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PWB CHAPTER 2: TECHNICAL AND
ECONOMIC PROGRAMMES

Major Programme 2.1: Agricultural Production and Support Systems

Regular Programme

 

US$000

 

Expenditure before staff cost variance

89,149

 

Staff cost variance

(2,237)

 

Expenditure

86,912

 

Programme of Work

89,378

 

(Over)/Underspending, US$ '000

2,466

 

(Over)/Underspending, %

3%

Field Programme

 

US$000

 

Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery

102,634

 

Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery

317,475

 

TCP delivery

42,485

 

Total Field Programme delivery

462,594

 

Ratio of Field to Regular Programme

5.2

 

Technical support services, prof. staff cost

12,260

 

Technical support services, % of delivery

3%

129. The Major Programme continued to focus on improving agricultural production and post-production systems for national food security and sustainable development, in direct support of the implementation of the World Food Summit (WFS) Plan of Action. The Programme increased its linkages to the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) and provided essential contributions to both components of the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES). It provided the Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), which focused on the negotiations of the legally binding International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Treaty was adopted by the 31st Session of the FAO Conference in November 2001.

130. The Programme provided technical services to the field and emergency programmes related to crops and livestock, production economics and the commercial aspects of small-scale post-production activities. It coordinated cross-sectoral work in major initiatives including the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for pesticides, the Global Plan of Action (GPA) for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA), the Global Strategy for the Sustainable Management and Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources, the Global Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Facility, the Global Cassava Development Strategy, the Soil Fertility Initiative (SFI), the International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID) and the FAO/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory. The Programme was called upon to make increasing contributions to the development and implementation of cross-sectoral programmes on biodiversity, biotechnology, ethics, gender, integrated production systems, organic agriculture, and urban and peri-urban agriculture. It also ensured FAO responsibilities as task manager of Chapters 10 and 14 of Agenda 21.

131. Across the constituent programmes, priority was given to achieving:

132. Underspending of about US$ 900,000 shown in the above table resulted from reduced expenditure in the decentralized offices and the reduction in expenditure related to a positive staff cost variance.

Programme 2.1.1: Natural Resources

Regular Programme

 

US$000

 

Expenditure before staff cost variance

15,488

 

Staff cost variance

(400)

 

Expenditure

15,088

 

Programme of Work

16,005

 

(Over)/Underspending, US$ '000

917

 

(Over)/Underspending, %

6%

Field Programme

 

US$000

 

Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery

26,326

 

Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery

5,259

 

TCP delivery

7,872

 

Total Field Programme delivery

39,457

 

Ratio of Field to Regular Programme

2.5

 

Technical support services, prof. staff cost

2,834

 

Technical support services, % of delivery

7%

Programme Outcome

 

Approved

Cancelled/

Unplanned

Total

Delivered

Percent

 

In PWB

Postponed

Delivered

Delivered

Unmodified

Modified

Delivered

Coordination and information exchange

32

(2)

1

31

29

2

97%

Direct advice to Members; field programme support

18

0

3

21

19

2

117%

Information (products, systems, databases)

29

(1)

11

39

32

7

134%

International undertakings, agreements/conventions and standards

2

0

2

4

4

0

200%

Methodologies and guidelines (including pilot testing and demonstration)

31

(1)

8

38

28

10

123%

Studies and analyses

32

(3)

10

39

28

11

122%

Training (including training courses and materials)

23

(3)

6

26

22

4

113%

Achievements

133. The programme responded to the increasing demand for services in three main areas:

134. Agricultural water use efficiency and conservation. The strong analytical and methodological component resulted in a variety of studies and guidelines addressing key aspects of water use and irrigation systems to support advisory services to member countries. Practices were reviewed, tools developed and procedures proposed for irrigation scheme managers to assess and diagnose performance at system level, based on extensive testing in different irrigation systems. Actual experience in the privatization of irrigation services was evaluated and guidelines prepared for introducing these services. The potential of supplementary irrigation and water harvesting in different agro-ecological zones was assessed, and a manual and a prototype decision support tool for supplementary irrigation were developed and tested in two countries. A model and guidelines for estimating crop yields for non-optimal water application and timing were published. Other activities included preparation of an overview guide on water policy approaches in different water systems, and a methodology for assessment of water values and costs in transboundary watercourse systems.

135. Networks on wetlands management and technologies for irrigation were supported, including involvement of irrigation technology centres in several African countries. Training activities included a series of "roving seminars" on the introduction of effective farm irrigation practices and technologies, training courses on water harvesting in four countries, and curriculum development for farmer field schools in on-farm water management. The Computer Program for Irrigation Planning and Management (CROPWAT), used inter alia to develop water allocation procedures under deficit irrigation, was improved. Another computerized system - the Scheme for Irrigation Management Information System (SIMIS) - for the management of water, finances, assets, operations and maintenance of irrigation schemes was tested under field conditions and made available to irrigation agencies. Electronic conferences on experience and common practice on international water policy were organized with the active involvement of least developed countries (LDCs).

136. Land resources, soil fertility and plant nutrition policies and planning. Within the framework of the Soil Fertility Initiative (SFI), methodologies were developed and tested for participatory diagnoses of farmers' constraints and opportunities for improved soil and nutrient management. Guidelines were produced for implementing integrated national soil and nutrient management, following soil conservation practices, through the farmer field school approach. Support was provided for the design, implementation and monitoring of SFI-linked national action plans. An advocacy publication on soil fertility management in support of food security in sub-Saharan Africa was published and disseminated. Regional workshops on soil fertility management and on land degradation monitoring were organized in the Near East. Guidelines were published on soil resources and degradation assessment. An expert consultation on biological nitrogen fertilizer was organized, followed by preparation of a project proposal for promoting wider adoption of the fertilizer among selected countries in Africa.

137. Main publications included an updated version of the Plant nutrition management guide, incorporating case studies in selected countries; a guide for conducting on-farm trials and demonstrations on soil and nutrient management; a case study in one country on the use of urban wastes for agriculture; and technical guidelines on integrated land evaluation and land valuation. In collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), desk and field (pilot) studies on the specific role that soils in tropical areas can play in carbon sequestration and on the land management strategies involved were completed and several reports published. A framework document for fertilizer strategies was published, and studies were carried out on the availability, characteristics and agro-economic evaluation of rock phosphate sources and lime application. Studies on global NH4 and NO2 emissions, the economics of soil productivity and the economics of conservation agriculture were completed and published. An inventory was compiled of traditional and current soil productivity management practices in selected agro-ecological zones and land-use systems, including organic farming, and a database was developed on commercially available organic fertilizers and water-retaining products.

138. Integrated land, water and plant nutrient management. Training manuals were produced on appropriate soil management and moisture conservation techniques for use in desertification control, and on mitigation programmes. Guidelines and training materials were developed on technologies for improving rainfall capture, infiltration and storage. Contributions were also made to strategy formulation for land husbandry in specific watersheds, the development of decision support tools, and the preparation of guidelines for land husbandry and steep land management in watersheds. A report was published on issues and processes related to the impact of land use on water resources and case studies for upstream-downstream linkages in integrated watershed management. Data sets were elaborated in support of analysis, projection and planning work related to irrigated agriculture.

