CHAIRMAN: We shall now continue the general discussion.
A. PAPASOLOMONTOS (Cyprus): Allow me to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the Chair.
Our discussions on the Programme of Work and Budget are crucial and set a pace for the Programme and the intensity with which our Organization will pursue it within the next biennium. We have studied carefully the proposals and the Programme outlines and, bearing in mind the precarious food situation as it exists today and, more important, as it might develop within the next decade or two, we find the proposals fully justified - indeed, modest. We have taken note that real Programme increases are very modest, about 2 1/2 percent per annum, and the only constructive comment that my delegation can make at this stage is that of providing full support to the proposals. In our view, any cuts in the proposed spending might well upset a balanced and well constituted Programme leading to long-term agricultural growth.
H. MAURIA (Finland): I shall restrict myself now briefly to some general remarks, but before that, my: Delegation would like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, heartily, on your election.
The Programme of Work and Budget for 1980-81 has been comprehensively represented in document C 79/3. This document, together with the Summary Programme of Work and Budget which was issued last spring, has provided us with necessary facts regarding policies, strategies, and programme priorities, as well as programme allocation. s. This, in combination with the programme discussions in the Council and in the Technical Committees during the last year and a half, enables us to say that we for our part are in agreement with the provisions made for the Regular Programme of FAO for the next biennium.
We also support fully the programme policies and priorities introduced by the Director-General.
In this connexion, I can say that what has been accomplished by the Director-General and his Organization during the present biennium is in our view commendable, and that we look forward to the work in the next biennium with full confidence in Dr. Saouma and his staff.
I am also happy to say that the Finnish Delegation supports the budget level proposed for 1980-81 and we consider it to be a realistic and balanced proposal.
W. JOHNSON (United States of America): My Delegation joins the others in congratulating you and the three Vice-Chairmen in your election to these important posts.
My Government has given much attention to FAO's Programme of Work and Budget for the forthcoming biennium. Representatives of the United States to the FAO Council last June, and to several meetings of committees of the Organization over the past year, have said that the United States is in broad agreement with the priorities selected for FAO activities. This remains the position of my Government. We fully support the efforts of the Director-General and the Organization to deal systematically and effectively with the problems of food production, rural poverty, and nutrition. We endorse the initiative taken by FAO in the areas of the extended fisheries zones of coastal states, world food security, the work of the Investment Centre, particularly the Centre's support of IFAD and the other international financial institutions, and the proposed intensification of efforts in soil conservation. I am particularly grateful to the Organization's splendid work in helping to bring under control the recent outbreak of African swine fever in the Western hemisphere. Overall, we find the strategies and priorities of the Programme of Work and Budget to be correct and realistic.
I know also that the Director-General has laboured hard to prepare a Programme of Work and Budget, with some members urging financial restraint while others have urged even greater increases in expenditures. We are mindful of the difficulties in trying to reach a middle ground while at the same time preserving the Organization's forward momentum.
Not surprisingly, however, our perspective is influenced by the somewhat different context in which the United States, like other industrialized countries, must consider the document before us. The economic situation in the United States is worrisome. A weakened dollar, double digit inflation and rising unemployment will spell increasing hardship in the months ahead. The outlook for the US economy is thus uncertain at best. The American public is duly concerned with the high tax burden they must carry and with the shortages and increasing costs of energy. Our national legislature, which is extremely sensitive to these concerns, is exercising financial restraint in its authorization and appropriation of all monies spent by the US Government. Moreover, the rapid growth of assessed budgets within the UN system has been subject to public discussion and criticism in our Congress. It is against these considerations that the US has examined the FAO budget for the 1980-81 biennium.
The US and FAO share a fundamental unity in goals. Our position on the level of the budget should not be perceived as a compromise of these goals. In an effort to reach a lower level of budget growth, US representatives at FAO meetings have made suggestions as to areas where economies might be achieved. We have suggested that a planned expansion of substantive programmes be deferred in those areas where vital programmes would not be detrimentally affected. In fact, most of our suggestions for budget restraint are in the administrative and non-technical sectors of the budget.
We believe some part of the cost increases projected in the budget could be absorbed by tighter management and cost controls across the entire Organization. In this regard, we commend the controls placed on the authorization of newly established staff positions, and we hope they can be extended to all categories of personnel.
Mr. Chairman, because of the considerations I have described, the United States has advised the Director-General that we shall abstain when the Budget for 1980-81 is presented for a vote of the Conference. We do not think this position is inconsistent with our serious concern over the gravity of world hunger; nor is it inconsistent with the increasingly important role which FAO plays. US and FAO goals are complementary, and we believe progress in realizing these goals can be achieved at the same time that we achieve economies in the Budget.
H. SY MOUSSA (Mauritanie): Permettez-moi, au nom de ma délégation, de vous adresser nos félicitations à l'occasion de votre nomination à la présidence de cette Commission. Au moment où nous commençons la discussion de ce Programme de travail et budget, ma délégation voudrait attirer l'attention de la Commission sur un certain nombre de points du Programme, notamment la partie relative à l'assistance à accorder aux pays en développement pour l'aménagement des ressources halieutiques. Vous savez que, depuis quelques années, les Etats du Sahel assistent à une destruction systématique de leur cheptel. Les récoltes sont nulles et une telle situation entraîne le chômage d'un millier d'hommes jadis éleveurs et agriculteurs, pendant que, du coté maritime, les activités se trouvent limitées par le manque d'hommes qui se livrent à la pêche. Il est donc essentiel, dans le cadre de la lutte contre la faim, d'accorder une priorité dans l'exécution de ce programme biennal à la promotion de la pêche artisanale maritime, cela par la création d'un centre de formation professionnelle de pêcheurs. C'est pourquoi nous estimons que le budget présenté est très minime par rapport au Programme de tra-vail proposé. Il est donc souhaitable de définir un programme de travail qui s'intègre dans le cadre des moyens financiers disponibles.
W. KlSAMBA-MUGERWA (Uganda): My delegation would like to associate ourselves with the other Member States in congratulating you upon your election to President of this very important Commission.
Mr. Chairman, the Uganda Government has studied with interest document C 79/3, Programme of Work and Budget for 1980/81, and would like to commend the FAO Secretariat for an excellent presentation. We find ourselves in total agreement with the Director-General's proposed priorities of FAO activities and programmes which focus on human needs of the poorest sections within the poor countries. To us, the proposed level of increase is modest and, in any case, it is by far the lowest, in terms of real growth, when compared with all previous Programmes of Work and Budgets of the Organization. Moreover, it compares favourably with the growth and levels of the budgets of other sister organizations within the UN system. Therefore, my Government approves the level and magnitude of the budget and hopes that it will receive unanimous support. Mr. Chairman, in supporting the level of the budget, my delegation is aware that some members of this Organization pay higher contributions of the budget than others. However, the poor and the rich alike contribute to the FAO budgets and, in terms of ability to contribute, the poor members will bear a far higher burden of this budget than their rich brothers. Therefore, in terms of sacrifice, my delegation should be advocating a reduction in the level of the budget, but in recognition of the real needs of the rural poor which the FAO Programme of Work proposes to execute, and in the interest of harmony and cooperation, my Government is willing to bear the burden of this budget. In any case, it is only fair and rational that the priorities and programmes which we approve for FAO should be supported by adequate resources, otherwise they face the danger of remaining statements of good intentions.
On the future Programme of Work priorities, my delegation would like to emphasize the urgent need for streamlining and developing agricultural marketing in the poor countries. The income that agricultural export commodities fetch is highly influenced by the quality of the produce which, too, depends on the efficiencies of marketing, that is storage, transportation, handling, grading, etc. These efficiencies are inadequate and sometimes lacking in the poor countries of the world, which adversely affects their export earnings. This delegation would like to see an expanded FAO Programme on the improvement of agricultural marketing. Equally meriting emphasis in the future FAO Programme of Work are the agricultural credit facilities in these countries. Production of agricultural commodities in most developing countries is by peasant, small-scale farmers who have neither sufficient capital of their own nor access to institutional credit sources. As such, therefore, they cannot achieve greater production and improve productivity of both land and labour. The few attempts which have been established to achieve this goal need strengthening and support and my delegation is highly convinced that FAO can best play this role.
As I said before, my delegation supports the programme as presented and because of time considerations I do not wish to dwell on the various details of each activity. I should, however, like to conclude by reiterating our congratulations to the Director-General and his colleagues for this valuable programme and for producing an excellent document to guide our discussions.
H. CARANDANG (Philippines): I should like to begin this intervention by making two short quotations from two eminent men who addressed this Conference just two days ago, His Excellency Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, President of the Republic of Zambia, and His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
His Excellency, the President of Zambia, said in the MacDougall Memorial Lecture:
"Humanity today has a vast reservoir of science and technology. Humanity today has vast tracts of land still to be cultivated. If we as the human race do not banish poverty and squalor from the face of this earth, it will not be for lack of means. It will be for lack of will. This Organization has the necessary expertise and leadership to ensure that the candle is lighted for the whole of humanity. . . . "
The other quotation I would like to read is that made by His Holiness when he said, referring to the FAO:
"Your Organization is shifting towards a policy in which the effort made by each country for its own development has priority. This entails, of course, a requirement: if each country that needs them is to receive, without loss of dignity, the necessary international assistance and investments, while retaining control of the factors necessary to enable the farmers to play their proper role in the country's development, purely bilateral relations will have to be increasingly replaced by a multilateral system. "
If I am not mistaken, I believe that the Pope's reference to assistance according to a country's own priorities could very well refer to the vast resources of science and technology, the application of which in the words of President Kaunda could banish poverty and squalor from the earth. His reference to investments does need to be noted. What his Excellency is trying to say is that the transfer of both aid and technology in science and in investment should be done by multilateral systems and I think he is not referring to multilateral systems which are still to be invented or established, but precisely to this Organization and he remarked that the transfer of science and technology and investment should be done through this Organization.
I believe that these words should not be taken very lightly. I believe that they are words of wisdom and I fully agree with His Holiness.
