N. ISLAM (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): Mr. Chairman, You have before you two documents comprising the Secretariat's analysis and assessment of the State of Food and Agriculture 1981, The first is document C 81/2. The second document, C 81/2, Supp. l, based on information available up to early October 1981, both updates and supplements the earlier document. In addition to analysing the current world food and agricultural situation, the document also provides a longer term view of trends in population growth, food production and food consumption and nutrition.
It also highlights the need to improve and expand a wide sharing of access to resources, inputs and services for alleviating poverty.
I would like to first briefly touch on the current world food situation including world food security, which shows both positive and negative aspects. Taking the positive aspects first, Mr. Chairman, world food production recovered somewhat in 1981 from the poor levels of the previous two years to record an increase similar to the average rate achieved for the 1970s, 2. 5 percent, but still below the trend for that period:to get back on trend it would have needed an increase in 1981 of over 4 percent to compen sate for the poor food production years of 1979 and 1980. In terms of food production, and with some exceptions, the developing countries of Asia have done well this year, and those of latin America mode rately well.
This increase, which includes significantly larger harvests of wheat, and coarse grains and another large output of rice, has averted the immediate threat of a world crisis which was causing us so much concern this time last year. Total cereal production is expected to increase by between 60 million and 100 mil lion tons. As a consequence, stocks of cereals which were drawn down to dangerously low levels at the end of the 1980/81 season last June, are likely to be a little higher by the end of 1981/82. This improvement in cereal supplies also has had a consequential easing effect on cereal prices in interna tional markets, although the magnitude of the declines which were less than 20 percent over the year, were more than offset by the appreciation of the US dollar against most other currencies during the same period. So, by and large, cereal importers would have paid similar if not higher prices in terms of their domestic currencies.
A very welcome sign of improved food production has been the decline in the numbers of countries repor ted by FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System of Food and Agriculture to be suffering from food shortage or emergency situations since earlier this year:the number has fallen to 21 from 31 in the month of May. This now excludes China, which has recently informed FAO that it no longer requires emergency aid owing to this year's better crops, although it may need food assistance for agricultural rehabilitation purposes.
Another positive feature improving food security has been the decision of the International Monetary Fund in May to extend financial assistance to its member countries should they experience balance of payments difficulties in meeting their exceptional cereal imports needs. Already this compensatory financing facility has been put into operation.
This time last year we drew attention to the upward trend in the export prices of fertilizers which had taken place through 1979 and into 1980. These prices have since tended to have levelled off or declined in some cases although, as with cereal prices, quite major shifts in current exchange rates which have taken place render real price comparisons over time difficult.
Despite these positive aspects of the current food situation, there are negative aspects which seem to persist. Food production which accelerated in the world as a whole in 1981 and also in some developing regions, decelerated in others. In Africa the increase was no better than it had been for the 1970's, a rate of increase which is inadequate in relation to the region's population growth of about 3 percent per annum; in the Near East, according to our provisional estimates, the increase dropped to less than 1 percent.
The volume of cereal imports of low-income developing countries continues to rise and may have reached 41 million tons in the 1980/81 season: four years ago it was only 26 million tons. The value of their commercial imports of cereals has trebled. With stagnating export earnings and rising costs of other developmental imports, increasing costs of cereal imports impose heavy burdens on the balance of payments of these countries. The current account deficits of low income food deficit countries has increased almost eight-fold between 1976 and 1980, reducing their capacity to import.
Although we expect an increase in cereal stocks by the end of the 1981/82 season almost 16% of world cereal consumption, the increase will be mainly in coarse grains and will be held by developed countries.
Shipments of food aid in 1980/81 amounted to 8. 6 million tons, the lowest level since 1975/76 and allocations for 1981/82 are only 8. 9 million tons which, if reached, would mean a recovery to the level of 1979/80. However, past experience indicates that actual shipments invariably fall short of allocations. Four years ago, food aid covered over one quarter of these countries' cereal imports but in 1980/81, the proportion fell almost to only one sixth.
Recent trends in external assistance to agriculture give rise to some concern: in 1980 official commitments of such assistance declined in real terms by about 6%. While the decline in 1979 was largely accounted for by the commitments of multilateral agencies, in 1980 it was the result of a reduction in bilateral commitments, not only in real, but also in current prices. The prospects for 1981 do not appear to be particularly bright given the present climate for development assistance in general. However, concessional
aid for agriculture to the least developed countries has recently been increasing in real terms and this is a welcome development in line with recommendations of the recent United Nations Conference on Less Developed Countries.
Another trend inhibiting agricultural progress has been the deterioration in agricultural trade in 1980 mainly as a consequence of declining demand for some agricultural products because of world recession and, in other cases, the effects of continued protectionism.
The growth of world trade in agricultural commodities, including fishery and forestry products, at about 11 percent in value in 1980 is below the annual average rate of the 1970's. The real value of the agricultural exports of developing countries actually declined by 3 percent in 1980, and the share of developing countries in world agricultural export earnings has steadily declined to 28 percent. Developments in 1981 indicate a further deterioration in their agricultural trade situation with adverse changes in the agricultural terms of trade, due mainly to declines in the prices of many of their principal agricultural export products. The decline in agriculture's terms of trade in the last two years has taken place in the context of rising costs of production, high interest rates and rising costs of transport. As a consequence, the balance of agricultural trade of non-oil developing countries declined sharply: in 1979 it covered 39% of their non-agricultural merchandise trade gap, but in 1980 this proportion had fallen to only one quarter. It is worthwhile recalling that during 1977-79, there were 35 developing countries where agricultural products contributed more than half of their total merchandise export earnings.
As we look forwards the long term trends in production, distribution and consumption in developing countries, especially in relation to trends in growth of population, there are reasons for concern as well. According to the provisional United Nations estimates in 1980, a further 800 million plus will be added to the population of developing countries in the 1980's. However, fertility rates are declining in some countries, and generally the rates of decline are faster than those that occurred in the developed countries in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mortality rates have also continuedto deline although there is some tendency to a levelling off.
Viewed in the context of trends in population growth, growth rates in cereals production which constitutes a major component of food consumption give cause for concern. Only in 19 developing countries did cereal production keep pace with the growth in cereals demand. In high income developing countries with rising consumption, indirect use of cereals for livestock production has also been on the increase. The use of grains in livestock feed has increased in the world as a whole at an annual average rate of over 4% from the mid-sixties. Under the impact of higher prices and tight supplies of grain, there has been a levelling off of demand for cereals for use as feedstuffs in recent years.
We have attempted to respond to the request made at the 78th Session of the Council, that increas ing use should be made of FAO food balance sheet data to monitor the nutrition situation. Despite the limitations of these aggregated data, they indicate a modest improvement during the 1970s in developing countries as a whole in terms of their average daily per caput calorie supply, even though there were fluctuations from year to year. However, the nutrition situation in Africa has not recorded any improve ment over the past decade; in the least developed countries it has grown worse. Considerable variations exist in nutritional standards not only between individuals within a country, but also between countries. Seasonal variations in food intake have important implications for nutritional standards.
The susceptibility of certain groups, particularly young children, to nutritional deficiencies is well known. Moderate under-nutrition is prevalent to an average extent of 15-25% of children though in some cases it goes up to 60%. Necessary measures to prevent or cure under-nutrition amongst children range from encouragement for breast-feeding to careful and well-trained use of infant foods, if necessary, as well as measures for nutrition and child health education, etc
Nutrition and poverty are inextricably bound together and, in rural settings, also with the pace of equitable rural development. Practical policy measures towards its alleviation are the essence of the WCARRD Plan of Action, the follow up to which is discussed under Agenda item 13. We intend to pursue the issue of rural poverty and its alleviation as a special chapter in the main edition of the State of Food and Agriculture to be published next year. A part of our recent work has been to throw some light on the difference in agricultural performance between developing countries. The intensity with which land is used is a major factor determining the productive capacity of agriculture. Also crucial is the role of fertilizers and of associated inputs in explaining inter-country differences in yield per hectare and agricultural performance or growth rates.
Developing countries, despite a recent increase in their production capacity, continue to import half of their requirements of nitrogenous and phosphorous fertilizer and 100% of requirement of potash. The increased role of fertilizer imports is evident from the fact that they constituted 5. 3 percent of agricultural exports in 1979 as against 3. 9 percent in 1965-71. There was a decline in bilateral fertilizer aid to 1. 5 million tons in 1979/80 compared with 1. 9 million tons in 1978/79 and in 1980/81 it reached barely one-twelfth of its level in 1974-75.
