions", we shall further implement our basic rural policies, consolidate the system of rural people's communes with their three levels of ownership and with the prodution team as the basic accounting unit. In the meantime, the state has increased its investment in agriculture from 10. 7% of its total investment last year in the national economy to the present 14%. If we add to this the 7. 05 billion Yuan to be used in support of the rural people's communes and agriculture in general and the 2. 55 billion Yuan of additional agricultural credit, the state's total expenditure in agriculture this year will exceed 17. 4 billion Yuan( about 11. 4 billion US dollars). Supplies of fertilizer, pesticides and other inputs have increased while their prices are lower as a result of reduced production costs. Agricultural scientific research will be energetically developed, more modern equipment and technology will be provided to agriculture, and policies and guidelines for agricultural production and technology will be drawn up in accordance with the economic and natural conditions of various areas, so as to develop agriculture more forcefully.

The development of China's agriculture depends chiefly on the endeavours of her numerous peasantry. The study "Agriculture: Toward. 2000" prepared by the Secretariat for the deliberation of our present Session makes a most interesting point when it says that investment, inputs and technology cannot by themselves increase agricultural yields, which are determined in the final analysis by those who work in the fields. Hence, we stress that the ownership and autonomy of people's communes must be respected. Within the commune, democracy, both political and economic, should be practised and leaders should be elected at all levels. The purchasing prices for cereals have been raised 20% this year with an additional 50% price bonus for what is sold above the quota, while purchasing prices for other agricultural and subsidiary produce are to be increased accordingly step by step. On the other hand, agricultural tax and procurement quotas are to be stabilized, with tax to be reduced or remitted in areas in economic difficulty. All this will mean an extra income of over 7 billion Yuan for the peasants. It is estimated that with the development of agriculture, the rural communes and peasants will earn considerably more. Concerning the distribution of income in the commune, the principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his work" is practised, so that both men and women get equal pay, and income is distributed strictly in accordance with the amount and quality of work done. All these have greatly aroused the socialist enthusiasm of China's 800 million peasants.

In the thirty years since the founding of the People's Republic, much progress has been made in China's food and agricultural production. In 19 78, our annual grain output reached 304. 75 million tons, up 7. 8% over the previous year. With industrial crops, animal husbandry, forestry and fishery all registering increases in output, the 1978 national agricultural output value amounted to 145. 9 billion Yuan ($95. 3 billion), hereby fulfilling the planned target and by 102. 7% and going up 8. 9% over the previous year. The national plan for food production this year calls for an output of 312. 5 million tons. So far the summer crops have yielded 5. 5 million tons more than last year and with a good harvest expected for the autumn crops, the 1979 targets will probably be overfulfilled with most items exceeding last year's production.

However, China's agriculture has developed through ups and downs. The productivity of our agriculture remains low. We still have 800 million people working for the food supply of the nation. Our ability to control natural calamities is still rather weak. Yet we are confident that so long as the "Decisions" for speeding up agricultural development are implemented in good earnest, so long as the principle of taking agriculture as the foundation of the national economy is firmly pursued and the socialist enthusiasm of the broad masses of peasants brought into full play, China will gradually turn her backward agriculture into a well developed, integrated agricultural system, speeding up her agricultural development and thus having à rational layout of farming, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and sideline production, that will meet the growing needs of the people and of an expanding industry. By then, China's rural areas will have become prosperous bases combining agriculture, industry and commerce.

China has a population of over 970 million. To feed, clothe and provide such a huge population with other essentials of life, food security on a national scale is of special significance. As you know, we pursue a policy of planned purchase and supply of food with a view to gradually establishing food reserves after providing the urban and rural people with the necessary basic foodstuffs. The state fixes its reserve level annually in the light of the harvest, that is to say, it sets aside more reserves in good years and less in mediocre years, so that we can offset a bad year with reserves stored up in good years. Food is also stored among the people, that is to say, whenever possible, among the production brigades, team and commune members. In short, food security in China is placed on a relatively firm footing through increased production, equitable distribution, guaranteed and planned consumption and thrifty use of food, with reserves set up against natural calamities.

The development of agriculture in any country, as well as international food security, is bound to be interrelated with current international economic relationships. It follows that agricultural development and related problems of common concern cannot be discussed in isolation from existing international
economic relations, nor from the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism and for social emancipation and progress.

It is our hope that more and more developed countries will face up to the reality, recognize the developing countries' right to participate fully in decision-making on international economic affairs, sit down to negotiate on an equal footing with them so as to break the deadlock in the current negotiations, strengthen their ties of co-operation with the developing countries on the basis of independence, sovereignty and genuine equality, and provide more economic and technical assistance.

The Chinese delegation will, as before, support other developing countries in their just struggle to increase food production, improve their position in international trade of agricultural produce and safeguard their sovereignty over their EEZs. We will endeavour to develop economic co-operation and technical exchanges with FAO. While upholding independence and self-reliance, we will strive to learn whatever is good from all countries and introduce urgently needed advanced technologies in a selective manner. We will strengthen economic and technical co-operation with other developing countries so that we can support each other and make progress together in our common struggle to set up a New International Economic Order in the food and agriculture sphere, which will be just, rational, equitable and beneficial to all.

Β. BERGLAND (United States of America): Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, Delegates, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, during the past thirty years, American food and agriculture policy has evolved from a patchwork of isolated solutions to immediate problems into a framework which integrates these parts into a more cohesive global strategy which encompasses trade, assistance, and development.

The United States' policies at times in the past have been largely reactive-successfully reactive, I must stress-to the short-term demands of domestic surplus or local famine.

Unfortunately, some of our domestic food and agriculture policies were carried out with too little regard for long-term global conditions.

In times past our food assistance programs had as their main goal the elimination of burdensome surpluses in the United States.

At times past the major tool of our domestic policies became massive land retirement schemes which reached the levels of 20-40 million hectares in some years.

At times we would either give away or sell our bounty at rock bottom prices, again with too little thought for the global need of the future.

In spite of this-primarily because of excellent weather conditions over which we had no control-we accidentally accumulated stocks during the 1950's and in the 1960's. In the early 1970's we disposed of these stocks in haste-largely ignoring world conditions and domestic producer incomes.

When in the mid-1970's our domestic production was inadequate to meet our worldwide commitments, due, again, to conditions over which we had no control, we at times resorted to the embargo of exports and at times reduced our food assistance to persons abroad.

In 1976, Jimmy Carter was elected President of the United States. He directed me, as his new Secretary of Agriculture, to change the direction of American food and agriculture policies and give them three concise objectives:

- first, to provide stability of price to encourage a healthy, productive industry at home while protecting foreign and domestic consumers from wild and unreasonable fluctuations in prices;

- second, to provide stability of supply that could overcome the vagaries of weather and reduce the pressures of shortages at home and abroad; and,

- third, to reshape our international food assistance programmes and make them a tool for world economic as well as agricultural development.

In short, President Carter sought to establish a market-oriented domestic policy that would meet producer and consumer needs in a global context.

The cornerstone of the President's program is the farmer-owned, farmer-held, grain reserve that is insulated from the whims of government intervention and unreasonable commercial market conditions.

It has worked successfully.

Because of weather and because of strong prices that encourage production we in the United States have been able to increase our commercial exports for the past year to a record-breaking 127 million metric tons with record-breaking yields in the United States that may reach 140 million metric tons this year.

The size of our farmer-owned, farmer-controlled domestic reserve is limited only to the difference between our total production and the size of demand, both foreign and domestic.

Because of the success of our own new reserve strategy, there will be no acreage restraints imposed upon farmers in the production of food or feed grains for the crop year 1980. We have financed and built adequate storage facilities to hold excess stocks during years of plenty to maintain reasonable prices and reliable supplies during the bad years, my friends, that will surely come.

Our reserve-backed by the productive ability of the American farmer-will allow us to meet our massive commercial demand without endangering our humanitarian commitments.

Because our reserve programme is working effectively, we believe an international plan of nationally held reserves-supported by producers and consumers alike-is essential to maintain stable prices and encourage additional production for our future needs. We also support-and have pledged 4,47 million metric tons of the annual 10 million tons total-a food aid convention to meet emergency needs.

This is not to say that the United States has solved all of our food and agricultural problems or that we can be a substitute for multilateral food security programs and accelerated internal agricultural development the world over.

That challenge is too great for any single nation or any single organization.

Our multinational energies must be directed, first and foremost, toward increased food and agricultural production, especially in the low-income, food-deficit countries. Eighty-five to ninety percent of the world's food is consumed within the nation in which it is produced. Without sustained production increases, particularly in the poorest countries, there can be no long-term food security for most of mankind.

