M. Badr Ben AMMAR (Tunisie): La délégation tunisienne voudrait joindre sa voix à celles qui l'ont déjà précédée pour vous féliciter de votre élection à la Présidence de cette importante Commission, et féliciter aussi le Secrétariat pour la qualité du rapport relatif à ce point de l'ordre du jour, ainsi que M. Dutia, qui nous a toujours habitué à des introductions claires et précises.
Je voudrais tout d'abord attirer l'attention des interprètes sur le fait que je commencerai par une mise au point qui n'est pas contenue dans le texte de mon intervention, qui leur a été communiqué. Cette mise au point se rapporte au fait que mon intervention s'est basée essentiellement sur les informations qui sont contenues dans le document C 91/2, et particulièrement les informations relatives à la production agricole, au commerce et aux termes de l'échange, du fait que ma délégation n'a pas reçu le document C 91/2 - Sup.1 à temps pour pouvoir l'étudier. Ce document supplémentaire C 91/2 - Sup.1 a actualisé les informations contenues dans le rapport initial C 91/2, et nous ne pouvons qu'accueillir favorablement cette actualisation d'autant plus qu'elle dégage une amélioration du taux de croissance de la production agricole dans les pays en développement. Fin de la mise au point.
Le suivi régulier de la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture assuré par la FAO nous a permis d'apprécier les efforts déployés par les différents pays du globe afin d'améliorer la situation alimentaire et nutritionnelle des peuples. Bien que la situation se soit améliorée dans beaucoup de pays, les résultats disponibles indiquent que la production agricole n'aurait enregistré en 1990 qu'un accroissement de 1,5 pour cent, contre 3,2 pour cent en 1989, 2,1 pour cent comme moyenne de la décennie des années 80, et 1,7 pour cent comme moyenne de la période 1985-90.
Ce ralentissement de la croissance de la production agricole, qui est dû, comme mentionné dans l'un des paragraphes du document C 91/2, à un retour à un taux de croissance plus normal en Amérique du Nord et à un fléchissement des taux de croissance dans le reste des pays développés, est dû malheureusement aussi à un rythme de croissance qui reste limité dans les pays en développement. Ces derniers disposent de potentialités de production qui restent encore insuffisamment exploitées. Parmi les causes de cette sous-exploitation figurent certainement les problèmes propres à
ces pays, dont les conditions climatiques relativement difficiles, mais aussi la détérioration des termes de l'échange qui n'a pas favorisé l'expansion de la production agricole dans ces pays. En effet, si les prix à l'exportation des produits agricoles ont progressé de 2,9 pour cent dans les pays développés entre 1990 et 1989, ils ont plutôt régressé de 2,3 pour cent dans les pays en développement.
La communauté internationale se doit d'apporter les correctifs nécessaires afin de permettre aux pays en développement d'améliorer leur production agricole dans un contexte commercial international équitable. Les pays développés sont particulièrement appelés à s'abstenir de recourir à certaines pratiques commerciales qui ne favorisent guère le développement de la production agricole dans les pays en développement. Bien au contraire, nous croyons que les pays développés devraient plutôt aider les pays en développement à avoir leur part dans le commerce international des produits agricoles, dans le but de tendre vers une utilisation et une allocation optimale des ressources, meilleurs garants d'un développement durable de notre agriculture.
Manuel VARA OCHOA (Perú): Hemos tomado conocimiento, señor Presidente, del documento C 91/2 y felicitamos a la Secretaria por el excelente documento de trabajo y los atinados comentarios del Dr. Dutia. En el documento se consigna que, según las primeras indicaciones, la producción alimentaria y agrícola mundial en 1991 será inferior a la del año anterior, siendo ésta la primera vez que disminuye la producción mundial desde el año de 1983.
En el caso de nuestra región de América Latina y el Caribe, se estima que la producción agrícola aumentará en una cifra que será inferior al crecimiento demográfico por tercer año consecutivo. Es decir, estas cifras son verdaderamente preocupantes cuando las referimos a la producción per capita, en la cual hay un descenso de hasta el 33 por ciento en ciertos productos básicos. La situación indicada para nuestra región en relación a la producción alimentaria y agrícola es un fiel reflejo de lo que está ocurriendo en nuestros países en vías de desarrollo. En relación al comercio agrícola, se calcula que el valor de las exportaciones de los países desarrollados ha aumentado en un 5,9 por ciento entre los años de 1988 y 1989 y sólo 2,2 por ciento en los países en vías de desarrollo.
Respectivamente, para los mismos grupos de países, entre 1989 y 1990, aumentaron en un 10 por ciento, contra un incremento de sólo 2,1 por ciento para los países en vías de desarrollo. Así, pues, las exportaciones agrícolas de los países desarrollados prosiguieron la fuerte expansión iniciada a mediados de los años 80, mientras que las relaciones de intercambio netas de trueque de los productos agrícolas de los países en desarrollo se deterioraron considerablemente en el año de 1990.
En América Latina y el Caribe, el aumento del volumen de las exportaciones agrícolas apenas compensó la caída de los productos exportados, con lo que la capacidad de compra ha permanecido invariable a los niveles de 1989, es decir, un 16 por ciento menos que los de 1979-1981.
Los países en desarrollo exportan esencialmente productos primarios, como es el caso de los productos-agrícolas, cuyos precios se mantienen en niveles muy bajos, experimentando una disminución de sus ingresos de
exportación, mientras que el costo de los bienes y servicios que debemos exportar se incrementan.
Al reflexionar sobre estas cifras, y dentro del contexto de los objetivos de la FAO, tenemos que reconocer que tanto los países desarrollados como los en vías de desarrollo somos corresponsables de esta situación. Somos sinceros y creemos no equivocarnos en cuanto a que nuestras reflexiones constituyen aspectos de carácter repetitivo, y de ahí nuestra preocupación.
Somos conscientes asimismo de que el problema de la pobreza y el hambre debe abordarse en forma integral, considerando aspectos aun de carácter educativo. Un ejemplo patente es el de la demografía, consignado en los diferentes trabajos realizados por la FAO, es decir, el alto índice de natalidad. El crecimiento poblacional no ha sido controlado, hasta ahora, en nuestros países en desarrollo de manera científica. El tema, como lo dice y lo confirma la FAO en sus diferentes documentos de trabajo, creemos que merece una mayor reflexión. Muchas veces, nuestros países profesan admiración por el mundo desarrollado, por su prodigioso crecimiento económico, por su consecuente bienestar para la población; pero ocurre que no nos detenemos en analizar los ingredientes que han hecho posible esa situación económica y social. En esos países ha habido políticas integrales basadas en la planificación del crecimiento de la producción, pero también del crecimiento poblacional. No podemos imaginarnos a los países desarrollados sin previsiones en torno a la relación entre recursos materiales, población y bienestar.
En el aspecto tecnológico, rendimos un homenaje de reconocimiento a la FAO por su esfuerzo denodado, aun a pesar de las enormes limitaciones económicas, por cumplir con el objetivo de elevar los niveles de nutrición y la vida de los pueblos, mejorando el rendimiento de la producción y la eficacia de la distribución de todos los alimentos y productos alimenticios y agrícolas.
Nuestros países pueden darse el lujo de dejar de utilizar la capacidad técnica, que le ha costado muchísimos años de trabajo de producción a la FAO. En este sentido, resaltamos como ejemplo, que lo podemos arrancar de nuestra propia experiencia, lo que la FAO ha identificado en los países en desarrollo de la oferta suficiente de tecnologías adaptadas y válidas que deben ser puestas en manos de nuestros agricultores, las cuales tendrían un impacto significativo sobre la productividad.
Sin embargo, nos preocupa que esta oferta de tecnología moderna y tradicional se encuentre dispersa y que no haya logrado ser puesta con un efecto multiplicador a disposición de los usuarios. A este respecto, se han demostrado dentro de nuestros mismos países de nuestra región las enormes diferencias tecnológicas existentes, y es por ello necesario el intercambio tecnológico y humano a nivel regional y subregional, el cual es necesario potencializar, de acuerdo a los objetivos de la FAO.
Valoramos los esfuerzos de la FAO por incentivar la producción de cultivos que nuestros territorios están en condiciones de producir mejor y más económicamente, como es el caso de nuestras raíces y nuestros tubérculos. Definitivamente, una solución es que tenemos que utilizar nuestros propios alimentos, los cuales han emergido de la realidad del medio y nuestra cultura. Ante esta situación existente, debemos buscar en forma responsable
un sentido de complementariedad en la utilización de los alimentos, lo cual exige un compromiso resuelto sin vacilaciones y transparente de la comunidad internacional por intensificar la ayuda alimentaria.
La intervención multilateral, señor Presidente, desempeña obviamente una función indispensable y de carácter irrenunciable y de apoyo a usar lo que ya sabemos e investigar las nuevas posibilidades en el campo.
En nuestros países en vías de desarrollo podremos aumentar considerablemente la producción con el mismo hectariaje cultivado, debiéndose entender que la mayor inversión, señor Presidente, debe ir al agro. En líneas generales, por ejemplo con excepción de algunos sectores, la agricultura latinoamericana tiene inactivo un importante potencial productivo como lo prueba el hecho de que mientras en los países desarrollados la producción por persona activa es de 24,4 toneladas, en los países de nuestra región solamente alcanza 3,8 toneladas.
En lo concerniente a los precios agrícolas y las relaciones de intercambio, mostramos nuestra preocupación sobre el colapso ininterrumpido de los precios internacionales de los principales productos que, en comparación a los niveles medios de 1990, han descendido por ejemplo en un 24 por ciento para el caso del azúcar. Existen dificultades en mejorar las relaciones comerciales y agrícolas dentro del contexto del proteccionismo y subvenciones de los países desarrollados que suelen abarcar los eriales, las semillas y oleaginosas, el azúcar y los productos ganaderos comestibles.
Por ello instamos a que se tomen medidas correctivas a la restricción de nuestros productos de exportación y que la Ronda Uruguay cumpla con su objetivo dentro del más breve plazo, y tenemos la obligación moral de que este instrumento sirva para dignificar a la persona humana dentro del contexto del programa de desarrollo de la FAO.
Michael CARROLL (Australia): The document prepared by the Secretariat provides a good description of the current world food and agriculture situation. We also appreciate the excellent summary provided by the Assistant Director-General in his introduction of this item yesterday.
The document again highlights the difficult situation facing many developing countries, particularly those dependent predominantly on the export of their agricultural produce. Many key issues have already been identified by other delegates, and I will try not to repeat them. In that context, I mention only briefly but clearly that Australia supports the submission yesterday by the delegate of Sweden that a reappraisal of the FAO analysis of food security be based on global stock consumption ratios.
It is of concern that food production has not kept pace with population growth in many countries, and that the crisis facing sub-Saharan Africa continues to worsen. Delegates would have been moved yesterday by the intervention of the delegate of Somalia. Australia is very concerned about the plight of tens of millions of people who are suffering from the consequences of drought and civil strife in the Horn of Africa. In view of the magnitude and complexity of relief needs, we welcome the initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General in establishing a Special Emergency Programme for the Horn of Africa.
In determining the nature, timing and location of Australia's food aid interventions, we have relied heavily on the needs assessments provided through this mechanism. We wish to acknowledge the value of reporting to donors through the World Food Programme's weekly emergency reports and the FAO's Global International Early Warning System publications. These are clear examples of the important role the United Nations can play in strengthening and coordinating large-scale emergency relief responses involving donors, non-governmental organizations and international humanitarian agencies and recipient governments.