In concluding, I should briefly mention two recent events of relevance to your deliberations. The first was the UN Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy which will be discussed under agenda item 8.
Our analysis confirms that provision of rural fuel supplies and the role of the forestry sector in this context is assuming important dimensions. The Conference urged inter alia that tree-planting rates be increased five-fold by the year 2000. Policies influencing the rates of exploitation and the replenish ment of forestry resources must be an integral part of the process of planning for agricultural and rural development.
The second event was the UN Conference on theLDCs. All donors agreed at this Conference to make special efforts to increase their assistance to this group of countries and by this and other means to assist in the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action in which agriculture is prominent.
LE PRESIDENT :Je voudrais, au nom des membres de la Commission remercier le Dr. Islam pour sa présentation claire et compléte de cet important point de notre ordre du jour. Les débats sont maintenant ouverts et je vais passer la parole au premier inscrit.
P. M. AMUKOA (Kenya):I should like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election and also thank the Secretariat for producing document C/81/2 and its supplement on the State of Food and Agriculture for the year 1980/81. The message which comes out very clearly in this document is that:(1)there was a very small increase of food production in 1979/80 although a good crop is expected in 1981; (2)production falls short of consumption plans and also import demand and prices have risen;(3) stocks at the end of 1980/81 have fallen below 1970 needs;(4)the world therefore depends on the state of the annual harvest and these harvests and stocks are in developed countries and therefore with a gloomy economic atmosphere the outlook for agriculture in poor underdeveloped countries is not good. These countries most of which have no oil can hardly import much needed foodstuffs. The growth and the volume of agricultural exports went down and falling prices failed to relieve inflation;(5)there is also the problem of population growth and nourishment, particularly of women and children;(6) the fish catch fell and the increase in production of forest products was small;(7) protectionism in trade is increasing and resources are not being transferred to agriculture. The north-south dialogue is in trouble and prospects of development of international strategy are not good;(8) international agreement has been extended to June 1983 because of lack of progress in concluding a new agreement. What my delegation has said so far will be familiar to anybody who has been attending this meeting over the last few years. It is clear we have identified problems and we also know the solutions but there is unwillingness, a reluctance to act, particularly when, or perhaps because money is involved, but we shall continue to reiterate, we shall continue to underline what we believe should be done. There is a need to set up progress in international agricultural estimates.
Underdeveloped countries will have to be assisted in their efforts to set up food production because while there are ways and means to accelerate, food and agricultural production remain at the center of agricultural development policies along with strategies for more and better use of imports. The invest ment necessary cannot be raised from other sources because of the deterioration in terms of trade and protectionist policies. Therefore it will be necessary for underdeveloped countries to meet their RDA and financial commitments of external assistance as far as a target of 7% of ENT and then take care of inflation, after all the UN development delegate asked for a tripling of assistance to developing countries by 1980 and a quadrupling by 1990 in real terms. Programmes of input distribution should not ever be passed and particularly in these countries. International recognizance is almost defunct and it therefore needs to revive it and revitalize its activities.
Food fish production should be increased exclusively in economic zones and should be more fully utilized.
Greater efforts are required in forestry investment because here these form a very significant percen tage of rural image consumption. As demand for food and fuel increases there will be increased competi tion. Food reserves can only be soil degradation. In the interim period while developing countries are revitalizing their food production programmes it will be essential to have adequate wild food arrangements.
Finally, those developing countries which are capable of producing a surplus should be encouraged and supported by among other things having their surplus production brought by international agency for the needs of other developing countries. It is therefore a matter of great concern the targets of 10 million tons of food aid per annum and half a million tons of cereal, and the 1 million targets at the 1981/82 biennium have not been reached. Even more serious the lack of progress in wheat negotiations. Concur rent efforts are required in cash flow development, in the absence of a reliable food crop, in other words there is need for a more equitable cooperation particularly in the sector of trade, particularly to strengthen developing countries' economic position and make them more self-sufficient. The quanti ties and prices of developing countries exports are going down while the quantities and prices of their imports are going up, and arrangements are not doing very well-the agreements are not doing very well -because when the developed countries are consumers they keep producer prices low but when they are the producers they keep producer prices high.
Initiative must be supported but it is encouraging to know that a number of countries including develop ing countries are adopting a national food policy.
In this connexion the Director General's Five Point Plan of Action for world food security should be given wider support. The decision taken by the Executive Board of IMF in May 1981 to extend financial assistance to member countries, to the balance of payment problems in cereal imports should be com mended. Also food aid appears to have declined bilaterally with rising costs of cereals. The cur rent Food Aid Convention has commitments of 7. 6 million tons per annum which is higher than 1971. Furthermore, the Director General's food aid budget is designed to increase food production therefore bringing the world closer to global food security. It should therefore be supported.
D. SANCHEZ (Colombia):Señor Presidente:Le felicitamos por su elección, al igual que al Vicepresidente. Señor Presidente:como distinguido Embajador del Congo, usted hará falta al lado de la delegación de Colombia, donde siempre hemos disfrutado de su grata compañía. Buen éxito le deseamos en la Presidencia.
Señor Presidente:cabe que se estudie este tema en el Consejo y en la Conferencia. No cambia mucho el estado mundial de la agricultura y la alimentación. Desafortunadamente, siempre es desfavorable esa situación para los paíises en desarrollo. Sigue siendo precario el estado actual, no obstante los pequeños aumentos logrados en la producción durante 1979-80. Durante dos años consecutivos la producción de cereales ha sido inferior a las necesidades del consumo, los precios han aumentado y las existencias estan bajando a niveles inferiores al margen de garantía para la seguridad alimentaria mundial. Naturalmente, las importaciones las hacen y pagan los países en desarrollo, y las reservas están generalmente en poder de cuatro o cinco países productores. La seguridad alimentaria sigue dependiendo del buen o del mal tiempo. Vivimos a la expectativa de cada cosecha. Además, disminuyen las exportaciones de productos agrícolas de los países en desarrollo. Todo ello debemos hacerlo constar en nuestro informe. La apreciación general indica que nos encontramos en uno de los períodos más difíciles de la posguerra. La producción alimentaria y agrícola mundial en 1980 sólo creció en 0,5 por ciento, mientras que en 1979 había crecido en 0,9 por ciento. A fines de este afto las existencias mundiales disminuirán a los 220 millones de toneladas, aproximadamente el 14 por ciento del consume, límite inferior al 24 por ciento señalado en la estrategia del desarrollo para el tercer decenio. Se mantiene y aumenta la malnutrición. Definitivamente, la única solumción sigue siendo el aumento de la producción agrícola en los países en desarrollo. Las contribuciones a la reserva alimentaria internacional de emergencia y el Frograma Mundial de Alimentos sigue siendo deficiente; la ayuda oficial al desarrollo ha decrecido en términos reales. Todas las perspectivas son desalentadoras. El comercio de productos agricolas es injusto; se sigue obstaculizando la exportación creciente de productos por parte de los paises en desarrollo y se ha acentuado el mayor deterioro de los términos de intercambio.
El párrafo 156 describe muy bien el deterioro de los términos de intercambio, contrario en los países en desarrollo. Esa relación empeoró particularmente en 1980. Estamos de acuerdo con la primera frase del párrafo 20:"La actual situación de la economía mundial, de la que el sector agrícola es parte sumamente importante, constituye un mal comienzo para el tercer decenio". Muchos países desarrollados, especialmente cierta respetable comunidad de países, aceeran su tendencia al creciente proteccionismo y a los funestos subsidios.
Los primeros resultados de las negociaciones comerciales multilaterales y el primer año de la estrategia internacional son decepcionantes, nulos. El retador dela ayuda alimentaria prometida a los países africanos tiene que ser condenado. Los fertilizantes siguen siendo esenciales. Hay que estimular el aumento de la producción y del uso en los países en desarrollo, cuyas importaciones de fertilizantes han crecido.
El capítulo quinto "el comercio de productos agrícolas" confirma nuestra primera consideración sobre la estructura injusta y obsoleta del comercio internacional. En 1970, la mayor parte del incremento del valor de las exportaciones agrícolas correspondió a los países desarrollados. Sus ingresos aumentaron en un 17 por ciento, el doble que los países en desarrollo. El poder impositivo de los ingresos por exportaciones de productos agrícolas de los países en desarrollo descendió en 4 por ciento en 1979, y en 1978 habia también disminuido. La participación de los países en desarrollo en las exportaciones agrícolas mundiales en 1979 disminuyó por segundo año consecutive Se configuró la tendencia descendente a largo plazo en este sentido. Ahora es el 28 por ciento solamente. A mediados de los años 50 fue del 46, y en los 60 del 37 por ciento. Las restricciones del comercio impuestas por algunos países desarrollados son la causa de que haya empeorado la balanza comercial agrícola de los países en desarrollo en 1979.