Now in connection with the Programme of Work and Budget, I would just like to reiterate very briefly our country's full support for the budget, which has already been expressed in two Councils. We believe it reflects fully the priorities and programmes which have the full consent of all the Members of the Council. We believe that the budget level is the minimum required to carry out these programmes and priorities. If we agree on the programmes and priorities I do not believe that we can reduce the level of the budget, and in this connexion I would like to fully support the proposal that economies should be made, especially in the administrative sectors and not in the technical divisions. But I would like to refer to paragraph 107 of the report of the Council of June 1979 which states:
"The Council appreciated the Director-General's approach in developing his proposals from a, zero-based' analysis of total proposals from the various sectors of the Organization. Under this system not only the proposed increases but also the ongoing activities have had to be fully justified. "
I think the Director-General has studied the budget very well. The Council and the Programme and Finance Committees have studied the budget and it has been developed from a "zero-based" analysis. That means they started from zero. They started to reduce the budget as much as they could and the budget and the proposals in the Programme of Work and Budget.
F. E. K. CHANDLER (Canada): I would like to join the other delegations who have congratulated you, Mr. Chairman, and the three vice-Chairman on your election.
My delegation has studied the proposed Programme and Budget for 1980-81 and we have noted with appreciation the efforts of the Director-General and the FAO Secretariat to streamline the work of the Organization and to re-direct its effort. We are generally supportive of the strategies, priorities and programmes as set out in Document C 79/3. The Canadian Minister of Agriculture spoke in Plenary this morning. He stated that in addition to FAO's work in agriculture, we are interested in the activities in the Fisheries and Forestry sectors. As we all know, "The Development and Management of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones" is one of the main elements of this section of the Conference. Canada believes that fisheries are a particularly valuable resource whose proper management is vital to us all. Because of its experience in fisheries, Canada is well placed to assist FAO in its work in this field and to assist the developing countries to manage their stocks in their exclusive economic zones. We therefore support FAO's comprehensive programme of assistance in this area, he went on to say.
He went on to say, I would like now to comment briefly on the Canadian economic situation since it is an important factor which influences our perspective and participation in international organization. I will not review for you the specific economic indicators for Canada. These are difficult economic times for all of us. What is important, however, is that in view of our own experiences in Canada, the Government and Parliament are sensitive to cost-effectiveness and efficiency in the programmes which they support both nationally and internationally. At home we are committed to a policy of government growth in expenditure below forecasted growth in GNP. One result is that throughout the Canadian Government considerable attention is focused on reallocation of resources. Overlapping and duplicated resources are being identified and we are in the process of reviewing all our priorities. Under such economic restraints it will be appreciated why we take what might be called a hard look at the proposed budget for the 1980-81 biennium, and why we are equally careful in all of the other international institutions in which we participate. As this delegation has stated at other FAO meetings over the past year, Canada hoped that with greater efforts aimed at efficiency and the elimination of duplicative, obsolete or marginally useful programmes then the main thrust of the proposed budget could be made with a lower real growth. In these circumstances Canada will abstain on the vote on the Programme and Budget for 1980-81.
Aa. BOTHNER (Norway): Like other delegations, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election as chairman of the Commission. Like other delegates I would also make a few brief comments on the agenda item with which we are dealing at present.
My delegation supports the budget level proposed by the Director-General and contained in Document C 79/3, and the slight alterations of that figure. Our reasons for doing so are basically of the same nature as those outlined by the Director-General in the document and so convincingly repeated orally this morning. My delegation is of the view that this budget level is necessary if FAO is going to be able to make its very important contribution to reducing the scope of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. As we all know, millions of people are afflicted by these conditions. We feel that resolute action should be undertaken by the international community in order to attack these fundamental problems. In order to do this we need strong international organizations. We therefore support the budget level.
Allow me also to make a couple of brief comments on one or two other issues. Firstly, with regard to rural development, I see from page 87 of the document that a number of measures are being envisaged. My delegation hopes that it will be possible to consider the personnel structure of the Organization in a flexible way which will make it possible to make the necessary adjustments and then adjust to take care of the work of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development.
Secondly, my delegation would also like tocomplimet the Director-General on his efforts to streamline and rationalize the Organization and we would also like to encourage him to do this in the future in the same mind.
E. O. BURNS (Australia): Mr. Chairman we would like to join other delegations in congratulating you on your election as Chairman of this important Commission. The Australian delegation made it clear at the Seventy-fifth Session of the Council in June this year that Australia was and still is very sensitive to the tremendous pressures placed on the Director-General in the face of both the real needs of the developing countries and the legitimate aspirations of the developing countries for increased assistance. It is no easy task to reconcile the manifold and often conflicting desires of around 150 countries. The general approach in Australia at the present time to both domestic and international budgets is one of restraint in the face of continued world economic uncertainty. However we did fore-shadow at that Council meeting that the most urgent consideration would be given to the Director-General's proposed budget level by the several Australian Ministers and Ministries involved. That consideration is coming to a conclusion. Indeed we had hoped to make our decision on the budget level known very early in the proceedings of this Commission. Unfortunately this has not proved possible. We sincerely hope that those delegations who have already expressed their views on the budget appreciate our position. We will make our Government's decision known at a later stage of the Conference. We are making this incomplete intervention at this stage in response to your earlier request just prior to lunch. We therefore reserve our right to make further interventions if necessary during subsequent discussions of the Programme.
G. ESCARDO PEINADOR (España): Muchas gracias señor Presidente. En primer lugar quiero unirme a los oradores que me han precedido en felicitarle a usted para dirigir los debates de esta Comisión que consideramos la más importante de la Conferencia.
Deseamos también unirnos a otros oradores en felicitar al Director General por el trabajo que ha realizado para tratar de presentarnos un presupuesto dentro de unos límites que, aun dentro de las grandes dificultades que tiene nuestro país en el orden financiero, queremos desde el primer momento apoyar, habida cuenta de nuestros deseos de colaborar íntimamente con la Organización y de ayudar al desarrollo económico de los países que están en peores condiciones que los nuestros.
Aunque en el futuro quizá volvamos a intervenir para determinados programas, nos parece en principio que quizá el programa de Cooperación Técnica sea un poco corto y que quizá fuera necesario todavía ampliarlo un poco más, pero es difícil saber en qué se puede hacer economías.
Examinados todos los diversos capítulos nos damos cuenta de todos ellos la importancia que tienen; quizá por esto, y con vistas a un futuro, sería interesante que tratásemos de estudiar lo que en la declaración general de ayer tarde pronunció el Ministro de la Arabia Saudita en el sentido de poder reducir estos períodos de sesiones de la Conferencia. Quizá en lo unico que cabría tratar de reducir los niveles de gastos del Presupuesto sería reduciendo un poco las reuniones, y muy especialmente ésta, si bien habida cuenta que probablemente la reducción de gastos de la Conferencia y algunas reuniones del Consejo sería necesario reforzar las reuniones de las Conferencias Regionales, que creemos que tienen una gran importancia, para que no se vea también estos desequilibrios entre algunas oficionas regionales y otras, pero, en fin, esto ya lo hablaremos en otro momento más a propósito del desarrollo de estos debates.
C. PALMER (Sierra Leone): Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. On behalf of my delegation I extend my congratulations to you for your election to the Chairmanship of this very important Commission. The agenda item before us is unequivocably a very important one by the yardstick of measurement of the role FAO plays in the labyrinth of world politics, that is providing solutions to problems of food in its global context with particular reference to developing countries.
My delegation however feels that the proposed increase in the budget has been very modest against the backdrop of increased world prices, particularly in oil, spiralling inflation and the very bleak food supply situation as expressed in various international relevant fora. Moreover, apart from being the least percentage increase relatively when compared with other UN agencies, this increase is not to be borne by the rich countries alone but by poor countries as well which have very serous balance of payment deficits resulting mainly from food importations. When a country like Sierra Leone, which was importing only about 25 000 tons of rice annually, is forced to import over 70 000 tons of rice in eight months alone then this is not a matter of semantics but it is a dictation of survival.
With FAO taking the leadership internationally to tackle the problems of food production it is but fitting that this Organization be given the tools for the job. We welcome the direction of FAO's efforts to utilize local expertise and institutions in project formulation and implementation. Perhaps this can go a great way to help appease the minds of some delegations who feel more emphasis was placed on the administrative aspect of the Budget.
My delegation also supports the Technical Cooperation Programme within the FAO because we have come to realise the effectiveness of its quick practical approach. However, we really dislike to hear statements of abstention from delegations representing countries from which much is expected. We only hope a review of their decisions could be made to assist this long struggle to overcome the problems of hunger and poverty.
In conclusion my delegation fully supports the present level of budget and only considers it to be a bare minimum. Thank you very much.
A. M. B. JAGNE (Gambia): The Gambian delegation congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this Commission, not because it would be impertinent not to do so, but in view of the unanimity with which the Conference elected you this is clearly a reflection of your capability and the confidence the Conference has in your ability to guide the work of this Commission.
The Gambian delegation would like to indicate its support of the Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium proposed to this Conference and to say that the very modest increase in the budget, in spite of FAO's capacity to handle a very much larger budget, and in spite of the need for greater investment in the productive programmes of the Organization, should reassure us all as regards the Organization's concern about our national financial concerns and dificulties. We also endorse the priorities in the Programme of Work proposed by the Director-General. In our view the Programme that gives priority to ensuring security by assisting developing countries to accelerate production, to reducing pre-and post-harvest losses, assisting member states to obtain higher crop productivity, safeguard national efforts in livestock development and rural development, forestry and fishery development, merits support and endorsement.
The Gambian delegation hope that you will be kind enough to give up the floor when specific issues in the Programme of Work and Budget are discussed.
Mme FATIMA LARBI (Tunisie): Au nom de ma délégation, je tiens à vous féliciter pour votre élection à la présidence de cette importante commission.
L'étude du Programme d'activités et du budget 1980-81 de la FAO reflète la politique de décentralisation engagée par la FAO depuis environ quatre ans. L'augmentation des activités de terrain durant le dernier biennum a déjà démontré son efficacité, mais il y aurait lieu de persévérer dans ce sens et de continuer à alléger le niveau central du nouveau programme engagé, notamment à travers le programme de coopération technique et le projet de prévention des pertes après récolte qui ont abouti à des réalisations qui contribuent à l'augmentation de la production et à sa bonne conservation.