We also note the assessment of FAO that the terms of trade for agricultural commodities have continued their downward trend, deteriorating again in 1990. The recent falls in commodity prices are in part due to subsidized over-production in the EEC and competitive subsidization of exports by the EEC and the United States of America. Fair-trading countries who do not subsidize cereal exports, such as those of the Cairns Group, are caught in the crossfire. As a result of this and other factors, the rural sector in Australia is facing a severe downturn. Farm incomes in Australia are forecast to reach historically low levels in the next year - around 40 percent of broadacre farmers in Australia will have negative farming incomes - and this situation is worsened by the fact that many parts of the country are in the grip of a severe drought. Because of the drought Australian wheat production is now estimated at 9.8 million tonnes compared with 15.1 million tonnes last year.
The document also notes the problems that the countries of Eastern Europe and the USSR are facing in trying to move to market-based economies. The governments of Eastern Europe clearly face enormous challenges in managing the unprecedented economic and political changes implicit in transforming their societies from command to market economies. In our view, it is in all our interests to encourage Eastern European governments to develop open, unsubsidized agricultural sectors which will contribute to the long-term development of their economies.
The countries of Eastern Europe are traditional agricultural producers and have the potential to become significant food exporters. This could have positive implications for the world food security situation and for the balance of world food production in the future. However, a high degree of agricultural efficiency will not be immediately attainable for Eastern Europe, but will be a progressive process entailing financial and technical assistance. Through appropriate policy advice and technical assistance FAO can assist in this process towards efficiency.
Concern has been expressed that the changes in Eastern Europe could adversely affect aid flows to the developing countries. We share this concern that the amount of assistance going to Eastern Europe should not be at the expense of other development priorities.
Paragraph 103 of the document suggests that global food aid flows in 1989-90 may have involved some displacement of North-South flows in favour of West-East flows, but the evidence for this is not clear cut.
With regard to the section on forestry, paragraph 139 mentions the Tropical Forestry Action Plan and the steps being taken by many developing countries to implement the Plan. During 1991, FAO has put considerable effort into the reformulation of the TFAP. This warrants recognition.
Section H of the Report, the regional review of Asia and the Pacific, which is of particular interest to the Australian delegation, describes the institutional reforms being undertaken in Laos and Viet Nam to facilitate implementation of market reforms. The results are encouraging in Viet Nam, which is emerging as a major rice exporter in the region.
In conclusion, Australia joins with those delegates - Indonesia, Brazil and Peru - who urged the Conference to support the many representations made by ministers in the Plenary Session that improvements in food productivity and distribution are linked with a satisfactory outcome for agriculture in the Uruguay Round of GATT. Of course, it would be necessary to take note of the concern raised by developing countries which are net food importers, and to see that their interests are accommodated in the outcome. We suggest that the Drafting Committee take account of the representations made here in this Commission and in Plenary in finding an appropriate way of bringing a strong message to GATT, put forward through the Conference process.
Antti NIKKOLA (Finland): On behalf of my delegation I would like to make some short comments on Item 6.1, the State of Food and Agriculture. Firstly, my delegation thanks the Secretariat for the excellent documents before us. In our view, the regional review part of document C 91/2 is most interesting and proper. My delegation has studied with special interest the description of Namibia's agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Namibia, which became independent I think in March last year, will be one of the major partners in the Finnish bilateral development cooperation in the future. For a very long time the people of Finland have had friendly connections and relations with the people of Namibia.
The general economic situation in the developing regions of the world has been depressing during the last several years. Indeed, the whole of the 1980s was almost a catastrophe to many poor countries in Africa. Africa's per capita gross domestic product fell from US$854 in 1978 to US$565 in 1988, a decline of one third. At the same time, Africa's external debt rose from US$48 billion to US$423 billion.
Also, the food security situation in sub-Saharan Africa is most alarming. Over half of the countries in that region suffer from food shortages which in some countries have reached emergency level. It is especially depressing that not only adverse weather conditions but also civil wars and military conflicts have contributed to the African famine. Even food aid operations have been endangered by military violence. Fortunately, it now seems likely that peace is spreading in these regions and we hope the food security situation will improve. Also, the agricultural trade performance of Africa and Latin America has been negative, as already mentioned by the delegate of Peru a moment ago.
The purchasing power of agricultural exports in Africa in 1990 was 32 percent lower than in the early 1980s. In Latin America the purchasing power in 1990 was 16 percent lower than in the early 1980s. We must admit that agricultural protection in the rich countries must be partly blamed. However, the export prices of many tropical products have also collapsed. Usually there are not great barriers for these products in the industrialized countries. No doubt the supply and demand situation has been the main reason for this unfavourable price development.
As the Director-General said in his statement in the Plenary, the sudden and breathtaking acceleration of the pace of history has taken place in Eastern Europe and in the USSR. We can all see also that the food economy in this part of Europe has rapidly deteriorated.
The Finnish Minister in the Plenary, and the Nordic countries in Commission II, have emphasized the role of FAO in this new situation. The next FAO European Regional Conference in Prague next spring will deal with the role of FAO in more detail. We must ask, however, whether the food security situation, especially in the USSR, will have worldwide consequences. Huge demands for food aid already have been presented by the Russian authorities.
The agricultural negotiations in the Uruguay Round of GATT at present are at a critical stage. In our view the extremely uncertain food security situation in many areas of the world has not been taken into account in GATT sufficiently. The GATT Round may severely tighten food supplies in the world. Food importing countries have already raised their voices of concern in GATT, as well as in the general discussion of this Conference. In any event, if the GATT Round comes to a successful conclusion, FAO has the obligation to analyse and study the global impact of the GATT results, and especially the impact on developing countries.
Finally, my delegation associates itself with other delegations in supporting the statement made by Sweden yesterday concerning an urgent and thorough re-examination of the stock indicator and its use.
Sra. Grafila SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): Señor Presidente, permítame, en primer término a nombre de mi delegación, felicitarlo a usted y a sus colaboradores por su elección para dirigir los trabajos de esta importante Comisión. Le aseguro que tendrá usted toda la colaboración de la delegación de Cuba para ayudar al éxito de nuestras labores.
También quisiera agradecer a la Secretaria de la FAO por la información que nos ha ofrecido en los documentos que nos ocupan y, en especial, al Dr. Dutia por la presentación de este tema.
Señor Presidente, mi delegación quisiera referirse a la estructura del documento principal C 91/2 y su complemento. En realidad contiene una importante información que ya hemos ido recibiendo en la publicación "Perspectivas alimentarias" y, en este sentido, coincido con lo expresado en la tarde de ayer por el colega de Dinamarca en que tal vez falten en el documento los importantes objetivos de la FAO para mitigar la difícil situación agricola y alimentaria por la que atraviesa el mundo y en especial los paises subdesarrollados.
En realidad, señor Presidente, es lamentable que nuevamente tengamos que manifestar con pesar tal como lo expresan los documentos citados, que el panorama de la agricultura y la alimentación no ha experimentado cambios que permitan siquiera avizorar que los esfuerzos que ha venido realizando la FAO por establecer políticas que se implementen de manera efectiva a fin de lograr el mejoramiento de la situación de millones de seres humanos que padecen de hambre y malnutrición, tengan perspectivas inmediatas de adoptar las soluciones que, con urgencia, tal situación demanda.
La delegación de Cuba considera que todos, ricos y pobres, debemos aunar nuestros esfuerzos para que las acciones que se derivan de la colaboración multilateral y la defensa de los principios que animan a la FAO a impulsar la asistencia técnica, la transferencia de tecnologia, la plena integración de la mujer en el medio rural, la protección del medio ambiente, asi como otras prioridades que en su fin nos llevan a garantizar la seguridad alimentaria, encuentren respaldo seguro para su realización.
La deuda externa y el pago de sus servicios, el intercambio desigual y el proteccionismo, continúan siendo flagelos que golpean con más rudeza cada dia a nuestros pueblos.
En el comercio internacional, los paises en desarrollo continúan siendo discriminados mientras que los paises desarrollados obtienen grandes ganancias.
Es asi, señor Presidente, que las negociaciones del GATT en el marco de la Ronda Uruguay, no han tenido el avance deseado, porque se mueven activamente intereses muy poderosos que pretenden monopolizar y manipular, con fines egoístas el comercio de alimentos.
Mi delegación considera, señor Presidente, que la formación de grupos de integración económica pudiera traer nuevos aires renovadores en la esfera económica internacional pero, como dijera nuestro Vicepresidente del Consejo de Ministros en la Plenaria de esta Conferencia en la tarde de ayer, cito: "este proceso también está condicionado a las reglas de participación que imponen algunos países desarrollados dentro del restringido marco de acceso a sus mercados, con plena vigencia de políticas proteccionistas y un pobre apoyo financiero de los países más ricos a los menos favorecidos, manifestaciones estas, de la ausencia de un orden económico internacional justo".
Cuba, señor Presidente, reitera la necesidad de promover y concertar una verdadera integración económica en la región de América Latina y el Caribe ya que consideramos que esta es una vía concreta para superar entre otras cuestiones, los problemas existentes para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria en nuestra región.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Señor Presidente, usted amigo dilecto y querido, sabe cuánto complace a los representantes de Colombia verle en la presidencia de esta importante Comisión. A través de actividades comunes hemos conocido ya la inteligencia, las capacidades y la preparación que le distinguen, calidades que aseguran el buen éxito de esta reunión.
Nos agrada, también, participar en esta Comisión I, porque usted tiene a su derecha, señor Presidente, al Dr. Dutia, uno de los funcionarios más capaces, competentes y honestos que tiene esta Organización. Nos satisface, igualmente, que con el Dr. Dutia esté el Sr. Perkins, Director de la División de Productos Básicos y Comercio, el Sr. Mulherin, eficiente funcionario de esa División, y otros amigos de la Secretaría.
Señor Presidente, cada vez que en el Consejo y en la Conferencia consideramos este tema, para los representantes de Colombia resulta muy fácil preparar nuestras intervenciones, basta basarnos en las anteriores declaraciones. Se requiere tan sólo cambiar cifras, fechas, porcentajes,
porque siempre, invariablemente, el estado de la agricultura y la alimentación es preocupante y angustioso para el Tercer Mundo. Las mejoras que se realizan tienen lugar tan sólo en los estados desarrollados.
En el caso de este documento, será necesario destacar que: las dos regiones victimas principales de este lamentable estado actual, son Africa y América Latina y el Caribe, como lo dijo nuestra colega y amiga, Grafila Soto, de Cuba. En nuestra región las economías de nuestros estados sufrieron tan grave deterioro en los años 80, de ingrata memoria, que se necesitarán largos periodos de crecimiento sostenido para que igualmente en los países de Africa y de América Latina y el Caribe comience a producirse siquiera una minima y leve recuperación.
La coyuntura económica mundial ha sido generalmente desfavorable para la agricultura de 1990 y 1991. Disminuyó de nuevo el ritmo del crecimiento de la producción agrícola y alimentaria mundial y para un gran número de países en desarrollo el año 1990 fue un pésimo año agrícola.
En América Latina y el Caribe muchos países han proseguido en sus esfuerzos de reajuste, impuestos en numerosas ocasiones, deshaciendo inmensos costos políticos y afrontando reacciones sociales, a veces hasta peligrosas.
Desafortunadamente, ese esfuerzo de nuestros países se ha visto frustrado por el gran peso de la deuda externa, el costo elevado del servicio de esa deuda, y las altas tasas de inflación que afectan considerablemente a varios Estados de nuestra región, cuyo alto potencial se encuentra completamente vanificado.
