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I. MAJOR TRENDS AND POLICIES IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (continued)
I.
PRINCIPALES TENDANCES ET POLITIQUES EN MATIERE D'ALIMENTATION ET D'AGRICULTURE (suite)
I. PRINCIPALES TENDENCIAS Y POLITICAS EN LA AGRICULTURA Y LA ALIMENTACION (continuación)

6. World Food and Agriculture Situation: (continued)
6.
Situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de 1 'agriculture : (suite)
6. Situación alimentaria y agrícola en el mundo: (continuación)

6.2 Progress in Implementation of the Plan of Action to Strengthen World Food Security - Re-appraisal of Concepts and Approaches (continued)
6.2 Etat d'avancement du Plan d'action visant à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale - Réexamen des concepts et des approches (suite)
6.2 Progresos realizados en la ejecución del Plan de Acción para reforzar la seguridad alimentaria mundial - reconsideración de conceptos y planteamientos (continuación)

EL PRESIDENTE: Se abre la Sexta Sesión de los trabajos de la Comisión I, y comienzo por informarles de que el grupo de contacto se reunirá en la Sala de Alemania, C-269, .a las 17.30 horas.

La Secretaría ha recibido comunicaciones por parte de las siguientes Delegaciones en relación con el Proyecto de Resolución presentado a esta Comisión.

Estas Delegaciones son Australia, Finlandia, Canadá, Suecia, Suiza, y la Comunidad Económica Europea a través de Francia.

Como ven los Sres. Delegados, tenemos frente a nosotros una larga lista de oradores que a continuación me permitiré leer, y les suplico desde ahora que moderen lo más posible el tiempo de sus exposiciones, porque abrigamos la intención decidida de terminar hoy con los debates en torno al Subtema 6.2 de nuestra Agenda.

Las Delegaciones son las siguientes: Malasia, Uruguay, Guinea, Dinamarca, Corea, Nueva Zelanda, Panamá, Indonesia, Malawi, Venezuela, Marruecos, Suecia, Suiza, Emiratos Arabes Unidos, Mauritania, Brasil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Kenya y El Salvador.

Ahora concedo la palabra a la Delegación de Malasia.

ABDUL WAHID JALIL (Malaysia): It is always difficult for the first speaker in the afternoon session to maintain the same enthusiasm and momentum of discussion as we had before we broke for lunch. Anyway, I hope the lunch break will have given us more food for thought on this very important subject.

It is recognized that the concept of world food security suffers from indadequacy, particularly in terms of ensuring the availability of food to food deficit developing countries. Therefore there is every justification for reappraising the concept of world food security.

Malaysia is in full agreement with the proposal of the Director-General of FAO to revise the concept of world food security, particularly in respect of production, stability of supplies and accessibility to available supply, both by countries needing the supply as well as by the people within the countries. In the past food security initiatives have been concentrated on food grain, that is staple crops like rice and wheat. These initiatives have not resolved fully the food security problems of all food deficit developing countries because not all those countries have grain as their staple food. Therefore, in order to ensure that global, regional and sub-regional food security initiatives cater for the needs of all food deficit developing countries, efforts must now be made to concentrate not only on grain staple but also non-cereal staple such as tubers and roots.

While it is considered appropriate at the national level to implement the three components of world food security, that is inadequacy of supply, stabilizing of flow of supply and access to supply, it is to be recognized that developing countries may not have the necessary capacity, expertise and the capital to ensure that these components are effectively carried out. External assistance from international agencies in terms of finance and expertise might be desired for developing countries with very limited foreign exchange resources.

The measures proposed for the regional level are considered appropriate but what is desired is more concerted efforts among the member countries concerned. The example of ASEAN emergency rice reserve should also be followed by other regions in the world. This regional measure might not be practical in cases where the countries concerned are chronically food deficit. In other words, the reserve supply of staple food should come from the member countries and not from the countries outside the regional grouping.


At the global level, food security could be ensured through a wide range of food programmes as well as financing facilities for food by food importing, by low income and food deficit countries. Malaysia, while not classified under this category, supports the two principal measures, namely the assistance of IMF facilities to meet increasing food importing bills of food deficit and food importing countries, and to develop a system of preferential price arrangement for food importing and food deficit countries.

While it is easy for developing food deficit countries to formulate stock policy as part of world food security programmes, it is sometimes beyond the means and capacity of the countries concerned to stockpile food reserves due to the lack of warehousing facilities. In this connection IFAD and other financial institutions which provide loans on concessional terms should be requested to provide the necessary funding for this purpose.

Malaysia strongly supports the efforts of the international community to work together closely in implementing the measures outlined in the document. In this connection Malaysia further reiterates its concern over the lack of coordinated efforts in implementing the World Food Programme. In this connection agencies within the United Nations system and other agencies should work out a formula to work together to implement the world food security measures.

In the course of implementing the possible measures proposed in the paper, the need for an effective/ monitoring system should be developed both at the regional and global level. A secretariat should be set up at the regional level with the concurrence of the member countries concerned. At the global level, FAO being the specialized agency dealing with agriculture and food, should be charged with the responsibility.

Finally, in view of the importance of this subject, my delegation welcomes the proposal for the joint draft resolution on world food security. We therefore look forward to the final form of the resolution after the deliberation of the Contract Group. I am sure the Group will come up with a resolution that will receive the approval of us all.

P◦ OLMOS MORALES (Urugay): Con la oportunidad de nuestra primera intervención en esta Comisión, queremos expresar nuestras congratulaciones por haber sido usted elegido Presidente de esta Comisión. Extendemos nuestras felicitaciones también a los Sres. Vicepresidentes.

Por otra parte, esta Delegación de Uruguay desea expresar su reconocimiento a la Secretaría de FAO por la presentación de los documentos referentes a la situación de la alimentación y de la agricultura en el mundo, así como a la seguridad alimentaria mundial.

Queremos también expresar nuestro reconocimiento por la brillante exposición del Profesor Islam que sirvió de marco de referencia a nuestros debates.

En relación con el tema que nos ocupa, el 6.2 de nuestro temario, Uruguay desea expresar su apoyo al concepto ampliado de seguridad alimentaria presentado por el Director General a la última reunión del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria.

En ese aspecto, los conceptos de ampliación de rubros en materia de seguridad alimentaria, que no sólo abarcan a los cereales sino a otros elementos básicos para la existencia de la población de muchas regiones del mundo, nos parece que reflejan fielmente el concepto de la seguridad alimentaria, no sólo en cuanto a la ampliación propiamente dicha del concepto en su contenido, sino en cuanto al acceso efectivo a los alimentos por parte de todos los pueblos por lo que hace a sus posibilidades de consumo.

Señor Presidente, mi Delegación, como lo han hecho otros colegas, quisiera también expresar la estrecha relación entre la seguridad alimentaria mundial y el comercio internacional.

En este aspecto, la situación de los países exportadores de alimentos ha sido en los últimos años tremendamente distorsionada por la existencia de prácticas proteccionistas, de trabas en el mercado internacional, que no solamente han afectado a los mecanismos tradicionales, trabas arancelarias, sino también en los últimos tiempos por la aplicación de subsidios por parte de países desarrollados o por organizaciones de los países desarrollados que han distorsionado la comercialización de algunos capítulos básicos, como es el caso de los productos lácteos y cárnicos.

Respecto a esto, nuestra Delegación desea manifestar que no existirá una auténtica seguridad alimenticia mientras subsista ese tipo de prácticas, que en primera instancia puede parecer que pueden ir en beneficio de países en situación de déficit alimentario, pero que en última instancia no constituyen un mecanismo favorable para que los países en desarrollo productores de alimentos puedan no solamente satisfacer sus necesidades, sino además trabajar activamente a fin de resolver el problema del hambre en el mundo.


Nuestra delegación en este punto apoya el estudio propuesto por el Director General sobre políticas nacionales de precios agrícolas, que anunciara el Profesor Islam para ser consideradas en las conferencias regionales del año próximo y en el Período de Sesiones de la Conferencia de 1985.

Estimamos que este estudio aportará elementos muy valiosos sobre los aspectos de comercialización en el marco de los productos agrícolas y alimentarios.

De todas maneras, los esfuerzos que se han desarrollado a nivel de otros organismos como el GATT, a través del Comité de Productos Agrícolas, o de UNCTAD, merecen nuestra especial atención, y esperamos que en esos foros se dedique también por su parte especial atención a los problemas del comercio internacional de productos agrícolas.

En relación con el proyecto de resolución presentado por algunos países en esta Comisión, nuestra Delegación desea manifestar su apoyo a tal proyecto de resolución.

En primer lugar, queremos poner de manifiesto que a nuestro juicio dicho proyecto refleja el concepto ampliado de seguridad alimentaria, que compartimos y en segundo lugar expresar nuestra adhesión a los programas y a su ampliación sobre el plan de asistencia de seguridad alimentaria, pasando por el programa de prevención de pérdida de alimentos y otros programas de acción, que se han abordado a través de la acción de la FAO, de la asistencia bilateral tendentes a ampliar las posibilidades de la seguridad alimentaria.

Estamos también de acuerdo con respecto a las metas de ayuda alimentaria establecidas para 1985, y con la ampliación de los recursos para el fomento de las reservas alimentarias internacionales de emergencia.

Con respecto a la resolución planteada, mi Delegación solamente desearía establecer una pequeña salvedad. En el párrafo cuarto, que se refiere a la liberalización del comercio internacional, nos gustaría que se suprimiera la expresión "ulterior", porque consideramos que no debe estar condicionadas en el tiempo las medidas que puedan atender o que puedan instar a una liberalización efectiva del comercio internacional de productos agrícolas.

Desde el punto de vista del análisis general del tema, estos son Señor Presidente, nuestros modestos comentarios.

H. MENDS (Ghana): Mr Chairman, my delegation would like to offer a brief comment on the Director-General’s revised concept of world food security. As has been stated in document C 83/20 and more eloquently discussed by the delegations that spoke this morning, the persistent food production problems of developing countries which face acute food shortages, mostly in Africa, have heightened international attention for increased agricultural production, and, indeed, a more integrated approach to world food security.

