A.K. SESAY (Sierra Leone): Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the Sierra Leone delegation would first of all like to thank the Chairman for the excellent and efficient way he has handled the proceedings of this Conference. A clear evidence of his wisdom and skills is the orderly and successful conduct of what we all regard as a historic election.
On behalf of my country and Head of State, Captain Valentine E.M. Strasser, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the new FAO Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf of Senegal. While I reaffirm our unreserved support, I wish him and the Organization every success.
In the same spirit I must express profound appreciation for the tremendous goodwill and valuable help we have received from Dr Edouard Saouma and his staff both here at Headquarters and in the field. Indeed, FAO's understanding of, and sympathy for the plight of the rural poor, as well as the courage, commitment and determination of its staff, have brought relief to millions of the needy around the world.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the nine countries that were admitted to the membership of FAO. In particular, we welcome the re-admission of South Africa to FAO, not least because of the immense contribution the country could make to a rapid increase in food security in its sub-region.
A careful reflection on several statements we have heard in this assembly reveals that most developing countries are in one crisis or another, and Sierra Leone is no exception. The difference lies in the nature and scale of the problems and strategies to address them.
Indeed, most critical issues affecting mankind are diverse, global and well known. They are of such dimensions and complexity that most of the Third World countries find them extremely difficult to handle without outside help.
In the case of Sierra Leone, the declining state of the economy is among the worst the country has faced for decades. Per capita income of the population, which largely depends on agriculture, has fallen far below the absolute poverty level in the last decade. In 1989 the country's external debt exceeded a controllable size, while the debt-servicing ratio assumed alarming proportions; and by 1991, the rate of inflation had approached 125 percent.
The economic decline was aggravated by the on-going unprovoked rebel war in the districts bordering Liberia, which in turn increased further the alarming levels of rural poverty, malnutrition, poor infrastrutures, high infant mortality, low life expectancy, and high illiteracy. All of these parameters contributed to Sierra Leone's being classified in 1991 as the least developed country in the world. Although the situation has slightly
improved, a lot of effort is still needed to reverse such unprecedented negative trends, and promote the desired economic growth.
Once a net exporter of its staple food, rice, the country can only now meet 50 percent of some 480 000 metric tons of milled rice needed to feed its 4.2 million people, excluding hundreds of thousands in various refugee camps. The shortfall in production is met annually through imports using scarce foreign exchange which the country could ill afford.
In recent years, production of the main export crops like coffee, cocoa, palm products, and ginger suffered serious setbacks due in part to the fall in world market price and, more seriously, the rebel incursions in areas where these crops are mostly grown.
The country has a long tradition of shifting cultivation, and agriculture is essentially rainfed with crop yields sometimes very low and uncertain.
Livestock is poorly developed, and the areas already devastated by the rebel war face problems of restocking the indigenous Ndama cattle, small ruminants, piggery and local poultry.
The Atlantic Ocean provides Sierra Leone with fairly extensive and attractive fishing grounds. However, with grossly underdeveloped artisanal skills, and no national fleet, industrial fishing is confined mainly to large commercial foreign vessels with inherent problems of poaching, transshipment, and the destruction of juvenile stocks.
Problems encountered in the forestry sub-sector include uncontrolled logging, destruction of secondary forests, emergence of more savannah woodlands resulting from slash and burn methods of farming, harvesting of fuel wood, persistent bush fire as a crude means of hunting wildlife, and range management. The adverse consequences of the above practices on biodiversity are quite obvious, and the long-term effects on the environment as a whole are even more catastrophic.
Other major factors that have continued to hamper food, and agricultural production in developing countries with particular reference to Sierra Leone include lack of coherehnt policies and strategies; poor data base; limited extension packages; weak delivery mechanisms; lack of suitable arrangements for inputs, credit, farm power, agro-processing facilities, and marketing; and poor infrastructures.
It is deliberate that I decided to shift the role of our women in food and agricultural production towards the end of the long list of issues. In my opinion, their contribution is so important that only concrete actions rather than mere words can adequately reward them for all the drudgery they undergo, both on the farm, and in the house.
Similarly, the youths have displayed such enthusiasm and potential in the development process with respect to environmental management that we strongly believe something positive must be done to harness, and guide such human resources and talents to productive uses. We may not be unique in this respect and need to learn a lot from successful youth programmes in other countries with similar problems.
The Government of Sierra Leone is carrying out a number of activities directed at improving agriculture and the standard of living in rural areas. Chief among these include:
Preparation of Agricultural Master Plan. Funded by the African Development Bank (ADB), and a follow-up to an FAO Agricultural Policy Review, would provide direction and methodology for agricultural development in the decades ahead. It is expected to be completed in April 1994.
An Agricultural Sector Support Project (ASSP). Funded largely by the World Bank and to a limited extent IFAD, and Sierra Leone Government has as its main thrust institutional capacity building, technology transfer, input delivery, credit through Rural Banks, small-scale Agro-Processing facilities, and feeder roads. It covers the entire country.
North-Central Agricultural Project. Funded by IFAD, and the Government of Sierra Leone, focuses on effective research-extension delivery; a Farmer's Service Company with emphasis on strong organization; Rural Banks for credit, Inland Valley Swamp Development; work-oxen; feeder roads; and inputs and output marketing. It has a duration of seven years.
EEC Funded Projects. These cover Port Loko, Kambia and Koinadugu districts. With a duration of four years, the projects provide support to Farmers' Associations in the form of Inland Valley Swamp Development, work-oxen, input supply, credit, and extension backstop. It has a strong component for women.
Bo-Pujehun-GTZ Supported Integrated Rural Development Project provides inputs and extension backstopping to Farmers Associations. The project has an effective component for women farmers.
Projects supported from Trust Funds. Among the most successful of such projects in the Kabala Women's Project. Funded by the Norwegian Government, the main elements of the Project include production of vegetables, maize, groundnut, cassava, sweet potatoes, credit and marketing. The project is in its final phase, and it is envisaged that on its successful completion the Kabala women's project will be replicated in other parts of the country.
FAQ/UNDP Projects include the Shenge Fisheries Project: preparation of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan; Moyamba Inland Valley Swamp Development Project, and Rehabilitation Project for the war-torn areas.
African Development Bank (ADB) Funded Projects. These are confined to Bombali and Moyamba Districts. Both projects are at their terminal stage, and their main thrust is on extension support; training of livestock instructors, inputs and rural water supply.
Intervention by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Many NGOs operate in the sector without proper coordination, and this is causing serious concern. However, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry is now taking measures to ensure that the activities of all NGOs working in the sector are effectively coordinated.
Bilateral Cooperation with the Republic of Egypt. Arrangements are now being finalized by the Government of Sierra Leone and Egypt to cooperate in poultry production in Newton, and embark on medium-scale irrigation of rice at Mange on a joint venture basis.
Arrangements are pending for large-scale irrigation studies in selected low lying areas in the country with the assistance of the Kuwait Fund, Saudi Government and Islamic Development Bank.
The new policy orientation of the government is directed at diversified food production and improvement in rural incomes as a means to achieving food security. In this regard, the successful implementation of various initiatives will facilitate our efforts to achieve such a noble goal.
In addition to the activities I have indicated earlier, Sierra Leone will continue to seek assistance in certain crucial areas. These include: manpower development and training, especially in management; technical assistance in policy planning and analysis; agricultural census, statistics, and establishment of data bank; land and water resource development and conservation with emphasis on large-scale irrigation schemes; farm mechanization, including agro-processing facilities; food preservation; establishment of gene bank for endangered species; promotion of traditional food plants; exchange of agricultural information. We are aware of FAO's limitations in resources. We are also fully aware of the competence and depth of experience the Organization possesses in food and agricultural matters. We therefore appear to all funding sources, organizations and donors to provide FAO with all the necessary support to enable it to meet the challenges to eradicate hunger, poverty and malnutrition in the world.
Samuel MANN (Guyana): It gives me great pleasure to address this august assembly on behalf of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in South America. This Republic, a newly-born democracy, is under the distinguished presidency of His Excellency Dr Cheddi B. Jagan.
With your permission, please permit me to extend my sincere congratulations to you on your election as presiding officer of this august assembly. Also on behlf of my Government and on my own behalf, I wish to extend best wishes to the Director-General Elect, Dr Jacques Diouf, who emerged victorious from a field of highly qualified and competent aspirants. It was indeed a hard fight. To all those aspirants who failed to secure the coveted prize, let me give them some words of friendly encouragement: "Don't give up. Try again. Better luck next time, as the saying goes. Who knows? You could be formidable opponents six years hence." To Mr Edouard Saouma, who ably held the post for 18 years, I say to him thanks for the services rendered to the grateful nation states of FAO. Best wishes for the future.
This 27th Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Mr Chairman, has been a tremendous learning experience for me.
First of all, please allow me to thank all those governments represented here today, which helped the Guyanese people in 1992 restore democracy in their homeland. Foremost among these helpers are the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada. We are indeed grateful and undertake to ensure the continuation of this new found Democracy.
Secondly, it is most important to utilize this Democracy to develop the national economy, with the private sector being the engine of development. From our point of view, economic development in Guyana hinges on agriculture, which is exactly where FAO, our bilateral and multilateral aid donors and financial well-wishers come in.
Already we have had significant initial assistance from the USA, UK, Canada, the IMF, the World Bank, the EEC, the IDB, the CDB, FAO, Italy,
Japan, China, India, Venezuela. These could be considered major contributors to our development thrust.
Our thrust into agriculture and agro-industry is being hindered however, by a heavy foreign debt burden of US$2.1 billion. To service our debts in 1993 takes an estimated 90 percent of our revenues. This means that out of US$175.2 million, servicing the debt gobbles up US$152.3 million. Expenditures for 1993 amount to US$318.1 million, a situation eased somewhat by debt relief of US$48.4 million.
Agriculture amounts to approximately 3 8 percent of our gross domestic product. It is the largest segment in the GDP and the most labour-intensive area of the largely agrarian economy. Our situation is therefore critical, and we need help in a structured organized way. We need not only debt relief (some of which has already come from USA, UK, Canada, Australia) but fair trade within the context of free-trade principles.
It is our view that unless free trade is also fair trade, the fragile economies of the Caribbean and Guyana are in serious danger. The danger is perceived in the undercutting of our exports of primary products by more powerful competitors entering the European market. We are not prepared to stand by idly and allow this to happen. We are referring in particular to our exports of sugar, rice, and bananas, which have traditionally enjoyed preference in Europe.