One of the greatest threats to food security in these countries is the high and rising cost of energy. The alarming increases in the price of oil can only retard the expansion of badly needed farm power, irrigation and the use of fertilizers and other farm chemicals essential to sustained increases in production. What has become a difficulty to the more developed countries can become an unmitigated disaster for a developing nation.

There can be little doubt that increases in external aid are necessary. But external assistance is effective only if the developing countries are firmly committed to giving the food and agriculture sector higher priority in their own development plans. The developing countries in my view must commit more of their resources to agricultural development and provide greater incentives to their own food producers. They must consider policies and investments to increase employment in rural areas so that the small farmer and the landless poor can earn enough to buy the food they need.

The United States sees the development of food sector strategies as an important first step for increasing food production. Such strategies would help the developing countries coordinate their food production programs and use their resources more effectively. This Organization, FAO, can lend its talents in this area. We urge FAO to work with the World Bank, the Regional Development Banks, and the World Food Council in helping developing countries develop these strategies. The United States can also provide technical assistance in this area.

A second step in promoting food production is increased support for international agricultural research. Research is essential for the kind of technological innovation that can raise crop yields. We are pleased that FAO has recommended, in its medium-term objectives paper, greater support for national and international agricultural research.

We must finally increase our attention to maintaining croplands against erosion, depletion and degradation.

Most of the earth's lands suitable for cultivation are now currently being used. We cannot afford to waste this precious resource. We strongly support efforts by FAO and the UN Environmental Program to fight the degradation of croplands and encourage greater national and international efforts for this purpose.

Increasing food production is a critically important factor but not the only factor involved in reducing hunger and malnutrition.

Malnutrition is rooted in poverty and the inequitable distribution of food. We need a multifaceted approach to overcoming hunger and malnutrition. As I have said, developing countries will need to formulate policies and programs that link increased production and improved distribution.

Also, the United States believes that strengthening world food security is vitally important. We will continue to work toward stable grain supplies and adequate reserve stocks. We regret that negotiations toward a new International Wheat Agreement have not been successful, but we hope that a new agreement may be concluded.

We agree with Director-General Saouma that incomplete negotiations on the International Wheat Agreement should not discourage interim progress toward world food security. We think the time is ripe to move forward on two food security objectives: the completion of a new food aid convention and the establishment of food security systems in developing countries.

A New Food Aid Convention (FAC) will be an important step in assuring sufficient food aid. We support the 10 million ton target for annual food aid commitments and have pledged 4. 47 million tons of cereals as our mininun annual contribution. We urge governments which have not yet agreed to separate Food Aid Convention negotiations to reconsider their positions. We also urge all countries in a position to contribute meaningfully to the convention-whether in cash or in kind-to do so. The effectiveness, as well as the quantity of food aid can be greatly enhanced by supplementary financial and technical assistance.

National food security systems in developing countries will help increase available reserve stocks and facilitate the rapid distribution of food supplies to needy areas. But these food security systems will require assistance in building food storage facilities and in designing systems to maintain and distribute food reserves. We encourage the World Bank to give increased emphasis to food storage facilities and food distribution systems. We also urge FAO to work with the World Bank wherever possible in this endeavor.

In the U. S. view, FAO is the major action organization in the entire United Nations System specifically concerned with world food and agriculture matters. Beacause the reduction of hunger and malnutrition should be FAO's principal concern, we urge that it direct a greater share of its resources toward the low-income, food-deficit countries.

As we have suggested, FAO can help these countries develop food sector strategies, undertake nutrition intervention programs, and assess food storage and food distribution needs. We also encourage FAO to more actively promote rural employment, with particular attention to the needs of the poorest and most disadvantaged. FAO has highlighted many of these same areas in its Medium-Term Objectives Paper.

It is clear, then, that FAO has a vital role to play in meeting the challenge facing us in food and agriculture over the next twenty years. But we must all strive together.

The work of this Organization can be enhanced by joint activities with bilateral agencies. The cooperative program between FAO and U. S. Aid in the Sahel illustrates the benefits of joint endeavours. FAO might also explore developing closer cooperation with non-governmental organizations, many of which have substantial resources and expertise in agricultural development programs. The United States will continue to help developing countries improve their own food production and distribution bilaterally and through international organizations. In the long term, food security means that developing countries can maintain and, preferably, increase their per capita food consumption. We allocate almost half of our bilateral economic development assistance to agriculture and rural development.

In fiscal year 1978, the U. S. allocated almost $556 million of its bilateral aid resources to agriculture, rural development and nutrition. In fiscal year 1979, we devoted an estimated $610 million toward these goals and gave requested $715 million in our fiscal year 80 budget submission to congress.

In the years ahead we will seek to channel even more of our food and development assistance to those low-income developing countries which encourage increased domestic food production and more equitable distribution of food and agricultural resources.

All of us here are agreed that we must do more in the fight against world hunger. But the reality is that in today's troubled world economy, we must find ways of doing more with the resources already available to us. In this regard, the Director-General is to be commended in the efficiencies he has achieved in the operations of FAO. Those efforts must, and I trust, will continue.

I want to stress, finally, that the U. S. continues to seek ways to expand trade in food and agriculture products with the developing countries. The U. S. is now the largest single importer of agricultural commodities from the third world. In fiscal year 1978, U. S. imports of food and agricultural commodities from developing countries were almost $9. 4 billion-$500 million more than our agricultural exports to them. In fiscal year 1979, our commodity imports from developing countries increased to $10. 6 billion. Concessions reached in the multilateral trade negotiations should bring even greater agricultural trade between developing countries and the U. S. , as well as the rest of the world.

The United States is and will remain a responsible partner in the world agricultural system. We will tailor our assistance to meet the diverse needs of the low-income and middle-income countries. We will continue to be the principal contributor to multilateral agencies while we also seek expand our bilateral programs. And we will shape our policies to assure both the food supplies a technical know-how which the world so desperately needs. Like you, we recognize the urgency of the challenge we face-to reduce hunger and malnutrition in the decades ahead. We look forward to working with FAO and all of you in this endeavor. Let us move forward together.

S. SUOMELA (Finland): On behalf of the Delegation of Finland, I have the honour to express our most sincere congratulations upon your election as Chairman for the Twentieth Session of the FAO Conference.

Since we are now living the last year of the current decade, it may be appropriate to look back at the development of the world food situation during the 1970's. It can be said, that even if the world recovered rather quickly after the severe food crisis in 1972-74, we do not really have any reason for self-complacency. We can also be sure by now, that the target set by the UN-system for an annual growth of 4% in the agricultural production of the developing countries during the 1970's will not be reached. According to FAO estimates, the number of people suffering from malnutrition is steadily growing.

The per capita production of food in all developing countries increased from 1970 to 1978 by a very modest 0. 6 percent per year. Particular concern is caused by the stagnation of agricultural development in the poorest or MSA-countries. In these countries, food production did not even keep abreast with the population growth in the 1970's, but the per capita production decreased 0. 2 percent per year. This indicated a deterioration in the situation compared with the 1960's. It really seems now, that the gap between the MSA-countries and other developing countries is widening all the time.

The main emphasis in the work of this Organization has always been the promotion of agricultural technology in order to increase food production in developing countries. However, it has become ever more evident that sheer increase of production by technological means is not enough, as necessary as it is in itself. Hunger and malnutrition have their roots in the poverty of the rural people. Therefore, also the existing structural problems in rural areas must be solved. All barriers to more equal distribution of resources and to better social justice must be removed.

The participation by the rural people in the institutions which govern their lives must be guaranted. These problems require solutions, which are of highly political character.

All these very difficult and sensitive questions were illuminated and discussed in the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development in Rome last July. That the Declaration of Principles and the Programme of Action could be adopted speaks for that the governments of the participating countries are determined to undertake those practical and political measures, which are necessary for the implementation of the action programme. It is self-evident, that the follow-up work of WCARRD at the national level is entirely up to the Governments. It is up to them to make the action programme a true reality.

Also the role of FAO is important in the follow-up of the WCARRD. In the view of my Government, the implementation of the action programme and the follow-up work should be one of the focal points in the programme of work of this Organization in the future. I want to point out that in our view the monitoring of the agrarian reform and rural development situation through appropriate socio-economic indicators will be a most important task. In this regard, as well as in the whole follow-up work, FAO should be able to render all assistance that member countries will be asking for.

Rural development requires a multi-dimensional approach in order to take care of the various interdependent problems involved. We see therefore with satisfaction, that also forestry aspects were included in the action programme of the WCARRD and that forestry measures are foreseen in this context. Based on its experience and expertise, my country wishes to draw attention to the impact forestry is able to give in favour of development activities for the good of the people in rural areas. I also welcome the emphasis laid on "forestry for rural development" in the Programme of Work for the next biennium, as well as in the medium-term objectives for forestry. The strong accent on rural development matters in FAO's forestry programmes is in our view all in line with the common tasks and objectives of this Organization with regard to the follow-up of WCARRD.