My delegation is in full agreement with the proposals for an improved system of world food security. While it is quite easy to accept the various continents' measures at the national and regional levels, it is also logical to understand the crucial need for measures at global level for the necessary food security impact to be attained. We would, therefore, urge all those countries who have difficulties with some aspects of the proposed global measures and to assist in sorting out the kinks for the system to operate as a package. In this connection, we stress the importance of a more liberalized IMF food facility, a larger IEFR and a strengthened FAO influence and active leadership role in food security matters under the guidance of the Committee on World Food security. We believe that the existing terms of reference of CFS are broad and flexible enough to be accorded the confidence and prominence in the role it should play under the broadened concept of world food security. Like our colleagues from Cyprus and Cameroon, we do not think that the activities of CFS conflict in any way with those of the other institutions, such as the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and the World Food Council.

We fully concur with the statements made by India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Cuba and Cameroon amongst others. Mr. Chairman, considering what has been achieved under Resolution 3/79 on world food security adopted by the Conference in 1979, we believe that the proposed Resolution, which has been passed by the Resolution Committee, is a vital linking instrument and accordingly has my delegation's strongest support for our consideration and unanimous adoption.

E. HJELMAR (Denmark): As the representative of the European Community made a general statement yesterday on the views of the European Community, I can make my statement brief, as you asked, and concentrate on two main points.


The first point is in the new concept of world food security, which we endorse. One of the aims of the concept is the securing of adequate food supplies. The necessary quantities must be available but we must not forget the quality, that is the nutritional aspect. The food available should have a nutritionally acceptable composition. Malnutrition must be prevented as well as famine. In connection with food supplies from other countries local food traditions should be respected. I realise that this is a problem which the World Food Programme is very well aware of in its programme. These are only two aspects of the nutrition problems which should be kept in mind. The Nordic countries have, however, got the impression that FAO could be more aware of the nutritional problems. In fact I have not succeeded in finding the word "nutrition" mentioned in the progress report before us. Norway has, therefore, this morning presented a statement on that point in Commission II, on behalf of the Nordic countries. The Finnish proposal this morning and an amendment to the draft resolution on world food security also reflected this impression of something missing in the working programme of FAO.

My second point is on the institutional implications referred to in paragraphs 58-65.

As mentioned in the documents, there were diverging reactions in the Committee on World Food Security on some of the proposals of the Director-General. I would like to stress that the implications of new ideas which change the balance between existing international organizations must be considered carefully. It is not very fruitful that the different organizations compete on the responsibilities. It is cooperation that is needed and not competition.

Those are the two points I would make under this agenda point, Mr Chairman.

LI HYOK CHOL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea): As this is the first time for our delegation to speak in this Committee, I would like to warmly congratulate you on your election to the chairmanship of this Commission. I also express the appreciation of my delegation to the Secretariat, for the preparation of the excellent document before us. The revised concept of world food security of the Director-General is a most correct response to the existing world food situation.

The report of the Director-General to the Eighth Session of the Committee on World Food Security is, indeed, a document of great importance in promoting the world food security. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our full support to the revised concept, and all the proposals of the Director-General, including the measures at national, regional, and global levels. We also support the proposal to strengthen the effectiveness of the CFS within its existing mandate.

Mr Chairman, the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shares the view that the actual problem of world food security today is the negligence, or the negative attitude of some countries, towards the world food problem. In this connection, my delegation feels that the technical and economic cooperation among the developing countries should play an important role. The result of the North/South negotiations so far, required to put more stress on the economic and technical cooperation among the developing countries.

It is our view that collective self-reliance of the developing countries should be given priority in our effort to combat hunger and starvation in the world. There exists many countries in the developing world, who have obtained valuable experience in the rural and agricultural development, and others have abandoned natural and human resources. When the North/South cooperation is encouraged and all this potential is pooled together effectively, we would have a really prosperous Third World.

The developing countries must learn from each other; support each other and march forward together.

Finally, I would like to put on the record the full support of my delegation for the draft resolution presented to the Conference in document C 83/20. We think that the contact group meeting this evening can produce a good draft acceptable to all.

G.J. BOXALL (New Zealand): The Director-General has asked for the guidance of this Conference on the direction of work for world food secutity in the next biennium. My delegation commends the Director-General for the constructive initiative he has taken through seeking a broader approach to world food security. New Zealand has already supported the broader approach in the committee on food security and in the council, and we reaffirm our support today.

We desire progress. This, however, will be slow. It is important and we have the responsibility to proceed in the best and most appropriate manner. We should not sacrifice effective progress for the sake of expediency.


The New Zealand delegation appreciates that there is an undeniable need for a dependable system of world food security. This requires effective economic prescriptions which would safeguard the interests of both developing and developed countries alike.

The Director-General has recognised the parameters in which progress can be achieved. He has proposed measures at the national, regional and global levels. In my delegation's view, the most effective way to proceed at this early stage is at the national level. It is not my intention to delve into the many interesting prescriptions detailed by the Director-General on this matter in his report. There are very many valuable areas identified where developing countries, with necessary support where required, can focus their immediate action.

At the national level we see opportunities for FAO to extend its work in several areas. We believe there should be a continuing emphasis on establishing the nutritional status of vulnerable groups. Denmark mentioned this point earlier. At the same time we believe countries should be encouraged to make contingency plans which attempt to anticipate the actions which will be necessary in a food crisis. While these contingency plans could not be expected to anticipate an actual emergency - by definition these are unpredictable - we believe they will help to improve crisis management and may well form a basis for regional co-ordination.

The role developed countries can play is a large one. Cooperation is essential. In particular, we would like to endorse the Director-General's call in his report for a greater liberalisation of trade. Trade is the engine of growth. Unfortunately, world trade in agriculture is declining. Terms of trade have declined and access to markets is restricted.

We spoke on this matter at the last meetings of the CCP and Council and in the Plenary of this Conference. I will not enumerate those well-known points here, just to say that the need for greater liberalisation and increased trade is essential to world food security.

The developing countries must also respond in a positive way by focusing their attention on increasing production and the ordering of priorities to suit their own circumstances, in line with the suggestions made by the Director-General in his Report.

Regional cooperation is also essential. At this stage we would merely note that the Regional Commission on Food Security for Asia and the Pacific has met, and we hope progress can be forthcoming from this initial base.

We endorse the Director-General's call for cooperation among the various agencies involved with the diverse aspects of world food security. The key word is cooperation. New Zealand believes that consensus is best achieved by emphasising activities on which there is a clear consensus while continuing our efforts to reach a common understanding with other international agencies. In this regard, we therefore support the Director-General's approach, as outlined in paragraph 164 of the original document CFS 83/4.

In concluding, the food problem faced by many developing countries is enormous. The need for effective food security is essential. We are pleased that some progress is being made. It is in the areas where a consensus has been achieved or is likely to be achieved in the near future that the New Zealand delegation considers that emphasis should be placed and efforts intensified.

E. HERAZO DE VITI (Panamá): La delegación de Panamá reitera su apoyo al nuevo concepto revisado y ampliado de la seguridad alimentaria mundial, aspecto éste que fue vasto y profundamente discutido, primero por el octavo período de sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, y segundo, por el 83° período de sesiones del Consejo de esta Organización.

Esperamos pues que igualmente, esta 22a Conferencia de la FAO apruebe el nuevo concepto ampliado sobre seguridad alimentaria con sus tres objetivos fundamentales, concernientes a la producción, la estabilidad de los suministros y el acceso a los recursos disponibles, tanto por parte de los países que buscan satisfacer sus necesidades en los mercados internacionales, como de las poblaciones de los países que tratan de comprar los alimentos que necesitan.

Y sobre este particular, resaltamos lo expuesto en el párrafo 22, y que fue aprobado por el Consejo, en el sentido de que este enfoque debe extenderse para que abarque todos los alimentos básicos, con inclusión de las raíces, los tubérculos, las legumbres, los plátanos y los aceites comestibles, así como los demás alimentos esenciales complementarios, y no sólo los cereales para consumo humano.

Con relación a las medidas concretas para el logro de esta seguridad alimentaria mundial, nuestra delegación no tiene dificultad en aceptar las medidas que se proponen a nivel nacional, y esto porque estamos plenamente convencidos que estas medidas son la base indispensable y fundamental para la seguridad alimentaria universal.


Sobre las medidas, tanto a nivel regional como mundial, insistimos en que éstas son necesarias y complementarias a las primeras. A este respecto, vale la pena recordar que en declaración a esta Conferencia y en muestra de su sabiduría como estadista, el Dr. BRUNO KREISKY nos expresó su firme convicción de que la comunidad internacional no puede estar ajena a comprometerse activamente en la solución de estos problemas. Firmemente creemos que con una dosis de buena fe en el análisis de las medidas propuestas, se puede llegar exitosamente a acuerdos sobre el particular, como bien lo señala el documento C 83/20 en su párrafo núm. 79 y 87.

Es por esto, que exhortamos a las delegaciones que tanto en el CSA como en el Consejo han demostrado cierta reticencia, reticencia ésta que no nos ha quedado del todo claro, las exhortamos a que la depongan constructivamente en aras de la solución permanente y definitiva de los problemas de la seguridad alimentaria mundial, que es el gran reto a que se enfrenta la presente generación.

Deseamos además resaltar algunos aspectos que, a nuestro juicio, son determinantes para la seguridad alimentaria, ya que de su interrelación pueden surgir fórmulas para el cumplimiento de gran parte de los objetivos propuestos. Entre éstos, señalamos, de manera particular, la búsqueda de nuevos tipos de cultivos o de culturas zootécnicas; y en esto juega un fundamental papel el uso universal de los recursos genéticos y de técnicas de producción cónsonas con las necesidades sociales, políticas y económicas del medio ambiente al cual son destinadas; lo mismo que su aplicación en la incorporación de áreas marginadas de manera real y efectiva en la economía productiva de los países.

Resaltamos también la necesidad de realizar esfuerzos interregionales en la formulación de políticas agrarias, comercialización, sanidad agropecuaria, lucha contra las pérdidas postcosecha, y uso y comercialización de los fertilizantes.

SUGENG AMAT (Indonesia) : Speaking for the first time on behalf of my delegation-, I would like, Mr Chairman, to congratulate you and also the vice-chairmen for having been elected to this important post in Commission I. We also wish to thank Professor Islam and his staff for having prepared the highly valuable documents for this Commission's consideration.

Indonesia considers this subject of Progress in Implementation of the Plan of Action to Strengthen World Food Security as one of the most important items on the agenda of this Twenty-second Session of the Conference. We would like therefore to submit our comments and views on the many important aspects of world food security as contained in the Report presented by the Secretariat. In doing so, we would also like to present a brief review of projects made in promoting food security at the national level, that is, in Indonesia, as well as at the sub-regional level, that is, ASEAN.