We want to posit that Guyana with its vast natural resources (including rich mineral deposits) is instrumental in the maintenance of stability in the Caribbean, from the economic and job-creating point of view. Our Government has already thrown open the Guyana economy to foreign and Caribbean investors. We welcome investors of all sorts, particularly those from North America, Europe, Japan, China and India; and we are doing our best to streamline procedures and incentive packages.
We believe that meaningful development in the Caribbean will go a far way to curb drug trafficking, head off potential political turbulence and stem the flow of refugees to North America. The Caribbean area should be seen as an integral market, with Guyana as the agricultural base.
For this we need help from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, along with a Director-General of FAO who empathizes with Third World problems of development. Buoyant Third World economies, in our estimation, can lead to a big sustainable increase in trade between the Third World and the developed countries of the West, particularly for the procurement of capital goods.
The Government of Guyana is also deeply concerned about the environment, the ozone layer and global warming. It has in this respect conserved 900 000 acres of virgin rain forest under a programme known as the Iwokrama Project. With so many areas of forest taken out of development, and reserved to scientific observation in the greater interest of humanity, there ought to be no aversion by any nation to rendering meaningful assistance to Guyana as a compensatory gesture.
On behalf of the Government of Guyana, I pledge to give our fullest cooperation to the Director-General. We also expect in return, diligent efforts by FAO and its Director-General to help us boost agriculture in Guyana, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The Director-General can rest
assured that we in Guyana would be virtually camping on his doorstep where our needs are concerned.
These needs include infrastructure, sea and river defences, water control systems, farm-to-market roads, animal and crop husbandry, research in grains, legumes and livestock, resource personnel, transportation and communication equipment, apiaries, et cetera.
Ahmadou Tidjane TRAORE (Guinée): Monsier le Président, Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs les Ministres et Chefs de Délégation, Honorables Délégués, je voudrais tout d'abord joindre la voix de ma délégation à celles qui m'ont précédé pour vous transmettre Monsieur le Président, nos chaleureuses félicitations à l'occasion de votre brillante élection et saluer l'efficacité avec laquelle vous conduisez nos travaux depuis le début de la présente session.
L'occasion m'est aussi offerte de vous prier d'adresser au nom de mon Gouvernement, à Monsieur Saouma, un hommage mérité pour tous les efforts qu'il n'a cessé de déployer tout au long de ces 18 dernières années pour faire de notre Organisation un instrument efficace à la réalisation des nobles objectifs de la FAO dans un contexte international des plus difficiles.
Nos félicitations vont également aux nouveaux membres admis de notre Organisation et particulièrement à l'Afrique du Sud pour sa réadmission au sein de notre famille.
Vous voudrez bien transmettre au nouveau Directeur général élu, M. Diouf nos félicitations les plus chaleureuses et notre entière disponibilité à oeuvrer à ses côtés pour la réussite de sa mission. Nous sommes convaincus sa large expérience dans l'ensemble des problèmes agro-alimentaires, qui préoccupent l'humanité, donnera à notre Organisation une autorité morale méritée.
Cette élection intervient à un moment où le monde connaît de profonds changements à la faveur de la liberté retrouvée des Droits de l'Homme et des Peuples, de la crise économique mondiale généralisée, d'une détérioration encore plus marquée des termes de l’échange et du maintien des flux financiers négatifs vers les pays en voie de développement.
C’est au regard de la conjugaison de ces multiples facteurs négatifs que mon Gouvernement, en concertation avec les bailleurs de fonds et la FAO en qualité d'opérateur de terrain et une forte participation des producteurs nationaux et d'organisations professionnelles connexes, a élaboré, une Lettre de politique de développement agricole (LPDA).
La LPDA sert aujourd'hui de cadre de référence et donc d'orientation de toutes les activités dans les sous-secteurs de l'agriculture: élevage, forêt, pêches, infrastructures rurales, production agricole, crédits, etc.
Conformément aux buts visés par la FAO, les objectifs fondamentaux de cette politique visent à réaliser la sécurité alimentaire de notre Pays, à développer les exportations tout en réduisant les coûteuses importations, à améliorer les conditions de vie de nos braves populations paysannes en particulier.
Aujourd'hui, grâce aux mesures d'encouragement prises en faveur des petits exploitants, la production agricole rizicole est passée de 350 000 tonnes de paddy en 1984 à 650 000 tonnes en 1992. Les productions de mais et de tubercules ont respectivement augmenté de 50 pour cent et de 80 pour cent pendant la même période. Les plantations de café abandonnées en 1984 ont été réhabilitées et le rythme annuel de production dépasse deux pour cent, totalisant en volume près de 15 000 tonnes de café en 1992.
Pendant la même période, il a été expérimenté des systèmes plus viables de financement de la production avec une participation effective des sociétaires à la gestion et au suivi de leurs institutions de crédit. Parallèlement, des infrastructures de base ont été créées et se développent. Il s'agit essentiellement de pistes rurales pour désenclaver les villages et les marchés ruraux, de centres de santé, d'écoles, de forages et aménagement de source, etc.
La LPDA prend également en compte la conservation et la préservation des sources d'eau: c'est pourquoi plusieurs programmes d'aménagement des bassins représentatifs pilotes ont été mis en oeuvre ces dernières années avec le concours de la Communauté internationale. La cohérence de la politique agricole et du Plan d'action forestier tropicale assure à court et à long terme les voies à suivre pour assurer à notre population une alimentation suffisante et équilibrée sans endommager notre environnement au détriment des générations futures.
Toujours avec le concours de la FAO, dans le domaine de la pêche, des résultats encourageants ont été obtenus grâce à un meilleur équipement et encadrement des pêcheurs artisanaux, à la promotion des investissements privés dans ce sous-secteur et une meilleure gestion de notre zone économique exclusive. La consommation par habitant a notablement progressé en 8 ans.
Les redevances de pêche ont été multipliées par cinq depuis 4 ans, un plus grand nombre d'emplois a été créé grâce aux nombreuses coopératives et PME travaillant dans le secteur de la pêche artisanale. Tous ces résultats seront poursuivis dans l'avenir, mais dans un contexte de plus en plus difficile en raison de la rareté des financements bilatéraux et multilatéraux ou des conditionnalites difficiles pour leurs acquisitions. C'est pourquoi notre Organisation doit insister sur la nécessité de rendre plus justes, plus équitables les règles du commerce international pour tous, y compris les pays en voie de développement. En effet, il ne suffit pas de se contenter d'un accord entre des grands dont la finalité serait de monopoliser l'approvisionnement de nos marchés intérieurs notamment.
Il nous faut créer notre propre marché intérieur, sous-régional et régional et développer nos échanges sur la base d'un pouvoir d'achat plus réaliste des populations.
Il nous faut développer la productivité et la compétitivité de nos produits et promouvoir les investissements dans l'agriculture. A cet effet, la FAO en tant qu'organisme spécialisé des Nations Unies doit davantage coopérer avec nos pays dans ce sens. Elle ne pourra le faire avec succès qu'en eméliorant la cohérence de ses interventions avec les autres agences, notamment le PAM et le FIDA. La lutte efficace contre la faim dans le monde suppose certainement davantage d'engrais, de produits phytosanitaires, de petits outillages agricoles et de transformation mis à la disposition des producteurs. Voilà un domaine de coopération FAO/PAM/FIDA qui pourrait par exemple être développé et exécuté avec le concours d'ONG.
C'est pourquoi notre délégation approuve le Plan d'action soumis à la présente conférence ainsi que le budget proposé. Elle appuie sans réserve l’intégration des femmes dans le développement agricole et rural.
Je m'en voudrais de terminer ma déclaration sans adresser mes félicitations au Président indépendant, M. Saintraint, pour la clarté de son exposé, le courage dont il a fait preuve dans son analyse a tracé un cadre efficace à nos délibérations. Qu'il en soit ici félicité. Je souhaite plein succès à nos travaux.
Joe WALSH (Ireland) : Mr Chairman, may I join with the other delegations who have congratulated you on your election to the Conference. The Irish delegation is happy that you are presiding over our deliberations.
Since our Conference session two years ago, the global scene has changed dramatically. However, the reality of today for many developing countries is that too little has changed. We see that countries continue to be devastated by civil conflict and war which leave behind trails of famine and hunger and human misery of tragic proportions.
Though it is difficult to quantify the scale of hunger and malnutrition, we are constantly reminded that it is the poor and the elderly, women and children who are as ever the first victims.
We cannot remain indifferent to the dilemma that exists today for all of us. The world's population continues to grow by approximately 100 million each year; 90 percent of this in developing countries with the result that more and more resources must be allocated to improve food production and distribution. At the same time the world economy is in recession. Many donor countries are struggling with the growing problems of unemployment, rising social costs, competitiveness, pollution, monetary instability and costs of maintaining peace. At a time of severe budgetary constraints, it is therefore all the more important for multilateral and bilateral efforts, aimed at tackling the problems of underdevelopment and poverty, to be more effective and more highly focused.
The dilemma is not a matter of indifference to us in Ireland. In July of this year a new strategy of consolidation and growth for Ireland's programme of development assistance was launched.
Our programme reaffirms Ireland's commitment to the millions of people in Africa and elsewhere who are in danger of death from drought, famine and disease or who are living in poverty and economic and social deprivation. Under the programme the Government pledges to increase Ireland's Official Development Assistance in 1993 and thereafter to pursue a steady increase towards achieving the UN goal of 0.7 percent of GNP.
We also recognize that, apart from aid, support is required for policies which will allow the economies of developing countries to grow, in particular for improved access to markets and a greater say for developing countries in issues of world trade. In this way, the developing countries can make a significant contribution to the improvement or their own situation.
Ireland's historical experience, the absence of colonial or exploitative interest, the fact that we experienced famine within the relatively recent past and our transformation from an underdeveloped rural economy have made
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us especially aware of, and sensitive to, the economic and social needs of developing countries.
There is a growing recognition on the part of the international donor community that renewed efforts and imaginative approaches are needed to tackle the problems of underdevelopment and poverty which persist in so many parts of the world. The concept of sustainable development was strongly endorsed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and will remain an important objective for all developing countries.
In Rio, the international donor community renewed its commitment to provide the necessary financial and technical assistance to enable developing countries to make much greater progress in overcoming the problems which prevent their populations from achieving an acceptable quality of life.
