GENERAL DISCUSSION (continued)
DEBAT GENERAL (suite)
DEBATE GENERAL (continuación)

&- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS (continued)
- DECLARATIONS PES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
- MANIFESTACIONES POR LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)

CHAIRMAN (original language Arabic): In the name of Allah the Merciful and Compassionate, ladies and gentlemen, welcome once again to our Plenary meeting. It is our thirteenth session. We will continue to listen to the statements of the heads of delegations. We have a list of thirteen participants this morning, and I would like to draw your attention to the fact that on the list a name was accidentally left out, namely the representative of Sierra Leone. He will be speaking after Syria in the seventh position.

Geoffrey Mogegerepe OTENG (Botswana): Mr Chairman, on behalf of the delegation of Botswana let me also congratulate you on your election to the chairmanship of this Twenty-fourth Session of the Conference. I would also like to congratulate the Director-General on his re-election to guide the work of the Organization for the next six years and pledge to him my country's support and cooperation in the continued effort to find solutions to the world's food problems.

We meet once again to pursue our efforts in the fight to address the continuing problems of hunger and malnutrition which plague large portions of the world today. While our efforts in the last two years since the last Conference have produced some commendable improvements, the world, and in particular the developing countries, continue to be faced with major obstacles that impede our progress. These include continuing drought in some African countries, natural disasters, such as the recent outbreaks of locust, the unstable economic climate, and finally, the continuing deterioration of the political situation and increased military confrontations in many parts of the world.

Mr Chairman, the food situation in Africa continues to be of great concern not to the people of the continent only but to the rest of the world. The past few years have brought recognition of the fact that increased effort and resources are required in order to reverse the declining food production situation. The break in the drought cycle in some of the African countries has seen these efforts resulting in increased production of basic food crops. This I believe is an important indication of the fact that, provided with the necessary resources, Africa has the potential to produce sufficient food to feed itself.

A great deal of discussion has been carried out in the past few years about the African food crisis. Many studies have been done and it is my belief that the problems have been identified and solutions are available. What is needed now and in the future is not additional studies and research but a concerted effort to implement the identified programmes that will reverse the current trend of declining production.'

The current trend which tends to concentrate on a piecemeal approach to the solution of the African problem will not be successful in providing a long-term and successful programme. What is happening at present is that we seem to be reacting to situations of crises and calamities. When a disaster occurs the conscience of the world is pricked and we respond with packages of aid which alleviate the immediate suffering but have nothing to do with the underlying causes which led to the disaster in the first place, and which are not planned to ensure that such a situation does not recur in the future.

While most of the developing countries have recognized the need to reorder their development programmes in order to give priority to rural development and food production, they have found it difficult to do so because of the lack of adequate resources. The translation of the national commitment to actual programmes requires large financial and other resources which the developing countries do not have. This, as I have already stated, is the main cause of the piecemeal and often uncoordinated approach towards national problem solving.

The continuing unfavourable economic and financial climate in the world has had an adverse effect on the progress of the developing countries. Most of these countries are faced with serious shortages of foreign exchange reserves. This problem has been compounded by the increased indebtedness of these countries. The net result has been the stagnation of the economies of most developing coun­tries of the world. They not only find themselves unable to procure capital goods necessary for development, but they are also unable to service their huge debts.

Mr Chairman, in their desperation to stimulate their stagnant economies, some of these countries have approached the financing institutions with a view to seeking additional assistance. Experience has shown that some of the restructuring conditions laid down by the financial intermediaries as a prerequisite for additional credit have resulted in increased taxes and astronomical increases in staple food prices with adverse effects on the development of those countries. This situation therefore is a matter of grave concern in many parts of the developing countries.

Another area .of concern is the continuing deterioration in the political relations between nations and the continuing increase in the number of trouble spots throughout the world. While we are encouraged by the ongoing negociations to reduce nuclear arms, we do not think that enough is being done to reduce the international arms race. We believe that as long as there is political instability and confrontation nationally and internationally there is not much prospect of coming to grips with the problems of food production in the world. While we are beset with all these problems, there is little chance of us giving priority to the development of agriculture and food availability.

Our only hope for success in the future is to attack these problems in an integrated manner as a package. The problems of production, marketing, trade adjustment, world finance and economics and world politics should all be addressed at the same time. All of these are interrelated, and if one is out of tune it will disrupt everything else. Our destinies as the human race are all intertwined and we have to seek solutions on a global basis rather than on a national or regional basis as has been the tendency up to the present time. This is the type of commitment that we need to adopt if we are to succeed in our efforts to improve the lot of mankind in this world.

Ladies and gentlemen, I do not want to create the impression that nothing constructive has been done over the past years. Indeed the FAO and the international community have to be commended for their efforts to alleviate suffering throughout the world. In the past two years since our last meeting, a great deal .of assistance has been provided to combat the locust plague that threatened most of Africa. We in Botswana were recipients of a great deal of assistance in this area which helped us to successfully combat the locust invasion. In addition there has been a tremendous response to the plea of those African countries which have continued to be affected by drought.

I also do not want to give the impression that the problems of the African continent or indeed those of the developing countries are mainly the result of the unfavourable international climate. While we in the developing countries are fully aware of the fact that the obligation to feed ourselves remains largely with us, there is a need for us to commit ourselves to creating policies that will bring stability to our nations. For our people to increase their productivity it is necessary to provide an atmosphere free of tension and uncertainty, an atmosphere of freedom and belonging.

The main thrust of my intervention therefore has been that we should look for an integrated approach to the problem of rural development and the eradication of hunger and malnutrition. While we have made commendable contributions to alleviate the effects of disasters the strategy we have being using so far does not hold much prospect for a successful solution of the world food problem. I therefore ask for a redoubling of efforts and a new commitment and improved strategy.

N.V.K.. Keerthiratne WERAGODA (Sri Lanka): Mr Chairman, your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me at the very outset congratulate the Chairman of this important session of the FAO Conference at his election. We are quite confident that with your long experience you would be able to lead this Conference to finding positive conclusions on a wide range of issues that have come up and will come up for discussion. The Sri Lanka Delegation wishes to take this opportunity to offer our warm congratulations to Dr Saouma on his re-election as Director-General of this Organization. We sincerely hope that in his new term he will be able to discharge his responsibilities in the same dynamic and efficient manner and to bring about new contributions to the world's agrarian reform and rural development and to the great cause of freeing mankind from hunger and malnutrition.

Mr Chairman, I consider it a great honour and a privilege to be amidst the many Ministers of AgricuLture and Heads of delgations who have demonstrated a deep sense of commitment to the agricultural development of the respective countries and who have pledged and resolved to guide millions of farmers towards achieving optimum productivity from their land resources. Your Excellencies would undoubtedly agree that the path towards progress has to be chiselled out sometimes through known and congenial surroundings but more often through rugged and hostile terrain. It is indeed heartening to note that several nations have been able to relentlessly surge forward towards building healthy nations through the provision of basic food items having surmounted the problems which inhibited development. It is also 'gratifying to note that we are again meeting under the canopy of the FAO which is unreservedly committed to the principle of supporting food production efforts of the globe.

Our Government under the able leadership of H.E. the President Mr. J.R. Jayewardene has been the pathfinder of growth and development of Sri Lanka. Natural resources, land and water have been harnessed and exploited to the optimum capacity to provide the basic input for improving food production. We have re-traced our footsteps and have now taken steps to recreate the elements of the traditional agrarian society of the days of ancient Sinhalese kings of Sri Lanka by restoring most of the small irrigation systems to sustain the agrarian livelihood of the large farming community. Vibrant farmer organizations are in the process of being built. Improved network of input supplies have been created to reach the farmer. Extension systems have been redesigned to rapidly reach the farmers and fill the technological transfer gap which has hamstrung the effort of the farmer. a suitable atmosphere for production increases has been created by providing state support to the farmer by way of subsidies on inputs such as planting material, fertilizer etc. Marketing has been streamlined enlisting the support of the private sector.

We are facing a paradoxical situation with regard to global food production. We are told that the world has ample food today and that the growth in global food production has been well ahead of the rate of population growth. It has also been accepted that sufficient natural resources are available to eliminate hunger totally and this capacity is ever-increasing with the advance of scientific knowledge. We are also aware that real world cereal prices and fertilizer prices have declined considerably in the mid 1980's.

However, in spite of the above assertions, large sections of population throughout the world experience hunger and deprivation. It may be true that we have more food in global terms than what was available thirty years ago. They suffer from lack of food security. It may be due to any number of reasons, including regional calamities and shortcomings in the distribution system. However, the existence of the most efficient distribution systems may not help if the poor just do not have the purchasing power to gain access to even the most basic nutrition requirements.

While the world is broadly committed to eliminating hunger and malnutrition these maladies persist today in our society, perhaps in increasing proportions and intensities. This commitment is often expressed through emphasis in increasing production. However, increasing production alone is not likely to solve these global problems. A more broad-based approach and the necessary political will is urgently required.

Mr Chairman, I wish at this juncture to refer to the agenda items that are to, be taken up for discussion at this session. I am indeed happy to note that the FAO has demonstrated its sagacity and the ability to look forward when some of the conceptual issues as well as pragmatic operational problems have been listed for discussion. The status of Food and Agriculture and Agriculture Towards 2000 which have been listed under major trends and policies, will certainly reflect the confrontation between the grim realities of agricultural production with the glittering scenario of world food abundance which we hope to create. The issues that will be thrown open at the discussion of these agenda items would undoubtedly lead the FAO in developing concrete measures which would form the basis of future FAO field programmes. I see that already the early signs of such steps being contemplated as item 7 of agenda refers to expanding the provision of agricultural inputs as aid-in-kind. As was done in the previous sessions I observe that field programmes and the special action programmes are subject to careful scrutiny. I am sure, Mr Chairman, more meaningful steps would be taken based on these deliberations. I would also like to refer to the Director-General's Programme of Work and Budget for 1988-89. Sri Lanka endorses the long-term trends, the medium-term objectives and programme priorities that have been very clearly laid down for the next biennium. Of course the success of implementation of all these excellent ideas depends on the availability of resources to FAO. We sincerely hope that the developed countries will help the FAO to implement its programme of work by providing the required financial resources.

During the past few days Mr Chairman, we have listened to the success stories of most of the countries in their attempt to provide food to their nations. It is therefore appropriate that Sri Lanka too places before this assembly our achievements as well as the future directions of our efforts in developing a sustainable scientific agricultural base.

Until achievement of independence, in Sri Lanka the colonial Government sought to develop the plantation crops including tea, rubber and coconut for export and achieve high levels of productivity in these crops. No attempt has been made to develop the subsistence sector. As a result Sri Lanka devel­oped into a highly export-dependent economy. Sri Lanka was the classical "dual" economy with the highly modernized and productive plantation sector existing side by side with the traditional, less productive subsistence sector with almost no interaction, and few benefits flowing from the former to the latter.

The high rate of agricultural growth during the last decade was common to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. According to FAO, crop production in the region progressed at an annual compound growth rate of 3.5 - 4.0. percent and has kept ahead of the population growth rate. Most of the developing countries in the region have also reached self-sufficiency in the staple food rice or are close to achievement of self-sufficiency.

The achievement of self-sufficiency in rice poses special problems for the countries in the region. Ninety percent of the world's rice production and consumption is within Asia and only 5 percent of the global production enters the international market. Since the international market is very thin it is also extremely volatile.

However, rice production in the region will continue to expand by 2.5 - 3.0 percent per annum, which would be somewhat higher than the growth in demand. With the achievement of self-sufficiency, Sri Lanka anticipates difficulties in entering the world market due to the restricted and highly competitive nature of the market, and also since Sri Lanka does not produce the quality rice demanded by the export market.

Mr Chairman, although I have been ablo to highlight some of the basic problems, I certainly do not profess to have the answers to all. However, I would like to deal with one specific strategy Sri Lanka has followed towards solving some of the issues discussed. The strategy is Crop Diversification. I am aware that several other countries have also adopted Crop Diversification and I hope discussion on the strategy and a cooperative approach in this direction would be beneficial to many of us.

There are two aspects of paramount importance which I wish to emphasis at this assembly in trying to present the conceptual justification of Crop Diversification. I am sure FAO in particular will take note of these two fundamental realities. We have been experiencing recurrent monsoonai failures and consequent crop losses due to unavailability of irrigation waters. We have often faced the hazards of developing a mono-crop culture in the background of such fluctuating and often erratic weather patterns. In such eventualities mono-crop certainly faces a tremendous hazard and what would ultimately survive is a 'mixture' of crops which could withstand such climatic uncertainties. Secondly, the 1.5 million small farmers who constitute the agricultural work force of our country have to be protected and their efforts ensured for which purpose Crop Diversification alone offers a satisfactory answer. It is these two basic realities, Mr Chairman, which in particular led us to following a diversified system of agricultural development as a suitable alternative strategy.

While adopting a strategy of diversification it should be kept constantly in mind that rice is the most important staple crop in the Asian region and it will continue to play a dominant role. Diversification could best be accomplished by developing suitable cropping systems which are rice-based. These cropping systems would undoubtedly contain as components pulses, oil crops, condiments etc. cultivated for domestic and export markets as well as for improving the nutrition among the population.

