VI. Activities and programmes of the organization

A. Programme of work and budget 1980-81

181. The Conference endorsed a selective approach towards mechanization in farming. It noted with approval the studies in progress on the relationships between energy and agriculture and the identification of alternative sources of energy for developing countries but stressed the need for further efforts in this area.

182. It welcomed the network of national institutions in applied research in the Asia and Pacific Region and the cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO) on small-scale industries, as an essential component in rural development.

(iii) Programme 2.1.3. - Livestock

183. The Conference gave full support to the Director-General's proposals for the Livestock
Programme, which included increased stress on TCDC and national institutions.

184. It agreed that increased attention should be given not only to the preservation of animal genetic resources but also to assistance to countries in replenishing stocks which had been decimated and to the control of important animal diseases.

185. The Conference widely supported the Director-General's proposed Programme for the Control of African Trypanosomiasis, which would coordinate the various concerned units within FAO and would ensure close coordination with WHO, OAU, and other interested organizations, agencies and institutions.

186. The Conference also emphasized other animal health activities and noted with approval the present and proposed work on African Swine Fever in response to the spread of this disease in Latin America and the general need to strengthen emergency disease-control methods at the sub-regional level.

187. The Conference considered that more priority should be given to the production of poultry, sheep, goats and other small animals, as recommended by WCARRD.

188. The Conference agreed that the schemes for International Meat Development and the Coordination of Dairy Development, as well as the Artificial Insemination and Breeding Programme, which had recently been evaluated, should be continued. It took note with appreciation of the extra-budgetary resources which had already been contributed to these schemes and called for the provision of adequate extra-budgetary support for integrated rural poultry development, to which it gave high priority.

(iv) Programme 2.1.4. - Research Support

189. Concern was expressed about the low volume of research support in Latin America. It was noted that the figures for extra-budgetary funds reflected, in large measure, the decision made by countries in the course of country programming. More emphasis should be given however to this region.

190. The Conference endorsed the support provided in the programme to the Technical Advisory Committee to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), as well as the activities of the Research Development Centre which strengthened national research capability and provided the focal point for the research support activities of the organization. These were emphasized in all technical programmes.

191. The Conference supported the cooperative network system among European research institutions with which 15 developing countries were associated.

192. The Conference approved the inclusion of agricultural application of isotope research among the priority programmes.

193. It approved the continuing activities of CARIS (Current Agricultural Research Information System) on a decentralized basis at regional and national levels. It was requested that in the regions where decentralization could not at present take place, coordination work should continue to be carried out at Headquarters.

194. The Conference recognized the relevance of programme 2.1.4 to the follow-up of the UN Conference on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) and noted with satisfaction that the Director-General had established an Ad Hoc Working Group to advise him on follow-up action.

(v) Programme 2.1.5. - Rural Development

195. The Conference approved the strategies, priorities and activities proposed for rural development and welcomed the increased allocation made to it for 1980-81. Some members felt that this was not however sufficient to match the demands for follow-up of WCARRD.

196. The Conference agreed that the Declaration of Principles and Programme of Action as adopted by WCARRD provided a framework for national and international policies to improve nutrition, to eradicate rural poverty, to attain growth with equity and achieve a greater degree of people's participation in development. There was unanimous support for the crucial role of FAO in these objectives.

197. The Conference emphasized that the objectives and strategies of WCARRD represented a consistent set of general guidelines for specific programmes at the country level which should take into account the goals, limitations and specific situations of each country concerned.

198. The Conference welcomed the designation, in the WCARRD Programme of Action, of FAO as the lead agency within the United Nations System to provide follow-up to the World Conference. It was recognized that effective cooperation had already been achieved by the members of the ACC Task Force on Rural Development in their joint activities.

199. The Conference noted with satisfaction the formal establishment of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific and moves to establish similar centres for the Africa, Latin America and Near East regions, and stressed that FAO should provide the technical assistance required by these centres and their associated national centres to enable them to function effectively.

200. The Conference emphasized the need for appropriate technology and adequate services, marketing and credit, particularly for small farmers, and the crucial importance of training.