The magnitude of the challenges clearly calls for concerted action by the international community. FAO takes this into account in its Medium-Term Plan 1994-99 and its Programme of Work for the next Biennium 1994-95 and by coordinating its activities with Member States, other agencies of the United Nations and non-Governmental Organizations.
The main challenges, such as poverty alleviation and promotion of sustainable agriculture, have changed little since our last conference in 1991. They must be seen in the context of FAO's own future which is inextricably linked to two paramount goals of mankind: the need for the world to feed adequately an additional three thousand million people by the year 2025; and the need to meet the demands for agricultural, forestry and fishery products for the projected global population of over eight thousand million. My Government supports FAO's efforts to achieve these goals.
The Agenda before us covers a very broad range of international issues such as fair trade, poverty alleviation, sustainable development and protection of the environment. These issues, and especially their relevance to sustainable agriculture and rural development, are, of course, of central importance. Also important is FAO's work on GATT, and on environment and international trade. In this context, we strongly support FAO's work on harmonization of plant phytosanitary procedures, on international standards for pesticide residues in foods, other food safety issues and labelling of organic foods.
Because of their importance to Ireland, I would now like to refer briefly to the GATT negotiations. As is well known, 15 December 1993 has been fixed as the deadline for concluding the current round of the negotiations.
There is little time left but we hope that the negotiations will be concluded by this deadline. The earlier deadlines were somewhat unrealistic given the very broad scope of the negotiations and the different objectives of the major players. While differences continue in a number of areas, substantial progress has been made over the past two years in reconciling divergent positions. There is also a strong belief that the multilateral system needs to be strengthened and that another failure at this stage after so much effort could have unpredictable consequences.
From our point of view, Ireland, as a small open economy with exports of goods and services amounting to the equivalent of two-thirds of our national output, remains committed to a successful conclusion of the negotiations. A final package needs to be global and balanced and not
impact disproportionately on any region or sector. There is still some way to go before this is achieved especially as regards the agriculture elements of the negotiations.
The Medium-Term Plan rightly charts the major intersectoral priorities that are to guide all of FAO's activities - the environment and sustainable development; consultative work on policy questions; people's participation in development, with special emphasis on the role of women; combating poverty; nutrition and food security; and economic and technical cooperation among developing countries. The Medium-Term Plan is clear and coherent and is closely linked to the Programme of Work and Budget for the Biennium.
One of the aims in preparing the Programme of Work and Budget was to reflect the needs of major priorities such as the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the International Conference on Nutrition without neglecting other legitimate priorities listed in the Medium-Term Plan. Reconciliation of the various needs should result in a harmonious synthesis acceptable to all.
The future of agriculture and its ability to provide for a world population that will continue to grow for several decades to come is something that obviously calls for our concentrated attention. The study "Agriculture: Toward 2000" was a decisive step in approaching this crucial problem. It evaluated population growth and production potential at different levels of cropping intensity and has now been updated in the light of the outcome of the two major world conferences in 1992 - UNCED and ICN. Its scope now extends to the year 2010. FAO is to be congratulated for this excellent document. It is a good example of how the Organization carries out its mission and contributes to providing solutions to major world problems.
FAO is to be complimented also on its work in the conservation and the rational and equitable use of one of humanity's major assets: its plant and animal genetic resources. The importance of biological diversity and genetic resources for food security, sustainable agriculture, rural development, environmental management and international trade have been emphasized in many fora recently. The contribution of biodiversity to the welfare of society, and the role of rural communities in conserving biodiversity, is well established.
World Food Day 1993 promoted an awareness of the importance of stewarding nature's diversity if we are to overcome the global problems of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Genetic resources, information, funds and technology are all essential and complementary resources in achieving food security and sustainable rural development. Using and sharing these resources in a fair and equitable manner is an obligation for the present generation and a condition for the survival of future generations.
Most delegations know that the Regional Conference for Europe is scheduled to take place in Killarney, Ireland, in June 1994. We in Ireland look forward to welcoming delegates from the Member Nations of the region, including the newly elected Member States, at this important time in the history of FAO, as it approaches its 50th Anniversary. We will also, of course, welcome those who attend as observers.
Finally, I wish to pay tribute to the outgoing Director-General, Dr Saouma, who has served FAO for well over thirty years. He will be remembered for his resolve in the battle against hunger and malnutrition over the years.
The Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium sets the scene as FAO hands over the helm toits new Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf. We warmly congratulate him on his election and wish him well in the challenging task ahead.
Ahmed Bin Mohamed AL - RASBI (Oman) (Original language Arabic) : In the name of God the merciful the compassionate. Mr President, your Excellencies, heads of delegations, ladies and gentlemen: I should like at the outset to extend to you, Mr President, my heartfelt congratulations on your election to the Presidency of this Conference. Your sagacity and knowledge of its workings will guarantee its success. My congratulations go also to all the Vice-Presidents.
Allow me on behalf of my delegation to welcome the newly-admitted Member States of FAO. We wish them every success in achieving the desired well-being for their peoples: and humanity at large.
We are meeting in this recurrent world gathering to examine questions relating to agricultural development at a time when agriculture and food self-sufficiency have become the essence of our destiny.
We are confident that the Conference will study these questions in depth and that its deliberations will lead to positive and serious recommendations. The agricultural sector in all countries acquires a great importance since it relates to food and its provision to the population. A great number of countries have adopted self-reliance as a general approach to meet most of its population food needs. In the Sultanate of Oman this sector has commanded the right interest by our Government especially in the last few years which highlighted the inevitable need to re-distribute the national income and broaden the national production base. The diverse geography of and climate over the Sultanate have resulted in the existence over its territories of varied species of plants and animals. Also this diversity has provided us with rich fisheries and agricultural resources although arable land is limited and water is scarce. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Sultanate of Oman has endeavoured through its thoughtful development plans and its highly technical programmes to achieve the following objectives: first, to set up the necessary infrastructures in agriculture, irrigation and fishing. For example, dams, agricultural development centres, veterinarian clinics, research centres, as well as the ongoing building of coastal fishing ports. Second, to increase agricultural and fish productions to meet a reasonable percentage of food needs, and to increase the agriculture and fisheries share in the GDP. Third, to optimize the use of irrigation water limited in quantity by intensifying research and education programmes and applying modern irrigation techniques. Fourth, improve the living standards of farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders, and to create further employment opportunities for citizen in rural and fishery sectors. Fifth, to provide effective incentives to the private sector with a view to encouraging it to venture into projects relating to agricultural production, animal and fishery sources, and in food, agricultural and fishing industrial productions. In its developmental efforts to promote this sector the Ministry has focused on a basic strategy, namely an integrated comprehensive development, while ensuring a controlled exploitation and
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development of the available natural resources to avoid squandering them. Also to this end the Ministry promoted research, education and prevention. These efforts have come to fruition, to wit a noticeable 5.6 percent rise per year in the aggregate domestic fish and agricultural production for the period 1985-90. Furthermore, the agricultural and fisheries share of the non-oil domestic product rose from 5.2 percent in 1985 to 7 percent in 1990. We hope that domestic growth rates reached by this sector will improve further, thus increasing its contribution to the universal objectives aspired to by the international community in the sector of agriculture and food.
Food for all is the joint responsibility of all the members of the international community, for without concerted effort and active contribution by all, each and everyone within its own capabilities, the world will not be able to overcome the world food crisis. The economic conditions in the world are a source of concern to us. They make it necessary for the Organization to play a more active role in the coming years to ensure the principle of solidarity and to strengthen cooperation between them. It is important in this prevailing environment to intensify regional and national actions with the help of the subsidiary and regional bodies of the Organization. We would be remiss in this regard if we were not to praise the Near East Regional Office and its timeless effort to accelerate agricultural development in the region. Also, I cannot but pay homage to the Regional Commission for the Control of the Desert Locust and its principal role in training technicians, promoting data exchange between Member States and providing assistance within its means. This assistance is all the more important with the growing locust assault in recent times. We hope the Commission will turn its attention to preventive measures as we believe it is the best means to combat this pest and stem its propagation.
The Middle East region has practised agriculture since time immemorial and assets for agriculture investment in it abound, yet it is a region that depends more and more, year after year, on others to provide food to its population. Its food imports are on the rise both in quantity and in quality. This shows that agricultural production in the region is below the required needs of the population growth despite success stories in some countries of the region. This situation has been exacerbated by the national disaster which flogged the region recently, such as floods, earthquakes, agricultural pests, which adversely affected its agricultural development.
There is no doubt that solving regional problems would pave the way for a breakthrough in world food crises. On that premise, we appeal to the FAO to further strengthen its regional and subsidiary organs working in the Near East to enable them to provide the necessary assistance to the countries of the region, an assistance which would go a long way in helping them to overcome their agricultural development problems and achieve higher food productions with a view to self-sufficiency. We should underline here the urgent need to develop a strategy for agricultural integration in the region based on close technical and technological cooperation.
It is my duty here to express appreciation for the Organization's interest in strenghening the role of women in food production and rural development. This interest should be maintained in this field.
In conclusion I cannot but praise all the efforts made to achieve the goals and execute the programmes of the Organization. It is my pleasure to single out Dr Edouard Saouma and pay homage to him for his relentless efforts, and
to his inexhaustible devotion manufactured by the great achievements of this Organization in directing and reforming agricultural developments. Now that his prosperous terms of office have come to an end, we owe him a debt of gratitude and appreciation.
While bidding farewell to Dr Saouma, we welcome Dr Jacques Diouf whose election testifies to the international community's confidence in his expertise and competence and that he is well up to the job. We assure him of our full support and cooperation, wishing him every success.
While on the one side the world is fighting with a lack of food, in the Central and Eastern European countries is going on the process of agricultural transition which brings also huge depresssion of production. Agricultural production in the Slovak Republic has declined more than 30 percent during the last three years. Agricultural policy makers and producers are getting more and more into complicated situations. These conditions are very complicated with regards to the forty years old heritage of our agrarian past.
Fifth Report of the General Committee
Cinquième rapport du Bureau
Quinto Informe del Comité General
LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL: Le rapport du Bureau de la cinquième séance vient d'être distribué; il figure dans le document C 93/LIM/33.
Ce document contient également deux résolutions que le Bureau transmet à la Conférence pour observations et adoption. La première résolution concerne les locaux du siège et la deuxième concerne le cinquantième anniversaire de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture.
