CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): I now call this meeting to order. We are discussing item 7, and I give the floor to the delegate of Cape Verde.
A. RODRIGES-PIRES (Cap-Vert): Permettez-moi de remercier le Directeur général d'Stre venu personnellement à cette Commission pour nous exposer la situation et nous présenter le programme. Nous appuyons sans réserve le Plan d'action proposé par le Directeur général ainsi que le projet de resolution C JS/LIÎM/34 proposé par la Guinee, l'Inde, l'Uruguay, la Yougoslavie, la Colombie, la Tunisie et le Zaïre.
Je voudrais saisir cette occasion pour attirer l'attention de la Commission sur la situation qui peut M re qualifiée de désastreuse à laquelle le Cap Vert devra faire faoe en 1980. Eh effet, la sécheresse qui, pour la douzième année consécutive, a frappé les îles, a détruit la quasi-totalité de la récolte de maïs et les trois quarts de celle des haricots qui constituent la hase alimentaire du peuple Cap verdi en.
Ces ravages ont été constatés par une mission conjointe de la FAO et du PAM qui a visité le Cap Vert durant la première semaine de novembre pour constater l'état des cultures et évaluer la production vivrière.
Je tiens à remercier au nom de mon gouvernement le Directeur général de la FAO pour la promptitude avec laquelle il a répondu à la requête pour l'envoi de oette mission. Parmi les conclusions de la mission qui seront publiées incessamment, figure la constatation que le déficit net de l'approvisionnement en maïs, en 1960, s'élèvera à 48 000 tonnes et nos besoins en haricots à 5 000 tonnes, tandis que nos besoins en blé seront de 4 000 tonnes et en riz de 5 000 tonnes.
Ceci vous donnera certes une idée du désastre qui a de nouveau frappé nos îles malgré les efforts faits par la population et le gouvernement, malgré des resemi s après chaque pluie orageuse mais de trop courte durée pour permettre un développement normal des cultures.
Eh raison des énormes problèmes d'irrigation auxquels il faut faire face dans notre pays, nous pensons malheureusement que la culture irriguée, l'augnentation d'espaces irriguée restent enoore très réduites et que la situation risque de demeurer la même pendant de nombreuses années, tant que les difficultés concernant l'auraient at ion des surfaces irriguées n'auront pas été surmontées.
Mon gouvernement fait un effort considérable pour protéger les cultures et surtout pour protéger les récoltes, les denrées alimentaires dans les dépits pour pouvoir faire faoe à la situation actuelle.
Encore une fois, nous tenons à remercier ici la Communauté internationale qui nous a toujours soutenus pour faire face à la situation. Nous tenons à dire également que nous comptons particulièrement sur les efforts laborieux du peuple Cap verdi en.
C. SINNING (Sweden): Document C 79/23 ia our view gives a true picture of the present precarious world food situation. Against this background the Swedish delegation once again would like to reiterate its endorsement of the Plan of Action on World Food Security which, properly implemented, would make an important contribution to closing the dangerous gap in world food security left by the suspension of negotiations for a new Grains Agreement. The Plan of Aotion would no doubt also hare the important function to fill even if a new Agreement is concluded, as they are in many ways complementary. In this context I would like to underline the great importance which Sweden attaches to a new Grain Agreement, which in our view would constitute an absolutely essential element in a durable and effective world food security.
In paragraph 11 of the document it is inter alia stated that the differences which caused the "breakdown in the grains negotiations continue to exist. It is also stated that the type of agreement under negotiation could have provided more food security today if it had come into operation in July 1979, as stocks under the draft agreement could only he accumulated at times of ample supplies and low world market prices, and this opportunity has been lost. Thus, none of the provisions in the draft agreement could have slowed down the price rise resulting from the current increase in demand.
My delegation could in principle agree to this description of the proper functioning of the draft agreement should it have entered into force on the date mentioned. This should not however prevent us from making all poesible efforts to overcome the differences of opinion now preventing the resumption of negotiations that would lead to a new and effective agreement, nor should such negotiations necessarily have to be confined to the type of agreement which has been under consideration hitherto. Also, other alternative solutions should be considered in this connexion.
In paragraph 43 of the document, it is proposed that the countries which have not already done so should be urged to adopt national stock targets, and the Committee on World Food Security requested to undertake a comprehensive review of different actions taken by governments to adopt national targets for cereal stocks and to follow criteria for their management and release consistent with the Flan of Action. These proposals are supported by my delegation. The somewhat vague formulation of targets and the voluntary character of the Plan would however lead to considerable variations in the measures taken by different countries to carry out these provisions. A comprehensive exchange of information concerning international and national steps taken to implement the Plan is therefore of great importance. A detailed coordination of the management of stocks is in our view only feasible in connexion with an agreement with market regulatory functions. In this respect, the provisions of the Flan of Action would seem to be too vaguely formulated to enable such coordination, which is the main reason for our strong support for an agreement containing, inter alia, internationally coordinated reserve stocks. The proposal contained in paragraph 44, that the Committee on World Food Security should be requested to carry out a special assessment of the levels, distribution, etc. , of world cereal stocks and of their adequacy to meet the likely needs in 1980-81, is supported by my delegation. When carrying out this assessment, it is however important not to duplicate the work going on within the International Wheat Council. This organization has recently carried out a study concerning, inter alia, the stocking capacity of exporting countries.
As has been mentioned earlier by my delegation, the coordinational measures taken under the Plan of Action are a very important factor if the aims and purposes of the Plan are to be reached. delegation therefore strongly supports the proposal in paragraph 54, that measures taken at national, regional and international levels under the Plan should be monitored by the Committee on World Food Security, to evaluate their overall impact on world food security.
Sweden has already on earlier occasions declared its will inglese to raise its annual aid commitment under the Food Aid Convention by 5 000 tonnes to 40 000 tonnes of wheat. Sweden has also for a number of years made annual contributions of 40 000 tonnes of wheat to the International Qnergency Food Reserve and has pledged to support the reserve with up to 40 000 tonnes during the present and the following two fiscal years. We are also giving bilateral assistance to projects that will improve cereal storage and handling facilities in developing countries.
Finally, my delegation would like to express some concern regarding the draft resolution and above all paragraph 4 (a) and (c). These sub-paragraphs seem to presuppose the introduction of some kind of two-tier price system which would be difficult to reconcile with the present trading system and practices of Sweden. Of course, it is up to you, Mr, Chairman, to decide whether a contact group is needed in order to produce a text which is acceptable to all delegations. However, judging from the interventions which have been made so far, my delegation would be inclined to recommend the setting up of a contact group but, as I said, we will comply with your ruling in this matter.
Aa. BOTHNER (Norway): The Norwegian delegation would like to make some brief comments on agenda item 7 on World Food Security. In his introductory remarks yesterday the Director-General referred to the fact that the question of world food security for a considerable time, right from the World Food Conference in 1974, has been discussed in important international meetings. Among the various fora which have taken up this matter in 1979, I would like to mention the Committee-of-the-Whole of the United Nations General Assembly. ThisCommittee is at present chaired by the Norwegian Minister of Defenoe, Mr. Stoltenberg. I mention this in order to illustrate my Government's commitment to the fundamental global issues of nutrition, food production and food security.
In the Plenary of this Conference the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture stated that Norway supports the Director-General's Five-point Plan for World Food Security. Mydelegation would like to express its hope for a rapid implementation of the Plan. In document C 79/23-Sup. 2 are listed the various steps taken by national governments and other institutions in order to implement the Plan. In addition to what is mentioned there, I would like to state that the Norwegian contribution for 1980 to the Food Security Assistance Scheme, subject to parliamentary approval, will be in the region of N. kr. 2 million, that is approximately US $ 0. 4 million. As mentioned in point 5(a) of the draft resolution, the current level of contribution is US $ 10 million which means that the Scheme has a rather narrow funding basis, and I take the liberty of urging other member nations also to contribute to this Scheme.
Like other delegations, I would like to express the earnest hope that the international negotiations for a new grains arrangement be resumed and completed as soon as possible. Pending this, my delegation favours the conclusion of a new Food Aid Convention.
Let me also say that I was glad to note the optimism expressed yesterday by the representative of the International Wheat Council.
Reverting more specifically for a moment to the world food security concept, it is my delegation's view that food security must be seen in a wider context. More specifically it should be an integrated element within more comprehensive food and nutrition policies and more stable and active agricultural policies.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that my delegation supports and endorses the Director. -General 's Five-point Plan of Action and its rapid implementation.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): The delegation of Panama has submitted the text of its statement which will be included in the record.
I. MAHMJL (Bangladesh): For reasons which are now clearly recognized and appreciated by most of the delegates, the question of world food security is of vital concern for countries trying to undo the low level equilibrium trap. Bangladesh is one of them. We are indeed grateful to the Director-General for bringing the problem into sharp focus and designating world food security as the single most important agenda item in the Conference.
We would like to mention here that the President of Bangladesh has broached the subject in each and every meeting of Heads of Government held in recent times. Indeed, our statement in the Plenary dealt at length with this subject only. We therefore request the proposed contact group to refer to our statement. We consider that the Five-point Plan of Action envisages a return to the concepts and pledges of the International Undertaking on World Food Security. Like the Undertaking, the Plan of Action should be agreed to as a pledge based on mutual trust and faith.
We share the deep concern of the Director-General at the absence of wholehearted endorsement by some food-fortunate countries and the discouraging results of some of the preceding international gatherings where subjects related to world food security were mooted. For instanoe, we do not understand why even the modest target of 500, 000 tons for the International Emergency Food Reserve cannot be reached.
The Director-General in his Report in document C 79/23, paragraph 36, has mentioned an example of mutual assistance to meet crop shortfalls among developing countries and has referred to cereal loans by India and Pakistan to other Asian countries. We would like to put on record here our deep appreciation to India and Pakistan for timely loans of 300, 000 tons of cereal. Logistic constraints inherent in obtaining food aid from far off countries render such regional action plans most appropriate to tide over a crisis situation, the like of which my country experienced recently. This example by itself reflects the practicability and usefulness of the point referred to in paragraph V (iii) of the Plan of Action regarding which some developed countries seem to have some reservations.
My delegation believes that in order to derive full benefit from the food security plan we need to adopt a systems approach with parallel initiatives taken in production, storage, transportation and distribution sub-systems. We may mention in passing the need to take cognizance of the fact that technologies adopted while developing the various coomponents of the system should be location-specific and culture-specific.
We should also like to mention here how useful the FAO Food Security Assistance Scheme has been for our country. It has provided advice on our food security policies and projects. It has helped to mobilize the funds required for implementing six projects related to our food security arrangement. In our view, it is essential that the Scheme's resources are replenished so that it can continue its essential work.
My delegation is strongly against the call made by the delegate of Canada regarding the sharing of costs for long-term food shortages by all and we share the views of the delegate of Pakistan in this regard. Therefore, appreciative as we are of the generous assistance by Canada, we urge our colleague from Canada kindly to reconsider hir views on this.
We support the Director-General's request to the IMF to examine the feasibility of providing substantial assistance to meet high import costs of food in times of rising prices and domestic shortage. We consider this assistance supplementary to whatever food aid is available at times of emergency and we agree with the delegate of Barbados that this assistance should be under the most liberal terms and conditions in view of its emergency nature and independent of the usual critera for balance of payments support to be made available from the IMF.