First of all, my delegation concurs in the overall assessment of the current world food situation and prospects or the"setting", so to say, as presented in paragraphs 15 through 17 of document C 83/20 and which serves as a basis or starting point for this Commission's deliberations on the subject.

While it is certainly gratifying to note that no fewer than 98 countries have already adopted national food policies or followed corresponding stock practices, as stated in the document, these actions at the national level do not add up to a system capable of maintaining a minimum safe level of basic cereals stock for the world as a whole. This is indeed a matter of great concern to my delegation, especially if one takes into account the highly disturbing prospect of world food security in this decade of the 80s.

Available data indicate that the world food economy has been subject in an increasing measure to instability of supplies, demand and prices, which has been damaging to both developed and developing countries and is extremely detrimental to the food security of the low-income food-deficit countries. There is also evidence which suggests that the world food situation has tended to become and is becoming even more vulnerable and fragile.

It is against this background of a world economy becoming increasingly volatile that the absence of an international mechanism capable of reducing price fluctuations in the world cereal market and of ensuring access for low-income food-deficit countries to needed supplies in terms of global shortages is most regrettable and disturbing. And with no prospects for the possible establishment of such a mechanism in the foreseeable future,.it is highly important that the Five-Point Plan of Action on World Food Security proposed by the Director-General, endorsed by the Council and the Conference and supported by the WFC, be further strengthened.


My delegation is very much appreciative of the many constructive ideas and proposals that the Director-General has presented in this respect. First of all, we wish to endorse the broadened concept of world food security which emphasizes that the ultimate objective of such food security should be the ensuring that all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the basic food they need. This is, in my delegation's view, a fundamental concept. It recognize that, while much progress may have been achieved by several developing countries in accelerationg food production increases, and even in securing a stable supply of food throughout the year at stable prices, the fact remains that significant parts of the population still do not have enough to eat simply because they lack enough income to buy the food they need. Such a situation exists at the international level where many low-income food-deficit countries do not have economic access to whatever food is available on the world market.

We further agree that, in addition to cereals, increasing emphasis should be given to other basic foodstuffs, like maize, soybeans, groundnuts, etc., with a view to achieving a more balanced diet and also to reducing dependence on one basic food or on one staple grain.

In evaluating the progress achieved in increasing production and expanding food consumption ,Agricultural Ministers of Asia and the Pacific at a consultative meeting in Manila earlier this year agreed that one underlying factor for such progress is the fact that many of the countries have succeeeded in adopting an integrated food strategy approach, strengthened by, first, support at the highest political levels for food policies within the context of national development; second, a more or less rapid diffusion of new technologies among others, thanks to the active participation of the farmers and farm communities in the development process. This latter is clearly reflected in the Intensification Programmes as adopted in Indonesia, not only for rice but also for other food crops, and even livestock and fisheries, and which rely increasingly on participation and decision-making by the local community and which are reviewed every year. Floor prices for basic commodities, sufficient to provide incentives to producers, are essential in such programmes. As a matter of fact, just two weeks ago our Government announced the increase of floor prices for paddy, effective as of February 1984, the beginning of the main harvest season, by almost 15 percent, to $170 per ton while at the same time the price of urea has been maintained at the subsidized level of some $93 per ton.

The promotion of a more diversified pattern of production and consumption, as increasingly emphasized in our national development, is greatly influenced by our ability to develop the most appropriate pricing policy for this basket of food commodities. Its success is also determined to a large extent by our ability to increase productivity or yields per hectare of such commodities, in particular maize and soyabeans. Furthermore, the introduction of appropriate food technology is considered of great importance also. These are all fields where external technical assistance could be most useful indeed.

With regard to the role of international trade of agricultural commodities, my delegation is very much concerned about the worsening terms of trade and erosion in export earnings capacity of the low-income food-deficit countries, especially due to the collapse of commodity prices in recent years. We therefore not only regret but deplore steps or measures being taken by certain industrialized countries which would have the effect of increasing further the barriers to a freer access of such commodities to their markets. We strongly suggest that this Conference address a strong appeal to these developed countries that no new trade barriers be created but that, on the other hand, serious efforts be made to reduce existing restrictions.

With regard to action at the regional level, I would like first of all briefly to inform this Commission of the cooperative undertakings among the five ASEAN countries to increase our common self reliance in the food sector. There is, first of all, the so-called ASEAN Food Security Reserve, to which the distinguished delegate of Malaysia has earlier made some reference. This ASEAN Food Security Reserve is now in its fourth year of operation. There has so far been no need to draw on the emergency rice reserve of 50 000 metric tons, in spite of floods and droughts which have plagued our agriculture during that period.

This is mostly thanks to satisfactory crops, by and large, and to a further strengthening of national stocks. Even so, a comprehensive study has been commissioned recently by the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture on the AFSR, taking into account all possible factors which can have an impact on food production and supplies in the region and on the optimal level of reserves that should be maintained. Such factors include weather, prices, nutrition requirements, storage, transportation, etc. FAO/UNDP assistance in the execution of such a comprehensive study could be most useful indeed.


Other ASEAN undertakings which support regional food security include the undertaking of an ASEAN Crops Post Harvest Programme, with assistance from Canada, the USA, the Netherlands and Australia, the establishment of an ASEAN Food Handling Bureau in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with considerable substantial assistance from Australia; the establishment of a Centre for Irrigation System Management for ASEAN; and other programmes. We welcome the creation of the FAO Regional Commission on Food Security for Asia and the Pacific and express the hope that this Commission will be able to promote a more action-oriented programme and facilitate and accelerate the translation into concrete activities of the many resolutions and agreement already adopted at various international fora with regard to food security. This Commission is also expected to contribute to further strengthening the countries's capabilities in such fields as weather and crop forecasting, the gathering of market information and intelligence, etc.

We welcome in this respect FAO's initiative in sponsoring a workshop on technical cooperation among national food grain agencies in the region of Asia and the Pacific. After the first workshop held in Indonesia in December 1982, a second workshop is scheduled to be held in the Philippines, possibly in December this year. We hope that through these periodic meetings and consultations among heads and senior representatives of national food grain agencies in the region active and fruitful TCDC programmes will be developed, contributing to a more efficient operation and management of national food agencies and to regional food security as a whole.

Mr Chairman, there are several other important aspects of the Plan of Action on which we would like to comment but not wishing to take too much of this Commission's limited time, I would like to conclude by saying that Indonesia deeply appreciates the efforts of those delegations who have taken the initiative in drafting a resolution on world food security which we are in general ready to support. Whatever comments we have on this draft will be presented later in the evening when we shall be participating in the work of the Contact Group meeting at 5.30 today.

M. DIALLO (Mali): Prenant pour la première fois la parole à cette Commission, la délégation malienne est très heureuse de vous féliciter, vous même et les vice-présidents,pour votre brillante élection à la présidence de la Commission I de cette Conférence générale de la FAO. Aussi, et par la même occasion, elle souhaite une fois de plus la bienvenue aux nouveaux membres admis au sein de l'Organisation.

Leur arrivée sera, nous en sommes sûrs, d'un renforcement certain pour la lutte commune contre la faim et la malnutrition dans le monde.

Notre pays, le Mali, partage parfaitement avec la FAO et son dynamique directeur général, le Dr. Edouard Saouma,tous les concepts et approches pour la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, et particulièrement celle de l'Afrique et de sa région sahélienne.

Notre pays, constamment confronté aux méfaits d'une sécheresse persistante,déploie à ce sujet tous les efforts pour sécuriser son agriculture et réussir un développement rural harmonieux par les moyens :

- de la maîtrise de l'eau

- de l'équipement conséquent de l'agriculture,

- du désenclavement rural,

- de la participation paysanne

C'est donc à juste titre que notre pays met ici l'accent sur la nécessité qu'il y a de porter la plus grande attention sur les solutions aux problèmes combien aigus de la désertification, du sous-équipement paysan, des épizooties, notamment la peste bovine qui menace nombre de régions africaines et contre laquelle la communauté internationale doit engager dès les prochains mois des programmes véritables d'eradication totale.

En ce qui concerne particulièrement la sécurité alimentaire, la délégation malienne tient à attirer l'attention sur la stratégie alimentaire élaborée et adoptée par le Gouvernement du Mali en août 1982. Les huit principes d'action de cette stratégie sont les suivants :

- Premièrement, prise en compte et valorisation des zones écologiques du pays;

- Deuxièmement, réduction des goulots d'étranglement et valorisation de potentialités;

- Troisièmement,action sur les mentalités;

- Quatrièmement, création des conditions favorables pour que les paysans se maintiennent dans le milieu rural;

- Cinquièmement, définition pour les activités productives d'un niveau technique assurant leur perénité;

- Sixièmement,concentration des moyens et de l'action de l'Etat sur les points cruciaux en

laissant l'initiative .privée jouer son rôle pour le reste;

- Septièmement, tenir compte des implantations régionales soudano-sahéliennes, et

- Huitièmement, se donner le temps de réussir.


Une telle stratégie, qui intègre totalement toutes les données essentielles pour le développement des productions agricoles et alimentaires, ne demande à notre avis, que soutien et renforcement de la part des donateurs pour le plus grand aboutissement de l'objectif d'autosuffisance alimentaire.

S'agissant donc de la résolution qui nous est proposée, la délégation pense qu'elle est parfaitement justifiée et doit faire l'objet d'un consensus général. La délégation malienne approuve aussi le programme de coopération technique et, à ce propos, remercie le Directeur général de la FAO, ainsi que la communauté internationale de l'appui efficace qu'ils ne cessent d'apporter à l'agriculture du Mali en général et à sa sécurité alimentaire en particulier.

A cet effet, elle en appelle toujours à leur bonne volonté pour encore renforcer et soutenir cette solidarité internationale pour vaincre la faim dans le monde.

B. MONTIEL ATENCIO (Venezuela): Hemos estudiado con detenimiento el documento C 83/20, objeti-vo de este debate, que recoge el resumen de las propuestas del Director General en su informe al pasado Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, el resumen de las reacciones que de las mismas provocaron al CSA y al Consejo que luego se realizó, y las medidas sugeridas para el futuro.

Intervenimos en esta ocasión para reiterarle el apoyo que ya dimos al mismo informe cuando éste se discutió, con la convicción de que sólo la voluntad política y economica de todos los países aquí representados hará posible el aprovechamiento de este esfuerzo que está haciendo la FAO y su Director General para darle a la seguridad alimentaria su verdadera dimensión.