Concerning the World Food Security, the Finnish Government regrets that the negotiating conference on a new international grains arrangement was adjourned in February without results. My delegation sincerely hopes, that the negotiations could be started as soon as possible with a view of aiming at a new grains arrangement within the framework of which the objectives of the FAO International Undertaking on World Food Security could be realized. We greet with satisfaction the Director-General's proposal for a Plan of Action on Food Security, which was adopted by the FAO Council in June. Finland for its part is expanding its storage capacity of food and feed grains very considerably and has

increased the national stock target of food grains up to an amount corresponding to more that one year's domestic consumption.

As regards fisheries, Mr. Chairman, the new regime of the oceans, especially the extended national fisheries jurisdiction, provides a new basis for fisheries development for the coastal states. The regime allows the coastal states to develop their fisheries from a starting point, which not only offers them opportunities to get a greater share from living marine resources, but also makes them responsible to manage these resources properly. To meet this obligation and to benefit fully from rational exploitation, the countries concerned need assistance. FAO should and indeed must assume a leading role in assisting developing coastal states in all sectors of fisheries. In this respect, Finland fully supports the programe and objectives presented to the FAO's Committee on Fisheries at its last session, a few weeks ago. The Organization should also encourage bilateral agreements, including other arrangments between developed and developing coastal states, as well as joint ventures which would lead to better utilization of living marine resources and to their effective management measures. Also FAO's capacity to support and assist regional fishery bodies and their programmes relating to economic zones should be strengthened.

The new development programme in the field of fisheries is a great challenge to FAO, but I am certain, that the Organization will accomplish its task with success.

Finally, on behalf of the Finnish delegation, I want to assure the support of my country to the FAO in its important work for a better life for mankind, I want also to thank the Director-General and his staff for the fine work done during the last biennium.

S. HADISAPOETRO (Indonesia): Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of my delegation I would like, first of all, to extend to you, Mr. Chairman, our warmest congratulations on your unanimous election to the chairmanship of this FAO Conference. We have every confidence that under your able guidance this Twentieth Session will come to a fruitful conclusion. I also wish here to congratulate the Vice-Chairmen and other officers on their election to their important functions.

Agriculture, in its widest sense, plays a fundamental role in the world economy and provides, directly and indirectly, the livelihood of more than half of the population of the world. Despite national as well as international efforts so far made to overcome the problems of world hunger and poverty, world food security is on a fragile footing, while millions of people are still living below the poverty level.

The problems of rural poverty, pressing food short-ages and malnutrition are well known. As a first step to over-come these problems, increased efforts should be made to reach the target of 4% annual growth rate in food production, particularly in the developing countries. Besides, we all agree that a rapid acceleration of food and agricultural production is essential for their overall development. In this context special attention must be given to food-priority countries and to other developing countries with large potential for food production and agricultural development. We are pleased to observe that FAO has continuously supported the efforts to increase rice production as confirmed in the Programme of Work and Budget for 1980-81.

In this very connexion, world food security is therefore of fundamental importance and very urgent. Adequate food production is the basis for food security. The principles and objectives of the International Undertaking on World Food Security as adopted by FAO in 1974 are still valid. In this context nationally established food reserves at adequate levels are essential and constitute indispensable components of an internationally well coordinated overall system of World Food Security.

Being aware of the importance of concrete implementation regional food reserves within the framework of the World Food Security system, the Government of Indonesia and the other members of the ASEAN are making joint efforts to ensure the availability at all times of adequate regional supplies of basic foodstuffs, particularly rice, and to sustain a steady expansion of production as well as to reduce fluctuation in supplies and prices. We have established the ASFAN Food Security Reserve Scheme which includes Emergency Reserve in the amount of 50. 000 tons of rice as a start. This is a good example to be followed in other regions of the world. The food policy of my Government is oriented towards securing adequate supply of foodstuffs in quantity and nutritive quality as well as maintaining a price level within the reach of all people in Indonesia.

In order to achieve World Food Security, may I invite the particular attention of the Conference to make adequate provisions for special international asistance in kind and cash to those developing countries which assume obligations to establish national food reserves, particularly in regard to the acquisition of food stocks, the carrying charges and the construction of storage facilities in strategic places.

In this connection, therefore, international organizations and individual advanced countries are strongly urged to support food security schemes in developing countries. Besides they also have to ensure the achievement of the agreed minimum target of 500. 000 tons of cereals for International Emergency Food Reserve.

In view of the increasing food deficits as anticipated for the 1980s, at least 10 million tons of cereals per year as food aid should secured, but preferably even more, taking into account the estimate of the FAO Secretariat that it would be in the order of 15 to 16 million tons in 1985.

Agricultural production and trade are recognized as having a key role to play in the efforts to bring about a New International Economic Order. We all know that a rapid improvement of agricultural production in developing countries requires considerable short and long-term investment which cannot be entirely shouldered by the developing countries themselves. Increased international and technical assistance are therefore needed. In this connexion, it is therefore necessary to replenish on a continuing basis, the resources of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in addition to multilateral and bilateral aid by other financing institutions.

As a coastal state and particularly as an archipelago, Indonesia is considering seriously the extension of her national jurisdiction to 200 miles from the present boundaries. We are fully conscious of our responsibility for the rational management and optimum use of these resources not only to meet the growing protein requirement of our people, but also of other countries.

In this respect Indonesia fully supports the move made by the Committee on Fisheries to propose a programme for assistance to developing coastal states in the management and development of fisheries in exclusive economic zones. My delegation wishes to appeal to this Conference to endorse this proposal and to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the programme, particularly as far as the funding of these activities is concerned.

As far as forestry is concerned, Indonesia had the privilege to be the venue of the Eighth World Forestry Congress which took place in Jakarta from 16 to 28 October 1978. It was attended by more than 2,000 participants from 104 countries and 17 international organizations. For the Indonesian Government and

people it was indeed a great honour and pleasure to host this august assembly of distinguished foresters from all over the world and also experts and professionals in fields of activities related to forestry.

We were very pleased that the discussions went on smoothly and fruitfully. But more than everything else, we were most happy that the Congress gave birth to the "Jakarta Declaration" as inspired by the theme which was selected for the Congress, namely "Forests for People". We would like to appeal that follow-up action of the Jakarta Declaration be implemented by international organizations, in particular FAO.

We are glad to note that the Eighth World Forestry Congress has broken away from traditional approaches which separated foresters from rural people and forestry from rural development. This Congress has refocused the efforts on how forestry can enhance the life of the rural people and forests and forest lands can provide multivarious products essential for rural community life, such as wood for housing and fuel, as well as food and medicinal plant materials, and can stabilize the flow of streams of commodities which is indispensible for agriculture.

As outlined in the Basic Development Policy of our country, we believe that forests, where ever they are located and who ever manages and utilizes them, are a trust to be used also to meet the needs of the underprivileged majority and not merely the desires of the economically strong few. The growing awareness that forests can play a significant role in the land and water household of the earth, and in the maintenance of a healthy biosphere, that embraces our entire planet and which cannot be pigeonholed by national jurisdictions, will, I hope, deepen the sense of responsibility of all nations towards each other in their efforts to utilize and develop their forest resources, not only for their own individual benefit but also for the well-being of the human race at large.

In view of the technical know-how and experience gained by the developing countries during the past decades of development efforts, it has been found feasible and useful to stimulate technical and economic cooperation among these countries, particularly in the field of food and agriculture. As this Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme has proved to have very encouraging results in promoting close cooperation among nations, and accelarating development in practical fields, it should therefore be strengthened. However, supplementary technical and financial assistance is still needed from multilateral as well as bilateral sources to expand and intensify this Programme. In this framework, I am happy to report that in ASEAN as confirmed in our Manila consensus on the 29th August, 1979 we have adopted ASEAN Common Agricultural Policy in the field of:

Food Security Reserve; supply of fertilizers and pesticides;

Animal and Plant Quarantine;

Agricultural Research and Development, and resources on

Agricultural Education, Training and Extension.

This common policy will be implemented in various technical and economic cooperation programmes. As shown by ASEAN efforts my delegation strongly believes that concrete implementation of technical and economic cooperation among developing countries should be based on cooperation among regional grouping of countries.

Fully aware of the inequalities and imbalances of development in our country, which have emerged in the past, the Government of Indonesia is taking appropriate measures to eliminate these as already stated in our "Equal Distribution Policies" for the Third Five Year National Development Plan and the following ones. Our Transmigration and Land Development Scheme, the largest development programme of its kind in the world, plays an important role in realizing this policy measure. FAO and other international organizations are invited to participate in this scheme, I am confident that under Dr. Saouma's dynamic leadership, FAO will continue to play a leading role in supporting transmigration and agricultural development programmes in our country. Within the same policy framework, in the field of industrial development, the big enterpreneurs are to help the small industries through cooperative efforts.