My delegation strongly supports the draft resolution and suggests that while adopting the Conference Resolution on World Food Security, we recogiize and put on record the fact that by its very nature this Plan of Action is a necessary intermediate or short-term measure to remove the inherent instability of the low-level yet complex production environment in developing countries. Food security has to be viewed as a compelling precondition while launching a massive long-term food sector development plan. Without this, short-term difficulties will, at regular intervals, absorb all the efforts and resources of the developing countries. Without this, neither the donors nor the recipients will ever see the end of the tunnel.
T. D. C. PALMER (Sierra Leone): My delegation fully subscribes to the Director-General's Five-point Plan of Action. At present action oriented programmes are well under way in my country in this vein.
My delegation also fully supports the draft resolution under discussion as it contains vital demands which, if implemented, might go a great way to achieving food security, particularly in the developing countries.
As an illustration, Sierra Leone was importing annually about 20, 000 tonnes of rice, a staple food in the country. We even achieved self-sufficiency in 1975· Since 1976 the weather has not been so kind to us and the situation has deteriorated. This year for eight months alone we have imported about 80, 000 metric tonnes of rice, 400 percent of the normal amount annually, costing the country about US $ 32 million. What did this mean ? A virtual wiping away of vital foreigh exchange which could have been used for other purposes, at the same time creating a very serious balance of payments deficit in the country.
In addition the International Ilonetary Fund restrictions have restricted the country from procuring loans which could offset the serious balance-of-payments deficits which the country is now experiencing, I am confident that this resolution in document C 79/LII;/34 will receive unanimous support. delegation however wishes to lay more stress on the follow-up of the resolution, otherwise we consider it to be only a bookshelf case. Therefore, we appeal to all countries, particularly the traditional donor countries, whose internal policies are now bordering on the fringes of giving loans or not giving loans or assistance to developing countries or to external sources. We also appeal to international organizations, including IKF and the World Bank, to relax some of their hard-line policies which greatly reflect political over-tones and contribute in a considerable way to the immediate problems of world food security. Otherwise the topic will, like most masked dancers, be given different masks and be allowed to perform on different platforms but still retain its original form.
While we support the Director-General's proposals for implementation, in particular paragraph 45 of document C 79/23, we wish to suggest that aid in kind be considered that is, inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc, as a programme even for short-term crops such as rice and other cereals so that needy countries vail be assisted to make themselves self-sufficient rather than depending on external donors.
We also support the Director-General's invitation in paragraph 49 for new donors to contribute to the Food Security Assistance Scheme, particularly to oil-rich countries even in the Second and Third Worlds as it is an open secret that the oil crisis has contributed to serious balance-of-payments deficits in most seriously affected countries like mine.
Finally, my delegation fully realizes the importance of FAO’s Early Warning System and urges that the Programme he strengthened to provide effective assistance to developing countries with chronic problems in reliable data collection.
M. MEKAA (Algérie): Je voudrais d'abord souligier que mon pays appuie et soutient le Plan d'action en cinq points du Directeur général de la FAO ainsi que le projet de résolution qui s'y rapporte. Il semble en effet indispensable de prendre les mesures tendant à garantir la sécurité alimentaire mondiale sans attendre les résultats des futures négociations sur un nouvel arrangement international sur les céréales, négociations que nous souhaitons d'ailleurs pouvoir reprendre le plus tot possible.
A notre sens, la nécessité d'assurer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale est primordiale et à ce titre il serait indispensable d'abord que chaque pays en développement affecte le maximum de ses investissements agricoles aux cultures vivrières. Eh effet, la tendance actuelle étant à l'accroissement du déficit alimentaire des pays en développement, tous les efforts devraient ot re mis en oeuvre en vue de le résorber ou, à défaut, de le stabiliser à son niveau actuel. Ensuite, ce déficit ayant tendance à croître dans l'absolu, la sécurité alimentaire mondiale passe obligatoirement par la pleine utilisation de toutes les potentialités agricoles de la planète. Dans cet ordre d'idées, il faut que les pays développés, qui possèdent la technologie nécessaire, aient les moyens d'assurer le transport et le stockage adéquats, d'intensifier leur production agricole et d'accroître leur surface cultivée afin d'augmenter le volume de leurs exportations et d'influer favorablement sur les cours des produits rendant ces derniers davantage accessibles aux pays en développement.
Il est encourageant de voir certains pays abandonner leur politique malthusienne de restriction des surfaces, notamment céréalières, politique qui a jusqu'à maintenant contribué à soutenir des cours spéculatifs. Il faut espérer que ces mesures se généralisent et soient suivies d'autres, notamment en matière d'intensification de la production.
Le projet de résolution qui nous est soumis est intéressant à plus d'un titre. Malheureusement, il continue à susciter quelques réserves si l'on se réfère à certaines interventions. L'initiative du Directeur général de faire appel au Fonds monétaire international en vue d'obtenir son soutien à la concrétisation du Programme découlant du plan d'action est excellente. Elle est d'autant plus heureuse qu'elle contribue à la réduction d'éventuels états de dépendance des pays importateurs. L'intervention du FMI pourrait également amortir l'impact des variations des coure mondiaux et mettre ainsi à l'abri le niveau des stocks prévus en conformité avec les besoins, niveau exprimé, cela s'entend, en tonnages.
Enfin, je ne voudrais pas terminer sans louer les efforts déployés par le Programme alimentaire mondial dans le cadre de l'aide aux pays en développement qui accusent des déficits alimentaires parfois graves. Cependant, cette aide devrait revêtir maintenant une autre forme qui concoure directement à la constitution de réserves alimentaires nationales. Toutefois, cette aide, si elle doit exclure tout aspect charitable, doit être conçue comme une action favorisant le développement.
F KBSMIR (Turkey): First of all ay delegation wishes to thank the DLreotozwGeneral for his very clear introduction of yesterday.
As ws have already stated in the last Session of the Committee on Food Security Tuxkey, a grain-exporting developing countxy, which has effected and implemented national stock and reserve polioiee, endorses the Plan of Aotion proposed by the DL ree toir General and believes that it should be implemented without delay in order to nable us to be prepared for future oriels situations. In this reapeot we would like to highlight the importance of collective self-reliance among developing countries for strengthening their food security. There are developing countries with a high but not fully utili zed agricultural production potential. Me believe that the implementation of the polioies mentioned in paragraph 51 of document C 79/23 would result In activating this potential In a way to affeot also other developing countries of a given region. Wé think that Fao should play an active role by encouraging the implementation of such polioies and by providing special assi stance to those developing countries which have the potential and the will to increase their agricultural production with this understanding.
Coming to the Draft Resolution, my delegation is In favour of its adoption. However, we have a small difficulty with paragraph 4· lie think that the differences between grain-experting developed and developing countries efeemld be taken into consideration. Ine distinguished Delegate of Argentina olearly indicate. the importance of this point. We support
his proposition to include in the first sentenoe of paragraph 4 the word "developed". It should then read "oalls on grain exporting developed countries"·This would resolve our only difficulty regarding the Draft Resolution which I repeat we endorse in its general lines.
M. DIB (Syria) (interpretation from Arabic): We have studied with great attention the document relating to the Plan of action proposed by the Di reo tor-Gen eral so as to strengthen world food security, and also the Draft Resolution on the subject. While we do appreciate what is contained in this document we conaider that the proposals made in this regard will make it possible to cope with the food situation in the short and the medium-term but I agree with most of the delegates who spoke before who said that in order to solve the problem of food security in the long-term and in order to respond to the increasing needs which are increasing because of population increase or because of increased purchasing power, we need the following:
(1) All the governments of the member states must establ" sh development policies in the field of agriculture, seriously and efficiently, agricultural development plans should give priority to the projects which are likely to strengthen world food security through the use of land as well as water resources and all other natural resources as adequately as possible.
(2) Secondly, they need to find the proper form for land consolidation so as to make better use of this land and to improve agricultural productivity by reducing production costs as well.
(3) The establishment of agro-food complexes in developing countries so as to reduce the import cost for manufactured food items and also to limit the shift of populations from rural areas towards towns.
(4) The need to resume negotiations so as to arrive at an international agreement in the field of food trade, particularly in the case of grain.
(5) The conclusion of an agreement covering the volume of food aid for developing countries and the strengthening of the developing countries’ capacity for reserve stocks.
(6) An appeal has to be made to the international sources of financing so that these financing agenoies participate in the financing of developing countries and finance projects aimed at reducing the dependence of developing countries in the field of food.
(7) Developed countries that produce grain must make increasing effort in order to inorease food production while waiting for the production in developing countries to increase.
The polioy of my country aims at increasing the capaoity for production and storage of food and food products. We also follow a policy of supporting farmers, but the challenge to be faced by my country as a developing country and the difficulties which arise because of the occupation of a part of our territory-in spite of the efforts we have made to arrive at a just and lasting peace; as I was saying these difficulties only increase the problems which confront us. Wé therefore need stronger support-wider and greater support-in order to help us get out of this difficulty.
Finally, my delegation would like here to support the Plan of Action submitted by the Di reo tor-General aimed at strengthening world food security. We also support the Draft Resolution on this subject.
L. N'DIAYS (Sénégal): Les autorités de mon pays, conscientes du déficit de notre balance des paiements, dû en grande partie aux importations de oéréales, notamment le riz, ont eu l'heureuse initiative de réaliser à court terme des infrastructures de stockage avec une capacité de 230. 000 tonnes. Nous avons réalisé actuellement plus de 13 pour oent de oet objectif. Cette politique permet effectivement d'assurer une réserve suffisante de denrées de premiere nécessité pour faire faoe à l'incertitude qui prévaut sur le marché mondial eu égard à la pénurie de oéréales et à l'inflation persistante, de garantir aux producteurs des prix suffisamment rémunoératueurs, facteur déterminant pour stimuler la production et de limiter les importations de oéréales génératrices d'une hémorragie de devises.
Pour augnenter davantage la production alimentaire, les autorités de mon pays ont pris d'autres mesures intégrées, singulièrement la réalisation d'aménagements hydro-agriooles touchant une maîtrise totale de l'eau eu égard aux aléas climatiques. C'est pour toutes oes raisons que
la délégation du Sénégal appuie fermement le Plan d'action en cinq points, document C 79/23 presentò par le Directeur général, ainsi que le projet de résolution C 79/LIM/34 relatif à la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
H. S. BARSHAI (Israel): Thank you Mr. Chairman. Being an importer of over 80 percent of our cereal requirements, Israel i a much worried by the current basic food supply and price situation, together with what happens to other basic commodities on top of energy problems, levies a great toll on developing countries, draining their scant resources. We therefore welcome all action designed to alleviate the shortage of food especially to the Directors-General’s Plan of Action and, of course, the suggestions-the draft resolution.
I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that my Government has been acting in the spirit of the Director-General's plan. The import of most of the basic food in Israel is handled by the Government, that sees to it that adequate stocks are kept and that the food should reach the consumer at lowest possible prices. These activities are based on medium and long-term policies, taking into account physical, financial and other problems-what is called in our slang a balance of payments problem and which not always allow us to act as we should like. All this together with a sound agricultural polioy in encouraging every farmer wherever he is to produce what is most profitable to him to grow is done by my Government to assure that every resident, again wherever he is, gets all the basic food he requires at prices within his reach.