Je voudrais attirer l'attention des honorables délégations sur une erreur qui s'est glissée dans le texte de la première résolution qui a trait aux locaux du siège: à la quatrième ligne du premier paragraphe de la partie "Dispositif" au lieu de "l'octroi de quelque 30 milliards de lires", il faut lire "l'octroi de plus de 30 milliards de lires".
CHAIRMAN: Are there any comments on the report of the General Committee including of course the very important resolutions? If there are no comments, I declare the Fifth Report of the General Committee as having been accepted by Conference.
The Fifth Report of the General Committee adopted.
Le cinquième rapport du Bureau est adopté.
El quinto informe del Comité General es aprobado.
GENERAL DISCUSSION (continued)
DEBAT GENERAL (suite)
DEBATE GENERAL (continuación)
STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATION (continued)
DECLARATIONS DES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
MANIFESTACIONES DE LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)
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Mrs Maria KADLECIKOVA (Slovakia) : Mr Chairman, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to address the 27th Session of the General Conference of FAO on behalf of the Slovak Republic. I am delighted to pass to the new Director-General His Excellency, Dr Jacques Diouf, the greatest congratulation of the President of the Slovak Republic which is as follows: Excellency, allow me to congratulate you on the election to the post of the Director-General of the international Organization of the United Nations for Food and Agriculture. Election to this highest post is the culminating point of your creative work in favour of the development of the role of agriculture. I am convinced that under your leadership FAO will continue in a successful development and productive cooperation and organization.
The present situation in the world's agriculture and nourishment is characterized by the influence of many contradictions. Dominating is the discrepancy between relatively high food surpluses in the countries with developed economies, and the food shortage in some developing economies of Africa and Asia, and now even in some countries in transition.
The review of the food situation in the world indicates that in the last two years FAO bravely tried to find the solutions of this problem. In spite of the great effort, many activities and decisions must be still done to ensure that each man has the title for basic human right - the right of food.
The transition of agriculture to the principles of the market continues with partial success, but also with a lot of problems. We progress successfully in transition to ownership relations. The privatization of farm cooperatives is almost finished. They have been transformed into new entrepreneurial forms, namely, into cooperatives of owners or to the trade companies which prevail. The privatization of the state farm sector which is about 15 percent of the total land area, proceeds, as does the reprivatization of forest land. Almost half of the forest land has been already given back to its original owners. The private sector in the food industry already prevails, and it is realistic to assume that in the year 1994 this sector will be completely privatized. The privatization of this sector was on a high level supported by participation of foreign investments.
During transformation of cooperatives and state farms the number of private farmers has increased since 1991 to 10 000. More than 100 of them are farms of above 50 hectares. The transition to privatization of bigger farms is still in progress.
Our experiences show that the forced application of market rules in the non-existing market environment led to uneconomic degradation, chaos and losses that cannot be compensated for.
The liberalized economic environment resulted in a marked disparity between the price development of agricultural products and inputs into this branch. It led to high economic losses. During the last three years 40 percent of agricultural workers left this sector. It is the consequence of an inconsiderate, radical, restrictive policy and a significant fall in domestic demand for foods due to low purchase power of the population. In spite of this fact the deterioration of economic development has probably achieved its bottom and nowadays presents a stable level which gives reason for reasonable optimism.
It is necessary to mention that the decline of agriculture goes together with the recession in industrial production, which has declined by one-third. These circumstances cast doubt on another possible solution to declining agriculture production and purchase of foodstuffs abroad. The question is for what and from which financial resources?
In this connection we feel there is unreasonable pressure coming from international financial institutions and consulting centres which want us to apply even harder restrictive measures to our agriculture. The last GATT negotiations on limitation of support of agro-production show that the existing level of our support to agriculture is only one-third of the level of European Union countries.
During last year's session of the European Conference in Prague the Slovak Republic pointed out that under these circumstances our country and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe could change from clear food exporters to countries dependent not only on food imports but also on food assistance. This problem naturally belongs to FAO. It is too risky to play a passive observer's role and follow the creation in Europe of a new zone of food shortage. For the people living in this part of Europe it would be fruitful for FAO to prepare a complementary project on how to harmonize the given problems of food security, and involving the financial institutions in more intensive cooperation in those countries that are in transition. It is reasonable to expect that the world's financial institutions would accept the views of experts of such authority as FAO represents.
In the foreign exchange of goods we see as a barrier a highly supportive and protective policy of developed European countries, which prevents the freer development of food trade in this area.
The new economic environment requires working out and adoption of numerous legislative principles and provisions harmonized with the legal rules of the European Union. There are under preparation new laws on agriculture, land, forests, foodstuffs, including the Codex Alimentarius, and many others.
We appreciate the assistance provided to Slovakia by FAO in the last two years for a solution of our problems with the transformation of agriculture. Slovakia hosted many international conferences, workshops and seminars. Several specific projects were realized and many consultations were held. Among them we appreciate mainly the FAO mission which provided us with assistance in solving problems concerning purchases of cereals during the greatest drought of the century, which struck the most productive regions of Slovakia. All these events in Slovakia gained FAO high esteem and prestige.
We assume that our membership in FAO will open for us the possibility of direct access to the information databases of FAO to its development programmes, and that it will allow an active participation of Slovak specialists in the FAO projects.
I would like to mention also the fact that sometimes in this fast changing world certain forms of FAO assistance to the countries in transformation lose their efficiency despite their planned original effects. Accumulated macro-economic problems need conceptual programmes that would respect recommendations of such reputable grounds of discussion as, for example, the FAO Conference on Restructuring of Agriculture in Nitra in May 1992, the Ministerial Consultation in Budapest in August 1993, or the September
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It is my honour and pleasure to express our heartiest congratulations to Dr Jacques Diouf, the Director-General Elect,on behalf of the government of theDemocratic People's Republic of Korea. He has taken up a very important post amid the high trust and expectations of all the Member States of the Organization. I am confident that Dr Jacques Diouf will take over the good traditions and exploits of his predecessor and further develop the work of the FAO in line with the noble mission and objectives of the Organization, and will make a great contribution to solving the worldwide food and agricultural problems
The Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will continue to support and cooperate with FAO and the new Director-General, as it has done in the past.
During the two years since the 26th Session of the Conference, FAO, though faced with severe financial problems and many other difficulties, has achieved great successes in implementing the Programme of Work and Budget of the last biennium, and hosted several important international conferences such as forestry and nutrition.
My Government compliments the measures taken and the work done by the Director-General and the Organization for the solution of the food and agricultural problems.
Despite such efforts, the world is not able yet to carry through turnover in the world food security and agricultural production, and world food crises such as hunger, malnutrition and starvation continue to be more severe day by day.
It is the first and foremost important work for all the member countries and the international community to increase agricultural production and achieve food security for today and the future of the humanity.
World food security can be achieved and maintained only when general agricultural production increases and food security of the individual countries is ensured. It is none other than the peoples of the Third World developing countries that suffer from critical food crises.
President Kim I1 Sung of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea teaches that the national independence and sovereignty, social progress and economic development are possible only when self-sufficiency in food is realized.
It is imperative for the developing countries to share with each other their abundant resources, advanced technology and good experiences by means of strengthening south-south cooperation and, at the same time, to make a concerted effort to establish a fair and a just new international economic order.
It is equally important for the international community to pay primary attention to strengthening the national capacity-building and development projects for the self-sufficiency in food of the developing countries without any collateral conditions.
The Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which regards it as the supreme principle of its activities to promote the well-being of the people, carries out with success the Socialist Rural Thesis, Juche farming method and farming-comes-first policy set forth by the President,
and thereby has attained self-sufficiency in food and achieved progress and successes in the rural development and agricultural production.
This year we have had a bumper harvest, in spite of the bad climate conditions, thanks to the government policy and measures to provide farmers with sufficient assistance such as irrigation, good varieties and fertilizers and making the whole country support the countryside in seeding, weeding and harvesting on the basis of the firm material and technical foundations already laid in the country.
It is the common desire and hope of all human beings to live in a free, peaceful and happy world without hunger and poverty, starvation and malnutrition, which now prevail in our planet.
The present world economy and agricultural situation require member countries to make every effort to strengthen the FAO and enhance its function and role in order to solve the critical food crisis and achieve food security.
In this connection, I think the Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95 and the Medium-Term Plan 1994-99 and the world Agriculture: Towards 2010 are relatively well worked out, reflecting the targets and priority areas for the solution of the world food and agricultural problems based on the correct analysis of the challenges and requirements the Organization and its Member States are faced with at present.
These documents put particular emphasis on environmental protection, provision of biological diversity, sustainable development of agriculture, fishery and forestry, and illustrate the ways and means of implementing the plan of action adopted at the International Conference on Nutrition.
I welcome and endorse the documents with pleasure.
The Technical Cooperation Programme plays an effective and catalytic role in solving many urgent technical problems arising in the food and agricultural activities of the Member Nations.
Its high effectiveness and superiority have aready been practically demonstrated in all the developing countries, including mine.
By the way, I'd like to express regret that the TCP fund allocation for the new biennium does not reach the level of 17 percent as in the resolution of the 25th Session of FAO Conference, I expect the Organization to make the best use of the resolution.
TCDC and ECDC are also very important activities that FAO should pay attention to for the agricultural development of the developing countries as they have done in the past.
But I am concerned that the funds allocated for the TCDC and ECDC are still at a low level, and I'd like to recommend that the Director-General make every possible effort for some additional fund to encourage these activities.
I feel satisfied at the cooperation made between my country and FAO and hope such cooperation will continue in the future.
I am convinced that this Conference will mark a turning point in the development of the Organization and sincerely wish Dr Jacques Diouf every success in his responsible work for the solution of the worldwide food and agricultural problems.
Pedro A. KANGA (Angola): C'est un honneur pour moi de prendre la parole devant cette auguste assemblée, au nom de notre chef de délégation qui est rentré au pays pour des raisons de calendrier.
Je saisis cette occasion pour présenter à Monsieur le Président nos chaleureuses félicitations pour son élection à la présidence de cette vingt-septième session de la Conférence ainsi qu'aux autres membres du Bureau. Nous sommes satisfaits car, sous votre conduite, la vingt-septième session de la Conférence atteindra ses objectifs.