We know that this cannot be accomplished overnight. But my Government is determined to pursue it.

In this connection the Declaration of Principles and Programme of Action of Agrarian Reform and Rural Development is in line with our policies and programmes.

A very limited progress has been made so far towards solving the long-standing problem of international trade in agricultural products, particularly those exported by the developing countries. Trade protection as practised by advanced countries is still existing and even expanding, which jeopardizes economic development of the developing world.

If the strong find it necessary to protect themselves against the weak, would not the weak have the same right to protect themselves against the strong as it seems that the ancient Rule of the Jungle still dominates the international scene? But unfortunately, the weak are in an unfavourable position. And if they get together in order to strengthen their position, voices have been heard accusing them of "tyranny of the majority".

However, mankind has made one important step in the right direction with the Declaration of Human Rights. But human nature is still too strong to be regimented by this Declaration. It would seem to us that this Declaration of Human Rights should be balanced by a Declaration of Human Responsibilities which should be fully adhered to if the principles of human dignity are to be truly realized.

Nobody can deny that agriculture in its widest sense, is basic to human life. And yet, the producers of these commodities, particularly food, are always getting the worst end of the stick in economic life. They belong to the poorest among professions, unless they are supported by their governments through special policies and measures, such as price support and input subsidies.

In regard to the human society as a whole, if advanced nations are willing to help more adequately the developing countries which are generally agricultural producers, I am confident that the welfare of the human race as a whole will be more stimulated. Please do not misunderstand us. We are not begging for charity, but what we want is just a fair deal.

Being a strong advocate of FAO programmes and activities in the Region, on behalf of the Government of Indonesia, I would like to invite the forthcoming FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Far East in 1982 to be hosted in Indonesia.

In conclusion, I wish to congratulate Dr. Saouma for his clear and comprehensive statement this morning. We are satisfied with the progress made by FAO; we have confidence in the men and women of our Organization who are well qualified and well motivated for the job; above all we have faith in our Director-General, the ever-inspiring Dr. Saouma.

E. MORY KEITA (Guinée): Monsieur le President, Monsieur le Directeur général, Monsieur le President indépendant du Conseil, Messieurs les Ministres et chefs de délégation, Mesdames, Messieurs les délégués, nous voudrions tout d'abord nous acquitter d'un agréable devoir, celui de vous féliciter très chaleureusement au nom de la Délégation de la République Populaire Révolutionnaire de Guinée pour votre brillante élection à la présidence de la Vingtième session de la Conférence générale de notre Organisation, l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture. Vos qualifications pour une telle responsabilité et vos mérites personnels sont un gage certain de succès pour cette Assemblée.

Nous voudrions ensuite, à travers vous, Monsieur le Président, adresser nos félicitations aux trois Vice-Présidents, aux membres du Bureau, ainsi qu'à tous ceux qui, à des degrés divers ont été élus pour assumer des responsabilités si exaltantes durant cette Vingtième session.

Enfin, nous voudrions, de cette tribune, transmettre au Président indépendant du Conseil, à toutes les Délégations des Etats Membres et des Observateurs, le message d'amitié et de fraternité du Peuple de Guinée, de son Parti-Etat, le Parti Démocratique de Guinée, et son grand leader bien-aimé, le Camarade AHMED SEKOU TOURE, Responsable Suprême de la Révolution guinéenne.

Nous saluons tout particulièrement les deux nouveaux Etats Membres, le Commonwealth de la Dominique et l'Etat indépendant de Samoa-Occidental. En les saluant au nom de la Révolution guinéenne, notre pensée va vers nos frères de la partie sud de notre continent, les peuples du Zimbabwe et de l'Afrique du Sud, ainsi qu'au Peuple palestinien, qui luttent farouchement pour se libérer de la domination étrangère, de l'exploitation colonialiste et impérialiste.

Notre Parti-Etat et notre Gouvernement n'épargneront aucun effort pour leur apporter tout appui nécessaire à leur lutte de libération.

Monsieur le Président, nous parlons depuis quelques années, dans toutes les enceintes internationales, de l'instauration d'un ordre nouveau dans les relations entre les Nations, et entre les couches sociales, un ordre économique international éliminant systématiquement les structures de l'ordre actuel.

L'histoire contemporaine montre que la relative liquidation de l'ordre économique colonial ne s'étant pas opérée d'une façon consciente et délibérée de la part des tenants du pouvoir, cet ordre ne saurait s'effriter naturellement par une sorte d'évolution normale qui serait dans l'ordre logique des choses; mais bien au contraire, cet ordre d'iniquité empire son caractère et sa puissance d'exploitation.

Ainsi, si nous voulons parler de développement tout en tenant compte des évaluations sur les première et deuxième Décennies de Développement, il faut et il importe que nous ayons à l'esprit que le monde n'est pas réellement économiquement développé si seulement une de ses parties l'est au détriment des autres.

Les décisions prises à Rome, en novembre 1974 à la Conférence mondiale de l'alimentation, et en 1979 par la Conférence mondiale sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural, sont un défi et une mise à l'épreuve pour le système politique et économique mondial.

Le Directeur général de l'OAA a attiré l'attention des Gouvernements sur les graves difficultés auxquelles la Communauté est confrontée, et rappelé de façon pertinente que l'impératif prioritaire est un effort général pour parvenir au développement économique et social.

La Communauté internationale dispose de moyens et de capacités techniques pour y parvenir, pour assurer des bases économiques viables et permettre aux pays en développement de résoudre leurs difficultés actuelles résultant du sous-développement économique, technique et technologique.

Monsieur le Président, sans entrer, à ce stade, dans le détail du Programme de travail que nous a présenté le Directeur général, nous tenons à souligner que c'est avec beaucoup d'attention, d'espoir et de confiance que notre Délégation participe aux débats de cette session.

Avec beaucoup d'attention, parce que nous n'avons pas besoin de rappeler à cette auguste Assemblée que la très grande majorité des populations du tiers monde vit de l'agriculture. De ce fait, l'OAA n'est pas pour nous une Organisation comme les autres, mais bien la plus importante, celle dont les activités sont les plus susceptibles de nous assister dans notre lutte constante pour l'indépendance économique et le mieux-être de nos Peuples.

Avec beaucoup d'espoir, car nous ne vous cacherons pas qu'après le souvenir amer que nous ont laissé certaines réunions récentes, nous voyons dans cette Vingtième session une occasion très importante de progresser enfin, de façon même si limitée mais tangible, vers la réalisation de nos justes aspirations.

Avec beaucoup de confiance enfin, car il nous semble que le programme présenté et les propositions formulées par le Directeur général sont de nature à être acceptés tout à la fois comme un progrès concret par les pays en développement, comme des mesures réalistes et prudentes par les pays développés.

Cette Conférence se doit donc de rappeler les engagements pris par les gouvernements des Etats Membres.

Les pays en développement s'orientent davantage aujourd'hui plus que par le passé vers le développement accéléré du secteur agricole et alimentaire de leur économie. Ainsi, ils font une place croissante à l'agriculture considérée comme la priorité des priorités dans leurs plans et programmes de développement, investissent davantage (ressources, personnel) dans le secteur agricole et alimentaire.

Sur le plan international, on s'est de plus en plus largement préoccupé ces dernières années de réduire la misère et la faim. Et la récente Conférence sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural a souligné le souci d'aller plus loin, d'aller vers une plus vaste stratégie du développement rural prévoyant notamment un accès plus large aux ressources de la part des pays les plus affectés et des masses rurales et une répartition plus équitable des revenus.

Et,dans cet ordre d'idées, l'objectif à rechercher est d'assurer la sécurité alimentaire pour une population en forte augmentation.

Il faudrait, par des faits, concrétiser le large consensus qui existe maintenant sur les principaux éléments d'une stratégie du développement du secteur agricole et alimentaire: accroître les capitaux extérieurs pour l'investissement, approvisionner de façon plus abondante en intrants matériels, soutenir le transfert de technologies et mettre en place des infrastructures institutionnelles répondant aux efforts fournis par les couches déshéritées.

Le Gouvernement de la République populaire révolutionnaire de Guinée attache une grande importance au rôle qu'est appelé à jouer la FAO quant à la politique visant à intensifier l'apport de ressources extérieures pour le développement agro-pastoral et halieutique. L'apport effectif actuel représente tout juste un peu plus de la moitié de l'objectif fixé par la Conférence mondiale de l'alimentation en 1974 et entériné par la FAO.

