Arieh NEHAMKIN (Israel) (original language Hebrew): Israel congratulates the re-elected Director-General and wishes him success in his important task.
The coming six years will be marked by changes and reforms in the set-up and activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Member countries of the Organization look expectantly to the Director-General of the FAO, hoping that he will succeed in strengthening the Organization and in achieving its universal goals on the basis of unbiased cooperation with large and small countries alike, for the benefit of all.
It is a difficult undertaking which demands the combined efforts of all member countries, together with the FAO management, above political differences.
As in the past, Israel is prepared to contribute its hard-earned knowledge and share with others its experience in agricultural production in desert areas.
Half the land area in my country is desert and our challenge is to turn this desert into a thriving region..Our complicated geo-political situation, with most of the desert regions being on the borders, necessitates the development of agricultural settlements in these regions. This is a national priority, even beyond food production, population dispersion and making the desert bloom.
With your permission I would like to focus on Israel's agricultural strategy towards the year 2000 and our struggle to overcome the very serious problems affecting the agricultural sector all over the world.
Agriculture in Israel is undergoing a transition period, a phenomena which characterizes many countries with small family farms. These changes stem from four main factors which exist in many other economies:
Structural changes in the agricultural sector, which necessitate reforms in agricultural production, such as enlarging the family farm unit and channelling its production to a few specialized, high income branches.
Dramatic changes in world agriculture where food surpluses are piling up in the industrial countries, while deprivation and hunger are the lot of others, with food prices too high for some and too low for others.
A remarkable increase in the demand for capital and the ensuing financial and economic significance. Technological development, while increasing production, increases also the need for capital which in turn raises investment expenses and burdens the farmer with heavy debts.
The acute problem of lack of water, and the efficient use of the meagre resources by recycling, breeding of drought and salinity resistent crop varieties and, most important, developing alternative water resources.
While facing these challenges, Israel is planning long-term solutions:
Reaching a target-income for farmers which will enable them to maintain a standard of living in par with other sectors of the economy. This can be achieved by developing export-oriented, high value crops, particularly important for desert areas far from the main population centres and markets.
Our basic concept is to exploit R & D and develop "Scientific Agriculture" which will, on the one hand, promote labour-saving technologies, thereby reducing the number of people employed in agriculture in the populated areas, while, on the other hand, encourage labour-intensive, high income branches suitable for the arid regions.
This might counteract the negative trend of population decrease in the desert regions and even result in population growth in these remote settlements.
The forming of new, organizational systems which, while maintaining the cooperative framework of the agricultural settlements, will be more suitable for the changing situation and for the need to adapt to modern technology.
The majority of family farms in Israel are organized as cooperatives. This organizational structure helps in the implementation of "Scientific Agriculture" through the community's administration. For example: The planting and tending of new crops require strict professional discipline, closely guided by the R & D extension workers and researchers. With the help of the settlement's management, who are experienced in agricultural, as well as organizational matters, optimal results can be achieved.
Affording the farmer a larger share in the product's final price by reorganizing the agricultural marketing systems and adapting the supporting factors (credit, inputs, etc.) to these changes.
The decisive factor in agricultural production in the year 2000 will probably be the relative advantage of each country in know-how, natural assets and production and marketing ability, and will determine the competition for world market shares. Subsidies will be reduced and limited and allow for free trade between countries. Priority will be given to develop third world nations' agriculture.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in the international agricultural cooperation Israel has tried to practise what it has learned by experience.
With your permission, I would like to list some of Israel's activities in the third world which have started in 1959:-
In Israel this year we have held 25 courses on various agricultural subjects for 600 fellows from all over the world. We also conducted abroad on-the-spot courses with 700 local participants.
This is the first year in which we adopted a new approach, its main principle being workshops on basic agricultural subjects. In these workshops senior experts from 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, South and Central America, have participated.
This new approach has proven itself and the reports and conclusions might be of interest to FAO and will be sent to any of you upon request.
Another significant development is the deeper involvement of Israeli agricultural research institutes in the scientific-agricultural cooperation programmes, which are joint ventures with Third World countries, based on shared financing. These programmes are devoted to applied research in yield increase and in finding new varieties which are suitable to the special conditions of the recipient country.
I would like to praise the high standard of the third world scientists who participated in the success of these projects.
It is important to note that as a result of these workshops a new approach was adopted in Israel as well as in developing countries, namely that it is imperative to involve private enterprises in the production set-up, so as to free governments from managing alone their national agriculture.
One way is through organizing the small farmers in cooperatives, and it is interesting to note the systems that were formed, like "Satellite Farming Systems". Israel is willing to share the results of this experiment with others.
Distinguished Delegates, Mr Chairman, I hope I have succeeded in convincing you that time is running out and decisive steps have to be taken soon in order to solve the very serious problems we face towards the year 2000.
Shortage of water, lack of capital, marketing problems, and consequently population migration from the arid zones to urban centres, threaten with dangerous demographic changes, for which we have to prepare ourselves in time.
I hope that this Conference will be a milestone for the beginning of a new era in the FAO, and all member countries will join efforts to develop agriculture and eliminate hunger and poverty. And again I would like to emphasize my country's pledge to share with others our experience in turning the desert into a productive land: "I will put the cedar in the wilderness,
The acacia, and the myrtle, and the olive tree;
I will place the juniper in the desert,
Together with the box tree and the cypress. (Isaiah 41:19)"
Let us hope that Isaiah's prophecy from more than 2000 years ago will be realized by the generation of the year 2000.
THAN NYUNT (Burma): I have great pleasure to express our warm and sincere congratulations on your election as the Chairman of this Conference. I am fully confident that your esteemed leadership will definitely lead to a successful conclusion of the proceedings of this session. I wish to assure you of the full support and cooperation of the Burmese Delegation.
I am also delighted to congratulate Dr Edouard Saouma on his re-election to the high office of Director-General. It is well known to all of us that great progress has been achieved in the activities of FAO during the past decade, under his able leadership.
Once again we are here together to examine collectively the problems of the world food situation and to make deliberations for the better understanding and cooperation amongst member countries in pursuing the aims and objectives of the Organization.
During the past decades, substantial progress has been made in all member countries in the agricultural development and in stabilizing food supplies. However, we all recognize that much still remains to be done. In spite of all the efforts made by member countries, the wide gap that existed persistently between the 'developed' and the 'developing' has not yet been narrowed in any appreciable degree. Developing member countries, many of which are heavily dependent on foreign exchange earnings from agricultural commodity exports, are continuing to face a declining share of world agricultural trade. They are also adversely effected by worsening terms of trade, falling commodity prices and an increasing trend towards protectionism. All of these factors hamper their prospects for growth and aggravate their indebtedness. The developing countries experiencing debt servicing problems have already made substantial policy efforts to reduce external deficits through cutting back imports and thereby retarding their growth.
I earnestly hope that, this forum will contribute important remedial measures for the improvement of access to markets for agricultural export commodities of the developing countries.
May I now be allowed to present the Conference a brief account of the agricultural development of our country for the biennium. As the agriculture sector is and will continue to be the mainstay of the country's economy, it is usually accorded highest priority in the national economic development plans.
The performance of agriculture sector during the last two years was satisfactory despite the unfavourable pattern of monsoon. Net sown area at present is around 21 million acres, with the potential of 25 million acres for further expansion. The acreage put under various crops in 1986-87, amounted to 25.69 million acres, including 4.78 million acres of multiple and mixed cropping, surpassing the 1985-86 total sown acreage by 30 thousand acres. The value of net output of the agriculture sector in 1986-87 increased moderately at 2.5 percent. It is planned to increase by 5.4 percent in 1987-88 in consistency with the prevailing international and domestic conditions.
I would now like to touch briefly on the livestock and fishery sector. A review of the growth rates of this sector reveals that the value of net output in real terms rose by 4.2 percent in 1986-87 over the preceding year. It is planned to rise by 5.8 percent in 1987-88.
I will continue my presentation on the forestry sector. In 1986-87, the value of net output of the forestry sector increased by 5.6 percent as compared with that of 1985-86.
With a view to satisfying the conflicting demands of increased extraction of forest products for export and local use on one hand, and conservation of forests for environmental reasons on the other, we have adopted the development strategy of managing the natural forest resources on sustained yield basis.
During 1986-87, 329 square miles of reserved forest areas were extended and 3.6 million teak and hardwood trees were planted on 80 thousand acres.
At present, the basic needs of local population as well as high value timbers for export are mostly met out of natural forest resources which are managed under the Selective Felling System. Since the system has least disturbance to the natural ecosystems of the dense tropical forests, it facilitates to conserve the wild genetic resources of the country, in line with the Tropical Forestry Action Plan of FAO.
I have narrated in brief, on various sectors of our country, and it would be apparent that growth in the agriculture sector needs to be placed on a broader basis. The Government has recognized the need for diversification and maximization of the agricultural crops. This requires expanded production of crops other than paddy, to avoid the uncertainty of relying too heavily on rice exports. The international price of rice, which has exhibited exceptional fluctuations currently, is considerably more volatile than other internationally traded crops.
Implementation of the crop diversification and maximization programmes requires increased supplies of critical inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, and also greater research and extension efforts to promote improved cultivation practices to cover a much wider range of crops and conditions. It will also require expansion of the irrigation infrastructure to increase the cropping intensity. Investments are being made in conformity with the available internal and external financial resources. With high prices of import and declining export earnings, the invaluable financial and technical assistance of the multilateral and bilateral agencies have great impact on our country's investment programmes.
As a major channel for multilateral assistance provided through the United Nations system, FAO has contributed valuable assistance and services in our endeavours to accelerate the food and agricultural production. .
All the developing member countries of FAO are at present engaged in a determined attempt to achieve a breakthrough in self-sustaining growth. While the results will depend largely on their own efforts, it is recognized that national efforts have to be strengthened by constructive international action. We honestly feel that the highly industrialized countries should take a broader outlook and formulate policies and action programmes to further strengthen the efforts of the developing countries in their pursuit for increased production of food and for economic and social development.
In conclusion, the Delegation of Burma wishes to place on record its appreciation, definitely shared by others, for the significant contributions of FAO towards the advancement of agricultural development of the member countries, and for the tireless efforts of the Director-General aimed at achieving the noble aspirations of FAO. We hope that the earnest endeavours of all member nations through the resolutions and activities of FAO may eventually be rewarded with fruitful outcomes.
M. MAHBUBUZZAMAN (Bangladesh): The members of my delegation and I deem it a great privilege to have the opportunity of participating in the deliberations of the 24th Session of the FAO Conference. We bring to you the warm greetings of the people of Bangladesh.
On behalf of the Bangladesh delegation and on my own behalf I offer you our warmest congratulations on your election as Chairman of the 24th FAO Conference. Your election to this high office is indeed a tribute to your outstanding personal qualities and wide ranging experience and also to your great country, Kuwait, with which Bangladesh has close fraternal ties. As Vice-Chairman of the Conference, for which I am thankful to you all, I assure you Mr Chairman our fullest cooperation in ensuring the success of the Conference.
I would also like to convey our felicitations to Director-General Saouma for his re-election as the Chief Executive of the FAO. I want to put on record our appreciation for his total dedication to upholding the charter of the FAO and his efforts in strengthening the FAO as an instrument for providing succour and assistance to the needy and the benighted; we also commend him for his forthright and penetrating report on the state of world food and agriculture during the year under review.
We stand only 13 years away from the threshold of the next century. The developing countries will then have one billion more people to feed. I feel some anxiety about our preparation for the coming century's demands and challenges, because our world still remains unstable in food production and economic development. We had promised the world that "no child shall go to bed hungry", but even today some 500 million undernourshed people await the promised freedom from from the indignity of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Problems of increasing indebtedness and debt servicing together with low savings rates, protracted and continuing balance of payments difficulties, rising import prices, growing protectionism keep the horizon of hope clouded for most of the developing countries. These problems affected agriculture, the most important sector in many of the developing economies. In developing countries, last year food production fell to 1.6 percent from the 4 to 5 percent average growth levels of the 1981-85 period, a trend which characterises the prospect of this year. Little comfort can be derived by the affected individual countries that world cereal stocks remain at the level of 23 percent of estimated annual consumption, because there is shortage in the midst of abundance and access to food for a vast multitude of people continues to be an intractable problem. For them food security still remains unacceptably fragile.
Bangladesh has made some notable progress in food production.in spite of periodic natural disasters and unfavourable external forces. From a base of about 9.5 million metric tons in 1960-61 Bangladesh produced 16.5 million tons of cereals in the 1986-87 crop year. Between 1960 and 1986, the country's rice production increased by an annual compound rate of 3 percent. Wheat production increased, from a small base, from an annual average of 36 000 tons during 1960-65 to an annual average of 1.07 million tons during 1980-85. Between 1973 and 1983, wheat production registered a spectacular annual compound growth rate of about 35 percent. Due to various constraints wheat production has now plateaued around 1.4 million tons. The average growth rate of 3.6 percent in .cereal production, achieved during the Second Five Year Plan period, was well above the population growth rate. Unfortunately, various unfavourable factors, including climatic factors, forced the growth rate down to 2.8 percent during the last two years.
Bangladesh agriculture has been influenced by important policy changes in the recent years, the full impact of which is not yet entirely clear. During this period progressive privatization of agricultural inputs has taken place and economic subsidy from fertilizer has been eliminated. Consequences of these policy changes will need to be closely monitored to see their effects on agricultural production and productivity in our country where small and marginal farmers preponderate. Government has decided to have a detailed review of the agricultural sector policies and programmes to identify the causes of recent stagnation in agricultural production and to determine measures to correct the situation.
This stagnation in agriculture has been further compounded by this year's floods, which were the worst in the century. Four spates of floods came in quick succession, the first of which came soon after the planting of the major rice crop which began in July. Government took immediate crop rehabilitation measures by providing free rice seeds and seedlings so that farmers could replant as soon as the waters receded. Although farmers replanted about 90 percent of the damaged crop area, considerable yield loss is expected due to late planting and substantial loss of high
yielding varieties. Estimated crop damage rose to over 3 million tons of rice. The country's main cash and export crop jute was also damaged. Agricultural rehabilitation programme, designed to roll into the winter season, will help recover some of the losses. I recall with gratitude the quick response of the international community to the disasters our country faced. FAO and WFP were in the forefront of this response.
Bangladesh is mainly a large delta with a complex river system. The major rivers originate outside its territory. The dry season flow is inadequate and in the wet season rivers often overflow their banks. In this context, it is essential to understand the country's changing hydro-morphological condition. From preliminary analysis of this year's floods it can be assumed that considerable hydro-morphological change may have imperceptibly occurred over time. It appears that both lower flow level in dry season and excessive silt flowing down from upper reaches and consequently large scale deforestation have caused the river beds to rise resulting in reduced water carrying capacity of Bangladeshi rivers. The floods clearly raise a much larger environmental issue. Also, morphological changes in the river systems increase the probability of more frequent recurrence of floods.