139. Waterlogging and salinity control, environmental effects of irrigation and reclamation of problem soils. Decision support systems were finalized and disseminated for use in the application of saline water for crop production. A number of guidelines were prepared and disseminated for the safe use of wastewater, assessment of salinization of irrigated lands at the regional level, and the construction, operation and maintenance of drainage systems. Field tests of integrated reclamation and management solutions for problem soils were undertaken in four areas (salt-affected soils in Asia, acid soils in Africa, gypsiferous/calcareous soils in the Near East and soil pollution in Eastern Europe). A regional expert consultation on the management of problem soils was held in southern Africa, and several networks were established, including a global network on integrated management for sustainable use of salt-affected soils, and a subregional network on the management of problem soils in southern and eastern Africa.

140. Land and water information systems, databases and statistics. The harmonized Soils and Terrain Database (SOTER) was expanded to 13 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and increased in scope to include a land degradation assessment and a vulnerability evaluation for pollution. A regional SOTER for southern Africa was initiated. A global agro-ecological database integrating soil, terrain and climatic information was produced jointly with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), including a global evaluation of the potential for rainfed agriculture. An updated and enhanced digital version of the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) was produced. Harmonized national and subnational databases on fertilizer use by crop and fertilizer price were prepared and published.

141. The Internet gateway to land and water information was considerably upgraded and the information network expanded to include 30 more countries. About 80 professionals from Asia, the Caribbean and the Near East were trained in the application of land resources information systems in land use and agricultural development planning. Experiences in the use of land resources information systems in Asian and Caribbean countries were compiled and published.

142. Knowledge management and partnership activities. The ongoing maintenance of the World Soil Reference Centre continued. Synthetic reports on key land and plant nutrient management and policy issues were prepared and widely disseminated. A Web page on global agro-ecological zoning, land use, soil biodiversity and conservation agriculture was added to the FAO Internet site. Partnerships were established with international technical bodies and UN agencies on land resources assessment, management and conservation, soil fertility and plant nutrition.

143. Direct support to Member Nations and to the field programme, including SPFS. A considerable number of advisory services were provided in the areas of land, water and plant nutrient development to Members and their institutions, and to develop and backstop the field programme, including the SPFS and emergency projects. Significant inputs were provided to the SFI, such as studies on fertilizers in Mali and the Niger, and a series of national action plans on SFI for Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea and Mali, in conjunction with the Investment Centre Division (TCI). Advice on soil fertility management and conservation agriculture was provided to Brazil, Cuba, Pakistan and the United Republic of Tanzania.

144. International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID). Use of the skills and expertise of IPTRID's partner institutions continued on a variety of issues related to the development of effective irrigated agriculture with due regard to the environment and the social and economic setting. Activities were undertaken in collaboration with the partner institutions in the target regions of sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean Basin and Asia. The focus of the programme on promoting and achieving better irrigated agriculture by increasing awareness of research and technology innovations, adaptation and technology transfer was endorsed by an external review in May 2001. Based upon the recommendation of the review, the Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and IPTRID was revised and approved by all parties in November 2001. Achievements included identification and formulation of research and development needs, strategies and programmes in Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Tunisia and Viet Nam; facilitating funding for research and development in these countries and in China, India and Pakistan; developing issue and advocacy papers, particularly on irrigation system benchmarking, prospects for smallholder irrigation technology uptake in Africa, treadle pumps, water conservation and drainage; strengthening national capacity in applied research and technology development through workshops for senior research managers and training courses for practising engineers and technicians, particularly in Egypt, India, Malawi and Uganda; and developing the Internet-based Information Service on Water Conservation and Use in Agriculture (WCA INFONET).

Programme 2.1.2: Crops

Regular Programme

 

US$000

 

Expenditure before staff cost variance

25,599

 

Staff cost variance

(605)

 

Expenditure

24,994

 

Programme of Work

25,077

 

(Over)/Underspending, US$ '000

83

 

(Over)/Underspending, %

0%

Field Programme

 

US$000

 

Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery

51,800

 

Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery

248,702

 

TCP delivery

23,798

 

Total Field Programme delivery

324,300

 

Ratio of Field to Regular Programme

12.9

 

Technical support services, prof. staff cost

3,652

 

Technical support services, % of delivery

1%

Programme Outcome

 

Approved

Cancelled/

Unplanned

Total

Delivered

Percent

 

In PWB

Postponed

Delivered

Delivered

Unmodified

Modified

Delivered

Coordination and information exchange

67

(1)

4

70

67

3

104%

Direct advice to Members; field programme support

42

(1)

8

49

44

5

117%

Information (products, systems, databases)

36

(1)

1

36

34

2

100%

International undertakings, agreements/conventions and standards

21

0

3

24

20

4

114%

Methodologies and guidelines (including pilot testing and demonstration)

48

(1)

3

50

44

6

104%

Studies and analyses

38

(1)

0

37

36

1

97%

Training (including training courses and materials)

22

0

2

24

23

1

109%

Achievements

145. Development of improved crops and cropping systems and urban and peri-urban agriculture. The emphasis of this programme was on technology transfer, including promotion of improved methods for breeding and agronomic research programmes in difficult environments; in particular, decentralized breeding, participatory agronomic research and broadening the genetic base of crops. Guidelines on farmer participation in breeding programmes were developed jointly with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) System-wide Programme on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis for Technology. A workshop on broadening the genetic base of crop species was organized as part of the International Crop Science Congress. Consultations were held on the sustainability of rice-wheat production systems jointly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Rice-Wheat Consortium for the Indo-Gangetic Plains. A workshop on the improvement of barley for food was initiated jointly with the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and Tunisia. In cooperation with the Regional Offices and national institutions, publications were developed on post-rainy season sorghum management and on maize improvement in Asia; a CD-ROM was prepared on Andean crops. The self-help publication Irrigated wheat: managing your crop, aimed at the rational use of inputs and sustainable intensification, was widely used in South Asia and Central America and included as part of the reference material in training courses of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). A study was conducted on the potential impacts of genetic use restriction technologies on agrobiodiversity and agricultural production systems. A "working version" of a briefing guide for policy-makers in Africa on biotechnology-related matters was developed in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation.

146. Field activities on crop production were diverse: from promotion of conservation agriculture in Mongolia to support to the SPFS and TeleFood, as well as significant technical support to the Oil for Food Programme in northern Iraq. Through projects in Bolivia, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt and Senegal, urban and peri-urban horticulture was integrated into the planning and sustainable resources management processes for urban environments; demand from member countries for technical inputs on horticulture crops increased.

147. Support was given to about 20 crop networks, including the Global Cassava Development Strategy, which held an organizing conference at FAO in 2000 and a steering committee meeting in 2001. Crop management is a fundamental part of conservation agriculture, and linkages were established with SPFS activities in Burkina Faso. With the Land and Water Development Division (AGL) and the Agricultural Support Systems Division (AGS) a regional workshop was held on conservation tillage practices in the Altai region of Siberia.

148. An Internet information platform was developed on household horticulture to provide decision support for policy-makers and programme managers, as well as technical resources for field workers. The database HORTIVAR provides data on the performance of horticultural cultivars and allows scientists and decision-makers to trace information on related cultivation practices according to different agro-ecological environments. A normative programme approach to gender mainstreaming has been developed, building on government and NGO partnerships, to reach rural women beneficiaries with technology and knowledge transfer to support horticulture-based income-generating initiatives.