Les projets étudiés au travers de la FAO et qui nécessitent des actions entreprises au niveau de chaque pays ont trouvé auprès des organismes internationaux de financement un écho favorable. En effet, sur les 13 milliards de dollars réunis par la FAO depuis 1964, six ont été accordés à partir de 1976. Tout cela milite en faveur du programme présenté par le Directeur général que nous soutenons pleinement et nous demandons aux pays développés qui ont déjà fait preuve de leur soutien aux plus déshérités, que ce soit directement ou par le biais d'organismes internationaux, dont la FAO, de continuer cet effort pour le bien-être de ses membres.
T. TAFARI (Ethiopia): Thank you Mr. Chairman. My delegation would like to join others in congratulating you on your election as Chairman of this important Commission. My delegation fully supports the Work Programme and Budget proposed for implementation in the forthcoming biennium. We believe that the budget proposal submitted for approval is the minimum considering the programme of food and FAO's efforts to cope with this problem. The FAO's volume of work to cope with this problem is tremendous and a reduction of this minimum budget implies that we are expecting too much out of FAO without giving the necessary support. We hope that all concerned agencies in the developing countries will cooperate to make the Programme of Work for the forthcoming biennium successful through full cooperation considering also the existence of problems in developing countries. With this I conclude my speech. I hope I will get the floor to discuss specific points when the need arises.
P. D. TANOE (Côte-d'Ivoire): Se joignant à toutes celles qui l'ont précédée, la Délégation de Côte-d'Ivoire voudrait vous adresser ses félicitations pour votre élection à la Présidence de cette importante Commission. Les éminentes qualités qui vous ont porté à la tête de cette Commission seront le garant du succès de nos travaux.
Prenant la parole pour la première fois, non seulement au sein de cette Commission mais de toute notre Organisation, je me réjouis d'avoir à le faire à l'occasion de travaux appelés à fortifier les racines mêmes de la FAO pour la rendre toujours plus efficiente.
Notre délégation apporte son appui au Programme de travail et budget soumis à notre examen. Certes, toute oeuvre humaine peut être améliorée, perfectionnée, et nous-mêmes, au plan national, sommes actuellement confrontés à des expériences enrichissantes au niveau de notre budget. Mais, ce qui fait la noblesse de l'homme c'est qu'il peut toujours s'élever au-dessus de lui-même pour des motivations de solidarité humaine.
La Côte-d'Ivoire est un peuple de paysans dont le pragmatisme lui fait dire ici que le niveau du budget qui nous est proposé est bien modeste eu égard aux très lourdes tâches que nous avons ensemble confiées à la FAO.
Maintenant que nous sommes tous d'accord pour élever le niveau de production agricole des pays en développement, je me permets de dire, paraphrasant une parole de sagesse chinoise, que pour aider ces pays à apprendre à mieux pêcher, à pêcher, à pêcher toujours davantage, il serait hautement souhaitable que tous les pays collaborent afin que ce Programme de travail et Budget qui nous est soumis soit un succès.
CHAIRMAN: I think this brings us to the number of those who have spoken including this morning to fifty. The last speaker was the fiftieth. So we are happy that fifty countries have participated in the general discussion and unless there is someone else who wants to make an immediate remark I plan to outline the procedure for the successive part of our discussion.
The general discussion has brought out a few very important points and I would like to refer to them briefly because I know some delegations could not be present here this morning.
The first thrust of every delegation's presentation was either to reitirate or to confirm again their total support to the budget proposed by the Director-General. There are some delegations who felt that the budget as proposed now falls short of what FAO ought to be doing in terms of urgency, the diversity and magnitude of problems facing the food and agriculture situation in the world as a whole. There are two delegations, the United States of America and Canada who have explained clearly their position in relation to the budget. They have stated that they are not against the Programme. In fact, they are at one with FAO in relation to the Programme of FAO and the thrust; they are deeply concerned about the urgent need for action on the food production front. But for reasons clearly spelt out by them they have indicated that they are going to abstain from voting on the budget because they do feel that there is probably some scope, without affecting technical and field programmes, to make some savings. The other country, Australia, has indicated that the matter of support to the budget as presented by the Director-General is under earnest consideration of the Australian Government and the Australian delegate hopes to give an indication as soon as possible.
Well, one thing which has been very heartening is the universal support to the Programme of FAO in terms of their priorities. By and large speakers have stated that they agree with the priorities as listed.
All that I would like to say as Chairman is that if there is a mis-match between programme content and budgetary support then we will have unfulfilled expectations or inadequate implementation. There is a critical mass of effort which ought to be generated to achieve an objective. Therefore the relationship between programme and budget is crucial. We should discard some programmes rather than take up a large number of programmes and provide them with sub-critical support, so that we can ensure their success. This is why our Commission's work from here on is very important. We must examine different aspects and make suggestions and we have the privilege of having the Assistant Director-Generals and other programme directors concerned with us here and I hope to request them at periodical intervals to intervene so that we shall have the benefit of hearing them with reference to the comments made by the delegations. Now both in the morning and in the afternoon most of the speakers who had referred to the Technical Cooperation Programme were appreciative of the Programme. This being a new Programme, untested, some had doubts in the beginning about the programme, but it was heartening to hear everyone state that the TCP had become an important instrument in the hands of the FAO for helping developing countries speedily. In fact, there was a feeling that this particular amount for the TCP must be enhanced so that in addition to the emergencies the Organization is able to respond to normal requests now and then.
Another important point which has come about with reference to general reorganization of the administration is the fact that the new procedures of decentralized administration -country representatives to develop feedback relationships with nations and FAO and also the growing use of consultancy rather than regular positions and institutions in developing countries, also for institutional consultancy. These are the kind of steps that delegates would like to see grow and develop further.
Among other points which I think I will mention, because I would like later on the officers of FAO to respond in a little more detail was the concern for animal health care and the need to expand the trypanosomiasis programme in Africa to additional countries, like Sudan and also the control of African swine fever. There was considerable stress on developing close linkages between regular and field programmes so that both of them work as an integrated chain.
There was stress by several delegates, particularly from Latin America for the need for expanding efforts in agricultural research and the need for strengthening national agricultural research systems. Of course, we are aware in this particular area there is also the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and The Technical Advisory Committee whose Secretariat is provided by FAO. But we should certainly discuss further where there are delegations who feel that particular problems exist in the on-going agricultural research programmes and the methodology of strengthening them. The need for a new orientation to forestry programmes to make it a people's forestry movement was stressed by several delegations and I think one of the delegates aptly described the need for ecological security in order to ensure food security. Land and Water Resources Management, Soil Conservation, Soil health care, rightly got stress and I was happy to hear even in the preliminary remarks several delegates referring to the need for strengthening the entire work on Land and Water Management, Soil Conservation, Soil health care and better water use. There was a suggestion that in relation to some of these programmes apart from their regular budgetary support, FAO should continuously explore the possibility of special budgetary support other than the regular budget.
Special input resources, fertilizers was specifically mentioned in this context and mechanization, machinery and the need to set up research and development in this area was mentioned by several delegations. Similarly the entire area of fisheries, their conservation, exclusive economic zone and management and wildlife conservation received remarks. The problem of drought and, particularly, the saving of farm animals in chronically drought-prone areas like the Sahelian zone was mentioned as high priority area which should receive our attention. Similarly, the extension methodology of taking technology to poor peasants was also mentioned.
The match between production and post-harvest technology was emphasized so that the fruits of production accrue both to the producer and to the consumer to a desirable extent. Finally, the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development and the appropriate follow-up and the urgency of follow-up were emphasized.
There were one or two comments on the scope of economies in the Organizations expenditure, and one speaker just now mentioned the possibility of curtailing the duration of the general Conference that FAO might get examined by slightly extending the duration of the Regional Conferences. I suppose it will be a balancing act, where one saves one will spend more. Any important suggestions members have during the course of general intervention I would suggest from here onwards that they go deep into the programme. After all, we must ask ourselves what is it that we can do. As was rightly emphasized by the delegate who pleaded for curtailment of the duration of the General Conference as a measure of economy, we are all here at the expense of our respective taxpayers. Therefore what kind of purpose, what kind of role can we perform in a meeting like this because the Council, the Finance Committee, the Programme Committee, they have all gone into it. I would therefore, like to suggest that we might try in the rest of the debate, of the discussion we have got three sessions more, the whole of tomorrow and the day after that half a day, if necessary. During that time if we can pinpoint something specific that can be taken note of by the officers of FAO so that the implementation part can be improved. That would be very helpful to FAO.
More than generalizations, it would be useful if any delegation has a specific comment or suggestion to offer; it would be very valuable.
There was a question this morning of whether we should go chapter by chapter through the Programme of Work and Budget or discuss the entire Programme and Budget. On page 18 of document C 79/3 there are several chapters mentioned and the approximate level of appropriation which has been proposed. For example, chapter 2, dealing with technical and economic programmes, has the maximum outlay of expenditure, over $121 million. One methodology would be to continue in the same way as we have been doing but when delegates refer to a specific programme they can pinpoint the suggestion because it may be too difficult to go chapter by chapter. And it is far better that delegates have an across-the-board approach and they may complete their presentation at one stroke, then we could have the benefit of the interventions of the concerned field Director or Officer of FAO. If further clarification is needed there could be a further intervention. If the Commission agrees with this approach I suggest we can go
into more in-depth examination of the Programme of Work and Budget and make concrete suggestions. Each delegation may make all the suggestions it has, the in-depth precise suggestions, at one stroke and at periodic intervals I shall request the concerned Officers to give us the benefit of their advice. That is my suggestion.
P. MASUD (Pakistan): I am very grateful, Mr. Chairman, for your brilliant summimg up of this morning's debate. I want to say a few words on the manner in which we should proceed. If we were to make comments on the whole range of programmes I am afraid the discussion would become unwieldy, because I have about 16 pages of comment on various programmes and if I were to start making them it would take 15 to 20 minutes. Secondly, it might involve the Secretariat and delegates in some confusion, because jumping from one programme to another may not seem the most appropriate manner to proceed.