En effet, Monsieur le Président, nous devons faire face à ces questions avec décision, persuadés de leur urgence, en les inscrivant dans le contexte des grands problèmes mondiaux qui manifestent la venue inexorable d'une étape historique du changement.

La croissance prodigieuse de la population du globe, le niveau de plus en plus élevé de la vie, engendrant des demandes toujours croissantes en nourriture, énergie et autres ressources, enfin, les progrès très rapides des connaissances scientifiques et techniques qui ont permis la prise de conscience du potentiel économique des mers et des océans et de leurs nouvelles utilisations, ont conféré à l'espace marin qui couvre 70% de notre planète, une importance incontestable dans la vie de l'humanité.

Voilà pourquoi le Gouvernement guinèen salue et appuie avec une fermeté sans faille le programme proposé par l'OAA. Cette politique de notre Organisation répond à la notre et représente une étape décisive dans la mise en application des nouvelles orientations issues de la volonté de nos Gouvernements de modifier radicalment l'ancien ordre inique et exploiteur et d'être maîtres du destin de nos peuples et de nos sources.

A cet effet, nous saluons et encourageons une participation effective de l'OAA, car il s'agit de créer, avec la nouvelle politique indiquée par le Directeur général, les conditions essentielles pour un développement harmonieux de nos Etats.

Le Président de la République populaire révolutionnaire de Guinée, le Camarade AHMED SEKOU TOURE, nous enseigne que: "le développement radical de l'économie africaine nécessite la modernisation des moyens de production, leur appréciation par le peuple, l'assainissement des circuits commerciaux en Afrique pour soustraire le commerce africain à l'inflation directe et indirecte du capitalisme étranger; elle exige la planification de l'effort productif de nos pays et l'harmonie des efforts des différents plans de développement des pays africains; enfin l'organisation des producteurs par secteur et au niveau de chaque nation africaine. La Révolution commande que chaque peuple qui se réclame d'elle fasse l'économie de son essence, c'est-à-dire l'économie de sa politique révolutionnaire, tel est le seul moyen de réaliser un progrès rapide de développement économique du pays.

Le développement des ressources rurales: agriculture, élevage, pêche, chasse et artisanat, constitue dans la phase actuelle l'élément déterminant de la victoire que nous devons et nous pouvons renforcer dans le domaine du développement économique".

On comprend donc pourquoi la République populaire révolutionnaire de Guinée, fidèle à la ligne de masse axée avant tout sur la promotion rapide des couches laborieuses de la campagne, a toujours accordé la primauté à la forme collective de travail au niveau rural. L'organisation rationnelle des masses paysannes en unités collectives homogènes apparaît en effet comme la meilleure voie conduisant au bien-être équitable de nos populations.

La récente création des fermes agro-pastorales d'arrondissement (FAPA) répond à cette politique et qualifie davantagel’ organisation des travailleurs ruraux et renforce la productivité dans les campagnes. Les FAPA sont appelées à résoudre à leur niveau et à leur profit des problèmes de production et de commercialisation.

Ce changement qualitatif modifie les bases et les formes de la production et la dynamise en ce sens que désormais les producteurs sont soustraits à l'exploitation.

Parallèlement à ces modifications structurelles, le Gouvernement guièen fournit un effort immense sur le plan des investissements: assistance aux masses rurales, importation de tracteurs (4 000 environ), moto-faucheuses-lieuses (environ 1 000), batteuses, décortiqueurs, charrues, fertilisants, Ce sont là des efforts matériels et financiers qui témoignent suffisamment la farouche détermination de notre Parti-Etat de liquider définitivement en Guinée la faim et la misère.

Il nous plaît ici de saluer l'apport si précieux de l'OAA, de la Banque mondiale, du FIDA, du PAM et du PNUD et de nombreux pays amis.

Monsieur le Président,

L'instauration d'un nouvel ordre économique répond à une nécessité née de la lutte des peuples exploités et des pays du tiers monde et ne saurait trouver sa fin en elle-même, mais dans le règlement en commun du développement de chaque société et par la consécration d'un principel de solidarité, de justice et d'indépendance pour tous les peuples et tous les Etats.

Un seul monde nous appartient et, en ce sens, nous participons tous de la même civilisation, dont nous percevons avec acuité les mouvements et contradictions qui l'agitent.

La profondeur de la crise, l'ampleur des problèmes, l'interrogation fondamentale sur la valeur et la portée des principes, voilà ce qui sollicite aujourd'hui notre inquiétude et, notre espérance à la fois.

Le bien-être politique, économique et social des générations présentes et futures dépend plus que jamais de l'existence entre tous les membres de la communauté internationale d'un esprit de coopération fondé sur l'égalité souveraine et la suppression du déséquilibre qui existe entre eux, de la rupture, et au plus tot, avec la situation actuelle. Le système est inique, il faut lui substituer un autre, car s'il persistait à exister, il ne pourrait aboutir qu'à un affrontement brutal entre pays lésés et pays bénéficiaires de l'iniquité, affrontement qui engloutirait également ces derniers.

En tout état de cause, ce qui est certain, c'est qu'il faut replacer l'objectif du développement et surtout celui de la production alimentaire au centre des multiples problèmes importants auxquels le monde cherche à apporter d'urgence des solutions efficaces et compatibles.

Notre Organisation se trouve au centre de cette nouvelle stratégie et nous sommes forts reconnaissants à Monsieur le Directeur général de l'avoir perçue et de nous y conduire.

Nous tenons, pour terminer, à lui renouveler l'expression de notre plus entière confiance et de notre sincère fèlicitation pour la clarté et la chaleur avec lesquelles il nous exposé le programme et présenté le budget de l'Organisation. Ce ne sont pas des félicitations de circonstance, mais les encouragements militants d'un Gouvernement qui sait apprécier à sa juste valeur les efforts et le dynamisme d'un homme voué à la cause des opprimés, à la cause de progrès et du développement, à la cause d'une coopération loyale et sincère entre tous les Etats Membres de notre Organisation.

Qu'il trouve ici la ferme volonté du peuple de Guinée d'oeuvrer sans relâche avec l'OAA pour le bien-être de l'humanité tout entière.

J. J. LEIDO Jr. (Philippines): May I first of all offer the felicitations of my delegation and express our pride upon your well deserved election as chairman of the Conference. You come from a country with close historical ties with the Philippines. Some of our most cherished cultural and religious values came through Spain.

Also I would like to congratulate the Director-General and the FAO staff for the excellent arrangements they have made for our Conference.

The Republic of the Philippines, in pursuance of socio-economic reforms of the new society of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, is committed to the total development of man. Development, particularly, is directed to the masses of our population, the urban and rural poor. In brief, development is focused on the common man.

Our basic objective is to make man self-reliant and self respecting. In the pursuit of this objective, a number of policies, plans, and programmes were formulated and are now being implemented in key areas of concern, including the harnessing of the country's natural resources.

To date, significant advances have been made in food and agriculture, including forestry and fishery, and in agrarian reform, as well as in rural development. Allow me to cite a few of our outstanding achievements in making man and the country self-sufficient.

Today, the Philippines has attained self-sufficiency in its major staples and even generated a modest surplus for export to neighboring countries. The realization of this long-dreamt-of goal can be attributed to succesful programmes no doubt. However, the more important power behind this is the unflagging will to succeed.

Other programmes and projects are now in their different stages of conceptualization and development to supplement existing projects. As envisioned, the Philippine food and agricultural strategy for the next decade revolve around three main thrusts, to wit: (a) Food and nutrition; (b) Agro-energy development; (c) Export generation and import substitution.

In the food sector, greater emphasis will be given to the identification and production of indigenous crops with high nutritive value and with the most potential for increased farm incomes. Also, in order to increase this calorie-protein nutrition among our people, food production will be redirected towards production of other carbohydrate and animal and vegetable protein sources.

To augment the usual sources of energy, such as oil, coal, water, and geothermal, we are developing non-traditional sources of energy for commercial, industrial, and domestic uses. The country has embarked on a program seeking the utilization of sugar, cassava, wood, such as ipil-ipil, and other biomasses, as fuel sources.

We are accelerating production of non-traditional exports, such as yellow corn and sorghum, fruits and nuts, spices, coffee, cacao, palm oil, and rubber. At the same time, the development of traditional exports, such as coconut and sugar, timber and fruits, shall be continued.

The forest has played a key role in our contry's attainment of self-sufficiency in staple crops. Without forests, irrigation water could not be available for use on a year-round basis. Although we are still a wood-surplus country, we have adopted a forest conservation program that would insure the perpetual nature of our natural forests. At the same time, we are reforesting areas that have been damaged by shifting cultivation. The selective logging system prescribed for our dipterocarp forests minimizes soil erosion, ensures natural regeneration and at the same time maintains environmental integrity.