149. Support to the International Rice Commission (IRC) continued through the provision of the Secretariat. Main activities included the Expert Consultation on Yield Gap and Productivity Decline in Rice Production; networking; and implementation of the Memoranda of Understanding signed with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA). The promotion of hybrid rice was carried out within the framework of the International Task Force for Hybrid Rice in collaboration with IRRI, the Asian and Pacific Council (ASPAC), National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP). Transfer of improved technologies and integrated rice crop management systems for good agricultural practices was conducted through collaboration with WARDA, the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the Regional Offices for Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (RAF, RLC) and selected NARS in Asia. Studies on rice in human nutrition were carried out in collaboration with the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN), while studies on the potential of rice-fish systems in sub-Saharan Africa were undertaken in collaboration with the Fishery Resources Division (FIR), AGL and RAF. Information was shared through the publication and distribution of the IRC Newsletter, FAO rice information, Proceedings of Expert Consultations and the 19th IRC Session as well as through the Internet-based Rice Information System.

150. Grassland-based production systems. Sustainable management of grasslands was enhanced by contributions to conferences on grassland development in China, organic grasslands in Germany, desertification in Italy and the International Grassland Congress in Brazil. Special attention was paid to intensive fodder crop production and conservation with the preparation of reports on fodder crops for winter feed in Viet Nam and western China. Successful long-term work with fodder crops in northern Pakistan culminated in a publication on hay and straw conservation for small-scale farming and pastoral conditions. Forage information was made available through a CD-ROM prepared with the Animal Production and Health Division (AGA) on dairying in the Southwest Pacific. A new focus was the preparation of a series of awareness-raising booklets for young people on resource management in different ecosystems, including savannah lifestyles. Publications and documents were prepared on Prosopis, cactus as forage (with AGA), forage production in West Africa, forage species in the Maghreb, pastoral diagnostic methods in the Near East, and newsletters on drylands and rangeland development action plans. Work continued on high altitude transhumant systems, fodder technology transfer, management of and production from natural pastures, hay production, grassland biodiversity, organic grasslands, forage seed production and rangeland rehabilitation. Contributions were made to the Interdepartmental Working Groups (IDWGs) on desertification, mountains, organic agriculture and biodiversity, focusing on collaborative interdisciplinary approaches.

151. Conservation, management and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) and PGRFA policy support. The main focus was on implementation of the Global Plan of Action for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA. The FAO World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources (WIEWS) was enhanced to include a multilingual system with Internet updating capabilities and Web sites added for the revised Seed Information System, the Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and the Report on the State of the World's PGRFA. A WIEWS regional meeting was organized for Latin America and the Caribbean and a regional network of WIEWS correspondents was established. Continued support was provided to PGRFA networks through the organization of network meetings and the mobilization of extrabudgetary resources through the FAO/Netherlands Partnership Programme. The ecosystem approach for achieving sustainable agriculture was supported through an IFAD/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) project on in situ conservation of plant genetic resources with an emphasis on participatory approaches. Capacity building and technology transfer work on PGRFA continued through regional training courses and publication of A training guide for in situ conservation on-farm, prepared jointly with IPGRI. National programmes for implementation of the Global Plan of Action were strengthened by TCP projects to Romania and Seychelles, together with a workshop on sustainable national plant genetic resources programmes - policy, planning and coordination issues - for African countries, jointly supported by IPGRI and the German Foundation for International Development.

152. The Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) was particularly active during the biennium. The focus was on the negotiations of the legally binding International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Five extraordinary sessions of the Chairman's Contact Group, the Sixth Extraordinary Session of the Commission, and an open-ended working group during the FAO Council were mobilized for this purpose. The Treaty was adopted by consensus at the FAO Conference in November 2001. In harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), it was the outcome of seven years of intense negotiations and is due to enter into force 90 days after ratification by 40 countries.

153. The Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on PGRFA of the CGRFA held its first meeting. It provided guidance to the Commission on new approaches to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the Global Plan of Action, the contents of an updated Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources, the revised and updated FAO WIEWS, and the potential impacts of genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs) on agricultural biodiversity and agricultural production systems.

154. Sustainable seed production and seed security. Two new seed networks were established, the Seed Consultative Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean (SCF-RLC) and the Consultative Group on Seed Sector Development for the Central and Eastern European Countries, Commonwealth of Independent States and other Countries in Transition. Meetings of the Interim Coordinating Committee of the Consultative Forum on Seeds in the Near East and North Africa (CFS-NENA) and SCF-RLC were convened to develop strategy and project profiles to address issues identified as constraining the development of sustainable seed activities in these regions. With extrabudgetary support, the African Seed Network (ASN) embarked on an initiative to harmonize seed rules and regulations in sub-Saharan Africa; Seed Security Consultative Groups were organized to design programmes and projects to strengthen seed security in southern and eastern Africa; and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Seed Security Network established national seed focal points and committees in each member country to strengthen preparedness and response to restore farmers' seed systems affected by disasters.

155. Because of shortage of staff and financial resources, several activities and outputs were not carried out, including follow-up activities earmarked for the Seed Network for Asia and the Pacific (SNAP); the preparation of technical guidelines on improved on-farm seed production, and on modern seed technology for sexually reproduced crop species; a training manual for laboratory seed testing; and updating of the manual Quality declared seed.

156. International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). International negotiations in relation to plant health and the environment were supported and countries assisted to implement appropriate plant protection. The Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) met in 2001, approved four new international standards and transformed the Committee of Experts on Phytosanitary Measures into a standards committee, deciding its terms of reference, rules of procedure and composition. The ICPM concluded procedures for the settlement of disputes, agreeing on further work on the development of a standard on plant pest risks associated with living modified organisms (LMOs) and on the concepts of a phytosanitary information exchange system. It also reviewed cooperation with the CBD and phytosanitary capacity building, adopted a phytosanitary capacity assessment tool and initiated working groups on standards. The Committee of Experts on Phytosanitary Measures and the subsequent standards committee met four times and new standards were published. Meetings of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) and the Caribbean Plant Protection Commission were organized. Support was provided to 19 TCP projects to evaluate and establish phytosanitary legislation, regulations and infrastructure. Regional meetings to evaluate draft standards were held in Asia and the Pacific and in the Near East, while support to phytosanitary meetings was provided in Latin America and in northwest Africa.

157. Pesticides management. FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) continued to provide the Interim Secretariat to the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for international trade in hazardous chemicals. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), the interim governing body, met twice to prepare for the first Conference of Parties and to supervise the Interim PIC Procedure. Two further pesticides were included in PIC, making a total of 28 pesticides and five industrial chemicals. The Interim Chemical Review Committee met twice, making recommendations to the INC on the implementation of the Interim PIC Procedure. Regional capacity-building meetings were held in Colombia and Kenya. The PIC Circular, which contains mandatory information on the PIC Procedure, was circulated every six months. The programme had financial support from a multilateral trust fund held at UNEP.