In our attempt to diversify agriculture, attention had to be given to developing suitable rice-based farming systems and a change in the traditional mono-crop oriented research. We are fully conscious of the fact that the small farmer operates a complex mixed crop/livestock unit and responds to technologies that fit and improve his farming system as a whole. Farming systems, research and extension in Sri Lanka, incorporated investigations into understanding existing farming systems and developing improved techniques of production for maximising farmer incomes.

As a result of this new approach which complemented the mono-crop oriented research, I am happy to state that Sri Lanka has been able to develop suitable farming systems for the different agro-ecological zones. By popularizing these systems among the farmers, the diversification of paddy lands has been possible resulting in the optimum utilization of scarce land, labour and irrigation resources.

Diversification need not be limited to annual crops such as grain legumes, coarse grains, oil crops. Diversification could take place in several other directions such as horticultural crops, agro-torestry, energy cropping, or it may be towards new plant species"having economic potential.

Diversification towards horticultural crops - fruits and vegetables - both for domestic consumption and export shows considerable promise. Horticultural crops have not received the attention they deserve in the past in Sri Lanka in common with several other countries in the region. However, due to the rising incomes of especially the EEC and mid-eastern countries and the high income elasticities of demand for these crops, there is an expanding market for tropical horticultural crops of the region. Sri Lanka is currently following a strategy of diversification of marginal tea land in the mid-country towards horticultural and spice crops. Similarly, a programme is under way for diversification of coconut land with annuals as well as perennials to enhance returns to land and labour.

Another area under consideration is diversification towards agro-forestry. Sri Lankan farmers have traditionally appreciated the role of trees in sustaining the natural and human environment. They enhance the agricultural productive capacity by improving the micro-climatic environment and affording protection for the soil. In addition, they produce valuable food and non-food products. In Sri Lanka we have initiated a conservation farming project to study these aspect's closely.

For a successful programme of diversification effective supporting services such as research, exten­sion, input supply, marketing, etc, are essential. In Sri Lanka we have initiated a comprehensive research programme to support diversification. The Diversified Agricultural Research Project is aimed at correcting deficiencies and is expected to make a major contribution to diversification in Sri Lanka.

The marketing system for diversified crops is largely in private hands. However, to provide some protection for the farmers, especially at a time of glut, a floor price scheme was initiated in 1979 especially for crops utilized in diversification. It should be borne in mind that diversification is a area where regional cooperation would be beneficial, at least on two counts. First, suitable crop varieties are an important prerequisite to effective diversification. Thus, countries in the region could assist each other by freely exchanging germplasm and planting material subject to standard quarantine procedures.

Secondly, if many countries in the region pursue this strategy of diversification, economic gains would be restricted due to the market constraints which are likely to develop. If countries compete to supply the existing world market, this may give rise to a general drop in price.

Mr Chairman, I would like to strike a note of caution. Given the great similarity in crop profiles in countries of the Asia/Pacific regions, unplanned diversification is likely to result in a decline in price. This makes regional cooperation essential for a successful diversification effort. Such cooperation perhaps would enable an agreement to be made on production and trade. In this context, I would like to refer to the useful role played by the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) which is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. With much more assistance from FAO and other agencies, I am sure that CIRDAP will be able to extend its activities and play a more vigorous role in the region.

Finally, I take this opportunity to thank FAO and other donor countries who have helped us in putting forward our agricultural development activities.

Khalil MAKKAWI (Liban) (langue originale arabe): Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Directeur général, Excellences, Mesdames, Messieurs, j'ai le plaisir de vous adresser, Monsieur le Président, au nom de la délégation de mon pays, nos sincères félicitations à l'occasion de votre élection à la présidence de la 24ème session de la Conférence générale. Je ne manquerai pas de saluer ici la profonde amitié qui lie nos deux pays frères, amitié fondée sur le respect mutuel, la coopération fraternelle et le destin commun. Nous sommes totalement convaincus que grâce à votre culture, à votre curiosité intellectuelle, à la sagesse et à la patience qui vous caractérisent, vous réussirez à conduire nos débats au succès que nous en attendons. Nos félicitations s'adressent également aux vice-présidents et aux membres du Bureau qui vous prêteront sans doute main forte dans l'exécution de votre tâche. Nous"ne laisserons pas passer cette occasion sans saluer le digne fils de mon pays, le Liban, à savoir le Docteur Edouard Saouma, Directeur générai de notre Organisation, homme intègre, qui s'est consacré au service de la communauté internationale, ayant mobilisé toutes ses capacités et potentialités depuis bien longtemps pour soulager les souffrances de ceux dont le désespoir et le besoin représentent le quotidien de par le monde. La confiance renouvelée qui lui a été témoignée de par son élection à un troisième mandat à la tete de l'Organisation, est une reconnaissance de sa compétence, de sa bonne gestion, de son dévouement et de sa fidélité. Il ne fait aucun doute qu'il poursuivra dans cette voie, se mettant au service de tous les membres sans exception, pour exprimer leur volonté commune et redoubler d'efforts pour la réalisation des objectifs fixés.

Monsieur le Président, notre session se tient à un moment où le monde entier doit faire face à une situation économique et financière instable. Le déficit financier de certains pays industrialisés, la dette insurmontable qui fait ployer l'échiné des pays du tiers monde, les déséquilibres du commerce international, en particulier ceux qui touchent les produits agricoles, la perte de confiance dans l'ordre monétaire international sont des éléments qui ont tous contribué à la conjoncture actuelle.

Cette situation qui sévit actuellement aura sans aucun doute des répercussions sur notre programme de travail et la politique que nous suivrons au cours du prochain biennium.

Monsieur le Président, les questions qui sont soumises à notre Conférence sont diverses. Mon pays fera part de sa position à l'égard de ces questions dans les commissions qui en débattront. Voilà pourquoi je me limiterai, au cours de mon intervention, à trois points seulement.

Le Programme de travail et budget pour 1988-1989 constitue un document très important parmi les documents qui nous sont soumis. La délégation de mon pays l'a étudié en détail avec beaucoup d'intérêt. Elle a également contribué à établir ce document par le biais du Comité des programmes.

Nous savons très bien que les pays contributeurs au budget ont adopté le principe de la croissance zéro depuis quelques années, et ceci malgré les besoins croissants des pays en développement, malgré l'inflation croissante, et l'augmentation des prix et des coûts internationaux. On ne peut ignorer que l'adoption de ce principe est défavorable aux pays du tiers monde. Tout en réitérant l'appel que nous lançons à ces pays pour qu'ils modifient leur position, nous espérons que les causes qui sont à l'origine de ce phénomène disparaîtront.

A la lumière de ce qui précède, pour éviter les dissensions et les différends graves entre les pays membres, le Directeur général de l'Organisation et le Secrétariat ont établi, il y a déjà quelques années, un budget qui vise à concilier toutes les parties, tout en évitant des déséquilibres dans la mesure du possible, dans les programmes de developpement. Le budget qui nous est proposé dans le prochain biennium est dans le droit fil de cette décision puisque l'augmentation ne dépasse pas 0,25 7.par rapport au budget précédent. Malgré cette légère augmentation, on s'est efforcé d'exploiter au mieux les ressources et on a accordé la priorité aux activités techniques et de développement tout en réduisant les dépenses administratives.

Bien que nous saluions les efforts déployés par le Secrétariat, nous ne pouvons cacher notre déception de voir que les ressources consacrées au Programme de coopération technique sont restées stationnaires, malgré l'importance du Programme et son utilité pour les pays en développement. Nous aurions souhaité que le Secrétariat ne soit pas contraint de recourir à cette mesure qui, bien que contribuant à réaliser des économies, ne manquera pas de se répercuter négativement sur l'exécution des tâches et la réalisation des objectifs.

Quant aux priorités et aux préférences, elles sont à notre sens à la fois réalistes et judicieuses. Elle ont été établies conformément à leur, importance, elles ont été fixées avec clarté et elles ont reçules crédits qu'elles méritent.

Nous aimerions insister sur l'importance qu'accorde la délégation de mon pays à l'utilisation saine de l'environnement et à sa protection. Les avertissements qui se sont multipliés dernièrement pour nous prévenir contre les agissements de l'homme contre la terre, l'eau et l'espace, nous incitent à accorder à cette question l'importance qu'elle mérite et à demander à notre Organisation d'intensifier ses efforts en coopération avec d'autres organisations internationales,

A cet égard, nous avons exprimé notre satisfaction pour ce qui est de l'activité nouvelle lancée par l'Agence internationale de l'énergie atomique, pour faire face aux situations résultant de l'effet des rayonnements nocifs sur l'agriculture, dans toutes les parties du monde et très souvent sans aucune volonté ni intervention de leur part.

Monsieur le Président, la situation économique que j'ai évoquée au début de mon allocution nous impose d'adopter des positions objectives et réalistes. Il n'était donc pas possible, à la lumière de cette situation, d'obtenir plus que ce qui nous est proposé concernant le Programme de travail et budget. C'est pour cela que nous souhaitons appuyer totalement le Programme de travail et budget pour 1988-89 tel qu'il nous est présenté par le Secrétariat. Nous espérons qu'il recueillera l'approbation de tous.

Quant au deuxième point que je souhaite évoquer, il a trait à la situation financière de l'OAA. Nous connaissons tous les difficultés de l'Organisation, pour des raisons bien diverses, mais nous savons aussi que la cause principale est imputable au fait que certains membres n'ont pas payé leurs contributions. Les mesures prises par le Directeur général pour éviter les conséquences très fâcheuses qui en résulteront ne constituent qu'une solution provisoire ne pouvant en aucun cas suppléer à une solution radicale. Nous avons été très heureux d'entendre le Représentant de l'Etat qui, à lui seul, finance la plus grosse partie du budget, réaffirmer l'engagement de son pays à la coopération internationale multilatérale et s'acquitter de ses responsabilités et engagements.

Du haut de cette tribune, nous lançons un appel à tous les pays qui ont des arriérés de contributions pour qu'ils s'acquittent de leurs dettes. Les responsabilités qui incombent à notre Organisation sont considérables. Le travail à abattre est d'envergure, et rien ne sera fait sans les ressources nécessaires.

J'en viens maintenant à la question des réformes qui a été soulevée par certains pays. Nous savons que c'est là une question posée depuis quelque temps déjà non seulement au sein de notre Organisation, mais également dans la plupart des Organisations membres de la famille des Nations Unies. Le développement est synonyme de vie et la sclérose est synonyme de mort. Il est évident qu'il est nécessaire et inévitable de réviser de temps à autre les moyens et méthodes de travail ainsi que les priorités dans quelque domaine que ce soit des activités humaines. C'est un principe que nous appuyons et que nous soutenons fermement. Cependant, nous estimons qu'il faut examiner cette question avec beaucoup de prudence. La réforme est un moyen, et le moyen fait ses preuves après avoir été adopté et mis à l'essai. Voilà pourquoi il ne serait pas sage de s'agripper à des positions qui se révèlent fausses à l'épreuve.

Les objectifs de l'Organisation, tels qu'ils ont été fixés par les pères fondateurs, doivent rester l'étalon et le but principal de toutes opérations de changement et de réforme. Toute réforme qui n'est pas bénie par le consensus est vouée à l'échec. Toute proposition concernant cette question qui pourrait aboutir à des dissensions et des conflits entre les Membres de l'Organisation ne pourrait pas être prise au sérieux.

Mais ce qui nous incite à l'optimisme, c'est que notre Organisation a été une pionnière. C'est elle qui, la première, a adopté des réformes qui ont été dictées par les circonstances. Notre histoire en est témoin, car elle a toujours adopté ce principe depuis le début. Elle a plusieurs fois revu sa structure, son organisation, ses méthodes de travail, ses priorités ainsi que ses stratégies, à la lumière des rebondissements de la situation. Nous souhaitons donc que cette question ne suscite pas de difficultés qui pourraient dépasser de loin les résultats que nous pourrions en attendre.

Monsieur le Président, la famille des Nations Unies dans son ensemble est confrontée à des problèmes. Les points de vue quant à son utilité et ses réalisations sont divergents. Le progrès technique réalisé par l'homme a rendu possible la prospérité, le bonheur pour l'humanité toute entière. Ce qui nous manque pour réaliser ce but c'est la volonté politique, le désir sincère de coopération, de vie en paix. La responsabilité pour réaliser ces objectifs incombe en tout premier lieu aux pays industrialisés.

La question qui se pose aujourd'hui est de savoir si nous allons suivre les pas de Mac Dougall, de Lord Boyd Orr, de Roosevelt et d'autres qui ont tracé la voie de la coopération multilatérale pour vaincre la faim et la malnutrition. Allons-nous nous contenter de regarder croître par milliers le nombre des affamés et des mal-nourris, d'année en année? Permettrons-nous aux forces négatives de prendre le dessus et de nous imposer des prises de position, ou allons nous faire preuve de raison, de logique et de noblesse d'âme pour tracer notre voie?