Recurrent natural disasters and resultant repeated loss of assets often induce unhappy socio-economic changes within rural income groups. It accelerates the process of pauperization and swelling of the number of landless peasants. Hence, social as well as economic relationships change which has impact on the production system. Natural disasters, such as floods, also bring about agronomic changes, requiring changes in the cropping patterns. All these changes need to be understood, as quickly as possible, for devising effective and implementable production strategies. As extraordinary natural calamities frequently occur in different countries, which may need technical and financial resources to carry out the necessary investigation and analysis, it is essential to build up a system to provide the required quick technical guidance and financial assistance. This will help in quick alleviation of human suffering and rehabilitation of agriculture. To my mind, no other organization than FAO, is better suited to undertake such a task.
In the realm of food and agriculture, Mr Chairman, FAO has played an outstanding role. Its contribution to agricultural development in the developing world remains unparalleled. FAO has provided and catalized assistance in the fields of global food security, rural development, nutrition and conservation of the world's natural resources including soils, forestry and fisheries. Its field programmes have yielded important benefits to member countries, its technical cooperation programme allowed to respond to emergencies, and investment support activities have promoted crucial investment in needy countries. It is important to note that FAO has been able to respond to the changing need of the world in general and the developing countries in particular.
We believe reforms are necessary for dynamism and efficiency of any organization, but we do not believe in reform for reform's sake. Reforms must be viewed in the correct context, reforms must come in response to the felt needs of an organization's clients and reforms must never be induced from any narrow consideration. We must also examine if it has or has not lost its capability for self-reform, a quality' any responsible organization inherently maintains. Or else, Mr Chairman, we may carelessly place the objectives, purpose and reason for the existence of the subject organization to jeopardy.
Reform of an organization such as FAO, to which the entire developing world looks for technical guidance, cannot and indeed should not be seen in isolation of the social and economic forces that these countries have to contend with. Over the last six years there has been no real increase in the Organization's budgetary resources. During the same period the economic position of the developing world has, if anything, worsened; population has increased, rapidly in many countries; commodity prices have fallen; merchandise exports have declined; protectionism has grown; agricultural input prices have increased; the flow of concessional funds remain inadequate; external debts have mounted and debt servicing capacity for many has plunged. Despite these, a large number of countries have managed to achieve a modest increase in national incomes. The continuing upheaval in the economies of the developed countries tend to project a grimmer picture than perhaps has been experienced in the past. Consequently, developing countries will require further to adjust to the changing economic realities of the future. These will in turn require adjustment in the technical structure of production, an area in which FAO's assistance has been exemplary. A reform that is not supported by adequate budgetary resources is likely to have little meaning. FAO's budget, Mr Chairman, must reflect the needs of developing countries, not only of the present day but
also of the immediate future and its reform must be in the context of their future problems and prospects.
Mr Chairman, Bangladesh has not only strongly pursued its domestic economic objectives, but, as a firm believer in economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, has, also played and continues to play a vigorous role in regional development through coopération. The establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the realization of a dream of Bangladesh to see the South Asian countries in the embrace of friendship and economic cooperation. It gives great pleasure that the SAARC summit meeting held a few days ago in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, has approached the establishment of a 200 000 metric ton food security reserve for the South Asian countries.
It may be recalled that a Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) came into being in 1978 to facilitate exchange of research results, sharing of training expertise and dissemination of information of various aspects of integrated rural development among countries of the region. As a further evidence of Bangladesh's commitment to regional cooperation it hosted CIRDAP which has 11 members. Early this year the Government of Bangladesh hosted a Ministers meeting on Rural Development in Dhaka and provided the site for the permanent headquarters of CIRDAP. For CIRDAP to be fully useful to the Asia-Pacific Region it is essential that more countries became its members and donors provide the required programme support. I appeal to the countries of our region to join the CIRDAP.
Finally Mr Chairman, while there has been some positive development, such as improvement in nutritional status, having taken place on an aggregate level, active pockets of deprivation continue to exist and, as indeed the FAO review "Agriculture Toward 2000" indicates, will persist in parts of the developing world. At the same time resource-needy, least developed countries face new concern stemming from the new instability in the developed economies. Uncertainty about the future may set off depressive reactions in the developing world. This is probably the most critical time for a fresh recognition of the interdependence between the developed and developing countries, economic well-being of the North is intrinisically linked to economic progress in the South. In this context, timely implementation of the objectives of the Uruguay Round of negotiations assumes great urgency.
Times are hard and fraught with uncertainty and problems appear to keep ahead of solutions, but durable hope and progress can come only from striving hard, together, for collective prosperity. The past human achievements give us no room for complacency because our future depends greatly on the present, not entirely on the past, and we have promises to keep.
Iris REZENDE MACHADO (Brazil) (original language Portuguese): I firstly warmly congratulate you on your election to the Chair of this Conference, and we hope under your skillful management we will be able to make a significant contribution to the subjects we are going to discuss in the coming days.
Allow me also, Sir, to join with those who went before me in speaking to say, on behalf of His Excellency, our President Mr Jose Sarney, and on my own behalf, our congratulations to the Director-General of FAO, Mr Edouard Saouma on his re-election to head this Organization. Having been elected for a third term, his Excellency has now become the depository of the trust and hope of all of us, all Member States of FAO. We are sure that his qualities of leadership and sensitivity to the matters which affect international cooperation in agriculture and food will not be misplaced, and once again under the clear and firm guidance of Mr . Saouma I hope FAO may continue to improve its structure and operation, keeping itself active in the building up of a new world economic order to meet the legitimate wishes for progress and social justice in the developing countries.
Mr Chairman, Mr Director - General, Ministers of Agriculture, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to participate, as the Head of the Brazilian Delegation in this Twenty-fourth Conference of the FAO, and this is a unique opportunity where we can examine solutions for the main problems which face the future activities in these vital areas, making it possible to achieve the goals of a stable integration between men of the countryside and between the results of man’s work and the food needs of our populations, in particular the weaker sectors.
This is a valuable meeting which offers FAO every two years a possiblity of enriching its assets as it has done during the forty-two years of its existence in line with its philosophy aimed at raising the level of nutrition and living standards of its population, improving production and distribution of all kinds of food and agricultural products, and raising the living standards of rural population in particular.
The picture and the outlook up to the year 2000 in the area of food and agriculture, research and production, irrigation, land reform, the position of the worker in the country and of woman's role in rural development, these are all among the important subjects which we are to examine, and they are of vital importance for developing countries in general and for Brazil in particular. For the developing countries - because in their rural areas almost half the population of the world lives, most of them in poverty and a third at least - that is to say more than 8 million humans - in conditions of absolute poverty. For Brazil, which is continuing untiringly in the struggle to vanish hunger and misery which threatens over 30 million Brazilians, I am sure we will be able to react to these challenges and through FAO we will be able to improve multilateral cooperation to the benefit of food and agriculture in all their aspects, thus assuring for future generations better living standards and social conditions..
On the occasion of this meeting we clearly see signs of imbalance in the international situation and they have effects on different groups of countries facing fiscal, monetary, trade and financial problems which have led to a reduction in activity and increases in unemployment. The industrialized countries, in practising all kinds of protectionism, have brought about a slowdown in the international flow of trade including the field of agriculture, in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean which are together in a region which I now refer to in particular. This has lead to a worsening in terms of trade and an increase in foreign debt. This is a very unfavourable picture which has caused a slowdown, in economic growth in the area for the first time after a long period of sustained growth, in fact since the postwar years. So from 1982-1986 there has been zero or negative growth rate in the GNP, a negative growth rate in the per capita income which is today lower than it was a decade ago, and there has been a reduction in investments to levels lower than those prevailing in the 60's. There has been an increase in the inflation rate three to seven times in comparison with the indices in the 60's and 70's; a considerable reduction in employment and real earnings, and in the latter case there has been a decrease of 3.5 percent per year. There has been an increase in the fiscal deficit which restricts the possiblities of vitalizing economies through public investment and spending, an increase in the transfer of resources to service foreign debt which goes hand in hand with the worsening in the terms of trade.
All this has brought about an unprecedented crisis in the balance of payments, and so in 1982-1986 when. the crisis worsened, we were led to bring about serious adjustments in our economies having a serious impact on the rural area, and I could stress a reduction in the volume of rural credit and shrinking of subsidies and public investment because of restrictive monetary and fiscal policies. There were also price policies kept under very strict control because of their inflationary effect. There was a worsening in agriculture generally between 1982 and 1986 when we found that there was a major movement of population from the countryside to the towns, and there was a fall of 3 percent to zero, and a decrease also in the value of exports, although the volume did increase, there was a worsening in rural circumstances, and there is only 20 percent of the population living in Brazilian urban areas.
We have not however been discouraged by this very difficult position. We are continuing with the struggle in our regional community associated with other developing countries in a constant search for a more fair world economic order. this is a great struggle but the results have been modest so far.
We have been associated with the Cairns Group set up in August 1976, and in our individual capacity we have, all of us developing countries, sought the liberalization of world trade in commodities and its governing by the rules of GATT, observing the principles of deferential treatment and more favourable treatment for developing countries in accordance with the line established by the Punta Del Este Declaration which, in September 1986 commenced the present Uruguay Round of multilateral negotiations.
We are very concerned by the possibility that the outcome of these negotiations may be compromised by the abandonment on the part of participating countries and in particular by the industrialized countries by their commitment to freeze and dismantle the trade protection systems and bilateral
understandings which restrict the capacity of some countries to contribute more, given their considerable levels of potential for producing; and exporting agricultural goods. Also, on account of national: legislation with the purpose of increasing protectionism, contrary to the provisions agreed in GATT.
The results of our efforts have not been successful either, based on the principle of co-responsibility of debtors that there should be a rescheduling of the debt reflecting the need for socio-economic growth in a developing country.
So I cannot but stress that in 1985 the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean became net exporters of capital to an extent of $20 billion in contrast to being net importers_in 1978 to a value of 16 million dollars. We do not see how this picture can continue indefinitely, how the countries of the region can continue in this way, and by the other developing countries which are in the same circumstances. In our hemispere however, we are sparing no efforts, nor are we being discouraged in trying to make more flexible the payment system to reduce imbalance in the exchange and to move towards our development goals. So we are constantly seeking to make full use of the reciprocal credit arrangements of the Central American Common Market, of the Caribbean Community, of the Andean Pact, and of the bilateral cooperation programmes that are in existence, and even though we do face natural difficulties in the way of a far reaching adjustment process and unfavourable international circumstances, the Government of President José Sarney - being aware of the importance of the agricultural sector and also as an indispensable tool for bringing back the necessary adjustment - on the 14th of August 1986, launched the Agricultural Goal Plan and with this programme we are carrying out integrated planning, protecting the environment with the participation of the communities, favouring the small producer, encouraging cooperative movements, giving technical training, raising productivity without exhausting the soil, and the programme will make it possible for groups of small producers in municipalities and boroughs to programme their work and to carry out conservation work, reforestation, soil mangement, rainwater management, combating erosion and building roads and infrastructure. The Goal Plan incorporated many year-long agriculture plans based on minimum prices, the availability of credit, and in particular for harvesting and replanning, with a guarantee of the purchase of surplus products which cannot normally be absorbed by the market, and in the. modernization of agricultural assurance systems which can protect the farmers against losses due to weather factors. I also stress the establishment, of the Rural Development Fund to an amount of some $7 billion. The objective is to gather resources for investment in agriculture.
Stress is being laid also on infrastructure. Here I should mention initiatives aimed at increasing warehouse capacities from 60 million tons to 76 million tons by 1989; the recovery and improvement of the road network, ports, railways, and rural transport systems; the strengthening of the north-east irrigation system and the national irrigation programme using resources of some $12 billion, which will mean that 2 million hectares will be irrigated; the integrated use of micro-basins using some $2 billion; considering aspects of productivity and the stability of the environment. Apart from government support, all these programmes provide for the participation of private initiative.
In summary, these are some of the contributions that Brazil is making to a new world economic system whereby we all hope that mankind in the not-too distant future, will free itself from the scourge of hunger and malnutrition. Under these circumstances, I urge this Conference to appreciate the role of FAO as a multilateral agency where decision-making both operationally and institutionally is consolidated in accordance with the principles of equality, sovereignity and independence as well as solidarity and respect for differences in political, social and economic systems.
Therefore, it is my pleasure to announce that we are making a payment of $3.4 million to FAO to meet our contribution for the whole year of 1986 and part of 1987. This is the best thing we can do at present, given the budgetary restrictions imposed on us through a policy of economic readjustment brought about during the financial crisis I have referred to. All members of FAO, however, particularly those who for other reasons have been withholding their payments to FAO, should remember that this is our home here. Let us work together with determination and resolve, and with trust for the future.
Stanislaw ZIEBA (Pologne): D'emblée, permettez-moi de vous féliciter, Monsieur le Président, pour votre élection à la présidence de cette Conférence. Je tiens également à féliciter chaleureusement Monsieur E. Saouma pour sa réélection au poste de Directeur général.
Le fait que nous puissions parier, dans le forum de notre Conférence, des deux années successives du progrès dans la production agricole mondiale incite à l'optimisme. Une part considérable dans ce progrès revient notamment à la FAO qui, grace à son activité, anime la coopération internationale dans le domaine de l'agriculture, de la sylviculture et de la pêche, mettant particulièrement l'accent sur la problèmatique des pays en développement ainsi que sur le renforcement du système international de la sécurité alimentaire.
Je voudrais déclarer avec satisfaction que les deux dernières années ont également été favorables pour l'agriculture polonaise. Le progrès réalisé dans la production agricole et dans la transformation des produits agricoles a eu une grande importance pour le développement du pays. Cela nous a permis d'obtenir un équilibre entre les importations et les exportations agricoles, d'améliorer la qualité des produits alimentaires destinés à la population croissante et de développer une coopération économique, scientifique et technique avec plusieurs pays ainsi qu'avec les organisations internationales, dont notamment la FAO.
Néanmoins, nous sommes profondément préoccupés par le fait que, malgré le progrès obtenu dans la production des produits alimentaires, le nombre de gens qui souffre de la faim ne diminue point, mais augmente. Les causes de cette situation sont complexes et doivent être examinées en détail. Dans ce contexte, nous voudrions faire noter avec reconnaissance le rôle important de la FAO, notamment dans l'organisation d'une aide d'urgence accordée à la population des pays touchés par la famine ainsi que tous les efforts déployés par l'Organisation en vue de trouver des solutions à long terme susceptibles de résoudre ce problème.