158. The International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides was revised through a process of expert meetings and consultation with governments. Consensus was reached on all amendments, except for one paragraph. The fifth Manual on the development and use of FAO specifications for plant protection products was published. FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) accepted the same procedure leading to the joint development of pesticide specifications. New specifications for 22 pesticides were developed. The Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) in Food and the Environment made recommendations for over 48 pesticides to Codex. The operation of the JMPR was reviewed in detail and recommendations made for its improvement, with the aim of accelerating the process and increasing the number of pesticides reviewed. The FAO Pesticide Disposal Programme, funded through a Netherlands Trust Fund and UNEP/Canada/Japan extrabudgetary resources, continued its activities in Africa and the Near East and compiled data on obsolete pesticide stocks in Latin America and Asia. Supervision was provided for a major disposal operation in Ethiopia.

159. Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES) - Plant pests component. The multidonor special programme EMPRES - Desert locust component continued to facilitate common action against the Desert locust in nine countries in the Red Sea area (the Central Region). Technical staff were posted in Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Sudan and Yemen and government-appointed EMPRES Liaison Officers (ELOs) acted as national focal points in eight countries. Recommendations of the Evaluation Mission on the EMPRES Central Region Programme (EMPRES/CR) in 1999 were implemented. A second evaluation took place in 2001 and found that there had been substantial improvements in planning, management and reporting. A Planning Workshop for Phase II held in 2000, involving locust-affected countries, donors and FAO staff, resulted in improvement in the structure of Phase II with clearly defined results, indicators and responsibilities. Cooperation between the Central Region Locust Commission and EMPRES/CR was enhanced with the adoption of joint workplans and the housing of both Secretariats together in Cairo. The involvement of national ELOs was strengthened with annual workplans developed in participatory workshops. Country Focus Programmes that seek to strengthen national capacity for early warning locust surveys and early reaction control operations were launched in Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Sudan and Yemen, but progress in individual countries was uneven. Ethiopia and the Sudan made substantial strides forward, but progress in Eritrea and Yemen was slow. Training was a major focus of activity with a regional train-the-trainers event being followed by the trainers holding national training events in their own countries. The objective was to make locust training sustainable within each country so that staff turnover would not undermine national capacities. Efforts to extend EMPRES to West and northwest Africa (the Western Region - EMPRES/WR) in accordance with the 1997 FAO Conference resolution included development of an implementation document for the period 2001-04. However, lack of donor support prevented the programme from becoming fully operational.

160. Desert locust and other migratory pests. Bimonthly reports on the Desert locust situation were prepared and distributed to relevant government agencies and others concerned. The Desert Locust Control Committee (DLCC) and the Regional Locust Commissions continued their work. The Establishment Agreement for a new Commission for the Western Region, combining the five members of the Northwest African Commission with four Sahelian countries, was signed by five members. Once established, the Western Region Commission will exactly match the composition of the EMPRES/WR and will assist in the development of efficient preventive control strategies. The use of new technology that improves application of pesticides for locust control was promoted through a Norwegian-funded Trust Fund and is expected to decrease the quantity of pesticides used, with benefits to the environment and in controlling costs. An expert consultation was held on biopesticides. Technical assistance was provided to combat locust outbreaks in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Madagascar and Peru, and armyworm caterpillars in eastern Africa.

161. Global Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Facility. The Global IPM Facility addressed two major objectives: capacity building within national IPM programmes and policy reform enabling developing countries to respond productively to rapidly changing import requirements that are lowering the pesticide residues tolerated in globalized markets. The Facility promoted subregional cooperation and local ownership efforts in Africa, and the SADC countries strengthened field implementation and created an IPM initiative through the SADC Secretariat. Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal completed the first season of a multiyear, subregional project for strengthening IPM field capacities in rice, cotton and vegetables with support from the Netherlands and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The East African subregional project supported by IFAD produced new modes for local community self-financing through grants and loans to community-based farmers' groups and served as a model for southern African and Southeast Asian initiatives. In policy reform the Facility, through its partnership with Hanover University and cofinancing from UNDP, supported major pesticide policy studies in Mali and Pakistan, both of which prompted significant ongoing reviews of long-established national policies. The Community IPM Programme in Asia delivered nearly all of its expected outputs and facilitated national NGOs to carry on IPM training work in selected countries. Donors intensively reviewed a second five-year phase for vegetable IPM in Asia, focusing on Mekong River Basin countries. The European Union (EU)-funded cotton IPM programme expanded and initiated innovative field studies of the impact of new Bt-cotton technologies in China.

162. The Global IPM Facility staff member, who completed his assignment at the World Bank, successfully developed new field initiatives in Central Asia, West and East Africa and China and produced innovative partnerships whereby local NGOs monitored compliance of World Bank projects with safeguard policies on pesticides. A draft guideline on the assessment of ecological hazards of herbicide- and insect-resistant transgenic crops was produced and distributed for review. Work on the population ecology of tropical weeds continued in Africa, Asia and the Near East, and a global meeting on red rice brought together experts from all major rice-growing regions. A farmer field school approach to methyl bromide replacement was started with horticultural farmers in Kenya.

163. Information for plant production and protection decision-making. An innovative Internet-based decision support and information management system, which evolved from the Global Plant and Pest Information System (GPPIS), was officially launched as EcoPort in January 2000 in partnership with the University of Florida and the Smithsonian Institution. By the end of the biennium, there were 156 technical sponsors, including some CGIAR Centres and other prominent institutions, and more than 900 registered contributors, and the site was receiving about 500,000 visits per month. Almost 800 plant species had descriptions and cropping data and approximately 500 major pest and disease records associated with 150 plants were updated. Over 243,000 entities (Plants, Insects, Mammals and Birds, etc.) were included in the system. Value was added to all entities through dynamic (hypertext) linking of other related resources, such as 24,000 Images, 43,000 Glossary terms (of various categories), 550 interactive Tables, 75 Slide shows, 520,000 References and Bibliographies, 220 HyperMemes (many categories), 60 Taxonomic keys, and 40 published e-articles (including case studies). EcoPort was used to provide technical support to ten technical cooperation projects, and to respond to 200 inquiries. Over 50 information officers and 100 technical officers were trained during three workshops in three countries, and key persons received further in-depth training.

Programme 2.1.3: Livestock

Regular Programme

 

US$000

 

Expenditure before staff cost variance

17,704

 

Staff cost variance

(441)

 

Expenditure

17,263

 

Programme of Work

16,873

 

(Over)/Underspending, US$ '000

(390)

 

(Over)/Underspending, %

(2%)

Field Programme

 

US$000

 

Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery

17,251

 

Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery

61,232

 

TCP delivery

7,388

 

Total Field Programme delivery

85,871

 

Ratio of Field to Regular Programme

5.1

 

Technical support services, prof. staff cost

2,620

 

Technical support services, % of delivery

3%

Programme Outcome

 

Approved

Cancelled/

Unplanned

Total

Delivered

Percent

 

In PWB

Postponed

Delivered

Delivered

Unmodified

Modified

Delivered

Coordination and information exchange

32

(1)

0

31

24

7

97%

Direct advice to Members; field programme support

19

(1)

0

18

18

0

95%

Information (products, systems, databases)

30

(1)

0

29

19

10

97%

International undertakings, agreements/conventions and standards

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

Methodologies and guidelines (including pilot testing and demonstration)

42

(4)

0

38

28

10

90%

Studies and analyses

19

(1)

0

18

15

3

95%

Training (including training courses and materials)

10

(1)

0

9

6

3

90%

Achievements

164. The programme addresses the technologies, information, policies, international strategies and institutional capacity for animal production, health and welfare in support of the public goods functions of livestock. At the beginning of the biennium, the programme was reorganized to respond to the rapidly expanding and changing global livestock subsector, and the ensuing challenges to equity, animal and public health and sustainability of the natural resource base. Overspending of US$ 390,000 was mainly used to support additional work on animal genetic resources and was offset by underspending elsewhere in the major programme.