Could you give consideration to the suggestion that we should go chapter by chapter and in that way cover the whole of the ground more quickly? The comments could be briefly stated, we would know what we were discussing, and the Secretariat could respond.
CHAIRMAN: Is it the wish of the Commission that we take up the seven chapters mentioned on page 18?
S. MADEMBA-SY (Senegal): Je voudrais très rapidement approuver ce que vient de dire le Délègue du Pakistan. A mon avis, il faudrait, pour une question de méthodologie, procéder chapitre par chapitre, ce qui nous est d'ailleurs recommandé par le Document CL/12 Rev. 2.
CHAIRMAN: If the Commission agrees with the delegates of Pakistan and Senegal we could proceed chapter by chapter. Is this acceptable?
I. MOSKOVITS (Malta): I fully share the opinion of the delegate of Pakistan. We should go chapter by chapter but we should not forget that it is not just seven chapters; besides this document we have also two supplements, and I think they are individual chapters and they also should be taken separately into account.
CHAIRMAN: Shall we take up chapter 1, General Policy and Direction?
W. JOHNSON (United States of America): I should like to start with a couple of brief remarks concerning the Director-General's introduction. We appreciate the Director-General's straightforward and frank introduction, which facilitates consideration of the Programme and Budget for the biennium 1980-81 and puts it into proper prospective. We note again with appreciation the prompt action taken by FAO against the large number of emergency situations that have arisen. Our delegations to the Committee on Agriculture and to the Council have already expressed their appreciation for the actions against the desert locust and African swine fever but we could again warmly commend FAO for its speedy response to these emergencies. Likewise we would again indicate our general support of the Director-General's basic strategy and priorities. We particularly concur in the statement that there must be continuation of basic activities of a global scope, including the collection and dissemination of essential information.
Concerning chapter 1, on General Policy and Direction, the United States generally supports the various programmes included in this chapter. The contribution made by the FAO staff in effectively servicing the Conference and other bodies, as expressed in Programme 1. 1 is considerable and is applauded. The initiation of auto-evaluation is supported, but we shall comment upon the evaluation in connection with another agenda item.
Legal and constitutional activities will continue to be essential and we will support to the proposed level the Major Programme in 1. 4, with continuing emphasis particularly in respect of inter-agency affairs. The United States notes the substantial increase in the number of inter-agency consultations,
meetings and reports mentioned under "Progress Made" in paragraphs 3 - 7 of Programme 1. 4. 1, supports the action proposed in paragraph 8 and sees the continuing need for FAO's close cooperation with other organizations of the United Nations system.
CHAIRMAN: If there are no further speakers on Chapter 1, shall we proceed to Chapter 2, Technical and Economic Programmes.
P. MASUD (Pakistan): I have some very brief remarks on Programme 2. 1. 1 Natural Resources. I should like to make special mention of the following: improvement of agriculture in arid and semi-arid areas and improved water management at farm level, including the rehabilitation of existing irrigation and drainage schemes. To this we attach the utmost importance, because the losses that we suffer due to inadequate and sometimes inappropriate handling of water at the farm level is phenomenal, and if we could improve this I am sure it would contribute greatly to increased production.
We would like also to say a word about the misuse of fertilizers. This, again, is a matter of great concern to us, particularly as recently the prices of fertilizers have escalated and in that context we would urge the replenishment of the International Fertilizer Scheme.
An area of concern to which we would point is the improved use of marginal and dry lands. It will be appreciated that there are certain areas which are irrigated -we get a definite yield from those areas-but the marginal and dry lands are the areas which make all the difference between a surplus and a deficit. Therefore if we could have more attention paid to those areas we would be grateful.
Another area -and I refer here to my own country- is waterlogging and sterility. This is a creeping menace. You do not appreciate how much destruction it causes. Overnight whole areas become water-logged and unfit for agriculture, and any assistance that we can secure in combating this menace would be greatly appreciated.
I make those brief remarks. I do not want to dilate upon them at length but there are just one or two areas also. Another area is combating soil erosion. Very valuable areas are denuded of shrubs and forestry and exposed to soil erosion. In this field also we should pay a great deal of attention.
S. MADEMBA-SY (Sénégal): Au sujet du chapitre 2, paragraphe 14, page 65, je lis, à la dernière phrase, qu'il est question de la diminution de la superficie forestière, spécialement sous les tropiques, en grande partie à cause de l'extension systématique ou incontrôlée des cultures sous l'effet de la pression démographique. Je crois que ce n'est pas suffisant, parce qu'en matière de forêts, un grand problème se pose, surtout dans les pays tropicaux qui souffrent notamment beaucoup de la sécheresse, c'est la question des feux. Chez nous, on appelle cela les feux de brousse, disons les feux de forêt. Je me souviens que, lors de la réunion du dernier Comité des forêts à Rome, l'accent avait été particulièrement mis sur ce danger, notamment sur les moyens de lutte contre les incendies de forêt ou les incendies de brousse, non seulement les moyens en matériel et d'ordre technique, mais également les moyens humains par la formation d'un personnel spécialisé dans la lutte contre les feux de brousse ou les feux de forêt.
Je pense que, dans le projet de programme qui nous a été présenté, l'accent n'a pas été suffisamment mis, à notre avis, sur cette question qui nous apparaît comme étant une question d'importance, et nous voudrions inviter la FAO à y consacrer une plus grande attention ainsi que les moyens nécessaires adéquats.
W. JOHNSON (United States of America): I have several comments on Chapter 2. Regarding the Major Programmes 2. 1, Agriculture, and 2. 1. 2 Crops, concerning Genetic Resources, the Regular Programme's resources of 10. 4 man-years and $554 000 may well be strained to cope with the magnitude of the job of rescuing threatened crop germplasm from most of the centres of origin or diversity. Once rescued, this germplasm should be distributed as quickly as possible to back up base collections and active collections. The small grains collections made over the past four or five years throughout key areas of the Mediterranean under leadership from Bari, have not been systematically distributed to ensure their safekeeping and evaluation. Continued increase and evaluation at Bari will promote loss of genotypes which may be ideally adapted to other environments.
Concerning Food Losses, we encourage activities in this area, but we feel that application of irradiation to food as a practical means of preventing post-harvest losses should not be advised. The wholesomeness studies under IFIP will terminate in 1980. Until there are assurances of wholesomeness there can be no practical application. Food Standards Quality Control and Contamination Monitoring logically fall under the Nutrition Programme but we should make sure that these important functions receive adequate emphasis in relation to the delivery system.
1 have already commented favourably on FAO's activities on African swine fever and our comments on African animal Trypanosomiasis are made under Agenda item 17 which deals with that subject.
In document C 79/3 on pages 75-79 in the English version, an increased budget of $763, 000 is included for livestock. However, only $565, 000 of this can be identified for specific programmes, of which $375, 000 is for Trypanosomiasis and $190, 000 for animal production. We feel that it would be useful if budget increases could be more clearly identified with specific programmes, and would appreciate any clarification which the Secretariat can give us on this point.
On pages 81-86 of the English version, concerning Research Support, there is indicated a relatively low level of support for research. It would seem reasonable that in the table on page 86 entitled "1980-81 Estimates by Sub-Programme" the extra budgetary support and the input from IAEA be somehow identified. We generally endorse the research support activities of FAO, but we wonder if sufficient evidence is yet placed on the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases, tsetse flies and Trypanosomiasis, and the effect of pesticide residues on animal production.
Regarding CARIS, considering the products of all the efforts of CARIS, we urge careful consideration of the advisability of continuing this service. It may be that it would be somehow helpful to fuse CARIS with AGRIS.
Returning to 2. 1. 6, on Nutrition, we have indicated in other recent meetings that we are pleased with the progress which FAO is making in revitalising its nutrition activities. We are in agreement with the nutrition work outlined in C 79/3. The programme reorientation, resource shifts, and increased funding of $480, 000 for the development of national policies for food and nutrition, the integration of nutritional objectives and considerations in agricultural and rural development programmes, and the optimization of the contribution of the food sector on a whole to nutrition.
Then on Soil Conservation: in an earlier intervention I pointed out that my country favours the intensified efforts being proposed by FAO in this area of work. On Major Programme 2. 2, concerning Fisheries, my delegation can support the proposed programme in Fisheries, and indicates in particular that the activities reflect the priorities assigned earlier by the Committee on Fisheries to the Programme on the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones. We believe the Technical Programme on Fisheries Information is very important. The need for adequate fishery statistics and information is becoming more and more acute with the increased cutting of management and the increased network of independence in fisheries exploitation, development and utilization. The work toward development of a third yearbook dealing with fishing fleets and fishermen is to be supported and encouraged, in our view. Concerning Forestry, we strongly support FAO's efforts in Forestry. The distribution of total funds among the various programme areas of Forestry seems appropriate. It seems to reflect accurately a rational summing up of developmental priorities -strong initial emphasis on Institutions and Investments, and on Resource Development. We are concerned, however, that FAO seems to fail to cover the cost increases in three of the Regular Programme areas, thereby further weakening an already minimal effort in the vital Forestry sector. The expansion of Regular Programme efforts in Forestry for Rural Development, over and above cost increases, is in the order of amounts we feel would have been appropriate across the board.
A. RODRIGUES PIRES (Cap-Vert): Ma délégation souhaite appuyer les délégués qui m'ont précédé et qui ont mis l'accent sur des points qu'ils considèrent comme très importants: l'utilisation rationnelle des terres et de l'eau, la conservation des eaux et des sols et, surtout, la lutte contre la désertification, qui est très importante, surtout pour les pays sahéliens. Nous pensons que l'utilisation rationnelle de l'eau et sa conservation méritent une attention particulière dans le cadre de ce Programme.
KONG CAN-DONG (China) (interpretation from Chinese): The Chinese delegation has noted with satisfaction that the proportion of funds allocated for activities in this Chapter has increased in the entire Budget. This clearly indicates the Director-General's efforts to provide better and more practical service to member nations of our Organization. We fully endorse such efforts.
As for priorities in this Chapter, we would like to stress the following points.