Sólo con la actitud positiva y la toma de conciencia de los países desarrollados de la necesidad y conveniencia de trabajar unidos para lograr la justicia social internacional, podremos salir adelante de esta grave situación económica y alimentaria mundial, y sólo así será posible una evolución adecuada de las propuestas de cambio o de reforzamiento contenidas en el informe del Director General, especialmente las que corresponden al nivel mundial.

Como siempre, hemos sostenido que el mayor esfuerzo corresponde a los mismos países en desarrollo, América Latina ya ha dado los pasos hacia adelante en la gran tarea, no valdría la pena repetir aquí lo que ya han referido nuestros compañeros latinoamericanos sobre el CASAR; a nivel subregional el pasado julio, el Consejo del Acuerdo de Cartagena, el Pacto Subregional Andino, firmó el convenio "José Celestino Mutis" sobre agricultura, seguridad alimentaria y conservación del ambiente que tiene en cuenta todos los sectores que aparecen recomendados en el párrafo 78 del documento C 83/20.

Igualmente, otras regiones ya han suscrito sus respectivos acuerdos, claro que ello es solo un complemento útil que no puede sustituir a los programas de seguridad alimentaria nacional.

Nuestros gobiernos son conscientes de esta realidad y ese compromiso con los países y con la humanidad siempre guía nuestras políticas. Actualmente se está elaborando en Venezuela un plan agrícola a largo plazo.Tenemos fe en que esto permitirá a Venezuela alcanzar una mejor situación en cuanto a autoabastecimiento alimentario, lo cual contribuirá en algo a la autosuficiencia subregional y regional.

Así pues, consideramos que si todos estamos de acuerdo en este nuevo enfoque, si somos conscientes de los recursos con los cuales se puede disponer y trabajamos en consecuencia a la urgencia de la situación, seguiremos avanzando en esta difícil tarea.

Para concluir, esperamos que esta Comisión apoye y apruebe sin dificultad el proyecto de resolución sobre seguridad alimentaria por nosotros expresado, ya que el mismo no es más que el reflejo del apoyo que todos aquí le hemos dado al nuevo concepto de seguridad alimentaria.

A. SAISSI (Maroc): Je vous remercie et je voudrais vous féliciter, Monsieur le Président, pour votre élection à la présidence de notre Commission. Il serait superflu de souligner la valeur, l'intérêt et la portée de ce document élaboré par la FAO à propos de l'alimentation dans le monde. Il constitue à juste titre un appel à la conscience mondiale pour une action concertée et urgente en ce domaine. Nous constatons que la conjoncture internationale fait varier d'une année à l'autre les indicateurs technico-économiques relatifs à cette question, mais sans pour autant faire évoluer les problèmes de fond posés par la question alimentaire mondiale qui demeure donc totale.

La solution progressive de cette question doit être en fait fondée sur une stratégie qui doit se consacrer à lutter contre les contraintes structurelles qui s'opposent à la réalisation d'une réelle sécurité alimentaire universelle tant qualitative que quantitative.


L'approche adoptée à cet égard doit tenir compte du fait que,sans une solidarité agissante de la part des différents pays du monde, leur adhésion volontaire et dynamique (en vue de la cohérence et de l'harmonisation des différentes actions à entreprendre, et d'une intégration des données de cette approche aux plans nationaux de développement et au plan directeur mondial à mettre sur pied à cet égard) serait vouée à l'échec.

Les nouveaux concepts révisés de sécurité alimentaire prônés par la FAO pourraient constituer à notre sens un premier jalon sur cette voie. Mais je voudrais souligner que le concept de sécurité alimen­taire ne s'oppose pas sur le plan national à la notion de stratégie alimentaire. Les mêmes impératifs les sous-tendent et les mêmes objectifs en constituent la raison d'être. Ils sont en fait complé­mentaires. Je voudrais préciser à ce propos que le Maroc est en train d'élaborer une étude de stratégie alimentaire.

Je pense que sur le plan national cette stratégie de développement de la production alimentaire doit être basée sur une approche volontariste privilégiant la promotion économique et socio-culturelle du producteur et son intégration aux circuits économiques, le faisant ainsi bénéficier des mêmes droits et avantages reconnus aux autres agents économiques.

Cette orientation fondamentale devra être sous l'angle du développement de la production alimentaire concrétisée par l'élaboration de plans de développement sectoriels à long terme, projetant des programmes d'action intégrés couvrant tous les aspects d'accroissement de la production de chacune des denrées alimentaires de base, étant à préciser-que le choix de ces denrées alimentaires doit découler des potentialités de production propres aux pays car la structure de consommation est basée sur des normes nutritionnelles, rationnelles, doit impérativement à notre avis s'adapter à la structure de production du pays et non le contraire. Le succès de ces programmes d'action demeurera cependant tributaire des politiques d'accompagnement à appliquer tant en ce qui concerne les prix, les circuits de commercialisation, de conservation, de stockage que de recherche et de financement.

Sur le plan régional et international, je pense que nos efforts dans le cadre d'une amélioration de l'ordre alimentaire mondial actuel doivent être axés sur les points suivants (je citerai notamment les principaux à notre avis) :

Premièrement: la nécessité de développer parallèlement à l'augmentation de l'aide alimentaire l'aide à la production, dont l'objectif est précisément de favoriser l'amélioration des productions agricoles des pays en développement et de réduire ainsi progressivement leur dépendance vis-à-vis de l'extérieur en matière alimentaire.

Deuxièmement: le renforcement de l'aide financière et technique consentie aux pays en développement notamment ceux ayant des potentialités agricoles importantes de façon à améliorer quantitativement les disponibilités alimentaires mondiales.

Troisièmement: la mise en place de mécanismes régionaux comportant la conjugaison des efforts des pays en développement concernés en matière de production et de réserves alimentaires○

Quatrièmement: la suppression du protectionnisme, car la libéralisation des échanges internationaux est de nature à éviter l’étouffement des économies encore jeunes des pays en développement qui luttent déjà sur le plan interne contre des contraintes physiques, techniques et sociales pour assurera l'élan de leur développement économique une base sûre et saine.

Cinquièmement: la nécessité impérieuse d'augmenter "l'aide alimentaire d'urgence" en raison du contexte alimentaire mondial actuel marqué notamment par des pénuries locales souvent dramatiques.

Sixièmement (je désire parler de la FAO elle même) : le renforcement des moyens d'intervention de la FAO au niveau notamment de ses représentations régionales, c'est là un dispositif d'assistance qui a prouvé son efficacité et son impact.

Je ne voudrais point terminer sans évoquer le problème de la pêche qui doit constituer une composante importante de l'alimentation mondiale.

Le développement de la pêche ne peut perdre de vue la nécessité d'exploiter de façon rigoureusement rationnelle les différentes espèces halieutiques. Toute stratégie nationale de développement à bâtir à ce propos, tant en matière de production que de promotion de la consommation du poisson, ne peut produire ses efforts que si une coopération internationale est mise sur pied, coopération fondée sur la recherche concertée des moyens et voies appropriés en vue d'assurer la sauvegarde des ressources halieutiques. Il est souhaitable à cet égard que la Convention sur le Droit de la Mer, qui sera prochainement signée, tienne compte des aspirations des états côtiers du Tiers Monde et que la creation de zones économiques exclusives puisse profiter réellement aux pays 'en développement riverains des côtes.


Claes-Erik ODHNER (Sweden): The Swedish Delegation supports the revised concept of food security as suggested by the Council. We can also broadly support the main points of the proposed draft resolution, but we feel that as it now stands it is a little lopsided. There has been general agreement here in this Committee during the discussion that the basis of food security in the medium - and long - term is always on local production in the various countries. This draft resolution gives little attention to measures on a national level. Most of it is devoted to national food aid actions. There should be a better balance for developing necessary levels nationally. There is one thing which I think is important in this respect but which is not mentioned at all in the draft; that is national pricing policies.

I note from an intervention made during discussion of the previous subject on the agenda that there has been an important shift in emphasis in the discussion from problems of production to problems of distribution of available resources. This is not to say that problems of production are not important, but it is not sufficient to ensure that there are possibilities for selling potential production. It is necessary to ensure that products are brought to market and that the pricing policy as such is one that will stimulate production. Therefore, my delegation proposes an addition to the draft amendment. We propose another paragraph inserted between paragraphs 5 and 6, or possibly somewhere else in the draft.

I will read it out for you: "further requests the Director-General early to complete the current study on food price policies and, on the basis of this result and available experience, develop methods to assist low income food deficit countries to elaborate pricing policies and develop marketing facilities which will secure an expansion in marketing of local production in the face of necessary short-term food assistance and combine stable and remunerative prices to producers with prices for low income consumers which secure their access to basic food supplies."

The text has already been handed to the Secretariat.

I. MARINCEK (Suisse): Au début de la Conférence il a été convenu que le nombre de Résolutions devait être limité au strict minimum. La sécurité alimentaire est certainement un thème central de la Conférence qui mérite une résolution. Ma délégation l'a déjà souligné dans sa déclaration à la plénière. Je remercie donc les délégations du Vėnezuela, du Bangladesh, de l'Inde et du Mexique pour avoir pris l'initiative en nous proposant un texte.

Cette proposition ne contient rien que je ne pourrais pas souscrire mais je ne suis pas tout à fait d'accord avec les accents mis qui diffèrent substantiellement du Rapport du CSA. Concrètement, j'aimerais davantage souligner le rôle et la responsabilité centrale qui incombent aux gouvernements nationaux concernés pour les initiatives, les politiques, l'exécution et la coordination des mesures envisagées, comme il est également postulé dans l'excellent document de Conférence C 83/20. L'accent du texte proposé est trop mis sur l'assistance extérieure qui, aussi importante qu'elle est, ne peut finalement être que complémentaire. Pour ne pas être malentendu, je vous rappelle que mon pays honore ce rôle complémentaire en soutenant financièrement depuis des années le PASA et le PPA et nous avons l'intention de continuer notre assistance à ces Programmes:

Un autre point qui mériterait d'être mieux mis en évidence dans la Résolution concerne les politiques d'encouragement à la production dans le domaine des prix, marchés et crédits. De plus, il me paraît essentiel qu'on mentionne les mesures supplémentaires qui peuvent être nécessaires pour assurer que les politiques d'incitation à la production deviennent accessibles à un nombre maximum de bénéficiaires. Ces mesures supplémentaires doivent notamment assurer l'accès du petit paysannat aux facteurs de production et à la terre.