En efecto, América Latina y el Caribe, que hasta los años 70 llegó a ser catalogada como "la gran despensa alimentaria del mundo", ha venido asistiendo, impotente, a la disminución constante de su producción de alimentos, que también en 1990 fue inferior a la ya baja cifra de 1989 y años anteriorea, hasta convertirse ahora, increíblemente, en región importadora neta de alimentos.
Por otra parte, el creciente deterioro de los términos de intercambio, anula todo esfuerzo de los países de nuestra región por aumentar sus exportaciones, frente al hecho de que los bajos precios de sus principales productos de exportación en los mercados internacionales, determinan ingresos muy inferiores a los que debemos pagar por los elementos industriales indispensables para nuestro desarrollo.
Todo ese panorama desfavorable para el Tercer Mundo, en general, está enmarcado en la falta de comprensión de muchos gobiernos de Estados industrializados que se resisten a introducir cambios suficientemente significativos en las relaciones comerciales, ahora en términos tan profundamente injustos e inaceptables para los países en desarrollo.
Los pocos cambios introducidos en las políticas comerciales de la OCDE, no han correspondido al empeño de alto nivel de la Declaración Ministerial de esa OCDE, y sólo han tenido repercusiones muy limitadas, como lo afirma el párrafo 5 de este documento.
Todo ello confirma, señor Presidente, y distinguidos miembros de esta Comisión, que al infinito podemos seguir leyendo y oyendo literatura y retórica, compendio de músicas celestiales, al tiempo que los hechos confirman que nada de eso, que ninguna de esas promesas se cumplen, no obstante el alto nivel político de su proveniencia.
Confiamos en que la Comunidad Económica Europea continuará la revisión de su politica agrícola común, la tristemente célebre PAC, y hará todo esfuerzo por evitar la reaparición de los grandes excedentes estructurales que tanto mal hicieron en años recientes al comercio internacional, en general y, sobre todo, a las oportunidades de exportación de los países en desarrollo.
Confiamos en que la reciente ley de 1990, de los Estados Unidos de América, sobre alimentos, agricultura, conservación y comercio, podrá cumplir los propósitos de mejorar el comercio internacional, estabilizar los precios y fortalecer la seguridad alimentaria mundial.
En el Grupo de Cairns, en asociación con otros países desarrollados y en desarrollo, Colombia propugna permanentemente serias y profundas reformas en favor de un comercio internacional amplio, justo y equilibrado.
Apoyamos la reciente declaración hecha por nuestro colega de Australia, país que ejerce actualmente con mucha competencia a la presidencia del Grupo de Cairns.
En cuanto a América Latina y el Caribe, el Resumen Regional que aparece a partir del párrafo 214, confirma la creciente precaria situación de nuestra región. El año 1990 fue muy adverso y nuestros países afrontaron grandes dificultades. En América Latina y el Caribe el Producto Interno Bruto bajó otra vez en un 3 por ciento para llegar a la alarmante cifra del 10 por ciento en la década desafortunada de los 80. La producción alimentaria y agrícola de la región, en su conjunto, ni siquiera alcanzó el 1 por ciento en 1990, muy por debajo del crecimiento demográfico. La producción per capita de alimentos básicos disminuyó en 1990 por tercer año consecutivo.
Todas esas cifras negativas conforman la difícil situación que atraviesa la región de América Latina y el Caribe e imponen una revisión de los índices obsoletos mediante cuyo mal uso los países latinoamericanos y del Caribe vienen siendo desplazados progresivamente de una asistencia técnica y financiera internacional consistente, sólida, en términos y condiciones que permitan a nuestros Estados iniciar el proceso de su justa y necesaria recuperación.
El grave e inquietante estado mundial de la agricultura y de la alimentación que, clara y dramáticamente, describen estos documentos, hace más imperiosa e improrrogable la necesidad de que los Estados industrializados que han superado la reciente pasajera recesión económica, intensifiquen su asistencia en favor del mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida de los países del Tercer Mundo.
Sin embargo, esa necesidad contrasta con la actitud negativa de algunos Estados desarrollados que no sólo no aumentan su asistencia, sino que, como lo demuestra la sección D, los préstamos exteriores a la agricultura siguen descendiendo.
Los compromisos totales en préstamos exteriores a la agricultura en 1989, último año sobre el cual se conocen datos, fueron inferiores en un 8 por ciento a los de 1988, y sólo ligeramente superiores a los de 1986 y 1987. o sea, que vamos siempre hacia atrás.
Destacamos la actitud positiva del Japón, citada en el párrafo 90, en relación con el aumento de la contribución japonesa a la ayuda oficial al desarrollo. Este buen ejemplo del Japón deberla ser seguido por otros países industrializados.
En este documento de la AOD los objetivos y las metas que se habían fijado, de los cuales mucho se ha hablado en el pasado, pero que nunca se han alcanzado, se trata de eso. Los préstamos de la Comunidad Económica Europea para el sector agrícola, disminuyeron en un 20 por ciento en 1989, respecto a 1988.
Los representantes de Colombia confiamos en que el ingreso de la CEE como miembro de la FAO contribuirá a que esa importante Comunidad incremente considerablemente sus préstamos al sector agrícola y haga otras valiosas contribuciones dentro del marco multilateral de una Organización universal como la nuestra.
Los representantes de Colombia somos conscientes de que nos encontramos aquí, en la Sala Verde, en la Comisión I, que usted preside con tanta eficacia; pero es evidente, a través del debate que estamos celebrando, que la situación de la alimentación y de la agricultura en el mundo aparece muy grave y preocupante. Es evidente también que la FAO viene contribuyendo a mejorar esa situación, y esos hechos establecen, a juicio nuestro, una relación directa entre el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto que se está discutiendo al frente, en la Sala Roja, en la Comisión II, y las dificultades que afrontamos para aprobar ese Programa de Labores y Presupuesto en condiciones de dotar a la FAO de medios y recursos suficientes para poder seguir ofreciendo su asistencia a los países en desarrollo, que son las únicas víctimas de esta situación.
Los representantes de Colombia pensamos que una Organización como la FAO, vital, activa, pragmática, eficiente, dinámica, con tan positivas realizaciones, no merecería haber sido sometida al tratamiento injusto que ha creado la más grave crisis financiera de toda la historia de nuestra Organización.
Los representantes de Colombia opinamos que los países en desarrollo, cuyos pueblos, humildes y sufridos, padecen la situación crítica que aparece en estos documentos; los campesinos honrados y trabajadores incansables del Tercer Mundo; las gentes de nuestros campos, que, con el sol de mañana hasta el caer de la sombra de la noche, doblegan sus columnas sobre el surco duro y a veces hasta hostil, para extraer los frutos de la tierra, y que todo eso lo hacen en condiciones infrahumanas; esos campesinos, que en buena parte, han sido privados de la asistencia de la FAO, esos seres humanos ciertamente no merecen el tratamiento injusto y deplorable que se ha aplicado a esta Organización.
Los representantes de Colombia proponemos, señor Presidente, que en el Informe sobre este tema destaquemos los siguientes tres puntos principales:
Primero, que la Conferencia lamenta la difícil, grave y preocupante situación de la agricultura y de la alimentación en el mundo, víctimas de lo cual son únicamente los países en desarrollo.
Segundo, que la Conferencia reconoce y destaca la función esencial y significativa de la FAO como contribución al mejoramiento de la situación.
Y, tercero, que la Conferencia considera que, para que la FAO pueda cumplir de manera adecuada y eficaz esa función, nuestra Organización debe estar dotada de recursos suficientes y todos los Estados Miembros deben pagar oportunamente sus contribuciones.
Mohd. Fadzil AKRAM (Malaysia): As this is the first time my delegation takes the floor my delegation would like to warmly welcome you on your appointment as Chairman. Congratulations also go to Dr Dutia and the Secretariat for preparing the comprehensive Report and the C 91/2 document on the importance of non-wood forest products, on pages 43 and 44, and environmental concerns and trade in forest products, on pages 44 and 45.
Malaysia would like to share her experience in handling food and agriculture with the member delegates.
As with the review of the state of food and agriculture, during the past Fifth Plan Period of 1986-90, the Malaysian agriculture sector grew by 4.6 percent per annum, higher than 3.1 percent growth attained during the 1981-85 period. This is in line with what is stated on page 56 of document C 91/2. The achievement was significant given the difficult years during the period, marked by fluctuating commodity prices, rising protectionism from developed countries as well as the emergence of production constraints, particularly due to the scarcity of labour and increasing pressure on wages.
Most agricultural commodities recorded significant increases in production during the 1986-90 period. The main sources of growth came from cocoa, palm oil, timber, fisheries and livestock. However, the production of paddy, coconut and rubber declined. The performance of other crops was mixed.
In line with efforts to regenerate forests under the National Forestry Policy, nearly 1 000 000 hectares of forest were silviculturally treated during the period of 1986-90. At the same time, the annual "coupe" was reduced. Fisheries production increased by 7.6 percent for marine landings and 7.9 percent for aquaculture. Total livestock value-added increased by 6.1 percent during the same period.
With regard to the prospects for the food and agricultural sector, it is targeted to grow at an average rate of 3.5 percent per annum during the Sixth Malaysian Plan of 1991-95, compared with 4.6 percent attained in the Fifth Plan period. The achievement of this target will depend on external demand for major commodities, as well as efficiency and productivity improvements.
Efforts will be made to resolve constraints in the sectors such as labour as well as to create and develop greater intersectoral linkages. Priority will be given to further reorientating the small-holding sector towards
greater commercial generation, to realize economies of scale and be internationally competitive in the long run.
Overcoming the constraints faced by the agriculture sector will also require a change of emphasis in the strategies promulgated by the National Agricultural Policy, the NAP. The low returns on agriculture were due to structural constraints affecting the efficient operation of holdings, leakages in the delivery of support programmes and relative price changes that favour other sectors of the economy., Policies will be formulated to increase the dynamism of the sector, largely through raising productivity and returns to agricultural activities. Given the constraint, in terms of availability, of potential new agricultural land, focus will be placed on in-situ development through consolidation and utilization of the land base in a more dynamic, efficient and income-maximizing manner.
Concern for the environment and the issue of sustainability of growth will necessitate efforts to sustain the level of forestry extraction. Environmental concerns also affect trade in forest products, especially in tropical exporting countries like us.
Malaysia views with great concern the increasing tendency of some major industrialized countries to link environmental protection to economic development. Concern for the environment and sustainability of growth will also require protecting fisheries resources in the inshore zones from indiscriminate trawlings.
The growth prospects of the agriculture sector will increasingly rely not only on increasing the primary level of production but also on downstream processing and marketing of agricultural produce.
Policies and strategies towards the development and promotion of the agro-based industry will be further strengthened with the objective of transforming the agricultural sector towards greater commercial orientation.
The commercial approach of the National Agricultural Policy will place a greater requirement on the supply of trained personnel, management skills as well as organizational support.
The Government will further formulate supportive policies to strengthen existing incentives through the provision of the necessary infrastructure, selective support financing for adoption of new technology, market pricing policies that can reward quality output, the provision of extension services, R&D and training. The emphasis will be on the important role of the private sector in revitalizing the agriculture sector.
Oil palm, rubber and cocoa will continue to be the mainstay of agriculture. At the same time, new sources of growth will be sought from land-intensive cultivation of high value food crops. The output of palm oil is projected to expand moderately at an annual rate of 4.5 percent. The production of rubber is expected to increase marginally at the rate of 0.1 percent per annum. Cocoa production will grow at a slower rate of 5.3 percent. With regard to other crops, horticulture will feature significantly as a new source of growth.