La solution durable du problème de la faim ne. pourra avoir lieu sans assurer aux pays concernés les conditions stables de leur développement économique et social. Ceci exige à son tour de transformer, sur des principes justes et démocratiques, les rapports économiques internationaux, de résoudre le problème de l'endettement extérieur et de créer un système international de sécurité économique.
Nous sommes profondément convaincus que l'évaluation positive des rapports internationaux, ainsi que le développement de la science et de la technique contemporaines, nous ouvrent des perspectives réelles permettant d'éliminer la faim et d'assurer un niveau de vie répondant aux aspirations des hommes de notre planète. Dans cette noble tâche, la FAO joue un rôle particulièrement important, et la Pologne est prête à coparticiper à sa réalisation.
Notre Conférence se tient à l'époque des événements importants et des processus réformateurs qui se déroulent dans certains pays et aussi à l'échelle internationale. La question la plus importante est de créer un système universel de sécurité internationale englobant les sphères politique, militaire, économique, écologique et humanitaire. L'obtention du progrès dans ce domaine pourrait avoir aussi une grande importance pour un fonctionnement plus efficace de la sécurité alimentaire en faveur de laquelle notre organisation déploie tant d'efforts. Nous devons être conscients que le fait de pourvoir à l'alimentation de la population croissante mondiale constitue un problème dont la solution dépasse le cadre purement agricole et technologique.
Mon pays rend hommage au rôle croissant de la FAO, qui constitue un forum servant à élaborer la stratégie et la politique susceptibles de résoudre les principaux problèmes de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture. Nous apprécions également sa coopération active avec d'autres organisations de l'ONU, notamment dans le domaine du développement du commerce des produits agricoles et de la coopération technique. Le progrès scientifique et technique rapide exige que soit développée la coopération internationale. Pour ce faire, il est indispensable d'adapter constamment les formes et les méthodes de cette coopération, y compris celle entre les organisations internationales. Un exemple intéressant et promotteur est ici fourni par les premières consultations globales entre la FAO et l'UNIDO dans le domaine de l'industrie de la peche qui ont eu lieu récemment en Pologne. Il semble que l'on pourrait avancer considérablement la coopération dans le domaine de l'organisation et de la mise à profit des résultats des recherches scientifiques agricoles, ainsi que nos actions en faveur d'une libre diffusion des informations, expériences et technologies concernant la protection de l'environnement, la production, la transformation et le stockage des produits alimentaires. Cette dernière question a été insérée, à l'initiative de la Pologne, dans la résolution de l'Assemblée Générale consacrée aux problèmes de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture.
Depuis des années, la Pologne, par ses efforts constants, ne cesse de se manifester au sein de la FAO. Nous nous efforçons, dans la mesure de nos possibilités, d'apporter notre contribution à l'action d'aide technique aux pays en développement. Nous étudions également la possibilité de créer en Pologne un fonds spécial, en devise nationale, qui pourrait servir à un élargissement de la coopération avec plusieurs pays sur la base des programmes de la FAO. C'est avec un grand intérêt que nous avons appris que le Secrétariat poursuit des travaux en vue de définir les principes de fonctionnement de formes non conventionnelles du financement de la coopération. Nous sommes convaincus que ceci permettra à de nombreux pays membres d'intensifier leur activité.
Nous attachons une grande importance à l'activité de La FAO dans la région européenne. Elle apporte des avantages concrets non seulement aux pays de la région. Les résultats de cette activité, ainsi que les résultats de diverses expériences, sont aussi très utiles pour les autres régions et notamment pour les pays en développement. Nous considérons que la coopération dans le domaine de l'agriculture et de la sylviculture en Europe a toutes les chances de se développer ultérieurement ainsi que d'être avantageuse pour les différents partenaires.
Dans ce contexte, nous notons avec satisfaction le fait que la lóème Conférence régionale pour l'Europe aura lieu l'année prochaine en Pologne. Nous sommes convaincus que cette Conférence donnera un élan nouveau à la coopération dans le domaine de l'agriculture et du développement social. Nous espérons que les documents analytiques: "L'Agriculture Européenne 2 000" et "La Protection du Milieu Agricole en Europe", seront une bonne base essentielle à la discussion fructueuse et à la coopération future pour le bien du progrès de l'agriculture dans le monde et pour le bien de notre organisation. Nous accueillerons à Cracovie,avec toute la traditionnelle hospitalité polonaise, les délégations et les observateurs de la Conférence régionale pour l'Europe.
Merci de votre attention.
Nzungu LUNTADI (Zaire): Au nom de la Délégation qui m'accompagne et en mon nom propre, je voudrais m'acquitter d'un agréable devoir: celui de vous féliciter, vous-même, Monsieur le Président, ainsi que tous les autres membres du Bureau, pour votre élection.
Nous sommes convaincus que grâce à la clairvoyance de votre Bureau, nos travaux aboutiront aux résultats très satisfaisants, allant toujours dans le sens du renforcement de l'action de la FAO à travers le monde.
Je voudrais saisir cette occasion pour féliciter également Monsieur Edouard Saouma, pour sa réelection en qualité de Directeur général de notre Organisation; je lui souhaite tous les voeux de succès.
Que le Gouvernement et le peuple italien trouvent ici nos remerciements les plus sincères pour l'accueil et l'hospitalité dont nous sommes l'objet depuis notre arrivée.
La politique actuelle de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture que mène le Conseil Exécutif du Zaïre vise essentiellement un objectif principal: celui d'atteindre l’autosuffisance alimentaire.
En effet, depuis les années 70, les efforts en ce sens ont été en grande partie consentis sous la forme de projets agricoles conçus et mis en place pour accroître la production vivrière et améliorer les conditions de vie des agriculteurs. Il s'agit, en fait, de deux missions principales retenues par le Président-Fondateur du Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution, Président de la République du Zaïre, le Maréchal Mobutu Sese Seko.
Le Conseil Exécutif du Zaïre, conscient de la place qu'occupe le secteur agricole dans le développement du Pays, en a fait un des volets les plus importants du premier Plan quinquennal 1986 - 1990, du développement économique et social du Zaïre.
Et comme nous l'avions indiqué à la 14ème Conférence régionale tenue à Yamoussoukro en 1936, ce Plan est caractérisé par trois niveaux d'intervention: au niveau de l'ensemble de l'économie, par un cadre macro-économique de référence, cohérent et réaliste; au niveau sectoriel, par un choix judicieux des investissements, la coordination intersectorielle, la réhabilitation des infrastructures et outils de product ion, l'ajustement structurel, l'importance accordée au secteur privé et l'amélioration de la gestion économique; au niveau régional, par la poursuite de la décentralisation, l'aménagement de l'espace rural en tenant compte de spécificités locales en vue de réduire progressivement les disparités.
S'agissant particulièrement de l'aménagement de l'espace rural, cadre des actions agricoles au cours de la période 1986 - 1991, les projets agricoles sont retenus pour jouer un rôle important à cours terme.
Ces projets destinés à rendre le milieu rural plus favorable à la production ont été conçus de manière à transférer progressivement les responsabilités aux structures d'initiatives locales telles que les organisations coopératives, les groupements professionnels et le secteur privé.
Les tâches prioritaires confiées à ces projets consistent en: l'encadrement des producteurs; la vulgarisation et le développement de l'utilisation des intrants; l'amélioration de l'infrastructure de communication par la réhabilitation des pistes afin de faciliter l'approvisionnement des producteurs en produits de première nécessité et l'évacuation de leur production; l'aménagement des points d'eau et la mise en place d'autres infrastructures sociales.
A la suite de la Décision d'Etat no 51 du 29 octobre 1986 issue de la 12ème Session du Comité Central du Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution, notre Parti-Etat, décision relative à la réalisation de l’autosuffisance alimentaire dans un délai maximum de cinq ans, le Conseil Exécutif du Zaïre a renforcé l'effort en cours par un programme d'appui à la production pour l'auto-suffisance alimentaire, en abrégé "PRAAL". Ce programme est conçu pour accélérer le processus de l'accroissement de la production agricole.
En accord avec la mobilisation générale décrétée autour de la réussite de ce programme d'auto-suffisance alimentaire, les autorités politico-administratives des entités décentralisées ont été rendues responsables de la gestion de l'encadrement technique des agriculteurs et du milieu rural pour la réalisation des objectifs de production assignés à chaque Région du Pays.
En plus de l'objectif principal relatif à la satisfaction des besoins locaux en produits vivriers de base que poursuit le PRAAL, le Conseil Exécutif du Zaïre, notre Gouvernement, soutient également deux autres objectifs, qui sont:
- l'approvisionnement, d'une manière satisfaisante, des agro-industries locales en matières premières, en vue de valoriser leur capacité de production;
- l'accroissement des exportations agricoles afin d'apporter au pays les devises nécessaires à son équipement.
Les dimensions de notre pays et les difficultés de transport qui en découlent, imposent le développement de l'agriculture péri-urbaine, essentiellement vivrière.
Cette stratégie conduira d'une part, à la réduction sensible de l'impact des coûts de transport sur les produits livrés à la consommation urbaine et d'autre part, les producteurs agricoles de l'arrière-pays à diversifier leur production et à s'intéresser davantage aux cultures de rente, susceptibles de rémunérer mieux le travail manuel, garantissant ainsi leurs revenus.
La réalisation de tous ces objectifs devrait amener le pays à assurer sa sécurité alimentaire.
Le Conseil Exécutif du Zaïre est conscient que pour atteindre ces objectifs, il devra préalablement lever toutes les contraintes qui empêchent d'atteindre les résultats escomptés.
A cet effet, les actions spécifiques et appropriées sont progressivement mises en place, dont notamment: la modernisation du système cultural paysan; la relance des centres de production des semences améliorées et leur diffusion en milieu rural; la redynamisation des petites et moyennes entreprises agricoles qui contribuent de façon conséquente à l'augmentation de la production vivrière.
Nous sommes aussi conscients que dans cette tache nous devons d'abord compter sur nous-mêmes.
Dans ce sens, le Zaïre fait un effort considérable pour mobiliser les ressources propres mais reste ouvert à l'apport supplétif en provenance des coopérations bilatérales et multilatérales pour faire face aux besoins financiers importants requis pour là relance et l'accroissement de la production agricole.
Le point de vue de la délégation du Zaïre sur des questions inscrites à l'ordre du jour de notre Conférence vous sera communiqué au niveau de différentes Commissions chargées de les examiner en détail.
Cependant, au risque de se répéter, la délégation du Zaïre pense, elle aussi, qu'actuellement la dégradation de l'environnement économique mondial et la baisse sensible des cours des matières premières affectent négativement la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture.
En effet, les efforts déployés par de nombreux pays en développement pour assurer le service de leur dette extérieure et pour relancer leur croissance économique sont compromis par l'extrême faiblesse des prix de leurs produits d'exportation, par un accès réduit aux marchés des pays développés ainsi que par la détérioration constante des termes de l'échange.
En ce qui concerne la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, ma délégation appuie sans réserve l'idée qui a été adoptée par la 12ème Session du Comité de la Sécurité alimentaire mondiale et aux termes de laquelle l'aide alimentaire devrait être liée aux programmes nationaux de développement et devrait s'y intégrer. Il reste bien entendu que les aides alimentaires d'urgence constituent un cas à part.
La délégation du Zaïre se joint aux orateurs qui l'ont précédée pour remercier la Communauté Internationale de s'être mobilisée pour aider l'Afrique à lutter contre les acridiens. Elle souhaite, néanmoins, que la FAO puisse renforcer la collaboration avec les structures nationales chargées de la surveillance et du contrôle de la situation agricole et alimentaire.
Pour ce qui est du Programme de travail et budget de la FAO pour l'exercice biennal 1988 - 1989, nous pensons, comme l'ont dit les délégations qui ont pris la parole avant nous, que, eu égard aux besoins illimités des pays en développement en matière d'assistance qu'ils sont en droit d'attendre de la FAO, toutes les actions proposées dans ce programme doivent être considérées comme le minimum que la FAO devra faire pour ces pays, au cours du prochain biennium. Ceci-est d'autant plus vrai que toutes les priorités des programmes ont été arrêtées, en tenant compte des recommandations et des demandes formulées par la Conférence, le Conseil et les Conférences régionales. C'est pourquoi, la débégation.zaion zaïroise appuie le contenu du Programme de travail du prochain biennum. La crise qui ne cesse d'affecter sérieusement l'economie mondiale nous incite à une redéfinition des priorités.
Conscient de la gravité de cette situation, le Conseil Exécutif, notre Gouvernement a choisi l'agriculture en tant que secteur pour lequel le Zaïre dispose d'énormes potentialités pour relancer son économie.
Aussi, notre souhait ardent est de voir la FAO, en tant qu' expression de la solidarité internationale, disposer des moyens adéquats pouvant lui permettre de répondre aux demandes incessantes et justifiées que lui adressent les Etats Membres.
Datuk le Seri Sanusi JUNID (Malaysia): It gives me great pleasure to join other delegates to this Conference in congratulating you on your election to chair this very important session. I would like to congratulate your three Vice-Chairmen who have all the qualifications to assist you. I also would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Eduoard Saouma on his re-election as the Director-General of FAO.
Looking at world poverty as a whole and the existence of relative poverty in Malaysia, this opportunity of revealing our perception and understanding of our national economic in relation to the haves and the lesser haves.
The poor in our country, who are mainly in the rural areas, can be looked at as a class of people living on a higher slope of an arid mountain, depending for livelihood on rain water that falls on the slopes. This rainfall seeps into the slopes and flows down the rivers to the plains meandering through canals and streams, surpluses of which go to the sea. By the process of evaporation,the water, all along the way, evaporates to form clouds in the sky. The clouds are then pushed by the wind to break down as rain whether above the sea, on the plains,or on the slopes itself.
That mountain is political power as the majority of voters are in the rural areas and among the lesser haves,and generally involved in agriculture.
Aridity is poverty.
The rainfall is money, coming out of government expenditure,whether in the form of direct spending or subsidies and other forms of aid Through trade and business transactions, the money is drained down to the plains, which is symbolic of the cities, and surpluses go to the sea as accumulated funds. Evaporation, like taxation, which generates a lot of heat, causes vapour to rise upward and accumulate to form clouds which is the Treasury. It is the political wind that blows the clouds and thereby determine the distribution of rain, or government expenditure.
On a global basis, things are about similar.
The majority of the world population are in the poorer countriesor countries classified as poor. Should there be a voting on a one-man one-vote basis to form a world government, God forbid, it is definitely clear that the poorer people of the world will politically dominate.
They occupy the arid slopes of the mountain.
If world peace is to be in any way related to the development of the world economy, then the "water' cycle mentioned earlier, should also be valid for comparison on a global basis.