We also, in principle, support the draft resolution of the seven developing countries. This draft resolution is in principle in line with the Director-General's Plan of Action and, indeed, much help is required from those who are in a position to do it, and as we who are big importers of staple foods know.
Along with this there is an urgent need to implement a long-term policy designed at substantially increasing the production of staple food and enabling the developing countries to be self-reliant as much as possible, and in this way gaining a maximum rate of food security. In this respect I would like to welcome the additional clauses proposed by the distinguished representative of Romania stressing the need. I would only prefer to say it in. an operational foro, such a recommendation or a plan of action to encourage the production of more food in developing countries.
FAO, and every country which is in a position to do so, should assist other countries to locate and adjust lands and find suitable seeds and other modes of production in order to bring about a substantial ino re a se in growing cereal and staple food. Everything should be done and no effort and assistance spared in assisting developing countries to become self-reliant. Israel, of course, will gladly offer from her know-how in those fields, as she has been doing all the time.
Concerning the setting up of grain reserves, you know that this is not a new idea-in ancient times Joseph was a councillor for an ancient Middle Eastern Kingdom assisting her to set up a huge reservoir of cereale in anticipation of a long drought. More recently in the first World Food Conference held in Rome in November 1975 the then Secretary of State of the united States called for a setting up of big world-wide reserves of food, and that for this purpose a coopérative multilateral system is essential for greater equity and efficiency. Among the elements necessary for such a system, Dr. Kissinger mentioned exchange of information on the levels of reserves and working stocks, onc orop prospects etc, sharing of responsibility for holding of reserves, preference for cooperating countries in the distribution of reserves. In other words, maximum coordination between countries towards ensuring freedom from hunger.
This cooperation is, of course, one of the more important features of the Director-General's Plan of Action in the draft resolution. We would, therefore, like to see countries in our and other regions Bet up the facilities and manage such reserves in the spirit of those suggestions, thus facilitating the supply and distribution of much required basic food to the area's nations, facilitating trade, reducing expenses involving transporting, storing and handling huge quantities, as required by the area, answering for every urgent necessity which may arise, as unfortunately we can see nearly anywhere nowadays, and, no less important, practicing cooperation and mutual assistance.
Again, Israel will gladly cooperate and give the know-how and assistance to such a project, thus contributing to the wellbeing and the flourishing of the whole area.
Finally. I would like to call upon the Governments to do everything they can to reduce the channels and expenses involved in the process of distribution of basic foods so as to ensure the lowest possible price to the consumer along with the highest possible income to the farmer. Much of the progress towards food security is in the hands of the fanner and we should do everything possible to enable him, the farmer, to devote him self to improving the state of human nutrition.
A. K. CBUBAN (Uganda): Thank you Mr. Chairman. Let me begin by thanking the Di reo tor-General for his introduction to this agenda item yesterday. The state of food and agriculture has been amply analysed and presented by the FAO Secretariat and shows how little the food situation has improved since the crisis years of 1973 and 1974·
The number of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition has substantially increased instead of declining.
More and more countries are importing grain, the prices for grain are continually increasing and grain reserve stocks are being consumed in the process and the result, with the limited foreign exchange available to most seriously affected countries, for the deficit import countries, will afford them less and less quantities of grain.
Mr. Chairman, this is a sad state of affairs. Instead of international communi ti e s easing the situation with its food security measures, the negotiating conferences on the new Grains Arrangement has broken down creating a vacuum in which market instability has been created, affecting further the poor developing grain importing countries and this in spite of the resumption of negotiations. This situation has been compounded by the failure of most member Governments to implement international undertakings on world food security for a variety of reasons. In these circumstances, Mr. Chairman, the Direotor-General proposed a Five-Point Plan. It is appropriate and timely to fill in the gap and we wish to congratulate him for his foresight in conceiving this Plan. The Uganda delegation has studied the proposed Plan of Action and finds it useful and helpful. We give it our full support. In the same way, Mr. Chairman, my delegation has studied the draft resolution on world food security and we find it embodies our expectations and aspirations. We would like to voioe our full support of the draft resolution. We would like to appeal to all other countries to support the Director-General in his endeavours to avert a wider food security crisis by supporting the Plan of Action and the resolution. We further add our voice in urging those in a position to do so to increase their contribution to add to the resources of the Food Security Assistance Soh erne. On our part, we are doing whatever is possible within our means at the moment to implement the Five-Point Plan of Action of the Director-General.
G. CONSTANT (France): Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Directeur général adjoint, mes chers collègues, c'est avec gravité que nous avons écouté la présentation faite par le Directeur général et nous avons ressenti particulièrement l'émotion de l'ensemble, je puis dire, des délégués à cette Conférence, lorsqu'il nous a dépeint la situation telle qu'elle se présente à l'heure actuelle.
Il est bien vrai en effet que le problème de la sécurité alimentaire est certainement un des plus importants qu'a à traiter notre Conférence, et la délégation française est consciente du fait qu'il n'y, aura pas d'amélioration de la situation alimentaire tant qu'il n'y aura pas d'amélioration de la sécurité alimentaire. Mais cette sécurité alimentaire ne pourra Stre réellement obtenue, nous semble-t-il, que d'abord par une augmentation réelle de la production alimentaire elle-même et, ensuite, par une amélioration de la distribution de la nourriture en faveur des plus mal nourris et une augmentation des ressources allouées aux paysans, ces paysans, ces agriculteurs, qui sont souvent les oubliés du développement.
J'interviens tardivement, si je puis dire, dans le débat et sur ce point essentiel de l'ordre du jour, aussi essaierai-je de ne pas répéter ce qui a été excellemment dit par un grand nombre de mes collègues qui m'ont procédé et je me bornerai à quelques observations.
Tout d'abord, je voudrais dire que mon pays accepte bien évidemment le plan d'action sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, suivant en cela la position unanime des membres de la CEE. Cependant, en l'absence pour le moment d'un accord international sur les céréales qui assurerait une véritable sécurité internationale, il nous paraît assez évident que c'est à chaque pays qu'il appartient volontairement de prendre des mesures qu'il juge nécessaires pour la mise en oeuvre concrète du Plan.
Je voudrais vous faire connaître quelques observations plus précises sur quelques points qui intéressent notre ordre du jour et d'abord en ce qui concerne la politique de stockage.
Comme on vous l!a rappelé, la CEE a mis sur pied une politique de stockage qu'on peut dire, je crois, cohérente et, bien évidemment, notre politique nationale s'inscrit dans le cadre de cette politique communautaire. Les mesures que nous sommes conduits à prendre n'ont donc pas un caractère à proprement parler particulier; nous agissons en conformité des principes définis par la CEE. C'est ce qui explique qu'il nous sera difficile de nous rallier à quelques paragraphes que je voudrais précisément énumérer et qui sont les paragraphes 42 et 43 àu document déjà cité C 79/23, car nous ne pensons pas qu'il soit de la comp tence du Comité de la sécurité. alimentaire de "surveiller les mesures législatives et autres prises par les pays"; "surveiller" me paraît un terme plus que fort et dans la mesure où, je le rappelle, l'application du Plan résulte de mesures nationales volontaires, il ne saurait donc surveiller.
La deuxième observation que je voudrais faire porte sur le critère applicable au déblocage de stocks. Je tiens sur ce point à rappeler ce qui a été dit par l'observateur de la CEE: les mécanismes pratiques applicables à tous ne peuvent être définis que dans le cadre d'un nouvel accord sur les céréales et, en attendant cet accord, chaque pays demeure bien sûr libre de continuer à appliquer ses propres critères dans la mesure où il juge que ces critères lui permettent d'assurer les objectifs de la sécurité alimentaire.
La même observation est valable en ce qui concerne le niveau des stocks à détenir et la gestion internationalement coordonnée des stocks nationaux de réserves.
Tout ceci, je reviens à l'idée déjà exprimée, ne peut se régler définitivement que dans le cadre d'un nouvel accord sur les céréales.
Enfin, troisième point, en ce qui concerne l'augmentation des contributions à la convention sur l'aide alimentaire, je rappelle que notre Secrétaire d'Etat à l'agriculture a fait à cet égard des déclarations-je n'y reviens pas spécialement et je vous invite à vous y reporter. J'indique cependant dès maintenant qu'avant de porter à 17 ou 18 millions de tonnes le montant de l'aide alimentaire, nous souhaitons que l'objectif de 10 millions de tonnes soit au préalable pleinement atteint et, surtout, nous souhaitons que de nouveaux donateurs participent à cet effort. Il est bien clair que plus les pays seront nombreux à participer à la convention d'aide alimentaire, plus nous aurons de chances de parvenir à un niveau supérieur à 10 millions de tonnes et, sur ce point, je crois qu'il faut mettre l'accent sur le fait qu'il est absolument nécessaire que de nouveaux donateurs participent à notre effort.
Puis-je me permettre de rappeler à ce moment que les pays de la CEE et la France ont toujours honoré leurs engagements en volume au titre de la convention. devant, pour ce faire, accroître les ressources budgétaires convenables.
En ce qui concerne l'assistance à la sécurité alimentaire, je voudrais présenter les observations suivantes: à nos yeux, la sécurité alimentaire passe d'abord par la production nationale, c'est évident, mais, à défaut de pouvoir produire suffisamment sur place la complémentarité régionale doit être instamment recherchée. Cette approohe de solidarité nationale est d'ailleurs mise en exergue dans le cinquième point du Plan présenté par le Directeur général et qui s'intitule d'ailleurs "Autonomie collective des pays en développement". Nous y souscrivons pour notre part pleinement.
Pour revenir à la sécurité alimentaire, je voudrais rendre hommage à l'action du service concerné de l'organisation pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture et souligner auprès de nos collègues qu'une collaboration a commencé de s'instaurer entre la Prance et le Programme d'assistance à la sécurité alimentaire, le PASA, notamment depuis un an à peu près, et je citerai à titre d'exemple quelques
actions:Nous venons de financer l'envoi à Madagascar d'un expert en stockage de notre Office national des céréales compétent, ceci afin d'élaborer au sein d'une équipe rassemblée par le PASA, un schéma de sécurité alimentaire pour Madagascar. Autre exemple: un expert français financé par notre Ministère de la coopération est en mission en Haute-Volta et au Niger afin de participer à la formulation d'un projet qui porte sur la formation d'un personnel national compétent, précisément pour la gestion des stocks et des activités connexes à cette gestion.
D'autres experts nationaux ont eu l'occasion de contribuer à l'effort d'assistance conduit par la FAO et nous fournissons également des assistances dans ce domaine par le biais, bien entendu, de l'aide bilatérale.
J'indique que nous sommes déterminés à augmenter notre assistance en ce domaine et à contribuer à la création de l'infrastructure nécessaire dans le cadre des projets dits de développement rural intégré.
Eh outre, la France se félicite d'avoir pu participer récemment à la décision de la Communauté économique européenne, s'agissant de l'un des projets du programme d'assistance alimentaire intéressant le Bangladesh pour une capacité de stockage de 50 000 tonnes.