165. During the biennium, the programme monitored the occurrence and impact of animal diseases, including emerging diseases, and developed and coordinated strategies and policies for the effective prevention and progressive control of major animal diseases to safeguard animal and public health. It endeavoured to enhance opportunities for improved animal feeding and nutrition, post-harvest value added to milk and meat, and improved utilization of domestic animal diversity in smallholder and emerging livestock production systems. It played an increasing role in the design and negotiation of livestock subsector policy and institutional instruments to create an enabling environment for livestock animal health and production technologies to have the desired positive effects on producers, consumers and the environment.

166. The contribution of livestock to poverty alleviation. Support was provided to the diversification component of the SPFS and TeleFood through the production of practical manuals for the inclusion of poultry and pigs, and through guidelines for preparing specific livestock diversification components in TCP projects. Regional workshops and an expert consultation were organized to ensure stakeholder involvement in the FAO Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Facility (PPLPF). The dissemination of information on short-cycle species was facilitated through support to the International Network for Family Poultry Development (INFPD), the International Observatory on Rabbit Breeding in the Mediterranean and the Bureau for Exchange and Distribution of Information on Mini-livestock (BEDIM). The global lactoperoxidase milk preservation system was supported through workshops, demonstrations and publications. Case studies on the employment generation potential of small-scale dairying in Bangladesh, Ghana and Kenya were published jointly with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and an economic assessment was made of alternative milk collection and preservation technologies in the United Republic of Tanzania. A review of emergency livestock interventions during the recent drought in the Horn of Africa was undertaken and the preparation of guidelines for coping with drought was initiated. A major review of the provision of livestock-related goods and services, using the models adopted in Afghanistan, was postponed.

167. Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources (GS-AnGR). Work focused on the global assessment of farm animal genetic diversity, in particular country reports leading to the first Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources. National focal points for the process were established in 120 countries, and regional focal points were formally established in Asia and Europe, and informally in other regions and subregions. The analysis and synthesis of country reports were facilitated by two meetings of experts on guidelines for the development of country reports together with the training pack for use in training of trainers workshops. The training programme was initiated in several regions during 2001 and will be concluded by mid-2002.

Capacity building for assessing the global animal genetic resource base

Capacity building is the core component in the process of developing the first Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources. In 2001, a global training effort was initiated in seven subregions, covering 120 countries and involving more than 220 professionals. These training of trainers workshops were designed to strengthen national capacity in order to prepare country reports and facilitate the creation of national structures to face the challenge of sustainable utilization, management and conservation of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture. The training programme was expected to be concluded by mid-2002.

168. FAO's Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources was submitted to the 7th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) and to the CBD. The 6th Meeting of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a SBSTTA resolution recommending that countries and organizations support the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources process.

169. The 3rd edition of the World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity, prepared jointly with UNEP, was published and provided evidence of the worldwide erosion of farm animal genetic resources. Four issues of the Animal Genetic Resources Information Bulletin were published and distributed worldwide. The Proceedings of a Workshop on Developing Breeding Strategies for Lower Input Animal Production Environments was published as part of the sustainable utilization component of the Global Strategy.

170. Veterinary public health management and the Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT). Guidelines were developed for drug resistance management and integrated parasite control in ruminants, with emphasis on ticks, flies, helminths and mites. Support was given to an international collaborative network and to regional reference centres for information exchange and promotion of integrated parasite control. Annual meetings of the FAO Working Group and FAO/Industry Contact Group on parasite resistance were held. Epidemiology-based control strategies against economically important endemic diseases in higher potential production systems were developed and demonstration material produced on animal health and management procedures for producers and extension and primary animal health-care workers.

171. An electronic conference on the structure and functions of veterinary public health in developing countries, with emphasis on zoonotic diseases, was sponsored by the International Office of Epizootics (OIE), WHO and FAO, with the participation of more than 300 specialists in zoonotic diseases and veterinary public health issues.

172. Support was provided for the PAAT Secretariat, involving FAO, WHO, IAEA and the Organization of African Unity (OAU)/Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (IBAR), to further international and inter-agency cooperation in the action against trypanosomiasis. PAAT focused on the development of guidelines for area-wide tsetse intervention schemes. An international workshop was held on pest management principles incorporating technical, agro-ecological and socio-economic dimensions of the tsetse/land-use problem and its recommendations were endorsed by the FAO Panel of PAAT Advisory Group Coordinators. Attention was given to understanding the agricultural landscape transformations that result from the intensification of farming systems and it was concluded that area-wide vector control should concentrate on selected priority areas where the creation and maintenance of tsetse-free farming areas were feasible.

173. After the launching of the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) by the African Heads of State in 2001, FAO contributed to international efforts for the harmonization of PAAT and PATTEC approaches, as reflected in the PATTEC Resolution adopted by the FAO Conference in November 2001.

174. EMPRES - Livestock component. The EMPRES livestock component continued to promote progressive control of the major infectious diseases of livestock through strengthened early warning and ensured early reaction capability. Progress was made in developing guidelines and tools to strengthen the capacity of national veterinary services and in developing initiatives for coordinated regional programmes.


The Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP)

GREP continued to promote coordinated international action for the total elimination of rinderpest from the world by 2010. As the number of reservoirs of the disease decrease, the focus of activities is changing from elimination of residual infection to verification of disease freedom combined with emergency preparedness to guard against rinderpest resurgence. In the freedom verification process FAO works closely with OIE. Campaigns continued to support the fight against rinderpest in the Indus River buffalo tract of southern Pakistan through a FAO TCP. In the pastoral communities of the southern Sudan and the Somali ecosystem of Kenya and Somalia, implementation took place through the Pan-African Programme for the Control of Epizootics, hosted by OAU/IBAR and funded by the EU, with EMPRES providing technical assistance. There is growing confidence that these three areas constitute the last reservoirs of rinderpest infection left in the world. EMPRES continued to convene expert and technical consultations as fora for monitoring progress and developing technical guidelines. The programme is on schedule but there was some concern over the lack of progress in the Somali ecosystem.

175. While progress was made in the eradication of rinderpest, many other diseases, especially foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and Rift Valley fever, continue to wreak havoc with the livelihoods of livestock-dependent communities around the world. The momentum towards establishing better control over classical swine fever in Latin America and the Caribbean continued under the Hemispheric Plan developed with partners and guided by FAO. The impact of FMD on Europe drew global attention to the potential of the disease for causing serious economic damage to infected countries.

176. EMPRES continued to add to the complement of manuals and training aides available as guidelines for strengthening national capacity, and the EMPRES Web site was further developed to extend its content and usability. The EMPRES Bulletin was published quarterly to keep member countries aware of disease events and understand their epidemiological context. World Reference Laboratories for rinderpest and FMD were sustained and one was established for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. Infectious disease emergencies were met through assistance from various TCP projects.