Self-reliance is likewise emphasized in our forest conservation program. Our communal tree farm program is intended to provide not only the fuelwood needs of the local community but additional income as well. On the other hand, the shifting cultivators are being contained in their present area and are assisted in making their lands more productive.

The Philippines looks forward to participating in the discussion on the Agenda item of the Jakarta Declaration of the 8th World Forestry Congress. This Declaration stresses the theme that forests are for people. We support this theme as it underscores the need for ensuring that the benefits of forestry accrue to the poorest sector of the communities.

Under the new society programme of president Marcos, started in 1973, agrarian reform and rural development became one of our more important priorities. Through land reform, tenant-farmers became owners-cultivators and/or agricultural lessees. The new status gives them the incentive to produce more since they realize that they do not have to give up half of the fruits of their labor to absentee landlords. Cooperatives are established to enable the farmers to obtain remunerative farming and land consolidation were also launched as support programmes.

Currently, new policies are being evolved to extend the coverage of land reform to crops, other than rice and corn. Corporate participation will be adopted in plantations, such as sugar, coconut, bananas and the like. This scheme allows tenants to share in the equity with landowners.

The Philippines wishes therefore to reiterate its support for the action programme adopted by the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. We note that the countries of Asia have already met in Bangkok just before this Conference opened to devise specific ways and means to implement the Agrarian Reform Conference's recommendations. This reflects the political will of the region to help liberate the landless peasants. The Philippines participated in this useful exercise and gives credit to the Director-General for taking this initiative, so that the momentum of the Conference will not be dissipated.

Having attained self-sufficiency and self-reliance for the common man especially in rice and grain production our President, aware of the great potentials of our territorial waters, has started to shift emphasis towards the exploitation and development of fisheries and other aquatic resources. This shift has also been dictated by the need to find a cheap source of protein.

To highlight this shift in emphasis, President Marcos launched the "Biyayang Dagat" programme which literally means "bounty of the sea" programme. This programme aims to ensure not only the mere survival of the small-scale fisherman, thus making him a key participant in the drive for attaining self-sufficiency in food.

Under this programme, one billion pesos, roughly the equivalent of 125 million dollars, has been allocated from internal sources for a five-year period to benefit at least 100,000 families. This programme is being carried out through the fisheries extension service in order to ensure that appropriate modern technology is adopted by the borrowers. Each fisherman can borrow 15,000 pesos or roughly 2,000 dollars for acquisition of a better boat and motorizing it with appropriate gear. Five to ten fishermen organized in a group are eligible to package credit to finance the purchase of fishing vessels or other projects such as fish capture, acquaculture and fishmarketing.

To further highlight the shift in emphasis to fisheries as a major source of food, the Philippines has established the Philippine exclusive economic zone. The archipelagic Philippines has the second longest coastline on the Asean region and a great proportion of her labor force is employed in fisheries. Under a 200-mile resource jurisdictional regime, the Philippines will have substantial fishing grounds to exploit and conserve. Moreover, the Philippines is one of the countries within the region now trying to exploit its offshore potential of hydrocarbon deposits to assist in the worldwide search for energy. For a country that is almost totally dependent on imported crude oil, development of potential offshore hydrocarbons is of utmost strategic importance. To facilitate the implementation of this exclusive economic zone, we have to formulate the appropriate policies, plans, programmes, rules and regulations that would govern the management, conservation, research, exploration and exploitation of, and within, the zone.

Meanwhile, the country undertakes the required assessment and analysis of existing fishery resources. Under this programme, exploratory surveys, as well as oceanographic and biological studies, for determining characteristics and potentials of fishing areas, will be expanded. Improvement of fishing and biological data collections systems, and data analysis, will also be done.

The Philippines, in collaboration with other coastal states in the Western Pacific, specifically Papua, New Guinea, Indoneai and New Caledonia, is undertaking a tuna-tagging programme. Stock assessment of pelagic fishes especially tuna will be undertaken soon with the assistance of the South China Sea fisheries development coordinating programme or SCSFDC. Technical and financial assistance for these two projects will be required.

Since the SCSFDC is a temporary body engaged in the development of fisheries in the region, and while it has heretofore performed creditably in its intended tasks, the need for a more permanent body which would concern itself exclusively with the fisheries of the South China Sea is now urgently felt. The establishment of such a permanent body should now be considered by the FAO through its regional subsidiary, the Indo-Pacific Fishing Commission (IPFC) and with the support of other regional organizations concerned with fisheries such as the ASEAN, SEAFDEC and ICLARM.

If called upon, the Philippines is ready to initiate the formation of such a permanent body.

The Philippines welcomes the role of FAO in helping developing coastal states derive the maximum benefits from the extension of the jurisdiction over fisheries off their shores.

We realize the importance of the role the regional bodies have to play in the development of the exclusive economic zones, and are deeply aware of the need for funds in support for this development.

In this connection, the Philippine Delegation together with some developing coastal states will sponsor a draft resolution supporting the Director-General's program of assistance in the development and management of fisheries in the exclusive economic zones to ensure sound management of this renewable resource.

Furthermore, the Philippines is committed to support the proposed World Technical Conference on the Development and Management of Fisheries to be held in 1982. We believe this Conference will make possible the exchange of views and experiences among countries affected by the New Ocean Regime. We feel, however, the need for regional consultative meetings in preparation for this World Conference.

In this regard, we propose that such a regional consultative meeting for our region be held and we offer to host such a meeting in Manila in late 1980.

I wish to state that perhaps the dire predictions of Malthus were proven wrong when the advances of science and technology came to be applied to fisheries and agriculture in developed countries.

While the cassandra-like predictions of Malthus no longer hold true in the case of developed nations, the spectre of famine still hovers over many of the developing countries.

Despite the first signs of a worldwide drop on fertility, the momentum of earlier population growth is adding approximately 200,000 people daily to our world. More than one fourth of the population of developing countries suffers from varying degrees of hunger and malnutrition. Thus, according to the FAO study, "Agriculture: toward. 2000", the developing countries will have to produce about fifty percent more food at the end of the century just to maintain the present inadequate levels of consumption.

If the present trend continues, the year 2000 may prove to be truly apocalyptic.

The experience of many countries however shows that the problem of hunger and malnutrition can be solved. We are of the conviction that in the last analysis, it is only the developing countries themselves that can solve their own problems. They have to muster the necessary political will to break the vicious cycle of poverty, to reorder priorities, to invest the scarce resources of the nation into the critical inputs that can generate self-propelling growth.

While we realize the need for self-reliance and the need for countries to exert their utmost to develop themselves, we do recognize the interdependence between nations and the need for international cooperation, especially in the transfer of technology and the flow of resources, and the removal of the obstacles that thwart our efforts to develop ourselves.

Therefore, the Philippines in collaboration with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have come together in the association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN shares the aspiration of FAO in vanquishing hunger and uplifting the standards of living, especially of destitute people in the rural areas.

The association has therefore moved from policy declarations to specific action programmes.

ASEAN established last august, for example an emergency rice reserve scheme following the Director-General's call for a 5-Point Plan of Action for World Security.

ASEAN is conducting, with FAO assistance, a food supply and demand study for the sub-regions. We are also establishing an ASEAN Fertilizer Plan with Indonesia as a lead country and are moving towards collaborative arrangements for the production, distribution, marketing and purchasing of essential agricultural inputs like pesticides.

ASEAN is starting to work on establishing common quarantine protection rings to ensure livestock health and protection form disease.

The association is now in the process of setting up collaborative arrangements for coarse grains production, research, agricultural extension training and exchange of agricultural scientists.

In collaboration with FAO, ASEAN developed a Population-Rural Development Programme. The first phase was funded by United Nations Fund for Population Activities. The second phase which was also encouraged by FAO has just been formulated and assistance was committed last week by the Australian Government.

We foresee further collaboration in other vital agricultural sectors as we gain experience. In ASEAN we feel this is a practical example of technical cooperation.

Likewise we are of the conviction that international organizations like the FAO can play a critical role in the development of nations. This organization has access to the latest applications of the most modern developments in science and technology to agriculture, fisheries and forestry. It has a role to play in the transfer of this technology and also in the mobilization of resources.

We agree that in general the program of work and budget of this organization presented to this Conference reflects these objectives in its various fields of concern. This is the reason why we have given it our full support.

Mr. Chairman, we believe that peace and stability on this planet cannot be attained unless we first satisfy that most basic of human rights-the right to be free from hunger. Not until we have overcome and eradicated the spectre of hunger can we hope to aspire for a better and brighter world.

In closing, in his concern for the hungrey, the Director-General has authorized substantial aid to the World Food Programme for Kampuchean Refugees. He has also provided support for the rehabilitation of agriculture in that unhappy country. This assistance given on a humanitarian basis and without political consideration merits the commendation and support of the Conference.