Je ferai une dernière remarque à cet égard concernant l'aide du PAM à la sécurité alimentaire. Je dois dire que nous ne sommes pas favorables à ce que le PAM utilise l'aide alimentaire dont il dispose pour créer des stocks. L'aide alimentaire, à notre avis, est réservée aux cas d'urgence, et au programme de développement bien sûr. Eh revanche, les projets du FAM pourraient contribuer à la création de capacités de stockage. D'une façon plus générale, je note d'ailleurs que la construction de capacités de stockage, surtout par petites unités, ne met en oeuvre, en dehors de l'assistance technique, que des dépenses locales. Aussi, serait-il particulièrement indiqué, me semble-t-il, que donateurs et pays récipiendaires s'entendent, s'accordent, pour affecter une part des fonds en contrepartie de l'aide alimentaire à la réalisation d'unités de stockage de sécurité.
Enfin, je me permets de poser une question: comme mon collègue néerlandais, je souhaiterais que le secrétariat voulût bien nous éclairer sur les relations, sur les interactions entre les activités respectives de plusieurs organisations et services. Je pense au passage au programme d'assistance, je pense au service de la prévention des pertes après récolte et enfin au service du stockage, services qui traitent de matières techniques très voisines. Il serait donc utile que le secrétariat voulût bien nous faire connaître les modalités suivant lesquelles ces différentes unités de la AO coopèrent.
Enfin, j'en arrive au projet de résolution qui nous est proposé. Il va de soi que les observations et les amendements présentés par l'observateur de la CEE sur les paragraphes 3· 4 a, ), 5 et 6 reçoivent pleinement l'appui de notre délégation; cela va sans dire, mais mieux encore en le disant. Je me permets de suggérer un amendement, mineur il est vrai, qui porterait sur le paragraphe 8. Nous sommes d'accord pour que le Ponds monétaire international apporte un soutien particulier aux pays les moins avancés qui ont des problèmes aigus de balance des paiements. Mais, à notre avis, cet effort peut être fait dans le cadre de ses mécanismes de financement, et nous souhaiterions que cela fût clairement précisé. La délégation française remettra par écrit au secrétariat le texte de cet amendement.
Telles sont les brèves observations que je voulais présenter, mais soyez sûrs qu'elles sont, si je puis dire, inversement proportionnelles à l'intérêt que nous portons au sujet.
K. F. KENEALLY (Australia): My Government supports, and was one of the earliest subscribers to, the International Undertaking on World Food Security. As a consequence we viewed very sympathetically the launching of a Flan of Action on World Food Security, following the negative outcome of the United Nations Negotiating Conference on a new international grains arrangement. At the Committee on World Food Security and at the 75th Session of the Council we expressed our thoughts on the principles and practices involved in the five-point Plan of Action. Our thoughts included views on the feasibility of establishing an effective system of national grain reserves, the crucial role as we see it of an international grains agreement : and the importance of equitable burden-sharing in any accepted international arrangement for reserve stock holding.
With these views, to which we strongly adhere, having been made known, Australia declared that it was prepared to endorse the five-point Plan of Action. In conformity with our institutional and constitutional requirements, as provided for in the Plan of Action, we will do our best to implement the Plan, and we wish to explain something of the approach we shall take in this regard.
First, with regard to wheat stocks policy, the Australian Wheat Board, the organization which has sole responsibility for the marketing of wheat within Australia and overseas, has always taken into consideration the following factors:(1) the importance of continuity of supply to regular customers: (2) to the extent that it is compatible with responsible marketing policy, providing for the requirements of countries, including developing countries, experiencing difficulties in obtaining supplies;(3) provision to meet the Government's commitments for food aid, including an unallocated quantity for emergencies in developing countries.
Towards the pursuance of these considerations, the Wheat Board has always aimed to have end-of-season stocks of at least half a million tons-a substantial reserve I think all will agree. Present stocks are very much in excess of this level, and we foresee the maintenance of an adequate stocks position, with no restrictions on production of wheat. At present however we are not in a position to adopt more quantity-specific stock targets. My Government nevertheless considers that it has achieved a more than adequate level of wheat stocks meeting the basic intent of the stock policy measure.
As regards the criteria for management and release of national stocks, it could be said that Australia has consistently taken the view that the conditions under which an internationally coordinated system of national grain reserves can be established and operated on an efficient and equitable basis can be
negotiated only in the context of a formal inter-governmental grain arrangement with economic provisions. Australia will therefore continue to work actively towards the conclusion of such an agreement.
As regard special measures to assist lowincome developing countries to meet current import requirements and emergency needs, Australia has consistently increased its volume of food aid and has generally kept well in advance of its obligations under the Food Aid Convention. It has a record of exceeding its Food Aid Convention commitments, even in poor harvest years. Over $A. 58 million (equivalent to US$ 64 million) has been allocated for our food aid programme in 1979-80, estimated delivery being 326 500 tons of wheat or equivalent. All is given on a grant basis.
We have contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the International Emergency Food Reserve within the context of a totalallocation of 30 000 tons per year, plus freight costs, f or emergency assistance.
On the conclusion of a new and separate Food Aid Convention, Australia has traditionally favoured the "link" between negotiations and entryinto force of a new Wheat Trade Convention and a new Food Aid Convention. However, since there appears to be little prospect of an early resumption of substantive negotiations on a new Wheat Trade Convention we undertook at the World Food Council Meeting in Ottawa, together with a number of other countries, to reconsider our position on the Food Aid Convention. I can assure delegates that this commitment is being honoured and that the matter is under active consideration within my Government. I am not in a position to foreshadow what the outcome of that consideration will be.
Like several other delegations, we believe that some new donors must suscribe to any new Food Aid Convention, if we are to achieve the 10 million ton target level.
As regards special arrangements for food security assistance, my Government encourages developing countries to give high priority to the formulation and implementation of national food security programmes. It extends bilateral aid for purposes associated with food security, and is contributing to multilateral bodies which are devoting part of their budget to such purposes. We agree with the need for developing countries to build up their national reserves and all developing country recipients of Australian food aid are permitted at their discretion to earmark food aid donations for food reserves rather than for immediate consumption.
Australia supports also the proposal for an on-going monitoring of FAO's Food Security Assistance Scheme.
As regards point 5 of the Plan of Action, we support in principle the concept of collective self-reliance of developing countries, in line with our attitude towards ECDE and TCDC.
Finally, we have studied carefully the draft resolution submitted by a number of countries and have listened attentively to many interventions in support of or qualifying it. We understand the desire for this Charter, although we fail to see that it will add substantially to the implementation of the Five Point Plan, which Members have now unanimously accepted for implementation. In its substantive paragraphs, we do have a number of difficulties.
First of all, the draft in our view is unbalanced in that it largely fails to recognize that the policies and practices adopted by developing countries in respect of food production are crucial to the elimination or minimization of production shortfalls; they cannot be realistically excluded from any resolution on food security. We noted the Romanian amendment, which seems to recognize this, and we will study it with a view to supporting its inclusion or building on it.
The delegate of Pakistan stated cogently this morning that world food production is proving an elusive mirage. The constantly changing dynamics of food, population, weather, and other equations which we are struggling with, together with the problems of increasing production and distribution of food, mean that without Herculean efforts the desired security will remain a mirage. Success and real food security can only come from intensive, sustained and properly targeted rural development policies in developing countries themselves, assisted, naturally, by the developed countries. We consider that food security does not, cannot, and should not, be sidetracked as the responsibility of the few.
This concept is essential to our perceptions, and bears heavily on operative paragraph 4 of the Resolution, which caused us very grave problems. It imposes an unfair share of responsibility on £rain exporters. This fails completely to recognize that food security is a global question, involving many additional countries. It is unreasonable to expect exporters, who depend on their exports for their livelihood, to shoulder the elements of subvention in providing food grains in ways which do not affect the developing countries’ development prospects. At the same time, I am sure that grain exporters are happy to join with oil exporting and industrialized high-income countries to lessen the burden of food imports on the developing countries.
We have some reservations also about some preambular assumptions, about the adoption. of targets elsewhere in the draft, and about operative paragraph 8. The International Monetary Fund is required to lend balance of payments support to all countries, and cannot be limited to low-income countries. The concept of balance of payments support in relation to a country's overall balance of payments situation seems to us more relevant than focussing on specific products or product groups.
I think that in the light of these views it would be clear that we feel that a discussion group technique might be a constructive way to approach the more difficult conceptual elements of the Resolution.
A. HAMAAMBA (Zambia): My delegation wishes to register its support for the proposed Five Point Plan of Action on World Food Security. We wish to comment on three points.
Firstly, we feel that the basis for any World Food Security Plan must be national food sufficiency and self-reliance in the developing countries which have a potential for increasing their food production. We therefore support the Food Security Assistance Scheme, which aims at strengthening national food security. More resources should be made available for the implementation of this Scheme. We therefore urge donor countries to give more assistance to those countries which have undertaken to implement projects on food security. My country has recently approved a number of projects connected with food security which we are anxious to implement.
Secondly, in order to maximize resources to affect food circulatory programmes, my delegation strongly supports the idea of collective self-reliance. There are a number of activities in which developing countries can pool their resources together, such as joint functions in food production, storage facilities, and transport facilities. Inadequate transport facilities, especially for land-locked countries, are a great limiting factor in implementing food circulatory programmes, and in the distribution of food. Increased trade between developing countries, which is very desirable, will largely depend on improved transport facilities in developing countries.
Thirdly, we support the suggestion that consideration be given to relaxing, where appropriate, the rule which does not permit the sale of World Food Programme emergency aid. We think that the funds accruing from the sale of aid food can be utilized to offer incentives to farmers in the form of higher prices or credit to farmers in affected areas. In this way, food aid will not only be used to relieve hunger, but also to increase self-sufficiency of recipient countries.
Lastly, I wish to state that my delegation has no hesitation in supporting the Draft Resolution on World Food Security.
A. B. CAWTHORN (United Kingdom):I want to make just two or three brief comments. First of all, I would like to place on record that the United Kingdom is actively cooperating with the FAO Food Security Assistance Scheme. As the Secretariat is aware, bilateral projects in the field of food security have been mounted in association with FSAS. A United Kingdom Liaison Officer to FSAS has been appointed and information is being provided on United Kingdom activities on food security assistance. The services of our Tropical Products Institute, and in particular the Stored Products Centre, are at the disposal of developing countries under technical cooperation arrangements, and training facilities at the Stored Products Centre have recently been expanded.
The United Kingdom accepts the Five-point Plan of Action, as an interim measure, since it is within the bounds of the International Undertaking to which we are already committed, and because it has been recognized that this is not a substitute for a new International Grains Agreement which may be negotiated in the future. We are in line with the Community on this and we shall continue to play our part as a member of the EEC in negotiations for an agreement which will benefit the LDCs and enhance world food security.
We sincerely hope that the optimism expressed by the Executive Secretary of the International Wheat Council will prove to be well founded and we hope that all participants will reflect on their previous attitudes and enter any re-convened negotiations with open and flexible minds.
As the representative of the EEC and other member states have said, as far as stock is concerned the Community does operate a storage policy for cereals through the Common Agricultural Policy and as such its cereal stocks are generally adequate, not only to meet internal demand but also to continue its programme of exports to the world market and for food aid. However, any specific commitment to hold stocks for the benefit of the international community will have to be seen in the context of a new International Grains Agreement.