The riches accumulated in the world should be made to recycle through trade in order that there is global peace. In historical perspectives, interdependency between nations is rational, relevant and the only way - for empires and civilisations in Asia, Africa and Europe have collapsed without the leaders of these empires and civilisations, ever forecasting that their future citizens will be participating in the FAO forum today.
Talking of poverty in the Malaysian context, we have now reached a stage whereby we should differentiate between having to:
-eat in order to live without really filling the stomach or getting the satisfaction
-eating for satisfaction without taste nor balanced nutrition
-eating for balanced nutrition with taste and satisfaction
This is probably what is meant whe.n one talks about "starvation", "hunger" and "malnutrition".
It is rather unfortunate that most discussions on poverty today, are made by people who have hardly been poor. While we welcome the better-off, more educated and prosperous individuals for their concern in the problem of the poor, for indeed without their concern, the poor will have nowhere to turn to, we should remind ourselves, now and then of the existence of the differences between the real experience of poverty and the intellectual exercises in poverty.
Poverty as is love, pain, hate and satisfaction, needs to be felt, experienced to understand the seriousness of it. It is beyond literary capability to write on pain and get the same feeling as cutting your fingers with a knife. It is also impossible to read anything on love and have the same feeling ns falling in love itself.
No amount of discussion on poverty is as real as to suffer poverty itself. If I remember right, it was Leo Tolstoy in "Anna Karenina", who said that the problems of the rich are all the same and that of the poor differs. We should, therefore, always ask ourselves, are we offering the poor what the poor really want.
For those having to eat in order to live, it is not difficult to plan programmes, for them, as their requirements are basic and very obvious; but the level of poverty all over the world differs.
There are those who are. still poor, but not starving, who need a higher standard of living.
There are other factors beside per capita income to take into consideration. There are non-quantifiable considerations. People who are poor in money terms are not necessarily poor spiritually and emotionally; they have a lot of time, and if they are not starving, they have the energy to spend. They are even good looking. The resources of spirit, time and energy of the poor should be used to improve their per capita income. After all, high income and high rank in society is not necessarily what the poor is aiming for.
We have indeed seen more suicides or voluntary deaths, among the better off, for the poor dies, involuntarily. Family breakdowns are proportionately more frequent among the high-ranking. It is certainly true that higher income and higher positions are not the only considerations that add up to happiness (although they are helpful), for I have seen poor farmers in the paddy fields and in the rubber estates much happier than salaried workers who have nothing but money and positions as measures of their value.
We should, therefore, think of the possibility of upgrading the level of happiness of the poor by. social and cultural activities and other activities which add up to the quality of life.
Indeed, it is Malaysia's experience that the happy farmer is a more productive farmer. We can, of course, say that this is the responsibility of the other UN agencies; but I must say here that the other UN agencies must also realise the necessity and importance of FAO.
The effort at eradication of poverty on a global basis is an unending process. We will probably not be here any more if the problem of world poverty is resolved. It is ironical to imagine or even suggest that in order for FAO to continually exist, there must be a perpetuation of poverty or the perpetuation of reasons for the obstruction to the solutions to the problem of poverty.
Malaysia is a country which imports about Rgt. 3.2 billion worth of food every year, from developed and developing countries. Although you might have heard so much about Malaysia's export of palm oil and rubber, I would like to state here that the income derived, from all the sales of palm oil is not enough to pay for the cost of our imports of food. We do not intend to be self-sufficient in food production, as we believe that agricultural activity that can better be done by other nations economically, should be done by them, while we concentrate in areas that we can do better.
We also hope that other nations will adopt the same attitude towards us and towards other developing and even developed countries. I do hope that Bismark was wrong when he said that "free trade is the idea of the exporters".
I have been taught that free trade is the best thing that can happen to this world and trade, not aid, is the answer to the economic problems of nations. But I am a little bit confused when I see unfair "misinformation and propaganda" tolerated against our commodities, and commodities of other nations, beyond the tolerance of science, encouraging protectionism, and, therefore, against free trade itself.
I hope I am not hurting anybody by politely saying all these, as this is what freedom of speech is ail about. If one is against free trade while preaching it, one should not also be against free speech while propagating it. We should not use the word "freedom" when it benefits ourselves only.
The problem of food security and lack of technical know-how is not just an economic problem and neither is it just a scientific or technical problem. It is also an emotional and human problem and that is why E dwell on the subject in this manner.
Let us look at Dr Saouma's statement which reads: "FAO cannot solve all the food and agriculture problems in the world". On the other hand, Mr Jean Mayer said: "There is enough food in the world today to feed adequately every person on earth, if the food were equitably distributed". He further said, "(This, however, would condemn peasants in poor countries to eternal poverty.)"
This sentence, "(This, however, would condemn peasants in poor countries to eternal poverty)", which is within brackets, is even more important than the whole paragraph of Mr Jean Mayer's speech, as this sentence rationalises the reluctance of nations to sufficiently help the hungry.
I remember reading somewhere about a few philosophers, who on realising that birds fly South to the Mediterranean in late autumn to avoid the bitter winter, provided tents as shelter and food for the birds to eat. After a few years, the views of the philosophers changed and their resources were diminished and they stopped this programme. At the next autumn, the birds came and on seeing that there was no food and no tent, they flew away. Thousands of birds which have been eating for years flew back as they could not cope with the long journey anymore.
These birds died.
The veterinarians discovered that the joints of their wings were swollen - they had been eating free for too long.
However, we are not talking about birds, but man. The philosophers and the rich were equally at fault. The birds didn't ask for help, they were pampered, they had nothing to thank for.
I am, therefore, against helping for helping's sake.
However, in the case of man in extreme poverty, for geographical, climatic and other reasons beyond their control, what they need in order not to be pampered, is to be in the "water cycle" that I narrated earlier. I do hope that while we try to solve the problems of the poor, we do not entertain policies which will bring poverty to those who are trying to help. Members of the Cairns Group should not be pressed to take retaliatory measures.
Malaysia has seen poor nations coming out of the Second World War, becoming rich because of the market available for their products. We have seen companies from rich nations with marketing ability even suggesting to enterpreneurs in the then developing countries of what to grow or to manufacture. When there is an opportunity for profit, more so for survival, positive response will surely come by in developing countries. We should help to install the "water cycle" on a national and global basis.
In order to achieve all this, we have to cúltivate good public relations as all those involved in this effort are human. We should control our temperaments and our emotions.
This is the first time I am attending this Conference. But I am worried about the little exercise in democracy that took place on 9th November 1987. I do hope that in the practice of democracy, we shall be able to sportingly accept a majority decision even by one and we should also be able to see goodness even in personalities we do not like, or even hate.
I have heard of proposed changes in the FAO. Even Dr Saouma suggested that. Whatever the change may be, it should be to increase productivity of the FAO. There are small organizations, as small nations, which are inefficient; and there are big organizations, as big nations, which are inefficient. There are also small and efficient nations just as there are big and efficient nations.
Big nations do not just decide to split, or, reduce their size whenever they are inefficient. Indeed, some of them go on and on being inefficient. Scaling up or down the number of personalities in an organization should be done for greater efficiency and not just for pride or vengeance.
Those who are giving should not be too arrogant, dictating and dominating, while those who are receiving should be thankful, sober and not rude - nobody owes us a living.
We should realize that to love and to hate is a matter of decision. It is upon this decision that the future of mankind depends.
Jorge PRADO ASANGUIZ (Chile): Señor Presidente, señor Director General, señor Subdirector Regional, señores Delegados: Quiero, en primer término, felicitar al Dr. Edouard Saouraa, por su reelección en el cargo de Director General. Del mismo modo, quiero saludar y felicitar ai Presidente de este período de sesiones, Sr. Faisal Al-Khaled.
Pocas reuniones internacionales tienen, como ésta, tanta importancia en la búsqueda de soluciones para los problemas agrícolas, ganaderos, pesqueros y de la alimentación en general.
Estamos por ingresar al último decenio del siglo XX y nos encontramos aún muy lejos de la solución que permita acabar con el flagelo del hambre y la desnutrición en vastas zonas de nuestro planeta, aun cuando la naturaleza del problema haya variado, ya que de una situación de escasez hemos pasado a otra de abundancia y de distribución inadecuada.
Hoy, como nunca antes en el mundo, se producen tantos alimentos y, también como nunca antes, están tan mal distribuidos.
Los adelantos científicos y tecnológicos creados por el hombre son ahora capaces de producir ampliamente todo el alimento que la población mundial requiere.
Es de amplio conocimiento, además, que la mantención de esta situación de desequilibrio increíble cuesta a los países excedentarios una enorme cantidad de dinero.
Sabemos que la situación actual corresponde a una grave crisis y que para salir de ella es preciso atacar sus causas con la mayor energía y sin demora.
Dichas causas son conocidas y hay conciencia de que se encuentran en las políticas proteccionistas de algunos países desarrollados, que subvencionan sus producciones y exportaciones de alimentos y restringen el acceso a los mercados a otras naciones menos desarrolladas, pero con mayores ventajas comparativas, manteniendo artificialmente bajos los precios internacionales y generando grandes "stocks".
Esta realidad se ha venido analizando en el último tiempo en todos los foros mundiales y especialmente en el GATT, y en todos ellos se ha concluido:
Que la situación del comercio mundial de productos agrícolas es grave y compleja de encarar.
Que las políticas implementadas distorsionan el mercado, impiden la adecuada asignación de los recursos y dificultan el progreso económico de las naciones' en menor desarrollo.
Que es de la mayor importancia liberalizar el comercio internacional, de manera que el mercado determine los precios y que éstos constituyan las señales que orienten la producción. Y que el proceso de corrección debe iniciarse cuanto antes, debe ser amplio, paulatino y debe contar con el apoyo de todos los países, especialmente de ios miembros del GATT.
Estimamos oportuno y de la mayor importancia reiterar aquí, en esta conferencia, dichos conceptos, así como manifestar nuestra adhesión a los lincamientos generales que en este momento se analizan en el seno del GATT para revertir esta realidad. Estimamos también conveniente la asesoría de FAO en estas materias, cuando ella le sea solicitada.
El mundo en desarrollo ha sido y seguirá siendo él más afectado por la situación descrita.
Mi país cree que más efectiva que los programas de ayuda alimenticia es, para estas naciones, .la posibilidad de acceder a un mercado y a un comercio sano y transparente, que posibilite el desenvolvimiento de sus potencialidades productivas.
El desarrollo de la agricultura constituye la mejor alternativa para inducir el desarrollo global y para permitir, al mismo tiempo, aliviar la "situación de endeudamiento de nuestros países.
Lo anterior, según el análisis hecho en la IX Conferencia Interamericana de Ministros de Agricultura, celebrada recientemente y cuyas conclusiones están contenidas en la denominada declaración de Ottawa, deberá lograrse, además, mediante la readecuación de la estructura pública de los países, el incremento de la participación del sector privado, el fomento y la diversificación de las exportaciones y la modernización tecnológica de las explotaciones silvoagropecuarias.
Este planteamiento es similar, en lo medular, con el enfoque que nuestro país definió hace catorce anos para enfrentar la entonces caótica situación de la agricultura y de la economía en general y lograr un desarrollo sostenido.
Mi país, al igual que otras naciones latinoamericanas y de otras latitudes del mundo subdesarrollado, luego de décadas de estatismo, aplicación de políticas teóricas y dramáticos ensayos revolucionarios, sufrió una drástica y violenta reforma agraria, que casi terminó con la propiedad privada en el campo, destruyó el aparato productivo y nos sumió en el desabastecimiento, y al agro, en la violencia y el caos.
Sin embargo, gracias a Dios y gracias al coraje y la decisión del pueblo chileno, logramos resurgir de las cenizas cuando todo parecía perdido.
En estos catorce últimos años hemos sido capaces de llegar a ser:
- El primer país exportador de frutas del hemisferio Sur
- El primer exportador y productor de harina de pescado en el mundo.
- Estamos exportando 380 productos silvoagropecuarios a más de la mitad de Los países del mundo, habiendo sido capaces de aumentar nuestras exportaciones agrícolas y pesqueras de 80 millones en 1973 a 1.900 millones de dólares en 1987,
- El volumen de pesca ha aumentado nueve veces, en términos físicos, desde 1973 a la fecha, situándose Chile como el quinto país pesquero en el mundo.
- Prácticamente nos autoabastecemos de los alimentos que el pueblo requiere.
- Hoy día, ya no somos un país monoproductor y no dependemos solamente del cobre.
- Hemos plantado 1 300 000 Has. de bosques.
- Hemos hecho 280 000 nuevos propietarios en el sector rural.
- Estamos cumpliendo con nuestros compromisos financieros con el exterior y, aún más, hemos reducido apreciablemente nuestra deuda externa.
- Tenemos un índice de desocupación en el campo del dos al cuatro por ciento.
- Hemos logrado detener el proceso de migración del hombre rural hacia los grandes centros urbanos.
Todo ello ha sido posible gracias a que hemos tenido un país ordenado, dedicado al trabajo con seriedad, esfuerzo y con fe en el porvenir.
Todo este inmenso desarrollo silvoagropecuario se debe a que nuestro Gobierno devolvió el derecho de propiedad en todo su imperio y su status jurídico, a que puso en práctica una política económica social de mercado y una política agrícola realista, eficiente y estable.
Debemos confiar en la capacidad del hombre y liberar a la sociedad del mayor numero de trabas posible, de manera que este pueda desarrollar toda su energía creadora, tanto en su propio beneficio como en beneficio de los demás.
El desarrollo económico del sector ya es una realidad. Ahora estarnos de lleno en una segunda etapa, cual es lograr el equilibrio entre éste y el desarrollo social.
Nosotros no postulamos el desarrollo económico como un fin en sí mismo, sino como un medio para el desarrollo social y para el desarrollo del hombre.
Sin embargo, para que éste y la sociedad puedan crecer, es preciso que previamente la economía haya tenido, a su vez, un crecimiento suficiente.
Este es el camino que invariablemente han seguido las naciones que hoy son desarrolladas. No se puede crear bienestar, sin antes haber creado riqueza.
Desde un tiempo a esta parte hemos puesto en marcha un ambicioso plan nacional de desarrollo rural, con el objeto de promover decididamente una mejor calidad de vida para el habitante de este sector. Nos interesa que éste viva bien, que pueda satisfacer adecuadamente sus necesidades, de modo que permanezca en su lugar de origen y participe allí en la generación del progreso y el desarrollo, para que así también el país pueda progresar y desarrollarse en forma armónica.
Creemos que lo mejor es una agricultura eficiente en manos privadas, conjuntamente con un efectivo desarrollo rural.
Chile ha venido recibiendo, desde hace ya muchos años, la colaboración de FAO en favor de sus actividades agrícolas, forestales y pesqueras.