C'est par l'attitude que nous adopterons que nous saurons si nous sommes dans la bonne voie.

Monsieur le Président, qu'il me soit permis de faire part de nos remerciements sincères, de notre appréciation, de notre gratitude au Docteur E. Saouma, à l'Organisation, ainsi qu'au Programme alimentaire mondial et aux autres organisations internationales pour l'aide qu'ils ont fournie à mon pays durant l'épreuve qui le mine. Cette aide a contribué à soulager mon pays des affres de la guerre. Notre gratitude s'adresse tout particulièrement au Bureau de l'Organisation au Liban, qui poursuit son activité avec compétence et enthousiasme malgré le danger et la gravité de la situation.

Je vous souhaite plein succès dans vos délibérations.

Jovan BAROHI (Albanie) (langue originale albanaise): Monsieur le Président, qu'il me soit permis de vous féliciter au nom de la délégation de la République socialiste d'Albanie pour votre élection au poste important de Président de la présente Conférence.

J'ai le plaisir particulier de saluer Monsieur E. Saouma au poste élevé de Directeur général et de le féliciter également pour les efforts qu'il fournit et la contribution qu'il apporte dans la réalisation des aspirations de notre Organisation.

Le Gouvernement albanais n'a cessé d'apprécier le rôle positif joué par la FAO qui s'intéresse vivement aux problèmes de l'accroissement des productions végétales, il a toujours apprécié la lutte qu'elle mène contre la faim et la sous-alimentation dont souffrent des millions de personnes dans le monde. Grâce à ses divers programmes, notre Organisation a mené de nombreuses activités fructueuses tendant à encourager l'accroissement de la production agricole, le développement des campagnes, l'échange des"matériels biogénétiques, le progrès de la science et l'application des nouvelles technologies au service de la production agricole. Toutefois, nous ne pouvons taire le fait que plus de quatre décennies après la fondation de notre Organisation, ses aspirations et objectifs ne sont toujours pas réalisés.

La présente session tient ses assises en un temps où l'économie mondiale subit les conséquences de la crise économique qui a touché en particulier l'agriculture et le marché international des produits agro-alimentaires.

La délégation albanaise juge nécessaire d'indiquer à cette Conférence que les problèmes agro-alimen­taires ne peuvent être considérés qu'en rapport avec les problèmes politiques, économiques et sociaux du monde contemporain.

Nous estimons que la FAO, cette organisation spécialisée du système des Nations Unies, doit être soutenue davantage par tous les pays membres pour qu'elle puisse assumer un rôle plus efficace dans le développement de l'agriculture et l'accroissement ininterrompu de la production de denrées alimen­taires dans le monde. Mais les objectifs qui se trouvent aux fondements de notre Organisation ne peuvent être réalisés entièrement comme on l'aurait souhaité, dans l'actuelle situation internationale si compliquée et lourde des dangers d'une guerre dont les peuples feraient, comme d'habitude, les frais.

Cette situation s'aggrave encore du fait de la politique belliciste et néo-colonialiste que poursuivent les superpuissances dans leur course aux armements et leur âpre rivalité pour établir chacune son hégémonie. Les conflits locaux qui éclatent de temps en temps d'un continent à l'autre et qui plongent les peuples dans la misère, sont dus à la politique des superpuissances.

Un grand battage est mené actuellement à propos du but humanitaire que viseraient les "aides" destinées aux pays en voie de développement. Mais les faits attestent le contraire. Tout un appareil

puissant et sophistiqué a été mis sur pied pour piller et exploiter les pays en voie de développement à travers Les aides et les crédits accordés, l'achat, à vil prix, des produits agricoles et des matières premières, la vente, à des prix exorbitants, des produits industriels, ainsi que d'autres procédés raffinés. Nous assistons actuellement à une polarisation toujours plus marquée des pays en pays riches et pays pauvres. Les premiers continuent à s'enrichir, les derniers ne cessent de s'appauvrir: ces dernières années, les revenus réels par habitant en Afrique et ailleurs ont baissé considérablement de même que le pouvoir d'achat des masses. La dette extérieure absorbe environ le tiers des exportations africaines et la moitié des exportations latino-américaines et une grande quantité des denrées alimentaires sont jetées afin de maintenir un niveau élevé des profits capitalistes, il y a dans le monde des millions de gens qui vivent dans la misère et qui meurent de faim ou des suites d'une mauvaise alimentation.

La délégation albanaise pense que dans les conditions actuelles, alors que la science et la technique ont atteint un stade de développement supérieur, il serait tout à fait possible à l'humanité, aujourd'hui comme demain, de se suffire en produits agro-alimentaires. Mais ni les succès de la science, ni les acquisitions de la technologie n'arrivent à fournir une solution aux problèmes de la production agro-alimentaire , car dans la plupart des cas, ils demeurent le monopole des multinationales et ne profitent pas aux pays en voie de développement.

Rappelons à ce propos les dommages subis par l'économie mondiale à cause de l'annexion neo-colonia-liste de superficie considérables de terres cultivées qui, devenues souvent des champs de bataille ou des polygones d'essais nucléaires, ne sont, de ce fait, plus valables du point de vue agro-alimentaire.

Les travaux de la présente session me donnent l'occasion de vous entretenir de certains aspects essen­tiels de la politique agro-alimentaire de la République Populaire Socialiste d'Albanie. La politique agro-alimentaire du Gouvernement albanais appliquée après le triomphe de la résolution populaire chez nous, est partie intégrante du cours de développement proportionné et diversifié de toute notre économie socialiste. Elle vise le développement économique indépendant de notre pays, I'autosuffisance dans la plupart des produits alimentaires, la garantie et l'élévation continue du bien-être des masses travailleuses.

Au cours de ces quarante années d'édification socialiste, notre politique a toujours été centrée sur la nécessité de satisfaire normalement les besoins alimentaires de tout le peuple. Toute l'activité productive et sociale de notre pays a pour pivot et objectif l'élévation du bien-être de la population.

L'application chez nous du programme alimentaire que nous avons élaboré nous a permis non seulement de nous suffire en pain, ce qui naguère était un rêve, mais encore d'améliorer sensiblement la structure d'alimentation de notre population dont le taux de croissance est des plus élevés d'Europe. Rappelons ici qu'aujourd'hui la circulation de détail des produits alimentaires s'est accrue d'environ 2 fois plus rapidement que la population et l'espérance de vie de notre population dépasse désormais 71 ans.

Quant à l'intensification continue de notre production agricole, elle est le résultat de l'extension du système d'irrigation, de l'utilisation des engrais chimiques et des pesticides, de la mécanisation des travaux et du développement harmonieux et proportionné de toutes les branches de notre agriculture.

En l'espace de quatre décennies, nous avons mis sur pied toute une industrie de transformation des matières premières végétales et animales obtenues dans le pays même. A présent, cette industrie traite 90 pour cent de notre production agropastorale et assure le quart de notre production industrielle globale.

Les objectifs du 8ème plan quinquennal (1985-1990) ce développement de notre économie donnent la priorité à l'industrie et à l'agriculture. La production des cultures des champs s'accroîtra, pour plus de 95 pour cent, grâce à l'élévation des rendements. Selon les prévisions, en 1990 la production agricole et les revenus réels par habitant auront augmenté respectivement de 31-33 et de 7-9 pour cent par rapport à 1985. Ces rythmes sont 2 à 3 fois supérieurs à ceux de croissance démographique. La production agricole s'accroîtra de 35-37 pour cent par rapport au quinquennat précédent (1980-1985), soit à un rythme moyen de 6,4 pour cent.

En comptant sur nos propres forces et en élevant les rendements, nous accroîtrons la production de céréales, de plantes industrielles comme le coton, la betterave à sucre et le tournesol, de légumes,

de haricots, de pommes de terre et de fruits. En 1990 la production d'olives va doubler. L'élevage connaîtra un développement sensible. Tout ceci sera étayé par les investissements, et une base maté­rielle et technique appropriée. On tendra à réduire les écarts existant entre les niveaux de production agropastorale dans les zones de plaines, de collines et les zones montagneuses.

L'industrie alimentaire se développera elle aussi en toute priorité, elle accroîtra sa production de 30-32 pour cent, soit 2 fois plus que pendant le quinquennat passé. Elle, bénéficiera de tous les investissements nécessaires dont le nombre augmentera de 54 pour cent par rapport au quinquennat précédent.

En ce qui concerne les relations internationales, dans le domaine de l'agriculture, nous tenons à souligner que nous sommes pour des relations fructueuses avec les autres pays ainsi que pour l'intensi­fication et la multiplication des échanges dans ce domaine sur la base des principes connus de l'égalité et de l'avantage mutuel dans les secteurs où nos intérêts communs peuvent servir à promouvoir la coopération technique et scientifique en vue de l'accroissement de la production, et en même temps à resserrer les liens d'amitié entre nos peuples.

Nous tenons également à souligner que nous jugeons utile de renforcer notre collaboration avec la FAO afin de mener plus à fond les études et les recherches scientifiques que nous avons entreprises dans diverses directions de la production agro-pastorale, comme l'accroissement des productions végétales et animales, l'augmentation de la production d'olives, le développement de la poche et l'accroissement du nombre de produits alimentaires.

Nous soutenons les efforts déployés par les pays en voie de développement pour changer les relations économiques qu'ils entretiennent aujourd'hui avec les grandes puissances industrielles et dont les effets se répercutent considérablement sur la production agricole aussi. Pour permettre à l'agriculture d'un pays de se développer en toute indépendance et sans interruption, en comptant sur ses richesses nationales, pour se débarrasser du fardeau des dettes contractées et édifier de justes rapports de coopération d'avantage mutuel, il est indispensable de refondre entièrement les relations économiques internationales qui reposent sur l'inégalité et l’exploitation néo-colonialiste. La délégation albanaise soutient les efforts de divers Etats démocratiques pour utiliser leur ressources au profit de leurs peuples et rejeter ainsi une fois pour toutes l'exploitation néo-colonialiste.

La délégation de la République Populaire Socialiste d'Albanie est d'avis que les efforts fournis pour résoudre les problèmes agro-alimentaires dans le monde de nos jours sont inseparables de la lutte que les peuples doivent mener avec fermeté pour leur indépendance économique qui est en même temps une indépendance politique, contre le pillage et l'exploitation impérialistes, contre toute forme de dictat et d'ingérence étrangère.

En terminant, Monsieur le Président, je souhaite que les travaux de cette session, qui a abordé d'importants problèmes de la situation agro-alimentaire dans le monde, contribuent à l'accroissement de la production agricole ainsi qu'à la multiplication des échanges de produits agricoles entre les pays souverains, et cela dans l'intérêt, notamment, des pays qui s'efforcent de surmonter les grandes difficultés suscitées par des relations inégales.

Daniel SANDE (Solomon Islands): Mr Chairman, I associate myself with other distinguished delegates in congratulating you and the Vice-Chairmen on your appointment to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Conference. I also extend congratulations to Dr Edouard Saouma on his re-appointment as Director-General of FAO for a further term of office. It is the sincere and fervent hope of the Solomon Islands delegation that under the wise guidance and able leadership of the Director-General FAO will continue to discharge its responsibilities in the most fair and effective manner in its efforts to achieve the goals and objectives which the founding members of FAO designed in establishing this important agency of the United Nations Organization.

The Solomon Islands acknowledge the important contribution of FAO towards world initiatives which aim at ensuring that the majority of the world's human population should live without hunger. All humans belong to the same world, and are entitled to the same basic right. That is the right to eat and have access to food. But our world is not homogenous,and the human population lives

in different regions and parts of the globe with varying characteristics. This is a well-known fact, but among other things, this fact should help us to understand why some countries or regions are better off than others.

My country belongs to a region of the world where small island states predominate, and whole cultures of only two countries succeeded in transforming the land into abundant agricultural production and affluence. The rest of the region, although less hungry than some regions of the world, is economically less developed, increasingly dependent on aid, less able to charter its own future, increasingly vulnerable to forces outside its control, and its fortunes are increasingly tied to the fortunes—and priorities of aid donor countries and institutions. Static or reduced capacity of donors to give aid would have catastrophic impacts on the national economies and on the lives of individual people in the region.

That statement does not imply, however, that the Solomon Islands advocates indefinite dependence on aid from the international community. On the contrary, my country associates with the view that developing countries should assume responsibility for 'their own development. Effectively, this would mean that food deficit countries should not merely be content with food handouts from food surplus or developed countries, but that they ought to harness aid delivered to implement plans, programmes, projects or strategies designed to attain, among other things, self-sufficiency in the long term. Food self-sufficiency should mean more than just producing enough food for a country's requirements without there being room for food export to one country and food import from another. In this connection it is imperative that harnessing aid for development entails building an infra­structure to facilitate economic production that will enable a country to earn foreign exchange by which food import bills can be paid.

This is how the Solomon Islands Government sees food self-sufficiency, and being heavily dependent on agriculture, my country's policy of objectives for agricultural development include:

- high level of self-sufficiency in food production;

- increased level of smallholder agriculture involvement in cash earning activities both for the domestic and export markets;

- support for commercial agricultural ventures; and

- diversification of agricultural production.