As far as aid measures are concerned, the Community and its member states have continued to make generous contributions to the Food Aid Convention and elsewhere, but I must point out that of the 35 million tonnes of wheat purchased annually by developing countries some 30 millions tonnes are acquired on commercial terms. Thus, a Food Aid Convention, while undoubtedly important to the LDCs, can of itself make only a limited contribution to world food security.
As far as the draft resolution is concerned, the United Kingdom had and still has some reservations on the initial document. In the light of the numerous amendments already proposed and in view of the substantial body of opinion expressed in favour of making use of an informal group, we consider that the only means of making efficient and effective progress is through the offices of such a contact group.
P. C DE OLIVEIRA CAMPOS (Brazil): Several times Brazil has expressed some reservations concerning the way that the food security concept has been implemented. Brazil believes that food security should mean an increase in food production in the developing countries. In this respect we agree in general with the ideas presented by Argentina.
My delegation confirms the Brazilian position concerning the Five-point Plan as already indicated at the Seventy-fifth Session of the Council: "The Plan consists of a series of measures which are necessary to implement the International Undertaking on World Food Security". Brazil has not yet signed that Undertaking and as a consequence is not in a position to express its approval or disapproval of the Five-point Plan proposed by FAO as well as any other proposal related to it. We believe that the task of approving or disapproving the Plan belongs to those countries which have signed the said Undertaking.
On the other hand my country has always favoured all measures that in conjunction with food security concept are linked directly to the increase of food production in the developing countries and the stabilization of grain markets. Brazil has in a practical manner contributed towards food security. We have made hard efforts to increase our food production. In addition we have taken measures to accentuate production, to improve rural infrastructure, to recover irrigated areas and to research in rural extension, and in this sense I would like to indicate, for instance, that our storage capacity has grown more than 100 percent in less than five years.
I. TAKI (Japan): First, concerning the International Undertaking on World Food Security I would like to make a brief report on the situation in Japan. Since acceptance of the Undertaking Japan has been implementing an adequate stock holding policy and at present has appropriate national stocks of major grains except rice. As for rice, frankly speaking, stock continues to increase to a level which is more than appropriate. On the other hand, in order to enhance the developing countries food security, my Government has concentrated its efforts in helping them on the grant basis to build storage facilities and wharehouses. We have learned from experience in giving assistance that however modern the facilities may be, they will not operate well without well-trained staff and proper management.
Regarding the Plan of Action on World Food Security, my delegation as one of the major grain importing countries, shares the view of other delegations that the Plan of Action is especially important because of the precariousness of the present world food security situation, and also because of the precariousness of the present world food security situation, and also because of the postponement of the conclusion of the negotiations on the International Grains Agreement.
The nucleus of theDirector-General's Plan of Action is, I understand, the implementation of stock policies and especially the strengthening of food security in developing countries.
At the seven-nation Economic Summit in Tokyo in June my Government emphasized that it is urgent to help developing countries to develop effective food sector strategies and to build up storage capacity for strong food reserves.
With these points in mind, I would like to comment very briefly on the Director-General's proposal on world food security in document C 79/23. Concerning the national stock target, my Government is following adequate stock policies, as I have mentioned. I would like to make some comments on the special assessment of the levels and distribution of world cereal stocks by CWFS.
My Government is of the view that the level of national stocks should be established in accordance with the specific circumstances of each country. However, we think that the safety stock level to be set by CWFS will be utilized by each country to establish its appropriate level of stock as one of the useful indications.
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Concerning FAO's FSAS, we think that it plays an important role in ensuring food security of developing countries and Japan would like to study its future assistance to FSAS.
Regarding the collective self-reliance among developing countries and the action programme at national and regional levels, my Government has supported and will support especially TCDC and ECDC, because it is essential to aid self-reliant efforts by developing countries in order to solve the food problem in developing countries. Japan is of the view that FAO's activities in these fields are especially important and necessary.
Turning to the draft resolution, my delegation has some difficulties in accepting it as it is. For instance, concerning the levels of resources which are referred to in paragraph 5 (a), my delegation does not think that these target figures are appropriate from the realistic standpoint. In addition, for instance, my delegation believes that a new Food Aid Convention referred to in paragraph 6 should be negotiated and concluded by being linked to the Wheat Trade Convention. In this connection, if a working group or a contact group is established on the initiative of the Chairman in order to reach a good conclusion of these problems, my delegation will be happy to be allowed to participate in that group.
F. MARTINEZ GOMEZ (México): La delegación mexicana, como lo expreso su jefe en la Plenaria, desea intervenir para manifestar su apoyo al Plan de Acción de Cinco Puntos propuesto por el Director General de la Organización, el cual cuenta ya con el apoyo del Comité Plenario de las Naciones Unidas, del Consejo de la FAO y del Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación.
Estamos de acuerdo con el señor Director General cuando señala en su exposición introductoria ante esta Comisión que la seguridad alimentaria es el tema más importante del Programa de esta Conferencia, que la pérdida periodica de cosechas ha ocasionado que aumente considerablemente la demanda y los precios del trigo, reduciendo la disponibilidad de ayuda alimentaria, encareciendo sus importaciones, por lo que es evidentemente necesario que los países en desarrollo redoblen sus esfuerzos para alcanzar su finalidad colectiva.
Apoyamos también el Proyecto de Resolución sobre Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial presentado por las delegaciones de Colombia, Guinea, India, Túnez, Uruguay, Zaire y Yugoslavia, particularmente cuando pone de relieve que la seguridad alimentaria mundial constituye un elemento esencial del progreso hacia el Nuevo Orden Economico Internacional y ruega a los gobiernos que faciliten asistencia técnica, financiera y alimentaria necesaria para reforzar la seguridad alimentaria mundial en los países en desarrollo y recomienda a las regiones más expuestas a la falta de alimentos que los gobiernos tomen iniciativas para lograr una mayor autosuficiencia colectiva.
Sin embargo, en apoyo al Plan de Cinco Puntos, particularmente el punto cuarto "Disposición especial de asistencia para la seguridad alimentaria" y el quinto "Autosuficiencia colectiva de los países en desarrollo", nuestra delegación desea intervenir para recalcar la necesidad de que la producción y comercialización de los productos básicos agrícolas en los países en proceso de desarrollo sea redefinida a través de la elaboración, definición y ejecución de una política que, avalada y recomendada por FAO, establezca procedimientos correctivos en la materia; es conocida la situación que priva en la mayoría de los países en desarrollo en el sentido de que las mejores tierras disponibles se destinan a producir artículos alimenticios orientados a la exportación y no a la producción de bienes básicos que satisfagan el consumo interno.
Esta distorsión de la estructura productiva agrícola ocasiona la acumulación del ingreso en capas reducidas de la población que históricamente han manifestado su incapacidad para canalizar el excedente económico que obtienen vía exportación de productos agrícolas hacia la creación de agroindustrias de propiedad social y tecnología adecuadas que permitan la prolongación del valor agregado campesino.
En realidad la estructura productiva está siendo determinada por las transnacionales de productos alimentarios condenando a nuestros productores agrícolas al papel de exportadores de frutas, hortalizas y materias primas y enfrentándolos a una relación de términos de intercambio desfavorables, a barreras arancelarias, a controles de calidad, a cuotas diferenciales y a todas aquellas medidas que integran la política comercial proteccionista de los países industrializados.
Las divisas que obtienen nuestros países no son justificativas a nivel de los intereses mayoritarios de la población, de la distorsionada estructura productiva agrícola que sufren, toda vez que se abandona la responsabilidad de procurar alimentación del pueblo a los productores de temporal, quienes por no disponer de adecuados recursos naturales, técnicos y capacidad suficiente no tienen la seguridad de abastecer suficientemente los recubrimientos alimenticios internos. Esto nos convierte en importadores de granos básicos.
El beneficio que el agricultor nacional obtiene con el diferencial de precios entre productos para exportación y productos básicos ha resultado hasta ahora definitivo para establecer el intercambio en función del apoyo que presta a la balanza comercial y técnicamente en cuanto a la sustentación de las llamadas ventajas comparativas; empero, los reclamos son cada vez mayores por parte de nuestras poblaciones crecientes en las que lo unico que crece más aceleradamente que sí mismas es su hambre ancestral y sus carencias de todo tipo y los precios diferenciales y ventajas comparativas no significan, ni significarán, el camino de la solución.
Es imperativo que los países tradicionalmente exportadores de primarios adopten políticas de producción agrícola y pecuaria que corrijan su deformada estructura productiva orientada a la satisfacción de mercados selectivos del exterior y dispongan de sus mejores recursos productivos; las áreas de riego en la magnitud que sea necesaria hasta asegurar la producción suficiente de bienes básicos para la alimentación.
En el curso de esta Conferencia algunos países han manifestado que sus gobiernos están adoptando políticas en este sentido para lograr la autosuficiencia. A este respecto, México ha iniciado hace tres años una política de apoyo franco a los cultivos en tierras de temporal o secano proveyéndolas de organización, asistencia técnica, fertilizantes, semillas mejoradas, maquinaria, almacenes, esto es, capitalizándolas para obtener en ellas una productividad más elevada en el corto plazo y asegurar la producción de básicos alimenticios.
En este tenor la delegación mexicana propone: primero, que la FAO apoye y recomiende a los países en desarrollo la transformación de su estructura productiva agrícola; es decir, sustituir la actual política agrícola basada en las ventajas comparativas y los precios diferenciales por otra basada en el interés nacional que asegure la producción de básicos alimenticios en un volumen suficiente para el consumo interno. Segundo, que cada país establezca, según su particular problemática y nivel de desarrollo, los convenios, acuerdos o medidas que estime convenientes para que los productores de áreas de riego destinen parte del área al aseguramiento de producción de básicos alimenticios y sólo el excedente a la producción de bienes exportables.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): The Delegation of Bahrein has sent a written statement with the wish to be included in the records of the Commission and so it will be done.
D. R. SHARMA (Nepal): Since the delegation from Nepal is taking the floor for the first time I shall be failing in my duty if I do not take this opportunity to congratulate the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman for being elected for this Commission.
When we talk of food security in my country the problem so far is very different from in many other countries. In Nepal some areas are surplus in food production whereas other areas, especially in the mountains, . are deficit in food production. The movement of grain from surplus areas to deficit areas is hampered due to the restricted infrastructural development. A need for an accelerated development of these deficit areas is felt and an all-out effort is being made to bring those areas to the level of self-sufficiency.
Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy which again is fully dependent on monsoon. One monsoon failure always bring a chain reaction in our production process. This year there was a failure of monsoon in my country and as a result we are afraid that we shall have to face a heavy deficit of food grain.
We for our part are trying our best to overcome this situation. Not only to solve such immediate problems but to avoid the permanent threat of hunger, concrete action has to be taken and in this context we see that the Director-General's Five Point Plan of Action is very very important.
My country, Nepal, has taken the opportunity of this Plan and is very thankful to the Director-General for providing assistance from FAO in strengthening Nepal's foods security plan, which however needs more capital investment. His Majesty's Government of Nepal has already approved in principle the Nepal Food Security Plan which envisages keeping an emergency stock and a separate minimum operation
level stock starting with 5, 000 metric tons and 10, 000 metric tons respectively. This amount of food grain is besides the regular food distribution plan of about 40, 000-45, 000 metric tons each year by the Nepal Food Corporation in the deficit areas.