First, in order to utilize land resources in a more effective way, rational allocation of plants according to different soil conditions and other ecological factors is important to the increase of agricultural output. We believe it would be strengthened if FAO could strengthen its technical assistance in soil survey and other associated matters for member countries according to the needs of respective countries and the through-training of personnel, and providing necessary consultancies. In order to speed up the work and satisfy the demands of various fields, it is also advisable to strengthen remote sensing in developing countries. Therefore, the Chinese delegation especially supports the work elucidated in Programme 2. 1. 1, on Natural Re sources and Other Relevant Work.
Secondly, in Programme 2. 1. 2, we agree that to improve crop production is one of the priorities. In this respect, we think that to improve breeding and expansion of paddy rice varieties is good. for local conditions and to strengthen capabilities of national institutions will play an active role.
Thirdly, our Programme 2. 1. 3, Animal Husbandry: Many developing countries have explored natural grasslands in order to increase production in relation to breeding and expand better breeds and control disease. This is a key problem, to make full use of natural grasslands so that various countries can transform their natural grasslands and strengthen existing breeds. This is very important.
P. MASUD (Pakistan): I am sorry, Mr. Chairman -the first time I spoke, I spoke only about the programme on natural resources and not on the whole Chapter which includes Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestries. On the question of crops, we would like to see a high priority given to rice production, particularly with reference to provision of rice in rain-fed areas. However, at the same time, we would like to stress the importance of crops such as wheat, maize and oilseeds, and would urge that the work presently being done should continue.
Another area which we would like to stress is seed production. High quality seed is a most important input. FAO's Seed Improvement and Development Scheme has done good work, and we would urge that it be strengthened, both financially and physically. In this context, we would also like to talk of a fund of US$220 million which was established in accordance with the Resolution adopted by the Nineteenth Session of the FAO Conference. This, to us, is extremely important.
We would also like to highlight the position with regard to the locust. Although presently the situation is under control, we must not relax our vigilance. One more item on seed production: another area where we would like to see more work done is in sugar cane. This area has not been mentioned hitherto, and, when mentioned was mentioned in a very summary sort of context, and we would like to stress more work being in this field.
On prevention of Food Losses, there is not much that we can add to what has already been said. It is extremely important. We would like to see some work done on farm storage, because this is where the bulk of any crop is stored. Most of it is with the farmers before the crops can be marketed for consumption in urban areas. In this connexion, we would again urge the attainment of the target of US$20 million during the biennium 1980-81 incidentally, this has the support of the Committee as a whole, which has fully supported this Programme.
On mechanization, while we support a selective approach to appropriate mechanization, we think it is hazardous to rush too quickly into mechanization, because this may create problems of its own. We would also like to mention the importance of timeliness of farming operations, multiple cropping, and extension of cultivated areas.
Under the programme Livestock, we would highlight the importance of production of animals at the small farmers level. In this connexion, the two schemes the International Meat Development Scheme and the International Scheme for the Coordination of Dairy Development - are useful instruments in providing technical assistance. We would strongly support the Poultry Development Programme, and seek assistance, particularly in the field of training personnel in disease control.
We would like to emphasize sheep and goat production in the context of the development of small farmers.
In the field of research support you, Mr. Chairman, have already pointed out earlier that there is a great need for strengthening national institutions, research extension, linkage research and also planning and research organization and management.
Under the heading of Rural Development we support the objectives and strategies emphasized by the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development which we feel are a general set of guidelines which could be used for specific programmes at country level, taking into consideration the requirements of each country. We welcome the centre for the integration of rural development for the Asian, Pacific and Bagladesh areas, which we feel have been somewhat neglected. Marketing and credit are extremely important to the farmers. Firstly, credit. With credit he can produce more. He must be able to market more also and therefore we would highlight this area.
In the area of the programme on nutrition, we support the higher priorities given to nutrition in the 1980-81 biennium. In this connexion we propose the development of low cost - high quality nutritional foods for nutritional intervention programmes. We have stressed in the past and we stress once again the need for training and education in nutrition.
We would also like to point to the importance of debt regeneration.
We have one more proposal in this connexion, the possibility of examining the utility of textured vegetable protein which would improve body-building foods on the one hand and on the other reduce the pressure on cereals such as wheat, etc.
In the field of fisheries we welcome the report of the recent meeting on fisheries which has dealt at length with the new regime of the sea, the exclusive economic zones. We fully support the better management of marine fisheries in order to yield higher levels of production, but at the same time we would like to stress the development of inland and small scale fisheries. While the Regular Programme is providing the essential finance, extra budgetary funds should be the main concern of programme action in fisheries. In view of the increased responsibility, more funds, both regular and extra-budgetary, would be required. In this connection we were all grateful to the Government of Norway which has already announced a contribution.
Under the programme on forestry, very briefly we support the development of the forest industry and trade, forestry for rural development, forestry for community development and the control of desertification, the protection of water sheds in heavy rainfall areas and the medium and small scale forest industry. A word about the relatively new concept of forestry for local community development. We feel that this should not remain a mere slogan but be given practical shape by FAO and accordingly receive high priority. This work must be recognized within the community. It cannot be conserved and managed without the active participation of local rural communities.
We would also urge greater attention to upland water management and the protection of river basins. Soil and water conservation to forestry is necessary to prevent landslides and the silting of reservoirs which in turn have an effect on agricultural production.
A word about the food and agricultural information analysis. The dissemination of information is essential and a constitutional function of the FAO which requires continued emphasis under the Regular Programme.
FAO's information and statistics are considered authoritative and are respected by Member Countries. In this connection, FAO's analytical work and information should not be academic but of direct and practical benefit to the end users, particularly the developing countries. Those are all the comments I have for the moment.
H. OGUT (Turkey): The effect of insufficient and non-radical use of natural resources is quite evident in low developments of agricultural increases in developing countries. This is because erosion is still a problem which causes large losses of production; irrigation facilities are used ineffectively and below their capacity. Fertilizers are still scarce as an input. In short, the developing countries require large investments to develop their national potential, but they also need to establish a radical use of the already developed facilities, which call for additional technical knowledge and assistance. We actually think that the 12 percent increase proposed in the 1980-81 budget of FAO for the development of natural resources is sufficient to provide this technical assistance for the next two years.
Another important problem facing the developing countries is lack of energy resources and the fact that they are expensive even when available. It is necessary to establish cheaper and new types of energy sources, such as biological and solar energy to be used in the field of agricultural research. The assistance required for such energy sources should be provided by FAO, and we are happy to see that this subject is readily emphasized in the Programme of Work and Budget.
One other vital problem for the developing countries is the condition of the rural poor. FAO is obliged largely to expand its activities to cover this subject in accordance with the responsibility bestowed at the end of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. Although the budgetary increases related to this subject are not adequate, the allocation of larger sums to Regional Offices which could officially use this income is welcomed.
R. W. WOOTTON (United Kingdom): I have just two points. First of all we have some doubt about the amount of publication which seems to be undertaken. Apart from the 11 million dollars set aside for the programme 2. 1. 7: Food and Agricultural Information and Analysis, which is on page 99 in the English version, which is a clear centre for publication activities, some publication seems to be carried out by almost every other programme within the Programme of Work and Budget. It is clear that some of this publication is needed but we should welcome the views of the Secretariat on the continuation of publication work of this kind, however desirable it is in theory and how effective it is in practice. For example, in paragraph 14 of programme 2. 2. 2, page 117, there is a reference to 80 publications that are either already issued or being prepared, which seems a very large number. There is also reference at paragraph 16 to: "Many manuals will be produced in support of acquaculture development. . . "
The second point on which we would welcome comments is the possibility of the coordination of research facilities throughout the world.
J. H. JENSEN (Denmark): Since this is the first time I have addressed the Commission, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election. I also hope that you will excuse me if I take a little more time.
My delegation has chosen to select one subject on which to give a more detailed recommendations and suggestions. That is 2. 1. 6: Nutrition. Two years ago the 19th Conference of the FAO recommended in its Resolution 877 that the Director General review present FAO programmes to assess their impact on the nutritional status of the rural and urban poor and to suggest methods for ensuring that nutritional considerations are adequately included in FAO's planning and execution of agricultural programmes and projects. In the same resolution the Conference expressed concern that the level of resource allocation at that time for nutrition activities in FAO's Regular Budget for the improvement of the nutritional status of the urban and rural poor did not appear to be in relation to the tasks placed upon the FAO within the area of nutrition.
When examining the documentation that we have here in front of us, we note with satisfaction that the increase in the allocation for the Food Policy and Nutrition Division does reflect an increased emphasis on nutrition.
The share of the total. FAO budget allocated to nutrition is however still small, and we hope that the trend towards more involvement of the Food Policy and Nutrition Division with the work of other departments in FAO will continue. We hope that the Nutrition Division in the course of this cooperation will prove that nutrition is not a troublemaker, it is not a complicated extra that you have to add to otherwise serious agricultural projects under great pains and with extra expenditure. We hope that it will now be understood that nutrition is a useful tool that can be used right from the planning stage of agricultural projects in order to ensure that increased production is also converted into reduced hunger and malnutrition. This incorporation process may very well place certain demands on the Organization. It is for instance a prerequisite that nutrition moves out of the Nutrition Division and into the executing divisions of FAO. The nutritionist ought to be a kind of accountant to account for where the nutrients and where the food goes just as the accountant keeps track of where the money goes. In and by itself nutrition is not too interesting to the agricultural planner. In order to make it a useful tool to him or her we have to move borderlines between disciplines and change some organizational structures. It has already been proposed by the Council that this Conference adopt a resolution that will include inflation into the COAG which will then provide a forum for us Member Nations of the Organization in which it is possible for us to discuss nutritional problems in relation to food production. We cannot help feeling however that the Secretariat itself also need a similar forum for discussion, for instance on how to proceed with the very important task of introducing nutritional considerations into all field programmes of the Organization.
