II. ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE ORGANIZATION (continued)
II. ACTIVITES ET PROGRAMMES DE L’ORGANISATION (suite)
II. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMS DE LA ORGANIZACION (continuación)

V.J. SHAH (Director, Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation): This is the third review of the Regular Programme to be presented to the Conference, and as in the past this document has been reviewed by the Programme and Finance Committees at their autumn session this year and by the Council at its Eighty-third session. The outline of the review, was presented to the Programme Committee at its Forty-third session in September 1982, and the Comments of the Programme Committee endorsing our proposals for part of its report to the Council.

In preparing the document we have been guided by the comments and suggestions made by the Conference itself at its Twenty-first session when it examined the review of the Regular Programme for the biennium 1980-81. As a result the Commission will find that a number of modifications, and what we hope will be considered improvements, have been made to the document.

Firstly the Performance Report which constitutes Part One of the document covering the pages 1-119 - I refer to the English text, this part has been made more analytical with a focus on major achievements as well as the major constraints, and drawing attention to the issues which need to be considered in the future. This has involved eliminating or cutting, curtailing certain sections such as those on objectives and resources, but this has been done precisely because it was requested by the Conference. At its last session the Conference found that information of this nature was largely repetitive of that contained in the document on the Programme of Work and Budget, and in fact delegations still find that it is useful when considering Part One of this document to refer, if they find it so necessary, to the relevant programmes in the Programme of Work and Budget.

Part Two of the document, has, on the other hand, been strengthened and expanded, and the time-frame has also been extended to include activities over the past five to seven years to permit a better identification of the results. Some of the reviews in this Part Two of the document are of programme elements and this is in response again to the Conference's own request for more information on impact than it was possible to see from any assessment of broad programme activities. It will be seen thus, that in Part Two of the document for each of the major programmes for Agriculture, Economic and Social Policy, Forestry and Fisheries, you have two specific sub-programmes with activities evaluated at that level and below.

Then finally we have Part Three of the document which cuts across activities across programme lines. This type of study was initially requested by the Programme Committee in its discussion of the first review and we have three chapters this time. The first in this part, Chapter Ten, is a chapter on selected activities of the Regional Offices. It covers five regions' specific programmes in which the Regional Offices played a particularly important role. In Africa we have considered the programme for the control of African Animal Trypanosomiasis and Related Developments. In Asia and the Pacific we have considered small farmer development. In Latin America and the Caribbean - African swine fever, in the Near East the improvement of water management, and in Europe the cooperative research network.

The overall contribution of the Regional Offices in implementing FAO's Programme of Work is also brought out much more clearly than in the past, and information is presented in both text and tabular form, not only in this chapter but in Part One of the document.

The second chapter in this particular part of the document covers the Action Programme for the Prevention of Food Losses, and this is based on the first overall evaluation of this Programme since its inception. The evaluation was carried out during 1982 and the earlier part of this year through missions to selected field projects as well as through study at headquarters. We feel that such studies, which are part of our ongoing programmes of evaluation can only enrich such a document . as the one before you, and we do have in mind pursuing these activities in the future.

The last chapter, is the one on FAO's investment activities. This covers activities since 1966, almost 20 years. In view of the continuing high priority which is accorded by Member Nations to FAO's investment activities, - a priority fully shared by the Director-General, - we felt it appropriate to review the experience in this area over two decades.

Let me say a word at this point about the tabular information. In the performance report of Part One of the document we have presented quantitative information on the major means of implementation of our activities. You thus have tables on training courses, workshops, study tours, meetings, seminars, expert consultations, publications, technical backstopping of field projects and direct support to member countries at their request. These activities are common to all programmes, all technical and economic programmes, although some programmes make a greater use of one means of action and then of another. This information was collected for the first time two years ago and its inclusion was was well received by the Conference. This time we have updated it and expanded it.

It will be seen that although the document is about the review of the Regular Programme, in a number of cases activities funded from extra-budgetary resources are also included in the figures. This is something which does not need an excuse but in fact is a proof of the links that we have always emphasized between regular programme and field programme activities, and even in the debate on the Programme of Work and Budget some delegations referred to and emphasized this point. These activi‐ties are so linked that to attempt to separate them would be to present an incomplete picture of what various programmes are doing.

Elsewhere in the review, in the in-depth chapters in particular, you will find that the work of field projects is covered in order to ensure a comprehensive analysis and to assess the impact of individual programmes at the field level. In this way, Mr Chairman, it will be evident that the review of the Regular Programme provides a link with the review of the Field Programmes which you will be consider‐ing under your next item as well as with the Programme of Work and Budget.

In conclusion, FAO has always held a special position, if I may say so a leading position in the UN system in the area of evaluation. This is not only recognized by yourselves but it has been recog‐nized by the Joint Inspection Unit which has complimented us on the fact. We are still in fact the only major organization to submit such a review covering Regular Programme activities to our governing bodies. Of course there is always room for improvement, and as we continue to refine our management information system, methodology and data, we hope to be able to introduce further improve‐ments in the future reviews. In the meantime, sir, we look forward to the reaction and such guidance as you, the Conference, may wish to give. My colleagues and I will endeavour to do our best to answer any questions or to provide further clarifications that may be requested.

A.SALGADO SANTOS (Brasil) First of all I would like to thank Mr Shah for his excellent in-troduction of Item 12. The Brazilian delegation welcomes the document that is before us, C 83/8, the Review of the Regular Programme 1982-83, as a valid mechanism for reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of Regular Programme actitivies. In our view the document provides valuable back‐ground information for delivery to the Commission and the Conference. Together with the Programme of Work and Budget and Review of the Field Programmes it forms part of what we consider to be a very useful group of documents, and we appreciate the efforts that have been made to improve the format and the structure of this paper. My delegation wishes to thank the Secretariat for such a good job.

As for Part One of the document I would like to reaffirm the support of my Government to the so-called major programmes as well as its satisfaction with the priority areas selected within each of them and with the results achieved.

Not meaning to go specifically into the different programmes of interest to my country, I will just mention some of them which refer basically to the already mentioned major ones. As far as agriculture is concerned, my delegation would like to express its agreement with the emphasis given to nutrition, programme 2.1.6 specifically referring to projects and project components for nutrition improvement.

Coming to the next major programme, Fisheries, I would also like to express the agreement of my Government with the correct treatment of the question, stressing the development of medium and small-scale fisheries as well as the improved utilization of fish catch to increase the supply of locally caught food, both of extreme importance for coastal states under the new regime of the sea.