Nos sincères félicitations s'adressent également à M. Jacques Diouf, nouveau Directeur général de la FAO. Etant fils du monde en développement et ayant accumulé une expérience dans plusieurs domaines, nous sommes convaincus que vous serez le défenseur et le soutien du tiers monde.
Je voudrais également profiter de cette occasion pour exprimer notre reconnaissance à M. Edouard Saouma pour la façon, ô combien exemplaire, dont il s'est acquitté de sa tâche. Il a accompli un travail impressionnant.
Pour le situer dans l'histoire universelle, le Dr Saouma a été élu en novembre 1975, au moment même de l'accession de l'Angola à l'indépendance nationale. Durant ses trois mandats, il n'a pas ménagé sa peine pour venir en aide à mon pays notamment. C'est avec une grande satisfaction que nous nous rappelons le voyage qu'il a effectué en 1981 et qui est resté mémorable. Nous vous souhaitons, Dr Saouma, une bonne santé et plein succès dans vos projets d'avenir.
La vingt-septième session de la Conférence de la FAO se tient à un moment crucial pour de nombreux pays. La récession économique, les conflits régionaux, la sécheresse, la dégradation de l'environnement et la pauvreté du monde rural caractérisent le cadre général d'une grande partie des pays en développement. Nonobstant les facteurs décrits ci-dessus, certains pays sont obligés de mettre en oeuvre un programme de réajustement structurel et d'autres d'instituer la démocratie dans leur vie politique et sociale.
En Angola, la reprise de la guerre avec une atrocité indescriptible a obligé le gouvernement à interrompre l'exécution de certains programmes préconisés dans les domaines socio-économiques. Aujourd'hui l'espace agricole est réduit et des milliers de personnes continuent à mourir soit des suites directes de la guerre, soit des effets dus à la faim, à la malnutrition, aux maladies et à la sécheresse prolongée.
Notre gouvernement s'est engagé dans la recherche d'une solution politique pour résoudre la crise qui a suivi les élections et pour conduire à la paix durable. La solution de la crise angolaise passe nécessairement par un dialogue sérieux, franc et honnête et par le respect des principes démocratiques, des Accords de Bicesse et des résolutions pertinentes du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies sur l'Angola.
Dans ce contexte, nous sollicitons la solidarité et l'aide humanitaire de la communauté internationale pour assister les populations angolaises qui
souffrent des effets de la guerre et appuyer le Gouvernement angolais dans sa recherche d'un rétablissement de la paix le plus rapidement possible et pour qu'il puisse reprendre la reconstruction du pays.
Ainsi que vous le savez tous, notre pays connaît des moments très douloureux. En effet, l'agriculture est fortement touchée, l'infrastructure est totalement détruite, l'insécurité des voies d'accès ne permet plus la circulation des biens et des personnes, les agriculteurs sont complètement démunis. Les institutions chargées du développement agricole ont été complètement démantelées et d'autres transformées en institutions pénitentiaires par l'Unita.
Compte tenu de la situation que nous vivons, notre gouvernement a adopté un programme spécial de production agropastoral basé sur la réhabilitation des ceintures vertes des centres urbains, sur l'utilisation maximale des périmètres irrigués et sur l'appui systématique des populations paysannes déplacées. De la même manière, le secteur de l'aviculture mérite une attention particulière par sa capacité de produire rapidement des protéines. Pour cela, nous manifestons nos remerciements à l'égard de la communauté internationale, et de la FAO en particulier, pour l'appui que nous avons reçu.
Les pêches, à côté de l'agriculture, constituent un secteur d'extrême importance pour la vie socio-économique de l'Angola. Aujourd'hui, il est le secteur le moins affecté par les effets de la guerre. Il est devenu l'une des sources principales de protéines animales. Dans une certaine mesure, il constitue l’un des secteurs qui rapportent des devises au pays après le pétrole. Le gouvernement accorde une attention spéciale à ce secteur et les résultats atteints sont positifs. Nous profitons de cette opportunité pour remercier la FAO pour l'assistance technique qu'elle n'a cessé de donner.
Les forêts constituent une source de richesse et de subsistance pour de nombreux êtres humains. Pour cela, certaines actions dans le cadre du PAFT sont en cours de réalisation, principalement dans la zone côtière.
Dans le domaine de l'environnement, l'Angola a participé aux efforts de la communauté internationale en vue de l'adoption d'une politique de défense et de préservation de l'environnement. Ainsi, il a été créé un organisme gouvernemental, le Secrétariat d'Etat pour l'environnement, qui va exécuter la politique de l'Etat dans ce domaine.
Une attention spéciale est portée aux ressources phytogénétiques. Le pays possède déjà un comité national sur les ressources phytogénétiques qui est engagé dans la préparation de la législation nationale et la constitution des banques de gènes. Nous profitons de cette occasion pour informer qu'au cours de ce mois un séminaire sur les ressources phytogénétiques sera organisé.
La femme produit, dans le milieu rural africain, presque 80 pour cent de la production alimentaire et contribue considérablement au rendement familier. Malgré cela, elle n'a pas toujours bénéficié des programmes de développement dirigés dans le milieu rural. Reconnaissant cette situation, il est urgent de concrétiser des programmes essentiellement dirigés vers la population féminine rurale qui visent son autopromotion, son intégration dans le processus de développement, en lui fournissant les instruments nécessaires pour identifier, exécuter, gérer et évaluer ses projets et programmes. C'est pourquoi nous apprécions beaucoup le plan d'action pour l'intégration de la femme dans le processus du développement. Au niveau du
gouvernement, il a été créé un Secrétariat d'Etat pour la promotion et le développement de la femme, qui exécute la politique de l'Etat.
La vingt-septième session de la Conférence de la FAO possède un agenda bien chargé. Nous voulons faire ainsi quelques observations et commentaires sur les points qui sont traités en long et en large dans les différentes Commissions.
Nous avons examiné le Programme de travail et budget pour l'exercice 1994-95. Nous l'appuyons tel qu'il est proposé par le Directeur général, qui ne prévoit aucun accroissement net. Malgré cela, nous continuons à exprimer nos regrets de l'absence d'une augmentation réelle du programme pour deux raisons. La première est qu'à l'heure actuelle on enregistre de plus en plus les demandes des Etats Membres. La seconde nous amène à constater que les budgets de certaines organisations du système des Nations Unies ont enregistré une hausse nettement supérieure à celle du budget de la FAO sans qu'il y ait désapprobation de la part de ces mêmes Etats Membres, qui prônent le principe de la croissance zéro à la FAO.
Nous nous félicitons des augmentations proposées pour les grands programmes Pêches et Forêts.
A la suite des besoins identifiés à la fin de deux grands événements de 1992 (CNUED et CIN) et des situations d'urgence auxquelles la FAO doit faire face, nous sommes convaincus que le budget du Programme ordinaire ne suffira pas pour couvrir toutes les activités identifiées. S'avère donc indispensable la mobilisation des ressources extra-budgétaires.
Ma délégation rend un vibrant hommage aux efforts du Directeur exécutif du Programme alimentaire mondial et au dévouement de son personnel au service de l'humanité.
Il est sans doute connu de vous tous que l'Angola est classée parmi les pays à haut risque. Malgré cette classification et les difficultés rencontrées, le personnel de terrain ne ménage aucun effort pour venir en aide aux populations déshéritées. A cet égard, nous ne pouvons qu'exprimer nos sincères remerciements et notre profonde gratitude.
Nos remerciements s'adressent également à la communauté internationale pour l'aide si précieuse qu'elle n'a cessé de nous octroyer.
Pour terminer, nous voulons exprimer notre satisfaction pour l'attention accordée à la formation qui, comme nous ne cessons de le répéter, est un élément primordial pour tout développement. Nous souhaitons que cet élément soit renforcé, plus particulièrement la formation féminine.
Nous ne pouvons pas clore notre déclaration sans féliciter les nouveaux membres, et en particulier l'Afrique du Sud, qui viennent se joindre à nous dans cette grande famille de la FAO. Nous croyons qu'ils renforceront avec leur expérience l'efficacité de notre Organisation.
Nous souhaitons aux participants de la présente session plein succès aux délibération et sommes convaincus que des résultats positifs seront atteints.
Mathias BIGAYA (Rwanda): Monsieur le Président, distingués délégués, Mesdames, Messieurs, c'est pour moi et pour mon pays le Rwanda un grand
honneur de prendre la parole en ce moment devant cette auguste assemblée pour apprécier les efforts déployés par notre Organisation dans la recherche des solutions aux problèmes préoccupants de l'alimentation et de l’agriculture.
La crise alimentaire mondiale n'a jamais été aussi forte qu'à la fin de ce siècle où le monde en développement affronte le problème de la pauvreté dont les conséquences sont la sous-alimentation et la malnutrition.
Nous sommes également préoccupés par cette terrible crise alimentaire qui frappe de plein fouet un certain nombre de groupes socio-professionnels, particulièrement en Afrique.
La délégation rwandaise, lors de la Conférence internationale sur la nutrition du 5 au 11 décembre 1992, ici même, a rappelé les causes profondes de la pénurie alimentaire constatée en Afrique et ailleurs:
- les troubles socio-politiques et économiques entraînant le déplacement des populations, l'éclatement des structures sociales et, partant, l'incapacité de produire;
- l'injustice sociale entraînant une mauvaise répartition des moyens de production;
- l’inéquité des termes de l’échange entre les pays du nord et ceux du sud;
- le déséquilibre entre l'accroissement démographique et la production alimentaire;
- les technologies agricoles et industrielles inadaptées.
Plusieurs facteurs complexes concourent à la détérioration de la situation alimentaire au Rwanda. Il s'agit principalement:
- de l'explosion démographique qui a pour conséquence la rareté des terres agricoles. En effet, notre densité démographique physique de 290 habitants/km2 avoisinent les limites difficilement tolérables dans la mesure où ± 43 pour cent des familles agricoles rurales ont moins de 0,50 ha, superficie jugée économiquement non viable;
S'ajoutent à cela:
- la totale dépendance économique du secteur agricole;
- des aléas climatiques, en particulier la fréquence des sécheresses; et
- le déplacement des populations civiles dont l'effectif a atteint, avant août 1993, environ un million de personnes
Toute solution au problème de la crise alimentaire mondiale doit être la résultante des solutions aux problèmes spécifiques de chaque pays.