177. Decision support for efficient livestock resource use. The main focus was on dairy, pig and poultry systems and combined feeds, genetics, reproduction, animal health and product processing in an integrated approach. Studies were completed on peri-urban livestock systems in three locations and workshops were held on decision-making in peri-urban and intensive livestock production. A reappraisal of alternative protein feeds was undertaken in the light of evidence indicating the transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in animal by-products.

178. The Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative provided guidelines for environmental considerations in the design of livestock systems. Studies were undertaken to develop systems for area-wide integration (AWI) of livestock and crops. An expert consultation was held on the protection of natural resources in livestock systems and the proceedings were published.

179. The development of guidelines for the genetic evaluation of livestock in animal recording and breeding strategies, and of a training kit and a decision-support system in animal breeding were undertaken. Work also continued on reproductive wastage and monitoring mechanisms, on the use of artificial insemination and embryo transfer.

180. An electronic conference was held on small-scale milk production and processing and a manual of good practices for milk-producer organizations was prepared. Guidelines were developed on low-cost processing technologies for the safe marketing of animal products, including the further promotion of the lactoperoxidase system. A report was published on the role of private sector partnerships in promoting intensification in poultry production and marketing. Reviews of traditional technologies in Mixed crop-livestock farming and Livestock keeping in urban areas were published.

181. In preparation for the International Year of Mountains (IYM), a book was published on Contribution of livestock to mountain livelihoods: research and development issues, jointly sponsored by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), ILRI, FAO and the International Potato Center (CIP). Further support was given to developing systems to empower local mountain communities in livestock resource planning and management.

182. Global livestock information. Work focused on the development and integration of livestock-related information including livestock demographics, health, production, trade and required natural resources in a geographical context. GIS-derived maps of cattle densities were produced for sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and large parts of Asia. A Global Livestock Production and Health Atlas was developed in collaboration with the World Agricultural Information Centre (WAICENT) using the Key Indicators Mapping System (KIMS) to display national and subnational livestock-related statistics. The Animal Feed Resources Information System (AFRIS) and the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) were further refined and the former was made available in all official languages. The PAAT Information System (PAAT-IS) was updated with new information and the Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Information Quarterly was maintained on the PAAT-IS Web site. A dairy information system, the International Network on Family Poultry Development (INFPD) and the Feed and Food Safety gateway were developed. The AGA Web site was redesigned for easy access and retrieval of information.

183. A database covering ruminant production systems and respective production parameters was established for sub-Saharan Africa and a combination of livestock production modelling and GIS was used in an assessment of the potential impact of different interventions. The compilation of information on the incidence and production losses attributable to selected diseases was initiated, but large-scale, production-system specific disease impact assessments were deferred to the next biennium. The importance of livestock information and its use in livestock sector analysis and planning was demonstrated through workshops in Africa and applied in the specific case of the United Republic of Tanzania.

184. Livestock policy analysis focused on making a preliminary assessment of the role of livestock in poverty reduction, and on the policies to harness the potential that livestock offers in that regard. Jointly with others, extrabudgetary funding was acquired for establishment of the PPLPF at FAO. A large number of policy options were designed and tested for guiding the development of livestock and environment interactions in critical areas, and were communicated through the LEAD (livestock, environment and development) Virtual Centre. Based on the global perspective work carried out in preparation of AT 2015/30, regional perspective studies were prepared and strategy development initiated for Asia and the Pacific and for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Commission of Livestock Development for Latin America and the Caribbean held a sequence of subregional meetings in 2001. The 24th and 25th Sessions of the Regional Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific (APHCA) were conducted as scheduled.

Programme 2.1.4: Agricultural Support Systems

Regular Programme

 

US$000

 

Expenditure before staff cost variance

14,618

 

Staff cost variance

(421)

 

Expenditure

14,197

 

Programme of Work

15,186

 

(Over)/Underspending, US$ '000

989

 

(Over)/Underspending, %

7%

Field Programme

 

US$000

 

Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery

6,983

 

Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery

2,282

 

TCP delivery

3,103

 

Total Field Programme delivery

12,368

 

Ratio of Field to Regular Programme

0.8

 

Technical support services, prof. staff cost

2,563

 

Technical support services, % of delivery

21%

Programme Outcome

 

Approved

Cancelled/

Unplanned

Total

Delivered

Percent

 

In PWB

Postponed

Delivered

Delivered

Unmodified

Modified

Delivered

Coordination and information exchange

7

0

1

8

7

1

114%

Direct advice to Members; field programme support

25

0

1

26

26

0

104%

Information (products, systems, databases)

21

0

0

21

14

7

100%

International undertakings, agreements/conventions and standards

1

0

0

1

1

0

100%

Methodologies and guidelines (including pilot testing and demonstration)

30

(2)

2

30

19

11

100%

Studies and analyses

23

(5)

0

18

11

7

78%

Training (including training courses and materials)

16

0

1

17

12

5

106%

Achievements

185. The programme provided services and produced information and training materials to assist the public sector, commercial service providers and other organizations working with small farmers and non-farm enterprises to respond to the commercialization, liberalization and urbanization trends affecting agriculture. The specific focus of the programme was on products and services relating to farm systems management, provision of financial services, development of marketing systems, farm power and mechanization, post-harvest management and food technologies. Underspending of about US$ 990,000 shown in the above table resulted from reduced expenditure in the decentralized offices and the reduction in expenditure related to a positive staff cost variance. Savings were used to offset overspending elsewhere in the major programme.

186. Small farm competitiveness. Technical bulletins were produced on contract farming, better practices for agricultural lending, and financial management skills of farm households. Extension guides were prepared on maize marketing and the use of market information, and work began on new training guides on market research and rural markets. A video was produced on the design and marketing of savings products. Country studies were prepared and regional workshops held in the Caribbean and Pacific Islands on adjustments in export-oriented production following trade liberalization. A cross-regional study was launched on the gender impacts of commercialization and a multicountry study was carried out in Africa on farm power and rural livelihoods. Working papers were produced on small farm diversification, the economics of conservation agriculture and the economics of water harvesting. Four information and promotional booklets were produced on opportunities to increase small farm income.

187. Meeting urban food needs. Four studies were carried out in Africa and Asia on the viability of peri-urban farming. The final report of the regional workshop on feeding Asian cities, held in Bangkok in November 2000, was published. Two AGS Bulletins on food supply and distribution to cities and a policy guide for mayors on reducing food insecurity were prepared in English, French and Spanish (see Box). Work on audiovisual materials for the sensitization and training of municipal authorities continued. A series of national workshops on improving food supply and distribution were organized in Asia, Latin America and the Near East. A paper on the environmental aspects of food production waste and a manual on waste handling for city managers were prepared.

188. Increasing the efficiency of services to producers. A guide on establishing market information services was prepared and made available on the Internet, full publication being constrained by lack of resources. A workshop was held, in association with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), on market information services in Central and Eastern Europe, and market information was discussed in the context of rural radio at the Rural Radio Workshop organized in 2001. Work commenced on a revised version of the FAO-AgriMarket software for market information services. The first four publications under the joint FAO/GTZ initiative Agricultural Finance Revisited (AFR) were translated from English into French and Spanish.