A.A. ABDULAZIZ (United Arab Emirates) (Original language Arabie): As this is the first time I have taken the floor, it is my pleasure to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, and your Vice-Chairmen on your election to these high offices. I would also like to thank the Food and Agriculture Organization for the excellent nature of the documents presented to us.

We in the United Arab Emirates do not expect to reach self-sufficiency only on the basis of agricultural production., We have therefore attached a great deal of importance to all elements likely to strengthen world food security. Although our agricultural output has increased by 7 percent over the past 5 years, this only provides us with 25 percent of our needs. This is also due to the fact that the population has increased as a result of labour immigration, which has led to a multiple increase in the amount of food imported over the last few years.

We have cooperated with the Gulf Cooperation Council to establish a strategic food reserve for grains We cooperate with the Arab group of countries in setting up several projects for the development of livestock resources and agricultural production„ Through these we hope we will be able to achieve the greatest degree of self-sufficiency on the Arab level. However, we still hope that a new Grains Agreement will be concluded shortly to ensure a minimum of food security in the world and to increase the amount available for food aid, especially emergency food aid.


To encourage production in developing countries, first we hope that we shall be able to lift the customs barriers set up by the developed countries in the way of agricultural exports from the developing countries.

Secondly, we hope that FAO will be able to act the coordinating agency between the various executing funds and international organizations in the area of development in order to avoid duplication and to achieve maximum efficiency.

Thirdly, the expansion of terms of trade between producing and developing countries is necessary as low terms of trade compared with the volume of production are one the main reasons for the monopoly exercised by certain countries in international trade. Thus the terms of trade between both groups of countries must be expanded.

Fourthly, to increase food supplies in developing countries, research should not only concentrate on cash crops but also on those locally consumed crops of importance for the developing countries concerned.

A fifth element is to take into acccount the need to expand the production of fertilizers and their use to increase production.

We therefore call upon FAO to encourage developing countries to take this factor into account There are about 500 million people in the world suffering from hunger due to lack of these fertilizers.

The sixth element concerns the necessary attention to be accorded by FAO to the field of plant genetic resources and the provision of improved species of grains for increased production and yields, as well as to research through Regional Offices due to its importance in achieving food security.

Finally, we believe that food security does not mean increasing production in the developed countries but in the developing countries

We approve the new concept of food security.

M.S. OULD BAH (Mauritanie): Comme la délegation mauritanienne prend la parole pour la première fois, je ne manquerai pas l'occasion au nom de cette délégation de vous féliciter, ainsi que vos adjoints, de votre brillante élection à la tête de notre Commission. La délégatiom mauritanienne adresse également ses vives félicitations au Secrétariat pour la qualité du document C 83/20 qui, de notre point de vue, est clair, bien écrit, proposant des solutions concrètes aux problèmes, combien nombreux et variés, posés par la faim, la famine, la malnutrition à travers le monde.

Une partie des solutions proposées s'adresse aux gouvernements des pays dont les populations sont concernées partiellement ou totalement par les déséquilibres qualitatifs ou quantitatifs de leur repas quotidiens.

A ce propos, je porte à votre connaissance que quelques-uns de nos gouvernements africains, dont celui de la République islamique de Mauritanie, font déjà ce qu'ils peuvent en ce qui concerne l'encouragement à la production, l'intensification de la production dans la mesure du possible, la constitution des stocks, la suppression de taxes pour encourager les éleveurs et les producteurs à mieux produire, etc., etc. Mais la sécheresse a bouleversé complètement tous ces programmes notamment dans les pays africains au sud du Sahara et qui sont pour le moment impuissants à procurer à leurs populations les quantités d'énergie et de protéines nécessaires pour une vie normale pour ne pas dire une survie. En première conclusion, la République islamique de Mauritanie appuie le document soumis à la Commission. Cependant, elle suggère qu'à l'avenir compte soit tenu du fait que la sécurité alimentaire ne peut pas s'exprimer seulement en termes de céréales.

Aussi est-il besoin d'affecter aux légumes, fruits, protéines animales (élevage, pêche), la place qui leur revient respectivement. En effet pour ne prendre que l'exemple de l'Afrique, surtout au Sahel, disons que l'élevage est à l'heure actuelle véritablement menacé par les effets destructeurs d'une sécheresse sévère et persistante avec son cortège de misères physiologiques et de maladies telluriques venant compliquer le tableau déjà complexe de la pathologie, en ce qui concerne la peste bovine, la péripneumonie contagieuse des bovidés et j'en passe.

La République islamique de Mauritanie donc appuie sans réserve la proposition qui a été faite ar deux pays africains déjà en faveur de la campagne panafricaine d'eradication de la peste bovine.

En dernière conclusion, la délégation mauritanienne félicite le Directeur général de la FAO pour ses efforts inlassables en faveur et de l'aide d'urgence et du processus de développement des pays les plus pauvreso Elle souhaite vivement que la voix du Directeur général soit entendue par les pays riches, qu'ils soient développés ou non, en vue d'une meilleure coopération et d'une meilleure solidarité internationale De toute façon l'écoulement des produits manufacturés rencontrera à moyen et surtout à long terme des difficultés sérieuses si le développement des pays sous-développés n'est pas soutenu par les propriétaires de ces produits manufacturés.


Ms. A. SALGADO SANTOS (Brazil): As this is the first time that I take the floor in this Commission, I would like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election as Chairman of this Commission. I am sure that under your wise guidance the work of the Commission will be very successful.

My delegation would like to express its support for the new concept of world food security as proposed by the Director-General in document C 83/20. We found especially adequate a broadened concept of food security, as adopted by FAO, considering there is no mechanism for ensuring the stability of cereal markets, nor for guaranteeing the access of low income food deficit countries to needed supplies In this context, the main objective of world food security is to ensure to all people at all times both physical and economic access to the basic food they need. This will be achieved only if the international community decides to face the problem, taking into account the production of food itself and consequently the ensuring of the stability of supplies, and the guarantee of access to available supplies.

The Brazilian delegation would also like to reiterate what was said in the Eighty-third Session of the Council of FAO, that we focus special attention on the aspects of food production and the access of agricultural production to the international market. In addition, other measures must be taken in order to enable the countries to work in better conditions to achieve food security. In this way, trade liberalization and easier access to financial resources and technical assistance are objectives also to be reached to enhance food security.

R. TREMINIO (Nicaragua): Nuestra delegación felicita a usted por su elección como Presidente de esta Comisión. Asimismo, felicitamos a los señores vicepresidentes electos. Con la dirección de usted, confiamos en resultados y resoluciones viables para el mejoramiento de la situación alimentaria mundial.

El documento C 83/20 plantea situaciones de medidas y políticas que todavía no han sido operativizadas en relación a. la seguridad alimentaria mundial.

Los cinco grupos de medidas que constituyen el fundamento del Plan de Acción para la Seguridad Alimentaria, son en realidad bases que requieren un análisis profundo de sus perspectivas reales. La situación alimentaria y nutricional del mundo exige mayores esfuerzos, recursos, voluntad e interés de todos los países y estados para crear la constitución de un Sistema de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional Mundial.

Ello implicará establecer mayores compromisos que coadyuven a una cooperación efectiva entre los países desarrollados y los en vías de desarrollo. Esto determinaría también la posibilidad de una participación regional en el contexto del manejo y conocimiento de la problemática de los pueblos en relación a su alimentación. Y de allí partir para diseñar bases equitativas de distribución y asignación de ayudas alimentarias.

También es preocupación de nuestra delegación, que los esfuerzos iniciados, a través de los diferentes organismos deberán fortalecerse. Cabe así reconocer el papel que juegan la FAO y el Programa mundial de Alimentos, tanto en la asistencia para responder a circunstancias de emergencia como en su participación en proyectos de desarrollo. También mencionamos aquí, nuestra preocupación por la falta del cumplimiento de los compromisos adquiridos para la primera reposición de fondos del Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola, y hacemos un llamado más, al mayor contribuyente del FIDA para que cumpla con su compromiso.

El Informe del Director General de la FAO que señala la aplicación de políticas nacionales de reservas de alimentos en 98 países, implica en mayor o menor grado, un avance satisfactorio del Plan de Acción. Ello significa que ya existe una voluntad, conocimiento y conciencia de la problemática alimentaria. Sin embargo, es necesario impulsar con prioridad y urgencia, la formulación de mecanismos que integren las medidas y políticas del Plan de Acción.

Nicaragua, el Pueblo de Sandino, se apoya en los principios y conceptos de FAO sobre seguridad alimentaria. En Nicaragua hemos ya iniciado programas integrales de acción de amplia participación popular.

Las medidas y acciones más importantes, lo constituyen el acceso de los campesinos y productores a la tierra y a los servicios de crédito, asistencia técnica, capacitación y organización; el desarrollo de programas de subsidios a los agricultores en el uso de insumos como semillas mejoradas y fertilizantes; tasas de interés diferenciales para los pequeños productores; programa de entrega de tierras a campesinos sin tierras; precios a los productores en función a costos reales de producción y riesgos naturales; servicios de mecanización a productores individuales y organizados; precios de subsidios a los consumidores. Actualmente nuestro país eroga en subsidios aproximadamente unos 85 millones de dólares; el desarrollo de zonas o polos cooperativos con servicios integrales de crédito, acopio, mecanización, asistencia técnica y abastos populares.


Nuestra delegación reafirma su coincidencia de criterios con el nuevo concepto de seguridad alimentaria expresado en el informe que el Director General de FAO, sometió al 8o Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria. Sin embargo, consideramos importante incluir como elemento de definición, el aspecto nutricional en su naturaleza de equilibrio apropiado de la situación alimentaria del hombre.

Dado que el concepto permite un desarrollo aplicable a largo plazo, creemos necesario además, queel problema nutricional en su contexto general, determina una base prioritaria y de derecho universaldel hombre.

El concepto de seguridad alimentaria ampliado en la naturaleza del concepto de la nutrición humana, sentaría los principios de integralidad para contrarrestar el hambre y la desnutrición.

Es nuestro deseo expresar también la importancia del elemento de estabilidad mundial y regional en la operatividad de una estrategia de seguridad alimentaria.

Es característica insoslayable, la paz; como lo ha mencionado nuestro Jefe de Delegación en la Plenaria; sin ella, no es posible que nuestros pueblos se armonicen y aúnen esfuerzos y recursos para luchar contra el hambre y la desnutrición.