The growth of the forestry sector in terms of value-added is projected to decline by 6.7 percent annually. The Government realizes that it is crucial that the nation's forestry resources be strictly managed on a sustained yield basis to ensure its continuing contribution to the growth of the agriculture sector. Intensive rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded forests will be implemented with emphasis on silvicultural treatment and compensatory forest plantation programmes.
Fisheries value-added is projected to grow at a higher rate of 7.6 percent per annum. The future development of this sector will stress deep-sea fishing and aquaculture in fresh and brackish water.
The livestock value-added is projected to increase at an annual rate of 7.7 percent. As a step to diversifying sources of meat, a comprehensive programme to promote and develop the rabbit industry will be undertaken. Significant inroads are expected to be made through increasing the integration of sheep rearing in agricultural projects which can reduce cost of inputs, mainly weedicides and fertilizers.
With this statement, I end my intervention on the State of Food and Agriculture. Thank you, Mr Chairman.
Ms Katalin BAKK (Hungary): Mr Chairman, thank you very much for allowing me to speak on this important item on our agenda. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, and your Vice-Chairman upon your elections.
The head of my delegation has already referred to the document C 91/2 and its supplement in his address at the plenary last week. My delegation generally agrees with the analysis of the international agricultural situation as presented in these documents. There are two remarks we would like to make in this context referring to the agricultural and food situation in my country and to the problems arising from agricultural protectionism respectively.
It is already a commonplace that central planning as an economic expression of the overall policies, which had been pursued up to the end of the eighties in my country, proved to be a failure in both the economy as a whole and in agriculture. This may safely be stated even if Hungary, consequent on the good number of market elements introduced into its agricultural policies alleviating the adverse effects of central planning, was able to boast a relatively advanced agricultural and food sector.
The sharp drop in domestic purchasing power, the collapse of the markets of our former major COMECON partners has forced upon us a strong drive to strengthen the international competitiveness of our agricultural and food production. The reforms in the land tenure system, the privatization of a certain part of the land, still lies ahead of us, which, I have to admit, is not helping us in stabilizing the situation either.
Unfavourable external factors, like the deteriorating terms of trade, referred to by the Secretariat in document C 91/2-Sup.l, are only adding to the difficulties of Hungarian agriculture. In brief, Mr Chairman, the tasks we are facing can be summarized as follows: firstly, to cope with the transformation of land ownership in such a way that the advantages of the
Well-established large-scale production be kept; secondly, to put a heavier emphasis on environmental issues to be taken in full consideration in water and soil management as well as in plant protection; thirdly, to switch from quantitative to qualitative criteria when considering future development plans; and, last but not least, to formulate and implement new marketing principles and practices in order to increase the competitive potential of our product and to resist, as much as possible, protectionist pressure.
Mr Chairman, the second, and perhaps most important point we would like to make in speaking on this agenda item is agricultural protectionism. Hungary is exporting something like one third of her agricultural output, the major markets being now the industrialized western ones. The will and practice of all, particularly developed countries, to refrain from imposing tariff or non-tariff trade barriers are, therefore, vital questions for us.
The Uruguay Round failed to iron out disagreements on agricultural trade reforms between major participants and other trade issues. There is a substantial pressure on all parties for a compromise to be reached before the end of this year. The Hungarian agricultural trade policies to be formulated anew will have to draw on the conclusion to rely on tariffs only as à means of protecting our markets; and the new agro-marketing policies, to govern both our domestic and foreign markets, will have to adjust themselves to these conditions. Consequent to our export orientation, comparative advantages and budgetary constraints, Hungary is for the liberalization of agricultural world trade, and will remain so in the future.
The development of real demand in the USSR and independent republics could well be a determining factor in our trade relations too.
Major guidelines for us will be the meeting of higher requirements of the markets and, respectively, a higher degree of processing, freezing, packaging, etc.
T.J. RAMOTSOARI (Lesotho): The overall food and agriculture situation in the world is brought about by many factors concerning development. We consider that the holistic resource management concept should be taken into consideration when analysing and monitoring the world food and agriculture situation. We support the consideration that we take population growth as one variable, but for Lesotho's purposes we would like to endorse the variable of land resource as one of the factors which must be considered. It is the main problem which faces Lesotho now. Credit availability, technology and manpower should also be considered. The variable of natural disasters which affect the environment is another factor which must be considered in an analysis of the food and agriculture situation.
The main problem facing Lesotho's agriculture is that of drought, which we have been experiencing principally during the time of planting, which has resulted in the reduction of food production to less than 40 percent of the national requirement for the 1991-92 biennium.
Another consideration is that of the comparative advantage of food production as compared with other sectors of the economy. We consider that Lesotho has potential for livestock production, mainly small stock production, as compared to crop production. This potential needs to be
developed, with the assistance of our brothers here, and needs further development with the assistance of FAO's expertise. The contribution of agriculture to Lesotho's GNP seems to be declining but the actual fact is that other sectors of the economy are gaining momentum at the expense of agriculture. You will realize that competition for the scarce resources available to us is now very high, as compared with other sectors.
Another issue that I would like to raise is that of marketing. The delegation of Lesotho wishes to see favourable and positive results from the Uruguay Round negotiations. Agricultural trade in the world has been unfavourable in the developing countries, due to highly subsidized agricultural production in developed countries. It is really disappointing to see promotion of agricultural production in developed countries while structural adjustment programmes advocate elimination of agricultural subsidies, so that our commodities meet difficult and stiff competition in international markets against subsidized production in developed countries.
Two further issues which I would like us to consider during our discussions are: Firstly: North-South and South-South operations do not mean that we should transfer absolute technology from one country to another. This state of affairs has been experienced in other areas.
Secondly: the so-called "cold" countries should take into consideration the socio-economic issues of the recipients of their aid. By so doing, they would encourage local participation in planning and decision-making for agricultural production.
Mr Chairman, please bear with me if I read between the lines - but we consider that in future when we do an analysis of the food and agricultural situation we should include the causes of the poverty that is experienced by so many, and of the hunger and malnutrition which we see in our countries. Also, with the assistance of FAO's expertise, we should also highlight remedies which will be effective in the future.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, let me join other colleagues in congratulating you on your election to chair this Commission, and also in congratulating FAO for the excellent documents which they have presented to us.
H. OVERMEER (Netherlands): The documents under discussion, "The State of Food and Agriculture" and its supplement, give an informative and useful summary of the most important developments in world trade, agricultural production, consumption and the effects of world economic trends on the agricultural sector.
In many developing countries the role of agriculture and the rural sector is of crucial importance for the future development and improvement of their economies and the establishment of internal and external balance. Agriculture depends for an important part on external economic factors such as world market prices, currency values, world demand for agricultural products, international interest rates and inflation. In this context a number of developments are of importance.
At world level a general growth of the economy has occurred. This has been the case for the last seven years. However, this growth has taken place mainly in the developed countries. In Africa, Latin America and the
Caribbean the situation gives less reason for optimism. As concerns agriculture in 1990 the situation for a great number of developing countries was grim. This has been caused by heavy debts, difficult access to the markets of the developed countries and low world market prices of the export products of the developing countries. Hardest hit were those countries which are for their economic growth dependent on agricultural products. As concerns the agricultural production as such, this rose in the developing countries at about 3 percent; this is however not sufficient for a lot of countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to match the population growth.
Agricultural policy is on the move in a lot of countries. Noteworthy are the efforts of the US to liberalize their agricultural policy, the reform of the EC CAP and also the developments in Eastern Europe and the USSR. Also, a lot of developing countries are restructuring their agriculture to increase production and to improve their food security.
The year 1990 has been a favourable one for the developed countries as concerns trade in agricultural products. The opposite has been the case for the developing countries. The terms of trade of both food and agricultural non-food products has deteriorated in developed and developing countries, but is more pronounced in the latter. However, the expectations of exports for developing countries are not favourable. This causes a significant decline in the purchasing capacity of their agricultural exports as well. It is expected that this disquieting trend will continue.
As concerns the overall economic prospects, it is expected that economic activity will pick up again in 1992 after the weakness in 1990 and 1991.
Growth of world trade which slowed down pronouncedly in 1990 and 1991 is to rebound in 1992 in the developed countries. Economic growth in the developing countries is also expected to significantly recover in 1992. There is, however, an important exception to this development. For countries exporting predominantly agricultural products, the general picture is one of continuous recession with prospects for only a limited recovery in 1992.
This is a development which should be taken seriously. This situation stresses the need for a successful completion of the GATT negotiations.
In our intervention about the "International Agricultural Adjustment Progress Report" we will come back on some items which are also mentioned in the State of Food and Agriculture.
Vishnu BHAGWAN (India): On behalf of my delegation, I would like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election to chair the proceedings of this important Commission. I should also like to commend the FAO Secretariat for its comprehensive document, and to thank Mr Dutia for his very lucid introduction.
It is unfortunate that the negative aspects of the agricultural situation in 1990 and 1991 seem to have outweighed the positive aspects. Many developing countries face serious difficulties in the shape of low agricultural growth rates, difficult access to developed-country markets and low world prices for many of their exports, particularly agricultural
commodities. The overall economic environment has been generally unfavourable to agriculture in both 1990 and 1991. World food and agriculture production expanded at a lower rate in 1990 than in 1989 and appears to have fallen in 1991 from the previous year's level - the first global production decline since 1983. The position is particularly depressing in the case of developing countries. In 1990, per capita food production declined in two-thirds of developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa only 9 out of 45 countries had a positive gain in per capita food production. The declining trend is again expected in Africa and several other countries in 1991. The expected agricultural production growth in the Far East would be the lowest in over two decades.
The disturbing feature of the situation is in regard to fertilizer use. The global consumption of fertilizers is reported to have declined for two successive years in 1989-90 and 1990-91. Indications are that the consumption may level off in 1991-92 and resume growth only slowly in the following years. Thus, since 1989-90 the medium-term period of decreasing global use of fertilizers has begun, which has serious implications for world food and agricultural production.
Another area of equally great concern is that of agricultural trade. According to the document, agricultural trade in 1990 is estimated to have considerably expanded in developed countries but has remained depressed in developing countries. For several of the developing countries key export commodities, depressed prices combined with stagnating or declining export volumes have seriously affected export earnings. International prices of tea, coffee, cocoa and sugar have simply collapsed. The position regarding external lending to agriculture declined in 1989 compared to 1988 in both nominal and real terms.
In the fisheries sector also, the increase in world fish production slowed significantly in 1989 and actually declined in 1990. Total production of aquaculture, too, declined in 1989.
The question to be considered now is: what do we do with the gloomy picture presented by the document? I think it should lead us to constructive action. We appreciate that through its Global Information and Early Warning System FAO monitors continuously the food situation in individual countries and alerts the donor community about impending shortages in the concerned countries. Donors generally take into account the information provided by FAO in taking policy decisions on food aid to the affected countries.
In India, we have developed our own capabilities to cope with impending natural calamities. When rains are delayed, the Government takes steps to introduce mid-season corrections by preparing plans of alternative cropping practices. Further, if it becomes difficult to achieve targets in the Khariff season, which accounts for the bulk of the agricultural production, we take measures to salvage the situation to the extent possible by raising production targets for the second, i.e., Rabi season. We are of the view that FAO could consider assisting the interested parties in strengthening disaster preparedness and management strategies. India is willing to extend cooperation in this vital field.