My delegation strongly feels that there should be collective self-reliance in the matter of food security. The delegation from Nepal shares the view with other distinguished Delegates and strongly endorses the Director-General’s Five Point Plan of Action on World Food Security which appears in document C 79/23. While examining the document all the practical and pragmatic approaches and actions suggested by the Director-General are of vital importance for the developing nations.
Any step towards strengthening of world food security is welcome to our delegation.
Before I conclude, I would like to appeal to all the member nations through their distinguished delegates to assist organizations like IMF to come forward and provide their assistance in the World Security Programme as well at this period of international need.
L. LAPEBY (Gabon): Pour comprendre, il est parfois nécessaire et utile de commencer par se méprendre car la méprise engendre la réflexion qui seule peut conduire à de nouvelles bases, à de nouveaux rapports ou à la découverte de nouveaux facteurs plus déterminants.
Depuis que le problème de la faim existe, donc celui des bilans alimentaires et partant celui de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, les bases et les rapports qui ont été étudiés n'ont presque pas changé et sont devenus plutôt des corollaires malgré deux congrès et une conférence mondiale sur l'alimentation qui n'ont pas permis de trouver des solutions valables.
Le temps était peut-être venu de réaliser la méprise pour comprendre le problème et rechercher de nouvelles voies sans lesquelles la Communauté internationale, loin de se rapprocher, continuerait de se disloquer.
Je voudrais revenir un instant sur simplement ce problème du Plan d'action et dire ceci: des politiques nationales, régionales, internationales de stockage ne me paraissent pas suffisantes pour venir à bout du problème de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale tant qu'il sera seulement question de céréales.
Deuxièmement, le temps n'est-il pas venu de se rendre compte que la puissance de demain, comme le disait le Ministre d'Etat égyptien Ismaël Sabri Abdallah, appartiendra à celui qui détiendra les sources de l'énergie fondamentale de l'homme, c'est-à-dire la nourriture, plus que celles du nucléaire et les hydrocarburants.
Enfin, troisièmement, les pays développés pourront-ils subvenir aux besoins des pays en voie de développement si la situation des échanges continue à se dégrader, c'est-à-dire si les pays en développement ne réalisent plus de recettes et ne peuvent plus acheter leur nourriture aux pays développés?
C'est pourquoi je voudrais demander à mes collègues de réfléchir fondamentalement sur le problème de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale et d'être persuadés que ce ne seront pas les stockages et les moyens qui permettront de résoudre le problème parce qu'en zone tropicale humide, nous ne pouvons pas nous permettre de mettre dans nos budgets des lignes uniquement pour les frais nécessaires à déshydrater les céréales, ce n'est pas possible, cela reviendrait trop cher, nous ne pouvons donc pas réaliser les unités de stockage.
Nous avons d'autres ressources et ces ressources, malheureusement, dans les rapports de la FAO, on n'en fait jamais état. Alors, il serait peut-être temps de se rendre compte que le monde est divisé en un certain nombre de parties qui n'ont pas les mêmes conditions climatiques et qui peuvent pourtant produire des produits pouvant servir à d'autres pays et de prendre en considération cette divergence naturelle pour essayer de créer des complémentarités et en faire un tout, plutôt que de se servir seulement d'une denrée ou d'une catégorie, les céréales.
M. PANJSHERI (Afghanistan): Thank you Mr. Chairman for giving me the floor. I don't want to consume time. As you know, Afghanistan is a land-locked and predominantly agricultural country. However, food production in the country is highly sensitive to weather conditions, particularly the amount of precipitation caused by snow and rainfall, (inaudible) crop accounting for three-quarters of their total cereal production. A large amount of production was damaged or wasted by weather fluctuation, or from the poor transportation and lack of storage facilities because the past
feudalistic regime kept the country very backward. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan has taken important steps on food production, food security and food losses and it has included a Five-Year Plan of the country. Mr. Chairman, we are speaking of the construction of road improvement, transportation and storage facilities. Therefore we need financial assistance. For this our Government is fully aware of the need for stabilization and a deal for 19 million dollars for this purpose is being negotiated. My delegation supports the Plan of Action on world food security and commends nations for its adoption and it is our hope the IMF and developed countries will honour their obligations and their plans. Also my delegation joins with those delegations which support the Five-Point Plan of Action proposed by the Director-General.
F. ZENNY (Jamaica) : Mr. Chairman, I must apologise for not being here but I had a meeting with the Director-General and I am sure you will forgive me and allow me to make my intervention now.
Mr. Chairman, the Jamaican delegation wishes to take this opportunity to make its position on food security quite clear. We are in the position of sharing the views of FAO in considering the situation is rather grim. That we seem not to have learned sufficiently from the past food crisis and we are, therefore, like FAO of the view that it is extremely necessary, despite the failure to arrive at an international wheat agreement, to continue with the practical and realistic measures which constitute the Five-Point Plan. We share the view that one of the main pillars of food security is the need for developing countries to secure in as short a time as possible that they become as self-sufficient as possible in food production. We agree that food security begins at home. We therefore applaud those countries, like India, who have shown us the example. We applaud an extension of that principle, namely the one related to collective security. Here again we applaud the efforts of India and Pakistan in assisting Bangladesh. The efforts of ASEAN countries and, nearer home, we are very impressed and very supportive of the steps taken by Trinidad to establish a particular fund to help brother Caribbean countries whose production has been set back by natural disasters. As you know, the Caribbean region, Dominica and Jamaica, has had its fair share of disaster in 1979. We are, therefore, very much aware of the need to make quite sure that through realistic rural integrated programmes the re-ordering of our priorities to make agriculture the uppermost priority, that we need to guarantee that we make this positive contribution to food security.
We are, in particular, grateful to the Director-General in taking the leadership in this matter and in providing under the Programme of Work and Budget opportunity for special arrangements for Food Security Assistance. I am talking in particular of the Food Security Assistance Scheme, and we would hope that the increased funding is available for this very worthwhile scheme, aimed at the countries that need it most.
One particular scheme that Jamaica is particularly interested in, Mr. Chairman, is the one related to prevention of food losses. We suffer from a considerable amount of food losses through our marketing and distribution system. And we would hope that FAO goes some way away from what the scheme seems to be, a rather restrictive interpretation of food security. Prevention of food losses being tied only to storage facilities and to countries needing to handle imports and production of cereals. We have a particular problem, but it is closely related to the question of improving our production by cutting back on our serious rate of post-harvest losses, which are calculated at present to be as high as 40 percent of total production.
Mr. Chairman, we would like to speak particularly on what appears to some delegates to be a controversial point, namely the approach to the IMF to seek arrangements, or to seek to investigate the possibility of establishing a facility for food deficit countries. We are strongly in support of this, being a country which is suffering from a serious balance of payments problem which manifests itself with a very significant deficit in foreign exchange resources.
The question of major disasters and the assistance of the World Food Programme, not only in this area but also in assisting countries in establishing food reserves, also seems to have provoked some doubts in the minds of certain delegations. Jamaica would like to make its position very clear on this and to state that it agrees and approves the approach that has been set out in document C 79/23.
For the rest, Mr. Chairman, we are in support of the resolution that is put before us by a group of countries. And we would hope that the majority of countries, if not all, will be in a position to endorse this resolution. We are particularly in agreement with the need for the Director-General and the Committee for Food Aid to continue monitoring projects to make quite sure that the Five-Point Plan of Action is made operational, and that those countries in a position to increase their support to food security measures and to the food aid target of one billion, which is required by WFP, the ten million per annum which is required by the Food Security Assistance Scheme, and the food aid requirement which we agreed should be supported up to 17-18 million tons by 1985, we hope that donor countries and those countries in a position to bring effective support to this proposal will do so.
M. BEL HADJ AHOR (Tunisie) : je sais qu'après les nombreux orateurs qui ont parlé de ce sujet aujourd'hui je ne serai pas du tout original. Je sais également que les nombreux aspects intéressant mon pays figurent tant au plan proposé par le Directeur général que dans la résolution concernant la sécurité alimentaire dont nous sommes l'un des co-auteurs. Cependant, je voudrais faire quelques remarques d'ordre général.
Vous savez qu'aujourd'hui la nécessité de constituer des réserves alimentaires en prévision de pénuries possibles est urgente, car une répétition d'une crise alimentaire mondiale est toujours possible, et elle pourrait provoquer de grandes souffrances compte tenu des populations de plus en plus nombreuses des pays pauvres. Une pareille crise serait difficile à surmonter quand on sait que la plupart des réserves alimentaires sont détenues actuellement par quelques pays et il serait ainsi malaisé de les mobiliser rapidement en cas de p-nurie générale.
De même, si les stocks alimentaires ne sont pas actuellement à un niveau alarmant, ils ne font néanmoins l'objet d'aucune coordination internationale et ils pourraient être rapidement épuisés en cas de mauvaise récolte généralisée. Eh outre, nous constatons que les recommandations de l'engagement international sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiale ne sont guère mises en oeuvre d'une manière satisfaisante, et les quelques mesures prises restent très insuffisantes. La production alimentaire continue à être inférieure à la croissance démographique et aux besoins nutritionnels, ce qui oblige les pays en développement à importer sans cesse davantage les produits alimentaires, notamment les céréales, et à dépendre de plus en plus des récoltes de l'année, exposées aux aléas du temps et autres incertitudes.
Les politiques de stockage adoptées par certains pays en développement n'ont pas atteint leur objectif, et le nombre des pays exportateurs de céréales ayant adopté ces politiques reste très limité; les réserves alimentaires demeurent extrêmement basses dans la plupart des pays en développement. L'interruption des négociations pour un nouvel accord sur le blé en février dernier nfajoute guère une note de réconfort à ce sombre tableau, même si tout récemment on a commencé à entrevoir une lueur d'espoir grâce à la disponibilité de certains pays exportateurs de céréales de négocier une nouvelle convention de l'aide alimentaire indépendamment d'une convention sur le commerce du blé.
Eh attendant, il nous faudra agir pour combler le vide dans le domaine de la sécurité alimentaire et faire appel à la bonne volonté des gouvernements pour partager les stocks et stabiliser les approvisionnements. D'ores et déjà la FAO déploie des efforts en ce sens. Je voudrais tout d'abord souligner à cet égard l'importance des activités entreprises par notre Organisation relatives à la sécurité alimentaire et apporter l'appui de ma délégation à la haute priorité que le Directeur général continuera à accorder au cours du prochain biennnium à la préparation de projets dans le cadre du Programme d'assistance à la sécurité alimentaire.
Nous demandons à tous les Etats Membres d'aider l'Organisation à renforcer son travail en matière de sécurité alimentaire, Ehsuite, il nous semble que le Plan d'action en cinq points proposé par le Directeur général, Plan que ma délégation appuie, pourrait combler les lacunes du système mondial actuel de sécurité alimentaire et répondre à certaines des priorités les plus urgentes dans les pays à bas revenus souffrant de déficit alimentaire.
Certes, Ce Plan ne saurait résoudre tous les problèmes posés par la sécurité alimentaire mondiale ni se substituer à un accord international sur les céréales avec des clauses contraignantes quant aux stocks et aux prix. Maie, si les propositions d'action étaient mises en oeuvre par la communauté internationale, on pourrait instituer un système de stocks alimentaires constitués par les différents pays et coordonnés sur le plan international, en vue de permettre aux populations de se nourrir pendant les périodes de disette généralisée. Dans cette oeuvre, les pays riches aideraient les pays pauvres à se constituer des réserves alimentaires et à les financer.
