CHAIRMAN: We now start with our discussions of the eight chapters in document C 83/3. Let me explain that we will be discussing these chapters altogether, so you are free to comment on any one of them. We will not go through the document chapter by chapter.
E.P. ALLEYNE (Trinidad and Tobago): Because of the small size of our delegation we were unable to speak earlier in this Commission and I trust therefore, Sir, that we could crave both your indulgence and the indulgence of this Commission as we attempt to make our overall contribution perhaps in one shot.
We would also add our voices to the congratulations with respect to your election.
The delegation of Trinidad and Tobago wishes to commence its remarks by indicating its general support for the 1984-85 budget. Of course, it is very difficult to do otherwise. The Director-General has proceeded along two critical lines of action which give him almost instant support.
He has presented a virtually zero-growth budget; in reality a 0.5 percent increase. This is in stark contrast to levels of 6 percent and more which I understand other international bodies have been presenting for consideration in other places - with expected opposition. Mr. Chairman, in terms of the critical needs of mankind today, there is no other organization which merits favourable consideration to the same extent as FAO, for an increase in its budget.
Secondly, the Director-General has undertaken a major surgical exercise, cutting and transplanting, with emphasis being on delivery in the field where the action is required.
These two major lines of action virtually guarantee the 1984-85 budget "easy passage". We are grateful to the Director-General for his thorough effort resulting in a budget which clearly demonstrates managerial excellence. Priorities are adequately identified and the financial requirements are firmly held within the economic realities of our world today.
My delegation will make a few brief remarks on some aspects of the programme, especially given the time factor and the number of other delegations who will wish to speak on them.
If and when resources increase or there is any scope for virement or reallocation within the total sum approved, we recommend that certain programmes be strengthened.
Farming Systems Development (2.1.1.2). The comprehensive approach is fully supported; this approach will force field workers to take a closer look at production systems and to develop recommendations related to actual field conditions. Existing production patterns based on years of experience in location-specific environments will acquire increased relevance. Involvement of national institutions and on-farm testing must bring valuable results - especially in relation to the majority of producers in the developing countries - the small- and medium-sized farmers. In the context of production, therefore, the proposals relating to fertilizers, water development and management, and national agricultural research systems are fully endorsed; each area is critical but we do feel that FAO's efforts in the development of effective national agricultural research systems must be fully supported and strengthened where necessary. There is an urgency for a sustained, wide-ranging scientific effort in the national context where the reward orientation of the scientists is rooted in results related, in large measure, to ways and means of improving the productivity of those engaged in farming today.
Success in this regard combined with the proposed activity on the transfer of appropriate technologies can usher in a new era in the struggle with agricultural production in the countries of the Third World.
The programme on genetic resources, including the seed sub-programme, must receive attention in this biennium as a matter of urgency. Besides efforts to improve seed-production technology, there is another important concern and that is the gradual disappearance of indigenous types of fruits and vegetables in some developing countries. Many a young child in Trinidad and Tobago today has never seen many of the fruits - undoubtedly many of them quite nutritious - which I knew as a boy; yet we are busy consuming millions of dollars each year in apples, pears and other fruits, none of which
can be produced in our part of the world. Let there be more variety, of course, but we need to rediscover indigenous fruit and vegetable types, learn more about them - improved propagation techniques, their relative nutritional value, etc.
Considerable effort and resources are being directed towards dairy development in many countries. Also, we see at paragraph 29, page 94 that FAO will proceed with plans related to the livestock sector. A little over a week ago, I watched a programme on television in London relating to the rearing of sheep for milk production. I saw the flocks of sheep, use of milking machines, preparation and distribution of the milk for human consumption in suburban areas. This development is of interest. If the potential is real in terms of milk yield per acre and we can combine this with reasonable meat yields, given the more difficult conditions under which sheep can thrive, milk production in the small farm context in Third World countries can take on new dimensions. I recognize the problems of milk strains for the tropics, etc. - but it does seem to be a matter which ought to be pursued. Importing one dairy cow with no particular pedigree costs thousands of dollars!
Our delegation also wants to register its full support for the Director-General's programme on decentralization. The posting of country representatives with appropriate authority augurs well for increased project activity and greater vigilance on a continuous basis. Hopefully, with time, increased funding will allow the Director-General even greater flexibility with this programme in order that he could exploit fully its potential as an effective mechanism for delivery.
Our delegation also stands firmly with the Director-General's Technical Cooperation Programme. Unforeseen weather, the ravages of nature, outbreaks of pests and disease or other unanticipated unique situations provide the circumstances in which the rapid and flexible response of TCP is very welcome by the recipient country. The Director-General indicated that the budgetary increase from 12.9 to 13.5 percent was done with "the greatest restraint". We understand the contributing circumstances and we feel that the Director-General must, within reasonable limits, improve the overall efficiency of this mechanism. It is hoped that, with time, the need for severe restraints will gradually and substantially be removed.
My delegation has read with satisfaction the programme proposals for our region of the world -Latin America and the Caribbean. The Caribbean, more so the island states, have their peculiar problems related to food and agriculture.
As I speak of our region, the group of countries which have traditionally been known as "the Caribbean" - more so, the English-speaking Caribbean, joins with our traditionally "Latin" brothers in the clear recognition, endorsed by the Council, of one region - "Latin America and the Caribbean".
Trinidad and Tobago will continue actively to participate in the international struggle against famine and hunger. Government is placing heavy emphasis on domestic food production and our long-term planning ensures proper attention to the rehabilitation and expansion of our forestry resource.
At this very moment, we are particularly fortunate in having a multidisciplinary mission provided with the special assistance of the Director-General. This mission is engaged in an overview of our agricultural policy and programmes which we are certain will lead to the accelerated and sustained development of the agricultural sector.
There must be support for the operational activity intended to monitor and evaluate programmes. Monitoring and evaluation are indispensable elements in any meaningful development process. Demonstrated programme efficiency and acceptable levels of achievement will put contributing nations in that receptive frame of mind which will ensure that the Director-General gets a meaningful increase for his 1986-1987 budget. We can only hope that during the next biennium - and available information does not really suggest that we can wait until 1985 - donors will see the necessity and wisdom of boosting their contributions to FAO's activity.
We share the concern for the world food situation so poignantly described by the Director-General, and we support those measures designed to alleviate the pain and the suffering, especially of the children all over the world that are born to hunger and deprivation. In this respect, we recognize the gravity of the situation in the Sahel countries of Africa and the immediate urgencies of their need.
Failure to harness on a wider scale the "Green Power" of the tropical world, so that we can turn around the present course of events in food and agriculture in the developing world, may well lead us to a crisis worse than that which forced the world's leaders to meet in the World Food Conference in 1974.
But we must have hope - hope in the essential goodness of man, hope that despite his imperfections, despite his weaknesses, he will respond to the noble call of his spirit.
G. CUADRA (Nicaragua): Mi delegación desea hacer una declaración general en este momento. Nos unimos a las demás delegaciones en felicitarle por haber sido electo a tan importante cargo. Estamos seguros que los trabajos de esta Comisión se desarrollarán exitosamente bajo su dirección.
No cabe duda de que la actual crisis económica internacional es la enésima crisis del sistema económico capitalista impuesto en el mundo y que afecta más gravemente a los países en vías de desarrollo.
El actual orden internacional financiero, comercial y tecnológico es injusto y va en detrimento de las economías de los países pobres. Las voluntades políticas nacionales de transformar el sector agrícola y los sectores afines para el desarrollo y para la eliminación del hambre y la desnutrición de nuestros pueblos se encuentran frente al creciente intercambio desigual entre países desarrollados y países en vías de desarrollo, con su consecuente dependencia económica y política que obliga a los países pobres a permanecer como suplidores de materias primas baratas al mercado internacional y como compradores de bienes de capital a precios cada vez más elevados.
La tendencia actual de algunos países desarrollados en priorizar la asistencia bilateral frente a la multilateral en el contexto de la crisis económica mundial y de las crecientes tensiones políticas es en extremo preocupante a la luz de sus objetivos neocolonialistas y de los exorbitantes gastos en la la industria bélica.