In Chapter 3 of the document with reference to forestry, my delegation wishes to express its support of the great emphasis given by FAO to forest investment and institutions with the aim of building up and strengthening the institutional basis for forest development and improving national capabilities for the preparation and implementation of sectoral plans, investment programmes and projects.

My delegation would also like to express its support for the programme on forestry for rural development, where FAO stresses the provision of a consistent framework of forestry activities at the community level which contribute to rural development and meet local needs.

Finally, the Brazilian delegation wishes to commend the Organization once again for its efforts to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. It is undoubtedly a difficult task to reconcile the manifold and often conflicting desires of more than 150 nations. Brazil hopes that FAO will continue to enhance the special priorities it has been providing to developing countries and is certain that benefits are derived by all Member States.

KYO-EUN KIM (Korea, Republic of): First of all I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Director-General and his staff for the excellent work done in the Review of the Regular Programme. My thanks also go to Mr Shah for his excellent and comprehensive introduction of Item 12. The third Review, compared to that of the second, has been improved remarkably as to format, contents and evaluation. The improvements are, I believe, successful enough to meet a large proportion of all requirements expressed by the Twenty-first Conference. In this connection I would briefly express my Government's views on the Review.

The Government of the Republic of Korea understands that the Regular Programme is a seed project to promote awareness or to generate the minimun output required to test the feasibility of wider development action, and consequently to induce planned change and to sustain momentum. On the basis of this understanding, my Government is happy to find that a number of Regular Programme projects have been or are being implemented with excellent performance during the current biennium. Among these, my Government highly appreciates the excellent performance of the following projects.

First, we welcome the completion of the regional studies on agro-ecological zones and rainfed production potential in 117 countries in five regions. My Government holds the view that the studies completed provide basic information for the evaluation of population potentials and potential food self-sufficiency in developing countries. Therefore the information could be an important aid to agricultural development planning. My Government is therefore willing to support the FAO's proposal to begin the follow-up studies on the assessment of crop and population-supporting potentials of land at the country level. In this connection I hope the study can also cover Member Nations in East Asia.

Secondly, CPCL activities aimed at assisting developing countries in the formulation, appraisaland implementation of agricultural commodity policies and trade strategies isalso our importantconcern. The activities should, in our view, be expanded even though in somecases the recommendations made by CPCL have not been accepted by government because of financial and socioeconomic constraints or for political considerations However, I expect that in the near futureCPCL activities can make an important contribution to stabilizing agricultural production and farmprices at both country and world level.

Thirdly, according to our experience the essential elements of strategy for small farmers development planning and implementation contained in the document at page 213, are well defined and identified. In this connection, I wish to emphasize the importance of the multipurpose type primary agricultural cooperatives as one of the key elements in the institutional arrangement for small farmer development. The rapid development of the multipurpose agricultural cooperatives in Korea has made it possible for all farmers to have equal access to credit, input supplies and agricultural marketing.

In conclusion, I would like also to emphasize the fact that the effectiveness and impact to FAO's programmes are to a large extent determined by the supportive and follow-up actions of the recipient countries.

M. MOMBOULI (Congo): Qu'il me soit tout d'abord permis de remercier M. Shah pour sa brillante présentation du document en discussion. Nous voulons rappeler également que lors de sa vingt et unième session la Conférence avait formulé un certain nombre d'indications quant à la présentation du programme ordinaire de l'Organisation que je voudrais rappeler.

Premièrement, concernant la première partie, il avait été suggéré une réduction de la partie relative à la performance, de façon a l'orienter davantage vers les résultats.

Deuxièmement, concernant la deuxième partie, il était souhaité qu'on développe le passage consacré aux examens approfondis en limitant toutefois l'analyse aux sous-programmes et éléments de programmes.

Troisièmement, la Conférence avait souhaité l'inclusion d'une quantité accrue de rubriques spéciales portant notamment sur les activités dans lesquelles les bureaux régionaux jouent un rôle de catalyseurs.

A cette date, le résultat est que les prescriptions de la Conférence ont été observées dans la mesure où les parties 1 et 2 du présent rapport couvrent maintenant 4 sous-programmes, 4 éléments de programme et 3 rubriques spéciales, et que des efforts notables ont été faits pour axer le contenu analytique de l’examen, davantage sur les résultats obtenus et l'impact produit.

L'intérêt des évaluations d'une action ou d'un programme d'action mesurait le chemin parcouru par l'identification des progrès accomplis qui constituent les points forts et des écueils rencontrés et non surmontés, qui constituent les obstacles à franchir et les points faibles, et le but final : procéder en permanence à des ajustements et à des rectificatifs de tir rendus nécessaires par la conjoncture sur la base de l'expérience vécue.

Ainsi, c'est grâce à ce genre d'exercice qu'il a été possible d'identifier que l'application du droit de la mer est insuffisante concernant particulièrement l'exploitation des zones économiques exclusives dont on attend beaucoup de la prochaine Conférence mondiale des pêches. Dans ce même genre d'exercice on a pu mettre en évidence la nécessité de développer aussi les pêches continentales. De même, cet exercice a permis de mettre en évidence la nécessité absolue de la mise en place de la banque phytogénétique en ce qui concerne les forêts, menacées tant par l'homme que par les calamités naturelles. Grâce à l'évaluation, a été mise en évidence la nécessite d'organiser de plus en plus le réseau de luttes zoosanitaires en ce qui concerne l'élevage, de même la nécessité d'une libération des échanges, en ce qui concerne le commerce mondial, a été mise en évidence; la relance du dialogue Nord-Sud sur des bases plus équitables en ce qui concerne la coopération technique Nord-Sud, le désarmement, etc.

Même si pour des raisons de commodité de présentation nous avons été amenés à examiner en premier lieu le Programme et budget 1984-85 de l'Organisation, il n'en reste pas moins vrai que,dans le processus de l'élaboration de ce dernier, c'est par l'évaluation de l'action précédente que nous avons dû passer pour tirer profit des expériences antérieures aux fins d'amélioration de celles à venir.

Ce faisant, il ne nous reste plus qu'à prendre note du présent document rétrospectif et à engager le Directeur général de la FAO à suivre le chemin déjà choisi étant entendu que les consignes ont été observées dans le Programme et budget 1984-85 que nous avons déjà soutenu.