Towards these ends, and in general conformity with objectives contained in the WCARRD Programme of Action, the Solomon Islands will continue to approach the delivery of aid from bilateral and multilateral sources for development of agriculture, as well as for development of infrastructure and the country's forest and fish resources.

The country is currently implementing one major agricultural project financed by aid from both multilateral and bilateral sources. This is the Rural Services Project incorporating an agricultural training institute, agricultural demonstration and farmer training centres. It is expected that the output from this project will enhance The government's complementary projects and programmes designed to assist the rural population inbringing about improved agricultural development and food production. Mr Chairman, permit me to register the Solomon Islands' appreciation of the contribution made by IFAD and the Australian Government to this project. May I also add that we are extremely grateful to FAO and the international community of friends for their ready assistance in our agricultural rehabilitation programme now being implemented after the devastating effects of a tropical cyclone that hit the country in May last year.

I also feel compelled to extend the gratitude of the Solomon Islands' Government to the European Economic Community for their continued support through the Lomé and STABEX arrangements which greatly assist my country in implementing agricultural development strategies and programmes. With loans and aid from this community and from other countries and organizations, the country will for the next five years devote over 30 percent of its annual development budget to develop the country's agriculture sector and natural resources.

In the area of food production generally, the Solomon Islands has potential for further development of the fish resources of the country's exclusive economic zone. We plan to develop theáe resources further for a sizeable trade with other countries. By co-operation with Japan and through loan assistance from Australia, we hope. to achieve progress, but we would appreciate the developed countries' recognition that we may have comparative advantage in harnessing this source of food

protein for consumption by a large proportion of the world's population. In this connection we deem it fair that developed countries in particular place less restrictions for entry of this food product in their respective markets.

Mr Chairman, time would not permit me to elaborate more on what I wish to state regarding the. experience of my country, of possibilities open to it in international co-operation for food production and agriculture. I now wish to very briefly state my delegation's view on some issues on the agenda for consideration by the Conference.

Regarding tasks for solving food and agricultural problems of developing countries, the Solomon Islands would concur with the view that responsibility for solving those problems rests primarily with the countries concerned, but the international community should have an equally important role in supporting the efforts of those countries. For small island countries in particular, limited capital, isolation, backward technologies, restricted land resources, lack of skills and human resources development, vulnerability to natural and sometimes man-made disasters etc. would mitigate against any "self-help" efforts those countries may want to take.

On world trade and food aid, we would sympathize with countries which,' because of forces outside their control, cannot obtain enough food to feed their population. Droughts and natural disasters are cases in point, and such countries would rely on the generosity of the international community. But in general, we would feel reasonably happy to see that countries should trade on fair terms. Small island countries depend heavily on agriculture, and for them fair terms of trade for their agricultural products would ease the burden of servicing debts to foreign countries and multilateral institutions. The Solomon Islands receive indirect subsidies for its agricultural products from the EEC, and we derive much agricultural development and production value from such a subsidy. We will therefore continue to support the not purely protective use of subsidies by countries that need our agricultural products for added value production in their markets.

As for the future of FAO, we would agree to reforms that would improve the capability of the Organization to deliver goods and services for which it was founded. But we would not go as far as to accept reforms that change the goals of the Organization. Who should undertake the reviews for reform is of little concern to us, although we would accept that such review should be done with little strain on the budget of the Organization to implement programmes for international co-operation on food and agriculture.

Bourhan KAYAL (Syria) (original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Your Excellency, Ministers, Distinguished Heads and members of Delegations, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure, Sir, to congratulate you on your election as President of this Session of the Conference. I am confident that, thanks to your personal qualities and those of the Vice-Chairmen, you will steer, this Conference to a successful conclusion. The Delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic will do its utmost to assist you in this task.

I would like to seize this opportunity to congratulate those countries of the world suffering from hunger, poverty and deprivation on the; re-election of Dr Edouard Saouma as Director-General of FAO. It is a source of special pride for Syria, under the leadership of President Hafez El Assad, that the son of a fellow sister Arab nation - Lebanon - has been elected. This election reflects the sound wisdom of this Conference.

Mr Director-General, over the past few years, you have provided FAO with those new features and creative strategies needed to tackle the problems of poverty and hunger and to propel agricultural and rural development in the Third World on the road to advancement. Your achievements, Sir, in this field are well-known.

The serious agricultural economic problems and development difficulties facing the Third World and the increasing role played by FAO under your directorship to solve them, embody the future plans and goals of this international Organization.

The people and government of the Syrian Arab Republic pledge their continued support to you and pray to the Lord God to guide your steps in fulfilling FAO's mission to liberate humanity everywhere from poverty and hunger.

The unusual circumstances and pressures faced by our region, have led us to allocate a large share of our resources and budgets for defence pruposes. Yet despite this heavy burden, Syria has succeeded in balancing its development achievements with the requirements of its struggle. We take pride in noting that our achievements in the field of agricultural development reflect the activities of the proposed programme and budget.

Despite what we have realized, we still hope to achieve more to meet the rising requirements of our citizens, as a result of population growth and improved standards of living. To bring this about the current five-year plan accords priority to the agricultural sector as reflected in the decisions of the Conferences of the Baath Arab Socialist Party. I would like to seize this opportunity to put on record my thanks to FAO for the technical support and expertise extended to us in all areas.

Mr President: the attitude of the Syrian Arab Republic as a member of the international community is governed by the existence of nationalistic and humanitarian interrelationships. We thus accorded a great deal of importance to the reference in the Director-General's statement to the world situation in general, and the economic and food situation in particular with millions of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition. We also noted the problems arising out of structured adjustment measures. Our delegation shares the concern expressed by the Director-General over the plight of the developing countries, especially those mainly dependent on their agricultural resources.

We are quite aware of the fact that the problem is not only one of food production, but also of the imbalance between export earnings and the cost of imported basic goods. This increases balance of payments deficits, leads to borrowing and an increased burden of indebtedness, as well as inability to repay creditors. Evidence of this lies in what was said by the Director-General, namely that the losses incurred by developing countries in 1986 amounted to 90 000 billion dollars. This brings us to a subject that may be discussed often, namely economic relations between developing and developed countries - these do not augur well for the continued peace and prosperity of developed countries, while poverty and hunger are on the increase in the Third World.

Mr President, in this statement I must refer to the order of priorities proposed for the 1988-89 biennium and to the importance of achieving a consensus about them. As these priorities were established through the regional conferences and the main committees of the council, they dictate the main roles of the Organization - as an international forum for formulating and discussing strategies and policies, as a major source endowed with the necessary scientific qualities to provide technical advice and co-operation and as an international executing agency for humanitarian projects financed from various sources including the regular programme. I will not dwell further on the subject but simply state that the priority roles of the Organization are very reasonable and balanced ones. Here I would like to make a special reference to the Technical Cooperation Programme and to commend in turn their proven efficiency and effectiveness in achieving the stated purpose for their establishment. The allocations for this programme need to be increased. I will, however, leave the question of resources to the guidance of the Director-General and to the strategies he has established for FAO in this field.

One last but important point I wish to raise, Mr Chairman, is that of the FAO budget. First of all I would like to say that the policies desired by certain governments are not conducive to the Organization undertaking its mandate and assigned role. We reject from the outset the zero growth principle, for if we want this Organization to achieve the goals and objectives laid down in its constitution we must provide it with the means to do so: a strong, sustainable budget. It is inconceivable that vast sums are allocated to increased armament while small financial allocations are withheld though they are intended to combat poverty and hunger that threaten humanity in general.

Finally, we support the Director-General's appeal urging all member countries, especially the major industrialized countries, to back this Organization in undertaking its vast duties.

Philipson KAMARA (Sierra Leone): Please allow me in the first place, to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election to that high office from which you have been able to steer this eventful 24th FAO Conference. My delegation has every confidence in you and your Vice Chairmen to whom I equally extend similar congratulations and wish that you will continue to conduct the affairs on this session in the best traditions of this Organization.

Mr Chairman, I bring to you and to the Conference greetings and best wishes from my Head of State, His Excellency Major General Dr Joseph Saidu Momoh. Permit me also to convey his congratulations to the Director-General of FAO, Dr Edouard Saouma on his re-election to this high office. We believe that his re-election is not only a reaffirmation of the high esteem and respect the majority of member countries have for him, but it is also a demonstration of the determination and conviction of the international community that problems of food, hunger, malnutrition and poverty transcend the boundaries of personalities and vested interests. We are confident that he will continue to uphold the high ideals of his office.

Mr Chairman, the FAO Conference affords us an opportunity to review the food and agriculture situation in our respective countries, share experiences, and determine our priorities for the years ahead. For Sierra Leone, the food situation during the past biennium has not been as cheerful as we would have preferred. Contrary to our expectations and projections, production of the staple food crop rice experienced continuing downward trend to the extent that in 1985-86 we had an unprecedented shortfall of about 180 000 metric tons of our annual national requirements. We had no alternative but to make up for this shortfall through imports which amounted to approximately 42 million US dollars.

This exercise placed an additional burden and severe strain on our fragile foreign exchange earnings. Such a situation is totally unacceptable if we are to survive as a nation and maintain our sovereignty. We are determined, therefore, to arrest this decline and reverse the trend. We are aware it is a formidable task, but we are equally convinced it is not insurmountable. If we aro to convince others to support us we must first demonstrate our commitment to it and take the initiative.

We did so last year when my government launched a Green Revolution Programme. The programme represents our efforts coalesced. It is a declaration of our sincere intention to extricate the country from the throes of recurring production shortfalls and the embarrassment of relying on others to feed us. It is a demonstration of our determination to use our natural endowments to achieve self-sufficiency in our staple foods on a sustained basis. Permit me, Mr Chairman, to sketch briefly the direction, methodology and scope of this programme.

Our Green Revolution Programme places adequate emphasis on the need to create the right atmosphere which will influence and encourage increased production. I refer in particular to attractive producer prices, accessible credits, available inputs and appropriate marketing arrangements, all on a timely basis. Towards this end specific strategies have been mapped out in each sub-sector of the Ministry for the planned period identified within the short, medium and long term phases.

The most immediate objective of the crop sub-sector will be the mobilization of manpower and other resources as well as the creation of incentives through the provision of essential inputs such as improved seed varieties for staple food crops, particularly rice; also fertilizer, pesticides and farm machinery necessary for the implementation of an intensified and sustainable food crop production programme. The programme also calls for the effective use of resource areas with the greatest potentials for rice production, namely inland valley swamps, mangrove swamps, riverain grassland and bolilands in that order of importance.

Mr Chairman, provision has also been made for the production of other crops as a means of broadening the production base by cultivating those crops with a potential to act as alternatives to rice. Strategies have been worked out in respect of crops like cassava, maize, roots and tubers, onion, tomatoes and chillies which offer advantages to achieve this objective.

Under the Fisheries sub-sector of our Green Revolution Programme, my Government places strong emphasis on the implementation of the strategy for fish management and development as recommended by the 1984 FAO World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development. The programme encourages Sierra Leone nationals and other interested parties "to increase domestic production of fish and other acquatic resources to satisfy local demands, fulfil national requirements and increase foreign exchange earnings through exports, particularly of shellfish.

Mr Chairman, the right setting for a viable fishing industry does exist in Sierra Leone with a coastline of 210 miles and a continental shelf of almost 10 000 square miles. To exploit such resources and strengthen the process, we sought and obtained the assistance of FAO to formulate a comprehensive national Fisheries Policy. Our Green Revolution Programme will focus on specific strategies in the fisheries sector as follows:

- Improved national self-reliance in fisheries management and development;

- Optimum use of fish resources;

- Strengthening small-scale fisheries;

- International trade in fish and fisheries products;

- Investment in fisheries including joint ventures; and

- Economic and technical cooperation in Fisheries.

The livestock programme focuses attention on the strengthening of the disease control measures through the provision of adequate diagnostic facilities and the attendant inputs such as drugs, vaccines and laboratory re-agents. The livestock extension services will be strengthened through appropriate training of front line workers responsible for delivering the production packages to livestock farmers. A crash programme on training of field workers which has already begun as part of the short term measures adopted by the Ministry will be extended. Greater emphasis will be placed at commercial levels on short-production cycle animals such as sheep, goats, pigs and poultry.

On cattle, emphasis will be placed on the improvement of the local breed on the Ndama cattle with a view to exploiting its potential for increased production under improved husbandry and management with adequate disease control measures.

The measures proposed for Forestry are mainly directed at conserving the existing forest resources through activities which will bring about a reduction of the present forest loss by at least 30% per annum. Included in these measures are a forest boundary protection programme, rehabilitation of plantations and a package fuel-wood alleviation programme for domestic consumption.

An agro-forestry cropping system aimed at supporting the soil conservation aspect of the Green Revolution Programmé, a national forests inventory, the establishment of saw log plantations, wild life conservation and improvement are also essential aspects of the forestry component.