189. Agribusiness development. Country studies were undertaken and an expert consultation held in Asia and Latin America on strengthening farm-agribusiness linkages. Guidelines were published on producer-processor linkages. Technical and promotional texts were prepared on cashew nut processing, issues of water use and public health and regional starch production. AGS Bulletins were produced on grains, starches and sugar. The potential for mobile processing of fruit and vegetables was explored. In support of enterprise development, publications were prepared on agro-industrial parks, geotextiles, plastic composites, artisanal tailoring and apiculture. Environmental issues were addressed in studies on agro-industrial wastes, the use of water hyacinth and biogas generation. Agro-industrial surveys were undertaken in Ghana and Uganda. Efforts were made to promote novelty in food industries, to control melanosis in fruit and to promote the use of natural thickening agents.

190. Database development and information systems. Country reviews and regional workshops were held in Africa and Asia to determine needs and priorities for strengthening farm data and information systems. A workshop was held to appraise innovative data collection and analysis approaches for farm data. Costs of production data were assembled for major commodities in Asia and an Internet-based farm data information network was developed for Central and Eastern Europe. Three studies were carried out in Africa and Asia on experiences with farmer bookkeeping and accounts. Within the partnership programme for capacity building in rural finance (CABFIN), a global knowledge bank was established on better practices, training and new approaches to rural finance. Several studies were completed on farm power, including a manual on draft animal and mechanical power, and a chapter was prepared for the global perspective study Agriculture: Towards 2015/30 (AT 2015/30). The International Directory of Agricultural Engineering Institutions and the World Agricultural Machinery and Equipment databases were further expanded and made available on the Internet.


Farming systems and poverty

An analysis of the trends and emerging constraints in 72 farming systems across the developing regions of the world was undertaken to identify strategic priorities for agricultural growth and poverty reduction in different zones and regions. The analysis was conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, with inputs from a wide range of staff across the Organization including Regional Offices, and resulted in the AGS publication Farming systems and poverty: improving farmers' livelihoods in a changing world. Diversification of agriculture, including processing and other value-added activities, was identified to be of prime importance as a strategy for the reduction of poverty in all regions. The full analysis is available on the www.fao.org/farmingsystems Web site. A follow-up study with the World Bank on the impact of globalization and economic reforms on the African smallholder was initiated.

191. Farm economics and decision support. A cross-regional study was carried out in several countries of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Central Europe and Latin America on the capacity of extension services to provide advice and training relating to farm business management. Capacity-building requirements were identified, two training manuals were produced and a regional training workshop was held in Asia. A manual was produced on farm-level integrated economic and environmental accounting and was pilot-tested and validated through several country studies. Budget and accounting modules for use in farmer field schools were also produced and pilot-tested.

192. Agricultural engineering, ergonomics and the environment. As part of the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, seven guidelines on the organization, use and testing of pesticide application equipment were prepared. Guidelines were also prepared on standards for equipment. The work on guidelines for tillage practices contributed to the ongoing development and testing of conservation agriculture techniques. Work on the production of generic safety standards for farm machinery had to be cancelled due to resource constraints. Work continued on gender aspects of farm tools and machinery, particularly in relation to labour-saving technology for communities in Africa hit by HIV/AIDS.

193. Agricultural marketing and rural finance support products and outreach. A study on the financing of agricultural traders was initiated. Several marketing publications were translated into the official languages of the Organization. Support was provided to regional rural finance and marketing networks in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Near East but at a reduced level compared with the past. Field programme support included project formulation and technical assistance to over 25 projects. The FAO/GTZ publication Prudential regulation and supervision for agricultural finance (AFR series No. 5) was completed. With financial support from the World Bank, work on term finance for investments in agriculture was started (AFR series No. 7). An informal partnership programme aimed at improved CABFIN was initiated with the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), the Department for International Development (DFID), GTZ, IFAD and the Natural Resource Institute (NRI); contacts were established with other potential partners. Work continued on upgrading the FAO MicroBanking System to a new Windows version product (FAO/GTZ MBWin), and testing started in a number of sites in Kosovo, Nepal and Thailand. Projects were prepared for the installation of FAO/GTZ MBWin in the Democratic Republic of East Timor, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and Yemen. An agreement was reached with a French private banking company for the provision of technical support to the French version of FAO/GTZ MBWin.

194. Small-scale agro-industries and post-harvest systems analysis. The Information Network on Post-harvest Operations (INPHO) database was expanded to accommodate demand; it had more than 150,000 monthly visitors. Access was streamlined with more rapid searching and downloading. Links with a variety of research and development, commercial and institutional home pages were added and additional tools developed. The post-harvest compendium was expanded with new crop sections. Regional workshops were held on sound post-harvesting practices in Africa, Central Asia, Europe and South America.


Guide for mayors, city executives and urban planners

The guide provides information on food production, market development, public health and the environment and underlines the need to define adequate food supply and distribution policies. It outlines the role of policy-makers in food supply and distribution at regional, metropolitan, urban and local levels and indicates the required steps for formulation, implementation and monitoring of interventions. It stresses the need for a proper understanding of local conditions of food production and distribution together with an interdisciplinary and participatory approach to planning and implementation among different stakeholders. The importance of a direct involvement of the private sector in planning and implementation is emphasized.

Small metal silos: practical food security

Typically, more than 30 percent of the growing crop can be lost during post-harvest storage. Therefore, introducing appropriate technologies, equipment and practices for storing food has considerable advantages for the economic security of small communities. Small metal silos with a capacity of 120-1,800 kg have been introduced in Bolivia, Mauritania and Mozambique with considerable success. Designs and construction techniques have been shared within communities and hundreds of silos built and sold, providing employment and income generation in addition to improved food security.

195. Technical backstopping of projects and agricultural engineering inputs to emergency projects. The Kosovo farm machinery repair programme was completed with over 1,000 tractors and over 600 combine harvesters rehabilitated with funding from various sources. Technical backstopping of the mechanical components of the Iraq Food for Oil Programme was a major activity, including specifying machinery and bid evaluation.

Programme 2.1.5: Agricultural Applications of Isotopes and Biotechnology

Regular Programme

 

US$000

 

Expenditure before staff cost variance

5,329

 

Staff cost variance

(35)

 

Expenditure

5,294

 

Programme of Work

5,689

 

(Over)/Underspending, US$ '000

395

 

(Over)/Underspending, %

7%

Field Programme

 

US$000

 

Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery

274

 

Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery

0

 

TCP delivery

324

 

Total Field Programme delivery

598

 

Ratio of Field to Regular Programme

0.1

 

Technical support services, prof. staff cost

317

 

Technical support services, % of delivery

53%

Programme Outcome

 

Approved

Cancelled/

Unplanned

Total

Delivered

Percent

 

In PWB

Postponed

Delivered

Delivered

Unmodified

Modified

Delivered

Coordination and information exchange

20

0

0

20

20

0

100%

Direct advice to Members; field programme support

23

0

0

23

20

3

100%

Information (products, systems, databases)

16

(2)

0

14

11

3

88%

International undertakings, agreements/conventions and standards

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

Methodologies and guidelines (including pilot testing and demonstration)

29

0

0

29

16

13

100%

Studies and analyses

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

Training (including training courses and materials)

9

0

0

9

9

0

100%

Achievements

196. This programme, implemented with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Programmes 2.1.1: Natural Resources, 2.1.2: Crops, 2.1.3: Livestock and 2.2.1: Nutrition, supports the identification and transfer of nuclear and related biotechnologies for increasing food production and the sustainable use of natural resources, controlling insect pests and animal diseases, and improving food quality and safety. Underexpenditure of about US$ 395,000 resulted from the currency adjustment related to the favourable impact of currency differences in the cost of contractual services for the Austrian-based joint programmes.