Respecto al párrafo 162, las informaciones sobre el azúcar deberán ponerse al día a la luz de la situación actual.
La Comunidad Ecónomica Europea está ahora fijada por su política de subsidios, que ha introducido elementos de perturbación e inestabilidad en el mercado. El nuevo convenio sobre el comercio del trigo está muy lejos de alcanzarse. El llamado enfoque de alternativa tampoco será viable. La prórroga del convenio de 1971, en sus actuales condiciones totalmente inoperantes, es completamente inútil; se requiere un nuevo convenio realmente eficaz con cláusulas específicas sobre el precio de la liberación de reservas.
Esperamos que la reunión del Consejo Internacional del Trigo, a fines de este mes, logre avanzar algo.
Señor Presidente:la difícil situación que describe el documento 81/2 y los comentarios que hemos hecho condensan la labor de la delegación de Colombia y responden a la llamada que se hace en el parrafo 21 sobre la necesidad de reforzar la cooperación internacional, ya que el reto del desarrollo se ha convertido en un problema de supervivencia para muchos países. Debemos exhortar a la Comunidad Internacional a que dedique más recursos técnicos y financieros en apoyo de una decidida acción en favor de gentes que en diversos lugares del mundo padecen hambre y malnutricion.
WU TIAN XI (China) (original language-Chinese): Just now we listened to thedetailed introduction by Professor Islam of this agenda item. Now I would like to say a few words about the subject. It will be divided into two parts. First, with the stagnation of the world economy and little growth in international food and agriculture production we are pleased to see that food production in the developing countries as a whole has increased considerably thanks to the emphasis on food production and the assiduous work of their people. Meanwhile we have noted with concern that in expanding food production the developing countries are confronted with such specific problems as lack of funds and technology. Some developing countries have to import more and more grain, and international terms of trade are becoming less and less favourable for their agricultural produce. Not long ago some non-aligned and developing countries held a symposium in Pyong Yang, Korea, which called upon the developing countries to adhere to the principle of self-reliance and collective self-reliance to strengthen cooperation amongst themselves, strive for higher food and agricultural production by reforming their agricultural structures and achieve self-sufficiency in food at both the national and collective level, thereby terminating their dependence on leading food exporting countries. All these are very important principles and have our vigorous support.
Now, I wish to take this opportunity to say a few words on Chinese agricultural development in recent years. Starting from 1979, in the light or our experience both positive and negative of the agricultural development for the past thirty years or so, we began to make necessary adjustments in our agricultural policies.
They are mainly as follows: introduction of new managerial methods in the rural people's communes aimed at inducing a still greater sense of responsibility among the commune members; reduction or remission of food procurement quotas and agricultural taxes in certain calamity stricken or less developed areas, and implementation of other measures to lighten the burden on the peasants so that they can relax and become better off; raising of purchasing prices of grain, cotton and other major agricultural products; and opening up of agricultural produce fairs to encourage rural cottage occupation and increase the peasants' income. These measures have enhanced the peasants' enthusiasm for production. As a result, an excellent situation rarely seen before has emerged in China's agricultural production as well as her rural economy as a whole. This year China's agriculture has experienced worse natural calamities than last year, but the summer grain crop increased by five million tons over the year and annual output is estimated to approach the all time high record of 1979. In the structural readjustment of agrucultural production in recent years we have implemented the principle of proceeding from local con ditions, fully tapping local advantages in production and energetically developing a diversified economy while never relaxing efforts in food production. Consequently the output of cotton and other cash crops has increased considerably while animal and fishery production has accelerated. This strategy is in creasing our rate of self-sufficiency in the related products and makes it possible better to meet the growing requirements of the people. In the process of adjustment we have to import some grain but the amount accounts for just a tiny fraction of our total grain consumption . From a long-term point of view it is hardly imaginable for a country like China with a population of one billion to depend on large quantities of imported grain to feed her people. Finally I wish to make a few remarks about the fight against natural calamities which we have felt keenly for the last few years. In the past we engaged on a large scale in improving cultivated fields, building, water conservancy projects and ameliorating soil, thus strengthening our capacity to resist natural calamities in agricultural production, but this has proved far from enough. In the past two years serious floods and drought hit some regions rendering production and life difficult for the local people. It is mainly by relying on our own efforts and through developing diversified production that we have tided over the difficulties. Having learned a lesson from successive natural disasters we feel that in order to be better able to resist them we must work still harder at afforestation and agricultural capital construction as well as the improvement of the ecosystem. As China has a large rural population, a low land/people ratio and a poor foundation to build on much hard work remains to be done to accelerate the development of food and agricultural production in the future. Drawing on our experience from many years of agricultural development we will continue to rely on correct policies and science in bringing the enthusiasm of the peasants into full play and developing our agricultural production through self-reliance. At the same time we hope to strengthen co-operation and mutual support with other countries in the field of agriculture so that we can achieve more together.
SAID A. MADALLALI (Tanzania): On behalf of my delegation may I first congratulate you for your election to chair this important commission during our Twenty-first Session of the FAO Bi-ennial Conference. My delegation hopes that with the assistance of the Vice-Chairmen and the co-operation of member nations your job will be concluded with the entire satisfaction of all of us. Having read the document before us and the explicit introduction given by Professor N. Islam, the Assistant Director-General of FAO, Tanzania commends the Director-General and the FAO secretariat for the good and perfect review of the state of food and agriculture in 1981 on a global basis. I am sure without an effective informa tion system through the various programmes initiated by FAO in member countries the report before us would have been patchy and lacking in content. My delegation associates with the sentiments made by the previous speakers at this commission. Tanzania has greatly benefited since 1978 when we started, in cooperation with FAO, the TCP programme on crop monitoring and early warning system on the state of food and agricultural activities in the country. The entire agricultural staff and the village cadres are aware of the importance of agricultural annual timetables, simple systems of crop data collection and reporting to the Ministry headquarters. Thus the problems of drought experienced in 1978 coupled with the floods towards the second quarter of 1979 made us aware of the severe food shortage to come. The surplus stocks of food in 1979 had to be used carefully as well as planning for food imports to prevent famine and death from hunger. FAO and the international community got precise information on the state of food and agriculture in my country and were able to come to our help. The mobilisation of farmers towards food production has been dramatic, but for the continued unfavourable weather Tanzania continues to be until today a food deficit country. Our estimates for cereal imports up to June 1982 stand at 230 000 metric tonnes. In this context therefore my delegation supports the ideals of an early agreement on the Wheat Trade Convention with the provision for reserve stocks and stable prices, the contributions to the international emergency food reserve to reach at least the target of 500 000 tonnes. Mr Chairman, Tanzania is a non-believer of food aid. Our policy of self-reliance is well documented in the Arusha declaration, but during difficult times of need as exemplified by the calamities of nature, the high energy prices to sustain our economy, the enhanced cost of imported machinery, equipment, pesticides, fertilisers and technology coupled with the slowdown of agricultural trade and especially the low international prices for our exported agricultural produce such as coffee,
cotton, sisal, tea, tobacco, to mention just a few, this situation has and will continue to strangle our economy. It is only in this type of predicament that the developing countries appeal to the inter national community through forums like this one that the vicious circle requires to be broken by the concerted efforts of all of us. Food aid then becomes a necessity but the real answer in the long term is to increase the level of external aid to agriculture as was so amply pointed out by the Director -General in his statement at the Plenary on Monday 9 November 1981-Meaninful food programmes towards self-sufficiency in food are quite possible in most of Africa. Canada has a joint programme with Tanzania for wheat production to the target of self-sufficiency through the provision of capital and technology. In the same vein other donors through FAO or by bilateral aid and much national involve ment could initiate programmes of irrigation for both rice and maize production to ensure continued production even in times of drought. Experiences of India and China and many countries of Asia has shown that capital is required to tame rivers, then technology follows in the proper management of water resources. Our strategy is to embark on both large irrigation schemes managed centrally as well as small irrigation schemes for the smallholders in villages.
Although Tanzania is self-sufficient in meats, which is a major component of a balanced diet, she continues to be a net importer of milk and milk products. The document before us does not review the situation globally on the status of production and trends of meats and milk. The World Food Programme has carried out a commendable task in fulfilling the principles as outlined in paragraph 46 of the sup plement. The funds accrued from the stocks supplied by the WFP have been of major importance in advancing investment into crop production as well as development of the dairy industry. In this context other donors, like the European Economic Community, continue to contribute immensely in the form of cereals, milk products and butter oil and this improves the nutritional status not only of the vulnerable groups but also of the inhabitants of the less developed countries.