In India, as a part of the process of economic reforms, we have withdrawn this year the subsidy on fertilizers and raised their prices. However, small and marginal farmers continue to get fertilizers at lower prices. We
have also revised support prices for crops so that farmers do not suffer because of higher fertilizer prices and other production costs. We are also continuing with the public distribution system in order that consumer interests remain protected.
We believe that purposive support to agriculture is necessary in countries like ours in the interest of production and the living conditions of the poor. Agricultural development in these countries is absolutely necessary for their economic development and to ensure food security to the people. Social security nets being crucial for the success of reform programmes, it is not always possible to leave the solution of problems solely to the care of market forces. The negative aspects of the agricultural situation highlighted in the document also seem to confirm that the State has an important leadership role to play in these economies. This is an important conclusion which deserves the attention of the entire international community. FAO and other international organizations should also be ready to help developing countries in increasing the volume of their agricultural production and exports, and ameliorating their deteriorating balance of payments and indebtedness position.1
Mai Muhammad JIR (Nigeria): Mr Chairman, permit me to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this Commission. I would also like to commend the Secretariat on the comprehensive documents. My Minister, who is head of the Nigerian delegation, in his statement in Plenary has mentioned the efforts Nigeria has been making and the progress recorded in agricultural development. He also spoke of the major policy instruments put in place to facilitate those developments. Therefore, we wish to comment only on the document C 91/2 and its supplement, and the situation reported in those two documents.
The picture emerging from these two documents and the prospects for the future as they affect sub-Saharan Africa and other African countries is to say the least grim. Specifically, the sub-Saharan African situation is characterized by heavy external debt, the menace of pests and diseases, difficult access to the markets of the developed countries, uncertain conclusions of the Uruguay Round negotiation in their favour, dwindling resources and higher costs of debt servicing. Although many African countries have embarked on structural adjustments, the task is very difficult, painful and complex given the enormity of the problems listed above. While African countries will continue with their efforts towards addressing their internal problems, the prospects for economic recovery, especially in the food production sector, will be bleak indeed if genuine support and assistance is not forthcoming from the global community. Paragraphs 9, 10, 32 and 33 of C 91/2 say it all.
Food, and indeed, affordable food, is the number one security. Lack of it has a greater effect than the gun. While we strongly appeal for continued and increased emergency food aid to those countries critically in need, we must search for an enduring solution. It has now become very necessary to assist countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, through both multilateral and bilateral approaches. We would suggest longer-term solutions that require action, or emphasis in the following areas
1Statement inserted in the Verbatim Records on request.
- diversification and improvement through the funding of both national and regional research efforts. Already we have the recent Dakar initiative vigorously pursued by France, which brought the ministers of West and Central Africa together to coordinate and pool their efforts in improving their agricultural production. In many developing countries, food is produced but distribution is defective. We wish to ask for assistance in improving the distribution systems, both for internal and regional distribution of food and agricultural produce. We appeal for assistance for those countries in minimizing post-harvest losses, since in many of those countries about 30 to 40 percent of crops and agricultural produce are lost to pests and diseases. We wish to appeal for assistance in the development of small-scale irrigation, as suggested by our colleague from Zambia yesterday, to mitigate the effects of drought in those countries.
We would also like to add our voice to the appeal made by several voices on relief and cancellation of debts for these developing and critically-affected countries. However, the struggle for survival is ultimately ours. We must not wait for external assistance. We should consider external assistance as supplementary or complementary to our efforts. We must mobilize our people and learn to depend on ourselves. Therefore, we must strengthen our regional organizations, foster cooperation, exchange experiences and encourage inter-regional trading. We need every support.
Lastly, the limping leg determines the journey into the future, so those who are endowed with healthy legs should help to walk straight.
Mokhtar BOUANANI MOKHTAR (Maroc): M. le Président, prenant la parole pour la première fois, je voudrais vous présenter les félicitations de la délégation marocaine pour votre élection à la tête de cette honorable Commission.
Je voudrais par la même occasion remercier le Secrétariat pour la qualité du document que nous sommes en train d'examiner, et qui se rapporte à un sujet fondamental, à savoir "la situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture".
Ce document nous présente une excellente analyse de la situation alimentaire dans le monde. Il met en exergue les contrastes existants entre les différentes régions de la planète en matière d'offres et de demandes des produits alimentaires et agricoles.
Dans ce document, il est fait mention des résultats positifs que le Maroc ne cesse d'enregistrer sur le plan du développement agricole.
Permettez-moi de rappeler que cette année, c'est-à-dire 1991, notre agriculture a connu des niveaux record de production. A titre d'exemple, la production céréalière a dépassé cette année les 8,5 millions de tonnes. Ce tonnage représente le double de la production moyenne des années 70 et le quadruple de la production du début des années 80, qui furent marquées par de grandes sécheresses.
Ces performances se retrouvent également au niveau de la production sucrière, laitière, oléagineuse et de viande.
Nous estimons que les résultats atteints en matière de production agricole sont la résultante d'un certain nombre de facteurs dont les plus importants sont, d'une part le retour de conditions climatiques normales, et d'autre part le fruit de tout un programme d'ajustement structurel entamé dès 1985 et dont le but principal était justement de dynamiser le secteur agricole par la voie de la libéralisation et par la voie de l'accroissement de l'efficience.
Etant donné le rôle moteur que joue le secteur agricole dans notre économie, nous avons enregistré des impacts très positifs au niveau des agrégats macroéconomiques. Ce qui me pousse d'ailleurs à vous affirmer que le début du paragraphe 265 du document C 91/2 ne reflète pas la réalité de l'évolution économique marocaine.
Dans ce même paragraphe, les indicateurs cités, tels que le déficit budgétaire et tel que le taux de croissance du PIB, sont actuellement largement dépassés.
Ma délégation est convaincue que des efforts d'ajustement structurel s'imposent pour les pays en développement, afin d'accroître la productivité agricole.
Néanmoins, ces efforts ne pourraient en aucun cas assurer un développement durable des agricultures de ces pays, sans un ajustement international en matière des échanges Nord-Sud des produits agricoles. Je crois que nous aurons à revenir sur cette question, lorsque nous aborderons le deuxième point de notre ordre du jour.
Ms Heather AMYS (Canada): It is a pleasure, Sir, to see you directing this Commission.
The economic slowdown in 1990-91 was experienced by the developing countries and developed countries alike. We recognize the vulnerability to these economic shocks, and the economic hardships faced by developing countries. The declining debt-servicing costs, as a share of exports, observed for the developing countries in many regions in 1990 is a welcomed sign.
The small increase in food production in developing countries in 1991 raises serious concerns despite the progress observed in the past two years. Those concerns are amplified by the first decline in world food production in almost a decade. Perhaps the most serious concern is Africa where production actually declined in 1990 and declined on a per capita basis in 1991. It is encouraging to see increased production in 1991 for some very large countries, namely Pakistan, India, Thailand, where food production per capita fell in 1990. But there can be no comfort in the fact that the annual increase in the 1991 food production in developing countries is well below that for 1989, and the 1986-88 average has declined on a per capita basis. As well, ending stocks of cereals in 1991-92 are projected to be down substantially from last year. Some countries continue to export cereals using large export subsidies despite these low stock levels. Any production shortfall in a major producing region in 1992 could seriously affect prices and food availability in developing countries.
The strong growth in agricultural trade observed in 1990, while a positive sign, occurred despite widespread restrictions on trade. However, there is a serious concern for declining commodity prices which are intensified by the increasing domestic and export subsidies for agriculture. It must be recognized that some of the increase in trade reflects exports at highly subsidized prices. World prices fell in 1990 for many agricultural commodities, especially wheat, rice, sugar, coffee and tea and this trend has escalated in 1991. Canada is well aware that subsidy and unfair trade practices have hurt the export earnings for the agriculture sector in developing countries. We share the view of many developing countries that an agreement at the GATT is imperative to improve world prices and the income levels of the agricultural sector in these developing countries.
Canada shares the concern about the drop in the commitments and disbursements of external lending to agriculture in 1989 versus 1988. While there is pressure to restrain government budget deficits in most developed countries, the problems faced by developing countries have not diminished. Canada continues to strongly support the food aid programme.
The rapid progress of the reforms toward a market-oriented economy initiated in Eastern Europe and the USSR is truly remarkable. Canada strongly encourages these developments which should vastly improve the food security of the region and the economic well-being of the agriculture and rural sector of these countries.
In summary, this report provides us with a number of important reminders.
First, it is critical to the improvement of the agricultural sectors in developing countries that there be a rapid and successful completion to the Uruguay Round of the GATT Negotiations. This will strengthen and stabilize world commodity prices. More importantly, it will complement the structural adjustment reforms now ongoing in many countries. In the way countries would be making investments, decisions based on international market prices are determined by market forces and not by national treasuries.
Second, there is an urgent need for structural adjustment in the agricultural sectors of all countries to encourage rational and sustained development. The evidence of the implications of structural adjustment policies on agriculture is timely, with the GATT Negotiations expected to conclude shortly. In order for both developing and developed countries to obtain the maximum benefits from a GATT agreement, it will be important to make production and investment decisions on the basis of the new level of international commodity prices.
Third, there is an urgent requirement for the continuation of the types of programmes sponsored by the FAO to provide economic information, planning and policy advice and technical assistance.
Despite the period of restraint in government spending, the report emphasizes the need for all countries to continue to provide assistance and develop more innovative and creative means to help overcome the problems of the world's hungry and the poor.
Finally, we would like to support the statement made yesterday by the delegate of Sweden and supported by others with regard to the need to develop alternate reserve stock indicators. We also support the very
pertinent point made by the Swedish delegate that the concept of food security should be seen to comprise more than the availability of physical stocks. As discussed in the Committee on World Food Security during the last biennium, food security must increasingly be perceived as a question of entitlements, and access to food based on purchasing power. We welcome the progress which we know the Secretariat is making in tackling these two subjects.
Canada views the report on the State of Food and Agriculture to be a very important activity of the FAO. Like the delegation of Denmark yesterday, we believe that this document could benefit from a more substantial policy orientation. In general, however, we are very supportive of the work done by the Secretariat in this regard.
Crispus R.J. NYAGA (Kenya): Mr Chairman, allow me to begin by congratulating you on your election to steer this very important Commissiòn.
The Kenya delegation would like to register its appreciation for the detailed analysis on the State of Food and Agriculture as covered under documents C 91/2 and C 91/2-Sup.l.
We concur with the view that agriculture has been negatively affected by the economic slowdown due to a number of factors. The factors include external debt liabilities and debt servicing, which have been on the increase and are expected to continue increasing. The situation in Africa south of the Sahara regarding the debt issue has now reached alarming proportions. In our opinion, it is only through deliberate steps by the industrialized countries in rescheduling and cancellation of these debts that the problem may be resolved.
We note with concern that in paragraph 44 it is indicated that a large number of countries experienced declines in per caput food production, particularly in Africa where 80 percent of the sub-Saharan countries recorded major declines. Noting that the world's poor, who also face critical food shortages, are to be found in developing countries, it is our sincere hope that more resources will be made available to these countries to revitalize their agricultural sectors.
Concerning livestock production, Kenya has a large land resource and a wide diversity of livestock. Our dairy industry, which is fairly well developed, could however do a lot more toward improvement in livestock feeds, milk collection, cooling and processing facilities. Regarding meat production, we face constraints, such as insufficient water supply in the rangelands, lack of improved forage particularly during the dry season, and insufficient capacity in livestock breeding and improvement. Animal health problems and disease control in particular are a chronic constraint in terms of livestock movement to markets and exports of livestock products. While attempts have been made to eradicate livestock diseases within our borders, it is recommended that regional programmes on disease control be emphasized.