201. The crucial importance of Women in Rural Development was stressed, particularly as rural women were often also farm producers and operated elements of the marketing/processing chain. It was felt that national programmes for rural women should be fully supported, together with training of women in village extension services, and that more attention should be given to national rural youth programmes.

202. The Conference reaffirmed the importance of agricultural education, extension and training. Since training was a part of most FAO programmes, it was emphasized that there was a need to coordinate these activities both within FAO and in countries. It noted that this had been started within FAO by the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Training. it was suggested that this Working Group might also examine the adequacy of on-going efforts in training at the levels of (a) policy formulation, (b) task implementation, and (c) farmers and fishermen. While a very high majority of field projects already had education, extension or training components, the follow-up to WCARRD would require an even greater emphasis on those in rural communities.

203. The Conference recognized the need for the exercise of discretion by the Director-General in making any necessary readjustments to ensure adequate flexibility in pursuing the mandate of WCARRD.

(vi) Programme 2.1.6. - Nutrition

204. The Conference approved the increased emphasis given to this programme, reflecting a higher priority for nutrition, and noted that resources were proposed to allow for a larger scale response to country requests for assistance, toward the formulation and implementation of national nutrition policies and programmes.

205. The Conference emphasized the need for integration of nutrition with agricultural and rural development and for further work on the methodologies for the introduction of nutritional considerations in agricultural and rural development policies and projects.

206. The Conference expressed its concern at the low level of extra-budgetary resources in relation to the needs of developing countries, particularly with regard to Asia and the Pacific.

207. Particular emphasis was laid on the need to develop and use nutrition indicators to monitor progress in agrarian reform and rural development, as explicitly recommended by WCARRD.

208. The Conference stressed the need to strengthen the existing mechanisms within the
Secretariat to ensure that nutritional objectives were incorporated and effectively pursued in FAO's planning and execution of agricultural programmes and projects.

209. The Conference also agreed that continued emphasis should be given to training and education for nutrition at all levels, and welcomed the introduction of nutrition in the curricula of educational institutions, a process which would be further pursued through the ACC Sub-Committee on Nutrition.

(vii) Programme 2. 1.7. - Food and Agricultural Information and Analysis

210. The Conference noted this programme included one of the mandatory activities of the organization and did not receive significant amounts of extra-budgetary resources.

211. It was felt however that the collection and analysis of statistics and other data, directed towards the requirements of member countries, on commodities, public expenditure and price supports in agriculture, food production and distribution was vital to the successful conduct of the Organization's activities. The Conference supported the proposals to strengthen the Global Information and Early Warning System.

(viii) Programme 2.1.8 - Food and Agricultural Policy

212. The Conference stressed the importance of action-oriented and country-focussed activities.

213. The Conference recognized that Agriculture: Toward 2000 would be highly valuable in the formulation of FAO policies, in assistance to Member Nations and in the formulation of a new
International Development Strategy.

214. It was felt that the Organization should continue to ensure that agricultural and rural development received due recognition in system-wide activities of the United Nations. How ever, as system-wide activities were increasing in scope and magnitude, it was emphasized that priority should be given to those activities which were of more concrete benefit to developing countries.

215. The Conference strongly supported the Director-General's Plan of Action on World Food Security and considered it should be pursued with vigour together with continued assistance especially to LDCs and MSAs under the Food Security Assistance Scheme.

216. High priority was also placed on policy and planning assistance as well as commodity support to countries, together with continued cooperative work in support of the UNCTAD Integrated Programme on Commodities.

(ix) Major Programme 2.2 - Fisheries

217. The priorities and general thrust of Major Programme 2.2 were supported by the Conference, which expressed its satisfaction with the manner in which the programme was being reoriented to meet the new challenges of fisheries development and management. The Conference in particular approved the organizational adjustments within the Fisheries Department, proposed by the Director-General so as to strengthen the Organization's capacity to provide advice on policy and planning.

218. The Conference noted that many countries had declared Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) or Extended Fishing Zones (EFZ) and that most of the world's fisheries were already or would soon come under the jurisdiction of coastal states.

219. The Conference agreed on the importance of FAO's Fisheries Programme and approved the
Director-General's initiatives in this sector, especially in relation to the EEZS.