J. SCHERER (Germany, Fed. Rep. of)(original language German): We have a very detailed and clear report of the food situation in document c 81/2 and document C 81/2/-Sup. 1. This gives us a com prehensive picture of the world food situation. We are shown very clearly where in the world need is the greatest. The main and most topical questions concerning world production and world supply are continuously compiled within the framework of the early warning system and published. These reports provide excellent information for all those who deal constantly with the world food problem. In the very interest of those countries which are particularly dependent on the early warning system this painstaking FAO work should be supported and intensified through the further improvement of information coming from developing countries.
Compared to the summer of this year, there has been a more unfavourable assessment of the world cereal harvest. This was due mainly to the very poor crop in the Soviet Union.
For developing countries as a whole 1981 will probably have a slight increase of cereal production -plus 3 to 4 percent as compared to last year as far as wheat is concerned and an increase of plus 7 to plus 10 percent in respect of other cereals. This is due mainly to larger crops in the agricultural surplus country, Argentina, and possibly also in China and India. Nevertheless, import requirements for cereals in 1981 /1982 from developing countries will increase by a further 6 million tons. This is roughly the same figure as for the Soviet Union requirements. Thanks to the above average crops in the main cereal exporting countries, it should not be difficult to meet the larger demand. However, the problem of imbalance between production and requirements in the world is increasing again and cannot merely be removed through gifts.
In view of the tense financial situation of the industrialized countries, deficit of the balance of goods and service in 1980 of $75 000 million, in 1981 this will probably be $60 000 million, it is more than ever necessary to help to achieve self-help.
Federal Minister Ertl in his statement before the Plenary Meeting pointed to the priority measures which are necessary to obtain a steady and lasting improvement of the world food and agricultural situation. My country, however, does not rest satisfied with the analysis, but cooperates vigorously and on a partnership basis towards achieving a better food supply of developing countries. This is done by bridging measures, such as food aid. Within the. framework of the annual food aid of the European Community-amounting to 1. 65 million tons of cereals- we contribute considerably. Altogether in 1980 my country gave food aid totalling DM 388 million. The Food Aid Convention concerning 7. 6 million tons of cereals was extended in June 1981 for a further two years, and this was done with German support.
We support the 10 million ton target of food aid, which in 1980 had almost been achieved. Now, through the accession of new donor countries from the ranks of OPEC and the socialist countries, this target
should be ensured in a lasting way. We are presently contributing 35 000 tons of wheat to the Interna tional Emergency Food Reserve and we contribute DM 42 million to the World Food Programme.
Apart from these actions, which are intended to alleviate present food problems, the Federal Republic of Germany endeavours to give long-term support to developing countries by means of bilateral and multilateral agricultural development aid to create food security in the long run. The part of the bilateral agricultural development aid given by the Federal Republic of Germany within the framework of increasing public development aid could be increased from 13 percent or DM 615 million in 1979 to about 20 percent, or DM 948 million in 1980 and this year it should reach more than one third, that is to say, DM 1. 343 billion.
Now something which is less visible but none the less effective in order to build up an efficient agriculture and food economy in many developing countries is the German participation in multilateral cooperation within the framework of the European Economic Community or in the framework of international organizations and banks. There has also been private German development aid given by churches, trade unions and associations. In 1979 this represented DM 714 million. It was increased from DM 714 million in 1979 by 7 percent DM 764 million in 1980. A considerable part is used for long-term promotion of the agricultural sector and for war on hunger in the Third World. A remarkable example are the donations of the German Committee of the FAO Freedom from Hunger Campaign, in 1980. It reached DM 25 million.
Apart from what was done at national level, considerable progress could be achieved this year in complementary measures at international level in order to improve world food security. In April 1981 FAO achieved an arrangement on a consultation procedure and possible countermeasures to be taken in the case of acute and extensive food shortages. The International Monetary Fund took a decision in May to the following effect: countries with temporarily above-average high import costs for cereals should be given financial support. This is something which may lead to greater food security in many developing countries. The conclusion of a new and effective International Wheat Agreement continues to be our target.
The third pillar of our partnership cooperation with developing countries in the agricultural sector is trade. It is known that the trade policy framework is given to us by the regulations adopted by the European Economic Community. The positive effects of the special import systems within the framework of the ACP agreement and the general preferences will be dealt with by the representative of the Com munity.
I should like to say only something about the agricultural imports of the Federal Republic of Germany from developing countries. Of the imports of agricultural and food commodities from third countries, roughly 45 percent or DM 9. 7 billion, came from developing countries in 1980/81, excluding the OPEC countries.
A. M. S. AL NAKIB (Kuwait)(original language Arabic): Mr. Chairman, allow me to add my voice to those who have expressed congratulations and pleasure on your election to chair the proceedings of Commission I.
The state of food and agriculture in the world continues to give rise to great concern on our part. Despite the forecasted increase in cereal production, because this is a very small increase it does not keep pace with overall consumption increases and population growth. This means that thousands -millions-of people are exposed to the risk of famine, hunger and undernourishment. The International Emergency Food Reserve is not entirely sufficient, nor can it be counted upon in a stable way. Thus natural disasters which have beset many countries throughout the world, for example, drought and flooeds, have led to crops being destroyed and to soil deterioration and all this has an adverse effect upon the third world countries, in particular the countries of Africa and certain Asian countries as well. The balance-of-payments deficit and other problems facing the developing countries have served to increase poverty and hunger in those countries.
FAO has issued warnings, the Director-General has issued warnings, concerning the over-all economic situation as a result of inflation and unemployment and the constant negative spin-off which can result therefrom. The Director-General of FAO has also asked delegates to take the necessary steps to make it possible to increase agricultural production in the developing countries and to foster agrarian reform and rural development. He issued an appeal to bring about the implementation of early warning system on an international level and to increase over-all agricultural output.
Steps must be taken in order to provide fertilizers and other essential inputs, pesticides and tractors and other agricultural equipment.
It is important to make modern technology available to improve irrigation systems, to rationalize the use of water in agricultural activities, to streamline and upgrade transportation facilities,and to halt the increasing diversification which gobbles up arable land. Soil improvement is also required, agricultural cycles must be carefully delineated, and training and extension work must be made available for the farmers. Agricultural production should be stepped up and food security enhanced, for implementing projects and ventures at regional levels, by zoning of cooperation in research, designed to increase agricultural productivity and to mitigate post-harvest losses-and of course the necessary technology must be made available to do so. Another requirement will be the building up of reserve stocks for food security purposes.
All these measures necessitate the developed countries providing adequate assistance and modern technology to the developing countries, and this should be achieved by flexible agreement. " In this way the wealthy countries can make loans available to the poorer nations which would enable them to implement their agricultural projects, which are such a vital necessity, and finance can be made available on concessional terms.
I am not overstating the case when I say that Kuwait has provided in the past, and will continue to provide, loans to its brother countries and to friendly countries, either through direct assistance or through the Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Development, in order to help them carry out their most important programmes.
Kuwait, as you know, is a desert country whose water resources for agriculture are in very short supply. We have been coping with our difficulties in the agricultural field, but we nonetheless import agricultural commodities. We are however endeavouring to overcome some of the obstacles to increased agricultural output by using modern agricultural technology and by assigning proper importance to innovative techniques such as vegetable harvesting in greenhouses, and we hope to be able to acquire all the necessary technology in order to step up our rather modest agricultural output, in particular in order to produce all staple foods, which we hope to be able to bring about in the near future.
Mme E. LINER-MAMMONE (Italie): M. le Président, tout d'abord je voudrais vous féliciter pour votre élection et la délégation italienne a examiné avec beaucoup d'attention le rapport péeparé par le Secrétariat sur la situation de l’alimentation et de l’agriculture 1980-1981.
L'examen de ce document représente toujours un des moments les plus importants de la Conférence et le Secrétariat, comme dans le passé, nous offre aujourd'hui une excellente quantité de données et de renseignements dans une forme très claire, mais, sous certains aspects, vraiment inquiétante, même si on considére les données un peu plus rassurantes qui se trouvent dans le Supplément à ce document.