O.BILBEISI (Jordan) (original language Arabic): I wish to congratulate on my own behalf and that of my delegation, the Organization's head the Director-General and his staff for the efforts made in preparing this document C 83/8 which presents the activities of the Organization in detail and contains an objective assessment of these activities. In the light of present circumstances and since financial resources for projects are limited in developing countries, we encourage and endorse the trend adopted by this Organization in the field of training and research development, dissemination of information and documentation. Many developing countries may not lack resources but they may lack the technical knowhow to manage these resources - hence the importance of training which was recognised by the Organization. In Jordan we successfully cooperated with FAO as an executing agency in such activities. Training as an educational process is important and as I mentioned earlier, we would like to ask FAO to concentrate on training, especially in scientific research, since this a considerable investment.

M. KHORAYCH (Liban) ( langue originale arabe): La délégation de mon pays félicite le Directeur général et ses collaborateurs pour cet important document. Nous remercions également M. Shah pour la présentation très claire et objective qu'il a faite. Certaines activités des bureaux régionaux auxquelles se réfère le document C 83/8 dans son chapitre X montrent l'importance de ces bureaux ainsi que celle des représentations auprès des pays membres dans le processus de développement. Ceci nous amène à traiter cette question déjà évoquée par d'autres collègues. En effet, Son Excellence l'Ambassadeur de Colombie a mis en évidence son importance. Nous sommes tout à fait d'accord sur ce qu'il a dit. Nous pensons que le Comité de rédaction dans son rapport à la Conférence devrait mentionner l'importance de cette question. Nous appuyons tout à fait les bureaux régionaux et pensons qu'ils doivent continuer leurs activités. Pour ce faire il faut les aider matériellement pour renforcer leur capacité et leur efficacité. En effet beaucoup de projets de developpement ont été exécutés grâce à ces bureaux. Ils constituent un instrument fondamental pour le développement agricole intégral que nous recherchons tous. Nous voulons rappeler aussi ce qu'a dit le délégué du Liban en séance plênière en mettant en évidence l'importance des travaux de la représentation de l'Organisation dans notre pays, et réitérons par la même occasion notre gratitude à l'Organisation et aux responsables dans cette représentation.

G. NIELSEN (Denmark): My delegation has only a short intervention on this item. We have read the Review of the Regular Programme 1982-83 and find it a useful handbook of FAO's broad activities at the moment. It contains an immense amount of information which is presented as requested by the previous Conferences. We find it valuable to continue with the present format in the coming years. We would however suggest to the Secretariat to point a little more clearly to the problems that FAO has had in its own part of the Programme in the paragraphs on Outlook and Issues following each Chapter.

We would hereafter comment on a few selected Chapters. In Chapter One, Agriculture, we would like to point at one of our priorities, namely the Fertilizer Programme because it is a combined technical and extension programme that works for getting the research findings to the farmers' fields through field demonstrations, etc, and trying out new roads of information and education for farmers. Therefore the Danish Government has continued and will continue to support this Programme.

In the Annex to the same Chapter, Table 3, page 45, in the English text, Technical Backstopping of Field Activities, we would like to ask if it is possible to show us to what extent the technical backstopping is coming from the Regional Offices.

In Chapter Four is mentioned the progress and achievements of the TCP. Here we would like to ask for further explanations on why training is taking up as much as one-third of the Programme that is supposed to deal with urgent problems. We find training is a long-term thing.

In Chapter Five Supporting Services, we would like to compliment FAO for its documentation system AGRIS, which has proved to be a useful tool for all of us and would like to support what is mentioned in paragraph 5.35 where it says "to improve the subject coverage of AGRIS and make it more responsive to the needs of participating countries".

In Part Two I only have a few comments. We appreciate very much the information given in Chapter Six about the two very important sub-programmes on Water Development and Management and on Soil Conservation and have read with interest what is mentioned in Outlook and Issues for these two sub-programmes.

In Part Three, Chapter Ten, we are dealing with Selected Activities of the Regional Offices and some really good information is given about the five different and all very good Programmes. We appreciate that. However, none of the information given gives background for increasing the budget for the Regional Offices. As mentioned in the previous statement from our delegation we therefore request FAO to review the long-term purpose and role of these Regional Offices. I can repeat this, to review the long-term purpose and role of the Regional Offices.We are not talking about cutting down on the Regional Offices.

J. NEETESON (Netherlands): I would first of all like to thank Mr Shah for his good introduction to this item.

The Netherlands delegation attaches great importance to reviewing and assessing the Regular Programme on a continuous basis. In our opinion the present review document C 83/8 has gained in clearness compared to the previous two documents. We appreciate that. We feel, however, that the system of monitoring and seIf-evaluation used by FAO lends itself too little to an assessment of the results achieved. This applies, among other things, to reviewing the Technical Cooperation Programme. Other instruments of evaluation are available as indicated in the document. My delegation attaches special importance to reviews carried out by the Joint Inspection Unit and to independent missions to field projects.

I should now like to make some specific remarks on a few Chapters in Part Two. Concerning Water Development and Management, we welcome the establishment of the International Support Programme for Farm Water Management. The Netherlands carries out a number of projects in this sector under its bilateral aid programme and is at present studying the possibilities to support the FAO Programme as well. In our opinion FAO could play a stimulating role in the various aspects of small-scale irrigation development such as investment studies and training programmes at the various levels.

In the Chapter on Soil Conservation the serious situation with regard to land degradation is described, which calls for action, especially at the level of catchment area conservation and rehabilitation. The overall context for specific activities has been provided by the World Soil Charter, which was endorsed by the Twenty-first session of the Conference in 1981. Close cooperation with other United Nations Agencies in this field, such as UNESCO and UNEP, which has designed a World Soil Policy, is however needed.

My delegation appreciates mentioning World Food Programme Assistance under this and other Chapters of the document. As far as Soil Conservation is concerned this assistance could further be directed to land rehabilitation programmes per catchment area. Through "Food for Work" projects, in this sector opportunities for sustained local food production can be established which are difficult to bring about by means of commercial sponsoring.

M FAIZUR RAZZAQUE (Bangladesh): I will wholeheartedly join the previous speakers in placing on record our sincere appreciation for a brilliant presentation on the subject by Mr Shah. We have noted Mr Shah's presentation and my delegation therefore also thank FAO as a major United Nations system Organization and its Director-General for producing such a well-prepared evaluation work.