ABDEL-RAHMAN ABDEL-AZIZ AL SHEIK (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of):(interpretation from Arabic): In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful; Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, Distinguished Delegates: Before I start my statement it gives me pleasure on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to give you my warm congratulations on the occasion of your election as Chairman of this Twentieth Conference, and to wish you Godspeed and success in bearing the burdens of this gigantic job. It likewise gives me pleasure to present my thanks and respect to the Director-General, Dr. Saouma, and all those working in FAO who have contributed their great efforts to all the arrangements and preparations they have made to facilitate the work of this Conference, its better coordination, and the success of its actions.

After the lapse of two years from our last Conference here we meet again for a noble and sublime objective on the fulfilment of which the developing countries in particular attach great hopes and they eagerly look forward, in their dire need, to the services which your Conference and the Organization can render to provide them with the means of a prosperous life and honourable living. The new world events, new facts, and the results of new food and demographic studies which have emerged during the past two years have lighted our path, clarified the framework of our policies and defined the features of the strategy to be adopted by the Organization, its Conference and various bodies in order to achieve their objectives and noble targets for the benefit of the countries of the world, particularly the developing countries who suffer from food shortages and lowering standards of living.

I am not here to speak in detail of what is being undertaken by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the expansion and diversification of its production and the satisfaction of its basic food requirements. The dimensions of these have been fully comprehended by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it is therefore devoting to them its entire attention and efforts, by the development of subterranean water resources, sea-water desalinization, or the vertical and horizontal expansion in the two fields of research and agriculture. To this effect His Majesty's Government has developed ambitious plans to arrive at self-sufficiency in food commodities.

I wish to mention here however, that the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia views with great concern the noticeable foodstuffs shortages being experienced by the developing countries, a shortage which has been increasing year after year as a result: of either the natural calamities which are destroying their food crops, the inflow of refugees or the lack of their full and optimum exploitation of their natural resources. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, fully convincend of the importance of its role in the international community and aware of its responsibilities, is extending with all its available powers and possibilities every help and assistance to the peoples of the developing countries both through the organs, programs and funds of the U. N. of which the Kingdom has been one of the founding states, or through the bilateral agreements as well as the Saudi Arabian and other joint Arab financing funds.

We in Saudi Arabia look at this international organization with appreciation and respect and follow with interest the great tasks and duties it undertakes in serving the developing countries for, indeed, it is an honourable work which deserves everybody's praise and appreciation if we were to compare its limited resources with the enormous task it is undertaking and the great objectives it is endeavouring to achieve for the prosperity and well-being of all peoples. We likewise consider with full satisfaction the organizational measures and practical efforts realized by the officials of the organization in the recent years such as the curbing or the termination of centralization, the promotion of agricultural investment among the developing countries both at the regional and national levels and the checking of staff expansion as shown in the Organization's budget as submitted to us for the 1980/81 biennium. We therefore support the program of work and budget and would propose that the Conference should recommend the expansion of the technical and technological assistance programs and that this expansion be provided for in the next budget of the Organization. To this effect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports the work plan proposed by the Director-General for food security in the developing countries and invites all Member States to endeavour to do their utmost to secure their reserve stocks and to develop regional and sub-regional joint ventures along the lines of the Near East Technical Cooperation Program.

Many developments have taken place in the developing countries since the establishment of this organization as a good number of these countries have acquired technical experience while others have now material possibilities. This make it difficult to arrive at a uniform pattern for the means of development in the least developd countries. It could be said nevertheless, that it is imperative that more attention should be given to the inputs of the means for an integrated agricultural production, and chiefly among these the farmer himself. I therefore appeal to the member countries, international bodies and institutions and to the development funds to orient and coordinate their efforts during the forthcoming Conference so that our slogan would be "Toward an Integrated Rural Development" that would provide the essential production components. These can be summed up by infrastructure, such as roads, communications and irrigation; social infrastructure, such as education, health, potable water and making available other agricultural inputs and the setting up of such necessary marketing institutions as would guarantee to the producers a remunerative income compatible with their efforts in the production process. Next to this we should find the appropriate channels for the transfer and adaptation of modern technology and for deriving benefits therefrom both in agricultural production and in food processing. I believe you will agree with me that such a program calls for the mobilization of all our common energies in order to activate the natural, human and financial resources in an accurate streamlined coordination which will overcame all bottlenecks and marginal obstacles. For achieving this target we should unify the efforts of the international organizations and bodies involved in the technical aspects of FAO who should be responsible, in cooperation and coordination with the other bodies at the international and national levels, for the preparation of such programs and projects as would guarantee an integrated rural development in all the developing countries that dispose of exploitable agricultural resources and potential. In doing so FAO should bear in mind that the emphasis on production should be made in the light of the relative economic advantage that resides in the production of a particular crop or other commodity, for this would guarantee, worldwise, an economic exploitation that would strengthen the volume of international trade and lead to a better prosperity. This effort should be made in a direct and close coordination with the international and regional financing bodies which should constitute a group for coordination between these bodies and the technical group under the FAO.

Such a measure, we believe, will accelerate agricultural development, an increased food production. It will also guarantee an optimum exploitation of the natural resources of the developing countries and consequently lead to the promotion of trade between all the regional and guarantee the transfer and adaptation of modern technology. It will likewise enable the international and regional financing bodies to pool their financial resources in order to concentrate their efforts on an increased food production and an economic prosperity among the rural population of the developing countries.

An effort of this nature will certainly have excellent and tangible economic and social effects on the rural population for it will improve their standard of living and social conditions, and will, in turn, guarantee their attachment to their soil and will consequently check rural migration and avoid its costly economic and social effects and complications.

I have noticed that the General Conference which is held every two years and gathers the highest authorities in the fields of agriculture and irrigation spends a considerable part of its time and effort in considering routine matters although FAO's Council had decided in Novembre 1970 at its Fifty-Fifth Session to confine the Conference Agenda to the main and essential issues so that the debate may be more accurately concentrated and so secure that the participants efforts will be directed to such important and essential issues as would directly interest the organization's objectives. Allow me therefore to propose the following for adoption by our Conference:

First: That our Conference should have a clearly defined objective which will be considered and concentrated upon, the means of achieving it and what each member country is required to do for its achievement. As an example, the Secretariat's proposal under para. 17 of document 79/12 entitled "Arrangements for the Twentieth Session of the Conference" where the Council invites Ministers and Heads of Delegations to give particular attention to "Strengthening World Food Security" and "The Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones".

Second: Everybody is aware that there are statutory standing bodies the members of which elected by FAO's Council or other organs of the UN System. We consider that the resolutions of these committees as unanimously adopted or approved should be implemented without further submission to the Conference for discussion or debate, with the exception, of course, of the Program of Work and Budget.

Third: To curtail the number of resolutions and recommendations by the Conference as this will facilitate their implementation and follow-up by the member countries and FAO's exexutive bodies.

I shall not conclude without thanking His Excellency Edouard Saouma, Director-General of FAO, for his continued past and present efforts to fulfil the aspirations of the member countries, and of the developing countries in particular, and bring to materialization all the hopes which member countries attach to this Organization for their and their peoples' welfare and prosperity.

I conclude by wishing our present Conference all continued success and may God speed be with you.

EL PRESIDENTE: Antes de continuar con el orden del día, voy a conceder la palabra al Director General, que quiere decir algunas cuestiones.

LE DIRECTEUR GENERAL: J'ai écoute et noté avec beaucoup d'attention les importantes déclarations faites cet après-midi durant le débat général. Je voudrais remercier les délégués pour les paroles aimables qu'ils ont bien voulu avoir à mon égard ainsi qu'à celui de mes collaborateurs. Je dois, toutefois, vous informer, Monsieur le Président, distingués délégués et observateurs,qu'à mon grand regret, je serai obligé de m'absenter de cette salle durant les prochains jours.

Je dois, en effet, rencontrer les chefs de délégation qui ont exprimé le désir de me voir dans mon bureau. Ils sont très nombreux et je suis tout disposé à les satisfaire. Mon collègue, le Dr Phillips, me représentera d'ailleurs dans cette salle plénière et ne manquera pas de me rapporter toutes les interventions qui seront faites. Ceci sera d'autant plus facile qu'il me sera également possible de lire les comptes rendus de session, qui reproduiront de façon intégrale des discours des différents délégués et observateurs.

Je dois aussi intervenir en Commission II, ainsi qu'en Commission I et III. C'est pour ces diverses raisons qu'à mon très grand regret je ne pourrai pas être avec vous durant les prochains jours. J'attends trois ministres ce soir, dix demain; en fait je suis déjà en retard ce soir! C'est pour cela que je dois prier Monsieur le Ministre de la Hongrie de bien vouloir m'excuser; je suis d'autant plus navré de devoir partir maintenant que je sais que son texte, qu'il m'a communiqué, contient un passage qui m'intéresse tout particulièrement, comme vous allez le comprendre en l'écoutant. Veuillez donc, à nouveau, accepter mes excuses.