Por esto, señor Presidente, consideramos que el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto para 1984-85 es insuficiente para satisfacer las necesidades de los países en desarrollo. Nos manifestamos en contra de la política de crecimiento cero y esperamos que no siente un precedente que frene el crecimiento adecuado de la Organización en el futuro, que le impida cumplir con los objetivos para los que la hemos creado.
Señor Presidente: Nicaragua apoya los objetivos y estrategias de la FAO a mediano y largo plazo dentro de la estrategia internacional de desarrollo para el tercer decenio de las Naciones Unidas para el desarrollo.
Aprobamos las prioridades del Programa contenidas en la introducción del Director General al documento C 83/3. Asimismo aprobamos la prioridad que le da a la región de Africa.
Reconocemos los esfuerzos del Director General por haber logrado un crecimiento del 3,6 por ciento para el Programa Técnico y Económico, no obstante; que el crecímiento del Presupuesto global es solamente del 0,5 por ciento.
A pesar de que consideramos que el nivel del Programa de Labores y Presupuesto de la FAO para el bienio 1984-85 es inadecuado para satisfacer las necesidades de los países en vías de desarrollo, apoyamos el Proyecto de Resolución contenido en la página 46 del documento C 83/3.
H. MAURIA (Finland): In this discussion I should like to take up a few points which we believe deserve special attention. First, a few remarks on the programme of rural development which, in our view, is one of the key activities in the work of FAO: we note the rise of the extra-budgetary funds and the substantial part of the total resources available being allocated to the African region which is in great need of assistance. We support the establishment of regional centres for rural development and we also support the role of FAO's scheme for agricultural development called SACRED, given in the context of rural development. Nevertheless we would wish to see a further development of cooperation with all other relevant United Nations agencies regarding rural development.
Next, I would like to welcome, on behalf of my delegation, the emphasis being devoted to research and technology development. We believe that it is time for FAO to increase its efforts to work as a media for improving and encouraging of research activities and institutions in the developing countries. For this reason we support the establishment of a new unit in FAO, the Research and Technology Development Division.
My next point deals with forestry. I think that we must now feel a growing concern for the future of the forest resources of the whole world. Several alarming and, indeed, threatening elements are being reported about trends of depletion of forest resources. Many words of grave concera on this matter have been expressed already during this Conference, not to mention the key role of forestry which was formulated as a Conference resolution in the last Conference. My Minister stated today in the Plenary his concern for the forest situation, particularly in the tropics; and the Swedish Minister spoke yesterday about the serious consequences upon forests and people due to the depletion of resources, air pollution and lack of fuel wood in rural areas.
I am not going to repeat what has been said in the past many times by the Finnish delegation and by many others on the urgent need for action to stop erosion, to work extensively for more reforestation programmes, to strengthen forestry institutions, to integrate people in the rural areas with
forestry programmes and to develop appropriate forest industries in rural areas. This is a great challenge for FAO. Let me say that our concern in this context is that the development of resources for forestry programmes within FAO does not, in our view, correspond to the needs that exist now and will increase in the future, for substantially higher inputs in the forestry sector.
Finally, a few remarks concerning the TCP. I would like to say that we have come to be aware of the usefulness of the TCP. The Programme has obviously been working with projects of a more or less urgent nature which are small in size and short of time, and which respond to the immediate needs in the recipient countries. When demanding effectiveness of the Organization we think that TCP is now representing a line in the right direction. We are satisfied to learn that TCP is not competing with the UNDP-financed projects and our view is also that the TCP resources should not be a substitute for declined UNDP resources.
P. SCALIERIS (Greece): I would first like to express the appreciation of the Greek delegation for the Director-General's Programme of Work and Budget, as now presented to this Conference.
This Conference in November 1981 suggested that the format of the document should be reviewed, in order to incorporate the Medium-Term Objectives document into the Programme of Work and Budget.
It goes to the credit of both the Programme and the Finance Committees that they studied and examined this question with great responsibility and efficiency and thus worked out a merging of the two documents, by incorporating sections dealing with the medium-term context. I would also like to emphasize that in line with the recent financial imperatives and the instructions by the Conference, the above Committees decided to reduce the size of documentation and to eliminate unnecessary duplication, thus enabling, along with substantial improvements in presentation, clarity, conciseness and also savings in documentation costs.
We believe that the Programme of Work and Budget not only is guided by the decisions of the Conference, but equally takes into account the work of Regional Conferences and the deliberations of both the Programme and Finance Committees.
To our opinion, the proposed priorities for 1984/85 take into account the repercussions of the current world economic difficulties, which affect all member countries, both developed and developing. It goes without saying that Greece will be counted amongst those who recognize how bigger is the burden which, from those difficulties, befall the developing countries. For, they are the ones with no reserve capacity and very little freedom of manoeuvre to counteract adverse economic trends.
Our representative to the Finance Committee, has always emphasized before that body - each time policies, programmes and priorities were reviewed - that almost all programmes deserve allocation of ever larger resources! And that in the face of too well-known limitations we should concentrate the available resources to the most important and urgent activities.
Consequently, we take due note towards a reduction of the administrative and support services cost, as far as possible. They have our endorsement. Yet, such reductions should not evolve to a point of becoming a "goal" in itself, thus negatively affecting approved programmes and activities of the Organization. This is the position that Ambassador Papageorgiou took in the Finance Committee.
We commend that increased resources be channelled to the Technical Cooperation Programme. We believe that this Programme is both efficient and effective. It meets the purposes for which it has been established. Its expansion becomes all the more relevant as it can alleviate the effects from the current resource curtailments of UNDP where, incidentally, Greece is steadily increasing her contribution. It should be allowed to ensure, when possible, continuity of essential field activities.
As regards the development support programmes we notice the reduction in the Field Programme Planning and Liaison. We regret the decline in UNDP resources and would like to reiterate our concern that such regression will affect the growth of the FAO/UNDP projects.
On the other hand we record with satisfaction that in the framework of the development support programmes, investment gains additional resources. The FAO work in this field is outstanding. Indeed the activities of the FAO Investment Centre generates a substantial amount of total investment annually.
Coming to the Major Programmes, allow me to comment as follows:
(a) The International Development Strategy for the Third Development Decade has targeted an annual growth rate of 4 percent for agricultural production during the 1980s. This challenge cannot be successfully met without further expansion of land and water resources and greater emphasis on their rational use.
(b) Adequate attention should be given both to the problem of energy and environmental protection, including safeguarding of land and water resources against degradation. We particularly welcome the continued emphasis on direct assistance to governments and increased co-operation with national institutions in the implementation of this programme.
We also appreciate FAO's work on the improvement of soil fertility (sub-programme 2.1.1.3) which includes the operation of the Fertiliser Programme and the International Fertiliser Supply Scheme. In this respect we favour the recommendation of the Eighth Session of the Commission of Fertilizers in strengthening the operations of the International Fertilisers Supply Scheme, through increased support by donor governments. The expansion of the fertilisers programme must be seen as part of the efforts to improve production techniques, particularly to the benefit of poor resource small farmers, in order to increase farm productivity.
Crop losses caused by various pests are still a major constraint to optimum agricultural production. At the same time post-harvest losses must be prevented and the promotion of international and national cooperation still carries top priority.
We therefore endorse the programme for crops (sub-programme 2.1.2) as a major FAO assistance for food production. And we note with satisfaction that activities and priorities of this programme had met with support at the Seventh session of the COAG (Committee on Agriculture).
It goes without saying that the Programme on World Food Security (Sub-programme 2.1.8.4) is also of a particular importance in connection, on the one hand with new approaches for the achievement of a collective self-reliance of the developing countries in the food security domain and, on the other, with action especially in Africa. That is the continent where problems are most acute, as reflected in the tremendous fall of per capita food production.
Without disregarding the food agricultural and rural difficulties in other parts of the world, the problems of Africa call for immediate and comprehensive action.