In the acquaculture and inland Fisheries programme, development will be intensified on inland farming; the strategy will be to develop fish farms, to improve fish farming techniques, and to organize the use of inland valley swamps and existing waterways. The inter-cropping of fish cultivation with swamp rice production for the establishment of fish ponds is being actively encouraged.

Financial resources for funding of the Green Revolution Programme is planned to come from both local and external resources. A Green Revolution Agricultural Fund has been established for the implementation of the Programme to derive its funds from three major sources namely, Sierra Leone Government contributions; private sector contributions and external contributions. The recurrent and development budgets of government will continue to make provision for funding part of this sector. In the area of external funding, my Government will welcome any form of assistance from friendly Governments, international bodies and non-governmental organizations to enable the objectives of the Programme to be realized.

The programme is already under way. Public awareness has been heightened and the political will is evident. External assistance is slowly but positively increasing. Encouraging support has been received from organizations such as the World Bank and IFAD, both of which are jointly funding the Agricultural Sector Support Project. Support from UNDP has also been highly appreciated while positive contributions have also been made by the WFP and other organizations. We are also grateful to many friendly countries for their assistance to Sierra Leone through bilateral programmes and other activities and we implore them to hasten and increase their assistance substantially to this our national effort of an agricultural revolution.

We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude the examplary support and encouragement we have received from the Director-General of FAO towards the Green Revolution Programme. The technical assistance he has given to us in the reformulation of the programme and its action plans has been invaluable. We also acknowledge other FAO activities in Sierra Leone

including the recent establishment of an agricultural documentation centre, improvement of rice milling at village level, inland swamp development, artisanal fisheries and production of fuelwood which are all important. We are convinced that FAO's support to farmers' organizations through NGOs will strengthen people's participation in the programme. I refer in particular to women's groups in agricultural production, processing and marketing. Successes from on-going projects in this field convince us that the direction and methodology are appropriate to our development efforts. We are therefore encouraged to note the emphasis placed on such programmes by FAO in its medium-term objectives for the coming biennium. We would urge that appreciable support be given to FAO particularly through increased Trust Funds to enable the organization implement projects in this field. We make this appeal bearing in mind the budgetary constraints which the Organization faces. We the recipient countries know full well the importance of such programmes in our development efforts and the benefits we have derived and will derive from them. We urge all those in the position to do so, particularly donor countries to support such practical and vivid programmes.

Mr Chairman, let me take this opportunity to express to the Government and people of Italy the gratitude and appreciation of my delegation for the excellent arrangements made for this Conference to make our stay in Rome comfortable since our arrival. We also welcome the prudence and substance of their country statement whose tone and spirit we expect will prevail during our deliberations.

Finally, let me wish the Director-General and the FAO a successful 1987-89 biennium.

Evloqui BONEV (UNDP): It is a privilege and honour for me to represent UNDP at this 24th Session of the Conference. I would like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election to this highly responsible post and to wish you every success in carrying out your challenging task. At the same time, I am most pleased to convey the congratulations of the Administrator of UNDP, Mr Draper, to Mr Saouma upon his re-election as Director-General of this important organization for a new term of office.

As delegates are aware, the United Nations Development Programme works hand in hand with all.the agencies concerned with development in the UN system and co-ordination with all the agencies is therefore one of the most vital elements of our mutual efforts. Indeed, at its June session this year and, more specifically, at its High-Level Segment, the Governing Council of UNDP gave great attention to the relevant General Assembly and ECOSOC resolutions in this respect, and adopted a decision supporting the efforts of the Administrator to assist recipient countries to strengthen their aid co-ordination mechanisms, calling on governments to follow a consistent approach in the various United Nations system governing bodies.

The Governing Council adopted another decision on Operational Activities for Development concerning, in particular, the role of the resident co-ordinators, the use of the United Nations Development Programme country programming process as a framework for operational activities, the co-location of field offices, and the further harmonization of operational procedures.

Mr Chairman, it is our deepest conviction that UNDP could not carry out its mandate without the closest co-operation with its partners, the specialized agencies, whose experience and knowledge in the multiple and complex social and economic sectors are indispensable. In this respect, FAO - one of our major partners with which we have had very fruitful co-operation over the last decades - is highly valued by UNDP. We greatly appreciate its very qualified co-operation in assisting the recipient governments in the formulation of their Country Programmes for this five-year cycle. Around 120 of the 150 Programmes, totalling nearly $ 3 billion of UNDP contributions, have already been approved by the Governing Council. The rest will, most likely, be approved in February 1988. This was possible only with the tireless work of the three parties concerned: recipient governments, executing agencies, and UNDP.

It was indeed most gratifying to hear, in Mr Saouma's statement, his reaffirmation of FAO's commitment to pursue its efforts for coordination with the organizations in the UN system, including UNDP. We appreciate FAO's commitment to enhance its cooperation with NGOs active in the rural sector. Also, we commend whole-heartedly the field programmes envisaged by FAO for the future, with emphasis on investment promotion, the strengthening of national capacities, education and training, women in rural development and ecological concerns.. Let me assure you that we, in UNDP, stand ready to co-operate fully for the effective fulfilment of these aims.

Entering into the new 5-year UNDP Programming Cycle, we should be aware of the fact that a new chapter in world development has begun to unfold. In every region, nations are discarding old solutions to the problems they have faced throughout the decade. A global pursuit of new policies is under way. The changes we now observe in the world call upon organizations such as ours to make an intense effort at readjusting to present realities.

The major problems with which the developing countries - and especially the least developed - are. at present faced are interwoven with each other. Most developing countries find their economies in an unsettled state. Demand for exports has fallen and commodity prices sunk. Debt payments have claimed larger percentages of national earnings. Revenues available for development have thus declined and domestic investment levels dropped. The food problem in Africa continues to persist. The continuing vulnerability of developing country economies to external shocks ha brought home to Governments a number of shortcomings in their policy-making processes and management systems.

One of their first responses has been to try to overcome these inadequacies through more judicious use of technical co-operation resources. In Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean UNDP and its agency partners are being asked to provide technical assistance to countries to manage their economies more efficiently, to provide advice on debt and structural readjustment strategies, and to help boost agricultural and industrial production. Human resources development should, in this respect, receive priority attention as this is vital to the achievement of self-reliance in developing countries. It is encouraging to note, therefore, that FAO is actively applying the guidelines on "New dimensions in technical co-operation, which call inter alia for support to Technical

Co-operation among developing countries, government execution of projects, the use of national experts and United Nations volunteers. We in UNDP, in close co-operation with the specialized agencies and especially with the major ones such as FAO, are doing our utmost to meet the expectations of the developing countries.

Mr Chairman, in the new country programmes, the development of agriculture, the transfer of appropriate technology, the protection of the environment, and activities aimed at promoting the role of women in development are being given greater emphasis while, at the same time adhering to major global objetives such as alleviation of poverty, food security, the supply of clean drinking water and sanitation which all feature as priorities for the new cycle. We are pleased to note that the FAO Programme of Work and Budget proposal for the biennium 1988-89 gives emphasis on increasing agricultural productivity in developing countries, while at the same time. ensuring the conserational management of the natural resources which form the base of such productivity. Indeed, it transpires from the statistical tables of estimates that UNDP is the major source of funds for activities directly related to productivity - crops, livesLock, fisheries utilization and forest resources .

I am glad to inform you that UNDP, on its side, has given institutional shape to its efforts to bring into the mainstream of development the intellectual abilities and talents of women, as well as the energies of non-governmental organizations, with which a closer relationship will contribute to making a greater impact on the well-being of the most needy layers of the populations.

The interest expressed lately in accelerated development of the private sector has been taken duly into account during the formulation of programmes. In Africa, in particular, regional and country programmes support, among others, the preparation of private investment proposals, and provide for training in marketing, management and related activities with emphasis on small enterprises.

Mr Chairman, regarding the UNDP resource situation, the year 1987 was marked for UNDP by record total income topping the billion dollar mark. As to 1988, at the Joint United Nations Pledging Conference which ended on Wednesday 4 November 1987, total contributions to UNDP and associated funds rose above last year's record high by over 10 percent and are expected to reach a new peak of over $ 1 billion. The position of the dollar played a part in this result, but most of the increases came from higher national currency contributions - close to 7 percent.

I want to extend our profound thanks to all the donor countries, to all the taxpayers in those countries and to ail the people in these countries who have supported UNDP in different ways and who have helped us to make such a difference. We give our warmest gratitude particularly to those major donor countries which not only met the target of a 7 percent increase in their contributions to UNDP in national currencies, but also made commendable efforts to surpass it. Finland increased its contribution by 17.17.%; Norway 10.9%; Sweden 10%-; Italy 10%; Spain 10%; New Zealand 10%; Denmark 8.4%; Australia 8%; Federal Republic of Germany 7.9% and Canada 77.

I should, I think, single out Japan, which gives its contribution in United States dollars and which has indicated an increase of 14.1%. thus taking third place in the order of our major donors.

We hope that this healthy trend in the resource situation of UNDP will continue during this cycle and will give the developing countries the possibility of implementing their country, regional and global programmes the way they themselves have designed them. We hope very much that agriculture will continue to be given high priority by recipient governments as well.

As for UNDP, it has a network of 112 field offices and its regional representatives will continue their efforts, in cooperation with the country representatives of FAO, to arouse the awareness of governments to the importance of this basic sector.

Mr Chairman, in view of the importance we attach to our cooperation and equal partnership with executing agencies, UNDP has initiated some new endeavours to further expand the dialogue with their Secretariats and to explore together new approaches in confronting new challenges, to find together solutions to problems which occur and to identify priority areas where our common action will lead to the best results. This started with a visit to FAO Headquarters by our Associate Administrator, Arthur Brown, earlier this year.

Similar meetings have taken place with other agencies as well. Following the review meetings, we are happy to inform you that a letter has been sent to Resident Representatives in the field offices instructing them to give full effect to the conclusions which were reached at these meetings. This dialogue will certainly be pursued, and we are convinced that it will help us to redefine the orientation of our activities in the field and increase its efficiency.

Ghulam Mohammed BAHRAM (Afghanistan): I have the honour and pleasure to participate in the 24th Conference of FAO. On behalf of my delegation, I congratulate you on your election to this important job. I would also like to congratulate Dr Edouard Saouma on his reelection to the post of the Director-General of FAO.

Mr Chairman, the economy of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan depends to a great extent on agricultural products. The gross national product amounted to a total of AFS. 155 300 000 000 showing a growth rate of 3.3%. Of this, agricultural, animal husbandry and forestry outputs grew at a rate of 1.6%, realizing 97.2% of the planned targets. The gross income from this sector amounted to AFS. 89 billion.

In 1986, 68.8% of the outputs of the agricultural sector were composed of plant and 31.2% of animal and forestry products. Like plant outputs, animal products have a tremendous importance to the growth of Afghanistan's national economy. Sheep-breeding had reached a higher stage of development in Afghanistan until a few years ago. However, due to a few recurrent droughts during the past few years and the resultant scarcity of fodder and pasture, a large number of sheep have been slaughtered. The Afghan nomads, who number approximately 1.5 million, are mostly engaged in rearing sheep. Like­wise, breeding karakul lambs (which enjoy an international reputation) constitutes the main occupation of the inhabitants of a number of our provinces. And the sale of karakul pelts is considered a sure source of foreign exchange. However, the present agricultural, animal husbandry and forestry outputs do not keep pace with population growth and hence cannot meet all the needs of the people and those of growing industries.

Taking into account the extraordinary importance of agriculture to the growth of the national economy in its present stage, the development of agriculture constitutes one of the basic targets of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan which in itself calls for the development of the rural areas and the raising of the standards of living of farmers and agricultural workers, who make up the largest stratum in the country, to attain a better socio-economic status.

Mr Chairman, it is more than 9 years since a national democratic revolution has triumphed in our land. And it is evolving at the will of the masses. We have sustained heavy damages during the past few years at the hands of the extremists at the behest of their outside patrons. The brunt of this is borne by the farmers who make up the bulk of the work force that is aligned with the working class.

Our party and our Government believe in solving problems through political negotiation and not by resorting to force. As you are aware, Mr Chairman, we recently convened the Second PDPA Conference in the light of national reconciliation. Analysing the real state of our society and the demands of the people, the Conference made the necessary changes in our policy in order to fully contribute to the success of the national democratic revolution. We regard the national reconciliation as the only alternative to war so that we may be able to attain a nationwide peace. And we are fighting for this. This policy not only enjoys vast support inside the country but has earned us much backing in the international arena.

Likewise, we have allowed a coalition government and even a multi-party system to ensure more democracy and enable other parties to operate. The new constitution, whose draft has been subject to public discussion, will soon be adopted and come into effect. Obviously, these improvements have their impact on society, benefitting all strata and classes, including the farmers who constitute the bulk of the population. Thus the share of such classes in the administration will be expanded, contributing to the rise in their standard of living and boosting the farmers' output.