I now make two very specific points. May I draw attention to paragraph 1.16, page 9, Chapter One, where my delegation is very glad to see that the major role of the Regional Offices has been shown to be very clear. I quote a sentence from here which says that the Regional Offices "accounted for over 20 percent of the total input, a significant rise".

Point Two is on paragraph 2.32, page 62 of the Report. We are also glad to see that especially the inland fisheries and acquaculture programme has been emphasised in this paragraph. As we have already pointed out during the Council this is a subject with which we are very intimately related and we are glad that this emphasis has been placed on this. We are also very happy to see that rural development-orientated activities have been shown to be based on systematic analysis and understanding of the constraints related thereto

O.AWOYEMI (Nigeria): My comments can be all very brief and of a very general nature. I join other speakers who have congratulated the Secretariat for a very thorough and comprehensive Review of the Regular Programme.

Frankly speaking, it requires quite an effort on the part of delegates, especially those, of course, who come from our Capitals, to study and understand the details contained in document C 83/8. However, one can make an observation and that is it is not quite clear to what extent FAO achieved the objectives and targets it sets for itself, in the 1982-83 Programme of Work and Budget which was approved at the last Conference, although some comparison is made of achievements made during the previous biennium, that is in respect of several tables in the Report. It is not clear to what extent the activities that are set out in the current biennium have been matched by the achievements in the same biennium. I admit that many FAO activities do not lend themselves to quantification, but even a subjective assessment of achievements as compared with intentions would be helpful. It is possible to focus on reviews, probably at the country level, if the FAO country offices were to be given some resources to do a forecast assessment of activities within the country, probably using local consultants either on an annual basis or a biennial basis. This would prepare delegations to see the overall programme on a global scale in a better perspective.

M.A. MEDANI (Sudan) (original language Arabic): I would like to congratulate the Director-General and his staff on the praiseworthy efforts they have made in preparing document C 83/8. It is quite clear that there are very good ideas in this document, but we would like to make the following comments nevertheless.

The accent should be placed on the increase of the productivity of agricultural projects. Our problem is one of low productivity. This problem faces many countries. We feel that the activity of the Programme should concentrate on the increase of project productivity and not on the increase of cultivated areas. Agriculture and forests have to be well planned, otherwise there is a deterioration of nature. Therefore the activities of the" Programme should be orientated towards re-planting of pastures affected by wild grazing and drought. The Programme should concern itself with forestry and the organized cutting of trees as well as reafforestation. In each country there should be a mechanism set up dealing with land management, because areas cannot be cultivated without planning or without an evaluation.

I would also like to speak about animal resources and livestock, especially in Africa. The document has stressed trypanosomiasis and swine fever. The document also speaks of rinderpest. I think that rinderpest in Africa is even more important and dangerous than swine fever and trypanosomiasis. Programme activities must be channelled in this direction. We know that OAU has a regional programme for control of rinderpest in Africa, the Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign. We feel that such a project needs assistance. I would like to ask FAO to give assistance to the Organization of African Unity to speed up implementation of this project since diseases know no frontiers.

G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Para la delegación de Colombia es muy grato participar ahora en los tra‐bajos de esta Comisión dirigida por usted esta mañana, su colega y amigo a quien nos unen nexos de amistad y de simpatía. Además es grato también, ahora, cuando tenemos múltiples participaciones en las distintas Comisiones de la Conferencia, asistir a esta sala roja porque está usted rodeado de tan distinguidas damas en la Secretaría, todo lo cual hace más atrayente nuestra presencia aquí.

La delegación de Colombia desea manifestar que este tercer examen del Programa Ordinario que se nos presenta ahora refleja muy bien las necesidades y las prioridades que los representantes de Gobier‐nos hemos venido tratando de definir, a través de nuestra participación, en los distintos Organos Rectores.

Creemos que los cambios que se han introducido en la estructura y en el contenido son muy acerta‐dos y mejoran notablemente el documento.

Deberían observar en nuestro informe, tal como lo anotó adecuadamente el Comité del Programa que, no obstante Las limitaciones de fondos en el Programa Ordinario viene confirmando e intensificando su eficacia. Y, por lo tanto, será necesario que en los bienios futuros el Programa Ordinario siga contando con recursos adecuados para que pueda llevar a cabo las importantes tareas que le corresponden.

Nuestros colegas del Líbano y Bangladesh particularmente se refirieron al capítulo 10 de este docu‐mento C 83/8 sobre las actividades seleccionadas que se llevan a cabo en las Oficinas Regionales.

La delegación de Colombia piensa que es muy acertada esta participación de las Oficinas Regionales en los Programas con el apoyo técnico de la Sede. Porque esa acción conjunta conforma la integra‐ción que hemos venido propugnando entre el Programa Ordinario y el Programa de Campo.

Nosotros creemos que este concepto de integración es muy importante y que debemos consignarlo en nuestro informe. Reconocer a la FAO ese enfoque integrado con que trabaja a través del Programa Ordinario y el Programa de Campo; apoyar ese enfoque integrado y pedir que se mantenga y se forta‐lezca esa integración que, sin duda, asegura la presencia, la imagen, la acción unificada de nues‐tra Organización.

Creíamos que con la discusión del tema de ayer habían concluido las referencias propias a las Ofici‐nas Regionales y a los Programas de Cooperación Técnica salvo, naturalmente, el capítulo 10 a que nos hemos referido. Y por eso nos extraña que hoy algunas delegaciones hayan vuelto a plantear observaciones ligeramente negativas sobre las funciones de las Oficinas Regionales y los objetivos de cooperación técnica.

Nosotros creemos que eso ya terminó ayer en la discusión del tema, que ocupó varias sesiones de esta Comisión y que quedó ampliamente demostrado a través de todas las intervenciones, que esas Oficinas Regionales y esos Programas de Cooperación Técnica son de interés vital para los países desarrollados. De manera que esperamos que en el curso de los debates de esta Comisión no se vol‐verá a hacer referencia a estos aspectos.

Nosotros creemos que el Programa Ordinario debe seguir, como lo dice el documento, asistiendo a los países a establecer o reforzar sus sistemas de seguimiento y evaluación en materia de programas de desarrollo rural, y si es posible también, lograr fondos extrapresupuestarios para que esos países puedan cumplir de manera más eficaz esas actividades.

Compartimos plenamente la declaración en este campo del distinguido colega de Dinamarca quien, como representante de uno de los países nórdicos, hizo hincapié en la orientación social y humana que debe tener el Programa Ordinario de la FAO. En ello estamos de acuerdo. Hay que dirigir el funcionamiento de nuestra Organización en favor de los pequeños y medianos agricultores, que son los más necesitados.