In respect to the Research and Technology Development, the change of the organizational structure and the consolidation of the 4 units into a new Research and Technology Development Division corresponds to the suggestions and discussions in the COAG. We stress the necessity that under the programme on Research and Development (Sub-Programme 2.1.4), high priority must be given to the strengthening of the capacity of national research systems, and to better links between research institutions, extension systems and the farmer's community. Connected with the above orientations is also the importance of sufficient attention to environmental concerns; and we recall that under sub-programme 2.1.4.5, FAO's role and involvement in the problems of desertification could and must be very decisive.
(c) Major developments have shaped the evolution of world fisheries in the recent past: rapid technological improvements; new legal regime of the oceans; greater gap between demand and supply of fish for human consumption; greater operating costs of fish production, processing and distribution. We believe that the strategies and priorities of the FAO Fisheries Programme give us adequate response to these factors.
My delegation considers that priority attention should be given to the Fisheries Information Programme (programme 2.2.1). Under this programme, FAO can play a unique role within the UN system in the operation of such an information system to the benefit of all member countries.
Regarding next year's World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development (Sub-Programme 2.2.3.2) we are looking forward to it with justified interest. We note that this programme provides also for collaboration with other organizations and bodies concerned with marine affairs, which we endorse.
Besides, we would like to note the programme on Conservation and Wildlife (Sub-Programme 2.3.1.3) with its manifold aspects.
To sum up, we find that the priorities as outlined in the Programme of Work and Budget for 1984-1985, correspond to the prevailing critical world economic and food situation.
Under the present international economic conjuncture there is obviously a good argument for: (a) limiting the financial burden which befalls every Member Nation; (b) assuring a prudent management of available resources.
As a large number of developing countries are finding it difficult to meet their external financial obligations, this has had effects also on the levels of contributions to FAO. On the other hand, several of the developed Member Nations, because of economic difficulties of their own tend to curtail allocations for development assistance particularly through multilateral channels.
Under conditions as above, the Director-General made his proposals with a view to limiting this financial burden of both developed and developing Member Nations, notwithstanding the increased needs for FAO's services, particularly to developing countries. FAO responds to these needs essentially within the present budget level, through both shifts in allocations to priority programmes and further reduction of support services.
On the other hand, by suggesting a 0.5 percent increase of the present budget the Director-General succeeds to satisfy those who stand for "zero growth", as this minimal increase reaches almost "zero growth", if prevailing exchange rates are taken, as they should, also into consideration.
Therefore, the Creek delegation supports the level of the budget, appreciating that by drastic cuts in administrative and support services expenditure the Organization's technical and economic programmes will provide in 1984-85 a growth rate of 3.60 percent over their current level.
Finally, I would like to refer to the financial situation of FAO. Despite the fact that several Member Nations with arrears have disbursed substantial amounts during this year totalling more than $ 10 million, there is still a number of Member Nations with outstanding arrears. Efforts on this matter should continue. Furthermore, efforts should be made so that all Member Nations fulfil their financial obligations in good time.
I would like to conclude by stating that we endorse the Director-General's proposed Programme of Work and Budget for 1984-85. Furthermore, it is the hope of the Greek delegation that this Conference will put on this Programme of Work and Budget its seal of approval by consensus. This would represent a positive and encouraging message to the international community.
E. L. da Cruz (Cap-Vert): J'aimerais tout d'abord vous féliciter pour votre élection et féliciter également les deux Vice-Présidents et le Secrétariat pour les documents qui ont été mis à notre disposition. Je serai bref, compte tenu du fait qu'une grande partie des points de vue adoptés par le Cap-Vert ont déjà été exposés par les délégués qui m'ont précédé; je ne voudrais donc pas répéter ce qu'ils ont déjà dit.
Mon Ministre a déjà fait part à la Conférence de la totale adhésion du Cap-Vert aux priorités exposées dans le Programme de travail et budget présentés par le Directeur général. Je ne reprendrai donc que quelques points.
Premièrement nous aimerions proposer à la Conférence que le programme présenté pour le biennium 1984-85, les priorités et le budget soient en effet approuvés.
Deuxièmement, nous souhaiterions que l'attention soit vraiment attirée sur l'Afrique où la situation concernant la sécurité alimentaire est préoccupante.
Troisièmement, nous aimerions proposer que la priorité accordée aux programmes techniques soit maintenue.
Quatrièmement, que le PCT soit développé comme un instrument opérationnel dont l'intérêt et l'impact ne sont pas à démontrer, surtout dans des pays démunis comme le mien.
Cinquièmement,le Cap-Vert renouvelle sa totale adhésion au Directeur général et aux objectifs de la FAO. Mon pays consacre au développement rural 25 pour cent des investissements de son premier Plan national de développement en cours.Nos efforts en accord avec les orientations de la FAO nous mèneront pas à pas, nous en sommes surs, aux objectifs qui nous sont proposés.
E. PORTE (Liberia): My delegation supports the Programme of Work and Budget as put forward in the document and is in general agreement with the priorities and strategies as outlined. However, we regret that more attention was not given to forestry in the Programme of Work and Budget. The importance of the forest in controlling erosion and providing protection to watersheds is just among the few benefits that we derive from the forest. We therefore hope that more importance will be attached to forestry in the next Programme.
My delegation accepts the Programme of Work and Budget as tabled to-day.
S. STDIBE (Mali): La délégation du Mali, intervenant pour la première fois dans le débat, se fait un agréable devoir de vous présenter ses félicitations à l'occasion de votre élection comme président de notre Commission. Nos félicitations vont également au Secrétariat pour le travail remarquable qui nous a été proposé.
S'agissant du document C 83/3, nous partageons entièrement-les vues exposées en introduction par le Directeur général de la FAO. Nous sommes heureux que plus de fonds que par le passé soient, encore cette année, consacrés aux programmes de terrain et aux aides d'urgence du PCT. Nous savons malheureusement que l'aide internationale se fait plus rare, ce qui du reste contraint la FAO à adopter un budget presque de croissance zéro. Nous félicitons la FAO d'accorder une importance particulière aux problèmes du Sahel, notamment à la lutte contre la désertification, l'aménagement des pâturages pour leur utilisation plus rationnelle, la lutte contre la trypanosomiase animale permettant de libérer des terres pour l'agriculture, le soutien à la formation et aux instituts de recherche en vue de favoriser le transfert des technologies.
Nous remercions le Directeur général de la FAO dfavoir toujours été à nos côtés, tant par le Programme de coopération technique que par la mobilisation des aides multilatérales, pour nous venir en aide dans la lutte contre les effets de la sécheresse.
S'agissant du document, nous pensons que des efforts devront cependant être faits pour accorder une plus grande priorité, dans le domaine de l'élevage, à la lutte contre la peste bovine, maladie qui menace le cheptel de toute la zone sahélienne. Nous sommes inquiets d'assister à des réunions interminables, à des mises au point de stratégies variables dans leur contenu d'une réunion d'experts à une autre, cependant que la maladie continue de faire des ravages et que sont frappés d'interdit le bétail et les viandes d'exportation des pays ayant déclaré la peste. L'économie de ces pays, déjà asphyxiée par une production agricole insuffisante par suite des effets de la sécheresse et de la carence des facteurs de production, ne peut trouver les devises nécessaires pour faire face à l'équilibre de sa balance commerciale.
C. THOMSEN (Denmark): In continuation of our general remarks the Danish delegation wishes to make a few more specific comments related to individual programmes under various chapters of the programme structure. These comments will be limited to areas in which we feel that it may be helpful to indicate our views on priorities within programmes, especially in the medium term.
The first comment is related to the Programme on Natural Resources, 2.1.1, where we consider that continued work on the inter-disciplinary agro-ecological zone analysis, as it is called, deserves high priority. This seems particularly important from the point of view of the development of food production in various parts of the world.
The second comment relates to the Programme on Crops, and under this we attach particular importance to activities promoting increased production and availability of quality seed. Our Government gives special support under Trust Fund arrangements to the Seed Improvement and Development Programme, but we would like it to be fully integrated in and supported by Regular Programme activities.