La contribution du Gouvernement rwandais dans ce domaine transparaît à travers les objectifs fondamentaux de sa politique agricole, à savoir:
- la participation à la sécurité alimentaire du pays;
- l'augmentation des revenus des producteurs pour les intégrer dans la dynamique économique nationale et internationale
Il est vrai que ces objectifs ne peuvent être atteints sans que des mesures de politique sectorielle ne soient judicieusement adoptées. Dans cette optique, le Gouvernement rwandais a pris, sinon envisage les mesures suivantes :
- la valorisation du capital sol grâce notamment à la révision du code foncier
- l'intensification agricole par le recours aux intrants modernes disponibles, d'utilisation maîtrisable et rentable;
- la promotion du secteur agricole soutenue par une politique de crédit agricole viable;
- la vulgarisation agricole s'appuyant sur des supports disponibles et à la portée des utilisateurs;
- la profonde restructuration de la recherche agricole déjà opérée depuis début 1993;
- la maîtrise de la commercialisation grâce particulièrement à une grande responsabilisation des producteurs;
- la réduction de la pauvreté à travers le Programme national d'actionsociale financé par la Banque mondiale et d'autres bailleurs defonds ;
- et enfin la reconstruction du pays et la réhabilitation des zonestouchées par la guerre qui a ravagé le pays pendant environ troisans.
Je voudrais signaler avec amertume que la chute des cours mondiaux des produits agricoles d'exportation durant ces dernières années s'est répercutée sur la situation alimentaire déjà précaire des populations des pays en développement dont l'économie est largement tributaire de ces produits.
Le rôle de la communauté internationale se situe ainsi au niveau de l'équité dans les termes de l'échange garantissant la sécurité alimentaire, principal moteur du développement socio-économique de nos pays. Nous pensons que l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture est mieux placée pour influencer positivement les pays développés à accepter le droit des pays producteurs de matières premières à jouir des fruits de leur économie.
Le Gouvernement rwandais a hautement apprécié les aides aussi bien alimentaires, financières que techniques de tous les bailleurs de fonds durant la situation tragique de guerre qui, comme je l'ai évoqué, a duré environ trois ans. Ainsi, l'aide alimentaire qui était de 5 000 tonnes d'équivalent céréalier en 1981, avant le déclenchement de la guerre en octobre 1990, a atteint 17 000 tonnes en 1991 et 70 000 tonnes en 1993.
Il s'agit d'une contribution très modeste face au déficit global chronique national d'environ 200 000 tonnes de céréales, mais hélas très importante eu égard à la situation particulière d'urgence que traverse le Rwanda.
Cette situation déficitaire est aggravée du fait du retard des pluies de la saison culturale en cours, ce qui a entraîné une pénurie de denrées de base dont les prix viennent de doubler, mais aussi de l'afflux massif de 375 000 réfugiés venus du Burundi suite aux événements tragiques qui y sont survenus depuis le 20 octobre dernier. L'honorable délégué du Burundi l'a déjà souligné la semaine dernière.
Ainsi, nous pouvons estimer que les besoins alimentaires des déplacés de guerre se chiffrent à 17 000 tonnes par trimestre, ceux des réfugiés du Burundi à 15 000 tonnes, et les pertes dues à la sécheresse de septembre-octobre 1993 à environ 600 000 tonnes.
Au terme de la signature de l'Accord d'Arusha en Tanzanie entre les deux parties du conflit, nous continuerons certainement à solliciter le concours de la communauté internationale pour la réinstallation des réfugiés dans leurs biens où les besoins en intrants agricoles s'évaluent à ± 28 000 000 dollars et la réintégration des réfugiés rwandais dans le pays dont les besoins sont encore en cours d'évaluation.
Toujours dans le cadre de l'assistance aux déplacés de guerre, près de 17 000 hectares de forêts ont été déboisés dans les zones de combat et les zones d'accueil des réfugiés et leur reforestation coûtera environ 11 000 000 dollars.
La FAO et un certain nombre de bailleurs de fonds sont déjà à l'oeuvre dans la zone concernée en mettant à disposition les intrants agricoles parallèlement à la distribution des denrées alimentaires. Nous profitons de cette occasion pour leur adresser notre profonde gratitude.
Ces premières interventions s'inscrivent dans un ensemble de mesures macroéconomiques en faveur des déplacés de guerre et des réfugiés rwandais à réintégrer; mesures qui se dégageront de la table ronde de bailleurs de fonds à organiser dans un proche avenir.
Les éloges et expressions de gratitude et de remerciements, prononcés à l'égard de M. Edouard Saouma par tous les orateurs qui m'ont précédé témoignent des succès atteints par la FAO sous sa direction.
Le peuple rwandais et le gouvernement, par la voix de sa délégation, expriment leur réelle satisfaction quant à l'oeuvre gigantesque que M. Edouard Saouma a accomplie avec efficacité, professionalisme et surtout en s'engageant aux côtés des plus démunis durant trois mandats d'efforts inlassables. Nous restons convaincus que sa riche et précieuse expérience lui permettra de continuer à servir le système des Nations Unies. Que nos voeux de bonheur l’accompagnent !
Par ailleurs, puisque M. Jacques Diouf vient d'être élu au poste si prestigieux, mais combien difficile, de Directeur général de la FAO, nous nous associons à ceux qui nous ont précédés pour lui adresser nos chaleureuses félicitations et nos meilleurs voeux de succès, ses compétences et sa grande expérience, connues de tous, constituant des facteurs certains de réussite.
Le Gouvernement rwandais assure le nouveau Directeur général de tout son soutien pour qu'il poursuive efficacement les actions constructives mises en chantier et qu'il en initie de nouvelles, au bénéfice du développement de nos pays.
A vous, Monsieur le Président, je ne voudrais pas terminer sans vous présenter mes sincères félicitations pour la confiance que vous ont témoignée les Etats et les institutions membres de la FAO en vous portant à la présidence de la vingt-septième session de la Conférence pour diriger ses travaux, mission dont vous vous acquittez à la satisfaction de tous. Soyez-en donc remercié. Vive la solidarité internationale! Vive la FAO! Je vous remercie.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, distinguished delegate of Rwanda. Ladies and gentlemen, there are two delegations whose statements have been admitted for inclusion in the verbatim reports. These are Chad and Fiji.
Mahamat SALEH AHMAT (Tchad): Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Directeur général, Messieurs les Ministres et Chefs de délégations, Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs, mes premiers mots vont tout naturellement à notre nouveau Directeur général, Dr Jacques Diouf, pour lui adresser nos félicitations, notre confiance et notre soutien, pour la lourde mission à la tête de notre organisation.
La vingt-septième session de la Coonférence de la FAO se tient à un moment où la stagnation économique de notre continent, le fardeau écrasant de la dette et de la pauvreté rurale ainsi que l'épuisement très rapide des ressources naturelles exigent de nouveaux efforts afin d'assurer à notre continent un développement meilleur.
Le Tchad, mon pays, qui a traversé une longue période de crise politico-militaire avec, comme conséquence, la désorganisation de l'appareil de l'Etat, de l'économie et des infrastructures socio-économiques, ne fait pas exception.
Après la phase d'urgence et de reconstruction de 1983-1990, le Pays s'est doté avec les documents cadres de politique économique et le plan d'orientation de 1991-2000, de quelques instruments de gestion de son développement à moyen et long termes.
Cependant, les efforts déployés dans ce domaine se heurtent à des contraintes dont les principales sont :
- l’enclavement : le Tchad étant le pays du continent le plus éloigné de la mer, le port de Douala le plus utilisé est à 2 600 km de N'Djaména;
- la faiblesse de la structure de l'économie: celle-ci est dominée par un secteur primaire (le secteur agricole), largement tributaire des aléas climatiques, malgré les efforts de maîtrise de l'eau pour l’agriculture.
La troisième Conférence de la Table Ronde pour la République du Tchad, qui s'est tenue à Genève du 19 au 20 juin 1990 (Genève III), a conclu à la nécessité de préparer, puis de tenir (huit) consultations sectorielles dont une sur le Développement rural, la Sécurité alimentaire et les Ressources hydrauliques.
Suite à la réunion de Genève, le Gouvernement a créé à partir de février 1992, un Haut Comité interministériel et une Cellule technique d'appui
chargés de la préparation, du suivi et de l'exécution de la Consultation sectorielle sur le Développement rural.
La Cellule technique d'appui (CTA) a finalisé quatre documents sur la synthèse des travaux, le diagnostic et les stratégies du secteur, le programme d'action ainsi que sur le cadrage macro-économique. La tenue de la réunion sectorielle est prévue pour les 8 et 9 décembre 1993. Les partenaires du Tchad son attendus à N'Djaména pour cette rencontre.
Au niveau de la campagne agricole en cours, qui vient d'être évaluée avec le concours des experts FAO et CILSS, mon pays rencontre quelques difficultés. En effet, après deux bonnes campagnes successives 1991-1992 et 1992-1993, où mon pays a eu à enregistrer une production suffisante pour couvrir ses besoins, la campagne agricole 1993-1994 connaîtra une crise alimentaire certaine. Plusieurs facteurs dont l'insuffisance et la mauvaise répartition des pluies et les ennemis des cultures de tous genres concourent à cette mauvaise campagne.
L'évolution préliminaire de la production faite en octobre 1993 par nos services techniques avec l'appui de la FAO et du CILSS estime le déficit céréalier à 154 000 tonnes. Toutefois, le niveau réel de ce déficit pourra être infirmé ou confirmé selon l'évolution de la situation.
Parmi les ennemis de culture, il faut signaler cette année la présence au Tchad du criquet pèlerin à partir du 26 juin 1993 avec le passage de deux essaims à Fada et à Guereda. Le Niger, le Mali, le Burkina Faso et la Mauritanie sont aussi concernés par le mouvement des criquets dans le Sahel.
Des prospections terrestres et aériennes ainsi que le traitement des larves sont en cours avec l'appui de plusieurs bailleurs de fonds dont l'USAID, la Coopération française, le FED, la Coopération suisse, la GTZ, la BID et la FAO.
Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Directeur général, chers Délégués, la FAO appuie de concert avec le PNUD et les Pays-Bas et parfois même sur fonds propres (PCT) des projets de développement dans les domaines de la production des semences, de la lutte intégrée, de la lutte contre la désertification, de l'appui à l'Office national céréalier et dans le domaine de l'appui au Bureau d'études national. Plusieurs programmes et études dont l'étude sur le Plan national complet de la Sécurité alimentaire au Tchad sont appuyés par la FAO avec des fonds norvégiens. C'est ici le lieu de remercier très chaleureusement la FAO pour cet important appui à l’endroit de mon pays.