La delegación de Colombia piensa también que esta Comisión debe recomendar a los gobiernos que por todos los medios ofrezcan su apoyo y su colaboración al Programa Ordinario de la FAO, para lograr la mayor eficacia, a través de esa común participación, porque el Gobierno de Colombia aprecia muy positivamente el apoyo directo que recibe del Programa Ordinario, así como el apoyo técnico que el Programa Ordinario ofrece a los proyectos de campo que se ejecutan en nuestro país.

Para concluir, pensamos que este documento tan eficaz e ilustrativo presentado por el señor Shah confirma la eficacia y la coherencia de la política de la FAO, que merece el reconocimiento de esta Comisión.

MOHD. YASIN bin MOHD. SALLEH (Malaysia): First my delegation wishes to thank Mr Shah for the introduction on this item, which amplified some of the points we had in our minds. My statement will comprise some general comments only.

My delegation welcomes the document that is before us and finds it a very useful mechanism for reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of Regular Programme activities.

The document represents an improvement over the last two reviews and the information provided is very impressive.

We regard the format of the presentation as satisfactory, and its emphasis on major programmes and the detailed assessment of some programmes should be continued. We would welcome any further improvement which may be possible in this direction. It is reported in many parts of the document that close collaboration between governments and institutions exists, and we hope this will continue in the future.

My delegation also welcomes the Director-General's foreword, which stated that the evaluation of the Regular Programme should be a continuous process of assessment leading to progressive improvement of FAO's work and also the importance the Director-General attaches to a joint evaluation with other UN agencies, especially with UNDP

M. NIETO Y LARA (Cuba): En primer lugar, mi delegación desea felicitar al Director General y a la Secretaría por el valioso documento que nos han presentado. Asismismo queremos agradecer al señor Shah su clara presentación del tema.

Mi intervención será de carácter general, en el sentido de que hemos recibido una detallada informa‐ción, donde los temas principales han sido tratados con un enfoque objetivo y crítico a la vez, sir‐viendo como experiencia base para fomentar las actividades de la FAO en el contexto de su Programa Ordinario hacia la solución de los problemas agudos.

En términos generales, la ejecución de los programas y subprogramas en agricultura, pesca y montes han marchado satisfactoriamente; sin embargo, queremos poner de manifiesto la necesidad de alcan‐zar una mayor interacción y coordinación de los elementos participantes en los diferentes programas y subprogramas entre todos y entre sí, para poder abordar un mayor campo de actividades y aumentar la eficacia en el .empleo de los esfuerzos y de los recursos. La perspectiva de fomentar el progra‐ma hacia la conservación y un mejor aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales, particularmente el aprovechamiento y coordinación de aguas, la conservación de suelos y el desarrollo y coordinación de los recursos forestales, en nuestra opinión constituye un criterio apropiado y merece nuestro apoyo. Las actividades relativas a la evaluación alimentaria y nutricional deberán continuar el seguimiento que hasta el presente han venido realizando, para ofrecer el marco de referencia que demandarán las decisiones políticas para la búsqueda de soluciones a los problemas del hambre.

Merecen un comentario aparte las actividades realizadas a través del programa para combatir la fie‐bre porcina y orientar los aspectos marítimos en la América Latina y el Caribe, el cual debe mante‐ner una permanente vigilancia en estos aspectos. De cualquier forma, el programa de acción para el porvenir merece especial atención, dado que sería paradójico que se perdiera lo poco que tenemos.

Teniendo en cuenta las limitaciones financieras que fueron expuestas y analizadas en la tarde de ayer, mi delegación cree que se deben estimular y desarrollar las redes de cooperación en el marco del Programa de Cooperación Técnica entre los países en desarrollo. En la región de América Latina hemos tomado una cierta fuerza y debemos reconocer el trabajo que ha venido realizando la Oficina Regional en tal sentido.

H. REDL (Austria) (original language German): I would like to congratulate the Secretariat for sub‐mitting this document, and thank them for the document, but I would not like to fail to thank Dr Shah, in particular, for the excellent introduction he gave to this document. Since this Third Report has now been submitted, I think we can see that this document has given us an opportunity to review the activities of the FAO which have been carried out, and also allowed us to portray and describe better how its activities are adapted to needs and requirements.

The improvements since the first Report was submitted have made it possible to describe more clearly and succinctly the activities of the FAO. Therefore, I would like to suggest that the Report which is sure to be drawn up for the period 1984-85, should take into particular account the priorities laid down in the Programme of Work and Budget for the same period.

Now I would like to make a few comments on various specific points. Obviously training, and continued training and education are of particular importance. That is something I hardly need emphasise. The number of participants per training course has been reduced, and this appears to us to be a useful suggestion, because this will enable us to produce better training results. The holding of further training courses, particularly in the developing countries, where the necessary infrastructures already exist, should be supported. However much we support the work done in the framework of the Codex Alimentarius, nonetheless we feel that a more stringent concentration would be useful in this field.

We saw with regret as from page 13, 1.26, in reference to the developments in the International Fertilizer Supply Scheme, Austria in the past has always followed the activities of the FAO in the field of seed grain, and is satisfied to notice the developments in this connection in point 1.39.

In connection with forestry we feel that particular priority should be given to the field of training, and further training. Therefore it was with particular interest that we noted what was said in this connexion on page 77, item 3.20. In this connection I would like to go on to report that only a few weeks ago the FAO Committee for Forestry Technology and Forestry Training Facilities, which was held within the field of ergonomics facilities in Austria was successful. Forestry activities, however, should not by any means be seen in isolation, because close cooperation between this field of activities and in the overall field of agriculture should be provided for, especially as far as paying due attention to measures to prevent erosion.

I would like to refer to 3.31, the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, and my comment on this will be as follows: the activities of the FFHC should be particularly adjusted to the focal points of the programme of the FAO, and the FAO office should only really play a consultative role in supporting the national committees. Here direct contact should be established between the national committees and the individual divisions within the FAO. This would be useful, and I feel it would be possible in this respect to save some funds in FAO and organize the administrative side more efficiently.

As far as recruitment procedure is concerned, I would also like to make a critical comment. We believe that recruitment procedure, particularly for associate experts for FAO, takes up too much time at the moment. In our view it should be possible to shorten the time between which the application is made, and the time when the expert is appointed. I think it should be possible to shorten this period, and there is still quite a lot that can be done in this connection.