As far as the Sub-Programme on Agricultural Engineering and Prevention of Food Losses is concerned, high priority should be given to action related to animal traction, including the development of the appropriate animal draught equipment. In many countries there is urgent need for progress in this respect.
The next comment refers to the Programme on Livestock, where we consider that high priority should be given to the integration of crops and livestock in farming systems. This would include improved utilisation of forest and field resources as well as the increased use of animal traction power.
In connection with dairy development, to which my Government has given special support over a long period of years under Trust Fund assistance to dairy training, we consider that increased priority should be given to the promotion of national dairy training institutions. We also consider that high priority should be given to the development of small farmer dairy production, including collection and processing, as we have here considerable potential income generation in many countries.
I come then to the Programme on Research and Technology Development. Like other delegations, we strongly support that high priority be given to strengthening national agricultural research systems, and in this connection to continue close collaboration with ISNAR under the CGIAR. In our opinion FAO should give special and particular attention to the liaison between research and extension as it is recommended in the evaluation report which was referred to this morning on national agricultural research and which we have just received.
We have noted the existence of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Science and Technology and we sincerely hope that it will play a very active role in the activities of the Organization.
Under the Programme on Rural Development we wish to support that high priority be given to agricultural training and extension systems directed to farm families and in this connection would suggest coordination on training activities again through the Interdepartmental Working Group, in this case on training.
We also consider the high priority to enlist people's participation and collaboration with non-Governmental organizations in this sector, as in our view they must play an important role in this connection.
As regards the Programme on Nutrition, we consider that the Organization by virtue of its Constitution has a fundamental responsibility which has not been sufficiently reflected in the allocation of its resources. It is by now generally accepted that increased production of food is not by itself sufficient if we want to alleviate hunger. We agree fully that first priority be given to the integration of nutrition considerations, inter-rural development activities, and we attach much importance to the preparation of the Fifth World Food Survey.
I come then to the chapter on Development Support, and under this our comments will refer only to the system of FAO Representatives at country level. We have supported this development as a step towards decentralization of the activities of the Organization. At the same time we have suggested that the increase in the system of FAO Representatives should make it possible to reduce the allocations to the Regional Offices. As suggested by our Minister in his statement in Plenary this morning, we consider that the time has come when it would be appropriate to review the long-term purpose and role of the Regional Offices. To achieve optimal use of resources there is need to look into the respective responsibilities and a proper delegation of authority to the different parts of the Organization structure.
My final comments are related then to the Technical Cooperation Programme. We agree that this Programme has become a very valuable element in the total Programme of Work of the Organization. Its main justification, in our view, is the possibility it provides for meeting urgent needs by action of an emergency nature. We have, like other delegations, noted that the Programme is intended to complement and not substitute other sources of finance. This, of course, means as has already been pointed out by other delegations, that the TCP should not be relied upon to make up for reductions in UNDP financed activities, but only to avoid disruptions of an emergency nature. It is against this background that my delegation is concerned about the relatively important proposed increase in resources for the Programme, as we believe that this may increase the risk that it becomes an entity of its own. We, therefore, believe it is appropriate to warn against further increases in the relative size of this programme, because we fear that it will make it more difficult to uphold the declared policy of not replacing our sources of finance, whether they are under the Regular Programme, or from extra-budgetary voluntary contributions.
I wish to finish by repeating that we are making these selective comments, particularly with a view to influencing the future orientation of the Programme of Work and Budget of the Organization. I thank you.
A. EL SARKY (Egypt) (original language Arabic): After a comprehensive review of this document my delegation has well noted the extent of improvements in its content and the considerable modifications made in it, and this deserves our complimenting those who have prepared it. Nevertheless, we look forward to additional improvements so as to enrich this document's contents and thus make our discussions thereof more detailed.
Egypt considers FAO's ordinary programme as the basis on which development activities could be structured, and an initial step to several projects. This leads us to appeal to the richer countries and to international financial institutions to support this first priority programme and to provide it with additional resources in order to enable it to carry out its role. But we cannot ignore that the degree of effectiveness of this programme depends in the first place, on an active follow-up of its activities by the beneficiary countries and their continuous support thereof. It appeared to us from our review of chapter I of this document, that the programme of Agriculture, Programme 2-1, is the cornerstone of FAO's programmes oriented towards the achievement of higher productivity in agriculture and food resources in the least developed countries, and to a clarification of an improved employment of energy, conservation of resources, and support of the national potential for the implementation and management of food security programmes. Programme 2-1-3 on animal resources shows its importance to developing countries for it aims at an increase in pasture lands, and providing fodder for cattle. We wish to underline at the same time the importance of the two dairy development programmes, and the international meat development plan, be it from the point of view of the training opportunities provided by these programmes, or the rational meat consumption. This is in addition to FAO's constructive efforts in supporting the contagious disease analysis laboratories network so that these may cover all developing countries with respect to control of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest in addition to FAO's efforts in diagnosing the various episoties.
Both the objectives and strategies of the main programme 2.2 on fisheries are in line with the objectives of Egypt's policy in supporting ocean and inland fisheries, incentives to fishermen, adoption of modern technology in fishing, and the reduction of after-catch losses. In this connection Egypt looks forward to increased cooperation with the friendly countries as well as FAO and international financing organizations, in view of Egypt's vast potential in this area.
As for the Technical Cooperation Programme, Egypt has always paid tribute in all international fora to the importance and effectiveness of this programme in the light of the services and assistance it provides to developing countries. Egypt attaches great importance to this programme in satisfying its requirements, either in the form of relief or such other development assistance that may provide relief to drought victims at Marsa Matrouh, and the sending of an adviser to diagnose rinderpest; this is over and above the financing of projects recently concluded in the area of the development of goats, the control of apian pests, and the support of agricultural survey activities. We look forward to increased support to this programme's resources in order to enable it to carry out its noble task. As for main programme 3.4 relating to FAO's country representatives, these representatives have given proof of the positive role they have played in the coordination of
assistance at the country level, providing advice to governments on the best measures for achieving food security, the relaying of a true picture on the requirements of developing countries to the responsible organs for achieving an effective utilization of the assistance provided, and their assistance to national directors in the management of programmes. We appeal to the Director-General to respond to the development countries wishes for the creation of regional representatives offices within the possibility of the available resources.
Egypt wishes to emphasize the importance of agricultural documentation systems AGRIS and CARIS, 5.1.3. Egypt has set up an agricultural documentation centre for agricultural research and the exchange of bibliographic references. We have published since 1975 7 500 researches in six volumes.
This centre now includes a group of specialists capable of providing technical assistance in this area to developing countries.
Mr Chairman, sub-programme 2.1.1.4 on water development and management has proved its effectiveness. Egypt is doing its utmost in achieving the ojectives of this programme, in order to maximise crop yields.
Egypt is likewise interested in sub-programme 2.1.1.5 on soil conservation. This programme has assisted us in determining the problems of soil deterioration, and was the basis of one of the largest projects at present financed by UNDP. From an analysis of Chapter 12 of FAO's activities in the area of investment it appears that there is a fast growth in this Chaper's budget and in the number of employees working in the area of investment, as shown in paragraph 12.9 of this document. It also reflects a considerable expansion in its operations, as mentioned in paragraphs 12.69. Nevertheless, the limited resources still hamper this centre, and prevent it from responding to all the demands received for services. This leads to address an appeal to developing countries to determine their programmes' priorities, and to spare no efforts for achieving a complete coordination between the forms of assistance provided to them. It is worth mentioning here that the Investment Centre has assisted Egypt in identifying certain projects which were approved by international financing organizations, such as IFAD, for providing the required loans; in this respect we mention the Agricultural Development Programme in the Governorate of Menia, and the settlement programme to the West of Buhaira. In this connection, we have received a mission during last month to identify one of the projects which aim at the development of fishery resources on the Red Sea coast, and we hope that cooperation between Egypt and the Centre shall continue in other projects in future.
J.M. SCOULAR (United Kingdom): As you know, the United Kingdom rather likes to come in very late in the day to hear what everyone else has to say first. This is being diplomatic I understand, but in response to your ruling I speak a little earlier this time.