220. The Conference noted that the demand for fish as food was expected to double by the end of the century.

221. The Conference agreed that special efforts should be made in order to develop inland fisheries and aquaculture. Those countries which did not have the opportunity for marine fisheries should in particular be helped in developing inland fisheries within their overall rural development programmes.

222. The Conference recognized that the establishment of EEZs required increased cooperation among nations in managing and developing fisheries because of shared fish stocks and the scarcity of human and financial resources in the developing countries. Coastal countries would be responsible for conservation and management of the fishery resources as well as for their allocation and use in order to secure the maximum economic and social benefits.

223. The Conference noted that most developing coastal and island states needed additional knowledge and expertise to cope with these new responsibilities and welcomed the response of the Director-General to this new situation. It urged FAO to respond to the rapidly increasing requests from countries for assistance ranging from stock assessment to surveillance and enforcement. Interference by multinationals should be guarded against.

224. The Conference approved the Director-General's proposed programme to meet developing countries' needs arising out of the establishment of EEZs. The FAO programme would mainly be delivered through sub-regional and inter-regional field projects, and while UNDP would be expected to provide core funding, efforts should be made to find other sources of funding, including IFAD and OPEC as well as bilateral donors.

225. The Conference noted FAO's tentative estimate that a net investment of about $30 000 million would be required in developing coastal countries between now and the year 2000 to enable them to take advantage of fisheries development opportunities in their EEZs. The Conference agreed that FAO's programme of assistance would provide an essential basis for planning for, and justification of, these investments.

226. The Conference noted with satisfaction that the major beneficiaries of the FEZ programme would be the small-scale coastal fishermen. Large roving commercial fleets from distant waters should respect the sovereignty of coastal developing countries over their EEZs.

227. While the resources allocated to inland fisheries and aquaculture under the Regular Programme were comparatively small, the Conference endorsed the direction of the FAO aquaculture field programme at the country level, the Inter-Regional Aquaculture Coordination and Development Programme and regional projects such as the South China Sea Programme, which had aquaculture components.

228. In addition, the Conference noted that FAO had three active regional bodies exclusively devoted to inland fisheries, the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA), the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Latin America (COPESCAL), and the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC), as well as the Indo-Pacific Fishery Commission which was concerned both with marine and inland fisheries.

229. The Conference was satisfied that an appropriate balance was being maintained between marine and inland fisheries programmes.

230. The Conference noted that FAO would need to respond to a rising demand for assistance in formulating national policy and plans as well as regulations and legislation for fisheries management.

231. With regard to pollution and other environmental aspects which affected fish and fish habitats, the Conference considered that FAO had long been a leader in this field in collaborating with UNEP, WHO IMCO and IOC, and had participated in the Mediterranean Action Plan, and in projects in the Gulfs, South-East Asia and South-East Pacific, including counter measures against the immediate effects of oil- spills.

(x) Major Programme 2.3 - Forestry

232. The Conference agreed with the long-term goals of the Forestry Programme to increase the economic and social benefits derived from Forestry through emphasis on investment promotion and the evolution of dynamic management systems, harmonising human needs with environ mental balance.

233. The Conference welcomed the increased emphasis of the Forestry Programme on rural community development and agreed that afforestation should continue to receive priority, especially for fulwood production, the protection of watersheds and the control of desertification in arid zones. Attention was drawn to the need for holding meetings of the Working Party on Management of Mountain Watersheds.

234. The Conference agreed with the creation of a new programme, Forestry for Rural Development, for which resources had been provided by redeployment and transfers. This programme should have major bilateral support.

235. The Conference welcomed the increased emphasis on new approaches which integrated agro-silvo-pastoral practices into the overall forest management system.

236. The Conference endorsed the continuing activities, especially those aimed at the conservation and expansion of vegetative cover, the re-establishment of destroyed forests, the establishment of windbreaks and shelterbelts, the protection of soil and water, and the prevention and control of forest fires.

237. It was felt that training programmes should be continued with emphasis on improvements in curricula, teaching methods and closer institutional cooperation.

238. The Conference further endorsed the priority activities under the programmes of Forest Resources and Environment, Forest Investment and Institutions, and Forest Industries and Trade, in which the emphasis should continue to be placed on small-scale mills.

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