Annex II. Statement by His Excellency George Moraitis minister for agriculture
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to open your sessions.
FAO is the only International Organization of the United Nations specialized in food and agriculture which has significantly contributed to promoting agricultural development and smoothing over the serious problems of the rural sector at large. I think that FAO's significant contribution as well as its catalytic role in achieving development targets of agriculture will help substantially in the future so that new challenges can be faced to our benefit at the beginning of the current decade.
It is generally known that significant changes have taken place in the world's agricultural situation. Prospects have been opened due to recent evolutions such as the successful completion of the Uruguay Round. On the other hand, the radical socio-economic political changes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the reforms and the enlargement of the European Union, as well as future prospects cause economic insecurity. At the same time, we should admit that these challenges require a spirit of reciprocal cooperation.
However, it should be noted that the benefit resulting from these new opportunities depends, to a high degree, on the capability of our economies to be adjusted to a climate of increasing competitiveness.
Undoubtedly, European agriculture has to face serious problems. I believe that all of us are aware that cooperation is necessary for agricultural and economic development so that imbalances can be eliminated not only in the primary sector but also between the primary sector and the other sectors of economy.
On the occasion of the 7th Session of the FAO Working Party on Women and the Agricultural Family in Rural Development, I would like to point out the significant role of the family in the development process. We should keep in mind that all our efforts made towards facing current difficulties should focus on the family which is the fundamental unit of our societies.
199* was proclaimed the International Year of the Family with the aim of creating greater awareness of the family among governments and the public. Sound family policies should be based on gender equality and family welfare.
We are on the threshold of an effort towards opening new prospects for European agriculture. There is the social infrastructure, secularization of European society at a satisfactory level, as well as many ideas and new concepts. These are only rough ideas which should be put into practice by taking the appropriate measures so that new sectors can be developed and new opportunities for employment can be offered to the rural population. In Greece farm women and the agricultural family play an important role in rural development because in our country agricultural families run our farm holdings and therefore we are promoting and supporting them.
However, we should not miss the opportunity of mentioning that there are two serious problems concerning the agricultural family and the future development of the agricultural sector. On the one hand, there are gender discriminations concerning farm women's situation in agricultural employment and on the other hand there is the ageing of the entire population and narrow prospects of youth employment in the agricultural sector. As regards the first problem, worthy of mention is the Greek farm woman's specific contribution, both to the survival of the farm holding and the national economy. Her share in rural activities is about 45 %. However, we should admit that Greek farm women continue to lag behing other European farm women in spite of the legislative measures taken to safeguard equal gender opportunities, by prohibiting explicit gender discriminations.
Actually most farm women come under the category of dependent family members and the tasks are distinguished into male and female ones resulting in payment unequalities.
Our planet's people have changed, the standards of living have also changed and both sexes have developed their activities within a new socio-economic framework. Therefore, both men's and women's role should be adjusted to reality.
In this context, I believe that the improvement of the farm woman's educational background and vocational training is necessary so that gender discrimination can be eliminated, which enabling the farm woman to improve her status in society.
We would also like to examine another problem of equal importance not only for Greek agriculture but also for other European countries, and this refers to the distortion in the farmers' age pyramid.
The average age of Greek farmers is about 55 years while the succession rate tends to zero in the agricultural sector. Farmers' ageing and youth's unwillingness to farm may have unfavourable consequences in the near future, especially during a period in which the agricultural sector faces very serious problems.
Undoubtedly, differentiation of natural, social and economic conditions from one European region to another, resulted in a crisis for the agricultural sector and the demographic evolution varies from one country to another.
Therefore, solutions should be found or adjusted to the local conditions mainly aiming at minimizing regional inequalities. These solutions should encourage youth to practice farming by ensuring them not only a satisfactory income but also satisfactory standards of living in the countryside. Young people should be properly trained to practice farming in a spirit of innovation and respect for the environment.
Before finishing my speech, I would like to focus on the World Food Day, the anniversary of which was celebrated the day before yesterday, on 16th October 1994.
This date coincides, as you know, with the day of FAO's foundation.
This year's subject of the World Food Day is "Water - Source of Life". It constitutes a significant message for the present generation and for future ones. Undoubtedly, mere is an imperative need for the rational management of water resources, more specifically in me southern countries where water resources are rare.
Shortage of water and its irrational use seriously threaten all sectors of human activities and will affect development procedure in the future.
Let the 1994 World Food Day be the starting point for an integrated approach to water shortage and pollution problems, with a view towards economic development and welfare.