Mr Chairman, the national reconciliation policy was promulgated in January 1987 and its objectives are being realized. The main idea behind this policy is to end war and bloodshed, ensure domestic security and thus create a secure atmosphere for socio-economic activities. Farmers and other villagers have definitely benefitted from the advantages of this national reconciliation policy. People's accredited delegates have taken part in regional and local reconciliation commissions. They have been creating favourable conditions for the inhabitants to carry out their agricultural activities in a secure manner. Through these national reconciliation commissions and executive committees (participated in by the farmers' delegates) farmers can obtain chemical fertilizers, credits and technical agricultural services offered by Government organs on easy terms.

Following the announcement of the national reconciliation policy, 90 000 expatriates have returned home, taking advantage of the facilities provided by the Government.

The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Revolutionary Council has issued a decree proposed by the head office of the National Reconciliation Commission, as a result of which farmers are returning home. According to this edict, overdue taxes, interest on credits and other arrears on their part with respect to past years have been written off.

Recently, the Presidium of the DRA Revolutionary Council issued another decree covering basic principles organizing land and water distribution in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the interest of the vast strata of landless farmers and those with little land, taking into account the features characterizing land utilization as well as Islamic rules and popular traditions with a view to strengthening the land ownership rights of all strata possessing land, landless farmers and those with little land, as well as the agricultural labourers. According to these principles, a reasonable mechanism will be created to organize the necessary land relationships in an economical way for the subsequent growth of productive forces. In like manner, this decree raised the land ownership ceiling to 20 hectares of first grade land or an equivalent thereof, based on economic analysis. Thus, the private entrepreneurs and other individuals who engage in mechanized farming will be able to enjoy better possibilities, forestalling the splitting up of vineyards and orchards while the arable lands belonging to sacred shrines are no longer subject to any limitation. Of course, all this has been done to boost production and help the farmers.

It must be pointed out that the returning villagers, including the farmers, need foodstuffs, clothing and other essentials which are partly provided by the Soviet Union and other Socialist countries.

In the economic sphere, during the past few months we have witnessed the convening of the first vast congress of private entrepreneurs. At this gathering, the part played by the private sector in agriculture, industries and transportation was valued highly. Men with capital have already launched productive projects in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, industries and food production. These have assumed the form of mixed private companies as well as public and private plants. We have been able to set up several projects in the private sector.

On the other hand, the Government has been cooperating with these firms by providing consultative services, facilities for the export of domestic products and import of machinery. Credit on easy terms is granted to private entrepreneurs through the Industrial Development Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank. Now the Economic Consultative Council attached to the DRA Council of Ministers organizes the realization of the decisions of the above congress.

During the previous year, a number of Government projects engaged in commercial transactions change their status into enterprises in order to organize their profits and losses, so avoiding bureau­cratic red tape. In this way, the management of each project will have a free hand in order to boost output by enjoying independence, feeling more responsibility and thus using more initiative.

Since the socio-economic development plans of the Government are based on the needs and demands of the people, regional socio-economic plans were prepared as requested by the people. The Government allocated funds to budget these. This year, a total of Afs. 168 million was earmarked for this purpose in addition to appropriations under the development plan for the agricultural sector.

Mr Chairman, in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan chemical fertilizers and improved seeds are supplied by the Government agencies at cut rates because the administration subsidizes these to strengthen the economy of the farmers. Also, the distribution system created for this purpose is reviewed from time to time in order to evolve improved processes.

Recently, a series of actions was taken by the Government to expand cotton and sugarbeet cultivation. For instance, cotton and sugarbeet cultivators receive an additional Afs. 9 332 against the delivery of each ton of raw cotton and Afs. 1 100 against that of a ton of sugarbeet as an incentive. Likewise, mechanised farms enjoy concessions by paying Afs. 200 against the use of a tractor per hour, while this actually costs the Government Afs. 800. The difference is evidently subsidized. Farmers who cultivate cotton or sugarbeet in public lands are exempt from delivering their produce or paying taxes. Furthermore, cotton and sugarbeet cultivators purchase their essentials at cut rates.

In order to help the farmers financially, their tax dues from 1971 to 1975 totalling Afs. 2 564 million have been written off.

Veterinary services are also supplied free of charge in our country. During the past year, a total of 13 million heads of cattle were either treated or protected while 10 million doses of various vaccines were manufactured and applied.

In connection with the development of animal husbandry, we have been trying to improve animal strains through artificial insemination. For this purpose, a number of artificial insemination stations have been built in various provinces. And this service will be further expanded to cover the whole country.

Mr Chairman, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Government is giving top priority to wheat production. The idea is to make the country self-reliant as far as wheat consumption is concerned. Last year, a total of 2.75 million tons of wheat was produced. Owing to satisfactory rainfall at the beginning of the wheat season, we are hoping that production will be equally good this year. Also fruit and vegetable outputs are assessed to be plentiful this year.

The Democratic Republic of Afhanistan Government has undertaken vast plans to rehabilitate and protect forests. Action has already been initiated to utilize solar energy and coal to avoid fire wood resulting in the indiscriminate cutting of trees.

Mr Chairman, the recurrent droughts during the past few years have been one of the factors hindering the full realization of development plans. However, the Government has adopted serious and effective measures to supply to farmers technical and material aids. With more farmers returning home and their active participation in ensuring peace in the rural areas, we are hoping to witness satisfactory advances in agricultural production and the animal husbandry and -forestry outputs in the near "future.

Mr Chairman, World Food Day is marked with due pomp in our country every year. This year, a joint message was issued by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan Central Committee and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Revolutionary Council and Council of Ministers on this occasion, expressing the hope for adequate nutrition for humans to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.

Mr Chairman, our country is in dire need of international and outside assistance to develop various aspects of agriculture. The assistance rendered to Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, among other fraternal socialist nations, is of tremendous importance to us because this enables us to boost our agricultural production. Meanwhile, we are interested in seeing WFP aid resumed because our farmers are returning home and WFP food aid can be very well utilized against physical exertion such as agricultural and rural development efforts.

Mr Chairman, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Government is grateful for FAO and UNDP assistance and needs more help to implement its agricultural development plans and programmes. The economic and technical assistance rendered by the UNDP and FAO for the development of agriculture

is very useful for Afghanistan's socio-economic development. We are hoping that with the help of FAO the pipeline projects proposed by us will be approved. These are evidently apart from our present projects. We also need your assistance in connection with agricultural research, cooperatives, plant protection and forestry, irrigation, animal husbandry, veterinary services and pastures so that we may be able to receive technical services, equipment and supplies and meanwhile get our personnel trained in their respective fields.

The people and the Government of Afghanistan are desiring the establishment of peace, social justice, fraternity and an adequate supply of food for all mankind.

Scott Gblorzuo TOWEH (Liberia): On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia, and that of my delegation, I wish to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Italy for the warm hospitality accorded us upon our arrival here in Rome.

May I extend our warm congratulation to Dr Edouard Saourna on his re-election. His overwhelming election is the manifestation of member countries' satisfaction with the manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the Organization. It is very rare for one to be elected to a UN specialized agency position for a third time. It is only a man with such a shining level of integrity, honesty and capability like Dr Saouma who should enjoy and deserve such an opportunity to head al. organization like FAO. Meanwhile we have always been very pleased with his capability and efficiency in conducting the affairs of this Organization. Therefore my Government looks forward to a better and fruitful relationship during his tenure, and wishes him all the success as he begins another tenure of battle in the cause of suffering humanity.

Mr Chairman, as we attempt to review the global food situation let me again echo that the food and agriculture situation of the third world, especially Africa, continues to be faced with stagnation, and in some cases, abject insufficiency.

The sluggish demand for primary exports of the third world, the collapse of commodity prices, the excruciating debt burden, the servicing of which requires devotion of about 50 percent or more of our export earnings, the protectionist measures that restrict access of African products to the markets of the developed countries, and malpractices of transnational cooperation, manipulating commodity prices by over-invoicing imports and under in-invoicing exports, have in one way or the other stagnated or even decreased food and agriculture productivity in Africa. In addition to these complex factors that limit agricultural production and productivity are drought and desertification, crop invasion by grasshoppers, locusts and field crickets, deforestation and, particularly in the Southern Africa sub-region, the destabilization policies of the apartheid regime of South Africa. It is apparent therefore, that the absolute concern of this Conference must be the rapidly increasing needs for food resources to satisfy the millions of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition.

Mr Chairman, my delegation extends its compliments to the Director-General and the FAO secretariat for their awareness of the problems and needs to the third world countries in preparing the Programme of Work and Budget 1987-88, moreso at this moment when the Organization is going through financial difficulties. My delegation is pleased with the treatment given to agriculture, fishery, and forestry and in particular FAO efforts to assist developing countries improve their food and agriculture statistics and price data collection. We hope that the programme for the 1990 World Census of Agriculture will constitute another vehicle for further enhancement of statistics. We look forward to receiving technical assistance that will prepare my country for the implementation of the 1990 World Census of Agriculture, and for improvement in the areas of farming systems development and manpower training. We fully support the Programme of Work and Budget. We notice that in spite of the tremendous needs for improving food and agricultural production and productivity in the third world, the budget reflects a mere 0.25 percent increase in real terms. We hope that all member countries of FAO will pay their financial contributions promptly so that the objectives and priorities set for the biennium can be attained.

Touching on the food and agriculture situation of Liberia, my Government continues to place maximum importance on providing services such as extension, credit, marketing, input supply and price policy as the basic and essential thrust of our agriculture policies and development programmes, our integrated rural development programme, continues to focus on ameliorating the over-all quality of life style and income level of the small farmers.

My Government therefore remains committed to every effort to improve the food and agriculture situation: notwithstanding, our ellorts require more external support. In this light, and in keeping with the socio-economic development goals of the Country, my Government has set five-year basic objectives which are now being implemented as follows: first, to raise domestic agriculture production and productivity, and achieve self-sufficiency in food production, thereby improving the socio-economic conditions of the rural farmers; second, the development of small farmers who will produce to feed two or three persons besides themselves; and third, nucleus estates will be established in each county where trained agricultural personnel will be mobilized from technical Agriculture Institutes within the Country to form the core of a new breed of farmers. These agriculturists will have access to supervised credit and extension packages supplemented with the use of modern skills and technology to raise the food production level within each assigned country.

This in short, is the bedrock of our social and economic goal which essentially constitutes the programme of work of the Liberian Green Revolution launched in 1986 by our President, Dr Samuel Kanyon Doe. Our Green Revolution has continued to receive world wide comments and recognition from Foreign Governments and multi-donor agencies, and my Government is very grateful to all Agencies and many friendly countries which have come to our aid in this regard.

At the national level, our Green Revolution is now taking roots. Last year, our Agricultural Marketing Corporation was able to purchase twenty million pounds of paddy rice from our farmers; this quantity was 6 percent of total production produced by farmers throughout the Country.

However, one of our problems is the lack of facilities such as storage, silos, and processing equipment. This quantity of paddy rice was purchased in three of our countries that have those facilities. This is where a great deal of assistance will be needed in the very near future. My delegation would like to thank the Danish Government for providing much of the existing facilities.

We therefore, appeal to Donor countries to assist us with storage and agro-processing facilities to enable us purchase the surpluses from our small farmers produce; this we believe will encourage farmers to produce more while at the same time reaping the benefits of their sweat.

We wish again to express our gratitude to the Director-General and staff of FAO for sending us an expert who is revising our Green Revolution document into a programme of action which we hope will attract more technical and financial support from friendly government and international donor agencies. We are also pleased to note that the FAO in-depth study on expanding the provision of Agricultural input as aid in kind will definitely boost agriculture development in the third world countries, particularly in Africa, where we are presently facing severe foreign exchange problems. We do also hope that the recommendations of this study will be accepted by the donor community.

My delegation takes this opportunity to thank friendly governments and international agencies, particularly FAO, UNDP, the Japanese Government, and IFAD for their assistance including financial and technical support for the implementation of our Green Revolution, and other rural development programmes. We appreciate all current and proposed agricultural development programmes sponsored by FAO/UNDP in my country.

Finally, allow me to take this special opportunity to congratulate you and your corps of officers upon your election, which has enabled you to chair this historic twenty-fourth session of FAO. My delegation is confident that you will perform your duties with pride and dignity in the interests of mankind.

Jean-Baptiste YONKE (Cameroun): Monsieur le Président, au nom de la délégation camerounaise que je conduis á cette vingt-quatriéme session de la Conference de la FAO, et en mon nom personnel, je vous Présente mes chaleureuses felicitations pour votre brillante election et celle des autres membres du Bureau a la direction de nos travaux. Ma dédégation vous assure de toute sa collaboration pour le plein succés de votre mission.

Deux valeureux et trés compétents candidats étaient en course pour le poste de Directeur général de la FAO: M. Edouard SAOUMA, du Liban, et M. MoIse Christophe MENSAH, digne fils d'Afrique, soutenu par l'Organisation de l’Unité Africaine. Le verdict des urnes a tranché en faveur de Monsieur Edouard SAOUMA dont personne, d'ailleurs, ne conteste les qualités, ainsi qu'il en a fait preuve dans l'exercice de ses deux premiers mandats. En tant que Chef du Secretariat, le Directeur general est le premier des serviteurs de notre Organisation. Il importe done que tous, comme M. Mensah lui-meme et le Delegue du Benin, son pays d'origine, ont eu la noblesse d'ame de le dire les premiers. ce qui est á leur honneur, apportent au candidat elu l'appui et les encouragements qui lui sont nécessaires pour mener á bien sa haute charge.