La délégation italienne est, en ligne générale, dfaccord avec les données ainsi qu'elles sont présentées et avec beaucoup des analyses fournies. Les documents commencent par affirmer que 1981 a été l'une des périodes les plus difficiles d'après la guerre. Des années consécutives de stagnation dans la production alimentaire, déjà insuffisante sur le plan mondial, ont engendré de graves difficultés à la sécurité alimentaire et cela se fait particulièrement sentir dans les pays en développement, là ou les taux de croissance démographique sont encore élevés. La répartition des ressources alimentaires mondiales entre les divers pays reste encore inéquitable aussi bien qu'au sein même des pays. Par conséquent la délégation italienne appuie chaleureusement la suggestion contenue dans les documents pour que sur le plan national cette inégalité, qui frappe de faccon majeure les enfants et les femmes, retienne l'attention des responsables des politiques. Nous avons entendu avec plaisir le Secrétariat nous annoncer que, pour l'année prochaine, il y aura, si jfai bien compris, une étude spécifique sur la matière.
L'effort pour accroítre la production agro-alimentaire dans le monde doit, comme il est reconnu dans le document que nous sommes en train d'examiner, se baser sur l’utilisation économique des inputs. Permettez-moi de m'arrêter un instant sur un ou deux aspects spécifiques de ce problème.
On lit dans le document C 81/2 que dans les périodes examinées les prix des engrais ont eu tendance à plafonner ou même, pour certains dfentre eux, à baisser. Cependant, en Italie la situation a été tout à fait différente. Les prix des engrais non seulement n'ont pas eu tendance à plafonner, mais pour les phosphates et. en particulier, les phosphates diammoniques, les prix enregistraient de continuelles variations à la hausse, ces prix étant strictement liés à la valeur du dollar des Etats-Unis. En tant
que pays producteur d'engrais, l’Italie est ouverte au Programme FAO pour l’approvisionnement et l’exportation de ces produits vers les pays en développement qui en nécessitent le plus. Mais cette disponibilité se heurte à l’augmentation constante du coût des productions et des matières premièeres et parmi ces dernières des phosphorites et certains produits dérivés du pétrole, matières que nos industries sont obligées d'importer pour la totalité n'ayant pas en Italie de gisements de ce genre.
Néanmoins, l’Italie a donné son adhésion au Programme FAO pour les engrais en assurant l’équivalent d'un milliard de lires en engrais pour 1981 et un montant double, toujours en équivalent d'engrais en 1982.
La délégation italienne souhaiterait que, pour l'avenir, une disponibilité accrue des matières premières, surtout des phosphorites soit assurée de la part des pays producteurs. Cela permettrait de satisfaire la demande de produits finis sur les marchés intérieurs et d'avoir une disponibilité accrue pour la fourniture aux pays moins avancés.
Une difficulté analogue à celle rencontrée dans le secteur des engrais se manifeste aussi dans le secteur des machines agricoles. En effet, même dans ce secteur on sfest heurté au niveau productif, à des obstacles découlant de la hausse des prix de production, main-d'oeuvre, matières premières, énergie. Tout de même, l’utilisation des machines agricoles reste un des secteurs cle auxquels on fait recours pour accroitre la production agro-alimentaire et on peut constater avec satisfaction que le parc des machines est en augmentation continue, meme dans les pays en developpement.
La délégation italienne est d'avis que, de lfexpérience acquise par les pays à haut degré de mécanisa-tion, l'on peut tirer la connaissance des phases typiques du processus évolutif de 11 agriculture à partir du degré zéro de mécanisation jusqu'à des degrés plus élevés. On peut ainsi découvrir les interrelations entre certaines réalisations dans le domaine agricole et les différents types de machines employés de facon telle que, une fois établi un programme général des directives, conçu par degrés successifs de mécanisation, ce programme puisse être adopté par plusieurs pays.
Je voudrais terminer en disant que l'Italie, à cause de l’extrême variabilité de son territoire, de ses conditions pédoclimatiques, des types de cultures pratiquées et des structures de ces entreprises, a une large expérience dans ce domaine, expérience qu'elle met à la disposition des pays moins avancés dans un esprit de fructueuse collaboration.
M. ZJALIC (Yugoslavia):This is the first intervention of the Yugoslavian delegation in the work of the Commission at this 21st FAO Conference, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, and the two Vice-Chairmen,on your election. My delegation signifies its apprecia tion for the efforts of your government in agricultural and rural development, as well as its active policy for promoting international cooperation in food and agriculture. I am sure that your experi ence will greatly contribute to the success of our work.
The FAO Secretariat has prepared two excellent documents as a basis for our deliberations. In his introduction, Mr. Islam has given us more details and explanation of major findings and contributions contained in the Secretariat's documents. My delegation expresses its thanks to the FAO Secretariat and its satisfaction with FAO intelligence and analysis work, which is of great assistance to all governments of member countries in deliberation of their national policies, particularly short-term policies, in production of agricultural commodities, as well as in sectors of nutrition and trade in agricultural commodities. It represents an essential basis for the elaboration and implementation of national and international action in achieving a viable system for world food security.
My delegation generally agrees with the major findings and contributions contained in documents C 81/2 and C 81/2-Sup. l: that is why we limit our intervention on major issues which in our view require further explanation and elaboration.
First, world food and agriculture production are likely to increase in 1981 by 2. 5 percent and 2. 7 percent respectively, reflecting a recovery from relative stagnation in the two preceding years.
Food production in developing countries is likely to increase by 3. 3 percent, the largest increase being experienced in the Far East and in Latin America. The growth rate of food production in Africa of 1. 7 percent in this year and particularly low annual rates of change in food production in the last decade caused grave concern and required coordinated action by the countries themselves as well as the international community.
1. The growth in food production in developing countries is well behind the 4 percent target but it is evident in a number of countries this target has been achieved and surpassed in spite of hostile international environments such as recession in the underdeveloped world and deterioration in terms of trade in commodities ofparticular exportinterests for developing countries, and in spite of protectionism. It proves that these countries have given adequate priority to the food sector in their national distribution policies and they have applied the appropriate stimulating methods and incentives for producers together with the other policy measures. Much better results I am fully convinced could have been achieved in many of these countries if they had been supported by the international community in their efforts.
2. The acceleration in cereal production in developing countries, the performance of food production of the least developing countries and the situation in Africa particularly gave cause for serious concern. The underlying need for greater emphasis should be given to accelerating food production generally with particular priority attached to increasing production of cereals and other stable food, this should be the centre of attention of FAO in the future. This could be one of the good opportuni ties for the elaboration of adequate measures in the context of the international support to the eradication of hunger and malnutrition caused by inadequate growth in food production which calls for an increase of food aid for development purposes.
3. Document C 81/2 contains very useful information on the relation between trends in population growth and growth of food production. We would like to limit our comments to the expression of our agreement with the general approach and in particular withparagraph 61 of this document.
4. The use of grain as animal feed has been discussed from different points of view in many fora. The fact is in the recent past there was a considerable increase in the use of grain as animal feed in both developed and developing countries although developing countries participated with only 16 percent of the world consumption of grain for this purpose. It seems it would be unrealistic to expect any substantial change in this field particularly with this strong trend, but it seems tous there is a need for further study and research aimed at finding alternative solutions for animal feed from sources other than grain.
5. Deterioration in terms of trade in commodities of export interest of developing countries led to the erosion of the purchasing power of developing countries themselves. There are at least two negative consequences:
I. Developing countries are compelled to reduce their imports of non-agricultural goods and the relevant improvements which inevitably will be reflected in insufficient development in food production and in the perpetration of the unsatisfactory food situation of these countries.
II. Economies have reduced the capacity of markets in developing countries which will have a negative impact on the growth rate and stagnation on employment in developing countries.
Cooperation between developing and developed countries has to be based on a more equitable basis. Perhaps a new economic order could be applied to this field without any delay. If the international community adheres sincerely to the so many times solemnly acclaimed goals, hunger and malnutrition will decrease and development for all as a basic human right.
6. My delegation knows with satisfaction a substantial increase of official commitment for develop ment assistance to least developed countries but, at the same time, we cannot but express our grave concern at the declining volume of food aid and reduction in value in real terms of the overall reserves flowing to developing countries. Internationally agreed targets for food and development aid we have always conceded as a minimum as the least which could and should be done by developed countries.
7. The Jugoslav Parliament adopted a long term programme of cooperation with developing countries. This programme includes a concession on loans, progress on joint ventures, an increase in volume of trade from about 20 percent this year to 30 percent of total trade in 1985. Where oil is a natural import, export has excluded the increase of multilateral and bilateral food aid. As a practical result of this policy we have substantially increased our production and the replenishment of effort we agreed with the increase in WFP target and it will correspondingly increase our pledge for the future. We hope my country will be in a position to participate in multilateral activities in the fertilizer field particularly in FAO multi-national fertilizer scheme. My Government is fully aware that responsibility for the food situation cannot be reduced to one or two countries, that is why we attach great importance to the stable growth in food production and in this field we have achieved some result in a previous period but this year we had a rather disappointing wheat production which was compensated with a sub stantial increase in maize consumption.