Nicaragua, país que lucha por la paz, busca las bases sustantivas de desarrollo económico y social, en equidad y justicia popular. Nuestro pueblo se enfrenta hoy en día, a defender su revolución y a construir una sociedad justa. La lucha contra el imperialismo nos ha convencido, una vez más, que una paz de derecho basada en la defensa de la soberanía y autodeterminación de nuestros pueblos, determina la capacidad misma de los pueblos para lograr la paz duradera y un desarrollo socioeconómico justo y equilibrado.

Para finalizar, reafirmamos también nuestro apoyo al fortalecimiento del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria de la FAO, dentro del contexto de sus propias atribuciones.

I.P. ALVARENGA (El Salvador): Nuestra delegación participó activamente en las discusiones del principal tema que discutimos en este momento, cuando fue tratado en el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria. Sería, a nuestro juicio, inútil volver sobre los argumentos, sobre las ideas expresadas en esa oportunidad.

Sintéticamente, podemos reiterar nuestro apoyo al nuevo concepto de seguridad alimentaria. Estamos en favor de las medidas propuestas a nivel nacional, regional e internacional por la FAO, y creemos que, a la mayor brevedad posible, debe ponerse en práctica aquel sector, aquel conjunto de medidas sobre las cuales se ha encontrado un consenso en los diversos foros internacionales.

Pensamos que el documento base sobre seguridad alimentaria presentado por el Director General, debe continuarse discutiendo, como en el mismo se había adelantado, hasta lograr el mayor acuerdo posible sobre los puntos centrales del mismo, y luego mantener el diálogo abierto sobre aquellas cuestiones en las cuales no se logre un consenso.

Específicamente, manifestamos nuestro apoyo al Proyecto de Resolución que se nos ha presentado sobre seguridad alimentaria, e incluso, iríamos más adelante pese a que estamos conscientes de que, dentro del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, se planteó que el auspiciado reforzamiento del mismo debería realizarse dentro de sus actuales términos de referencia. No obstante a ello, insistimos, iríamos más adelante hasta pedir que el Consejo analice la posibilidad de reforzar las funciones del Comité, incluso considerando la posibilidad de modificar sus actuales alcances.

Para terminar, nosotros hemos manifestado en repetidas oportunidades, la inconveniencia de convertir un foro como la FAO en un centro de discusiones políticas. Estamos, sin embargo, contentos de las expresiones que se formulan en favor de la paz, dado que nuestro país se encuentra, por cierto, en una situación de violencia que es auspiciada, financiada desde países vecinos, de los cuales nos complace saber que están en favor de soluciones democráticas y justas para todos.


S. JANNEH (Gambia): Thank you very much Mr Chairman. First of all, I must congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this assembly. Mr Chairman, I come from a region, the Sahel, where the issues before us are more pertinent, more relevant perhaps than to any other region. As some of us might know, the Sahel is a region which has been repeatedly hit by drought since the early 1970's and we have had occasional food crises in the region which have only been alleviated by huge injections of food aid.

Our countries and our governments have been working hard towards the realisation of food self-sufficiency and food security. We are under no illusions about the strategic and crucial role of agriculture in our national economies. We are under no illusions about the need to increase domestic agricultural production. We are under no illusions about the urgent need to feed ourselves and to achieve national food self-sufficiency and food security. We are under no illusions about the fact that the ultimate responsibility for feeding our people and achieving economic growth and development rests squarely on ourselves. But, Mr Chairman, with the best of wills in the world, one just cannot grow crops and produce food without water.

We have heard that the United States this year had a drought, and if the great United States who is the world's technological giant cannot avert drought, I cannot see a way in which these regions of Africa, with our low level of technological development and economic impoverishment, can do much to alleviate our situation.

We support the Director-General's programme, the new approach on food security. We hail this as a document of great importance, as a document of great substance and one which we hope will have the backing of the international community.

Now, as I said earlier, regarding our situation in the Sahel, the fact that we have had to resort to food aid from the international community has been necessitated by drought, and it is no choice of ours. I can assure you, Mr Chairman, there is no dignity in going round with hat in hand begging for food. We would sooner be self-sufficient in food than to ask for it from other countries. Our governments in the sales organization are given great priority to increase the production. Alongside this food shortage, we have also suffered drops in our volume of exports, and in addition, we have been faced with increasing food import bills, and this has ravaged our economies which are very seriously exacerbated by the international recession and world-wide inflation, and some of our countries and our governments are in a very precarious situation indeed.

In the Gambia, my Government has taken some very positive steps towards achievement of food security and food self-sufficiency. We have drawn up a national food strategy and food security plan, and in our second five-year development plan, food production is at the forefront of the efforts in the agricultural sector. The Government has in the past and is still offering remunerative prices to farmers for their farm produce. It is having to subsidise some essential farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and farm implements. We have tried to introduce animal traction so that farmers can expand with larger acreages and do timely cultivation of their operations in the field. We are involved in serious adaptive research so we can screen suitable crop varieties for our various ecological conditions, and we are intensifying our extensive efforts to assist farmers in adapting appropriate technical production packages. We are also establishing a national seed multiplication programme which will bulk varieties for sale and distribution to farmers.

We therefore support very much the new food security programme before us drawn up by the Director-General.

M. MUKOLWE (Kenya): We agree with the conclusions of the Committee on World Food Security on the Director-General's broadened concept which the FAO Council endorsed. Since we have earlier on touched on this issue at the first intervention and again at item 6.1, we shall only highlight a few issues.

The problem of food security is a problem of poverty. Therefore, food production efforts must exist in tandem with other measures to raise the purchasing power of the rural as well as the urban communities.

The World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development due to be discussed must take into account the overall concept of world food security. With this in mind, the special roles played by groups of women and youth, particularly children, in developing countries in food production, food administration and family nutrition must be given due attention.

Since youths form about 50 percent of the country's population, their potential is definitely of great importance and should be fully utilised. They are also the same groups that e need to tress he balanced nutrition because they do adult work and are the people who are going to produce food for the country in future.


We also feel that land policies should be such that they encourage food production as it has been discussed over and over. Policies aimed at increasing food production have tended to favour cereals alone. As mentioned by other speakers, diversification should be the essence, especially in developing countries. In this I have in mind crops like roots and tubers, as some members have already mentioned or in passing I mentioned, and also pulses and indigenous vegetables which are normally put aside in favour of any new introductions or of foreign introductions.

Food aid is an essential component of food security. Food aid, apart from being directed against hunger, should also be used to stimulate food production. We therefore commend the World Food Programme for their projects in this direction, including the triangular transaction scheme which delegates here know very well.

For timely planning of food aid projects, resources of those organizations directly involved need to be replenished in time and the targets set met in time as well as coordination of efforts among international organizations in their approaches to food problems.

Then on stock policies of poor countries, they must answer questions like 1) stock levels, 2) how they will be achieved, and 3) how much will come from domestic consumption and how much will come from outside, also, administration and management of stocks.

There are also difficulties which may be experienced in running a stock policy on regional, sub-regional or even national levels and should be defined before anything could be done, like procedures for procuring funds to purchase food from domestic and external markets. Building reserve stocks is not easy, even when market prices are low because of the scarcity of foreign exchange. This is an area where we welcome the activities of the IMF facilities.

It is my hope and that of our country that the draft resolution before us as it is now in the contact group will come out with an acceptable text.

L. SMITH (Barbados): Mr Chairman, first, since this is our first intervention in this Commission, I would like to congratulate you and the other elected members on your election to guide the activities of this particular Commission.

At this time, I would like to say that the Barbados delegation supports fully the concepts of world food security and feels that the idea of world food security, which is based on national food production, as opposed to the earlier concept, has seemed to predominately focus on the idea of world food security which has through Grain Convention buffer stocks appeared to concentrate its focus on the countries which are already producing surplus stocks rather than on countries which need it to improve the agricultural output, and therefore to ensure their own security by production. The new concept, we feel, is realistic and is in keeping with the desires of the under-developed countries to be in full control of their resources. We feel that this policy, new approach, is not only desirable at the national level but is also desirable at the individual level where the concept is appropriate in terms of either producing food you require or producing other agricultural commodities which will give access to acquisition of those commodities you need to add to your normal nutrition. We feel, however, that in this context greater emphasis should be placed on the transfer of capital resources from the various other sub-sectors to the agricultural sector. We are well aware that in many developing countries there are considerable social, financial and political influence gaps between the urbanized and the rural areas. As a result, we feel that there must be greater political will to ensure that there is a transfer of internal capital flows from one sector to the other.

Similarly, we are aware that, since the production resources of most undeveloped countries - or of most countries, for that matter - are held by the indigenous population, there is a difficulty in being able to attract external financing in support of developing the necessary infrastructure on which further agricultural development can take place. We feel that this is a dilemma which must be given careful thought, both by the FAO experts as well as by national policy-makers. Although we might look at things such as pricing policy, which is a way of transferring capital from one sector to the agricultural sector, and whilst we might look at several other means, we feel that a determined effort must be made to ensure that transfer of capital goods towards agricultural development and towards creating greater national food security is an area which should be given special thought because of the nature of the problem that is facing developing national agricultural resources.

EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, ¿algún otro delegado desea hacer uso de la palabra? Si es así' señores, simplemente reiterar que aquellas delegaciones que no pudieron estar presentes, es decir; la delegación de Nigeria y la delegación de Mozambique podran entregar sus declaraciones por escrito para que sean consideradas en el verbatim y en el informe de esta Comisión.


H. LAUBE (Austria) (original language German): On behalf of the Austrian delegation I would like to express our thanks to the FAO Secretariat for the preparation of document C 83/20 which refers to the Plan of Action to Strengthen World Food Security. This document analyses in a precise and distinct form the efforts at national, regional and international level to improve world food security. The document also contains proposals for future activities and urgent measures and arrives at conclusions.

Permit me to deliver the following statement related to document C 83/20 on behalf of the Austrian delegation.

Austria agrees with the text and the conclusions of the document. The FAO Council and the Committee on World Food Security have repeatedly declared during this year that the world food problem can be relieved by a rapid increase of food production in the developing countries, particularly those countries with low income and food deficit. The envisaged target of an increase of production of 4 percent has unfortunately not been achieved and the latest growth rates of 2 to 3 percent are far below this level, although in some developing countries considerable progress has been achieved. The urgent necessity to increase food production in developing countries has also been stressed in the FAO Study: Agriculture Towards 2000. The enormous efforts of developing countries to increase their production in order to achieve a high degree of self sufficiency and to become independent of food imports must be supported by all of us. Only then will it be possible to implement the Plan of Action to Strengthen World Food Security.