En consequence, au nom de ma délégation et en mon nom personnel, j'adresse au Directeur général réélu mes félicitations et I'assure de la coopération du Couvernement de la République du Cameroun dans les efforts qu'il déploiera en vue de l’accomplissement de l'importante mission humanitaire assignee á la FAO par les Nations Unies et la Communauté internationale.

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Directeur général, honorables délégués et observateurs, la présente Conférence se tient au moment oÙ mon pays, tout comme bien d'autres en Afrique et ailleurs, se trouve Plongé dans une conjoncture économique difficile. En effet, mon pays subit de plein fouet les effets terriblement néfastes de la crise économique et financiére internationaie. Cette conjoncture économique difficile, résulte essentiellement de la détérioration des termes de l'échange, de la chute catastrophique des cours de nos Principaux produits d'exportation d'origine agricole (notamment cacao, cafe, coton, huile de palme) et pétrolifére. . Cette chute brutale des cours de 40 voire meme de 50 pour cent d'une année a l’autre pour certains de nos produits est, de surcroit, combinée avec la baisse du taux de conversion du dollar. De plus, la mévente de nos produits agricoles d'exportation vient aggraver la situation en créant des problémes de stockage et d'emmagasinage difficiies á résoudre.

De ce qui précéde il résulte une réduction drastique de nos recettes d'exportation, de l'ordre de 200 á 300 milliards de Francs CFA cette année. La poursuite de nos efforts d'importation des biens d'équipement est freinee, faute de ressources suffisantes en devises. Bref, la description qu'a faite le Directeur general dans sa Déclaration quant aux effets néfastes de l’environnement économique international défavorable, sur les économies des pays Africains, est éloquente, precise, etn'appelle pas d'autres commentaires de ma part.

Face à cette situation, devenue dangereuse pour le maintien au moins à son niveau très enviable de 7 pour cent du taux de croissance économique annuelle de notre pays, le President de la République, Son Excellence Monsieur Paul BIYA, définissait et prescrivait à la nation le, 20 juin dernier, un Plan de rigueur, heureusement accepté, sinon dans l'enthousiasme géngéral mais du moins avec un sens de responsabilité remarquable par notre peuple, témoignant ainsi, à la face du monde, s'ii en était encore besoin, de sa maturité. Les principaux axes de ce Plan de rigueur, reposent sur la suppression du gaspillage et l’assainissement de la gestion des ressources matérielles et financiéres de l'Etat. Dans le domaine agricole, l’option en faveur de l’agriculture, considérée comme la priorite des priorites, a été réaffirmée; le développement du secteur rural restant le support de notre économie, la production nationale sera stimulée par:

- l’accroissement et la diversification de nos productions agro-pastorales dans le but notamment de consolider notre autosuffisance alimentaire,

- -la promotion de l’expioitation et de la valorisation de nos ressources forestiéres tout en préservant l’environnement et la qualité de vie de nos populations.

La realisation de nos objectifs de production agricole appelle naturellement l’utilisation intensive des intrants agricoles notamment les engrais, les pesticides et les machines agricoles qui, n'étant pas encoe produits sur le plan national, doivent ëtre importés. Or, comme indiqué précédemment, nos disponibilités en devises diminuent en me temps que ênos recettes d'exportation. Mon pays attend done, avec intêrêt, la suite qui sera réservée à l’étude de faisabilité faite par

la FAO à la demande la Conférence régionale pour l'Afrique et dont les résultats font l'objet d'un point important de l'ordre du jour de la présente Conférence. Le succés de notre programme de promotion des exploitations agricoles de moyenne importance (EAMI), inscrit au Vième Plan National de Développement Economique et Socio-Culturel 1986 - 1991 est sous la dépendance directe de la disponibilité des intrants agricoies, y compris les semences améliorées, qui seront mis à la disposition du nouveau corps d'exploitants agricoies d'élite en cours de création.

En vue d'une exploitation plus rationnelle et intensive, le recensement de toutes les espéces animales domestiques ainsi que l'inventaire de toutes les ressources halieutiques disponibles sont programmés sur toute l'étendue du territoire national, line haute importance est accordée à l'amélioration des methodes d'élevage du gros bétail (bovin) et de l’amélioration des techniques d'utilisation et de gestion des pâturages ainsi que la vulgarisation de I'utiIisation des spus-produits des industries agro-alimentaires pour l’alimentation animale.

La promotion de i'élevage du petit bétail est assurée par l’Office National de Développement de l'Aviculture et du Petit Bétail (ONDAPB).

La pêcihe maritime et continentale, ainsi que la pisciculture, bénéficient également d'une attention toute particuliére du Gouvernement, compte tenu de la contribution importante de ce secteur à la couverture des besoins en protéines animales des populations.

Nos ressources forestières sont considerables, mais insuffisamment exploitées. Le Centre National de Developpement des Forêts (CENDADEFOR) s'occupe de l'inventaire de ces ressources et de la promotion, de la transformation et de l’utiiisation du bois; tandis que l'Office National de Regeneration des Forets (ONAREF) a la charge du renouvellement des ressources forestières nationales en même temps qu'elle mène une lutte active contre la desertification, notamment dans la zone sahélienne Camerounaise, par le reboisernent. L'exploitation accrue et rationnelle de nos ressources forestières apportera une contribution tres importante á la lutte contre le chomage et i'exode rural par la creation de plusieurs centaines de milliers d'emplois nouveaux.

Dans le cadre du Plan d'Action Forestier Tropical, une équipe de la FAO vient, sur financement du Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement (PNUD), de produire une étude remarquable portant sur l’analyse et la planification du secteur forestier du Cameroun. Mon pays attend avec un vif intéret les suites qui seront données á cette etude par la Communauté internationaie.

Monsieur le Président, tel est le rÔle eminent que l’agriculture joue et doit jouer encore longtemps dans l’economie du Cameroun. Si mon pays éprouve déjá une legitime fierté quant á sa relative autosuffisance alimentaire quantitative, notre autosuffisance alimentaire qualitative reste encore à conquerir. En effet, des problémes d'équilibre nutritionnel sont encore poses et appellent des actions d'education et de formation en matiére de nutrition. C'est pourquoi le Gouvernement, au sein du Parti National de Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC) et dans les Services Techniques Specialisés, déploie des efforts immenses non seuiement en vue de la promotión et de l’intégration de la femme camerounaise dans le processus de développement économique general, mais aussi en vue de l'éducation et de la formation de la femme et de la mere camerounaises dont le role est primordial dans la production vivriére et l’alimentation equilibreée des populations, et en particuiier des enfants.

Le Gouvernement est pleinement conscient que les objectifs que j'ai esquisses ne peuvent être atteints que grace à la mobilisation, à la bonne gestion et á l’utilisation effective de toutes les ressources humaines, materielles et financiéres disponibles. II ne neglige aucun effort dans ce sens. Une vigou-reuse impulsion est désormais donnée au mouvement coopératif, aux coopératives et aux Unions de coopératives qui permettent aux agriculteurs d'assumer la gestion directe de leurs propres affaires, de tirer le maximum de benefice de leur labeur et, en définitive, de se prendre en charge eux-mêmes.

Monsieur le Président, le Cameroun a célébré, avec une ferveur particuliére, la Journée Mondiale de l’Alimentation, placée cette année trés heureusement sous le thème de réflexion portant sur les "Petits Agriculteurs"; la trés grande majorité des paysans camerounais sont précisément de petits exploitants agricoies avec une superfice moyenne individuelle de á 2 hectares seulement de plantations.

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Directeur général, Honorables Délégués et Observateurs, mon pays croit à la coopération technique internationale et a l'arnitie entre les peuples. Les pays industrialises ne seraient pas ce qu'ils sont s'il n'y avait pas les pays en développement. Les pays industrialises ne deviendront pas ce qu'ils aspirent a devenir sans les pays en développement.

L'Afrique, qui comprend mon pays, est un continent potentiellement trés riche mais présentement tres pauvre, le plus pauvre du monde. A ce titre, il mérite toute l’attention que le Directeur général, au nom de l’Organisation, lui a portee dans le passé et continuera à lui porter dans le futur. D'avance nous l'en remercions et lui rendons hommage pour ce qu'il a déjà fait en faveur de ce continent.

A notre humble avis, rien ne doit être négligé pour rendre notre Organisation toujours plus perfor-mante. Les résultats déjà enregistrés dans la poursuite de la réalisation de ses nobles objectifs et idéaux sont dignes d'éloges. Mais, avec le Directeur general de la FAO, nous disons que: ^“Comme toute entreprise humaine, la FAO est perfectible". Je suis d'autant plus l'aise pour evoquer cette question de perfectibilite que j'etais déiégué de l'Afrique au Comité ad hoc de sept membres (un par Region) créé par la Conference en 1967 et chargé d'étudier et de proposer la structure generale qui, pour l’essentiel, regit encore le fonctionnement interne de la FAO aujourd'hui, soit vingt ans après.

J'aborde ainsi la question des reformes qui, à notre humble avis, ne devrait effrayer personne. Force est de déplorer qu'au sein du Secretariat comme dans l’Organisation, d'aucuns n'ont pas su ou cru devoir dissocier les propositions,ou meme l'idee de réformes, de la campagne pour l’élection du Directeur général et, ont de ce fait, dévié voire faussé le problème. Mais, a présent que les lampions se sont éteints sur les elections et que les éventuelles passions se sont tues, il convient d'examiner la question de réformes ou pas de réformes avec objectivite, en gardant en tout etat de cause présent a l'esprit, qu'une institution qui ne se remet pas périodiquement en question dans le réexamen de ses priorites, de ses méthodes de travail et de ses procédures, prend le grave risque de se scleroser, et, ce faisant, de réduire son efficacité et son dynamisme. Sans doute ne perdra-t-on pas égaiement de vue que le Secretariat est au service de l’Organisation et non l'inverse. Accordant la plus grande attention aux opinions librement, democratiquement et souverainement exprimées par les Etats Membres, individuellement ou coll ectivement, le Secrétariat devrait rechercher avec mêthode, et avec toute l’objectivite voulue, les points communs entre les positions exprimees et élaborer les propositions de compromis susceptibles d'etre accepées par tous et faciiiter ainsi la mise en oeuvre du principe de decision par consensus cher a notre Organisation. Dans cette perspective, le Secretariat ne semble pas, à ma connaissance, avoir élaboré et soumis é l'examen de la Conference une analyse approfondie et compléte montrant clairement sur les plans normatif, technique et operationnel, les avantages et les inconvenients des propositions de reformes avancecs par certains Etats Membres individuellement ou coilectivement. La Conference aurait enormement beneficie d'un tel éclairage!

Avant de conclure, permettez-moi de dire la profonde reconnaissance de mon pays à la FAO pour l'aide technique et financière, multiple, diversified et adequate qu'elle lui apporte et qui contribue tres utilement à ses efforts pour accroStre ses productions agricoles vivrières et d'exportation et sortir progressivement du sous-développement économique. Ma Délegation souhaite vivement que la Communaute internationale apporte des ressources financieres accrues à cette Organisation dont le role est vital pour l'avenir des pays en developpement.

Mon pays apprécie egaiement tres hauternent la nouvelle dimension que prend le Programme alimentaire mondial en s'orientant plus resolument vers des activites de developpement par le soutien alimentaire aux projets et par des operations triangulaires.

Et pour terminer, puisse l'esprit de solidarite humaine et de comprehension mutuelle triompher et ouvrir de façon irreversible la voie royale d'une coopération universeile toujours plus accrue entre les Etats, les peuples et les hommes, tous citoyens fondamentalement égaux de notre planete terre.

Je vous remercie pour votre aimable attention.

Mohamed Mahraoud DESSOUKI (Egypt) (original language Arabic): In the name of God the Merciful, Mr Chairman, Mr. Director-General, Excellencies, Ministers and Members of the Delegations, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Arab Republic of Egypt and its Government, I wish to congratulate the head of the Kuwaiti Delegation on his election. We really hold great hope for success in this Plenary. We hope that during this session the Conference will come up with constructive conclusions so as to further bolster the role of FAO in the food and agricultural sector, especially at this point in time which is under an economic crisis. I hope that this will not jeopardize the hopes of developing countries.

We are also very pleased to most cordially congratulate Dr Edouard Saouma on his re-election to the Director-Generalship of FAO JE for a new term. We praise his experience, efficiency and skill at running FAO, and we also hope he will be most successful in this very difficult mission at this very difficult point in time, especially owing to the unbalanced and unstable food and agricultural situation.