We therefore urge the Secretariat to consider the formation of an interdepartmental working group on nutrition to ensure that nutritional considerations are, as appropriate, adequately included into FAO's planning and execution of programmes and projects. Such a working group has, as far as we know, been established already for rural development. Our delegation feels that nutrition is a promising tool in
development cooperation and that it is a field with a high level of activity in other organizations as well. It is therefore somewhat surprising to us to note that only one out of more than three hundred planned sessions for the coming biennium is on nutrition - that is in one of the annexes to the Programme of Work and Budget. Also as far as planned publications are concerned less than two percent of the expenses will be used to spread nutrition information and knowledge. We hope that a vigorous activity in the area of nutrition in the FAO will necessitate an increased allocation of funds to the Food Policy and Nutrition Division in general as well as for publications and meetings in this area.
This leads to our last comment. When we look at the Budget for the Food Policy and Nutrition Division it appears that something like one third of their funds are spent on Food Standards and Quality Control which also includes Codex Alimentarius work. We do find that this is a very important area and we appreciate the valuable work that is being done. We however also find that it is not correct to put this work under the heading of "nutrition". For the majority of the population in developing countries the food that is eaten never reaches a system where control and analysis can take place. We wish to stress that we do not object to the work that is being done in itself. What we are saying however is that it gives an incorrect picture of the allocation of funds to nutritional activities to include in the budget of this division an area which has only limited relevance to nutrition.
P. HALIMI (France): Monsieur le President, je voudrais tout d'abord vous féliciter de votre élection à la Présidence de cette Commission. Mes félicitations s'adressent également aux Vice-Présidents.
Je me permettrai de faire quelques remarques sur un certain nombre de points. Tout d'abord, en ce qui concerne l'hydraulique agricole, mentionnée aux pages 70 et 72 du document, nous approuvons l'action ré-gionalement diversifiée de l'Organisation puisque de nouvelles méthodes d'évaluation des ressources en eau ont été appliquées pour l'utilisation de l'eau au Kowe. it, dans les Etats du Golfe persique et de la Péninsule arabique ainsi que dans trois pays d'Amérique latine. De nombreux programmes de formation en vue de l'amélioration de l'aménagement et du contrôle des eaux au niveau de l'exploitation ont été intensifiés dans la Région Asie et Pacifique.
Ma délégation rappelle que l'utilisation de l'eau par les exploitations est un sujet qui a fait l'objet d'un examen approfondi par le COAG, lors de sa cinquième session tenue en avril dernier dont les recommandations concernant l'eau, la terre, les méthodes d'irrigation et la lutte contre le gaspillage devront être gardées à l'esprit. Elle rappelle également l'intérêt du fonctionnement du Groupe européen de l'hydraulique agricole dont les travaux sont particulièrement utiles aux pays méditerranéens et aux pays en développement.
En ce qui concerne le programme semences, mentionné aux pages 75 et 77, nous considérons qu'il convient de continuer à accorder une priorité élevée à la mise au point de cultivars nouveaux et améliorés, bio-logiquement efficaces, adaptés aux diverses conditions climatiques, résistant aux ravageurs et aux maladies. Il est donc essentiel à cet effet de continuer à s'occuper des ressources phytogénétiques par leur collecte en vue de l'établissement d'une documentation complète, et de mettre en place un réseau international pour leur conservation et leur utilisation. La production de semences de qualité dans les pays en développement, jusqu'à présent notoirement insuffisante, devra être accrue par tous moyens appropriés. Les efforts de l'Organisation devront être poursuivis et intensifiés tant les besoins des pays en développement restent importants et urgents à satisfaire. Notre délégation se réjouit à cet égard de l'aide apportée par la Communauté économique européenne tout récemment au Nicaragua.
En ce qui concerne le stockage, la mécanisation et les bâtiments agricoles, ma délégation note avec sa-tisfaction les actions entreprises dans ce domaine par l'Organisation. Des missions ont lieu dans plus de quinze pays en vue de la production agricole mécanisée et l'aménagement des terres, et dans dix pays pour fournir des avis sur l'intensification et le choix du matériel agricole. Il est heureux qu'un groupe d'experts sur la mécanisation agricole ait été constitué en 1979 en vue de la création au niveau national de services chargés de promouvoir des structures rurales appropriées- cela a été dit par d'autres délégations avant moi - notamment en matière de stockage et de bâtiments agricoles dans les exploitations et au niveau du village.
En ce qui concerne la nutrition, mentionnée aux pages 104 et 109 du document, je me contenterai d'appuyer ce qui vient d'être dit par la Délégation du Danemark, et de souhaiter que le Comité de l'agriculture poursuive le travail préalablement effectué par le Groupe Ad Hoc des politiques nutritionnelles.
Pour ce qui est des cultures, la Délégation française a noté avec satisfaction, dans l'allocution prononcée par le Président Kaunda, qu'il a insisté sur la nécessité de développer les cultures vivrières. Par la suite, nous avons noté avec satisfaction que le Prix Sen avait été donné à un groupe de chercheurs ayant poursuivi les recherches sur le mil et sur sa panification. Or nous constatons, qu'alors que dans la production de nourriture dans le monde les plantes produisent grosso modo 85 pour cent de
cette nourriture que la production animale en représente 10 pour cent et la production halieutique environ 5 pour cent, que cette production végétale ne bénéficie pas d'une attention soutenue au sein de la FAO. Nous constatons que les moyens ne sont pas suffisants pour développer les productions vivrières, nous souhaitons qu'il soit possible de redéployer les crédits au sein du Département pour privilégier les productions vivrières, notamment les productions de nourriture de base. Nous pensons tout particulièrement au mil qui joue un rôle important en Afrique, mais nous pensons également à d'autres productions sur lesquelles je ne m'étendrai pas, telles que le sorgho.
J'en viens maintenant au Programme 2. 1. 3, pages 83 à 86 du document, consacré à l'élevage. Je tiens à vous dire que la Délégation française donne son plein appui à la lutte menée par le Directeur général contre la trypanosomiase. Dans ce cadre, une coopération existe déjà entre la FAO, la France et d'autres pays de la CEE. Un programme a été lancé. Nous tenons à vous dire que les instituts français groupés au sein du GERDAT sont tout disposés à apporter leur coopération à la lutte menée par la FAO contre ce fléau. Cette affection est, vous le savez, un frein certain au développement des productions bovines, surtout en Afrique soudanaise, mais nous pensons que son éradication ne peut à elle seule se traduire par un développement significatif des productions animales dans cette région où les traditions d'élevage ne sont pas particulièrement présentes. La mise en valeur de cette zone, qui constitue le principal potentiel de production animale de l'Afrique en raison de la qualité des sols et du climat, demandera la mise en place de projets de développement intégré faisant appel à d'importants moyens financiers et en agents d'encadrement sur un nombre important d'années.
J'en viens au programme de réduction des pertes après récolte. Nous considérons que ce programme revêt une importance particulière. Nous avons noté que trente-deux projets ont été retenus, mais nous souhaiterions avoir de plus amples informations sur ces projets.
En ce qui concerne le Programme 2. 2 - Pêches, nous appuyons les projets indiqués, et nous insistons, comme d'autres délégations, sur la nécessité de procéder à un inventaire des ressources, sur la nécessité de la définition de plans de développement des pêches, sur des études d'infrastructure portuaire et sur la création de sociétés d'armement industriel.
J'en viens maintenant au Programme 2. 3. 1 - Forêts, pour insister, comme d'autres délégations avant moi, sur l'importance des résolutions du Congrès forestier mondial, et je vous exprime ma satisfaction de constater que la revue UNASYLVA est maintenue (je l'ai lu dans un des documents soumis à notre attention) mais nous souhaiterions le maintien du Groupe d'étude et de concertation nommé Sylva Mediterranea, nous souhaiterions également que reprennent les réunions du Groupe de travail des bassins versants. La France, vous le savez, a proposé d'organiser en octobre 1980 une réunion de ce groupe qui se tiendrait à Grenoble, et nous souhaiterions que des moyens fussent dégagés sur les crédits de la FAO de manière à ce que ces deux groupes puissent reprendre vie.
Aa. BOTHNER (Norway): Mr. Chairman, like the distinguished delegate of France my delegation would like to express support for the viewpoint expressed by the distinguished delegate of Denmark concerning the importance of nutrition and to ensure increased food production can be converted into decrease of malnutrition and hunger. To this end we feel that the tool nutrition should be employed by all FAO Divisions. The need for inter-divisional cooperation within the Organization itself cannot be stressed too much.
We support the objective expressed in the Programme point 1. 6 paragraph 1, especially the need for enabling member nations to formulate and implement sound and relevant food and nutritional policies. Norway being one of the countries who is, in fact, working on this exercise. We are quite familiar with the difficulties and practical snags involved in the very important task. Moreover, we are seeing what efforts are needed for an inter ministerial approach to our efforts to secure an appropriate nutri-nional sound diet to our population. My reason for mentioning this here, Mr. Chairman, is mainly to tell you that on the basis of our experience in this rather new field we know that problems are involved in tackling nutrition policy problems. But we would like you to know that they can be solved.
B. M. CHLYABWE (Zambia): I have just one point to make about community forestry at page 138, paragraph 14. It looks as if this Programme is only confined to the French speaking countries and I would like to have some clarifications on this.
P. AMARO (Portugal): Permettez-moi tout d'abord, Monsieur le Président, de vous féliciter pour votre élection comme Président de cette Commission et de féliciter aussi les Vice-Présidents.
L'importance de la lutte intégrée contre les ravageurs dans les systèmes de culture est une conséquence de la bonne relation qu'il faut faire préalablement des facteurs économiques, toxicologiques et écologiques. Elle représente une solution beaucoup plus valable que celle souvent adoptée, essentiellement la lutte chimique avec tous les inconvénients connus.
La FAO a depuis longtemps développé un travail très important dans ce secteur de la lutte intégrée, grâce au dynamisme et à la compétence de son service de la Protection des végétaux. Ces considérations nous amènent à suggérer que soient élargis les moyens réservés au développement des programmes de la FAO concernant la lutte intégrée prévue à la page 80 de la version française du Budget. D'ailleurs, la haute priorité proposée pour la lutte intégrée à la page 8 du document sur les objectifs à moyen-terme doit à mon avis être traduite dans celle relative aux perspectives à moyen terme du chapitre 2, pages 63 et 64.