Je ne voudrais terminer mon discours sans évoquer les actions de la FAO durant l'exercice 1992-1993.
En effet, l'Organisation a contribué efficacement à la recherche d'un accord international sur les questions clés de l'environnement et du développement agricole et rural. Le rôle joué par la FAO lors de la Conférence internationale sur la nutrition (CIN) qui a insisté, entre autres, sur l'accès des ménages à une alimentation équilibrée et sur l'importance de l'information, de l'éducation et de la formation ainsi que de la salubrité des aliments, mérite d'être souligné ici tout comme le rôle joué par la FAO lors de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'environnement et le développement (CNUED).
Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Directeur général, Messieurs les Ministres et Chefs de délégations, Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs, avant de terminer mon propos, permettez-moi de souhaiter plein succès aux travaux de notre assemblée. Je vous remercie.
Texte reçu avec demande d'insertion au procès-verbal.
Ratu Viliame Foukimoana DREUNIMISIMISI (Fiji): Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed a great pleasure and an honour to submit to this august forum, Fiji's statement on its agricultural sector and how I view its impact in the global perspective. However, before I go any further, I, like the rest of my colleagues warmly congratulate the Chairman on his appointment. I am confident that he will continue to lead this Conference with the vision and leadership he has exhibited thus far. Likewise, I and my delegation also congratulate the newly elected Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf for successfully contending this eminent post. May you lead from hereon with wisdom and strength and be an example to the Members of FAO who have now entrusted to you the future of this Organization in servicing the needs of the developing world.
I wish to place on record Fiji's thanks also to the outgoing Director-General, Mr Edouard Saouma whose untiring efforts in the last 18 years have seen the Organization grow from a small and closely knit group to one in which almost all countries of the world have now become members.
Fiji is one of the nine(9) member countries of FAO from the South-West Pacific region. Fiji joined in the 1970's. We have contributed to FAO and also benefited from FAO in both technical and other forms of assistance. We see this association between Fiji and FAO become increasingly important as we approach the 21st century. The challenges facing small island nations increase with population growth and decreasing availability of good agricultural lands. The need to ensure Fiji continually provides for its populations is therefore critical, and must be continually addressed as the balance of payments becomes difficult to contend with. The growth in trade of agricultural produce becomes very restrictive with the prevalence of many distortionary practices of countries which possess in abundance both capital and manpower resources.
Fiji's population of three-quarters of a million may sound small by comparison to the more densely populated areas around the globe; it nevertheless offers some very difficult challenges to the people that inhabit these three hundred or so islands, out of the eighteen thousand square kilometres of Fiji's total area, only 16 percent is good agricultural land and this is confined to the lower coastal lands of the two main islands in which the bulk of agricultural activities are carried out.
Our major exports from which Fiji earns its foreign dollars still include by and large agricultural commodities of which sugar is still a major export earner. Tourism and textile industries over the last five years have contributed significantly to our foreign earnings. We are mineral deficient except for gold and some copper. We are not an industrialized island country but our transition to the manufacturing industries sector has been slow and will of course take some time.
In the meantime we have tried to become more proficient in what we produce and sell competitively to others in the world market.
The Fiji Islands lie in latitudes between 15 degrees and 18 degrees south and between longitudes 177 degrees and 182 degrees west. This location places Fiji in an untenable position in which we are lumbered with high transport costs. This is compounded further by the low volume of commodities produced in the country. Production therefore has been greatly disadvantaged by the high costs involved in transporting commodities to markets outside of Fiji. An added disadvantage to Fiji is that it is outside the route of regular shipping lines which carry the bulk of the goods traded between the larger Pacific rim countries. Fiji therefore like many of its Pacific neighbours has had to contend itself with paying heavy transport costs and this impinges heavily on the returns to farmers.
What can be done to assist overcome some of these problems if Fiji is to continue to operate viably in the future. The present government's orientation to more export-oriented activities have completely overhauled the approach of our small nation in not just focusing on self-sufficiency needs but trying to compete with producers of the same goods in the open world market. Fiji is a member of the Cairns Group which is pushing for the conclusion of the Uruguay Round. We feel this will give us some added advantage to trade our goods and services on a competitive basis. The larger, more resourceful countries will agree that whilst we cannot become a successful industrialized country overnight, the environment must be set to facilitate moves in this direction, and only then will Fiji be able to trade meaningfully with its comparative advantaged goods and services. The major areas in which I see FAO providing leadership would be in environmental protection, forestry and fishery production and, the move towards a more deregulated trade environment.
FAO with its resources both in technical assistance and programmes can best assist and provide island countries with special programmes which will be directed at focusing on unique problems and constraints peculiar only to island countries. The South-West Pacific island countries have special difficulties and unless overcome will continue to exist and may help inhibit the overall development of the countries and their people. The programmes for the islands can only be effective, meaningful and sustainable to the people if closer consultations take place between FAO and those countries.
The TCPS started by the outgoing Director-General, Dr Edouard Saouma, have helped many of our development efforts and should be increased to target special needs.
FAO should strengthen its sub-regional office in Apia to regional status to better cater for the South Pacific regional needs. Whilst I do not intend to go into detail regarding our various requirements, let me just say that the vast distance between Rome and its regional office in Bangkok for the Asia Pacific region causes FAO to visit us infrequently and thus create a poor appreciation of our needs. This should not be the case. Because FAO has not visited our islands regularly you tend to think that our difficulties are not many nor large enough to warrant assistance. Quite the contrary, our problems have the potential to develop into bigger problems if left unchecked.
We therefore request the new Director-General to review his priorities and look at the South-West Pacific region in a more accommodating light and platform.
Sir, let me conclude and reiterate to FAO that whilst we may be small, we are not so small to be ignored. The problems of the larger landlocked countries may be large and enormous and require constant monitoring and caring. However, ours may not be so obvious but need the same attention, perhaps on a reduced scale.
Again my warm congratulations to the new incumbent FAO Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf, and to the staff of FAO who have managed to direct some of this Organization's resources to our part of the world. I hope the relationship that FAO has with Fiji will continue to strengthen to our mutual benefit. Thank you Mr Chairman.1
CHAIRMAN: I am now going to invite the representative of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers to take the floor.
Hana O.A. KJELSDEN (International Federation of Agricultural Producers):
Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), of which I have the privilege of being President, is the only world organization of farmers. IFAP has 82 national farmers' organizations from 57 countries as members, thus representing over 500 million family farmers.
The current period is a difficult time of change and uncertainty for agriculture and the rural areas. I would therefore like to go back to some of the fundamental issues and especially underline two points.
First of all, the fragility of agriculture and rural areas. Once it was believed that agriculture and rural areas could absorb good policies as well as harsh measures. When times were tough, rural communities endured, farming and the rural way of life continued. These days are now over.
Today, when times are hard, rural communities just perish. In this last decade of the twentieth century, agriculture and rural areas are indeed fragile. More than ever we must preserve the ecological fabric of the world, and we must preserve the social fabric of the rural areas. This rural fabric is vital for this planet for maintaining the balance of nature and of society; we cannot afford to lose it. To preserve it, we do not need handouts, but economic incentives for all those who live on and by the land.
My second point is that farmers are at the centre of many questions which our society needs to resolve today. There are evident imbalances which cannot wait for another century for solutions - the imbalance, for instance, that exists between rural and urban sectors, between north and south, fundamental choices and decisions regarding where to invest, how to live, and how to manage finite resources.
Indeed if the society does not resolve these fundamental issues, it will not only be at to the detriment of farmers but also to the detriment of us
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1 Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.
all in the long term. As farmers and as farmers' organizations, we are in the process of drawing conclusions on these issues and I shall only outline a few.
The first one is the importance of dialogue. Sectors and institutions are made up of people who need to listen to what each other has to say. This is the basis of mutual respect and democracy. In the world, we are hundreds of millions of farmers and we need to talk to policy-makers and other sectors within the society. To engage in any sensible dialogue, we need our representative organizations, the farmers' organizations, structured from grassroots to the international level, as our legitimate voice. This is why we give a lot of importance to farmers' organizations, organizations by farmers and for farmers, as an important pillar of today's democracy.
In this context, I am therefore happy to report to this assembly that IFAP will launch a major initiative. Only a few weeks ago, developing country farm leaders proposed a Worldwide Action for the Strengthening of Farmers' Organizations, at the Manila Session of the IFAP Standing Committee on Agriculture in Developing Countries. This is a comprehensive worldwide plan for the strengthening of farmers' organizations, and it will draw on the strength and skills of IFAP members worldwide, as well as drawing in the strengths and skills of the broader international community.
In our view, this action taken by the developing country farm leaders complements FAO's Plan of Action on People's Participation, and we would very much like to see FAO supporting IFAP on this initiative.
The second conclusion is the leadership role of farmers on environmental questions. Today, agriculture and society is undergoing a fundamental transformation and an examination of its role. An important responsibility therefore falls upon farmers and IFAP to take the lead in the building of a sustainable future. For this purpose, we have carried out a series of hearings to generate proposals to relaunch agriculture as the centre of a global policy for sustainable development.
The third conclusion is the importance of identity. For many years, IFAP has made persistent calls to underline the importance of non-governmental organizations and the importance of their participation in the process of development. Now that this principle is widely accepted and applied, we need to go one step further and see who is who within the non-governmental sector. In this context, we congratulate the good work and far-sightedness of the Human Resources Division and their exemplary use of terminology. Time is indeed ripe for making the difference between farmers' organizations, which are run by farmers for farmers, from other nongovernmental organizations which have no mandate to represent farmers. I believe that the Human Resources Division uses the broader term of "Rural People's Organizations".
The fourth conclusion is that of subsidiarity. Difficult times always call for encouragement of initiatives and innovation at all levels. People need strong institutions with which they can evaluate their own circumstances, arrive at their own conclusions and take action. The strengthening of these institutions, whether they be national governments or national farmers' organizations, is perhaps the single most important contribution FAO can make to development. IFAP and FAO both have a common interest in enabling farmers and governments to do precisely this.
Today there are good working links between FAO and IFAP, both at the technical and policy levels. However, there is still much further scope for fruitful cooperation and new undertakings.