Queremos expresar en esta oportunidad nuestro reconocimiento a la labor desarrollada por la Organización, así como nuestro apoyo a su programación técnica y a las orientaciones de mediano
y largo plazo que estri implementando. Especial mención merece, por su eficiencia y agilidad, el Programa de Cooperación Tecnica y el esfuerzo realizado para la creación del sistema de redesde cooperación técnica.
Debo destacar, por otra parte, nuestro interés y apoyo a la iniciativa del Director General de realizar un estudio sobre las perspectivas de la agricultura en América Latina y el Caribe, lo que constituirá un instrumento importante para la orientación futura de nuestros países en la materia.
Quisiera terminar reiterando una vez más la necesidad de que la comunidad internacional y especialmente los países desarrollados, terminen con la práctica del proteccionismo, de manera que pueda establecerse un comercio fluido de alimentos, a fin de que permanezcan en el mercado aquellos países que tengan realmente ventajas comparativas para producir.
Mohamed ABDELHADI (Tunisie): (Langue originale arabe). Il était prévu que la délégation tunisienne soit présidée par Monsieur le Ministre de la production agricole et des industries alimentaires, mais ses engagements au sein du Gouvernement l'ont empêché de le faire. Il m'a donc chargé de présenter son discours à sa place.
Je voudrais tout d'abord exprimer les vives félicitations du Gouvernement tunisien à vous, Monsieur le Président, à l'occasion de votre élection à la présidence de cette vingt-quatrième session de la Conférence. Nous sommes surs que,grâce à votre compétence, les travaux de cette Conférence seront couronnés de succès.
Je voudrais également, à mon nom personnel et au nom du Gouvernement tunisien, adresser à Monsieur Saouma nos vives félicitations à l'occasion de sa réélection. Nous sommes sûrs qu'il poursuivra ses efforts pour consolider notre Organisation et grâce à sa compétence la faire évoluer, avec l'aide de tous les pays membres, pour affronter la situation difficile à laquelle doit faire face l'Organisation actuellement.
La Tunisie est un pays arabe, africain et méditerranéen qui croit au rôle essentiel de pionnier de l'Organisation dans le domaine de l'augmentation de la production agricole pour réduire les différences en matière d'alimentation sur le plan mondial. Notre pays demeure engagé aux objectifs de l'Organisation pour oeuvrer dans le sens de la coopération avec les autres pays afin de faire face à la situation difficile qui concerne toutes les institutions des Nations Unies, y compris la FAO.
La session de cette Conférence générale de la FAO est une occasion importante pour évaluer les résultats'de nos travaux dans le sens du règlement des questions essentielles concernant la situation alimentaire mondiale et les plans de développement qui visent essentiellement à mettre fin aux problèmes de la malnutrition dans le monde et consolider les plans de développement pour équilibrerl'action internationale tendant à la stabilité, à la justice et à la paix.
A ce sujet, j'ai l'honneur de rendre hommage à mon nom personnel et au nom de mon Gouvernement, au rôle efficace et continu de la FAO pour jeter les bases d'un ordre alimentaire mondial qui réponde aux besoins urgents et à long terme de la communauté internationale sur la base de relations de coopération, de complémentarité positive entre les pays du Nord et du Sud.
Je voudrais également exprimer ma satisfaction quant à l'ouverture d'un Bureau de la FAO en Tunisie, qui permettra de consolider les relations de coopération privilégiées entre la Tunisie et l'Organisation
La Communauté internationale, au cours des deux dernières années, a été témoin d'un grand nombre d'initiatives positives tendant à mettre sur pied des plans adéquats et complémentaires pour lutter contre la faim et renforcer les projets de développement dans les pays en développement.
Parmi ces initiatives, il faut noter la session extraordinaire des Nations Unies en 1986 concernant la situation économique en Afrique, qui a abouti à l'approbation d'un programme de travail pour le redressement économique et le développement en Afrique. Ce programme se basait sur l'agriculture comme moteur essentiel du développement économique dans les pays africains. La FAO a joué un rôle
très efficace dans la réalisation de ce programme. Le Directeur général a consenti des efforts accrus pour réaliser le programme en question, efforts qui ont fait l'objet de l'estime et de la considération de tous les pays africains, en particulier lors de la Conférence régionale de la FAÜ tenue l'année dernière en Afrique à Yamassoukro en Côte-d'Ivoire.
Si l'on observe la réalité mondiale, on constate qu'au cours des dernières années il y a eu uno augmentation de la production, surtout agricole et en particulier de céréales, ainsi qu'une augmentation des stocks alimentaires qui ont atteint des chiffres records pouvant garantir le renforcement des efforts consentis par les différents pays, surtout en Afrique.
Parmi les résultats positifs obtenus depuis la vingt-troisième session de la FAO, nous constatons une augmentation relative de la production agricole dans tous les pays, y compris en Afrique. Mais, malgré cette augmentation, la situation alimentaire mondiale est toujours caractérisée par un déséquilibre entre les pays qui ont un excédent alimentaire, et ceux, très nombreux, qui souffrent d'une insuffisance en matière de ressources alimentaires.
Parmi les causes qui ralentissent la marche du développement, nous constatons la détérioration de la situation économique mondiale, ainsi que la détérioration des termes de l'échange, la baisse des prix des produits de base, l'augmentation des dettes et la poursuite des tendances protectionnistes qui limitent les échanges commerciaux et les exportations. Nous devons également mentionner que l'aide fournie par les pays développés n'a pas augmenté, mais a été réduite par rapport aux dernières années.
Tous ces facteurs nous éloignent donc des objectifs définis par la Conférence de 1974, et limitent l'impact des efforts consentis pour diminuer la pauvreté et la faim, d'autant plus que les politiques d'ajustement adoptées par certains pays en développement contiennent intrinsèquement des effets négatifs pour les couches les plus pauvres de la population.
Pour obtenir une situation mondiale d'équilibre, il faut une mobilisation de toutes les sources d'aide pour que les programmes consacrés à ces problèmes gagnent en efficacité. Je ne puis qu'affirmer la nécessité de renforcer les programmes visant à présenter l'aide sous toutes ses formes pour que les pays en développement puissent couvrir leurs besoins en matière alimentaire, et pour améliorer la situation de ces pays de façon radicale en donnant la priorité absolue au secteur agricole et alimentaire.
La réalisation de cette orientation exige des ressources très importantes, que ce soit sur le plan du financement ou sur le plan du cadre technique approprié à donner à ces programmes qui doivent être élaborés et réalisés dans les meilleures conditions. Nous pouvons mentionner la nécessité d'augmenter l'aide financière et technique afin de réaliser les objectifs à travers des projets agricoles et de développement pour améliorer le rendement du secteur agricole et augmenter les revenus des agriculteurs. Nous considérons que la solution radicale aux problèmes de développement agricole et de lutte contre la faim et la malnutrition ne peut se trouver que dans la solidarité humaine entre les pays en développement au moyen d'un renforcement de la coopération technique et économique dans le domaine de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture, en augmentant la production et les possibilités d'échanges commerciaux de produits alimentaires. La Tunisie oeuvre à la réalisation de cet objectif en coopération avec de nombreux pays en développement.
La Tunisie, avec la FAO, a organisé une réunion à Tunis d'un grand nombre de pays de l'Afrique subsaharienne pour étudier les moyens efficaces tendant à réaliser cette coopération technique eatre ces pays, qui a abouti à l'adoption de diverses actions concrètes pour réaliser les projets et échanger les expériences, avec l'aide de la FAO et en particulier avec l'aide du Programme de coopération technique.
Nous voudrions rendre hommage aux activités consenties par la FAO dans le domaine de la coopération entre pays en développement en ce qui concerne les études, l'élaboration et la réalisation des projets.
Nous voudrions lancer un appel à la communauté internationale pour renforcer les efforts de notre Organisation visant à améliorer le rendement du secteur agricole et à garantir le bien-être aux populations rurales.
Il est de mon devoir d'affirmer l'importance du rôle qu'attache mon pays aux activités de cette Conférence et aux questions qui vont être débattues au cours de la présente session. Nous espérons que nous aboutirons à des recommandations constructives qui permettront de surmonter les difficultés concernant la liquidité et qui permettront à la FAO de travailler d'une manière satisfaisante pour lutter de manière efficace contre la faim et la malnutrition. Nous voudrions les commenter brièvement. La délégation tunisienne reviendra sur ces questions en détail au sein des différentes commissions.
En ce qui concerne le Programme de travail et budget, la délégation tunisienne approuve totalement les propositions du Directeur général, bien que l'augmentation demandée soit très modeste si nous la comparons au volume des besoins qui seront en augmentation au cours des prochaines années, car nous voyons déjà les prémisses d'une crise alimentaire dans différentes régions du monde, et surtout en Afrique.
A ce sujet nous voudrions exprimer notre préoccupation à l'égard de la diminution des moyens d'action de l'Organisation, de la diminution du nombre des fonctionnaires ainsi qu'à l'égard des ajustements que le Directeur général a été contraint de faire figurer au budget actuel qui se chiffre à 25 millions de dollars. Tout ceci a un effet négatif sur les efforts de l'Organisation.
Nous ne sommes pas satisfaits également des sommes allouées au Programme de coopération technique qui n'a pas subi de changement, bien que les besoins soient en augmentation. Mais nous appuyons les propositions du Directeur général, la politique de décentralisation qui a permis à beaucoup de pays membres, y compris la Tunisie, de bénéficier de façon plus efficace de l'aide technique et du Programme de coopération technique.
Nous souhaiterions que la Conférence aboutisse à des résultats positifs permettant au Directeur général de contrôler la situation financière difficile que traverse l'Organisation, afin d'éviter toute perturbation dans l'activité de l'Organisation. Nous pensons que cette situation a pour cause les problèmes de liquidités. Cela ne résulte pas d'une mauvaise gestion administrative ou financière, mais cela résulte du retard de certains pays à payer leur contribution, en particulier le pays qui a la plus grande contribution. A ce sujet, nous exhortons les pays membres qui n'ont pas encore rempli leurs engagements à le faire au plus vite.
Nous pensons que rien ne peut justifier la remise en question des moyens de fonctionnement. C'est pour cette raison que nous nous opposons à toute mesure qui vise à affaiblir l'Organisation et à limiter ses activités et son rayonnement, surtout dans les pays en développement. Nous appelons à un dialogue constructif entre les différentes structures de l'Organisation pour trouver les moyens garantissant le renforcement de l'Organisation et le renforcement des activités sur le terrain, le programme de coopération technique ainsi que les autres programmes, au moyen des propositions qui figurent dans le document présenté par certains pays en développement.
Pour conclure, nous dirons que toute réforme ne peut constituer un but en soi. L'objectif essentiel est le renforcement du rôle de l'Organisation et l'importance des ressources nécessaires à fournir à l'Organisation pour qu'elle puisse adapter ses activités à la situation mondiale et aux critères de travail sur le terrain.
Notre action sur le pian international serait incomplète si nous ne jetons pas les bases adéquates pour donner un essor au développement agricole dans les pays en développement. Dans cette optique volontariste, la politique de développement en Tunisie a été basée sur le secteur agricole qui constitue un champ essentiel pour faire face au défi de l'avenir et qui se concrétise dans la nécessité de répondre aux besoins de 10 millions de personnes en l'an 2000, et d'accéder à la sécurité alimentaire en matière de produits alimentaires stratégiques sans compter les autres conséquences de cette orientation, surtout dans le domaine de l'emploi et de l'installation de la population dans les régions rurales; et la réalisation de l'équilibre régional; le septième plan de développement économique et social, adopté au milieu de cette année a affirmé cette orientation en consacrant près de 20 pour cent des investissements au secteur agricole en comparaison avec 15,5 pour cent au cours du plan précédent.
Un certain nombre de mesures ont été prises également afin de dépasser les obstacles structurels qui ont limité la marche de développement agricole de façon systématique. Nous espérons que le
développement de secteur agricole nous permettra de réaliser l'autosuffi sance alimentaire et améliorer la balance commerciale alimentaire. Sur cette base nous pensons que le secteur agricole ainsi que le secteur des peches réaliseront un taux de croissance de 6 pour cent au cours des prochaines années, en comparaison avec 1 pour cent au cours des années précédentes. Nous avons pris un certain nombre de mesures encourageant les agriculteurs, et ceci dans le cadre des mesures prises sur le plan économique et social afin d'encourager les investissements et de taire régner un climat de confiance.
Ce plan exige de notre part de garantir les ressources essentielles afin de réaliser ces projets et afin de dépasser tous les obstacles que rencõntre la marche du développement et le secteur agricole. Parmi les plus importants,nous voudrions citer le fléau du criquet pélerin qui menace les récoites et la situation actuelle nous fait remarquer que la lutte est insuffisante dans un certain nombre de pays acridiens d'où l'arrivée de vagues successives de criquets pélerins en Algérie et au Maroc et nous considérons que la Tunisie est menacée par ce fléau. Par conséquent, les efforts consentis par tous afin de lutter contre ce fléau selon un plan global qui permette de lutter contre ce fléau est d'empêcher la reproduction du criquet pèlerin. Par conséquent, on appuie les recommandations qui figurent dans le discours du distingué délégué du Maroc. Nous les appuyons totalement et nous espérons qu'elles seront prises en considération. En conclusion, nous voudrions exprimer notre satisfaction à l'égard de la réalisation des opérations fructueuses entre pays frères et amis avec les Organisations internationales qui contribuent à la marche de développement en Tunisie, et surtout la FAO. Nous souhaitons que cette opération se poursuivra à l'avenir.
Ahmad Ali MUQBEL (Yemen, People's Dem. Republic of) (original language Arabic): At the outset, it gives me pleasure to convey to ail of you the greetings of the Democratic People's Republic of Yemen wishing your conference a successful outcome that would contribute to the provision of food and the achievement of food security all over the world and in the developing countries in particular.
It is also my pleasure to congratulate you Mr Chairman on the confidence placed in your person by the Conference by electing you as Chairman of the Conference.
On behalf of the Democratic People's Republic of Yemen we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Edouard Saouma on his re-election as Director-General of FAO for a third mandate. We believe that his election is an expression of the member countries' confidence in his leadership capabilities which he proved during the past period. We are fully confident that Dr Saouma will remain a friend to all peoples in Africa, Asia and Latin America which will be in need of the support of FAO for the development of their food resources.
This Conference is being held at a time when the world economic crisis has reached it's peak whose negative effects have been reflected on the international community and particularly on the developing food deficit and low income countries which are witnessing the worst conditions in the field of international development and food production. I need not reiterate what has already been mentioned by way of enumerating the reasons behind this world crisis. Yet I would like to stress the fact that the international unstable conditions, the continuous terrible exploitation of people's resources, the eruption of regional conflicts, the aggravated arms race and the enormous military expenditures represent the background of the difficulties that hamper the realization of any progress in development. It has become quite obvious that the solution to the very dangerous economic conditions prevailing in the developing countries will not be possible except through persistent struggle for the achievement of peace, disarmament and the prevention of nuclear war.