As far as chapter five, Information and Documentation is concerned, I think  we should make an effort to use as few resources as possible, to try and obtain a maximum of success. In other words, when a document is printed all possibilities for economic administration should be fully exhausted and considered.

S. ZAHARIEV (Bulgaria): It is my pleasant duty to congratulate you for your very able leading of our meeting this morning, and I fully associate myself with the distinguished delegate from Colombia for saying kind words about yourself. I hope your good example will be followed here, and we will see much more often than now people from our part of the world taking part in the leading of such distinguished meetings like this. The present document, as usual for FAO Secretariat, is very well prepared, and we congratulate them on it.

Our special compliments to Mr Shah for the presentation of the document to us this morning. My delegation has not a problem in agreeing with the present Regular Programme of FAO. We find that their objectives are clearly determined. The needs of meetings and seminars carefully balanced and the work is oriented mostly to the support of FAO's prime aim, which is the increase of agricultural production in the world.

My country is very much interested in the development of the Forestry and Fishery sections at the international level, and feel that FAO has a great role to play in this, and we are happy to see that special emphasis now is placed on these items in the FAO Regular Programme. In the meantime we continue to be happy that other activities like for instance, water management, irrigation and soil onservation, continue to enjoy great support from the FAO Secretariat in the Regular Programme. We Strongly believe that the full intensification of the whole process of the agricultural development is the only way for its best performance.

F.H. JAWHAR HAYAT (Kuwait) (original language Arabic): On behalf of my delegation I would like to express our entire satisfaction and great appreciation for the review of the Regular Programme 1982-83 document which is now before us. We feel that this document is a unique and, indeed, valuable source of information and evaluation on the various important activities of the Organization as a whole, and it also gives us a breakdown of the programmes and sub-programmes, and assesses their effectiveness.

We are in favour of the new improvements which have been introduced in the form of this document. The improvement was a direct reaction to the proposals made at the last FAO Conference. We wish to point out that the structure of this document is balanced and reasonable in its presentation, and this was what was recommended by the Programme Committee, of which Kuwait was a member. A recommendation was also made by my colleagues to the Council, to see to it that this structural equilibrium should be maintained in the future reviews. We particularly welcome in-depth reviews bearing on the assessment of the sub-programmes and programme elements. These reviews clearly indicate the nature and scope of the Regular Programmes of the Organization aimed at solving the problems of agriculture and food at the national, regional and international levels. There are four activities we wish to commend. These are implemented on a level below the level of sub-programmes Part Two. These four activities we feel are the proof of the far—reaching scope of the efforts made by FAO in the field of development. This depth of assessment is also to be found in an examination of the various items which are broken down and shared out among the various programmes. My country feels that the field of research can be a good example of the value of these assessments. We hold that the various in-depth reviews have emphasized the results obtained by the Organization through its efforts, and have also drawn attention to the solutions found to. various problems during the implementation of the programmes and sub-programmes. In particular we would like to express how much we appreciate the importance attached by the Organization to one: water management, on the farm level and the renewal of irrigation projects, which are among the most important problems facing the Organization. Two: Evaluation of nutrition, as well as planning, extension and training activities. The same applies to the field of development, where the Organization plays an important role, as well as to the various aspects concerning fishery, and fisheries management, and this also applies to the field of shifting agriculture and the role of forests.

I would like to emphasize one concern we have about various activities of the Organization, which depend on extra-budgetary resources; these have to be guaranteed to allow the Organization to carry out these activities. My delegation would also like to express its appreciation for the addition of a special chapter on some of the Regional Offices, and I am convinced that an assessment of the activities of these Offices will give us information valuable to all of us. Nevertheless we feel in the future we should emphasize more strongly the role to be played by the Regional Offices in planning and implementing the various activities of the Organization.

As I have already done in the past I would like to thank the Secretariat for all their efforts, and, of course, Dr Shah, for the very important statement he made on this document this morning. Of course, this word of thanks is also addressed to his associates as well.

W.E. ADERO (Kenya): On behalf of my delegation I would like to thank the Secretariat for producing this document which reviews FAO activities over the last two years. It is an excellent document as it keeps Member States abreast with FAO activities and Regular Programmes.

While we are generally satisfied with the review, I wish to point out particularly that we are very happy with the FAO IBPGR project on genetic resources as is indicated at page 75, paragraph 3.14.

I particularly refer to this because, as we all know, Kenya is about 80 percent arid, and we think such projects are very valuable to us as they go a long way in helping us to solve some of our forestry problems.

We also very much welcome the review on the programme for the control of African Animal Trypanoso‐miasis and other Related Developments which is given in the review as an example of what the Africa Regional Office is doing.

While we are happy with that review I want to make some specific points on the Regional Offices with particular reference to the Africa Regional Office. I very much support what the distinguished delegate from Colombia said this morning, that we thoroughly addressed ourselves to the question of Regional Offices yesterday and we very much agree that they are necessary, and looking at the documents before us at page 204, paragraph 10.4, the Secretariat has very well spelled out the activities that these Regional Offices should get involved in. We very much support this and we think that when they get involved in, these, the Region, and in this case particularly the African Region will have a lot to benefit from.

When the leader of my delegation addressed the Plenary on Tuesday of this week he specifically said that we feel in Kenya that there is need for the FAO Regional Office covering the African area to be restructured in order to enable it to respond more effectively to Africa's pressing food problems.

In conclusion, what I am asking for is that we need to restructure the Africa Regional Office to make it effective. We tend to be dealing direct with Rome, and Rome looks after problems for all Member States, and we feel that if we continue doing that we may not get the attention we require, so my delegation would like to point out that there is need for a strengthening of that which is currently based in Accra, Ghana, so that the activities that that Regional Office should address itself to in the African region are accomplished.

H.L. CHAWLA (India): At the outset I will join my other friends, other distinguished delegates, in thanking the FAO Secretariat for bringing out a very comprehensive document giving a review of FAO's Regular Programme. In the introduction to this document it has been clearly mentioned that FAO's Regular Programme resources are extremely modest in relation to the priority needs of Member Nations. This is an important fact and I think we have to be very careful that when the opportunity comes these resources should be extended. Probably this lias been mentioned in the context of the discussion on the Programme of Work and Budget.

Another aspect which is closely related to this is that we focus our attention on those urgent things where the activities in the various member countries can be stimulated towards increasing production at the earliest. In this context the building up of infrastructure marketing, processing, storage, input supplies, delivery systems, to cope with the present-day challenge is an important element on which attention should be focused.