We have already made our general views known, both in the debate yesterday here and in Plenary this afternoon, about the budget as a whole, and I would simply like to address one or two points chapter by chapter if I may.
First of all on Chapter 1, we would like to record our approval of the way in which audit, evaluation and monitoring are coming to be seen as part of a continuous process which increases the overall ongoing efficiency of FAO's operations.
Secondly, on Chapter 2, the Technical and Economic Programmes, we have a livestook point. We note the growing demand of livestock and feel that literally livestock is an expensive way of using scarce resources in some cases, so perhaps the development of additional livestock should be encouraged in parts of the world only where they are economically viable, and this brings me to the inevitable loss of land which is very useful for cattle through the scourge of Trypanosomiasis. On this we agree strongly with the high priority placed on the control of Trypanosomiasis and the stress on the need to consider land use priorities before attempting to control the tsetse fly.
However, as is well known here the eradication of the tsetse with insecticides is logistically difficult and expensive with cleared areas often subject to reinvasion. We think that further research is needed into cheaper control methods which can be applied as one component of rural development. We believe that more weight should be placed on the control of Trypanosomiasis through the use of chemo-therapy, trypano-control of livestock and approved management. Such systems could be of great value over large areas of tsetse infested Africa.
To turn now to fisheries, we appreciate the large increase in emphasis on fishery exploitation and utilization, and the plan to shift the priorities reflecting the need to make use to the best effect of the opportunities presented by the EEZs.
We appreciate also the continued interest in agriculture but would wish to remind this distinguished gathering that this is an area which demands a high degree of skill and involves quite considerable investment if the best results are to be achieved.
Next on forestry. We note the shift of emphasis towards forestry for rural development, and understand the social and economic concerns which prompt the selection of priority. At the same time we hope that FAO will not lose sight of the important role to be played by forestry industries and the development. Indeed the question of forestry has exercised a number of delegates both here and in the Plenary and I understand that at the Sixth session of the Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics many delegates expressed deep concern at the relatively low level of support for forestry in the Regular Programme. Some of the concerns were expressed at the Committee on Forestry, so I will join with other delegates on urging the Secretariat that they consider the increase of resources on policy in the next biennium. Of course if money is available in this biennium, in 1984-85, we should be delighted, but we know of the restraints that are imposed by the Director-General's own careful planning of the current budget.
Finally in Support Services we are glad to see that the introduction of new equipment and improvements in printing and distribution have enabled the Director-General to make substantial savings in implementation and documentation.
LI ZHENHUAN (China) (langue originale chinoise): Mon intervention ne porte que sur les chapitres 2, 3 et 4 du programme de travail et budget. Le temps étant limité, je me bornerai à aborder de façon sélective quelques points de ces chapitres.
Le 2e chapitre comprend toutes les activités économiques et techniques de l’Organisation dans les secteurs de l'agriculture, des pêches et des forets. Dans le cas où l'ensemble du programme n'augmente que de 0,5 pour centles activités contenues dans ce chapitre connaîtront tout de même une croissance de 3,6 pour cent. Ceci traduit la continuité de la politique de la FAO visant à accorder une grande importance aux activités économiques et techniques. Il nous semble que les proportions de l'augmentation des ressources entre les différents programmes de ce chapitre sont équilibrées dans l'ensemble.
Pour le programme 2.1.2 - Culture, les ressources supléraentaires sont destinées essentiellement au sous-programme 2.1.2.2 Amélioration et conduite des cultures. Ces activités visent à aider les pays africains à développer en fonction de leurs conditions spécifiques la production vivrière, surtout celle du mais, du sorgo, du mil et des plantes racines et des tubercules. Nous appuyons entièrement ces activités. Une des politiques agricoles de la Chine est de développer la production vivrière en fonction de conditions locales. Dans certaines régions du nord de notre pays, les céréales secondaires entre dans la composition de l'alimentation des populations locales. La production des plantes racines et tubercules sont depuis toujours comprises dans les statistiques de la production alimentaire de notre pays. La 8e session du comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale a également souligné l’importance des plantes racines et des tubercules pour la sécurité alimentaire. Par conséquent, nous pensons que l'augmentation des ressources pour ces activités sont pertinentes et opportunes.
En ce qui concerne le programme 2.1.4 Développement de la recherche et de la technologie, nous insistons sur le fait que les activités de la formation sont d'une actualité importante pour les pays en développement.
Nous n'avons pas de doute quant à la valeur de l'aide accordée aux pays en développement pour l'élaboration des politiques et des plans de recherche. Néanmoins, à notre avis, ce travail revient essentiellement aux pays en développement eux-mêmes de le faire en fonction des réalités de leur pays. Le sous-programme 2.1.4.9 connaît l'augmentation la plus importante, c'est principalement pour créer 4 nouveaux postes dans la Division du développement de la recherche et de la technologie. Nour attachons beaucoup d'importance au travail de cette Division. Mais les tâches et les attributions de cette Division n'ont pas été précisées dans ce sous-programme 2.1.4.9. D'après ce qu'a décrit le Directeur général dans son introduction, nous avons cru comprendre que les attributions de cette division ne sont plus celles des 4 anciennes unités techniques.
A propos du grand programme 2.2 Pêches, nous sommes d'accord avec les priorités données à l'aide aux pays en développement afin d'accroître leur capacité de captures. Nous voudrions souligner l'importance d'aider les petits pêcheurs et de développer la pisciculture en eau douce et la pêche intérieure. Ceci est dans l'esprit de la décision prise lors de la 16e session de la Conference régionale de l'Asie et du Pacifique.
J'aimerais aussi dire quelques mots sur le grand programme 2.3 — Forêts. Nous appuyons l'allocation de la majeure partie des ressources supplémentaires nettes au programme 2.3.4 Forêts au service du développement rural. Cette activité répond aux besoins des pays en développement. Il importe aux pays en développement pauvres en ressources forestières de développer leurs ressources et de les exploiter de façon judicieuse afin de promouvoir un développement intégré de l'agriculture, de la sylviculture et de l'élevage. Nous espérons également que la FAO prêtera dans l'avenir une plus grande attention à l'aide au développement de l'industrie du bois des pays en développement riches en ressources forestières, notamment au développement de petites industries du bois et à la promotion de la coopération technique entre les pays en développement dans ce secteur.
Dans le chapitre 3, le grand programme 3.1 — Planification du Programme de terrain et liaison et le grand Programme 3.2. — Investissement, constituent les activités principales du programme ordinaire de l'Organisation, lui permettant de promouvoir le transfert de la technologie et des ressources. Elles ont des liens très étroits avec de nombreuses activités de terrain financées par les ressources extra-budgétaires. En exécutant ces deux grands programmes, la FAO a fait beaucoup de travail pour mobiliser les ressources extérieures et fournir l'assistance technique en faveur de l'agriculture des pays en développement. Dans l'introduction du document C 83/3 le Directeur général a évoqué les difficultés auxquelles se sont heurtés l'Association internationale de développement et le Fonds international de développement agricole dans la reconstruction de leurs ressources. Il a également mentionné la contraction des ressources du PNUD qui a fait souffrir l'assistance technique à l'agriculture. Cette situation produira des effets négatifs sur la production alimentaire et le développement rural des pays en développement au cours du prochain biennium. Donc, nous sommes d'avis que la FAO devrait dans le prochain biennium, renforcer davantage la programmation, la coordination et la surveillance des projets de terrain afin d'assurer une utilisation plus efficace des ressources limitées.
J'en viens maintenant au grand programme 3.4 — Représentants de la FAO. 74 représentations seront créées avant la fin du présent exercice biennal. Ce faisant, la FAO atteindra pratiquement l'objectif de la décentralisation en établissant des représentations dans les pays. Durant le prochain exercice biennal, on cherchera essentiellement à consolider les missions existantes au lieu d'en créer de nouvelles. A notre avis, dans le cas où l'augmentation des programmes ne représente que 0,5 pour cent, le système des doubles accréditations est souhaitable.