We have all listened to the McDougall lecture as well as to the statement made by the Director-General. The lecture made it clear that huge amounts of funds are being spent on the production of destructive weapons of all kinds, at the time when many people are dying from hunger in many countries. The Director-General's statement referred to the obvious imbalance existing in the international economic situation, particularly the existence of food surpluses in some countries and famines in others. It has also been pointed out in the Director-General's statement that the major imbalance in the international economic order does not allow the developing countries to utilize their productive capabilities because of the inability of their commodities to stand in the face of the protectionist policies imposed by some of the developed countries and in the face of other measures that could lead to a general recession for the products of the developing countries. Accordingly, those countries are unable to achieve sustained development and to produce food.
From our own point of view, this situation cannot be overcome unless we halt the arms race and achieve complete disarmament and unless we direct a part of the military expenditures to development in the third world countries to assist them to produce food.
In this context, my country supports the several initiatives declared by the USSR in order to halt the arms race and to get rid of existing nuclear weapons. We call upon the international community to support such initiatives for the promotion of - food production, happiness and the welfare of humanity.
I would like to point out that the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development has shown the great possibilities of achieving an accelerated development under internal stable conditions free of tension and by channelling funds for economic development purposes.
Following the peaceful initiative taken recently by the USSR on the reduction of medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe, high hopes were raised for the achievement of disarmament. We are all the more hopeful when we hear news of an agreement being concluded between the USSR and the USA in this respect. We hope this will be a first step towards complete nuclear disarmament that will achieve human safety and accelerated development.
My country, the Democratic People's Republic of Yemen, being one of the least developed countries, is facing many difficulties in developing its production under the current world economic climate. The same applies to the food-deficit and low-income developing countries. We have inherited a heavy burden of underdevelopment from the colonial era. Our sufferings were further aggravated by the severe natural conditions which prevailed during the past few years, ranging from torrential rains that destroyed our lands, establishments and crops to waves of drought which made it difficult to provide drinking water in some areas. Swarms of locusts have also damaged many crops despite the enormous efforts we employed in order to control them; with the help of FAO. Despite the persistence of these natural difficulties, the heavy inherited burden of underdevelopment and financial problems, our people and government are still sparing no effort in the field of development, including agriculture and fisheries.
For 20 years, since our independence on 30 November 1967, agricultural and fisheries development have been at the centre of the attention of our Government. We believe that we have taken reasonable strides in the field of agricultural and fisheries development. The agricultural sector has contributed to the GNP at a rate of 13 percent. Our agricultural exports amounted to 35-40 percent of our total exports. The agricultural sector absorbs about 45 percent of total manpower. Agricultural investments during the first and second Five-Year Plans from 1974-1985 amounted to 22 and 12 percent respectively. Despite the modest achievements of the agricultural sector through the establishment of infrastructures, the expansion of cultivated land, the state farms, cooperatives and other government institutions related to marketing, the provision of production inputs and other services and the achievement of self-sufficiency in vegetables, fruit and eggs, the gap is still large between consumption and production, particularly with regard to cereals, oil, meat and dairy products.
The third Five-Year Plan for the period 1986-1990 aims at developing agricultural and animal production so as to meet a greater part of the population's food needs, to develop agricultural export production, and to provide the agricultural raw materials necessary for local Industries .The Plan also aims at increasing the value of agricultural production by the end of the third Five-Year Plan by a rate of 30 percent in comparison with the 1985 figures, at the end of the second Five-Year Plan and at an annual growth rate of 5.5 percent. Agricultural investments represent about 15 percent of the total expected investments for the third Five-Year Plan. As far as plant production is concerned, the Plan foresees an increase in cultivated lands through land reclamation. It also aims at the establishment of modern irrigation networks and other vertical expansion measures through modern techniques, the mechanization of agriculture, the utilization of high-yielding varieties and agricultural inputs, the reduction of harvest losses. Research and extension activities, poultry farms and cooperatives are also to be developed in order to secure the horizontal and vertical increase of production. All these measures should lead to an increase in the land with interim crops at a rate of 25.8 percent and in the land of permanent crops at a rate of 7.2 percent by the last year of the Plan compared with 1985.
In the field of animal production, the Plan aims at promoting activities in poultry production, the improvement of sheep and goat breeds, the expansion of dairy production. By the end of the third Five-Year Plan, we are expecting to meet 90 percent of egg consumption needs and 25 percent of poultry meat. Moreover, a number of studies on irrigation, agricultural and animal production will be carried out under this Plan.
As for fisheries, the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Yemen has given a great deal of attention to this sector under the second Five-Year Plan 1981-1985. The necessary infrastructure was set up. Two ports for fishing were established. Two plants for fish canning were set up. Modern fishing boats were purchased as well as refrigerated vehicles for the transport of fish. The same degree of attention given to this vital sector of our national economy has been maintained under the third Five-Year Plan of economic and social development. Investments allocated to the fisheries sector amounted to 5 percent of total investments, with the aim of increasing the quantities of fish for local consumption and export. Fishing cooperatives will be supported and provided with the necessary fishing equipment for such trawlers. A greater attention will also be given to the research and extension aspect. Hence we will set up an aquaculture centre and a Fishing Training Institute, in addition to the extension and training projects undertaken in cooperation with FAO. We will also complete the necessary infrastructures, namely the establishment of fishing ports along the coastline and Shukatra island.
Despite all these efforts, our aspirations are being frustrated by the scarcity of financing resources.for many projects in the field of animal and agricultural production. The scarcity of foreign exchange does not permit the completion of projects without foreign support and loans. During the past period, the friendly USSR has furnished us with aid and soft loans. This permitted the establishment of many facilities in the agricultural sector which are effectively contributing today to production activities. Other friendly countries have also extended assistance and loans. Besides, international institutions and funds have also contributed to the agricultural development process through loans.
FAO has also extended much assistance and technical advice to us, and supervised the implementation of many development projects and training of cadres in my country.
In order to continue the agricultural development process towards achieving self-sufficiency in some crops we do need further foreign financing. We hope that international institutions, funds and organizations among which is FAO, will give us further support so as to enable us to provide food for our citizens. We would suggest that FAO should help us in setting up a unified mechanism for desert locust control in East Africa and in the Arabian Peninsula; this will intensify the efforts of the countries of the region to control this dangerous agricultural scourge. We would also suggest the setting up of regional mechanisms to control some animal epidemics such as rinderpest and foot-and-mouth diseases.
We have carefully studied the documents of this Conference and we consider them exceptionally important given the present conditions. Our delegations will comment on these issues when discussed in the different committees.
Yet I should like to tackle some key questions in my statement. We have deeply appreciated the documents on the eradication of famine in Africa, locust control and WFP activities in the field of development and the generous donations in cash aid, kind and coordination activities with international organs. This was a successful and great example of what international cooperation could achieve in facing hunger in the world.
On the other hand, the documents on "The State of Food and Agriculture" and "Agriculture: Towards 2000" reflect the failure of internatioanl cooperation in achieving an increase in food production and raising living standards in the developing world. This was the result of the world economic conditions and the agricultural terms of trade despite the great efforts exerted by FAO. The same applies to the two documents on the follow-up to WCAARD and agricultural adjustment. No progress has been made in following up and implementation except in very few countries at a narrow scale. We fear that successive conferences will project the same negative picture. Yet we are hopeful that the international detente will succeed in establishing peace and create favourable interna-tional economic conditions that would lead to development and increase food production in the near future.
Likewise, we hope that despite the disparity in the viewpoints expressed in the document on "Some Aspects of the FAO Ojectives and Action", satisfactory solution will be reached. We believe that member countries have the right to make proposals regarding any reform related to the FAO activity, provided that they should be examined in accordance with the general rules of the Organization and the United Nations System. We have full confidence in the long experience of the FAO leadership
and its leading organs to deal with these problems. We believe that the setting up of a high-level committee to examine the reform will only lead to the weakening of the role played by the Organization in terms of extending assistance to the developing countries under the slogan of giving advice in drawing up policies only.
As far as the Programme of Work and Budget is concerned, the Democratic People's Republic of Yemen believes that the long term and medium term objectives and programme priorities included in these documents are sound and reflect the resolutions and recommendations of international leading bodies, FAO Regional Conferences and the interests of developing countries, many of which, including Democratic Yemen, are in need of the technical support of the Organization in many fields. Therefore, we approve of the principles underlying the budget for the biennium 1988-89. We do support the budget level as well as the proposals and recommendations included in documents on financial matters. We hope that these documents will be unanimously approved.
Gustave MENAGER (Haiti): Permettez-moi, avant tout, au nom de ma délégation et en mon nom personnel de vous présenter mes chaleureuses félicitations pour votre brillante élection à la présidence de cette Vingt-Quatrième Conférence Générale de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'Alimentation et l'Agriculture (FAO) - laquelle doit s'occuper du problème de la faim et de la misère dans le monde et de proposer les solutions les plus appropriées.
Le maillet que vous tenez, Monsieur le Président, symbolise pour cette Assemblée la sérénité et la compétence qui seront vos guides dans l'exercice de vos délicates fonctions.
Mes félicitations s'adressent également à Monsieur le Directeur de la FAO à l'occasion de sa réélection à la tête de l'Organisation. Ce choix constitue une éloquente appréciation de la valeur remarquable des prestations fournies par le Dr. Saouma durant les six années de son dernier mandat.
La délégation d'Haïti profite de cette opportunité pour présenter ses meilleurs compliments au Président Indépendant du Conseil de la FAO, ainsi qu'au Secrétariat Techntque pour ta soigneuse preparación des dossiers et la qualité des Services offerts par le personnel d'appui.
Cette Conférence qui réunit aujourd'hui d'eminentes personnalités du Secteur Agricole venues de tous les continents revêt une importance toute particulière pour les pays en développement. En effet, ceux-ci avaient nourri l'espoir que le rôle primordial accordé à la promotion de leur agriculture leur aurait permis de s'intégrer avantageusement dans la conjoncture politico-socio-économique de la planète.
Malheureusement, la récession généralisée, l'inflation galopante, le chômage chronique et l'instabilité monétaire persistante s'opposent au développement rapide de l'Agriculture des pays en développement. En outre, la chute des prix des produits de base entraînant la détérioration des termes de l'échange et le protectionnisme outrancier du Nord ont ralenti leur croissance et ont créé des situations insoutenables et des déficits tellement grands qu'il est impossible de les ramener à des proportions acceptables à brève échéance. Ce n'est pas parce que la nourriture est disponible sur certains marchés que les pauvres ont nécessairement plus à manger.
Etant donné que les pouvoirs d'achat individuels ont augmenté dans les classes majoritaires des pays industrialisés - il faut s'attendre à ce qu'elles s'accaparent des quantités de nourriture de plus en plus abondantes au détriment des démunis. Il en résultera, du côté des pays en développement, une plus grande privation, à moins que ces derniers mettent au point des programmes qui leur permettent de subve-nir rapidement à leurs besoins alimentaires. Mais dans les conditions concrètes de leur sous-développement, y arriveront-ils? En tenant compte des importations massives des produits alimentaires en provenance du Nord par ces derniers, on se rend compte qu'il s'agit d'un palliatif à court terme; ces importations aggraveront à moyen et à long terme la crise économique et alimentaire du tiers monde. Une telle situation va provoquer la baisse de la production agricole et le découragement des exploitants tout en renforçant le chômage et le sous-emploi.
Cette situation tragique de pauvreté est due à tout un complexe de facteurs liés entre eux: croissance démographique et pression sur les terres disponibles, dualisme flagrant entre ceux qui
possèdent les ressources et ceux qui n'en ont pas, incapacité des structures agraires à s'adapter aux technologies nouvelles et aux systèmes de l'agro-industrie, accélération du processus de dégradation de l'environnement et nombre croissant de paysans sans terre, alourdissement de la dette publique, insuffisance de l'épargne sans compter toutes les contraintes qui s'opposent au fonctionnement régulier du commerce national et international.
Un autre élément négatif de la situation difficile des pays en développement est constitué par la pénurie du bois de feu. En effet, le bois de feu reste la principale source d'énergie dans les zones rurales du tiers monde, notamment pour la cuisson. Le bois de feu est exploité beaucoup plus vite qu'il ne peut se renouveler et si l'on ne prend pas toutes les mesures appropriées, un milliard de personnes pourraient, d'ici la fin du siècle, vivre dans les zones où manque le bois de feu.
A ce stade de mon exposé, n'est-il pas opportun, Monsieur le Président, de signaler la notoire contradiction entre le commerce mondial des armes et l'essor d'un développement rée.l que l'on pourrait financer avec un investissement de plus de 560 milliards de dollars l'an, selon certaines estimât ions?
En face de ces problèmes graves et préoccupants, la Communauté Internationale a les yeux tournés vers la FAO, étant donné que cette Institution à vocation universelle est la seule qui soit en possession d'informâtionset de compétences aussi vastes que variées dans les domaines ayant trait à l'Agriculture. Lourde responsabilité que celle d'aider chaque Etat Membre à lutter contre la pauvreté rurale, cause et conséquence du manque de productivité.
En ce qui la concerne, la République d'Haïti fait confiance en la sagesse de tous les hommes de bonne volonté car elle a compris que pour sauver la planète du désastre, il faut "moraliser" les relations internationales étant donné que l'existence et la persistance de zones sous-developpées est à la fois un non-sens et une lourde responsabilité qui pèsent sur l'humanité tout entière dans un monde où plus de deux milliards d'hommes sont en proie à la colère et à la tentation de la violence. Une fois de plus, le Gouvernement de la République d'Haïti réaffirme sa confiance dans les objectifs de la FAO et appuie le Programme de Travail et Budget présenté par sa Direction. Qu'il me soit permis de féliciter la Direction de la FAO ainsi que ses collaborateurs, de la persévérance apportée à la promotion technique, sociale et économique des Etats Membres, comme au renforcement des moyens d'études, de conseils et d'intervention. Le Gouvernement de la République d'Haïti suit avec intérêt les progrès de l'Organisation, ses nouvelles orientations. Il a également retenu l'évolution du Programme de Coopération Technique et la libération de fonds consacrés en priorité aux pays les moins favorisés pour la mise en oeuvre de projets ponctuels et de toutes autres interventions susceptibles d'améliorer le revenu et le niveau nutritionnei des petits agriculteurs. C'est dans cette perspective que le Gouvernement d'Haïti a basé sa stratégie pour augmenter la productivité des grands facteurs de développement à partir du tryptique: l'homme, la terre et l'eau.