The food deficit countries should give highest priority to the agricultural sector in their development plans, they should apply modern production techniques, improve their extension and training services, initiate necessary investments and improve their facilities for storage, transport and marketing. In all these efforts the developing countries must be able to count on the support of the international community.

In addition to the required increase of food production it is of special importance to establish an international coordinating system of national grain reserves. As there are still some unresolved issues it will be necessary that the Committee on World Food Security will deal with these problems at its next meeting.

In addition to the efforts of the developing countries the international community of states should continue its endeavours to contribute to world food security.

Austria is actively engaged in the Food Aid Agreement, the World Food Programme and the International Emergency Food Reserve.

With regard to the World Food Programme the statement of voluntary pledges every two years has proven to be useful and is in line with the procedure adopted by the United Nations system. The Austrian delegation is of the opinion that in order to economize administrative costs and reduce the number of international meetings efforts should be undertaken to hold simultaneously the pledging conferences for the World Food Programme and the International Emergency Food Reserve.

Finally I would like to stress again that Austria welcomes the Plan of Action to Strengthen World Food Securtity of FAO and will endeavour as it has done in the past to support all promising actions at the bi- and multilateral level which will improve world food security.


N. ISLAM (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): We are very grateful to the distinguished delegates for their wide-ranging comments on the multifaceted aspects of world food security. The Director-General will certainly take into account the views and comments of the -distinguished delegates while submitting his next report to the Committee on Food Security early next year further elaborating and refining many of the ideas which were of a preliminary nature in the earlier report.

Many delegates have mentioned the need for elaboration of the suggestions contained in the Director-General's report on FAO's Food Security Action Programme. As I indicated in my introduction, the Director-General is indeed considering the feasibility and modalities of such a Food Security Action Programme within FAO.

The distinguished delgate from the Netherlands made some very interesting suggestions in respect to the formulation of national food security programmes, including preparation of a portfolio of projects, with a view to FAO's acting as a catalyst for attracting resources as well as coordinating their implementation. We shall certainly be exploring his suggestion in greater detail. In fact, it is in conformity with some of the ideas put forward in the last report. However, the distinguished delegate from the Netherlands in this connection has made a specific suggestion regarding decentralization of FAO staff experts from the Headquarters to the country offices for the purposes of such formulation of such programmes at the country level. I should like to illustrate the problems that we should face in following through the implementation of such a suggestion. As distinguished delegates may be aware, we have more'than 90' country representations. In some cases, one representative covers more than one country: that is why we have about 90. If we take even a very limited number of countries and look at the staff strength in one or two of the sections in Headquarters which will be intimately involved in such a task and try to allocate them to the country offices, we can see that the situation would be very difficult or almost impossible. For example, we have in the Crops and Grassland service about 12 professionals ranging from P-5 to P-3 levels. In the Food Security and Food Aid Group and Food Security Assistance Service we have about 10 professionals. In Marketing and Credit we have about 8. Distinguished delegates will readily see the problem we shall face if we want to scatter this very limited number of experts in the country offices, accepting that the result will be the total denuding of the Headquarters staff members. This illustrates the enormity o.f the problem in following through the suggestion.

Reference was made to the need for studies to identify undernourished populations and vulnerable groups for designing suitable nutrition intervention methods. This is indeed, of course, a regular part of our activity while designing programmes at the country level.

As far as a general review of the state of undernutrition in developing countries is concerned, including analyses of the causes and consequences of persistent undernutrition, as the distinguished delegates are aware, we have already undertaken, and have under way now, a study called a Fifth World Food Survey. This is a revision of our earlier Fourth World Food Survey, published in 1977, and will go into considerable detail in quantifying, on the basis of the new analysis, new methodology and new data, the state of undernutrition in the developing world and analyses of its consequences in the light of new data and new analyses.

Reference was made to the roles of transnational corporations again in this session in the production, marketing and trade of food and agricultural products. As the distinguished delegates are aware, this issue was also discussed on the earlier agenda item on the state of food and agriculture and I did respond by saying that we hope to undertake a review of the state of information and analyses available in other UN agencies on the role of transnational corporations in the field of food and agriculture. We have already made contact with other UN bodies which are involved in studying this subject.

A suggestion has also been made that in addition to this we should possibly hold a seminar. My response is that after this review is completed and distinguished delegates have been able to examine the results of the review, they would be in a better position to identify the scope and nature of such a seminar, if one is to be held at all.

The distinguished delegate from New Zealand stressed the importance of regional activities in the field of food security. I can express the hope that all developed and developing countries not already members of the Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific, in which region New Zealand belongs, would be able to join as soon as possible in order to maximize the effectiveness of this Commission and facilitate cooperation not only amongst the developing countries in the region but also between the developed and developing countries in the region of Asia and the Pacific.


Additional information was sought on the proposal in the report on a symposium on food security which the Director-General has decided to hold in the next biennium. It is expected that this symposium would be held in the fall of 1984, around September or October, and, as distinguished delegates are aware, the experts will be from non-United Nations organizations and institutions and will be individual researchers, independent research experts. The idea is to benefit from their advice, from the results of their own research and thinking, on some of the new ideas which have been put forward in the Director-General's report, and to invite them to make new suggestions, since a lot of research is being done outside the governmental or intergovernmental agencies on this very vital and important subject.

I could illustrate a few of the points on which one would like to have new ideas or even re-examination of old ideas, such as the relative importance of reliance on national stock as against imports as a way of meeting shortfalls in domestic production. What will be the optimum combination between the two? Is the instability of food supplies and the prices going to be greater in the 1980s and 1990s than it was in the 1960s and the 1970s? How, in what ways and to what extent could regional approaches and cooperation on food security link up with national and global measures? This is just to illustrate some of the ideas on which we think we could possibly benefit from research results and thinking of independent experts.

Several delegates have referred to the pricing policy study which the Director-General has undertaken, the results of which will be submitted at the time of the 1985 FAO Conference. Indeed, its role in the broader concepts and context of food security is great, and we agree with the emphasis which has been placed by several delegates on this aspect of food security, the role of pricing policy in expanding production and stabilizing food supplies.

Many delegates have expressed the need for trade liberalization as a major component of food security. In this connection I should like to remind the Commission that the FAO Conference did indeed adopt a comprehensive resolution in 1979 on agricultural protectionism which made a series of recommendations, and these are kept under review by the Committee on Commodity Problems and the FAO Council.

The linkages between trade and food security have recently been stressed again by the Council.

Mr Chairman, I think I have exhausted the points I wanted to comment on.

EL PRESIDENTE: Antes de intentar resumir los trabajos de estas sesiones relativas al Subtema 6.2 de nuestra Agenda, deseo preguntarles si tienen alguna observación o comentario que hacer en torno a las cuestiones que ha tratado el Dr. Islam.

Ya observo que Suecia desea hablar. Tiene la palabra.

C.-E.ODHNER (Sweden): I have just a short question. I would like to know whether the investigation into pricing policies is going on now, or whether it is planned. I would also like to know when the results are expected to be available.

N. ISLAM (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): The interim report, the preliminary study, is ready; this will be considered by an expert consultation meeting this December, immediately after this Conference. In addition, we shall be submitting separate documents for the pricing policies in each of the Regional Conferences, relevant to the issues and problems in each region. As delegates will recall, these Regional Conferences will take place next year -1984.

Then, our comprehensive study - which will cover the global study, revised on the basis of the present expert consultation to be held in December, plus the deliberations, decisions, etc. of the Regional Conferences, and their comments - the final revised study will be submitted to the meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in the early part of 1985. Subsequently it will be submitted to the FAO Conference in 1985.

This is the time schedule we intend to carry through. The Director-General hopes that this process will mean that at each stage we shall have the benefit of the advice, comments, results of lessons learned and experience of member countries to enable us to revise, enrich and to expand the study.


A.H.M. ABDUL HYE (Bangladesh): I have just come in so I missed the comments and observations made by Professor Nurul Islam, but from what I could gather from his concluding remarks, it appears to me that the discussion is on pricing policy. During the discussion on world food security, we have been talking about and attaching great importance to pricing policy. But it seems to me that we are placing too much emphasis on pricing policy as an incentive to increase production in the developing countries in particular. In this connection, I would like to reiterate the views already expressed by the delegate of Australia, if I am not mistaken, when it was pointed out that without removing market imperfections and rigidities, in particular in the agricultural commodities market, pricing policy may not be effective enough to provide the desired incentives to producers.

In view of this, it is not enough to undertake a study on pricing policy with regard to agricultural commodities, side by side with the presence of market imperfections which indicate the free flow of forces in the market, to create a balance between the demand and supply, and to provide incentives to the farmers. It is also necessary to undertake a study of market imperfections and the way to remove them so that any pricing policy which is adopted by a country produces the desired: result. In this connection, I would like simply to illustrate what I have said by an example - that in many countries, particularly developing countries, there is a substantial difference between the farm price and the consumer price, which implies there is a large number of intermediaries who influence the prices in between the farm and the market price. Therefore, unless we tackle the issue of this market imperfection, merely to have a sophisticated study of pricing policies may not be very useful.

P. ELMANOWSKY (France): Simplement quelques mots sur ce dont on vient de parler: les études de prix et de commercialisation.

En ce qui concerne les études de prix, je me souviens que dans le rapport du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire, dans le document de présentation, il y a eu en quelque sorte un consensus général concernant cette étude sur les príx.

En ce qui concerne la commercialisation, je n'ai pas souvenir qu'on la trouve dans les textes en question; mais cela peut être un oubli de. ma parte

Toutefois, sans m'opposer évidemment à des études de ce genre, je pense qu'il serait bon de se souvenir que la CNUCED a déjà entrepris de très nombreuses études sur la commercialisation des produits; je crois même, pour les produits alimentaires, que certaines études particulières par produit ont été faites. De plus, un autre organisme - plus exactement le Centre international du commerce CNUCED/GATT - doit avoir fait quelques études sur la commercialisation en matière de produits agricoles; cela fournit des renseignements pratiques aux pays en développement, peut-être même aux pays développés, sur les politiques d'exportation de denrées.

Autrement dit, si on doit faire quelque chose ici à la FAO, ne répétons pas ce qui a déjà été fait par ailleurs et faisons auparavant un inventaire pour voir ce qu'il y a véritablement lieu de faire.