Enfin, je voudrais dire quelques mots sur le chapitre 4 Programme de coopération technique. Ce programme dont l'utilité a été reconnue par les Etats Membres, est largement apprécié par les pays en développement. La délégation chinoise marque son accord sur l'augmentation de sa part dans le budget total, passant de 12,9 pour cent à 13,5 pour cent. En même temps, nous espérons que le secrétariat de la FAO améliore la gestion de ce programme et la formulation des projets afin que le PCT joue un rôle encore plus grand, d'autant plus que les ressources du PNUD sont insuffisantes en ce moment. Quant à l'allocation des crédits entre les différentes activités de ce programme, bien que la part la plus importante soit encore réservée à la formation, elle est tombée de 41,6 pour cent en 1976-77 à 33 pour cent en 1983. Etant donné que la formation est d'une actualité importante pour les pays en développement, nous espérons que les activités dans ce domaine seront renforcées à l'avenir.
M.B. SY (Sénégal): Je voulais, en commençant mon intervention, rendre hommage au pays qui m'a précédé - la Chine - et évoquer un proverbe qui traduit la philosophie de ce grand pays, à savoir que pour aider un ami qui a faim, il faudrait lui apprendre à pêcher plutôt que de lui donner un poisson.
Si je procède à l'examen des chapitres du projet de budget, je me rends compte, ainsi que je l'ai déjà indiqué, qu'un grand effort a déjà été fait par la FAO pour se soucier des problèmes de développement rural des pays en voie de développement et notamment de l'Afrique, mais je constate à l'analyse de certains chapitres et plus notamment du chapitre 2 qu'il y a deux sous-secteurs particulièrement importants, qui, du point de vue des ressources, n'ontpasété privilégiés. Il s'agit d'abord du secteur des forets et je rappellerai que, deux personnalités eminentes qui ont pris la parole en séance plênière, je veux parler de M. Bruno Kreisky et, ce matin, du Président, M. Jaafar Mohamed Al Nimeri, ont lancé un cri d'alarme en ce qui concerne le déboisement car la forêt recule de 4 à 5 kilomètres par an. Ce qui veut dire que certains pays qui sont proches du désert sont déjà menacés par un fléau particulièrement dangereux. Donc, dès maintenant, une action particulièrement dense devrait être menée en direction de ce secteur, sinon, à quoi servirait un programme agricole qui serait ensuite détruit par la progression du désert.
Pour en venir aux programmes de soutien du développement, je crois que le Directeur général en concluant sa déclaration en séance plênière a particulièrement insisté sur un facteur important, celui de la formation. Il semble, et je pense que personne ne devrait être en désaccord sur cette idée, que toute action de promotion en faveur d'un individu serait vouée à un rendement plus ou moins important si la personne à qui s'adresse cette action n'est pas à même d'assimiler le programme qui lui est destiné.
Il serait donc souhaitable qu'à l'avenir certains problèmes qui sont des préalables à toute action tendant à l'amélioration du développement rural, soient étudiés de manière qu'on n'en vienne pas à constater des détails très importants susceptibles d'annihiler les efforts consentis à très gros frais.
En regrettant de n'avoir pu étudier de façon approfondie ce document qui est particulièrement important, j'espère que ma contribution permettra d'autres interventions.
J. SAULT (Australia) : I take the floor to comment only on Chapter 4, the Technical Cooperation Programme. As I indicated in our opening general statement, we do generally support the programme strategies and priorities that have been identified by the Director-General. Australia has supported the TCP as a flexible, quick action programme for small-scale projects. We consider it certainly has a place in the technical assistance activities of the Organization. We see it as a complement to activities which are financed by the UNDP and from other extra-budgetary resources, but certainly not as a replacement for them.
In considering how much of the budget should be devoted to the TCP, we need to take account of a number of factors and among these are, first and most importantly: the Programme has the very strong support of the developing countries and we fully recognize this. Secondly, the TCP seems to be in pretty good shape from a financial point of view. In the Finance Committee we looked regularly at the rate of disbursement of funds against the allocations provided for the TCP, and it did not appear to me that there was any acute shortage of funds that was preventing the greater implementation of TCP projects. The third point I think we should bear in mind is that the TCP is a very cost-intensive programme. This derives from the large number of small-scale projects - different projects, diverse projects - that are being identified, designed and implemented; and it of course draws on resources not only under the TCP but from throughout the Organization.
The fourth point I would like to make is that it is an unprogrammed programme and this, of course, is an essential feature in enabling the programme to have maximum flexibility, but it does make it different from all the other programmes under the Regular Budget, where member governments are given an account of how and in what areas funds will be spent before the budget is approved. This means that there is an even greater need for adequate reports on how TCP funds have been utilized and an evaluation of their effectiveness; and the documentation before us for this and the following couple of items on our agenda does go towards meeting this need.
Taking all these factors into account, Australia considers that the Director-General has pitched the TCP at about the right level in his proposed Programme of Work and Budget for 1984-85. However, we do think that now that the TCP has been in operation for some six years, there is a need for an even fuller and desirably external evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the use of the relatively limited resources of the Regular Programme for the TCP rather than for other, also very desirable and programmed activities.
H. REDL (Austria) (original language German): I had originally intended to address you tomorrow but I would like to facilitate your task, Mr Chairman; and therefore I shall make a brief statement today.
At times of economic recession it would seem to be essential for the Programme of Work to concentrate on special priorities. We welcome the initiatives to this effect taken by the Director-General of FAO and we fully support them. Any form of concentrated management and administration is welcomed by Austria. We therefore welcome the setting up of the new Research and Technology Development Division and hope that this new division will lead to new developments in research and technology and will be to the benefit of everybody.
The enhancement of national research, especially in Africa, seems to us to be an important step towards ensuring food security. Austria fully supports the proposed activities in the area of training and extension work, both in agriculture and the forestry sector. In this connection I would like to refer to the long collaboration with FAO in the implementation of training courses in connection with seeds, which is something we shall continue to do. The implementation of that kind of training courses in developing countries has proved to be very successful. However, again in the area of forestry, the training and extension work will have to be enhanced. We therefore welcome the initiatives of FAO and we shall support them actively as far as we can. Already in the Plenary Austria had suggested that 1985 should be the Year of Forestry. I would also like to refer to what Sweden, Finland, Senegal and others said, stressing the particular importance of forests. These problems must be seen in connection with soil conservation and therefore deserve our full support.
Now, a few comments regarding work in Europe. The next meeting of the European Commission on Agriculture will be held in Austria. In the course of this meeting we shall celebrate the tenth anniversary of the scientific cooperation programmes. These cooperation systems are an important element of international cooperation in the area of agriculture. Transfer of technology is one of the main ways leading to self help. If we speak of these European activities, then we must also remember the working party on Woman and the Family which is a group that has our full support.
I would now like to say a few words about forestry. Here too we pay particular attention to the work of the European Forestry Commission and its collaboration with EEC. We would also like to mention the importance of the Codex Alimentarius. It is particularly important that the National Food Standards should not turn into technical obstacles so that they prevent food from being exported. The projects which have been planned within the TCP have proved to be useful in the developing countries and should be continued.
In conclusion I would once again refer to a problem which we consider to be particularly important, that is to say the pollution of the air, which has become a world-wide subject. There are plenty of facts to support this. I would refer to the danger of acid rain. I am sure you are familiar with this problem and therefore in conclusion I would once again like to suggest that the FAO, in collaboration with those who are responsible for the environmental problems at the international level, should in the future concentrate on this complex of problems, air pollution.
U. SESSI (Italie): Qu'il me soit tout d'abord permis d'exprimer mes remerciements à M. Shah pour les explications qu'il nous a données ce matin. Elles ont bien éclairci lés questions que nous avions posées et, à la lumière de ces explications, je dois dire que nous avons une bien meilleure lecture de projet de budget et que cela nous a facilité notre tâche.
En ce qui concerne le programme que nous avons maintenant à aborder, je me limiterai seulement à parler du programme exposé au chapitre 1. Je voudrais à ce propos souligner tout l'appui de ma délégation aux programmes qui sont contenus aux points 1.2.2 et 1.2.3 (pages 64 à 67 du texte français Planification, budget et évaluation du Programme).