En ce qui concerne la nutrition, nous appuyons ce qui vient d'être proposé par les Délégués du Danemark, de la France et de la Norvège. En effet, nous aimerions que la nutrition soit considérée comme un facteur très important pour le développement rural.
I. MOSKOVITS (Malta): This chapter is one of the most important in FAO's activities, not only for the financial assistance given to it but because it is one of the main important helps to member governments. I would like to make some remarks according to the various sections of the Programme.
With regard to natural resources I think particular attention should be given to the replenishment of the International Fertilizer Scheme. Unfortunately, this Scheme which was first started with a very great success, slowed down considerably and at the end there was only one donor country which has even ceased now to give contribution in kind to the Programme. This is one of the "Special Action Projects", in which perhaps some funds could be injected from the Regular Programme, perhaps through the TCP to revive it, because it is a project which was of very great interest and which raised great hope in member countries.
With regard to natural resources we support the work which has been done on land reclamation and conservation, on the introduction of modern irrigation methods and the rehabilitation of irrigation systems which are already outmoded. I think important consideration should be given to new sources of energy and among these to solar energy and its possible use, for instance, in glass houses or for protected crops.
As regards the Chapter concerning crops, first priority, I think, should be given to post-harvest losses not only to post-harvest losses but also to pre-harvest losses. And in this connection, of course, also to plant protection. The seed production and improvement projects was very successful and it should be continued, perhaps even on a stronger basis. Cash crops should be included as also flowers, and horticulture production in general.
A very great importance has to be given to forage production, and to the improvement of grasslands. As regards livestock production this delegation wishes to give a very high priority to the Animal Production and Health Division whose work is really outstanding and extremely helpful for most member countries.
Regarding animal health, consideration should be given not only to the control of animal diseases like African swine fever but also to replenishment of stock which has to be destroyed in order to prevent spreading of diseases, sometimes even to other countries. Very important for the small farmers are projects concerning smaller animals - poultry and, perhaps, also rabbits.
The Meat Development Scheme and the ISCD gave us some disappointment and some disillusion. We had an excellent team from FAO which made a survey and singled out projects but, unfortunately, practically none of the projects realized. They had to be submitted to member countries but they did not get support.
With regard to nutrition I think it is a great achievement now that as a consequence of the Resolution of the last Conference there is an effort to integrate nutrition with agriculture. This problem was one of the problems which the founding fathers of FAO had very much in view and it is very encouraging to see that this objective has been revived.
In this respect, Mr. Chairman, we are pleased that increased financial assistance is given to the Regular Programme for nutrition and, in particular for nutritional surveys. We would like very much that such surveys should be carried out in as many countries as possible, even from the Regular Programme fund and not with the necessity to resort to extra budgetary funds which are not very easy to obtain. We hope very much that soon a survey will be carried out in Malta and that the workers will be trained for nutritional enquiries. Thus this might become a model project, perhaps also for other countries which are in a similar situation as Malta. My Government would be pleased to give hospitality to a demonstration centre or, perhaps, training facilities for workers coming from other countries.
In the rural development Chapter we are particularly interested in the development of cooperatives.
As regards fisheries this problem will be discussed and in particular the EEZ project in Commission I. I would like to recall the resolutions in this regard taken by the Council one week ago and also the recommendation of the Council that particular attention, should be given to the Mediterranean where for geographical and other reasons extended economic zones are not applicable.
Since the EEZ project, has many facets, a lot of those aspects could perhaps be used also to improve fisheries management and administration in the Mediterranean, as proposed by the Council.
As regards agricultural information and analysis, I think that the basic statistics are one of the main objectives of FAO's activities and in this respect a great improvement can be recorded since last year. Statistics are coming out much more quickly, and I hope that they will be completed and even improved.
As regards publications, I should like very much to hear the Secretariat's comments on the proposal made by the United Kingdom delegation. We share its opinion to a certain extent and we think that perhaps, if necessary, some savings could be made in the publications programme.
Those are all my remarks at present but I should like to come back later when the Secretariat has replied to our discussion.
H. CARANDANG (Philippines): In supporting the general level of the budget we have stated that there are developments and programme demands which could justify a higher level, we think the developments in programme demand fall within this chapter. Some of these are the new requirements of the EEZ and requirements in nutrition. I shall refer particularly to the increased requirements of Programme demand in the field of nutrition. If we look at page 96, paragraph 14, we read:
"Increased support will be given to countries to assess food and nutrition situations, formulate and implement national food and nutrition policies and programmes to reach the rural and urban poor and to ensure the safety and quality of food supplies. "
This is indeed a very tall order. If we are to help nations to formulate and implement food and nutrition policies and programmes this would indeed require a higher budget than is indicated in this chapter but, knowing the limitations and restrictions under which the Director-General is labouring, although we would have supported a higher allocation for this from the Regular Programme, we would like to express the wish that TCP monies and extra-budgetary funds could be available for this important project.
Likewise, we could mention the other important developments in programme demand which would require a higher budget but I will not take up time on this because other speakers have already mentioned it.
W. A. F. GRABISCH (Germany, Fed. Rep. of) (interpretation from German): I should like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, and the Vice-Chairmen on your election.
I should like to make a few general comments before referring to the chapters which we are dealing with now. You, Mr. Chairman, and the Director-General in the introduction to the draft of the Programme and Budget for 1980-81 this morning noted that there was unanimous agreement on the strategies and programmes submitted by the Director-General. We all felt that the Organization had
adopted the right approach in our common fight against hunger. I should like to assure you that we fully agree with that conclusion. In addition we would like to thank the Director-Cenerai and his collaborators for the document C 79/3. We feel that this document describes the work for thé coming biennnium in a very clear way.
During our discussions at home we looked at the Programme of Work and Budget and felt that it was a very useful document. We worked through it very carefully. More than ever my Government attaches particular importance to the world-wide campaign against hunger and malnutrition. The share for bilateral food and agricultural projects in my country's overall allocations for development cooperation is already higher than one third and is increasing further. While on the one hand, as noted, we support the priority for food and the development of agriculture, our Government, like other governments, feels that for reasons which are only partially under our control we are in a situation when a continuous growth of the budget is not justified and our Government had to make very great efforts in order to find a way midway between careful and adequate financial policy and a dynamic continuation of the tasks ahead. We have to bear in mind that our parliament and our public opinion are very critical and exercise very sharp control over the administration and therefore of the growth rate of budgets. The budgets of the whole family of the United Nations are approached just as carefully as the budgets of our own administrations. This is a situation which other countries share and it has led to general restrictions on the budgets of the whole of the United Nations family. That explains our attitude with regard to FAO as well.
My delegation is very interested to hear during the present discussions at this Conference other member countries express their views. We would like to hear their views, and that will then determine our own final position.
So much for our preliminary comments of a general nature.
The proposals in chapter 2 on technical and economic programmes, which are really the core of the work of our Organization, can be approved by us in principle. I would like to refer to some of the highlights of the work but I assume that my Minister will refer to them in the Plenary Meeting tomorrow, therefore you will understand that I would not like to anticipate what he will say tomorrow.
With regard to fisheries and forestry, which also come under chapter 2, we would like to comment under items 9 and 6 of the agenda.
L. CORNET D'ELZIUS (Belgique): Comme tous les orateurs qui m'ont précédé, je veux vous féliciter pour votre élection. Ma délégation se réserve de faire une déclaration à un stade ultérieur. La délégation belge, à la soixante-quinzième session du Conseil, avait donné son appui tant au Programme de travail qu'au budget proposé pour le biennium 1980-81. Je suis en mesure de confirmer cet accord. Toutefois, je tiens à dire que la croissance continue du Programme préoccupe les autorités belges. Notre budget national pour 1980 a été établi lui-même sur la base d'une croissance zéro. Consacrer davantage de ressources aux organisations internationales oblige les autorités belges â réduire celles qu'elles affectent à d'autres postes. Vous n'ignorez pas les lourdes charges que la situation économique actuelle nous impose. Mon pays continuera donc à examiner dans l'avenir, dans quelle mesure les augmentations des budgets tant de la FAO et des autres institutions des Nations Unies sont compatibles avec les sévères restrictions budgétaires que le Gouvernement belge est contraint de s'imposer à lui-même dans son propre pays.
CHAIRMAN: I now call upon Dr. Bommer to give us the benefit of his views on several of the issues that have been raised.
D. F. R. BOMMER (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): First of all I should like to express our appreciation, as far as the Agriculture Department is concerned, for the very valuable comments, questions and remarks we have received in the course of this discussion. You will understand that to most of them we can only say we will take them into consideration.
We note with pleasure that we have received support for various programmes and certainly we have received a lot of requests for additional activities - and here I turn to Mr. West, the colleagues on my left, when we consider additional activities within the context of the proposed budget level and programme, but at the same time if I look at some of the comments made by other delegations, which call
at the same time for a reduction or for a lower rate of growth in the budget level, . ^tftd for increased activities, it is difficult to understand. We would certainly be happy to propose in various areas mentioned increased activities if we felt that could find the support of member countries.
I am trying to go through the various notes I have to reply to some of the points raised and answer specifically those in which we felt it was a question of lack of clarity in our presentation.
First of all, this morning in the general debate we had a specific point mentioned on the tryponosomiasis programme. It is premature to discuss it here because we are to have a separate discussion on it, but in the documents you have are listed all the 36 countries which are affected and all these countries really will receive recognition in the implementation of the programme. This includes - and this was specifically asked certainly Sudan. I do not know exactly on which paragraph the comment by the Sudanese delegation was based, that they would have liked to see this programme implemented in Sudan as well, but we can only assure them that certainly Sudan is under consideration in the programme. On the other hand we ask for understanding that in each programme you need some kind of phasing and a setting of priorities. We feel that the most urgent thing is to start in West Africa with the larger activities but at the same time going on already in East Africa with the assistance.
Very specifically, we fielded a mission to Sudan on this item in the last quarter of last year, to assess the training needs and to locate an area suitable for development with a pilot cable line to the invested zone and at present one of the Sudanese veterinarians who is training in Nairobi, in Kenya, in this area of control.