Depuis près de deux ans, le Conseil National de Gouvernement a entrepris différentes activités pour la promotion de notre agriculture et a obtenu certains résultats encourageants - mais parfois contrecarrés par des conditions défavorables: manifestations politiques violentes accompagnées de revendications de tous ordres à la faveur du changement de Gouvernement survenu en Haïti, accroissement rapide de la population, sécheresse, inondations, manque d'eau d'irrigation et d'intrants, insuffisance de crédit agricole, problèmes de commercialisation des produits et j'en passe. Compte tenu de tous ces facteurs qui ont créé des situations conjoncturelles difficiles, de nouvelles priorités ont dû être établies pour répondre à des besoins immédiats du milieu rural. Toutefois, les interventions nouvellement programmées ont pour objectifs d'aider à renforcer l'ensemble des activités en cours d'exécution et convergent sur l’autosuffisance alimentaire pour les produits agricoles de base. Cette proposition entraîne la mise sous irrigation effective des terres irriguabies du pays; l'extension des cultures agro-industrielles; la promotion de la pêche, de l'aquaculture et de l'élevage, la priorité étant accordée au Programme National de Repeuplement porcin; le désenclavement de beaucoup de Sections Communales; l'amélioration foncière.
C'est aussi l'aménagement et une mise en valeur plus judicieuse de nos bassins versants qui sont l'objet de pressantes démarches pour la protection des infrastructures d'aval et la promotion d'une agriculture de montagne combinant harmonieusement les aspects agro-sylvo-oastoraux;
sur le renforcement de la production semencière, en s'appuyant sur les résultats obtenus de la recherche et de la vulgarisation agricoles et par voie de conséquence à une modernisation de l'agriculture nationale;
sur l'adéquation institutionnelle et la formation formelle et informelle à tous les niveaux suivie de la décentralisation des activités du Siège ainsi que de la mise en place des infrastructures et do toutes los structures techniques et administrativos nécessaires nu bon fonctionnement du Ministère sur l'ensemble du territoire national;
Sur la mise en place d'un système de crédit efficace mieux adapté afin d'augmenter le flux de l'investissement en milieu rural et de mobiliser toutes les ressources nationales disponibles.
Sur l'investigation et le choix de moyens susceptibles d'équilibrer nôtre balance commerciale par l'exportation.
Les résultats obtenus de la mise en application partielle de Ces propositions sont prometteurs d'avenir. Toutefois, il nous reste beaucoup à faire avant de pouvoir déclarer que nous avons bien fait avancer la solution des problèmes de développement alimentaire et agricole. Celle-ci réclame pour être complète en sus des solutions aux facteurs précités un financement adéquat etfavorable, une saine gestion des ressources budgétaires et humaines disponibles, une populationhaïtienne et plus particulièrement rurale motivée, activement concernée, bien organisée à la base etune large compréhension internationale.
Dans cet ordre d'idées, la participation de la FaO, du PNUD, du PAM et du FENU à notre effort de développement a toujours été très intense et leurs différents domaines de compétence seront de plus en plus mis à contribution pour nous aider à réaliser les objectifs communs auxquels nous aspirons tous afin d'améliorer la productivité agricole et, partant, les conditions de vie des petits agriculteurs.
Au terme de cet exposé, la Délégation d'Haïti lance à nouveau le cri d'alarme dénonçant la situation alimentaire défavorable et dangereuse du Tiers-Monde et plus particulièrement du Continent Africain, le Gouvernement de la République d'Haïti est solidaire de toute action visant à aider l'Afrique à surmonter la crise et notamment de celle que mènent certains pays de ce continent contre les dégâts causés aux cultures par le criquet pèlerin.
Nous, Gouvernement du People Haitien, avons pris l'engagement de bousculer toutes les barrières qui s'opposent à la promotion de notre agriculture. Nous lutterons à vos côtés, sans désemparer, pour vaincre la faim, la malnutrition, la misère et leurs corollaires traditionnels et la tenue de cette Conférence constitue un nouveau pas pour promouvoir la solidarité entre ceux qui prennent part à ce combat à l'échelle de la planète.
Je vous exprime ma reconnaissance personnelle pour la bienveillante attention que vous avez accordée à cette communication. La délégation d'Haïti vous félicite de votre participation active qui fera de cette 24ème Session l'une des plus exaltantes de la Conférence de la FAO.
Kerem RUDHA (Iraq) (original Language Arabic): It gives me great pleasure to address you on behalf of my country, and I would like to offer my congratulations to the Chairman of the Conference and the State of Kuwait represented in the Chair of this Twenty-fourth Conference. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Dr Edouard Saouma on the occasion of his re-election for his third term of office: this confirms our understanding that he has done splendid work for FAO, an organization towards the creation of which my country has contributed.
The problem of food - the need to provide food - is a very present problem, faced by two-thirds of mankind. It calls for constant concern by all countries of the world. This problem of food has been further exacerbated by a whole series of factors: the growing world demand for food caused by the increased populations of low-income countries, the disasters due to drought in various parts of the globe, the imbalanced economic situation in the world, fluctuations in monetary markets, foreign debts, financial crises - all these factors together have exacerbated a very serious problem. This
calls for a joint effort at international level in order to develop the material and human potential of developing countries in order to increase food production levels.
It is also important to have a world order in which all efforts can be aimed at this goal, to increae food in the world, to re-activate ail forms of on-going co-operation between countries through international organizations and agencies, with FAO at the forefront. FAO's efforts and programmes are aimed at solving this food crisis, and we can also encourage co-operation through bilaterial measures on the basis of mutual interests of the countries concerned. We also think that developing countries should step up their efforts in order to achieve some degree of self-reliance, by producing food to cover all their requirements: that whould be their target, which would mobilise all national resources in the interests of international co-operation.
We in Iraq are working in a very persevering manner to achieve global economic improvements, using the resources we have available, and on the basis of an integral form of planning, which would respond to the requirements of our society, we are trying to achieve far-reaching progress throughout our country, especially among the rural people. We are also trying to achieve economic planning which would reduce the gap between the rural areas and the cities. We are convinced that food self-reliance is a key target, and for that reason for some time now we have concentrated our efforts on the extension of agricultural production, to diversify the forms, in order to satisfy all our requirements -whether these are consumer goods, or those to be used by national industries. The stepping-up of agriculture through the use of fertilizers and other inputs is satisfying this overall aim of increasing productivity per capita throughout the country. We are trying to harness water resources, and conserve them; we have modern irrigation systems; we are introducing modern agricultural mechanisation, and also a training system for management purposes; we are also encouraging the private sector to invest capital in agriculture. This gives us an opportunity to exploit large land plots. The Government has also given many graduates a chance to work in the field: we give them the necessary logistic support, as well as the legislative background, through a whole series of appropriate laws.
We have also taken advantage of the introduction of new veterinary systems, cross-breedings, and other specialized aspects as well as giving specific importance to our poultry and fishery resources: in this way, we are trying to make up for the food shortages due to the Gulf War. The Government is also providing other services for agricultural workers - we provide seed and fertilizers, and we also guarantee methods of agricultural extension. We have given particular attention to science in the realm of agriculture. We have set up special research institutions for agriculture. We are trusting that we shall receive further assistance from FAO in this respect.
As regards rural development, we have undertaken a training programme for our farm workers, both men and women, because we want to encourage the role of women in rural areas in order to improve their skills and enable them to make the best possible use of agricultural resources, agricultural production means, whether we are talking about flora or fauna. It is through rural development that we can really enable rural people to flourish, and it is with this in mind that the Iraqi Government has integrated this particular aspect in its development programme. So regions have a whole series of special schools and dispensaries, and accommodation - electricity, drinking water, etc., have been provided for distant farms, and asphalted roads now bring the villagers to the t-owns, to enable them to bring their farm produce into the towns.
Iraq has had fruitful collaboration, and we have done a great deal in the form of co-operation: we have assisted other developing countries by providing fellowships in order to improve their possibilities of fighting hunger and increasing agricultural development. We have close links with all international and regional bodies, and for' seven years now Iraq has given particular importance to this fundamental principle of encouraging relations between countries. We have repeatedly appealed for this, from the very first year of the War. We have made an appeal for fair, just peace in the region; we have accepted all the offers of good offices which we have received from international and other bodies, including the United Nations, in order to put an end to this bleeding of human and economic resources from which my country is suffering.
As another example of goodwill: we have accepted Resolution 598 of the Security Council, which expresses the wish of countries to put an end to these hostilities. This shows Iraq's faith in international co-operation, in order to achieve an international community where there will be prevalence of peace and stability, and where all resources can be harnessed for mutual assistance, and where we will see the end of this threat of hunger and warfare, which is threatening our world of today.
A few words to conclude, on a very important issue before our Conference - that of reform. The Iraqi Delegation is of the view that if we see it necessary to have certain reviews in order to gear ourselves to the way in which things are changing at an international level, in order to . simplify working methods in an international organizations such as ours, it will be necessary to do this through the organization's own bodies - its own government, and using its own experts, because we know better than anyone else what the actual contingencies are, the real problems and difficulties which are faced by the Organization in this respect, bearing in mind the fact that the results of such a review will then be presented to us at our next General Conference. There is no denying that such a review would take into account the ideas and proposals and objectives which have been weighed and studied by a munber of Member States, and we would therefore like to wish our Organization every success in its efforts in stepping up co-operation among countries in order to guarantee food for all peoples of this planet, and put an end to hunger and underdevelopment.
Anastase NTEZIRYAYO (Rwanda): Monsieur le Président, je voudrais vous féliciter pour votre brillante élection et vous assurer du soutien de la délégation rwandaise dans la conduite de nos débats. Permettez-moi également de féliciter le Directeur général de la FAO, le Docteur E. Saouma, pour sa réélection pour un nouveau mandat au service de notre Organisation. Je lui souhaite plein succès dans sa tache exaltante de mobiliser la communauté internationale pour lutter efficacementcontrela faim dans le monde.
Monsieur le Président, la préoccupation de fournir une alimentation adéquate a toute la population de notre planète n'a jamais été aussi profonde que maintenant depuis la fondation de la FAO. En effet, d'après l'étude de la FAO "Agriculture: Horizon 2000" le scandale de la faim persiste et, pour beaucoup de pays en développement, il est d'autant plus difficile de lutter contre ce fléau que l'environnement international est défavorable: les prix réels de la plupart des produits de base n'ont jamais été aussi bas depuis la guerre: la croissance économique tarde à repartir dans les pays industrialisés; les échanges agricoles sont en plein marasme à cause des politiques protectionnistes et des subventions à l'exportation de plus en plus pratiquées par ces pays; le service de la dette pèse de plus en plus lourd; autant de problèmes auxquels l'agriculture mondiale et l'alimentation mondiale sont confrontées.
Autant de problèmes auxquels particulièrement l'agriculture africaine est confrontée, autant de problèmes auxquels je ne ferai pas allusion en détail étant donné que d'autres plus compétents, plus éloquents et plus autorisés que moi les ont déjà abordés Je pense en particulier au brillant discours du Directeur général de la FAO auquel je me suis permis de me référer, tout en approuvant entièrement ce qu'il a dit:
"Car, en dernière analyse, la malnutrition ne provient pas tant d'une absence physique d'aliments que de la pauvreté: pauvreté des individus qui ne peuvent ni produire, faute de terre ou de moyens, ni acheter, faute de revenus; pauvreté des Etats qui ne peuvent assurer les infrastructures nécessaires pour subventionner les services et soutenir les revenus des agriculteurs comme le font les pays développes.
Les pays pauvres ont beau réorienter leur politique, accorder à l'agriculture une plus haute priorité, lui consacrer une part accrue du budget de l'état, leurs moyens restent dérisoires face à leurs immenses besoins."
Le Rwanda que j'ai l'honneur de représenter à cette auguste assemblée présente une situation alimentaire assez semblable à celle des autres pays africains. La production de l'année 1987 accuse une baisse sensible pour la plupart des denrées de base par rapport à 1986.
Néanmoins, grace aux efforts de la population rwandaise mobilisée au sein du Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le Développement, sous la houlette de S.E. le Général Major HABYARIMANA Juvénal, Président de la République rwandaise, la production agricole au Rwanda permet de couvrir respectivement les 100 pour cent, 90 pour cent et 25 pour cent des besoins énergétiques, protéiques et lipidiques.
Aujourd'hui, La quasi-totalité des terres arables est mise en valeur au Rwanda. Avec une population actuelle de 6.500.000 habitants sur 26.338 km2, notre pays enregistre une densité de près de 500 habitants/km2, de terres cultivées, ce qui constitue un record dans ce domaine sur le continent africain. C'est cette situation qui motive le Gouvernement rwandais à placer au centre de la planificatiori nationale l’objectif de l'autosuffisance alimentaire.
A l'horizon de l'an 2000 quand la population rwandaise atteindra les 10 millions d'habitants, nous devrons produire 8.416.200 tonnes de vivres contre 5.200.000 tonnes en 1985, soit une croissance de 4 pour cent par an.
Le sous-secteur de l'élevage donnera 192.740 tonnes de lait, 82.083 tonnes de viande et 24.717 tonnes de poisson. En ce qui concerne le sous-secteur forestier, l'effort national de reboisement sera poursuivi en même temps que les massifs forestiers naturels seront protégés. En plus, des recherches s'intensifieront sur les sources alternatives d'énergie en remplacement du bois.
Les 95 pour cent de la population rwandaise sont constitués de paysans. Ce sont donc ces petits paysans qui sont le pilier de notre politique d'autosuffisance alimentaire.
Il est aussi heureux de remarquer que le thème choisi par la FAO pour la célébration de la 7ème Journée mondiale de l'alimentation, à savoir: "Les petits agriculteurs" soit tout à fait similaire à l'orientation du Gouvernement de la République rwandaise.
Nous avons célébré cette journée du 16 octobre 1987 avec éclat en présence de Son Excellence le Général Major HABYARIMANA Juvénal, Président de la République rwandaise, qui a tenu à féliciter et à encourager personnellement les lauréats paysans gagnants du concours agricole au cours d'une cérémonie qui s'est déroulée dans une commune rurale, celle de Kivuye, dans le Nord du pays, dans une zone de production de blé et de pomme de terre. Ce fut là une occasion de montrer le soutien institutionnel constant apporté aux activités des petits agriculteurs rwandais.
Ce monde de petits producteurs qui recèle beaucoup de potentialités pour l'élévation de notre niveau de production alimentaire se diversifie de plus en plus au Rwanda. Nous assistons aujourd'hui à la différenciation de petites communautés de pécheurs sur nos lacs et particulièrement sur le lac Kivu où des captures de poissons "sardines d'eau douce" atteignent déjà quelque 450 tonnes cette année. L'initiation de cette activité sur le lac Kivu et la formation des pêcheurs ont valu à Monsieur Scheffers de recevoir le prix B.R.Sen pour 1986. J'ai apprécié le choix de la FAO qui a porté sur cet expert dont je connais la valeur. C'est une occasion pour moi de le féliciter une fois de plus.