Ehfin, je voudrais souligner dans ce cadre l'importance du rôle de l'aide alimentaire dans la promotion de la sécurité alimentaire dans le monde et lancer un appel aux pays donateurs pour l'accroissement de l'aide alimentaire aux pays en développement et de leur contribution au PAM.
Pour conclure, je rappelle que mon pays a apporté tout son soutien aux recommandations concernant la mise en oeuvre du plan du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire, du Conseil de la FAO et du Conseil mondial de l'alimentation.
S. Zehni, Chairman of Commission I, took the chair
S. Zehni, Président de la Commission, assume la présidence
Ocupa la presidencia S. Zehni, Presidente de la Comisión
CHAIRMAN: First of all I should like to thank Mr. Ozorai, for taking the Chair at short notice, which must have been inconvenient to him. I am certainly grateful to him. In view of the fact that we have just finished a very long and most interesting debate, which was very enriching, I should like to call upon Dr. Islam to answer the various questions which have been put.
N. ISLAM (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): On behalf of the Director-General I should like to convey to delegates his appreciation for the unanimous support given by the Commission to the five-point Plan of Action. We welcome the fact that some countries which earlier had reservations on the plan have been able to withdraw those reservations. However, we recognize that there are still differences of opinion on the text of the draft resolution on world food security and we hope that in the contact group which you, Mr. Chairman, are proposing to establish it will be possible for the members of that group, through consultation and discussion, to resolve those differences of opinion.
We welcome the contribution which has been announced by some donor countries to the Food Security Assistance Scheme and we hope it will stimulate others to follow suit. We gratefully accept that all delegates have supported the FSAS of FAO and recognize its value and importance in promoting world food security at the country level.
Questions have been asked as to the degree or method of coordination between the various special action programmes of FAO along with the PSAS. I may mention here that the Director-General has already made several arrangements to ensure that these related programmes work closely together. First, there are frequent meetings of the special coordinating group of the managers in charge of these programmes so that they can ensure that the requests are coordinated and missions and follow-up actions are fully harmonized. Secondly, where appropriate, we organize joint missions of the Food Security and Food Losses Programmes, sometimes with the Special Programme Office of Special Relief. Thirdly, we use the resources of the Technical Cooperation Programme for implementing projects where appropriate. In short, there is close working coordination both at Headquarters and at country level in the administration of these different special programmes.
I may offer some clarification here regarding the request of the Director-General to the International Monetary Fund to consider the feasibility of providing additional balance-of-payments support. This request has already been transmitted, as is apparent from the draft resolution, to the IMP, Indeed, we have discussed the possibility of this assistance, this facility, with IMF staff members, before and after the formulation of the five-point Action Plan. Vie have now agreed to prepare a paper, in cooperation with the World Food Council, since it was also discussed at the Ottawa Meeting of the World Food Council, in which we intend to examine-we are already in the last stages of preparation of this document-various criteria of this balance-of-payments support assistance which IMF might consider. We are examining various criteria, various types of conditionality, which may be relevant in this connection. This has special reference to the question raised by the delegate of Barbados, where he mentioned that the usual balance-of-payments support by the IMF is associated with a number of sometimes stringent conditionalities;but, as delegates know, there are various types which have various degrees of conditionally, various types of criteria, so we are examining these within the context of our request.
In fact, I might mention here that this concept of special financing facility or assistance from IMP to offset a rise in prices of food is not new as far as IMF is concerned. It has been considered earlier by the IMP in the context of expanding the coverage or the components of the existing facility for compensatory finance facilities for short-fall export earnings. I hope this information will help in the deliberations of the contact group.
Questions have also been raised about World Food Programme assistance for National Reserves of food stocks. I would like to refer here to the deliberations of the last meeting of the Committee on Food Aid on this subject. In fact, it might be useful if I quoted one or two paragraphs from the report of that meeting.
"Regarding WFP assistance"-this is in terms of food aid for food reserves-". . . the Committee reconfirmed the current priorities, as set out in the guidelines and criteria for food aid, for the allocation of the Programme's resources. It agreed, however, that within those priorities and the constraints of its limited resources:
(a) higher consideration should be given to requests to WFP for assistance for national food reserves when it is clearly demonstrated that such reserves could have a positive effect on food security, production and supplies in the recipient country;
(b) WFP-assisted projects should be formulated in such a way that mutually supportive links would be established between current priority objectives of the Programmed aid and food security measures; and
(c) WFP should, where appropriate, support and encourage national reserve programmes, in close cooperation with FAO's Food Security Assistance Scheme, particularly by helping in small or medium sized reserve schemes or with small contributions to large reserves and in improving storage and other essential food security infrastructure. "-of the MSA countries and LDCs.
I thought it necessary to bring this information to the attention of the Commission to assist in their deliberation.
Referring to the discussions in the Commission on the long-term importance of increased production of food as the foundation of a durable world food security assistance, we entirely agree with this. In fact, emphasis on increased production is one of the major thrusts of FAO's programme of activities. We also believe that the international negotiations on the International Wheat Agreement are crucial for the promotion of food security, and we hope that outstanding differences will soon be resolved. But in the meantime, as we go along implementing the Five Point Plan, it will pave the way for the conclusions reached and its speedy implementation as and when agreement is reached.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic) : Are there any further comments or questions? I see no reaction on the part of the delegations. I would like to remind you all that today we have heard 66 speakers which, together with the five statements which have been handed in to the Secretariat, makes a total of 71 statements-which is proof of the importance of the subject you have just been discussing.
You have also seen the reactions and responses to what Dr. Islam has said and I do not think, in view of the late hour, that there is any need to sum up this very considerable and lengthy debate. What one can say is, that in respect of the Five Point Plan of Action and the Draft Resolution, it would seem that there is considerable support from most speakers. Some delegations, however, expressed their views and said that they had some difficulty in respect of one or other paragraph, and in particular certain paragraphs, of the Draft Resolution. Others have proposed some drafting amendments and yet others have proposed some minor amendments or additions.
All the delegations have expressed their gratitude to the Director-General, above all for taking up the matter to our Commission himself. As to the Director-General' s Report on the Implementation of the Plan of Action and the ensuing debate, we will of course follow the usual procedure: the Drafting Committee will be entrusted with the task of preparing a specific report which will reflect the discussion which occurred here.
Regarding the Draft Resolution you may remember that I have already referred to the possibility of setting up a Contact Group-obviously, an informal Contact Group-which would be asked to bring together the viewpoint in respect of the Draft Resolution. They do not enormously differ anyway, and as far as I know, no delegation has expressed any reservations or opposed this idea of setting up a Contact Group. Most delegations supported the idea, but some delegations, at least at the beginning of the debate, said that although the idea was an excellent one it might not perhaps be necessary at all, and the Resolutions Committee might be able to remove any existing difficulties and play the part which the Contact Group was expected to play.
But after having listened to the reaction of delegates and having a clearer picture now of this very important matter, it is my belief that it remains necessary to set up this informal Contact Group so that it might discuss the Draft Resolution and questions pertaining to it. If this were left to the Drafting Committee, it might delay the actual work of the Drafting Committee, and at the same time difficulties might arise in closing these consultations as soon as possible. So the idea of setting up such a Contact Group was accepted by everybody, even by those who had at the beginning felt there
was no need for it. I have been in touch with many of the former opponents of this idea, who now say that they agree with the setting up of such an informal Contact Group. Because of this we have undertaken to sound out people, and have been in touch with colleagues of the Regional Group Coordinators as well as with other delegates, and at first sight it would appear that there is agreement as to the manner in which the Contact Group should be set up.
The following are the countries which will constitute this Contact Group: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Ireland, Japani, Kenya, Malta, Sweden, Tunisia, United States of America, Yugoslavia, Zambia. This gives us 15 members in the Contact Group.
It would appear that there is also concensus that Tunisia be requested to call the members of this Contact Group together and head its consultations, and to prepare the report which will be put forward to the Chairman of the Commission. Obviously, this report will be handed to you later. This is the agreement which we have reached on the Contact Group, and if this meets with your approval, I will consider that the Commission as a whole accepts the procedure which I have just outlined.
J. S. CAMARA (Guinée): Je n'ai pas bien compris, quels sent les pays africains qui ont été choisis ? J'ai entendu le nom de la Tunisie, mais je voudrais savoir quels sent les pays africains qui ont été mentionnés.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabie): I think that this is a most legitimate request, but I must tell you that we have some difficulty with the interpretation and that is perhaps the reason why we have tried to avoid interpretation.
J. S. CAMARA (Guinée): Vous n'avez aucun pays francophone dans ce groupe et nous souhaiterions être représentés; comme pays francophone, nous sommes intéressés par ce groupe de contact, au moins sur le plan linguistique afin de ne pas avoir ensuite de difficultés.
I. EOSKOVITS (Malta) : As this Contact Group is to meet immediately, may I ask whether a written text of the amendments has been prepared ?
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): I was about to mention this. My hasty answer now is that yes, this text is ready. May I ask the delegate from Guinea if he still insists on his proposal or has he been convinced by the point of view which I have submitted ?
G. CONSTANT (Prance): Vous ne serez sans doute pas surpris de mon intervention mais, alors que j'ai apprécié tout au long de ces heures passées ensemble votre élégante présidence, je dois dire que je suis surpris de l'argument que vous opposez à notre collègue de la Guinée, argument pseudo-technique qui consiste à dire qu'il y aurait des difficultés de traduction an langue française et que, pour cette raison, on écarterait la demande de la Guinée. Je dois dire que je ne peux pas-je le fais avec un certain sourire et pas du tout crispé-admettre ce genre d'arguments et je vous serais très reconnaissant de faire en sorte que l'organisation des services d'interprétation soit telle que nous ne rencontrions pas ce genre de difficultés à l'avenir et que je n'aie pas à faire cette désagréable intervention.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): I understand perfectly well the spirit in which you have made this proposal. Now, the proposal has been made but I would like to add also that from where I sit I can see all the country cards which have been raised.
C. O. KELLER SARMIENTO (Argentina): Simplemente quiero recordar que en el Grupo de contacto, en el cual hemos trabajado sobre la Resolución sobre proteccionismo, hemos trabajado durante más de 20 horas probablemente, y la mayor parte de ese tiempo no se ha dispuesto de trabajos de interpretación. Todos hemos hecho un esfuerzo grande y cada uno ha tratado de brindar lo mejor que ha podido en aras de una situación existente que era la falta de traducción; por lo tanto, yo me permito hacer un llamamiento a los países que, así como nosotros hemos renunciado a hacer uso de nuestro idioma en español en un grupo de contacto en aras de encontrar una posibilidad de arreglo y posibilidad de acuerdo, creo que deberíamos tratar de mantener un espíritu de cooperación, si no es posible encontrar traductores, tal vez incluso aquellos representantes que no dominan la lengua en la cual la mayoría se puede expresar en el grupo de contacto, puedan concurrir con traductores especiales. Esto se ha hecho en otras oportunidades y creo que sería una solución, sobre todo, Señor Presidente, si es que no podemos contar con traductores regulares y permanentes.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia) : La delegación de Colombia está de acuerdo con usted, Señor Presidente, en que esta discusión debe mantenerse dentro de la mayor cordialidad. No dudamos de que usted y los miembros de esta Comisión facilitarán el ingreso de Guinea a nuestro Grupo de Trabajo y de acuerdo con lo que expresó el colega de Malta, quisiéramos pedir muy respetuosamente a usted que pidiera al colega de Túnez que mañana a primera hora nos indicara la hora de reunión, en vez de hacerlo al final de esta tarde, a fin de que se pueda preparar mejor el ambiente y los medios para trabajar ese Grupo así como la posibilidad de interpretación.