Fisheries continue to be a contributor towards food security of many Member Nations. It also plays a significant role in the creation of employment opportunities. It is therefore gratifying to note that world fish
production remained fairly steady with some encouraging trends particularly in aquaculture, with Africa showing notable increases. Despite the positive trends, fisheries in Kenya continue to face a number of constraints which include high levels of post-harvest losses, poor fishing gear and severe competition between local small scale fishermen and the deep sea commercial fishing nations, the latter of whom fish within the EEZs of the developing countries. However, my Government appreciates the contribution of FAO through the South-West Indian Ocean Programme in improving statistical data collection and an ongoing programme aimed at introducing improved small scale fishing technology at the Kenyan Coast.
In connection with the world trade we wish to reiterate our concern regarding depressed commodity prices for major exports from developing countries which have led to a reduction of both export volumes and foreign exchange earnings. We therefore feel that early and successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations will go a long way in ameliorating the unfavourable world trade situation.
In conclusion it is noted that food aid requirements will continue to rise in the near future, particularly in the African Region. It is therefore a matter of great concern that current food levels fall below requirements. In this connection, I would like to draw your attention to the turmoil and suffering of the millions of people in the horn of Africa, which is the cradle of mankind. Due to this situation Kenya has had to host many refugees from these countries. We have also closely cooperated with WFP and UNHCR among others in providing these people with food and shelter. We appeal to the international community to increase their support to the Region in order to reduce human suffering and to initiate reconstruction and development in the affected countries. We would also wish to stress the importance of food aid as a development resource. There is much scope for utilizing food aid to accelerate agricultural recovery and economic development in this area.
Nahi SHIBANI (Syria) (Original language Arabic): First of all we would like to congratulate you on your election to the Chairmanship of this Commission. We have listened very carefully to all previous statements by other delegations on this item, the State of Food and Agriculture for 1990-92 and the consequences for food security in the world and we have noted the efforts made by the Organization in this field in order to improve the situation and of course, my delegation has carefully studied the document C 91/2 and we would like to take the opportunity to thank the Secretariat for the efforts they have taken to prepare this document and I would agree with previous speakers as regard the qualities of the document and since I am in agreement with most of the things that have been said I feel I.can save everyone's time by not repeating it and I will merely say we support all the proposals calling for an increase in food aid, especially to the least developed countries and we also support the proposals made concerning the liberalization of trade in agricultural commodities and foodstuffs and we also stress the need to relieve the burden of the external debt of Third World countries.
The Syrian delegation would like to pay tribute to the important role played by FAO in endeavouring to help those who suffer from malnutrition all over the world and we would like to express our deep appreciation and respect for the Organization and in so doing we say that we will do our
utmost to support FAO's efforts to assist farmers, rural circles and to promote the development of agriculture, in particular, of course, in Arab countries and the occupied Arab territories and in general terms I would also like to emphasize the importance of upholding the rights of man and the two basic rights, the right to existence and the right to food and we must help the rural populations to attain these rights, in particular, the rural populations in the Golan Heights because of the impact of the occupation they are under and it makes their lives particularly difficult and because of this situation they are, in fact, prevented from using their land to develop their agriculture and produce foodstuffs. They are being denied access to water and the right to work the land and we would therefore wish to appeal urgently to this Organization, to the whole international community, to take steps to improve this state of affairs. We hope that this Commission will be able to produce a recommendation to the effect that a study should be carried of the situation of such people, such rural populations living in conditions such as the Golan Heights to show them that the world community does not forget them and the difficulties they labour under and to show that the international community is ready to come and help them to improve their lot and this is a proposal I am putting before this Commission for consideration.
Antonio BAYAS F. (Chile): En primer lugar, quiero agradecerle por haberme dado la palabra y, al ser ésta la primera vez que hacemos uso de ella en esta Comisión, felicitarle a usted por su designación para dirigir nuestros debates.
En el marco del análisis de la economia mundial - puntos 1 al 33 del documento -, vale la pena subrayar que las transformaciones estructurales que están aplicando los países latinoamericanos, tendentes a la implementación de los principios de una economia de mercado con mayor participación del sector privado y con apertura hacia el comercio exterior, deben ser apoyadas por los paises desarrollados, desarticulando las medidas para-arancelarias que dificultan el comercio.
La tendencia hacia la formación de bloques comerciales entre los paises de la región latinoamericana sustentará el crecimiento del producto interno bruto hasta un cierto limite, pues la tendencia general de la politica macroeconómica es la contracción de la demanda agregada para contener la inflación; luego no debe considerarse esta estrategia como único camino de crecimiento.
En relación al comercio agricola, mi delegación quiere expresar su preocupación respecto a que se debiera hacer un análisis acerca del impacto de las donaciones de los países desarrollados, máxime cuando algunos han anunciado últimamente que aumentarán dichas donaciones, vía programas de ayuda alimentaria.
Y respecto a lo expresado en el documento en relación a la coyuntura económica mundial, mi delegación estima que debería hacerse alguna mención a la capacidad de pago al sector agrícola, especificando el destino que se les dio a los préstamos sectoriales.
N. Neil FRASER (New Zealand): I would like first of all to congratulate you on your election to chair this Commission of the Conference.
We have read with interest and concern the analysis of the food and agriculture situation outlined in document C 91/2. Yesterday in Plenary my Minister referred to the problems that developing countries face in terms of agriculture and trade policy that currently exist in the world. We have heard today of other non-policy problems and difficulties. We hear of climatic problems, pests and diseases, technology availability, political instability, population growth and education levels, to name a few. These provide a big enough burden without having to bear the distortions and low prices and closed markets that result from the agricultural support and trade policies that exist in many countries.
As well as developing countries facing these trade problems there are some developed countries, some traditional agricultural exporting countries that are also hurt by these policies. The Australian delegation has referred to the low farming income situation in his country. My own country is also affected. By affecting the agricultural producers in countries such as ours, which have a comparative advantage in agricultural production, their productive capacity is put at risk and consequently inhibiting our ability to contribute to enhancing world food security. That is why a coalition of developing and developed countries and Hungary who we heard from this afternoon, have joined together to call for the reforms that are needed.
The representative of Columbia, a member of the Cairns Group, drew attention to paragraph 5 of the document before us, namely that in OECD countries numerous changes have been made in the instruments of agricultural policies.
Mr Chairman, we must draw a distinction between intentions, actions and results, and of course we need emphasis on the latter. However, this is not enough. We do not need changes to the instruments, we need new instruments. The Uruguay Round offers an opportunity to change the instruments, and the opportunity must not be missed.
The Uruguay Round is poised at a critical stage and we agree, therefore, with the Australian view, mentioned here this afternoon, that this Conference should give a clear statement on the critical importance of obtaining a satisfactory conclusion and outcome as soon as possible. This outcome must include a comprehensive package of reform covering all the areas of agriculture, namely internal support, border protection and export competition.
Jaime Mauricio SALAZAR DIAZ (El Salvador): Permítame ante todo felicitar al señor Presidente por su acertada elección de parte del Gobierno de El Salvador. Como pais que coordina en este momento durante los próximos seis meses al Grupo Centroamericano, yo quisiera expresar ante esta Asamblea que los paises de la subregión centroamericana estamos todos haciendo unos esfuerzos muy grandes por trasladar todas nuestras acciones en favor de la agricultura, que es donde tenemos más ventajas comparativas. Esta tarea no es fácil ya que encontramos a los paises en un estado en el cual favorecieron durante muchos años, con algunas medidas, al desarrollo del sector industrial sacrificando al sector agropecuario. Las medidas internas ponían en desventaja al sector agropecuario y el desestimulo para
las actividades agropecuarias andaba por el orden del 27 por ciento para el caso de El Salvador, cuando la industria tenia un estímulo de más del 30 por ciento. Este sesgo antiagrario, como lo llamamos nosotros, está siendo borrado por las acciones que están tomando los gobiernos centroamericanos en pro de una agricultura mejor. El sector agropecuario, además de las medidas internas, también ha sufrido mucho con la competencia desleal a todas luces, con las importaciones de alimentos producidos en países subsidiados, especialmente en el campo de los granos básicos y leche en polvo.
Ordenar las economías no es tarea fácil; todos los gobiernos de Centroamérica son muy recientes. El que está en actividad desde hace más tiempo es el Gobierno de El Salvador, con menos de dos años y medio en el poder, pero estamos interesados en poder insertar el área centroamericana dentro de la corriente mundial de economía libre de mercado. En este sentido, en cada uno de los países, en mayor o menor grado, se han estado tomando las medidas necesarias y efectuando los cambios macroeconómicos que nos permítan volver a este ordenamiento nacional que es necesario para tener acceso a la economía mundial. Es así como uno de los foros más importantes que se han desarrollado en el área de Centroamérica han sido los mandatos que se reciben y los acuerdos a que se llega a través de las reuniones cumbres de Presidentes de Centroamérica y Panamá, de las cuales la última fue la décima efectuada en San Salvador en junio del presente año.
Quiero mencionarles que el tema económico y el tema agrícola no han estado ausentes de estos acuerdos y de estos mandatos, y que uno de los principales que nosotros tenemos es el Plan Económico para Centroamérica que ha sido mandato de los Presidentes, bajo el cual, a través de la coordinación, estamos tratando de buscar la integración centroamericana en el campo agropecuario. Sabemos que existen, o han existido, muchas barreras todavía que derribar, pero sin embargo en la declaración de San Salvador ya se llegó a un acuerdo de poder tener una apertura de todos los productos agropecuarios en el mercado centroamericano a partir del 1Ω de julio de 1992. Nosotros creemos que éstos son pasos muy importantes, pero a la vez solicitamos a este foro, a los países amigos, a las instituciones internacionales de asistencia técnica y financiera que nos continúen apoyando para poder llegar, al más corto plazo posible, a esta integración que todos buscamos y que pronto será realidad en El Salvador.
Debo mencionarles que, en relación al Plan Especial de Cooperación de Centroamérica, el PEC, que es una iniciativa gestada por los países de la CEE y coordinada por las Naciones Unidas, se invirtieron cerca de 20 millones de dólares en la identificación y preparación de los proyectos en el sector agropecuario para poder ayudarnos a desarrollar este sector tan importante para la región.
En el marco del PEC también estuvimos presentes en una reunión de donantes en febrero de este año, y no hemos concretizado ninguna de las medidas que nos pudieran haber ayudado financieramente a ejecutar estos proyectos que tenemos escritos y que están disponibles para llevarlos a cabo tan pronto podamos contar con la asistencia financiera necesaria.
Quisiera hacer un llamado en esta ocasión a los países miembros de la CEE y al Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo para que urgentemente puedan volver a trabajar, a dinamizar esta iniciativa que, por alguna razón, sentimos ha quedado un poco olvidada.
Ahmed Khalil GARTAA (Libya) (Original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, first of all, I should like to congratulate you on your election to the Chair of this important Commission, and we wish you the greatest success in running its deliberations. We would also like to thank the Secretariat for the preparation of the documents C 91/2 and C 91/2-Sup.1 dealing with the World State of Food and Agriculture, a state which we may describe as being dangerous and worrying and accordingly requires the solidarity and assistance of the international community to the food deficit countries in order to help them increase their production.
Allow me, Mr Chairman, to review, briefly, my country's efforts in the area of Food security, as we have done work in various directions towards this goal at the national, regional and bilateral levels.