Protectionism has prevented us from achieving further results in the growth of animal production since we have lost a good part of our export market and our export earnings.
Ms. M. STRACHAN (Jamaica): The Jamaican delegation would like to congratulate the Chairman on his election to office and we would also like to congratulate the Secretariat for the document provided, and Dr. Singh for his excellent exposition. It is indeed a disappointment that one more of the FAO Conferences is being convened in an international climate where the economic and the social gap between developed and developing countries continues to widen. Whilst there has been a modest increase in food production in many countries, the prices of vital imports such as farm tools, fertilizer and other chemicals continue to escalate and put the cost of production and the prices beyond the reach of many consumers. So, whilst production has increased there have been many reported gluts, the results of these are as follows:
(a) farmers are experiencing a reduction in income and in some cases have made a loss;
(b) a reduction of agricultural loans continues on a very low level;
(c) the trek of the rural population to urban areas continues;
(d) the proposed rise in the level of nutrition required by the population is not being met.
Whilst we have been paying more for imported items the deterioration in terms of trade continues to the detriment of the developing world. We are not only being called upon to produce more crops for export in order to earn some income but also we have to expend more to produce these items. It is apparent this situation cannot be allowed to continue if we are to develop our rural economy and increase the nutritional level of the population. We must increase our level of technology/and or market systems for better distribution of food. We must develop our technology for producing local fertilizer so there can be a reduction in the importation of this item. We look to the international community to assist through FAO in the transfer of technology from the developed to the developing world.
We would also like to see an increase of funds provided for the international fertilizer scheme and for the development of improved marketing systems. Whilst we are deeply conscious of the fact that the primary responsibility for development must rest with individual countries, the international community must continue to play a major role. There must be no reduction in the flow of external resources available for investment in developing countries, rather there must be an increase of such funds. It is in this light the Jamaican delegation supports the budgetary provision of FAO for the next biennium.
W. R. D. NILAWEERA (Sri Lanka): Let me also congratulate the Chairman and the two Vice-Chairmen on their appointment to the latest Commission and they are assured that they will bring this Commission to a satisfactory conclusion.
The document that is before us and the excellent presentation of the document by Professor Islam high-lights the major trend in agricultural development and food production based on most of the countries as mentioned by most of the delegates, and from the remarks it is very clear that they have stressed the necessity for increasing the agricultural base for food. It is also very clear that most of the countries are making very conscious attempts to develop the systems of agriculture while supporting all the issues. My delegation also would like to stress in particular the necessity of stabilizing political bases for the food production, in fact in referring to the experience of my own country, we have particularly the forest sector that creates a certain alarm. From 44 percent of the forest cover we had, it has now come down to 22 percent due to the variety of programmes that have been launched by our country.
Therefore we would urge that special attention be focussed on the necessity for stabilizing the political base, which is the very important base of the country.
O. LUCO ECHEVERRIA (Chile) :Gracias señor Presidente. Permítame felicitarle por haber sido elegido para que dirija nuestros debates. Estamos convencidos de sus capacidades, que permitiràn orientarnos adecuadamente para que esta reunión tenga los éxitos que todos esperamos.
En esta primera intervención deseo dar énfasis a un punto que para mi país es importante. Se refiere a que un aumento importante en la producción de alimentos es difícil de conseguir si no se erradican las diferentes formas de proteccionismo que están enhibiendo el crecimiento del comercio agrícola
indirectamente afectando la mayor producción de alimentos en los países en desarrollo. Ademas, impiden el aprovechamiento adecuado de las ventajas comparativas de producción, consecuecia de ecosistemas más favorables, como también de diferencias hemisféricas. Lo anterior aconseja tener un comercio internacional fluido y ágil. Si pudiésemos tener éxito en esto no sólo estableceríamos una sana competencia, sino que además la gran masa de consumidores tendría acceso como resultado a mejores productos a precios más bajos.
Mi país lleva adelante una política económica social de mercado. La aplicación de este sistema desde hace aproximadamente ocho afios ha permitido un importante despegue economico a Chile. De una balanza agrícola desfavorable hemos pasado a una con saldo positivo, siendo nuestras principales exportaciones del sector la fruta, la madera y los productos del mar. Por haber tenido este éxito relativo es por lo que abogamos por un sistema de mercado abierto.
S. MURTZA (Pakistan): Mr. Chairman, please permit me first to congratulate you on your election. We are confident that under your guidance we shall be able to deliberate in a congenial atmosphere and contribute towards banishing hunger and malnutrition from the globe. We congratulate the Secretariat on preparing these concise and comprehensive documents, C 81/2 and C 81/2 Supp. l. We have studied these documents carefully. It is a matter of some satisfaction that the total picture of the world food and agricultural situation that emerges reflects some encouraging improvements in this field. But there are some other aspects, particularly in the field of nutrition, which ask us fortaking concrete steps. The need for continuous effort to improve the situation in this field can not be overemphasized.
It is indeed a matter of great concern and it is time that we realized that humanity has suffered enough and that only through cooperation, concerted efforts and, above all, the will to produce more food, can there be an improvement in the food situation. Undoubtedly unless the developed countries come to the assistance of developing countries, particularly the non-oil exporting countries which are faced with the high cost of imports of agricultural inputs, imports of energy and the debt service burden, will the world be able to accelerate growth in food production. It is not that we the developing countries are not aware or conscious of the widespread recession, inflation, unemployment and monetary instability in the developed world. All we wish to emphasise is that the problems of the developing countries are even greater and therefore we have to work together.
The state of food and agriculture in Pakistan for the years 1980 and 1981 can be looked upon with satisfaction. We have been vigorously pursuing a policy of self-sufficiency in wheat, which is our staple diet. During these two years the production of major cereals, particularly wheat (and may I mention that Pakistan has suffered shortages in the past) has reached new levels. We were able to produce 10. 8 million tons of wheat in 1979-1980 and increased it by 6. 5 percent in 1980-81. We had favourable weather but added to it were the consistent efforts of the government in the timely and adequate availability of inputs, the supply and use of high-yielding varieties of seed, upward revision ofthe procurement price of wheat before sowing, and the provision of interest-free loans to small farmers. These were the major instruments of policy to help in the achievement of the record output.
We have set the target for 1981-82 at 12. 2 million tons which will be slightly over our domestic requirements and we hope to build up our reserve.
As for the production of maize, it improved in 1980-81 by almost 8 percent more than the previous year. The higher target of 1 million tons has been set for 1981-82.
Similarly, the production of sugarcane increased by 16. 6 percent in 1980-81 due to the increase in area and the increase per hectare yield. Sugar production thus went up and we expect to be self-sufficient in sugar production in the current year. A higher target has been set for 1981-82, indicating a 3 percent growth.
I would like to mention that although we export rice annually and produce more than our domestic requirements, yet the only cereal crop whose production did not come up to expectations in 1980-81 was rice. Production declined by almost 3 percent. The main reason for the fall in rice production in the past year can be mainly attributed to diversion of the area from a coarse to a fine variety. This has been the result of dry weather conditions at sowing time of coarse varieties which are planted earlier than fine varieties. This has caused the diversion of the area since the cultivation is considered comparatively uneconomical by the farmers due to low yields. Further, the prices of pesticides going up discourages their use and increases the pest attacks on this crop. As a result we have not been able to contribute towards easing the world food situation at an increased pace much as we would like to do.
We fully realize that we have to produce more of those food commodities in which we are self-sufficient for other food-deficit countries as well as accelerating the production of those commodities in which we are still far below the level required for domestic consumption. These are edible oils and pulses. We have been importing an average of 400 thousand metric tons of edible oils and this is likely to be 500 thousand tons in 1981-82, which is a heavy cost for our Exchequer.
Pakistan is also facing a declining trend in the production of pulses, especially due to the failure of grain crop in the last two seasons. The main reason for the decline is the non-availability of disease-free seed, especially of gram, which suffers from blight attacks. This situation has led to a price spiral and retail prices have jumped almost 400 percent in the case of pulses, which are basically the poor man's Drotein. The Government of Pakistan has tried to make concerted efforts to increase the production of newly evolved varieties of gram and other pulses to bridge the gap between supply and demand as far as possible.
The prices of milk and meat are also rising on account of the increase in population and higher demand as a consequence of rising incomes. We import 5 percent of quantum of milk produced annually and are encouraging ventures to increase the milk production and availability in our country. As for other countries, we will allow 50 percent of the increased production through joint ventures to be exported.