Mr Chairman, the celebration of this particular session is under the gloom of the difficulties in developing countries, but to this we must add the debt situation which is there as a threat and deprives countries of their resources. Furthermore, there has been a decline in the price of oil, and this has had a negative impact on aid. Also, the negative interest rates have made it very difficult to have a flow of resources from developed to developing countries. We call on all developing countries to join efforts to resolve this problem. We address the international community and ask it not to neglect this problem and take all the necessary measures to relieve the economic burdens of developing countries. We must also recognize that we are all in the same boat. It will be difficult to find a safe harbour if each crew member is not convinced of the fact that his security is dependent on the security of others. Agricultural development and peace work hand in hand, and these two points have always been the major accent of the policies of our country. We have always aimed at providing wellbeing to our country by providing incentives for agriculture and collective and individual initiative so as to achieve a true form of agricultural development, thanks to strategies, plans and programmes for the medium and long-term and also aiming at revising agricultural policies and pricing policies, aiming at greater efficiency in ail agricultural bodies and giving incentives to soil protection arid agricultural protection.

All these policies have borne fruit, and there has been an increase in productivity. Self reliance has been achieved, thanks to some harvests for certain crops. Now the transfer of appropriate technology is of great importance, and therefore the next five-year plan will comprise plant genetic programmes. We believe that this is one way of achieving a new green revolution and having an expansion of protected forms of agriculture. FAO has provided us with assistance in this field by holding an international symposium attended by many Egyptian specialists and experts from ail over the world. During that symposium a number of recommendations were made, and we are implementing them.. This plan also included programmes for integrating control methods to increase productivity, preserving at one and the same time a balanced situation in the environment. All these are areas in which there can be cooperation between FAO and the developing countries.

Mr Chairman, the locusts are once again attacking Africa. There have recently been outbreaks in northern Sudan, and of course this has been a threat to the"southern areas of Egypt. Although our country has made major efforts to do away with this particular pest, nontheless we are asking FAO to step up efforts, not only in those countries which have fallen victim to locusts, but also in neighbouring countries which are threatened by this pest. We are also asking donor countries that have locusts control plans to give support to these countries, Mr Chairman.

FAO is currently faced with a true cash flow crisis. Nobody within the UN system escapes this particular situation, and therefore it has been very useful and also wise to study the work of the Organization and its plans in the light of these new developments. All countries are contributing constructively to dealing with this crisis and are providing support to the technical and economic programmes of FAO. Egypt supports the reduction in general expenditures such as travel expenses, limitation of field personnel to only vital matters, the cutting down on external meetings and also the level of services resorting to national personnel, restricting the number of contracts given to advisors from outside the Organization and tapping the full potential existing within the FAO. We believe that the importance of the regular programme, the TCP, the field programmes and the secretariat work give continuity and coordination to all activities according to well defind plans.

The Director-General of the Organization could well submit to the Council all the projects adopted within the framework, of this particular programme. We also believe that it is possible to have some further cuts, especially on the reports of meetings, because we believe that reports of meetings should only contain recommendations and conclusions. As far as the organization of the Programme and Finance Committee is concerned, we are in favour of a balanced representation of developed and developing countries. This is why we believe that programme committee members should be elected from Council members or within FAO, since we believe that it is beneficial to FAO and its members that the committee count on experts suggested and presented by member countries of the Organization.

As far as the structure of FAO is concerned we see no reason why a group of experts should be established to revise its structure because we believe that this is well within the purview of the Director-General of FAO. I am sure he could very well consult with ail the statutory bodies of FAO in this particular area, and as far as national bureaus are concerned I must say that we must be very very careful when dealing with this problem and have constant coordination with UNDP representatives.

Mr Chairman, Egypt was one of the first countries to support the TCP since we were convinced of its importance for developing countries. This is why we have established training centres for developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. These centres so far have been providing training, services and facilities to over 10 000 people in the different areas of agricultural activity. Some training programmes were held thanks to joint operations with FAO and other governmental or non-governmental organizations. These centres are updating their programmes, are constantly taking due account of the needs of developing countries, and for the first time programmes have been established for rice production - and this especially for our brothers from Africa - and we are really open to collaboration with FAO in this particular field.

In closing, Mr Chairman, we wish FAO to be most successful in its work so as to eradicate the threat of the hunger plague for many of the countries of the world. The world technological revolution is only in the hands of the few, and please, we would like to ask you to think of the words of Allah; "A believer is not a person who sleeps after eating while his neighbour is dying of hunger".

Idris M. NUR (Observer for the Organization of African Unity): It is for me a great honour and pleasure on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, His Excellency Mr Ide Oumarou, to address this meeting at a time when you are about to discuss problems of special interest to Africa. He asked me to convey to you his special thanks for the focus that will be given to Africa's problems, as well as his interest that the conclusions that will be drawn at the end of your deliberations will further enhance international cooperation for the accelerated development in Africa. He has further asked me to convey to you his sincere apologies for not being able to be with you in person and to wish you successful deliberations.

First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the FAO Director-General for his kind invitation to the OAU to participate in this Conference, an opportunity which I am taking to make our modest contribution on the issues before us. My thanks also go to the Italian Government and people for the warm welcome they have accorded my delegation.

Secondly, it is with deep satisfaction I hail the presence in this Conference of the Representative of the African Liberation Movements and the Palestine Liberation Organization. By inviting these representatives to join you, you have not only done them justice but you have also explicitly condemned the forces of colonialism and racism, whose exploitation of the territories under their domination is directly responsible for widespread illiteracy, poverty and the general backwardness of the indigenous peoples of their countries.

The OAU commends those countries, peoples, associations, bodies and organizations that continued their support for Africa in combatting famine, drought and other natural disasters. We do hope that future avenues will be found to help in the implementation of the economic recovery programmes of Africa.

The OAU particularly commends the efforts of Mr Edouard Saouma for the positive efforts that have been deployed by the FAO in assisting Africa to overcome its problems, mainly by assisting in the development of the food and agriculture sector.

The OAU expresses its sincere appreciation and deep gratitude to the Member States of the FAO for their firm commitment and support to the African candidature in the person of Mr Moise C. Mensah, in the elections that were conducted a few days ago.

The OAU congratulates Mr Edouard Saouma on his re-election as Director-General of the FAO, and counts on his persistent efforts to assist Africa overcome its long-standing problems in the sector of food and agriculture.

Mr Chairman, allow me now to glance at the economic problems facing our continent. Africa represents the least developed continent with the lowest indicator of physical quality of life. A continent that has not only been a victim of colonial and racist exploitation but continues to be subjected to external forces which seek to influence the economic policies of our continent. A continent whose Gross Domestic Production is only 2.7 percent of the world; a continent of poverty, suffering from drought, desertification and other natural disasters.

The over dependence of the economy of the African continent on the export of basic raw materials and minerals has perpetuated the high susceptibility of our economies to external development with detrimental effects on the interest of Africa.

However, it should be noted that our point of departure for world economic reform is to admit that we are in the same boat, no matter whether we come from the north or the south, the east or the west, and salvation cannot be sought individually irrespective of whatever power or strength that one might possess. No man is in an island and no one can today enjoy continued progress and development without the other groups. Therefore, the developed and industrialized States must assume their responsibility in enabling the developing countries to break out of their current crisis, especially in the two following areas:

a) To allow the developing countries to increase their export of manufactured goods to the developed countries; and

b) To find a remedy to their external debt problems.

All we ask of the developed countries, is for them to cooperate with us and help to overcome our present difficulties. These problems are the result of policies pursued by some developed countries in the belief that such policies would also ensure their future and provide them with more advantage in the fields of agricultural production and industry, and help expand their trade with the developing countries.

It is a well-known fact that African countries have taken effective measures for comprehensive economic reforms and made some progress in enhancing the effective performance of the agricultural sector, raising the level of industrial output, improving services and reducing the balance of payment deficit. All this has been done despite the obstacles and difficulties these countries are facing. Among these difficulties, mention should be made of the drop in export earnings, rise in import costs, increased debt service burden and the growing tendency of the developed countries to impose restric­tions on exports from the developing countries. It cannot, therefore, be said that African countries have failed to contribute towards the improvement of the world economic structure and orientation.

Food and agriculture in Africa has been a subject to pronounced instability of supplies, demand and prices. Decline of food production per person was 7 percent and 15 percent in the 1960s and 1970s respectively. Estimates point to further deterioration in the 1980s.

The period 1970 to 1985 saw the total food imports.increase by 8.14 percent per year. Grain imports for human consumption in 1985 stood at 20.4 million tons or US$5 billion. At the same time, food aid accounted for as much as 15 million tons. Payment for the additional food requirements, which involves foreign exchange burden, is beyond the means of many countries.

The causes of the food and agriculture crisis have been identified as internal, ext'ernal, natural and man-made, economic, political and institutional. While many studies have been carried out on the crisis, action to resolve it has been rather minimal.

The five main problems of African agriculture that stand out and that need immediate attention are:

(i) how to increase food output and improve nutrition;

(ii) how to help alleviate the uneven economic development that occurs between farm and non-farm sectors;

(iii) how to formulate a policy that will ensure that agricultural research works in the best interest of Africa, and how to communicate research findings to the African farmers:

(iv) how to reduce the hot competition between agricultural produce, synthetics and the fastest growing industry of biotechnology; and

(v) how to make the international community assist Africa in the implementation of its programmes.

The issue of aid and African agriculture has brought to light some problems that require analysis, adjustment and change. Donors' attention should shift from pricing policy reforms to other issues in agricultural development that would bring about the required change. Pricing and technology policy could be used as a package as they are complimentary.

As we had to learn the hard way in our struggle for political independence during the last decades, Africa is now aware that her wars, be they political or socio-economic, will be first and foremost ' fought by Africans themselves.

It is as a result of that awareness, Mr Chairman, that for the first time in its history, the OAU held two Extraordinary Sessions of the Heads of State and Government, solely devoted to economic problems of Africa.

At the two Sessions, the Heads of State and Government identified the objectives and priorities for short, medium and long-term development plans and laid out ways and means of integrating them at the national, sub-regional, regional and continental levels, by adopting what are known as the Lagos Plan of Action (LPA) and Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery (APPER) 1986-1990.

The LPA, APPER and the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (UNPAAERD) have stressed the importance of the food and agriculture sector, considered it as the priority of priorities and proposed a set of measures to be undertaken at different levels. Ip an effort to remedy the situation, African countries have committed themselves to the implementation of the LPA, APPER and the UNPAAERD.

APPER is an emergency programme scheduled to last for a period of five years - 1986-1990. It is meant to accelerate LPA implementation. It is specifically designed to address the critical economic situation in Africa and has to be implemented at different levels. UNPAAERD agrees with APPER's principal proposals for the food and agriculture sector. In order to deal with this situation, priority areas have been singled out for securing substantial reduction in food wastage, attaining a higher degree of food security and increasing production.

In a survey conducted during the middle of 1987 by the ECA and OAU Secretariats on the implementation of APPER and the UNPAAERD, of the 38 countries responding to the questionnaires, a number of positive activities, in relation to food and agriculture, have been undertaken. With respect to immediate measures, about half of the countries had created or maintained national emergency preparedness mechanisms and established early warning and national food security systems. The food and agriculture sector has been accorded the highest priority. In addition to these, the survey has indicated that measures have been taken in several areas to increase agricultural production and productivity. For example, 80 percent of the responding countries have instituted measures for the development, dissemination and encouragement of the use of modern inputs and methods, 86 percent had adopted price incentives for agricultural products; while 85 percent have started re-afforestation programmes. Other programmes initiated include controlling deforestation (75 percent), protection of the environment (67 percent), and the introduction of agricultural mechanization (67 percent).

Measures taken in support of the food and agriculture sector include rehabilitating and up-grading the existing industrial plants, manufacturing and maintaining agricultural tools, implements, feeder and access roads and development of training.

Food self-sufficiency has become a major goal in the development plans of many African countries. Some Member States have reached the stage of food self-sufficiency - for example, Zimbabwe in maize production and Botswana with respect to poultry meat and egg production. African countries know what to do, and have been doing their best.’What’ they need is resources which are not forthcoming from the international community.

The search and struggle for food, the fear and the fact of hunger, the recurrent crop disasters brought about by drought, desertification, flood, locust, diseases and insect invasion - these have been such a common threat through the human story that starvation has seldom been far away for some substantial part of humanity. Millions of men, women and children are still paying the physical and mental price of malnutrition.

Looking ahead, there is much more certainty about the number of people to be fed in the decades to come than there is about food supplies or about any other major factor in this life-and-death calculus. For approximately half of the total population of the developing world today is under sixteen years of age. This means that the number of new families being formed will be extremely high for the remainder of this century. And that means, in turn, that the world population, is destined to grow rapidly and massively at least until the early years of the next century even if the new parents have fewer children on the average than their parents did.

Mr Chairman, I want to conclude by stating that there can be no universal peace and prosperity while many parts of the world are still in want, poverty, under-development, exploitation and economic dependence. Our objective is simple: An Africa genuinely and permanently free from the horrors of famine, misery, malnutrition and the humiliation of dependency. I wish you fruitful deliberations.

The meeting rose at 12.45 hours
La seance est levée a 12h45
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.45 horas