At à national level, and in addition to the fact that my country's expenditure on the Agricultural Sector over the last twenty years has been 17 percent of our total expenditures on other sectors, we are implementing the project of the Great Artificial River, which will carry 6 million cubic metres of water from the heart of the Sahara to the coastal areas where most of our population lives; 86 percent of this water will be devoted to agriculture and specifically to the irrigation of 200 000 hectares of agricultural land. In this manner we will be able to increase agricultural and livestock production.
At the regional level, and particularly within the framework of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), we have close coordination with the member states in order to develop common agricultural policies for better integration of our activities and to ensure food security. This is referred to on page 78 of document C 91/2.
On the bilateral level, measures are being taken by my country and the Sudan in order to ensure integration in the areas of agriculture and industry.
I should also like to express our support to the request made by our brother from Syria to the effect that a study be undertaken of the farmers' situation in the occupied Golan Heights and that technical assistance be extended to them.
Sra. Mónica DEREGIBUS (Argentina): Señor Presidente, permítame en primer lugar felicitarle por su elección para presidir los trabajos de esta importante Comisión y también que haga Ud. por favor extensivas estas felicitaciones a los Vicepresidentes que le acompañan en esta tarea. Asimismo permítame agradecer a la Secretaria la elaboración y la presentación de los documentos sobre este tema del programa. Los documentos son muy completos y contienen información de mucho interés para mi país. Coincidimos con la descripción y el diagnóstico general de los documentos. La declaración del Jefe de la Delegación Argentina en el Plenario de esta Conferencia contiene la apreciación de mi país, señor Presidente, sobre la
situación de la agricultura y la alimentación en el mundo y sobre los problemas que impiden el mejoramiento de dicha situación. Por razones de brevedad, a él me remito solicitando que sea tenido en cuenta por el Comité de Redacción al elaborar su informe sobre esta parte del programa.
Coincidimos asimismo, señor Presidente, con las apreciaciones efectuadas por varias delegaciones que nos han precedido en el uso de la palabra, entre ellas Brasil, Australia y Nueva Zelandia. Endosamos, por consiguiente en su totalidad, las declaraciones de esos países.
Señor Presidente, el Gobierno argentino está llevando adelante un proceso de transformación económica, que cuenta con amplio consenso de la ciudadanía, con el objeto de poner fin al estancamiento en que se encontraba inmersa la economía nacional. Dicho proceso tiende a la liberalización de la economía, la apertura de los mercados, el descenso de los niveles arancelarios, la disminución del gasto público con la consecuente declinación del déficit público y la eliminación de todo tipo de trabas existentes para el libre funcionamiento de los mercados de bienes y de servicios. Ello incluye, en el campo específico que nosotros estamos considerando, la eliminación de los impuestos, de lo que llamábamos nosotros retenciones a la exportación de productos agrícolas, que durante muchos años gravaron en mi país las exportaciones de este sector.
El documento que analizamos efectúa una mención muy corta al Mercosur en la sesión dedicada a la integración andina y a la agricultura. El Mercosur no es un organismo de integración regional andino; es un organismo de integración regional de cuatro países del cono sur, y quisiéramos aclarar aquí que su implementación ocurrirá en 1995 y no 1994, como se menciona en el documento. La integración regional a la cual está abocado mi país y la apertura económica al resto del mundo son claras demostraciones de la voluntad de la República Argentina de integrar su economía a una economía que deberá ser cada'vez más libre en el flujo de bienes y de servicios a nivel global. Si bien el contenido del documento es descriptivo, señor Presidente, cabe señalar aquí que, en los aspectos relacionados con el medio ambiente, se hace mención a los problemas existentes en los países en desarrollo, pero no a la degradación del medio ambiente y a la contaminación producida por los países desarrollados. Esto es algo que quisiéramos nosotros que no se repitiera en futuros documentos.
Refiriéndonos concretamente a la propuesta de reforma de la política agrícola común de la Comunidad Europea, mi país estima que si bien ella contiene ciertos aspectos positivos, tales como la disminución de los precios objetivos de ciertos productos, resulta poco satisfactorio asistir a la ausencia de propuestas relativas a las condiciones de acceso a los mercados y que no se haga referencia a la disminución de los subsidios a las exportaciones. Asimismo, y aunque no se haga mención en este documento de las recomendaciones del Panel de Soja del GATT que la Comunidad Económica debe poner en práctica, la Argentina también quisiera aquí expresar su descontento por la falta de realismo que implica la reciente aprobación del régimen oleaginoso de la Comunidad Europea. Dicho régimen no modifica la situación de menoscabo en las concesiones tarifarias planteadas en dicho panel, por la cual no conduce a ninguna modificación de importancia en relación al régimen preexistente.
Finalmente, señor Presidente, permítame apoyar muy calurosamente la sugerencia de varias delegaciones, entre ellas las de Australia y Brasil, para que esta Conferencia produzca un llamamiento para un resultado temprano y satisfactorio de las negociaciones comerciales multilaterales que se llevan a cabo en la Ronda Uruguay del GATT. Estimamos que dicho resultado no será posible sin un acuerdo substancial en el sector de la agricultura y que es deber de esta Conferencia expresar su opinión acerca de esta necesidad.
Yun Su CHANG (Korea, Democratic People's Republic of): I would like to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this important Commission. I would also like to express deep thanks to the Secretariat for the preparation of the excellent documents C 91/2 and C 91/2-Sup.1 and the comprehensive analysis of the world environment surrounding agriculture and agriculture itself.
For the last two years, since the Twenty-fifth Session of the FAO Conference, many changes have taken place in the world, but the overall economic environment was unfavourable generally for agriculture and distribution of agricultural products. In spite of international concern and efforts for the improvement of food and agriculture, there has been no radical improvement or progress in the world situation. Deteriorating agriculture and serious food crises have continued over the world and have brought great misfortunes and calamities to mankind.
It is none other than the developing countries that are suffering from the food crisis. Agricultural production and food security in the developing countries have been negatively affected by the Gulf and Civil Wars, social disputes, natural disasters, heavy burdens of debt, external environments and so on.
In order to achieve world food security, the developing countries - which account for most of the world's territory and population - should develop agriculture and increase food production. In this regard, we think that it is necessary for every developing country to set forth independent agricultural policies suitable to their specific conditions, and develop their agriculture to attain self-sufficiency in food by mobilizing and making effective use of their manpower and natural resources. We recognize that it is very important to strengthen and extend South-South cooperation in agricultural development.
If developing countries could exchange and cooperate with each other on the advanced technologies and good experiences which they have, they could develop agriculture and increase food production. In this regard, we look forward to all developing countries making joint efforts for South-South cooperation in the field of agriculture and to FAO's continued support through TCDC activities and increased allocation of budget for it during the next biennium.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that it is very important to establish a fair and equal new international economic order in agriculture for developing countries.
We wish that all developing countries will make continued efforts for establishment of a new international order in agricultural economy and trade.
Horacio M. CARANDANG (Philippines): The Philippine delegation notes with deep concern the alarming trends in the situation of food security, particularly in developing countries, which are apparent from the documents before us. For example, we see in Table 1 of C 91/2-Sup. 1 that the trend of food production will go down from 3.1 to 1.1 percent, and agricultural production from 3.1 to 1 percent; also, overall world production will go down from about 2 to minus 0.5 percent and agricultural production from 2.1 to 0.1 percent, according to information available up to August 1991. This would mean a negative per capita income, and negative per capita food production for many developing countries.
We also learn from this document that food cereal stocks will, at the end of 1991-92, be at their lowest since 1983-84 and below the 17 or 18 percent which FAO considers to be the minimum requirement for food security.
The Philippine delegation wishes to express its concern about the unfavourable situation of world trade. For example, the value of agricultural trade of developing countries continues to be depressed. Prices of commodities traded in the world from developing countries have fallen by almost double the price of those exported by the developed countries. Food imports for developing countries have gone up by 14 percent from 48 billion to 61 billion. The share of developing countries in the export of agricultural products continues to be eroded, and is now down to about one quarter of all of the total exports.
Agricultural policy reforms in developing countries, required as part of the structural adjustment, have reduced the role of governments in production, pricing, and marketing of products. There is now growing evidence that this has negatively affected food production. In certain developed countries, however, the level of protection has not diminished and in fact has reached record levels.
In this connection, we, the Philippine delegation, deplore that agricultural trade protectionism has grown during the past decades, as reflected in the measures for support of production, and, while there have been few instances of significant improvements in market access conditions for some developing countries, subsidization of exports has caused even greater distortion in world agricultural trade. As the delegate of Argentina pointed out earlier, this topic has been emphasized by the delegates of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. Like those delegations, we would like to stress the need for a major reform in the agricultural sector, and the importance of achieving an early and successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round. Failure of the Uruguay Round could worsen this depressing situation, but we see no signals which give us any ground for optimism.
We would also like to stress the value of the work being done by the various commodity bodies in FAO to provide us with information, and the decisions of the Executive Board of the Common Fund to designate the eight
intergovernmental groups as international commodity bodies. We hope that this will produce an improvement in the agricultural trade of developing countries.
Lindorfo ORTET (Cap-Vert): Tout d'abord, M. le Président, permettez-nous malgré l'heure tardive de nous joindre aux précédents orateurs pour vous féliciter de votre élection à la présidence de cette Commission chargée d'examiner les questions qui concernent l'agriculture et l'alimentation dans le monde.
C'est pour nous un motif de joie de voir le Cap-Vert cité dans le document comme un des rares pays qui a accru sensiblement sa production alimentaire par habitant. Malheureusement cette année, le Cap-Vert a été frappé encore une fois par une sécheresse qui affecte directement la production vivrière, les pâturages et l'approvisionnement en eau. Des programmes d'urgence ont été lancés, notamment pour la sauvegarde du bétail et l'approvisionnement en eau potable des populations rurales des zones les plus éloignées des points d'eau.
Les dernières missions d'évaluation conjointes FAO/CILLS sur la situation agricole et alimentaire ont recommandé la poursuite de l'aide alimentaire, car la production vivrière couvrira à peine 5 pour cent des besoins alimentaires au niveau national.
Malgré les sécheresses périodiques qui sévissent dans le pays, le peuple cap-verdien ne cesse de se battre avec insistance pour améliorer ses conditions de vie et éloigner le spectre de la faim.
Ma délégation félicite le Secrétariat pour la qualité des documents soumis, et apporte son soutien aux déclarations de quelques pays africains en ce qui concerne le renforcement du Programme Engrais en Afrique.
Pour ce qui est de la situation phytosanitaire, notre position insulaire nous permet de bien mener la lutte contre les ennemis des cultures, notamment la lutte biologique, qui a déjà connu des résultats très satisfaisants. Cela facilite la mise en oeuvre du programme de développement pour une agriculture durable.
Emiliano GONZALES BLANCO (México): Les representantes de México, señor Presidente, hemos leído con detenimiento el documento C 91/2, y felicitamos a la Secretaría por su extraordinaria labor.
Preocupan a México las pocas expectativas de crecimiento en la producción y comercialización de los alimentos en los países en desarrollo y, particularmente, en América Latina.
Señor Presidente, los representantes de México por la limitación de tiempo a las que hace referencia, resumiremos nuestra declaración y solamente nos referiremos a un punto concreto, pero entregaremos por escrito el documento completo para que se incluya en el informe del Comité.
México se quiere adherir a las propuestas de Argentina, Australia, Nueva Zelandia, entre otros, a fin de que esta Conferencia haga un fuerte llamado a las negociaciones de la Ronda Uruguay del GATT para obtener un resultado pronto y significativo.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): The Statement of the delegation of Mexico will be duly included in the verbatim report of the proceedings, as will a written statement from the representative of the EEC on this item.