It has been rightly observed in the document that the use of inputs associated with capital tends to be very much biased towards the better-off farmers in the countries. This position has to be rectified, which we are doing, so that inputs are available to farmers according to their needs and, most importantly at the right time, farmers being small or large. We in Pakistan are therefore building up a system in the country to provide loans to small farmers. Interest-free loans are being disbursed to small farmers having less than 5 hectares of land, while those with less than 10 hectaresare exempt from land revenue.
Different input prices are high, particularly those of fertilizers. Although prices of fertilizers in the international market have fallen since about March 1981, the Government of Pakistan still hasto pay a subsidy on fertilizers although it had to be revised in February 1980, being a heavy burdenon the budget, and the cost to the farmer has since gone up.
In terms of nutritional status during 1981 an average of 2,277 calories and 57. 56 grammes of protein were available per capita per day as against 2,217 calories and 56. 77 grammes of protein in 1979/80 which indicates an improvement in the availability of foods. However, there are wide disparities among income groups as also inter-fanily. Cases of 3rd degree malnutrition are also common. It is a pity that food aid has been falling short of the rising needs of low income developing countries and that shipments in 1980/81 are barely 9 million tonnes of cereal and short of the minimum target of 10 million tonnes. As recipients of food aid for refugees whose population has exceeded 2. 5 million and whose influx still continues in my country we are conscious of the important role of food aid. We are grateful to the WFP particularly to the Director General of FAO for coming to our assistance to meet the food needs of refugees whom we have accepted purely on humanitarian grounds. I would request the international community to come forward with greater assistance to the afflicted people all the world over. Further effort should be made to fulfil the $1. 2 billion target applied for WFP. We firmly believe that food security can only be achieved through higher production, reduction in post harvest food losses, elimination of waste and improved grain storage. We also believe that 20 percent of total consumption requirements could be maintained as reserves, which would be around 2 million tonnes in our case. We estimate that we have only about 2. 053 million metric tonnes of storage capacity whereas the requirements are about 4 million metric tonnes. We have 8 million tonnes under construction so that about 3 million metric tonnes would be available by June 1982 leaving a gap of 1 million tonnes. We need the assistance of the international community so that we can build up national food reserves and thus contribute to the world food security. May I also mention that formerly we maintained 500,000 metric tonnes in past years as food reserves which we have now raised to 1 million tonnes. May I state in conclusion that developing countries are faced with adverse balance of payments due to high prices of agricultural commodities and of manufactures that we purchase from developed countries. Trade barriers and protectionist policies have placed them in a still tighter situation along with the low prices they obtain by exporting agricultural commodities. Let us in this forum find ways and means of reducing pressures on the developing countries so that they can increase their food production and thereby reduce poverty and malnutrition, joining in the joint effort of the world community.
O. M. SELIKANE (Lesotho):I would like to ioin other delegates in congratulating vou for being Chairman and most of all I would like to congratulate the Secretariat for producing this paper which is so clear to us and has given us a picture out of which we can deal with these affairs. I will point out paragraphs 69, 70 and 71 which clearly show the trend of affairs especially in those least developed countries to which Lesotho belongs. In consideration of the paragraphs including 78 of the document C 81/2 my delegation believes that extraordinary and drastic steps have to be taken by all developing countries even if it is at the expense of other sectors of development. Drastic steps should be undertaken to protect the land based resources. Here we refer to paragraph 111 whereby the land reform measures are essential in order to give security and proper guidance in the utilization of land. The basis for proper land use in Lesotho forms the new Land Act of 1979 which is meant to stimulate commercial production by giving individual farmers and cooperatives the required security and guidance in the use of potentially productive land. My delegation considers that conservation measures to stablize the endangered land base are essential in order to enhance food production and improve the agricultural situation. Turning to the main document we refer to paragraph 131. We believe that extension improvement should be given a higher priority to build a main communication of individual farmers and cooperatives in order to attain individual and collective self reliance in the management and care of production resources. In order to complement the basic agricultural services programmes which are meant to strengthen extension, improve credit and marketing facilities, the government of Lesotho has initiated and embarked on the food self-sufficiency programme since 1980. This is cue programme which illustrates that extraordinary measures have to be taken at national level in order to change the alarming situation of food shortages. Among the least developed countries to which Lesotho belongs we feel that the food self-sufficiency programme which was only started on 15,000 acres using the meagre financial local resources in selected areas suitable for growing basic cereals must be a major step and should be continued in our context. With some concentration of effort in providing the required technical assistance, adequate agricultural input, organising and training groups of farmers into cooperatives, the programme could show indications of success towards reaching self-sufficiency in food grains within 5 years of the criteria. It is presently expected that through such a programme imports of food grains could be reduced by about 15% during the 1981/2 growing season. Present yields of grain are in the region of 2. 1 tonnes per acre which is 6 times more than in previous years. Expansion of the programme is given a high priority. We believe that nutrition is the end product of agricultural production and here we would like to refer to paragraph 82 which reveals again from the document that we are still faced with a very uneasy and unbearable state of affairs considering that we need to improve the situation and we would like to commend the secretariat for having given us revelation by producing the two documents.
J. DUIBE (Swaziland): The delegation of Swaziland would like to join the other members of the delegations here to congratulate you and both your Vice-Chairmen in assuming the duties of this important commission. We also would like to take the opportunity of associating ourselves with the document that has been produced here, that is document C 81/2 and its supplement. We wish to thank the Secretariat and the Director General for producing this very vivid document which reveals to us the situation as it stands today. We are well conscious of the fact that as developing nations we are in a very precarious situation and we need to develop ourselves and to do whatever we can to try and eliminate the situation prevailing. Swaziland is a small country and it is by no means self sufficient especially in cereals. We are, however, in a position now trying to do what we can to try and improve the situation so that we can be in a position to feed everybody in the country. Swaziland is presently importing some cereals because the Swazis are unable to produce whatever they need presently. We hope that with the help of all the developing countries better developed now we would be able to be in a position to improve the situation as it stands. My government has presently embarked on a campaign to try and bring all the rural sector into production. We hope that this programme will continue although by now we are already worried that some of our friendly countries have indicated some reluctance to continue with our rural development scheme that has been our weapon to try and erase discord. We are, however, hopeful that our friends will be able to try and come to our assistance. Swaziland is able to produce all the meats that it needs presently. We are very grateful to be able to refer to this state of affairs. However, we are worried about our dairy products for not being able to be self-sufficient in this area. We are presently 75% self-sufficient in milk production and we still have to import the remaining 25%. As far as cash crops, our production is well above and we are happy to report that we are in a position to export mainly to the EEC countries. We are, however, worried that there has been no argument concluded to try to secure the future of this product. To go back to the factors that are affecting the low production of cereal-maize in this case-we are very conscious of the fact that our farmers are being called upon to pay more and more for the machinery and fertilizers that are needed to produce the minimum food required and this we feel is the main factor causing the low production in cereals. We would appeal to all the members of this community that through FAO it should be possible to try to come to our rescue and help the situation. We feel that by doine so it would help to prevent or break the vicious circle that is already eoine on because if
the farmers are helped to produce and the production that they produce is given an eauitable value we hope that this would be the only solution that the world can be at peace.
We are conscious of the fact that Swaziland is not in a state of starvation. However, we are aware that about 25 percent of the population are still malnourished. This situation needs closer attention and in this connection we also would like to express our gratitude to FAO that, through the World Food Programme, it has been able to come to our assistance in this situation.
The Government of Swaziland has also embarked on a scheme of food security. It is building some reserves in the country and thereby also trying to improve the extension, to try and persuade the farmers to produce more by improving their markets. We are also aware that the food aid that is given to us will not solve the problem of food security in the country, so we are embarking on a campaign to persuade the farmers to produce more, and also on training and extension services to try and prevent food losses.
We are hopeful that the deliberations of this meeting will be able to bring about the ways and means to help all developing countries to be self-sufficient. To this end we would like to wish this meeting good deliberations.
J. C. VALMASEDA (Cuba):Sr. Presidente y Sres. delegados, por ser ésta la primera ocasión en que la Delegación de Cuba hace uso de la palabra aprovecho la ocasión para felicitar cordialmente de manera especial al señor H. E. Joseph Tchicaya, encargado de dirigir nuestros trabajos.
Es un motivo de regocijo para nuestra delegación que un hijo de Africa ocupe tan importante lugar, ya que nos unen con su Continente lazos de vieja hermandad.