Je voudrais maintenant exprimer l'appui de la délégation rwandaise au programme et au budget de la FAO proposés par le Directeur Général pour le biennium 1988-89.
En effet, il est souhaitable par ailleurs que notre Organisation puisse être dotée de moyens financiers nécessaires à l'accomplissement de sa mission telle que consignée dans l'Acte constitutif.
La FAO est appelée.à coordonner les efforts déployés au niveau international pour lutter contre la faim et la malnutrition dans le monde.
Elle doit constituer une banque de données sur l'agriculture et l'alimentation; faire des analyses et proposer aux Etats des politiques de développement agricole à mettre en oeuvre.
Permettez-moi à présent de souligner l'importance de certains programmes particuliers de la FAO.
Je voudrais dire: la Campagne anti-acridienne et la lutte contre la trypanosomiase animale en Afrique, le Code de conduite pour la distribution et l'utilisation des pesticides, le Programme d'action pour la sécurité alimentaire, le Plan d'action forestier tropical, le suivi de la mise en oeuvre des recommandations issues de la Conférence mondiale sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural de 1979 et de celles relatives à l'application de la Stratégie et des Programmes d'action approuvés en 1984 par la Conférence mondiale de la FAO sur l'aménagement et le développement des pêches.
Je me félicite de l'étroite collaboration entre la FAO et mon Gouvernement sur la plupart des programmes de développement agricole; et je saisis cette occasion pour remercier sincèrement l'ensemble des donateurs pour leur soutien constant aux efforts que déploie la population rwandaise pour parvenir à l’autosuffisance alimentaire.
Stephen George OBIMPEH (Ghana): It is my privilege, Mr Chairman, to join other previous speakers to congratulate you on your election to this elevated position and for the efficient and constructive manner in which you are steering the affairs of this 24th Session. I also wish to join my colleagues in congratulating Dr Edouard Saouma for his election as the Director-General of the FAO for the.3rd consecutive term.
Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, it is clear that the general economic degeneration, the vagaries of the weather, and the rapid rate of population growth share most of the blame for the almost chronic and recent problems facing Africa. Yet inappropriate policies and inefficient institutions are considered by my delegation to be the main cause of the agricultural sector's poor performance. First, the public sector has been given an exceedingly large role to play but it has not been able to perform its functions adequately; second, very little attention was paid to the smallholders who produce the bulk of our food; and third, research and technology were accorded low priority. It is essential, therefore, that policy changes across the board be instituted to reflect our willingness to let the private sector operate more freely, and to strengthen services to smallholders to enable them to organize themselves for increased food production, marketing and distribution, and this is what has taken place in Ghana under its Economic Recovery Programme which was launched in 1983.
Recent statistical data indicate that the agricultural economy has responded positively to these far-reaching poL icy reforms. But the reform programme which has been put in place has had its casualties. For example, interest rates have risen and subsidies on inputs have been removed, thus reducing smallholders access to production inputs and credit. In view of this, investment projects are currently being formulated in close collaboration with donor countries and organizations to mitigate some of the social costs of the structural adjustment programme.
The collapse of our primary commodity prices, has drastically depleted our export earnings. The deteriorating terms of trade and the high cost of oil imports are making life uneasy for our countries. As has been stated earlier here and in several fora, the situation is being compounded by, the burden of external debt payments which are taking as much as, 50 percent, on the average, of our ever dwindling export earnings.
Thus, Mr Chairman, African economies are extremely vulnerable to external factors such as the consequences of fluctuating exchange rates, high interest rates, protectionism; and, the vagaries of the stock markets at Wall Street, Tokyo, Hong Kong,etc. These are occurences over which we in the developing world have absolutely no control. It is therefore necessary, at this juncture, to re-inforce the appeal which has emerged from different places that the official debt components of the overall/ external debts of African countries be all converted into outright grants. Otherwise, the payment of these debts would not only continue to deprive us of access to basic inputs needed to develop our agriculture but also have disastrous effects on our development in addition to being a serious threat to social and political stability on the continent. In this regard, Mr Chairman, my delegation would like to express its gratitude to the United Kingdom and Canada for converting Ghana's debts into grants and other donors who have shown similar gestures to other sister countries.
Mr Chairman the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic recovery needs support from the international community. From recent analysis of the first year of implementation of this programme, it appears there has not been enough commitment of additional resources to assist in reversing the unfavourable trends of the past two decades. Admittedly, there have been some appreciable amounts of aid flows to Africa, but more often than not the coordination of the application and management of these by the donor agencies and in some cases the receiving countries have left much to be desired. My delegation would therefore like to appeal to the donor to increase the capacity and skills of African countries to be able to coordinate and effectively monitor the follow-up action to the implementation of the U.N. Special Programme for Africa.
My delegation would recall that at the last FAO Regional Conference for Africa, the Director-General was requested to conduct a study into the possibilities of expanding Aid-In-Kind. It was a great honour that Ghana was among the countries selected for the study. We have studied the final report which has been submitted for our consideration at this Conference. The study has stressed the strengths and weaknesses of the past input aid, and the opportunities for its expansion in order to identify feasible actions and to alleviate problems in input requirements,
their local manufacture, and policy formulation and planning framework for input use. We fully endorse the conclusions of the report and we entreat the donor community to favourably consider the recommendations.
Mr Chairman, as was abundantly emphasized by the 15th Mc Dougall lecturer, Prof Jean Mayer the solution to Africa's food crisis requires massive infusion of resources. We in Africa have taken it upon ourselves to meet the bulk of it in the spirit of self-reliance. But, foreign assistance can certainly give additional impetus to serving our development needs if it provides significant quantities of resources for such high priced requisites as fertilizers, improved seeds, pesticides, irrigation equipment and other imported inputs needed to create a suitable environment in the rural areas for intensified food production.
Mr Chairman, in the quest to rapidly increase food production in our developing countries, the environment is seriously degraded, as a result of over-exploitation of crop lands, the over-grazing of rangelands, deforestation and poor water management. It is our contention that these developments have to be contained by practical conservation measures of the type proposed by the Secretariat. Because of the importance we attach to the degradation of our forest resources we have set up a department for Agro-Forestry in my Ministry, and we intend to approach FAO for assistance in its proper functioning.
Mr Chairman, the changing rainfall pattern in the West African Sub-region has been of great concern to us lately. For this reason I cannot but express my delegation's support, for the priority given to the Global Information and Early Warning System. The need for early action on this programe cannot be over emphasized.
In response to the principles and guidelines contained in the strategy adopted by the World Fisheries Conference, Ghana has updated its Fisheries Action Plan in the Second phase of the National Economic recovery Programme. Currently some institutional changes are being put in place to give effect to some of the guidelines contained in the strategy. In view of the phenomenal global decline in capture fisheries in recent years and Ghana having an extensive potential for inland fisheries development, specifically aquaculture, a new emphasis is being placed on inland fisheries development. To maximize the exploitation of such inland water resources in Africa, and to exchange experience and knowledge in this field in the spirit of South-South cooperation, Ghana has accepted to host the 1987 Committee for Inland Fisheries for Africa meeting due to be held in December.
Mr Chairman, my delegation has studied the programme of work and Budget of the Director-General and I am happy to note that a great deal of thinking has gone into the setting of priorities for the next biennium. Much as we would have liked to see enlarged allocation to the TCP and the Special Action Programmes, we are aware that the current world economic situation will not permit it. Nevertheless, we hope the Director-General will maintain efficient administration of their management so that they can continue to respond in a timely and flexible manner to our needs.
Mr Chairman, Ghana shares the opinion expressed by other countries that after more than 40 years of existence of FAO the time is opportune to pursue comprehensive review of the organization with special reference to its long-term objectives and strategies. My delegation will actively participate in the discussion of this matter during the conference. It is our view, however, that FAO's goals need not be changed, for they remain as valid today as they were 42 years ago. If there should be any reform at all, it should aim at strengthening multilateralism and rendering FAO more efficient to make it a better tool in our common war against hunger and malnutrition.
In conclusion, I wish to use this forum to express our gratitude to the various friendly countries and other international agencies particularly IFAD, WFP and the NGO's which, since the inception of our Economic Recovery Programme, have been rendering assistance to Ghana. However, in spite of the positive response to the policy reforms initiated in 1983 and the increased flow of donor assistance, Ghana still faces a formidable task of maintaining the momentum of the recovery. Increased donor assistance at much higher levels would be welcome. I wish also to thank the FAO for the several intervention programmes under the TCP which have been extended to us over the past two years. I am particularly grateful to the Africa Regional Representative and his staff in Accra for their useful cooperation and the timely advice on the many technical issues we have had to deal with in our efforts to attain food self-sufficiency.
Finally on behalf of the Government and People of Ghana I wish to appeal to my colleagues to collectively uphold the ideals of the organization and be the beacon in formulating and directing programmes to help eliminate hunger and deprivation from the face of the earth.
Ts. BAYANBAT (Mongolia) (original language Mongolian): First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your unanimous election to this highly important position. I am sure that under your guidance and that of your deputies the present session of the FAO Conference will conclude its work successfully. Allow me also to congratulate Dr. Saouma for his re-election to the post of Director-General of the Organization and wish him further successes in his dedicated, noble duties.
Mr Chairman, my Government sees the biennial Session of the FAO Conference as an important forum for assessing the global food and agricultural situation as well as for planning the measures to be taken in order to improve the situation.
It is a fact that, at present, the world economy is experiencing a serious recession with a negative impact on both developed and developing nations, particularly on the least developed areas of the world. In 1986, the global output grew by only 3 percent compared with 3.4 percent in 1985 and 4.5 percent in 1984. This has had adverse effects on the development of world agriculture. Available data indicates that today about one billion people are living in absolute poverty and 40 million people are dying every year from starvation, malnutrition and illness.
My delegation is of the opinion that the existing system of unequal economic relations in the world constitutes a serious obstacle to solving the problems relating to food supply in developing countries.
The continuing growth of protectionist tendencies, the creation of artificial barriers in international monitbry financial systems as well as the increase of foreign debts of'developing countries are posing a negative impact to the stability of world economy.
In this connection, I would like to express our Government's firm stand to restructure the present international relations on a just and democratic basis. At the same time, the Mongolian People's Republic, together with other socialist countries, is deeply convinced that the realization of the concept of a comprehensive system of international peace and security, especially security proposed by the socialist countries, including my own, could make a tangible contribution to this end. Let me express here my delegation's strong view that FAO, as a unique organ of the United Nations, with a mandate to promote the common welfare of humanity by contributing toward an expanding world economy and ensuring humanity's freedom from hunger, can and should make a valuable contribution to the realization of the international economic security concept.
We share the concerns expressed by the Director-General's foreword for the document "Agriculture: Toward 2000" and support all the priority tasks of this Organizationhe
My Government appreciates and supports the efforts of FAO aimed at improving the state of world food and agriculture.
We are pleased to note that the follow-up of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development has received appropriate attention in the proposed Programme of Work and Budget for the next two years. Consequently I wish to point out that more resources should be allocated to the sub-programmes, particularly for those dealing with the improvement of the social and economic conditions of the people living in the rural areas.
There is also another important topic for discussion on our agenda, namely the Role of Women in Agricultural Development. Here, my delegation considers that our Organization should carry out more useful work in disseminating the experiencies accumulated by many countries in this field, including my own.
The task of eradicating hunger from the world - one of the main goals of the Organization - is an urgent one, and the solution to this problem is fundamental and has a special meaning for the future
of our world and for che very existence of a considerable part of che world's populación who are affected by malnutrition and hunger. World food problems, we consider, have different causes at their roots, some caused by natural catastrophes and others, man made, among which military expenditure occupies the most adverse part. Therefore, in disarmament for development, we see an enormous resource which should be used for the well-being of the world population. In this respect, it is worthwhile to mention here that my country wholeheartedly welcomes the Soviet-American agreement in principle to eliminate their medium and shorter-range missiles on a global scale, chus making ,I first significant step toward nuclear disarmament and creating a non-nuclear world.
Mr Chairman, I would like now to make some brief remarks on agricultural development in our country. The biennium under review was a significant one for the history of ray country. The 19th Congress of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party approved the Guidelines for economic and social development of the Mongolian People's Republic for 1986-1990. The main task of the new five-year plan is to secure further growth of the country's economic potential, and on this basis to maintain a steady rise in the material well-being of the people.
New casks have been set to intensify che development of agriculture and co raise che level of che material well-being of the rural people. Animal husbandry and crop production are the main branches of our agriculture and in their turn they are playing an important role in our national economy. Today, one fourth of the country's capital investments' is going to the development of agriculture, and of those who are working in the sphere of material production, 50 percent are engaged in this field; the agricultural sector is producing 80-90 present of the raw materials for the light and food industry and is actually ensuring about 90 percent of all food consumption.
The agricultural material and technical bases are strengthening from year to year and as evidence of this, capital investments in agriculture have grown 2.8 times as compared to 1970.
The achievements .of modern science and technology are widely introduced in the agricultural domain. Much work has been done on sectoral and regional animal husbandry, veterinary and cereal research institutes.
My Government spares no efforts in improving the food supply for its citizens. This was clearly demonstrated by the Goal-oriented Programme for Development of Agriculture and Improvement of Food Supply to the Population adopted in 1985.
The main purpose of this Programme is not only limited to the improvement of agricultural development and food supply in our country - rather it envisages the improvement of ail chains of national economy, especially chose which are closely interrelated with agriculcure.
In che current five-year plan of our national economy (1986-1990) it is stipulated that the capital investments for developing agriculture will go up to 30 percent and the average annual gross output in this sector should be increased by 18-20 percent as against the previous five-year plan.
During che years 1986-1987 my country has raised annually 8.5 to 9 million head of young stock and planned targets for producing grain, potatoes and vegetables have been exceeded noticeably.
The issue of improving the working and living conditions of herdsmen is always at the centre of our Government's social policy. It has succeeded in consistently achieving che casks to advance che material well-being and cultural level of rural people. As a result, the share which the members of agricultural associations are receiving from the social consumption fund has grown during 1981-1985 by
26 percent a year.
I cannot refrain, in this respect, i rom pointing out the many faceted assistance rendered by che CM£A countries, especially che Soviet Union which commemorated the 70th Anniversary of che Great October Socialist Revolution che other day, which significantly contributes to che development of my country, particularly with regard to agriculture. The recently concluded extraordinary session of this Organizacion decided to work out a special comprehensive programme of multilateral cooperation with Viet Nam, Cuba and Mongolia, in order co speed up che pace of development of those countries. My country highly appreciates this decision and considers that it will really serve as an important cool for further.development.
The meeting rose at 13.15 hours
La séance est levée à 13h15
Se levanca la sesión a las 13.15 horas