Then it has been rightly mentioned that fertilizer use, which is an important vehicle for increasing production, should get close attention. Optimum results on fertilizer use is something to which the various countries as well as FAO have to give close attention.

Then in the matter of irrigation particularly, I would say all efforts which help to maximise the use of available resources and optimise production from available irrigation facilities, particularly for the small farmers and marginal farmers in the developing countries, would I think have the greatest impact on the development in the low-income food-deficit countries.

In the same category of priorities comes this area of prevention of food losses. All the important elements have been defined here and I think the strategy is certainly on the right line. Here I would like to suggest that considering the present day challenges, FAO could seek to a greater extent the involvement of other international organizations like Unesco in spreading the message of conservation of resources, of improving and increasing food production, nutrition, and maximising the use of the available supplies that the countries have. In case that is already being done I would not like to repeat again, but in case there is scope this might be explored.

I would also like to mention that the focus on production is very important, and even where relief is being given we should try to see that the relief to deserving countries is mobilized in such a way, or is arranged in such a way, that it helps to create assets for increased production and to have medium- and long-term benefits for the people for whom the relief is being given. This might mean the creation of resources for irrigation, development of markets, roads, soil conservation and what‐ever works are feasible under different situations, and we should try to see that relief is mobilized to medium-term and longer-term benefits.

I would also like to endorse the point made by the distinguished delegate of Nigeria that the achievements under the Programme might be indicated somewhat more explicitly as far as possible. Perhaps brief reports could be obtained from the beneficiary countries and a small summing up might be given in terms of their own assessment of the situation or the benefits which are accruing to them.

Lastly, I would mention that we are very happy at the new presentation of the Programme of Work and Budget, and I believe that when subsequent assessments on development programmes are presented to the Conference they should be in relation to the priorities indicated in the new Programme of Work and Budget so that it will be possible for members to see how far we are able to move, to progress, towards the objectives which we have set before ourselves.

A.BOTHNER (Norway): On behalf of the Nordic countries I have the privilege to make a few comments on the Nutrition Programme in Chapter One. Since a number of years the Nordic countries have given high priority to nutrition. It is a very important field and a field that in our opinion deserves a great deal of attention by FAO. The work in the last biennial period has mainly been concentrated on collecting data and preparing manuals and guidelines for integrating nutrition into agricultural and rural development projects. A substantial piece of work has been carried out in this respect and we support these activities.

In the future, efforts should be made for selection of interventions for nutrition improvements in the field so as to bring a fast and lasting relief to the malnourished people in the world. The prepared manual should be further developed to serve field nutritionists, and guidance to the field workers should be intensified.

We also want to point out the relation between these activities and the WCARRD follow-up programme. Properly introduced, these nutrition programmes could effectively contribute to people's participation, the role of women in family nutrition and to the needs of the most vulnerable groups within the families. This applies not only to agricultural programmes but also to fishery development programmes. It is our opinion that fisheries should play a greater role in alleviating under-nutrition and malnutrition in the world. To obtain this, it is essential to merge parts of fisheries' activities with the objectives and the strategies of food and nutrition policies.

The Food Security Programme has an important nutritional aspect that should not be overlooked, nor should the inter-relation between food:safety and food security. Food in international trade and food stored under different conditions need standards of safety and quality to secure nutritional value. In this respect we wish to stress the importance of the work done by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and its technical committees. Over the past years nutritional matters have been on the agenda in the Committee on Agriculture. The Nordic countries would like to raise the question as to whether this arrangement is satisfactory and has given sufficient policy guidance in this important field. We feel that greater emphasis should be placed on nutrition in the Committee on Agriculture. The role of the ACC Sub-Committee on Nutrition should also be examined in this connection.

E. MARTENS (Belgique): Sur le document C 83/8: Examen du Programme ordinaire 1982-83, je voudrais tout d'abord remercier les services compétents pour la nouvelle formule de présentation. La refonte du présent document constitue une amélioration et je voudrais citer en particulier la deuxième partie que procède à des examens approfondis. Ces examens nous permettent de prendre connaissance des activités de la FAO d'une manière réaliste et ont comme avantages de nous identifier plus étroitement avec le travail effectué par les services intéressés.

Je me bornerai à poser une question: Il est mentionné que le système d'évaluation comporte 5 élémentsprincipaux dont 2 attirent notre attention particulière. Le premier: auto-évaluation parlesresponsables des programmes; le deuxième: examens spéciaux. Nous avons l'impression queles textesexplicatifs des programmes ont plutôt une tendance descriptive. La question est celle ci: Serait-ilpossible d'incorporer davantage de conclusions émanant de ces éléments d'évaluation? Celaajouterait, je crois, à la compréhension de l'impact des activités.

En conclusion, ma délégation réitère son appui au Programme ordinaire.

Je voudrais profiter de cette intervention pour me référer au document C 83/5: Rapport et état financiers pour 1980-81 en ce qui concerne le Programme ordinaire, et je voudrais évoquer deux points: Une augmentation sensible du montant des contributions ordinaires non recouvrées est constatée;. Elles représentaient en 1978-79 environ 2 pour cent du total et, en 1980-81, plus de 5 pour cent. Prévoit-on une amélioration de cette situation pour le biennium 1982-83? Deuxième point: Une grande importance est attachée au travail de vérification intérieure. Ce fait s'est traduit d'ailleurs par una augmentation du budget assigné à la surveillance du Programme et à un meilleur contrôle de la question. Cela a conduit au développement des services de gestion où l'accent est mis sur l'informatisation des systèmes. Ma délégation appuie cette évolution.

En conclusion, nous accueillons avec un très grand intérêt ce type de document qui est présenté de façon très claire et constitue une lecture enrichissante.

F. BREWSTER (Barbados): The Barbados delegation appreciates the thorough introduction of document C 83/8 given by Mr.Shah. Secondly, my delegation wishes to thank the Director-General and the Secretariat for the excellent work contained in the document. It reflects the wishes of the Conference for an improved presentation of the review of the work of FAO in the past biennium.

As regards Chapter Eleven, Action Programme for the Prevention of Food Losses, my delegation finds the review most stimulating. It gives several major areas of activities in this subject which is most crucial to efforts in food production,

My delegation supports the follow-up action and the emphasis in this area.