Agradecemos asimismo a la Asamblea el importante Documento que nos ofrece para su análisis, así como la elocuente y acertada presentación del mismo.
Nuestra Delegación considera que a pesar de que el Documento C 81/2-Sup. l, en lo relativo a la situación presente de la alimentación mundial revela una mejoría en términos generales, se mantiene vigente el planteamiento que aparece reflejado en el párrafo 1) del Documento C 81/2, donde se califica el período 1980-81 como uno de los más difíciles de la posguerra.
Es evidente, además, que esa situación se agrava debido a que los suministros de alimentos siguen estando desigualmente distribuidos entre los distintos países. En tal sentido, nuestra Delegación apoya el planteamiento hecho por la Secretaría en el párrafo 11) del Documento que comenzamos, en que se nos indica que es esencial mejorar el acceso de los sectores pobres a los insumos, a fin de combatir la pobreza rural.
Estimamos desde luego que es una necesidad acelerar el ritmo de crecimiento de la producción alimen taria y agrícola en general, especialmente en los países menos adelantados, así como lograr una acertada estrategia para mejorar la distribucion de los alimentos, aspecto muy importante y esencial en la política de desarrollo agrícola.
El propio documento que analizamos nos senala que todavía la agricultura depende en gran medida de los efectos meteorológicos, efectos que todavía no son dominados por el hombre. Por ello, entendemos que es necesario dotar a la agricultura de medios técnicos meteorológicos más modernos, lo cual requiere màs inversiones.
Debemos destacar de una manera muy especial la conveniencia de tener en cuenta como medios priorita-rios en los esfuerzos a realizar para el desarrollo de la agricultura la utilización económica de insumos como fertilizantes, semillas, plaguicidas y maquinaria, así como facilitar los medios para su más eficaz empleo. Por desgracia, estos insumos tienden a concentrarse en las agriculturas más ricas.
Esta Delegación elogia la acertada atención que presta la FAO a fin de que esta situacióon de irritante desigualdad desaparezca, apoyando la dotación de insumos a los países en desarrollo para tratar de establecer el equilibrio necesario.
También propugna esta Delegación porque se analice la posibilidad de incrementar las ayudas por conducto del Plan Internacional de Suministros y Fertilizantes de la FAO, cuyos recursos siguen siendo limitados, lo mismo que en otros aspectos tan beneficiosos para nuestros pueblos.
Del análisis hecho en el propio documento que examinamos podemos concluir que las asignaciones oficia-les de asistencia exterior a la agricultura en 1980 aumentaron en terminos absolutos alrededor del 10 por ciento con relación a 1978, y ello no es más que una falacia, ya que, aplicando los precios de 1975, significó una disminución del 4 por ciento, debido a que el incremento de recursos no contrarrestó la inflación de los precios.
Por otra parte, el comercio de productos básicos agrícolas ha tenido efectos adversos debido a la recesión de la economía mundial, especialmente en el comercio de los productos más exportados a los países en desarrollo.
Es necesario, Sr. Presidente, que se tomen medidas efectivas a fin de aliviar el deterioro de las relaciones de intercambio entre los países en desarrollo. Y es indispensable asimismo eliminar la tendencia creciente al proteccionismo, que obstaculiza el comercio de los productos en los países en desarrollo, y frena el incremento de la transferencia de recursos de la agricultura a otros sectores de los países en desarrollo.
Propugnamos nosotros el principio de reforzamiento de la cooperación internacional sobre bases honestas en la búsqueda de una armonía en las negociaciones globales para el establecimiento de un nuevo orden económico internacional, con una distribución más equitativa de los recursos de la producción mundial, ya que, en realidad, en este campo en vez de avanzarse se ha empeorado.
En nuestro país, sin estar ajenos a las dificultades meteorológicas y de experimentos con la parte de nuestro comercio que no se realiza con los países socialistas, la inestabilidad e inflación de los precios, nuestra producción agrícola y pecuaria se incrementa por años.
El Estado cubano, en orden a la infraestructura agraria, realiza grandes inversiones de capital, así como en el mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida de la población rural.
Con referenda a los párrafos 60 y 62, y cuando se analizan las actuales tendencias del crecimiento de población, se reconoce a Cuba como a uno de los países en que la fecundidad general ha cambiado, e igualmente resulta evidente y positivo que la mortandad en nuestro país ha disminuido y la esperanza de vida se aproxima mucho a los niveles de los países desarrollados. Esto es el resultado de una educación general del pueblo y de una política consciente que puede servir de ejemplo a otros países.
Estimamos que es un deber de todos inculcar a los países en desarrollo la necesidad de conjugar todo un sistema educacional, politico y económico, para conciliar en lo posible el crecimiento demográfico con el desarrollo de la producción de alimentos, siempre desde el principio del respeto a las decisio-nes individuales de la persona, en cuanto al número de descendentes, pero orientándose científicamente a la población en torno a esta problemática.
Podemos decir nosotros con cierto orgullo, Sr. Presidente, que en Cuba como resultado de la atencion preferente a los distintos sectores de la economía y en particular de la agricultura, y pese al extremado bloqueo a que estamos sometidos durante más de 20 años por la potencia imperialista más poderosa del mundo, hemos logrado avances significativos en el desarrollo de nuestra agricultura.
Quisiera resaltar de manera especial que la producción azucarera en las cinco zafras del quinquenio recien terminado representó un 25 por ciento de incremento con relación al quinquenio anterior. En 1979 la zafra llegó a 7 992 000 toneladas. Fue una de las mejores de nuestra historia.
Hacemos énfasis en este tema concreto del logro de nuestra agricultura como aclaración necesaria a lo que se seftala en el párrafo 32 del documento 481/2 en que se manifiesta que en 1970 Cuba experimentó pérdidas en sus plantaciones de caña, como resultado apuntamos nosotros, de los efectos de la roya que afectó la producción de ese año.
Consecuentemente con el Programa de Acción aprobado en la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural, nuestra delegación reitera que, a su juicio, no se resolverán los problemas de la pobreza, el desempleo y el hambre, especialmente en la población rural, aumentandoúnicamente la producción agricola si no se lucha al mismo tiempo para lograr un reparto equitativo de tierras y de recursos.
Es indispensable (así lo consideramos nosotros) atender a las necesidades de los problemas que plantean no solamente los campesinos pobres poseedores de tierra, sino también los problemas que plantean los campesinos sin tierra, los cuales pueden considerarse como pertenecientes a una escala inferior a la categoría de pequefios agricultores.
Quisiéramos terminar nuestra intervención refiriéndonos a un asunto importante: la necesidad de que el crédito agrícola se amplíe a una escala mayor que afecte con preferencia al pequeño agricultor, y que le sirva además para que pueda disponer de los medios financieros para llevar a su producción los nuevos avances tecnológicos.
Unido a esto, es importante que se promueva un desarrollo en los programas de capacitación técnica, que facilite a los agricultores la asimilación de los avances tecnológicos, en las que pudiera incluirse, llegado el caso, las empresas estatales agropecuarias.
Es de justicia destacar la labor de la FAO para el fortalecimiento de las instituciones de crédito en los países en desarrollo.
En lo que toca a la Extensión y Capacitación, nuestra delegación apoya las ideas reflejadas por la Secretaría en el párrafo 127 del documento C 81/2, y encarece la necesidad de emplear más recursos en los programas de investigación.
Este tema fue planteado por nuestra delegacion, apoyado por otra, en la 16a. Conferencia Regional para América Latina, así como en el Sexto Comité de Agricultura de la FAO.
Señor Presidente, reconocemos que la FAO está luchando de manera encomiable por la erradiación del hambre en la tierra, y todos los países representados en esta Conferencia debemos prestar la mayor atención a los múltiples problemas que asaltan a la humanidad para hacer efieaz y verdadero el principio aprobado por la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural de que la distribución equitativa y la utilización de la tierra, el agua y otros recursos productivos son facto-res indispensables para el desarrollo rural, la movilización de los recursos humanos y el aumento de la producción para evitar la pobreza.
LE PRESIDENT: Avec le délégué de Cuba, nous proposons, à moins que vous n'en decidiez autrement, d'arrêter là la premièr séance pour ce matin. Il y a encore trois inscrits, mais comme vous le savez, notre horaire de travail est ainsi établi: le matin 9 h 30 à 12 h 30; l’après-midi:14 h 30 a 17 h 30.
Nous proposons done la suspension de cette séance pour la reprendre à 14 h 30 précises.
The meeting rose at 12. 30 hours
La séance est levée à 12 h 30
Se levanta la sesión a las 12. 30 horas