En ce qui concerne la planification, nous avons noté avec beaucoup d'intérêt l'effort du Directeur général en vue de procéder à des choix rigoureux entre les nombreuses activités en cours ou potentielles de la FAO, qui doivent - comme on le dit au paragraphe 1 - se partager les ressources limitées du Programme ordinaire. Nous avons noté également le fait de l'évaluation des activités passées, c'est-à-dire l'élimination des activités périmées, dépassées, ou qui ont une utilité marginale, Nous accueillons avec beaucoup d'intérêt aussi l'effort qui nous est proposé au paragraphe 2 tendant à faire face à l'accroissement des demandes extérieures d'activités et de rapports, et enfin de centraliser les budgets des projets de terrain, de manière à s'assurer qu'ils sont cor‐rectement établis.
En ce qui concerne la vérification des comptes, je dois dire que nous sommes entièrement d'accord avec les propositions du Directeur général de créer de nouveaux postes et d'augmenter le personnel du Bureau de la vérification des comptes. Les commissaires aux comptes avaient demandé ce renforce‐ment, qui permettra un meilleur résultat pour l'Organisation, cette méthode de vérification des comptes évitant surtout le double emploi.
J'ai noté avec beaucoup d'intérêt, au paragraphe 5, la proposition d'établir un manuel de la FAO pour le personnel de vérification des comptes, qui s'appliquera aussi bien au Siège que sur le terrain, et je serais reconnaissant à quelqu'un du Secretariat M. Shah ou M. West, de nous préciser à quelle date pourrait sortir ce manuel.
A. GAYOSO (United States of America): I simply would like to expand the degree of outlook of the very dynamic presentation given by our Ambassador this morning in support of the work of FAO. As it is a tradition I would like to make some comments on some of the particular chapters and some of the particular activities. While they may not sound like a complete set of comments I will be issuing the Secretariat with a detailed paper with a complete" list of comments that we have. I must warn you they are not tremendously serious or threatening.
The United States generally supports the proposed Medium-Term Objectives but we would like to underline our desire that FAO emphasize where appropriate the importance of policies to provide price incentives and for a larger role and to allow the role in the private sector on agriculture. When we talk about the small farmers we are really talking about the private sector and we should so recognize.
Secondly, our desire that the Secretariat's plans in commodities and policy recognize the adequacy of existing mechanisms for discussion on many food and agricultural development issues.
Thirdly, that the FAO's information and analysis activities be designed to benefit all FAO members.
Fourthly, their objectives should not be based on documents of reference that have not been endorsed yet by the member countries as a whole. In the policy area we would like to request that the Secretariat refrain from presenting certain activities or initiatives as universally supported when in fact no such universal consensus exists yet.
In terms of some of the chapters and because of the combination of medium-term objectives and proposed activities in the budget we have combined them.
With regard to Chapter 1, General Policy and Direction, we were very pleased and we would like to recognize that the reduction of four professional posts in the Director-General's Office was a courageous step to take and consider this a very good example to set the Organization as a whole. We support the proposed strengthening of the audit function, outlined for programme 1.2.3.
Regarding Chapter 2, the Technical and Economic Programme; the United States has commented extensively on these programmes as they were presented in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget. Our only other comments are as follows: all three major programmes, Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry are the heart of FAO’s work and are warmly supported.
With regard to Natural Resources; we are very pleased to see the priorities listed on page 79 of the document. While generally endorsing them we would like to encourage FAO to elevate "improved management of tropical soils..." a step or two in the order of priorities. Tropical soils need attention and shifting cultivation is a real problem. Also we warmly support the priority being given to farming systems work which is vital to small farmers.
With regard to the section on Crops, we again like to support the continuing emphasis on germplasm and crop improvement through genetics and plant breeding and through management.
With regard to Livestock, the United States has been pleased with FAO’s well-balanced livestock programme. We feel the Secretariat has correctly chosen the prevention and control of animal diseases, especially African trypanosomiasis as the highest priority in improving the livestock sector. Given its technical expertise we believe that FAO can make and will make a significant impact in this area.
With regard to Research and Technology Development, the United States has fully supported the individual components of the new programme. We particularly support FAO's providing its share in the cost of the joint FAO/IAEA Division and of the CGIAR/TAC Secretariat. Regarding the Medium-Term Objectives attached to this sub-heading we would emphasize the need for environmental considerations to become an integral part of all agricultural development efforts. We fully support FAO's emphasis on training manpower for national agricultural research, maybe I should say manpower and womanpower, especially in Africa and promotion of effective links between research, extension and delivery systems at the farm level for technology transfer.
With regard to Rural Development, this is a large and important programme worthy of continued support and very close to the heart of the US interest in foreign assistance. The Programme seems well-balanced as presented. In addition to training the sub-programmes on Women and Marketing are particularly supported by us. In fact we would note that among the sub-programme narratives the one on women seems the best for 1984-85 and therefore would seem a good model for other programmes to follow.
With regard to nutrition, the United States continues to support FAO's activities in nutrition and concurs in the order of priorities but would note that even the lower priority activities in the Programme are important ones.
Our comments regarding Food and Agricultural Information and Analysis are simple. The United States ascribes considerable importance to this programme and feels that the work on statistics, the State of Food and Agriculture and the Food Information and Early Warning System merit the continuing priorities indicated in the document.
Concerning Food and Agricultural Policy, we would note that this is a large programme but an important one which we endorse.
We support FAO's emphasis on improving national food and agricultural sectors, particularly increasing food production. As the premier technical international agency in food and agriculture this area is where FAO can make a substantial impact and where FAO should concentrate its efforts in the policy area as well as technical programmes.
Our Ambassador mentioned with tremendous warmth the concern we have about forestry, forestry and the impact upon the small farmer and the impact upon the national resource base and the impact on the climate. The US foresters find the decline in the priority given to forestry disturbing and not in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Forestry. We would encourage the Secretariat to keep in mind the need for a better balance between forestry and other programmes when the next Programme of Work and Budget is prepared.
Regarding TCP, my Ambassador was quite explicit this morning. We concur in the importance and usefulness of this programme and we like to see it not as a competitor but as a complement to that programme financed by the UNDP.
W.E. ADERO (Kenya): We made our general comments yesterday morning and with the satisfaction that we showed with the way the Programme of Work and Budget had been prepared and presented, I do not have very much to add except to express our outmost satisfaction with the emphasis that the Director-General has given on technical and economic programmes. We find ourselves very satisfied with what is contained in Chapter 2 of the document. We are also generally in agreement with the other chapters. The other chapter I want to mention also very briefly is the chapter on TCP. We very much share the concern expressed by major donors and we very much agree that care must be taken to ensure that the programme does not compete with the other programmes that have been financed by other resources but I want to say that we have found it to be very useful and we fully support that programme.
To conclude, I want to say that the problems of food production, particularly in Africa, come about mainly because of the runaway population that we seem to be experiencing. In the speech delivered by our Minister yesterday at the Plenary meeting he suggested that the population objectives must be incorporated in rural development programmes in order to inculcate the need to manage population growth rates, which should be the one chasing the rates of food production and not the other way round. He further went on to suggest that FAO as a lead Agency in agriculture and food production should intensify its efforts to find practical ways of incorporating population objectives in rural development programmes. The programme as it is now, I think I am right in saying, does not contain very much by way of programmes of population control. when we spoke yesterday, and also in Plenary, we said that we think the resources are modest but we accept the position, since we very well know the economic situation of all countries who are Member States of FAO. I would also like to say at this juncture that there is need to think about that more seriously and to see if it could be included in the programmes at a later date.