In closing, I would like to thank retiring Director-General, Edouard Saouma, and his staff for their excellent work and the good working relationship with IFAP, particularly with our Permanent Representative in Rome, Mrs Pelà. I would also like to congratulate the new Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf, upon his election and wish him every success in his important-task. Undoubtedly, Mr Diouf's success will depend not only on the support of governments, but even more on the support of farmers. For our part, as farmers' organizations, we shall do our best to make FAO's work even more useful for farmers.
Ms Maria Teresa GUICCIARDI (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions): Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates: You are meeting at a time when the gap between the rich and the poor is widening within nations and among nations. Today almost one-third of the world's workers are unable to find productive employment, including a disproportionate number of women.They and their families make up the vast bulk of the more than one billion poor of the world surviving on less than a dollar a day. Continuing slow growth or recession offer little hope. Of particular concern for trade unions is that even with a slow recovery, the number of people living in absolute poverty in developing countries will increase and unemployment in the industrialized countries will continue to rise.
On behalf of the ICFTU and IFPAAW, I wish you a successful conference. The ICFTU represents nearly 113 million members organized in national trade union centres, and IFPAAW over six million agricultural and plantation workers world-wide.
FAO and its Member States have a particular responsibility to tackle the problem of poverty and hunger. Problematic questions which may even become dramatic, like population growth and increased migration, are of direct concern to this Organization. Last year's International Conference on Nutrition or next year's International Conference on Population and Development are extremely important to contribute to reverse the present situation. This will, however, only happen if the political will for coordinated action on poverty and unemployment in both the developing countries and in the industrialized countries exists, and if it is matched by substantial financial commitments. Businesses on the national and trans-national levels need to act responsibly and produce a positive impact on development, economic and social.
One of the objectives of internationally supported structural adjustment policies is to increase the price of agricultural products through the abolition of administrative controls and subsidies. However, all too often this resulted in higher profits for middlemen, money lenders and landowners but continued poverty to small farmers and landless labourers. The primary objective of structural adjustment should be the alleviation of poverty and the expansion of employment. The liberalization of the market will not achieve this unless the power of the poor to obtain their fair share of the revenues from the sale of agricultural products is raised by strengthening the collective organization of the rural workers. Higher income for the rural poor and enhanced policies for rural development must form an integral part of structural adjustment programmes and should be developed in consultation with trade unions and rural workers' organizations.
Little to no progress has been forthcoming in rural development. At the bottom of the ladder are still the rural workers, the small farmers, women, rural youth. It is ironic that these people who grow the world's food are the least able to pay for it. Wage levels in agriculture and plantations remain among the lowest. Payment in kind is still common. For the promotion of development it is essential to create employment on the one hand and on the other to ensure just and adequate remuneration. It would be in line with FAO's Plan of Action on People's Participation to support trade union organizing to facilitate collective action by representative social partners to improve the conditions of work and life of rural workers.
We appeal to governments to ratify the relevant ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and in particular Conventions 141 and 110 concerning rural and plantation workers organizations. Through closer cooperation with the representative trade unions and rural workers' organizations a better targeting of development policies and technical assistance programmes for the rural disadvantaged populations could be also achieved.
Environmental degradation and damage are continuing at great pace despite alternative solutions as expressed in Agenda 21 which was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Since their first formation the trade unions have had as one of their major objectives the health and safety of workers at their place of work. The trade union history of achievements in this regard is certainly a creditable one. In the world of today, workers are much more aware of the relationship between their work and the broader environment.
The ICFTU, at its last Congress in 1992 chose as one of its main themes "Environment and Development: The Trade Union Agenda". Two months ago, the ICFTU held a Conference under the theme "From Rio to the Workplace", to assess the follow-up to the Earth Summit and to formulate conclusions for action. It was attended by some hundred trade unionists and environmentalists and took place in Manchester.
We live in a world where workers are still being tortured and killed in many countries because of their trade union activities - including activities to protect the environment. The trade unions' first responsibility is to protect and defend these workers. In agriculture and plantations workers bear the brunt of the overuse and abuse of pesticides. Most of the one billion agricultural workers world-wide use agro-chemicals and are exposed to the hazards this involves. 90 percent of the poisonings and 99 percent of the deaths from pesticide exposure take place in the developing world. Governments should participate in the Prior Informed Consent procedure for pesticides. Furthermore, governments should ensure that health and safety standards are raised, and that training in the use of pesticides is universal.
In the industrial sector, and more and more also in the agricultural sector, workers and their unions are increasingly demanding the inclusion of environmental protection in the collective bargaining process, the right to raise environmental issues and complaints without fear of reprisal or recrimination from landowners, employers or governments, and the right to participate in workplace environmental audits. We believe that only with the cooperation of all actors concerned, development can be sustained without further deterioration of the environment and without continued hazards for the workers, indeed for the population. Thank you.
Lino VISANI (Alliance cooperative internationale): Monsieur le Président, Messieurs les délégués, je suis très honoré, au nom de l'Alliance coopérative internationale (ACI), d'adresser toutes nos félicitations au nouveau Directeur général de la FAO, M. Jacques Diouf, ainsi que tous nos voeux de succès les plus sincères pour la réalisation de ses projets à la tête de la FAO.
Dans le même temps, nous désirons remercier très vivement M. Saouma pour l'oeuvre intelligente accomplie durant si longtemps à la direction de la FAO.
Nous sommes face à une évolution de la situation internationale, riche d'espoirs, mais aussi profondément inquiétante. Malgré le changement du cadre mondial, le chemin de l'avenir est encore incertain. La situation actuelle de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation est très difficile, de même que l'augmentation du chômage est préoccupante.
Ceci demande à toutes les institutions nationales et internationales une réflexion sur leurs actions pour aboutir à de nouvelles méthodes d'assistance allant dans le sens de la démocratie et du développement. Nous remercions la FAO d'avoir mis ce thème, très important pour l'avenir de la communauté mondiale, à l'ordre du jour de cette Conférence.
Les conférences de la FAO ont approuvé des plans d'action spéciaux pour: l'intégration des femmes dans le développement agricole, la participation populaire au développement rural.
Les solutions apportées par la FAO ainsi que par les gouvernements en ce domaine sont encore incertaines. Nous sommes convaincus que la participation populaire est à la base d'un développement durable. Nous pensons qu'il faut adopter de nouveaux systèmes et de nouvelles méthodes pour développer le dialogue et la collaboration avec les ONG, les OING et surtout avec les organisations populaires aux niveaux national et international, afin de promouvoir l'organisation populaire comme condition essentielle du développement durable et démocratique amenant à gommer les inégalités sociales.
Dans ce contexte, les coopératives ne peuvent pas être considérées comme des organisations d'assistance mais comme de nouvelles formes d'entreprises agricoles, démocratiques et autonomes, ayant pour but de soutenir les agriculteurs et les ruraux les plus faibles pour qu'ils produisent de nouvelles richesses et qu'ils concourent à un marché plus équitable tout en élevant leur niveau de vie.
Le Conseil économique et social des Nations Unies (ECOSOC) a récemment approuvé une résolution reconnaissant le rôle de l'ACI, fédérant 100 mouvements coopératifs adhérents qui regroupent eux-mêmes 600 millions de membres, dans la réalisation du développement durable.
Nous redisons ici, à cette Conférence, toute la disponibilité de l'Alliance coopérative internationale pour réaliser, avec la FAO, une collaboration aux fins de concourir à un développement démocratique et durable de la communauté internationale.
CHAIRMAN: Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, we have now come to the end of the general debate. You ought to know that the Secretariat has taken note of all the salient points that have been raised. We have had
121 country representatives, the observer of the Holy See,- and three observers from intergovernmental organizations taking part in these discussions.
For me it has been a very great privilege to preside over this most outstanding general debate, and what this debate has done is to provide a unique opportunity for agricultural ministers all over the world to meet here to exchange information on their respective national experiences.
I have taken particular note of the fact that almost every delegate has included in his or her statement some expression of praise and tribute to Dr Edouard Saouma. They have praised him for his many years of outstanding service to FAO and for his impressive leadership. Delegates have also, almost to a man, been very warm in their expressions of welcome to Mr Jacques Diouf, the Director-General Elect. There have been many expressions of confidence in him, of confidence in his ability to give proper guidance to the Organization.
I would like to thank all those delegates who have complimented me on my election to the Chair, and also the three Vice-chairmen who have helped to preside over the Conference.
The themes and issues that have emerged at this Conference are very clear. Many delegations have expressed concern for problems relating to drought, desertification, sustainable development, the GATT Uruguay Round, the price of inputs compared to the price of commodities, and the consequential deterioration in terms of trade. General concerns have been expressed about the destruction of tropical forests, of land degradation and the pollution of the atmosphere. Gender issues have also been raised by many delegations, and the importance and the significance of the role of women in developmental activities have been noted by the Conference participants.
Agriculture is vital to the developing world and access to the developed country markets becomes more imperative with each passing day. I believe that most delegates gathered here would wish to see the Uruguay Round of GATT concluded by the December 15 deadline. Many delegates both from developed and developing countries have expressed this wish, and the sentiment has been that the agricultural elements in the negotiations will be dealt with in a manner satisfying to the developing Member Nations.
I believe that every delegate has been more than interested to hear from the delegates representing the newly admitted Member Nations. We are indebted to them for their statements. They have given us a clear view of the situation with respect to agriculture in their countries. Those which have been stricken by war have told us about the severe damage that has been done to agriculture in such countries.
Before I close I would like to express my deep appreciation to all the delegates who have contributed to make this debate a success and to have made it possible for this debate to be conluded well within the time that was assigned for the general discussions. They have been very supportive; they have observed the rules of the debate, particularly that with respect to the limitation of time, I wish to thank them for this.
It is most noteworthy that most delegates have confined their contributions to the 15-minute limit. I wish to thank them for that.
Distinguished delegates, if there are no other comments I wish to bring this meeting to a close. I thank you for your attention and I wish you well in the Commission proceedings.
The next Plenary Session will be on Wednesday, 17 November. The first part of that session will pay tribute to Dr Edouard Saouma, Director-General, and subsequently it will adopt the Report of Commission II on Item 12, which is the Programme of Work and Budget.
If there are no further comments I take pleasure in bringing this debate and this Session to a close. The Session stands adjourned.
The meeting rose at 17.00 hours.
La séance est levée à 17 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.00 horas.