Emiliano GONZALES BLANCO (México): Los representantes de México hemos leído con detenimiento el documento C 91/2 y felicitamos a la Secretaría por su extraordinaria labor.
Preocupan a México las pocas expectativas de crecimiento en la producción y comercialización de los alimentos en los países en desarrollo, particulármente en América Latina.
Como se menciona en el documento, consideramos las difíciles situaciones económicas en los países en desarrollo y las grandes distorsiones del comercio exterior agroalimentario como las principales causas de esta preocupante situación agrícola mundial.
Sin embargo, como también se destaca en el documento, México ha logrado incrementar su producción agrícola.
Esto se debe a que nuestra economía se estabiliza y crece a casi el doble de la población.
Afortunadamente esta recuperación económica se da en casi todos los sectores. Nuestra producción agroalimentaria también se recupera.
En 1989 tuvimos una caída en la producción agrícola del 4 por ciento, para 1990 crecimos más del 3 por ciento y en el primer semestre de 1991 nuestra producción ha crecido casi 7 por ciento en términos anuales reales.
Particularmente hemos incrementado nuestra producción de productos básicos, logrando por primera vez en más de 20 años la autosuficiencia alimentaria en maíz y en frijol, elementos básicos de la dieta del mexicano.
Sin embargo, no hemos alcanzado nuestro objetivo nacional de modernización del campo y vemos al sector agroalimentario como un reto complejo y urgente.
México y otros países estamos realizando internamente lo necesario para modernizar nuestro sector agrícola, pero hemos encontrado que el comercio exterior agropecuario está fuertemente distorsionado por los altos subsidios a la producción, así como por las medidas proteccionistas en algunos países desarrollados.
Observábamos con preocupación la falta de voluntad política de algunos de estos países desarrollados para regular el comercio de productos agrícolas en el seno de las negociaciones de la Ronda Uruguay del GATT’.
El desarrollo de la agricultura no puede quedarse a la espera de avances en los foros comerciales multilaterales, por lo que México, ha buscado suplir esta falla del sistema multilateral de comercio mediante el establecimiento de acuerdos subregionales de libre comercio con el sur y con el norte. Somos conscientes de que estos acuerdos sólo benefician a unos pocos paises, por lo que tenemos la firme convicción de que se requieren avances significativos en GATT.
Solamente con un comercio agroalimentario más libre se podrá estimular la producción y la comercialización de alimentos en los países en desarrollo dados los cambios generalizados hacia economías de mercado.
Señor Presidente, esperamos que la Conferencia de la FAO, como lo han pedido otros miembros, haga una fuerte llamada a los negociadores de la Ronda Uruguay del GATT para obtener avances significativos en el ordenamiento del comercio exterior agroalimentario. Muchas gracias.1
Gianpaolo PAPA (CEE): Les documents C 91/2 et C 91/2-Sup.l fournissent à nouveau une description intéressante et utile des principales tendances de la production, de la consommation et des échanges de denrées alimentaires et de produits agricoles. Ils représentent donc une excellente base pour la discussion des aspects essentiels.
En ce qui concerne la situation globale de l'offre et de la demande pour les céréales, nous avons vu une légère amélioration par rapport à la période précédente. Toutefois, il nous semble que s'il y avait un problème, ce problème serait moins lié à la situation globale de l'offre et de la demande qu'à des déséquilibres qui existent dans les différentes régions du monde.
Il est en effet inquiétant que, selon des projections à moyen et long terme, une partie grandissante du commerce international consisterait en des ventes à des conditions de faveur et en de l'aide alimentaire. Une telle situation ne représente pas seulement une perspective douteuse pour les pays exportateurs mais elle devrait être alarmante pour les pays en voie de développement eux-mêmes.
En ce qui concerne la situation des pays exportateurs, il serait contradictoire de les exhorter pour qu'ils réduisent le soutien à la production et aux exportations et d'attendre d'eux en même temps le maintien du niveau actuel de stocks qui sont souvent le résultat d'une production excédentaire. Ceci est plus vrai encore pour les pays exportateurs nets en voie de développement qui souhaitent voir les prix mondiaux en augmentation et des perspectives d'exportations améliorées mais qui ne considèrent probablement pas comme une tâche principale d'entretenir des stocks pour être en mesure de répondre à des pénuries alimentaires. Des ventes à des conditions de faveur ou de l'aide alimentaire de leur part pour des pays en développement souffrant de famine apparaissent encore moins probables.
___________1 Texto incluido en las actas a petición expresa.
Pour les pays en voie de développement dépendant pour une large partie des céréales importées, ceci signifie que les efforts d'ajustements structurels doivent être intensifiés substantiellement aussi bien pour des raisons de sécurité alimentaire que sous l'aspect du développement social et économique. Ceci reste vrai même si l'engagement des pays donateurs de fournir en cas de besoin de l'aide alimentaire n'est pas en question.
Au paragraphe 13 du document devant nous, il est noté: "Dans la quasi-totalité des pays un trait commun aux stratégies déterminant l'orientation de l'agriculture a été de reconnaître la nécessité d'un désengagement de l'Etat et d'une libéralisation des marchés mais aussi des mécanismes de fixation des prix et du régime du commerce extérieur". Nous espérons que ceci signifie que le secteur agricole dans les pays en voie de développement reçoit la reconnaissance et la juste compensation pour sa contribution aux économies nationales qu'il mérite.
Toutefois, si on regarde les tendances récentes de la production agricole, discutées aux paragraphes 38 et suivants du document en présence, ces tendances sont assez inquiétantes concernant l'Afrique ainsi que l'Amérique latine et les Caraïbes.
La Communauté ne peut donc que reconfirmer sa position qu'un vigoureux ajustement structurel de l'agriculture vers un niveau plus élevé de l'autosuffisance alimentaire est le seul moyen pour les pays en voie de développement dépendant des importations alimentaires, d'assurer une évolution satisfaisante à moyen et long terme. La Communauté continuera à assister de tels efforts dans la plus grande mesure possible.
Si l'aide alimentaire ne peut et ne doit donc pas être un substitut pour l'ajustement structurel, nous reconnaissons qu'il sera dans un avenir prévisible, toujours nécessaire d'intervenir avec l'aide alimentaire pour réduire la souffrance des hommes et pour contribuer au développement économique et social. Pour cette raison, la Communauté ne maintient pas seulement le niveau existant de son aide mais, en plus du programme important déjà envisagé, une quantité additionnelle de 400 000 tonnes de céréales est en train d'être mobilisée pour l'Afrique cette année-ci.
Ceci démontre clairement que l'engagement de la Communauté pour les pays en voie de développement n'a pas diminué, même si la Communauté doit répondre simultanément aux défis apparus en Europe centrale et en Europe de l'Est. En outre, nous n'avons pas le moindre doute que le progrès dans ces pays vers la démocratie et une économie saine représentera à moyen et long terme un avantage également pour les pays en voie de développement plutôt que quelque chose à craíndre.
Ceci m'amène à la question de l'intégration et coopération économiques aux niveaux régional et sous-régional qui est également mise en relief dans le document devant nous.
En ce qui concerne la Communauté européenne, elle n'est pas seulement en train de développer davantage sa cohésion et coopération intérieures mais elle a également récemment conclu des négociation avec l'Autriche, la Finlande, l'Islande, la Norvège, la Suède, la Suisse et le Liechtenstein, qui sont les membres de l'Association Européenne de Libre Echange (AELE), en vue de la création d'un Espace Economique Européen encore plus large.
En parallèle, des accords d'association sont en train d'être finalisés avec la Hongrie, la Tchécoslovaquie et la Pologne qui faciliteront beaucoup la continuation de la coopération et l'intégration économique. Enfin, des accords commerciaux de différents types sont en train d'être négociés avec d'autres pays dans la région.
Si je mentionne ces évolutions plus en détail, je le fais avec le seul objectif d'encourager des évolutions similaires dans d'autres parties du monde. Un bon nombre de questions d'équilibre entre offre et demande pourraient être résolues si la coopération régionale devenait un fait général. La Communauté est prête à assister de tels efforts régionaux de coopération et d'intégration dans la plus grande mesure possible.
Finalement, quelques mots sur le programme de réforme agricole de la Communauté elle-même et sur l'Uruguay Round. Comme l'explique plus en détail en plénière le Commissaire MAC SHARRY, nous sommes relativement optimistes concernant l'aboutissement de ces deux entreprises.
Même si des détails de la réforme de la Politique Agricole Commune sont encore en discussion, il y a une claire concordance de vues au sein du Conseil des Ministres de la Communauté europénne sur la nécessité de réforme et des éléments majeurs de celle-ci. En même temps, nous constatons que les négociations d'Uruguay ont à nouveau gagné de la vitesse et nous ferons tout ce qui nous est possible pour aboutir à leur conclusion satisfaisante. Evidemment, une telle conclusion satisfaisante ne dépend pas seulement de l'agriculture mais aussi d'autres sujets tels que les textiles, les services et les droits de propriété intellectuelle.
En ce qui concerne la négociation agricole, beaucoup seront d'accord avec moi pour dire qu'il ne s'agit à la fin pas d'une question de pourcentages de réduction du soutien ou de la protection, mais d'un problème de direction. En tous cas, ce serait une tragédie, en particulier pour les pays en voie de développement, si l'opportunité était manquee de créer la base pour une amélioration majeure du système mondial des échanges de denrées alimentaires et de produits agricoles.
J'aimerais donc encourager la FAO à assister au maximum les pays en voie de développement lors du stade final des négociations de l'Uruguay Round et ensuite avec son conseil et par l'identification de nouvelles opportunités de marché qui résulteront des réformes, pour que les pays en voie de développement puissent en bénéficier autant que possible.1
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): It is getting late. We will be meeting not only tomorrow, but Saturday as well. We will meet from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 2.30 to 5.30. Furthermore, it is incumbent on us to complete the entire consideration of Item 6 during that period.
Masayuki KOMATSU (Japan): I would like to make an intervention at this time.
________1 Texte reçu avec demande d'insertion au procés-verbal
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I gave you the Floor, but not to make your statement because I believe you have already done so. Did you want to move to another point or another item? I believe you have already addressed the Commission on Item 6 of the Agenda, if I am not mistaken.
Masayuki KOHATSU (Japan): Yes, Mr Chairman, as you have said, we have already taken the Floor but we missed one important part that I would like to comment on - this is fisheries. So we would like to make a statement because we think the subject of fisheries is very important, if you will allow me to do so.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): The hour is late. Would you be willing to have your comments regarding fisheries included in the verbatim report? Would that satisfy you? In that way your remarks regarding fisheries in any case would appear in the published form of the verbatim record.
Masayuki KOMATSU (Japan): I appreciate your indulgence, Mr Chairman, but if you will allow me to express this view in front of our members, I would appreciate it. But I leave the final decision to you.
POINT OF ORDER
POINT D'ORDRE
PUNTO DE ORDEN
E. Wayne DENNEY (United States of America): If the intent is to introduce a new item for discussion on this point or for inclusion in the verbatim text without it being properly aired and discussed, that might present problems because if new material is introduced which might be reflected in the adoption of the report for which no other members have the opportunity to react, I think that is probably not a good idea. My suggestion is, given what you have said, Mr Chairman, that the best procedure to follow is to cut off debate at this time.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I apologize to the delegate of Japan, but we have already given you the Floor on this item and we do not have any more time now.
The meeting rose at 18.00 hours
La séance est levée à 18 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 18 horas.