F. BREWSTEP (Barbados): My delegation just wishes to make a few comments on programme 2.1.3 dealing with livestock. We consider that the area of meat production at the local level needs accelerated attention. While we observe that there is a net increase proposed in the programming as a whole, we feel that in the future more funds should be allocated here. This would enable countries to embark on a meaningful policy of import substitution in meat which will help to save some of the scarce foreign exchange for application to other areas of development. Increased local production of livestock foods has to respond to the effects of population and income growth. What we find is that the major costs of developing livestock programmes arises from feed costs, particularly when the protein elements of the feed has to be imported. The Barbados delegation therefore welcomes the additional expenditure on sub-programme 2.1.3.1 on grasslands, forage and feed resources. Barbados has been conducting trials in a various mix of local materials to find a low-cost high-protein indigenous feed which will make the cost of livestock development more attractive. The programme activities embracing at all levels training, control of animal disease, the development of animal genetic resource, meat and milk production and processing are endorsed. We think training in farm management should be strengthened. We find that systems are available but there is not an adequate number of trained persons available locally to deal with matters such as artificial insemination, animal health and pasture management.
As regards Chapter 2.2, my delegation wishes to lend full support to the major programme of fisheries. This emphasis and shift of priority is quite timely. This sector is viewed as a multipurpose vehicle which carries employment, food and nutrition, technology and science components, all vital and necessary for national development.
We agree with the Medium-Term Objectives as they relate to conservation of fishery resources, training, both in marine fishing and acquaculture. My delegation will address this aspect of the problems of small States in the control and use of the EEC in Plenary when it speaks there.
As regards the Technical Cooperation Programme, my delegation welcomes the increased provision for this Programme. This Programme has proved itself to be a vital and flexible tool which makes a meaningful impact on the programmes of its beneficiaries. We feel that it should be strengthened in the future without running into any conflict with Regular Programmes or other funding agencies' activities. The areas of concentration in training, emergencies, project formulation and follow-up, among others, harmonize with the urgent needs of developing countries. We are quite satisfied with the control measures which FAO has on this Programme and would suggest that the monitoring and evaluation of this project be constantly kept under review.
K. MEHBOOB (FAO staff): I would like to give some information on the question regarding the audit manual. Our plan is to have this manual ready by the latter part of 1984. In fact, it is going to be a manual covering three volumes. I believe it will be the most comprehensive and the first internal audit manual in all United Nations Agencies.
The three volumes would cover how we plan audits, how we execute audits, how we report on audits. The planning aspect would cover establishing the audit objectives, establishing the systems involved, determining the most appropriate way of testing those systems and executing the tests which are considered appropriate.
The second volume would be specifically the financial audit. It would be a comprehensive audit guide for dealing with each item which appears in the financial statement of the Organization.
The third volume would be management audits, functional audits, or operational audits, call them what you like. Those would be directed mostly at administrative systems and financial systems to ensure economical use of resources.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: There has been a lot of discussion, this afternoon especially, about TCP, and TCP particularly in relation to UNDP. So I would like to say a few words about that, because we seem to have been attacking a windmill or a castle in the air. There is no question, there never has been, nor will there be, of TCP substituting for UNDP. So when delegates say it should not substitute we presume that they are referring to the future and we agree with them. The UNDP is in a difficult situation, we know that, and nobody regrets it more than FAO, because we were and still are the main executing agent of UNDP. Unfortunately, our share has gone down from 33 percent in the past to under 20 percent now of the total UNDP programme, and whilst we appreciate that the UNDP must allow member governments through the IPF system to choose their own priorities, and those give preference in some cases to industrial projects executed by UNIDO, which has grown as an executor of UNDP projects, we do have some concern that part of the reason for our decline is that the UNDP itself has become a competitor in the business of implementation in the field of food and agriculture and rural development and is seeking to become a competitor also in other fields, including Trust Funds. We do not like that and we have made that clear in inter-agency discussions. But this does not detract from our support for UNDP and strong support for its efforts to attract more funds. From this point of view it would be unfortunate if we were being told today that the UNDP cannot have more funds, must have less funds, for technical assistance and no one must substitute for it so that there is an objective which will be secured of reducing technical assistance. But I do not think it was intended to suggest that, and in any case, as I have said, there is no question of FAO trying to substitute for or replace the UNDP or compensate for its function as fund raisers for technical assistance.
As to other aspects of the TCP, I do not think we need go into them deeply at the moment. We have taken note of what has been said about the proportion of the TCP to the total, including those who would like a larger proportion as well as those who have said they would like a smaller proportion. We have taken note of the comments about the allocations to training as compared with emergencies or other uses of the TCP. But I would like to say that I do not think on the basis of the récord we would feel from this side that another evaluation, particularly a so-called external evaluation, of which we have had one already, is necessary. We have the widest possible support for the Programme, much wider now than at the beginning. It has been recognized as an efficient Programme. Certainly one major donor has made its own evaluation, which on the whole was positive, and the Programme and Finance Committees regularly pay careful attention to the performance of the TCP. We will continue to provide them and member country delegations with information on TCP projects. I cannot see why just because it is an unprogrammed short-term programme it needs more evaluation than others.
With that I should like to thank you and the delegates for their comments this afternoon. We look forward to receiving more tomorrow and I trust that our reply at the end will need to be only very short.
M. NIETO Y LARA (Cuba): Una vez escuchados los comentarios de las diferentes delegaciones, quisiéra-mos llamar la atención sobre el Programa PCT, uno de los más discutidos en la tarde de hoy.
Se recordará que al intervenir en el día de ayer señalábamos la importancia de este Programa y la conveniencia de que sus recursos fueran aumentados. Este Programa, según nuestra experiencia, se ha comportado muy favorablemente, permitiendo abordar problemas urgentes en unos casos y problemas de capacitación en otros, donde encontramos una gran virtud, en el sentido de que produce un efecto multiplicador muy alto, sobre todo al capacitar y al movilizar recursos nacionales que muchas veces están latentes, y que sobre todo en nuestros países en desarrollo, al no contar con una asistencia a veces de emergencia o a veces una asistencia técnica apropiada, pues no somos capaces de poderlos movilizar.
Por otra parte, este Programa nosotros consideramos que tiene una gran virtud en el sentido de que propicia la cooperación técnica entre países en desarrollo. Este es una experiencia que se está poniendo en práctica en estos momentos en la region Latinoamericana con algunos resultados que pueden ser fácilmente constatables.
Nosotros queremos llamar la atención y reconocer el notable trabajo que ha venido realizando la Oficina Regional para América Latina, al promover este Programa de Cooperación, al promover la cooperación entre países donde en algunos recursos realmente importantes como es el de las leguminosas, se ha avanzado notablemente.
Se hablaba hace un momento por el distinguido delegado de Barbados de la necesidad de aumentar la producción de carne. También en esto se ha trabajado en el área y ya se obtienen resultados palpables.
En mi opinión, el criterio generalizado vertido por la mayoría de las delegaciones en apoyar este Programa realmente es contundente en el sentido de que no nos parece necesaria una evaluación del Programa y de los diferentes Proyectos que lo han venido conformando. Por consiguiente, confiamos que la FAO ha sabido expresar acertadamente este Programa y utilizar racionalmente el mismo a partir de la alta sensibilidad que tiene la FAO con nuestra propia opinión, y por lo tanto, si bien las limitaciones financieras existentes no permiten incrementarlo, creo que debe recibir el máximo apoyo de la Conferencia y hacer que siempre sea posible este Programa para respaldarlo, sobre todo con propósito de emergencia y capacitación. Y como señala la historia, hacia aquellos países con mayores dificultades.
U. SESSI (Italie): Excusez-moi de prendre encore une fois la parole mais je voudrais remercier les représentants du secrétariat pour leurs explications concernant les vérificateurs internes des comptes. C'est une oeuvre méritoire. Je ne peux que confirmer que c'est la première fois que l'on tente une pareille expérience dans une organisation de la famille des Nations Unies. La chose est importante et démontre les avantages du contrôle interne par rapport au contrôle extérieur. Je voudrais en signaler simplement deux. Le premier est que le contrôle est fait au jour le jour, et le deuxième est qu'il permet d'intervenir dans la phase gestionnaire de l'administration et non pas a posteriori comme peuvent le faire les vérifications extérieures.
The meeting rose at 17.00 hours
La séance est levée à 17 heures
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.00 horas