As regards Chapter Ten on Selected Activités of the Regional Offices, my delegation has no doudt that the work of these Offices is fundamental to the whole work of the Organization. The review of the major projects carried out by these Offices reveals their heightened activities. This is particularly so in the case of the Latin American and Caribbean region. We have there currently a cooperative network of the Programme's specific areas of interest and are looking forward to the follow-up on these programmes. My delegation has already given its support for the activities of the Regional Offices. We feel they are doing precisely what they have been set up to do, which is to complement the work at Headquarters.

As regards technical cooperation, I was not in my place yesterday when this matter was being discussed but I would wish to say that the priority areas set out in paragraph 4.6 at page 93 of this Programme are endorsed. This Programme is well reported on by its beneficiaries in their various stages of need. We have heard repeatedly of its value and impact on the development of countries participating in the Programme and I can only state what my Minister said yesterday in his address at the Conference: that he feels that the time has come for the skeptics and critics of this Programme to give it their full support.

B.H. DJIBRIL (Bénin): Avant de commencer je voudrais remercier M. Shah pour l'exposé assez clair qu'il nous a fait, et je voudrais remercier aussi tous les collaborateurs du Directeur général qui ont permis de sortir un document aussi limpide.

Je voudrais intervenir sur trois points essentiellement: les problèmes concernant la nutrition, le problème des pêches, et celui de la foresterie.

En ce qui concerne la nutrition, mon pays accorde une importance capitale à ce problème, et depuis des années une aide substantielle est accordée au Bénin dans ce domaine. C'est le lieu, ici, de remercier tous les pays amis qui nous ont aidés dans ce sens avec comme chef de file la FAO, Cette action nutritionnelle a eu un impact si important dans mon pays, que, présentement, tous les projets de développement rural comportent un volet nutritionnel très important.

En ce qui concerne les pêches, mon pays fait des efforts louables pour développer ce secteur, afin de diversifier les sources de protéines animales. La pêche hauturière, et surtout le développement de la pêche continentale et de la pisciculture procurent des sources financières supplémentaires aux populations qui les pratiquent. Dans ce domaine, la FAO nous a aidés à monter surtout des coopératives de pêche artisanale dont le succès a permis de généraliser ce mode d'exploitation des ressources halieutiques.

Concernant la foresterie, c'est un domaine prioritaire pour mon pays qui subit les effets de la désertification, surtout dans les régions septentrionales, et, là encore, la FAO est intervenue avec un certain nombre de pays donateurs pour monter un programme de reforestation, afin de limiter les effets de la désertification.

Nous souhaitons qu'au niveau du programme et du budget ces actions soient encore amplifiées et soutenues, pour que d'autres pays, surtout des pays africains, puissent en bénéficier.

M. MAZOYER (France): Le délégation française félicite le Secrétariat pour les grands progrès accomplis par rapport au précédent document 1980-81, en ce qui concerne la présentation des résultats et activités du Programme ordinaire, sous la forme d'une récapitulation quantitative et d'une annexe statistique qui couvrent une période plus longue de cinq ans au lieu de trois. Cette nouvelle présentation permet de comparer les résultats obtenus en 1981-82 à ceux du biennium précédent, et d'insister davantage sur l'efficacité des activités entreprises. En particulier, la ventilation de ces résultats entre le Siège et les bureaux régionaux qui ne figurait pas dans les précédents documents, est très précieuse.

Le tableau 1.2 fait ressortir (p. 6 du texte français) que le bureau régional pour l'Afrique n'a organisé qu'un seul cours de formation en 1981-82, alors que les deux bureaux régionaux pour l'Asie et l'Amérique latine en ont organisé 7 et 20 pendant la même période. Peut-être le Secrétariat pourrait-il nous en indiquer les raisons.

Il convient aussi d'appuyer par ailleurs l'augmentation régulière de la part des manuels de formation et de recherche dans le total des publications de l'Organisation. Enfin, il est indiqué au paragraphe 1.95 que les renseignements dont dispose l'Organisation continuent de souffrir des lacunes que présentent les séries de données nationales et du manque de précision des statistiques fournies par quelques pays. Nous pensons que des visites supplémentaires seraient nécessaires dans ces pays pour aider les autorités locales à combler ces lacunes. Ce paragraphe mérite donc d'être souligné et appuyé. En effet, l'amélioration des statistiques agricoles dans les pays en dévelop‐pement est tout à fait essentielle pour calculer les déficits alimentaires, et, d'une manière plus générale, elle sera également nécessaire au diagnostic que la FAO porte sur la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture, nécessaire également aux projections qu'elle peut être amenée à faire dans ce domaine. L'Organisation dispose d'un réseau exceptionnel de techniciens dans les pays en développement, et elle est particulièrement bien placée pour apprécier les résultats réels des agricultures de ces pays. Elle ne doit pas se contenter, bien entendu, d'enregistrer les chiffres qui lui sont transmis. Des missions d'assistance doivent donc être mises sur pied par l'Organisation pour permettre aux pays de fournir des statistiques améliorées dans le domaine agricole.

Les paragraphes du document analysant les perspectives et les problèmes (pages 32 et 33 du texte français), sont très intéressantes, et on ne peut qu'être d'accord avec les remarques qui concernent la nécessité de définir les priorités précises, de concentrer les efforts de l'Organisation sur l'économie paysanne la plus démunie, d'accroître l'efficacité en évitant les doubles emplois, et ceci en renforçant la coopération avec d'autres institutions des Nations Unies ou d'autres donateurs bilatéraux.

Il est également rappelé à juste titre au paragraphe 1.109 que c'est aux pays en développement eux-mêmes de rationaliser leurs politiques nationales concernant les prix, les subventions, la commercialisation, et que c'est à ces pays également d'entreprendre les réformes foncières éventuel‐lement nécessaires.

En ce qui concerne l'appui direct aux Etats Membres, on souligne également que les pays doivent limiter les demandes aux besoins les plus urgents, regrouper ces demandes dans une seule Division de la FAO. A cet égard, la proposition du paragraphe 1.114, qui prévoit la participation du personnel de terrain et surtout celui des projets interpays aux missions consultatives et techniques, permettra de limiter les coûts, et elle mérite d'être appuyée.

Il en va de même pour le soutien technique des projets. Il faut encourager le soutien interprojets dans un même pays qui représente un coût inférieur à l'envoi d'experts du Siège. Au chapitre quatre, Coopération technique et soutien du développement, nous aimerions faire les remarques suivantes.