J. S. CAMARA (Guinée): Je m'excuse de reprendre la parole, je ne veux nullement créer un incident ou envenimer ce débat qui a été jusqu'ici assez serein. Je pense cependant que tel a été également mon comportement mais je ne crois pas que, pour des questions linguistiques, on puisse écarter une délégation d'un groupe aussi important pour l'Organisation. Et c'est parce que c'est un groupe assez important que j'ai demandé que ma délégation y participe. Je ne dis pas que c'est un plaisir pour moi de faire partie d'un groupe de contact, mais j'avais souhaité y participer afin d'y apporter ma contribution.
Je ne peux pas accepter que pour des questions linguistiques une délégation soit écartée d'un groupe de travail de la FAO quel qu'il soit. Le groupe de contact est une réunion intergouvernementale, ce n'est pas une réunion de techniciens et je pense que le Secrétariat doit prendre toutes les dispositions nécessaires pour que tous les pays utilisant une langue officielle puissent y participer. Cela est un principe sacré pour toutes les délégations et j'estime que cela doit être mentionné dans le procès-verbal. Je tiens à réitérer qu'aucun pays ne peut être écarté quelle qu'en soit sa langue si celle-ci est officielle dans cette Organisation.
J'appuie fermement ce qu'a dit le délégué de la France qui lui-même a bien voulu appuyer mon intervention. Le français est une langue officielle au même titre que l'anglais et l'espagnol et j'ai des collègues de langue espagnole qui ont été choisis pour faire partie de ce groupe de contact. On ne les en a pas écartés. Je parle anglais moi aussi et j'aurais pucomprendre les débats si ma proposition avait été accueillie, mais je répète qu'on ne peut écarter un pays pour une question de langue. Ceci dit, tout en vous remerciant, je retire la proposition que j'ai faite mais la Guinée se réserve de faire ses amendements et ses propositions lorsque le groupe de contact fera son rapport à la Commission.
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (Tunisie) : Vous savez que je suis très coopératif et je ne voudrais pas compliquer votre tâche. Cependant, je suis obligé de donner raison au délégué de la Guinée. Je dois préciser que normalement on a toujours essayé dans les groupes de contact d'inclure tous les pays qui prennent un vif intérêt aux sujets soumis à la discussion.
C'est pourquoi je voudrais vous faire la suggestion suivante, et je crois que je réponds indirectement d'ailleurs au délégué de la Colombie :remettre la réunion du Groupe de contact à demain matin et je vous demanderai également, si c'est possible, de voir la question qui a été soulevée par le délégué de la Guinée avec le Secrétariat, car je crois, étant donné qu'il s'agit d'une conférence, que normalement le Secrétariat a pris toutes les dispositions nécessaires pour que tous les services d'interprétariat soient fournis.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): It would therefore seem that the idea is that this contact group should meet tomorrow and that is accepted by everybody. I think that will help to do the work in a fraternal and relaxed atmosphere. But I should also like to tell you that there is certainly no idea in my mind to prevent any particular country from taking part in the work of such a contact group, or any other consultation, for any reason or because the interpretation services might not be available. But it was a practical proposal and the Secretariat had told me that this evening there would be difficulties in getting interpretation.
Furthermore, there is another problem which we encountered with regard to the group on commodities for instance, interpretation was available only for three hours and you have the rules in the house that we had to continue without interpretation. And even where interpretation service is available, contact groups must expect there to be difficulties in expecting to get interpretation for more than three hours, particularly since this is not an official meeting-it is a meeting of an unofficial contact group.
Anyway, personally, if you agree, I certainly have no objection in seeing Guinea added to the list of members but I shall not be able to guarantee that the interpretation service will always be there for that contact group. In any case this contact group will probably have to do the same as other contact groups and get used to the idea that they will not have interpretation there all the time. I do not think I can add anything new on this subject and that is why I should like to go to the second point I wanted to tell you about.
Regarding the work of this contact group I should like to raise one matter which was already raised by the Delegate of Malta, namely that all the amendments and all the proposals which have been brought forward during the discussion have been recorded and will be available to the members of the contact group.
The second point, coming to the Draft Resolution, when the contact group has agreed on it, we shall decide on its adoption later.
There is a third point, namely I should like to draw your attention to the fact that the contact group, without wishing to prejudge the work of the contact group, this contact group will have to seek agreement in the light of the discussion that has taken place here. Any attempt to reopen debate on any of these aspects has to be discarded as far as possible because you must remember that we have very little time and that it is not possible to continue the discussion at the contact group level because in any there is a consensus regarding the Plan of Action and also regarding the Draft Resolution. That is to say this contact group will have to bear in mind what been said here in Commission I.
A. ACUÑA (Panamá): Una consideración general sobre el tema en discusión-la seguridad alimentaria mundial-nos lleva a expresar que este serio problema mundial debe abordarse desde dos ángulos o puntos de vista, que se complementan. El primero de los cuales es la toma de una serie de medidas de orden interno que se materialicen en políticas, planes, programas y proyectos que tiendan a aumentar la producción y productividad nacional agropecuaria.
Estas series de medidas deben de arrancar con una correcta planificación agropecuaria concebida como una actividad sistemática destinada a seleccionar objetivos para el desarrollo economico del sector y formular las estrategias, programas y políticas para alcanzarlos, pretendiendo con esto un sistema racional de administración, conducción y regulación de la política de desarrollo agropecuario para mejorar la utilización y asignación de los recursos productivos agropecuarios del país y ejercer plenamente la capacidad de dirección del gobierno sobre las actividades del sector.
En segundo lugar, están las acciones que se logren a nivel internacional para que estos esfuerzos nacionales no sean estériles o, como bien lo expresara el Director General en su discurso ante el último período de sesiones del Comité de Problemas de Productos Básicos (CPPB), no se caiga en el cinismo de fomentar las producciones nacionales para luego no saber qua hacer con ellas.
Dentro de este contexto está la situación real y concreta por la que atraviesa la producción mundial de alimentos, y en especial la de cereales-trigo, y cereales secundarios- como lo expone el documento C 79/23 en el capítulo "Consecuencias de la evolución reciente de la situación alimentaria mundial" y en el que se señalan entre otros, los siguientes hechos:
a) Después de una serie de buenas cosechas mundiales, 1979 será un año relativamente malo en el que se recogerán menores cosechas en la URSS, partes de Europa Oriental, Africa y América del Norte.
b) La previsión de que la producción mundial de trigo y cereales secundarios disminuirá probablemente en 75 millones de toneladas, lo que viene a representar un descenso del 6 por ciento respecto a la buena cosecha de 1978. En 1979 el mundo consumirá, pues, mucho más de lo que producirá.
c) Que las necesidades de importación alcanzarán la cifra sin precedentes de 170 millones de toneladas o sea, 12 millones de toneladas más que en la campaña precedente.
Frente a este hecho concreto cabe, pues, la toma de medidas de índoles internacionales promovidas por organizaciones como la FAO en su plan de acción de cinco puntos; por lo que esta Delegación apoya la aplicación de este plan de acción y en especial las propuestas hechas por el Director General, tanto en el documento C 79/23 como en su exposición introductoria sobre el tema (documento C 79/LIM/12).
Igualmente, señor Presidente, esta Delegación apoya la Resolución presentada por las delegaciones de Colombia, Guinea, India, Túnez, Uruguay, Zaire y Yugoslaviay que aborda y desarrolla medidas que deben tomarse sobre la seguridad alimentaria mundial. 1/
E. TOSSOU-DANHDUSSI (Bénin): Intervenant après tant d'autres, la délégation béninoise voudrait joindre sa voix aux leurs pour vous féliciter pour votre élection à la présidence de la Commission I chargée de discuter de la politique générale et de la politique d'orientation de la FAO pour le biennium 1980/81.
La déclaration du Directeur général à la vingtième session de la Conférence de la FAO, à laquelle se sont jointes celles des délégations des pays membres de l'Organisation, indique que le monde se trouve aujourd'hui devant le plus grand défi de son histoire: celui de trouver de la nourriture à une population on pleine expansion.
Le tableau d’ ensemble est si peu encourageant que la question qui vient à l'esprit est: que faire ?
Parmi les nombreuses solutions à proposer pour désamorcer la situation, le Plan d'action en cinq points visant à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale constitue une solution en attendant la renégociation de l'accord de Genève.
C'est pourquoi ma délégation appuie sans réserve le Plan d'action en cinq points proposé par le Directeur général de la FAO. Il est porteur d'espoir pour des millions d'êtres aujourd'hui embarqués sur un radeau pour la nuit des temps.
Ce faisant, nous voudrions attirer l'attention de la Commission sur un point que certaines délégations ont soulevé avant nous, pour sortir de la vision apocalyptique que d'aucuns peuvent avoir de la situation qui prévaut aujourd'hui dans le monde au plan de l'alimentation des peuples.
A l'heure actuelle, des millions de bras valides sont arrachés au front de la lutte pour la production en faveur du front de la lutte pour la défense des souverainetés nationales constamment menacées par des agressions et des conflits armés.
Le dilemme qui consiste à contraindre les peuples à être de façon simultanée sur deux fronts de lutte qui s'excluent mutuellement ne serait surmonté qu'en comptant sur la volonté politique des pays développés.
En 1979, les dépenses d'armement se chiffrent à 500 milliards de dollars. Voilà qui se passe de commentaire et qui situe chacun de nous dans la mouvance des grandes préoccupations des pays développés.
L'arme alimentaire est une arme redoutable. Elle est utilisée par les pays développés comme moyen de pression politique et économique pour remettre à genoux les pays en développement.
Sur la base de cette analyse, il devient aisé de comprendre la réticence de certains pays développés à appuyer le Plan d'action proposé par le Directeur général de la FAO.
Certains d'entre eux tentent de bloquer les efforts de la FAO en soulevant des concepts qui n'ont aucune relation avec la situation précaire que vivent les trois quarts de l'humanité. Un de ces concepts a pour nom : évaluation indépendante des projets financés par la FAO.
1/ Texto incluido en las actas a petición expresa.
L'ont-ils déjà fait pour les énormes crédits à l'éftttérttent consentis aux Etats pour s'agresser les uns les autres ?
A la croisée des chemins où nous nous trouvons aujourd'hui, chacun devrait faire son examen de conscience et se poser la question de savoir" ce qu'il a fait pour faire progresser l'humanité.
Mon pays, la République populaire du Bénin, Soutient aussi le projet de résolution annexé à ce Plan d'action, qui ouvre aux pays en développement de nouvelles perspectives.*
The meeting rose at 18. 0 hours
La séance est levée à 18 hours
Se levanta la sesión a las 16. 00 hores
* Texte reçu aveo demande d'insertion au proche-verbal.