A question was raised, why were we not launching a similar action programme on food and mouth disease, recognizing its importance compared to tryponosomiasis. The foot and mouth disease complex problem is given very high priority by us but, again, if we were to consider action programmes in all the important fields we cover in our programme it would be an unmanageable task. It means setting priorities and the phasing of activities. We have given tryponosomiasis a very high priority and we are trying to launch a specific action programme while still pursuing the activities we started very much earlier in foot and mouth disease. Very specifically, we pay increasing attention to foot and mouth disease problems in Africa as well as in other continents.
During the current biennium, FAO has carried out an investigatory mission in West Africa in order to establish a sub-regional programme to improve disease surveyance and control. Then, in early 1980, it is planned to have a small mission going to Eastern and Central Africa, and this mission will include a detailed review of the recommendations which had been made to the Goverment of Tanzania as early as 1972, in the field of measures to be taken against foot-and-mouth disease and also in the light of the findings of the mission which visited your country one year ago and which made additional recommendations with a view to proposing further action programmes. I hope this is satisfactory to the distinguished Delegate for Tanzania.
The question was raised again - I think we had raised this in the preparation of the Programme, it was raised in the Programme Committee, it was raised in the Council, so I am quite familiar with that question the question of research support activities in Latin America. I have to come back to that with some explanation of that Programme on Research Support made in the Programme of Work and Budget. Not all of our activities in research support are spelled out in the total Programme: I only explain this in case, for instance, we are asked "what are you doing on training", that it is not spelled out on a separate chapter, the total activities of training are much larger than under the statistical heading. It is the same on the research side: it is a tip of the iceberg activity, those which relate to the integrated Programme.
That is one point. The other is that we are, certainly in all the extrabudgetary activities, very much dependent on the availability of first of all UNDP funds to these countries and on the specific countries requests which are being made to UNDP and ourselves to launch or support programmes. Therefore, there is a discrepancy between the allocations and the requests made by Latin American countries, compared to countries of other continents. Another factor, although a small one, from the point of view of regular activities: in the Latin American region there is not a research officer in the Regional Office, although we have one in Africa and one in the Near East. But that is a minor factor.
Now I am going to explain to the distinguished representative of Argentina, that there are considerable activities, not only going on but being planned and being explored, and in many of those we have to seek additional funding from extra-budgetary resources. I just want to summarize those to give an indication. For instance, there has been in preparation now for two years the Cooperative Research Network for the Improvement of Low Reproductive Efficiency in Cattle in that region of Latin America. We are moving slowly, and are still looking forward to strong support from extra-budgetary resources, but we hope we will succeed because we have strong support from Governments in respect of institutions in the area.
Recently a FAO/UNDP project "The Strengthening of Agricultural Research in the Caribbean" has started its preparation. It is a preparatory project, but it will expand with the UNDP financing and the support by the Government of considerable activities of research collaboration between the countries of the Caribbean, and Preparatory Assistance Missions for projects are in preparation for grains, legumes, bananas, coconuts, sugar cane, cattle and sheep breeding and production. All within this Caribbean zone. Research activities on the application, on the improvement and management of pastures in the "Zonas del Campo" is in operation benefitting Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
This Programme is progressing quite well with the cooperation of UNDP and with Unesco's Map Programme.
On the question of the Venezuelan Government, we are assisting on national and regional research planning and implementation and those projects' formulation will be finalized next month. Again, the question of funding has still to be clarified. We should specifically mention that in South America our joint FAO/EIA Division has a considerable number of activities. In 21 research projects going on in various countries individually and these are not shown, again, in our document. Because these projects are shown in the budget of the Atomic Energy Ahency, Then we have a long list of planned activities which are in preparation and which I do not wish to mention specifically. You may be interested to know that we are specifically looking at genetic resource conservation in plants as well as in animals in Latin America and we are particularly interested to hear in the population clearing phase in the Andes zone countries and their possible collaboration to further pursue TGDC possibilities in Latin America.
So there are a whole bunch of activities, and if this is not shown in the budget, we cannot show it if we do not have assured financing. On the one side, or it might be covered in one of the other major programmes as listed in the Programme of Work and Budget, document.
The distinguished Delegate of Uganda has stressed the need for streamlining agriculture and marketing and credit in the poorer countries. We can only fully support this view, and we are certainly prepared to respond to any requests that we will receive.
He had to add to the already considerable activities which we are pursuing, and I can only react too to the statements made by other delegations that market and credit are very important. The amount available for this Programme has to be seen in relation to other expenditures which we have in the Programme of Work and Budget - but again, as in most of the other programmes, we are seeking further support for extra-budgetary resources.
A number of questions have been raised into the Chapter of Research Report to which I have already referred relating to the Latin American situation. Here it was specifically, I think, the delegation from the United States which raised a number of very specific questions, and I shall try to reply to those.
First of all, in this Programme on Research Support, we have certainly to note that the contributions of the IAEA, as mentioned by the distinguished delegate is not shown in our Programme of Work and Budget. At present it is two-thirds of the total sub-programme in this field which is provided by the Atomic Energy Agency, and one third is provided by us. Certainly, it is for consideration whether such figures should in future be incorporated in the document, but it is certainly a funding which is provided in the budget of the Atomic Energy Agency.
Then there was a specific question raised by the United States delegation, on the rather modest contribution which we are making to training efforts in food irradiation for developing countries, following the very generous offer of the Dutch Government in using their Institutions for training efforts together with the Atomic Energy Commission. This training effort is concentrated on the economy, and technology of food irradiation and deals with those eight items which have been reviewed by WHO, FAO and IAEA. After many years of work they are indicated as absolutely not in danger - or, in other words, as being wholesome, and this wholesomeness is finally being discussed in the Codex Alimentarius Commission and there is no doubt that the wholesomeness will be granted to the eight commodities.
So I think there is pehaps some misunderstanding from the Conference that we are moving ahead into an area in which we do not have the assurance of wholesomeness consideration. So we have a real prospect in these major commodities where it is appropriate and where other methods used today cannot be applied, of using this type of methodology.
Another question raised by him was whether it would not be advisable for CARIS to in some way be merged with AGRIS, and he even questioned the usefulness of CARIS. I am rather surprised by this question. First of all, I would say that we fully support and even intend that there will be close links between CARIS and AGRIS - perhaps even finally to work out some kind of merger. But it has just recently been
discussed - including the USA - that there is a lack of information systems in research, specifically in research institutions, and this has been discussed in the Consultive Group on International Agricultural Research. There was even the consideration given that in this new International Service for National Agricultural Research, this service should build up such a documentation system, in which we draw the attention of this Group to the fact that FAO has done, at the request of its member countries, this exercise. It needs only to be put in place in countries, in regions. Therefore, as on the other circuits the US has supported that view, I find it difficult to understand their questioning of it on this side. The united Kingdom delegation raised the question of the general global lack of collaboration in agricultural research. I don't think I fully understand the question but this is a very complex matter to refer to. I just wanted to give a few indications here saying first of all that in the total field of science and technology, which includes research, - don't quarrel about definitions.
We have discussions going on between all United Nations agencies on how improved coordination can take place in the United Nations family and there will be established an ACC Sub-Committee on Science and Technology in this field and we will establish specific lines of communication: how the programmes of the various organizations are communicated, streamlines, and made compatible in a horizontal and vertical way.
In addition, we know that meanwhile, for exactly ten years now, there has been considerable work by the Consultative Group on Agricultural Research in which FAO are co-sponsors together with UNDP and the World Bank and activity, as the Director-General mentioned this morning, has now grown to the same budget level as FAO's budget level, with more or less the same number of employees This Group has just agreed in a meeting two weeks ago that there will be a five-year plan in which the resources for this Group for International Agricultural Research could grow by 10 percent in real terms per year, and 20 percent in current terms. All the donor countries more or less I would not say agree to that but there was no real objection to it. Some have put up reservations, but others, which have made reservations here against FAO's budget, have not put up any reservations against this increase taking place over the next ten years until 1984 - which means to double the current contribution in dollars to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
We cooperate with this group through our direct provision of the Secretariat to the Technical Advisory Committee, through our participation as the co-sponsors in the meeting, thorugh various direct links with the international institutions supported by the group and spicifically a new entity which has been established and to which I have already referred, the International Service of National Agricultural Research. We will strongly collaborate with this after it has been established as a separate and new enttity. I should mention that this is only a small part of our total world activities and meanwhile we have certainly coordinated tremendous activity in different regions. I refer for instance to Latin America, to Asia, and to all of the developing countries, all the various scientific unions, scientific societies, etc. We try to be in contact with this total development but there is no overall machinery to coordinate research on a global level and I would even advise against it because such coordinati on would be a tremendous task to perform. I do not know if this answers the specific question raised by the United Kingdom delegation. Certainly we could go into this question if requested.
The delegate of France requested more information on the post-harvest loss programme. Actually we call it the Prevention of Food Loss Programme, Maybe he is not fully aware that a report on progress was given on this matter to the Council just a week ago in which the number of projects, finance resources, so on have been listed. In addition there is a full list available of all projects and activities. But we have reported certainly by the end of each of the programmes. We are not yet in a position to have a full evaluation of the projects under consideration but we are certainly happy to provide any futher detailed information on this matter to the delegate of France as required.
I think the United States delegation asked too for the budget increases in the livestock programme. Perhaps again I was not really clear about his question in this case. He said himself that two major items are being mentioned and they are certainly the rest compared to the 763 thousand million dollars mentioned as increases at page 75. These rest are small increases of the various items of the rest of the programme. I think this answers his question. I think if one gave a full list in this document of all the small items this might confuse more than clarify the issue. We have presented the issues only in those priority programmes where major increases are proposed, not in all the details as he might like to see it.
I hope I have replied to most of the questions raised. Certainly we could go on with a lot of details and if I have left anything out I shall certainly be glad to continue.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much Dr. Bommer. I think with this we will close today's session and we shall resume discussion at 09. 30 hours tomorrow morning.
The meeting rose at 17. 35 hours
La séance est levée à 17 h 35
Se levanta la sesión a las 17. 35 horas