EL PRESIDENTE: Hemos escuchado al Sr. Director General y comprendemos perfectamente sus obligaciones puesto que, en definitiva, somos un poco cada uno de nosotros los que le ocasionamos estas obligaciones. Lamentamos su ausencia pero lo comprendemos. Le haremos llegar las comunicaciones y las situaciones por las que vaya pasando la Conferencia.

P. ROMANY (Hungary) (interpretation from Hungarian): Mr. Chairm

an, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Government of the Hungarian People's Republic I am honoured to convey its respect to the 20h Session of the FAO Conference. The Hungarian delegation presents its good wishes to you, Mr. Chairman. I hope you are confident that the Hungarian delegation will lend its support to your important work.

Over the recent two years, since the 19th Session of the FAO Conference, the world food situation has not improved; in fact food shortage in the most seriously affected countries in emergency situation has also risen. All basic measures should focus on eliminating this backwardness.

The Conference documents make a comprehensive investigation into the cause of this insufficient progress and reach several adquate conclusions as regards the future. My delegation is not surprised but very sorry to note that the developing countries are lagging by at least one quarter behind the annual growth rate of 4 percent envisaged for their agriculture in the Second Development Decade of the United Nations; we are particularly sorry to see that progress in the least developed countries was still slower.

As I already mentioned, my delegation was not surprised by these facts; the reason behind this statement is that in my view no substantial progress has been made so far in the removal of fundamental backwardness, which could, however, contribute to the elimination of difficulties in medium or long term in the field of agriculture and food production. The Hungarian Government has already expounded its view several times that without substantial and thorough socio-economic reforms any measure can be considered as acting merely temporarily. Scientific research, which the Director General spoke about this morning, is badly needed.

In the current year seyeral events occurred which continued to deteriorate agricultural and food position in the world and led additional burdens particularly on developing countries but on socialist ones alike. There was a sudden rise in the price of energy resources, the recession in developed countries, which affects the whole world, has become more extensive and in 1979 the terms of agricultural trade continued to deteriorate. Taking furthermore the 6 percent drop in cereal production in 1979 into consideration, then I think, the problems we are to tackle will keep growing. In spite of the current food situation which is far from being satisfactory, my Government highly appreciates FAO's activity and agrees with the Director-General's endeavour that the available resources should be more intensively applied to the implementation of concrete projects worked out for the developing countries in need. Therefore we support FAO's Programme of Work as outlined in the Director-General statement. Speaking about FAO activity, I should like to emphasize the document "Agriculture: towards 2000". For the first time since the establishment of this Organization, this study not only forecasts or indicates the growth necessary in the agriculture of developing countries but it also attempts to survey and systematize the resources required for this development. Hungary has been and will be ready, to transfer her experience to the developing countries, which may contribute to the development of their food production at a more rapid rate. Therefore having the gates of our universities open, we are about to train about 150 young agricultural experts from 6 African developing countries over three years in the organization and management of agricultural production oriented co-operatives. This project,which was signed on the 1stof March this year in Budapest, is a good example of the cooperation between Hungary and FAO.

My Government, in cooperation with FAO, expanding its assistance provided so far, is ready to examine the possibility for establishing a co-operative training unit for the benefit of developing countries, in cooperation with Hungarian co-operative associations, in Budapest.

The Government of Hungary cooperates with FAO in the promotion of the production potential of several developing countries; of these projects I mention only those concerned with the organisation of co-operative farm production and the establishment and updating of fresh water fisheries.

The Hungarian farm cooperative movement has had a positive influence on agricultural production and living conditions of people. Its adaptation in some developing countries-which is the objective of the project -- in my view constitutes an integral part of the ideas and action programme designed to implement the resolutions adopted at the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. In Hungary economic and manysided assistance to small farmers is one of the main objectives of the Government's policies.

In addition to co-operative and management and fresh water fisheries my country is ready and able to hand over her experiences in a number of other areas as well. Such are among others: animal health; water management; phytosanitary; agrochemistry. At the same time, the Hungarian government-in accordance with its economic strength-contributes to the aid programmes too, and accordingly, a decision has been taken to increase our contribution by JO percent to the World Food Programme from 1980 on.

At the beginning of my statement I have already touched upon the unfavourable food production of this year. The deterioration in the economic environment and the adverse weather conditions have made a damaging effect in 1979 on the Hungarian crop harvest as well. Our cereal production is well below the 1978 record level and export expansion is decreasing.

Cancelling the cyclical tendencies in farm production does not appear to be an easy task. I must state, however, that the socialist large scale production and management methods, which are already widespread in Hungarian Farming, have greatly contributed to the restriction of our production losses to tolerable limits.

I do not intend to dwell on a review on the Hungarian agricultural situation. Nevertheless, I should like to mention two factors, which, I think, may deserve particular attention because they feature the flexibility and responsiveness of Hungarian agriculture to new influences. The first is its multisectoral and flexible character.

The Hungarian agriculture is such a socialist agriculture, where cooperatives, state-owned and privately owned farms perform production on the basis of mutual assistance. This multisectoral nature has also contributed to the elimination of several traditional production cycles, such as, that in pig production.

The second important element I should like to emphasize is the widespread introduction of production systems.

In my view the production systems are highly suitable for the introduction and propagation of new and advanced agricultural technology in order to increase production at a more rapid rate.

The unfavourable agricultural production and trade situation and the failure of the efforts aimed at the conclusion of the International Wheat Agreement have emphasized the FAO initiatives and contribution of FAO to a strengthening of the world food security. Food security in the world can only be established by taking long-term production measures. Having made this remark my government supports the Director-General's five-point action programme.

Cereals production in 1979 and the permanently growing grain prices and transport costs continue to maintain the dependence of some countries on aid programmes. The Hungarian government supports the justified requirements of needy developing countries. It repeatedly expresses its readiness to cooperate by participating in production--oriented projects in favour of the developing countries.

Finally I should like to deal with a very important condition for further progress; I was pleased to be told about indications that among governments of developing countries the awareness of the importance of their agruculture is gaining ground. This awareness should primarily lead to the elaboration of internal development programmes and to the availability of the necessary funds. It should be desirable that FAO proceed in making its views fully known both to member countries' governments and to other bodies of the United Nations.

The fact also deserved attention that the Nobel Prizes for Economics in 1979 have been awarded to two economists who, in their life-work, have attached central importance to the transformation of traditional agriculture in developing countries and who have made attempts at drawing more attention to agriculture in these countries.

The importance and complexity of agrarian problems would justify an even greater attention to be paid to agrarian policies and development of agricultural production. Therefore, it would be encouraging if a day of every year-perhaps the 16th of October, the day of the foundation of FAO-could be declared the World Day of Food Production and Agriculture. After having consulted the Director-General, we move Mr. Saouma prepare a draft resolution on the subject to be discussed by Commission I, and by the Conference, consequently.

My statement would not be complete without calling your attention to the fact, that food-security cannot be separated from international security. The safeguarding and development of the achievements of international detente constitutes a prerequisite for international economic cooperation and for peaceful development of agriculture in all countries. You may recall that the Hungarian government has many times

emphasized the proposal of the Government of the Soviet Union, namely that the 10 percent decrease in military expenditures of the permanent members of the Security Council should greatly assist in improving the world food situation and eliminating the food problems of developing countries. Therefore, I believe, that the SALT II will be an extremely important momentum in the lasting peaceful coexistence. I am convinced that the appeals for the reduction of armament is not only the concern of the military and of politicians, but is a wish of the world the fulfillment of which is indispensable for increasing the welfare of agricultural producers all over the world.

EL PRESIDENTE: Señoras y señores delegados: Con la intervención del Ministro de Agricultura y Alimentación de Hungría damos por terminada la sesión de esta tarde. Antes de levantar la sesión quiero dar la palabra al Sr. Secretario General que quiere decirnos algunas precisiones.

LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL: J'informe les délégations que demain matin commencera la première réunion de la Commission II. Les documents qui feront l'objet de cette réunion sont indiqués dans le document C 79/INF/12. La Commission II se réunira dans la Salle verte au premier étage à 9 h 30, parallèlement à la séance plénière.

Je voudrais également annoncer à l'intention du Président de la Commission que le Directeur général a désigné M. Wright pour servir de secrétaire à cette Commission. Il sera secondé par Mlle Killingsworth.

The meeting rose at 17. 45 hours.
La séance est levée à 17 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a las 17. 45 horas.