El PRESIDENTE: Quedan recogidos sus comentarios, Sr. Delegado de Francia. Ahora, si no hay ninguna otra observación, desearía intentar realizar la difícil tarea de hacer un resumen de la importante discusión que hemos tenido en torno al tema 6.2, tema interesante, primordial de nuestra Agenda de Trabajo.

He de advertir que mis comentarios son meramente indicativos y que no necesariamente deberán preva­lecer en la redacción del informe correspondiente.

Hicieron uso de la palabra sesenta y tres delegaciones. Algunas de ellas entregaron por escrito sus declaraciones, que serán tomadas en cuenta para los efectos del verbatim y del informe del Tema 6.2 de nuestra AgendaQ

Varias delegaciones se refirieron a la crítica situación alimentaria de los países en desarrollo y . de la crisis en general por la que atraviesa el mundo entero. Y hubo acuerdo en que la lucha contra el hambre es la lucha contra la pobreza, y que esa lucha es la única fórmula para rescatar no sólo la dignidad humana, sino también la dignidad de las Naciones.

Por ello se puntualizó la trascendencia del concepto de seguridad alimentaria, que respondía al fracaso de las negociaciones en torno a un convenio internacional de cereales, así como a las nece­sidades imperantes en el mundo en estas materias.

Se puso énfasis en que una acción integral debiera llevarse a cabo en todos los frentes: el de la producción, disponibilidades y acceso de alimentos para la población. Los tres forman parte de la cadena que permitirá a naciones, regiones y al mundo llegar a una eventual seguridad alimentaria. Hubo definitivo consenso en el apoyo al concepto revisado de seguridad alimentaria. Se subrayó, sin embargo, la importancia de reconocer que este nuevo concepto llevaba a un conjunto de medidas y de acciones que no necesariamente estaban plena y claramente definidas, por lo cual, se solicitó a la FAO avanzara en este sentido.


En relación a las propias medidas de acción, hubo acuerdo total en destacar la importancia, la re­levancia de la acción a nivel nacional. Se subrayo la utilidad de planes y estrategias de auto­suficiencia, dando prioridad al esfuerzo de producción y productividad, principalmente entre los pequeños productores, y encadenando este esfuerzo al resto de las acciones alimentarias, y fijando, así lo manifestaron algunas delegaciones, objetivos de tipo nutricional para la población.

Algunas delegacones propusieron el que los gobiernos insistieran, así como la asistencia internacional pusiera atención, en el desarrollo de los servicios de infraestructura, almacenamiento, transporte, organización e investigación en materia de alimentos.

Se enfatizó en que debían dársele importancia a otras actividades conexas a la alimentación, concretamente a la producción pesquera, a la reforestación, al control o la prevención ecológica, al detenimiento de los procesos de erosión, así como al control de plagas y de enfermedades que tanto afectan las posibilidades de producción y de alimentación en ciertas zonas del mundo, particular­mente en el Africa Subsahariana.

Hubo acuerdo en que la básica condición de todo esfuerzo de seguridad alimentaria mundial, debía estar basada, precisamente, en los esfuerzos de producción, de productividad, distribución y acceso en los países, por lo cual se exhortó a los gobiernos a que pusieran el máximo énfasis en torno a estas cuestiones.

Varias delegaciones hicieron referencia a los esfuerzos que sus propios países estaban realizando para alcanzar niveles superiores de seguridad alimentaria en el ámbito regional. Se destacó la necesidad de fortalecer la cooperación técnica, la información, así como también acuerdos comer­ciales. Se mencionó la necesidad de constituir reservas para apoyar la seguridad alimentaria regional. Se mencionaron, en ese caso, los esfuerzos del CASAR en América Latina y del ASEAN en el caso de Asia.

Sin embargo, se precisó que debían hacerse estudios, caso por caso, de eficiencia y de viabilidad de estas políticas o estrategias. Algunas delegaciones contestaron en torno a ello, que los más interesados y que podrían dar respuesta a estas cuestiones, serían las propias regiones y sus países.

Se hizo notar también que era deseable que los excedentes para la constitución de las reservas re­gionales, se hicieran sobre la base de la producción de los propios países, y que dependieran en la menor medida posible de la importación de alimentos del exterior.

Sobre las medidas a nivel internacional, se señaló, en general, que debían estudiarse más a fondo para poder llegar en un futuro a conclusiones más precisas. Se destacó, sin embargo, la importancia de fortalecer algunos mecanismos internacionales, tales como la RAIE, y la posibilidad de ampliar y fortalecer la operatividad de los servicios del Fondo Monetario Internacional. En ese sentido, hubo general acuerdo en relación a que debía hacerse un esfuerzo de liberalización de los mercados, en vista de que el proteccionismo, las barreras arancelarias y no arancelarias, afectaban directa o indirectamente la posibilidad de realización de esfuerzos de seguridad alimentaria en los países, y que inducían a los países en desarrollo a limitar sus posibilidades de obtención de divisas por la vía de las exportaciones.

Asimismo, se destacó el que los términos de intercambio habían sido negativos para los países en desarrollo, y que en ese sentido, había también que hacer un esfuerzo para estabilizar y equilibrar mercados, de manera que pudiéramos llegar a situaciones internacionales de mayor justicia y equidad. Algunas delegaciones hicieron en este sentido, referencia a la necesidad de avanzar hacia un nuevo orden económico internacional.

Por otra parte, se manifestó ql que, si bien debía actuarse a nivel internacional, también era importante avanzar en la determinación de medidas que se complementaran a nivel nacional, y que la cooperación internacional, en ese sentido, debía permitir a asistentes y asistidos llegar a una situación de colaboración mayor. La FAO, en todo caso, podría seguir estudiando las medidas de tipo internacional que pudieran permitirnos, en un futuro, precisar la estrategia. En ese sentido, muchos países resaltaron la importancia del Programa de Acción y la necesidad de apoyarlo; aunque se advirtió que no se habían dado los avances deseados. Se expresó que debían establecerse priori­dades más claras en función de una planeación más viable del Programa de Acción, y que la condición primera de todo avance, debía ser ese esfuerzo nacional al que nos hemos referido, así como la pre­cisión más clara de prioridades.

Aunque la mayoría de los países apoyaron las políticas de reserva previstas por el Plan de Acción, se advirtió que la concentración de excedentes en pocos países hacía peligrar la propia seguridad alimentaria mundial, y que mayor atención debían merecer para esos países, la movilización de esos excedentes hacia el mundo en desarrollo. Se expresó que no siempre se respetaban los criterios internacionales para la administración de las reservas, y que su distribución real presentaba irre­gularidades.


Algunos países apoyaron el Convenio sobre Ayuda Alimentaria, y expresaron su preocupación por su prorroga, así como por la meta de reservas actualmente establecida que, a todas luces, resultaba insuficiente. Se subrayo que los programas de asistencia del Plan de Acción tienen une. cartera de proyectos limitada, y qué hay que apoyarlos más.

La Comisión destaco la importancia crucial de la asistencia externa y la ayuda alimentaria hacia países en desarrollo con el proposito de permitirles alcanzar sus objetivos de seguridad alimentaria. Se destacó, finalmente, que dicha asistencia debería permitir una formulación que favoreciera la ejecución de políticas nacionales de seguridad alimentaria.

Varios delegados subrayaron la importancia de acuerdos para estabilizar el comercio internacional de alimentos. En ese sentido, se hizo referencia a los escasos progresos realizados en el estable-cimiento del Convenio Internacional del Trigo, que deberán tener en cuenta, en todo caso, los reque­rimientos de la seguridad alimentaria mundial. Se mencionó también la conveniencia de un Acuerdo Internacional sobre el Azúcar. Muchos delegados destacaron la necesidad de reducir, como lo había mencionado, las barreras arancelarias; y en ese sentido, se planteó la oportunidad de priorizar las exportaciones provenientes de los países en desarrollo.

Finalmente, algunas varias delegaciones hicieron notar la conveniencia de fortalecer el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, aunque se hizo notar que, en todo caso, deberían respetarse las funciones de otras organizaciones internacionales que trataban la materia, y que una mayor y mejor coordinación entre ellas debía ser factible en el futuro.

Para concluir, varias delegaciones manifestaron su apoyo al proyecto de Resolución presentado por Venezuela, a nombre de la India, Bangladesh y México.

Hubo cuatro delegaciones que, por escrito, enviaron a la Secretaría sus comentarios. Y en función del interés que en torno a esta cuestión manifestó la Comisión, se constituyó un Grupo de Contacto que se reunirá en breves momentos, en ocho minutos, en la sala Alemania. La idea, señores, es que conforme a los resultados de este Grupo de Contacto, el próximo lunes esta Comisión pueda conocer el nuevo Proyecto de Resolución sobre Seguridad Alimentaria.

Quiero finalmente advertir que estoy plenamente consciente de que no he podido recoger aquí, la totalidad de los comentarios, y que quizás no le di el énfasis debido a ciertas cuestiones. Sin duda, señores, el Comité de Redacción hará el trabajo apropiado. En ese sentido, les agradezco mucho su atención y si no tuvieran ustedes ningún comentario, desearía dar lectura a la lista de países que asistirán al Grupo de Contacto, en el salón Alemania; estos serían: India, Venezuela, Indonesia, Estados Unidos, Grecia, Kenya, Malasia, Francia, Canadá, Finlandia, Australia, Bangladesh y México. ¿Hay algún comentario que quisieran proponer?

H. LOPEZ DE MORAL (Colombia): Colombia había manifestado su interés en participar en la reunión de este Comité. Al no oir el nombre mencionado, me atrevo a sugerirlo.

EL PRESIDENTE: Tiene usted toda la razón. Lo he omitido, pero está efectivamente incluida.C.-E. ODHNER (Sweden): Mr Chairman, earlier today you mentioned Sweden as a member of the Contact Group but now you have excluded us. Was that unintentional?

EL PRESIDENTE: Hasta donde tengo yo entendido, jamás mencioné a Suecia dentro del Grupo de Contacto. Pero si la delegación de Suecia desea estar presente, yo creo que no habrá ningún incon­veniente para que lo haga, en vista de que ha presentado, por escrito, algunos comentarios. Con mucho gusto, Suecia estará bien acogida en ese Grupo de Contacto.

The meeting rose at 17.30 hours
La séance est levée à 17 h. 30
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.30 horas


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