197. Assistance was provided to national agricultural research and regulatory bodies and to international standard setting through almost 500 research contracts within 30 networks involving both developing and developed countries and 147 field projects.

198. Contribution to improvement of crop and livestock productivity. Support provided to all regions resulted in the development of standardized methods and a manual for measuring soil erosion and sedimentation in a wide range of environments and scales using the fallout radionuclide caesium-137; these are now being used to identify control strategies.

199. Assistance was provided to 32 laboratories in all regions on external quality assurance in total N and 15N isotope-ratio analysis by optical emission spectroscopy or mass spectrometry, 17 of which complied fully with the set requirements and can be recommended to regional analytical laboratories.

200. The FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory at Seibersdorf (Austria) validated an iron oxide impregnated filter paper (Pi-strip) method for estimating plant-available soil phosphorus. This cheap and easy to use method was transferred to 25 countries to improve diagnosis and identify practices for ameliorating the effects of phosphorus deficiency.

201. In support of crop improvement and plant genetic resource characterization programmes, more than 12,000 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization probes (both radioactive and non-radioactive), 2,800 microsatellite primer pairs and 2,000 fingerprinting primers as well as related protocols, software technology and reference materials were distributed to over 30 countries.

202. Support was provided to North African countries for controlling Bayoud disease in date palm. Gamma irradiation was used successfully to increase the formation of somatic embryos, thereby enabling date palms to be multiplied more rapidly. Isolation of the toxin produced by the fungus and the identification of seven molecular marker primers associated with resistance or tolerance to the disease will facilitate selection and subsequent testing for disease resistance in the field.

203. The number of mutant varieties officially released by members during 2000-01 reached over 2,300, an increase of more than 300 from the previous biennium. Countries releasing new varieties included Egypt (sesame), Malaysia (bananas and orchids), Mali (sorghum) and Thailand (roses). Missions undertaken to Viet Nam and India to assess the impact of some of these varieties showed that the rice variety TNDB100, released in 1997, covered over 200,000 hectares in the Mekong Delta while the black gram variety TAU-1 was grown on over 500,000 hectares in the Indian state of Maharashtra and contributed the equivalent of US$65 million to its economy.

204. A package of low-cost technologies was developed to facilitate the use of biotechnology in crop improvement programmes. This included the validation of a module concept for a tissue culture facility using natural lighting provided by tubular skylights and a standard container-sized growth room for mass production of plants (100,000 per year).

205. A Mutant Germplasm Repository was set up at the Seibersdorf Laboratory for collecting and freely distributing mutant germplasm to plant breeding institutions. The FAO/IAEA Mutant Variety Database was made accessible on the Internet to promote the exchange of germplasm from donors to recipient countries.

206. Through a project to improve livestock production in Asia and the Pacific, 1.6 million 1-kg urea-molasses multinutrient blocks were transferred to over 6,200 farmers for feeding 25,000 cattle, buffaloes, yaks and goats. The project also generated important employment and income, particularly for village women.

207. Contribution to crop protection and control of animal diseases. Significant progress was made through national and transnational projects to eliminate or control the Mediterranean fruit fly using area-wide application of the sterile insect technique (SIT). By replacing insecticides with aerial releases of sterile flies, medfly populations were effectively suppressed in the Hex River valley of South Africa, resulting in a 60 percent reduction in the rejection of table grapes by inspectors from importing countries and a substantial increase in revenue to the local fruit industry. A similar project involving Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority resulted in the effective suppression of the pest from the Arava region and lower Jordan valley and allowed exports of vegetables valued at US$5 million to medfly-free countries without quarantine restrictions. Most medfly mass-rearing facilities in the world, including those in Argentina, Chile, Guatemala and Portugal had adopted male-only production technology using genetic sexing strains developed at the Seibersdorf Laboratory by the end of 2001.

208. Progress was made in development of the SIT for the date moth, a serious problem in North Africa. Following a ban on the use of insecticides, the Government of Tunisia embarked on a programme to reduce infestation rates in dates using biological control methods including SIT. The introduction of an artificial larval diet and oviposition system increased production in the rearing unit, and a chilled moth dispersal device was developed and tested.

209. To guarantee the safe and legal shipment of sterile insects, a "scenario analysis" technique was used to quantify the potential risks involved in the transboundary shipment of sterile insects for pest control programmes. This analysis was the basis for the development of a draft international standard that was submitted for consideration to the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM).

210. Guidelines on fruit-fly monitoring were developed to facilitate international trade of fresh fruit commodities among Member States and an International Database on Insect Disinfestation and Sterilization (IDIDAS) was developed to provide members with species-specific information for both disinfestation (trade and quarantine) and sterilization (SIT).

211. Technology developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) generated a series of transgenic medfly lines that are marked with a fluorescent protein and are being used to monitor key aspects of strain stability and fitness in relation to the use of transgenic technology in SIT.

212. The production and use of improved diagnostic kits for transboundary animal diseases were consolidated in Africa and authorities given access to kits for the diagnosis of rinderpest, African swine fever, Rift Valley fever and brucellosis. Transfer of state-of-the-art biotechnology utilizing a bacculovirus expression system to produce highly specific diagnostic reagents cheaply enabled the national veterinary laboratory in Senegal to distribute rinderpest diagnostic kits to some 34 African countries.

213. Under a Netherlands-funded project, a more sensitive and specific test was developed, internationally standardized and validated for detecting trypanosomiasis in cattle. It was used to confirm eradication of the tsetse fly from the island of Zanzibar and is currently used to support control programmes in 13 African countries. In support of efforts to combat the tsetse through mass rearing and release of sterile flies, a method was developed for the production of all male tsetse pupae as well as a protocol for assessing the quality of such flies.

214. A network of ten countries was established to facilitate the use of SIT against Old World Screwworm (OWS) and New World Screwworm (NWS). Initial efforts involved the construction of DNA databases for NWS populations in Latin America and the Caribbean and a DNA database for OWS populations worldwide. Development of genetic sexing strains for the NWS was initiated.

215. Assistance was provided to the International Office of Epizootics (OIE) to develop a generic veterinary laboratory accreditation scheme based on the international standard ISO 17025. Linked to an external quality assurance programme operated from the Seibersdorf Laboratory, this provided a path for national veterinary laboratories to achieve international accreditation and conform to World Trade Organization (WTO) standards for trade-related laboratory testing. The OIE Conference approved this scheme in 2000.

216. Contribution to consumer and environmental protection and reduction of food losses. Activities were implemented to improve the level of awareness of regulators, industry and consumers about the facts and benefits of food irradiation and assist international standard setting in relation to food safety and plant protection.

217. The proposed Revised Draft Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods was accepted at the 24th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which also accepted a proposed draft International Code of Practice for Radiation Processing.

218. Guidelines for the Single Laboratory Validation of Analytical Methods for Trace-Level Concentrations of Organic Chemicals were endorsed by the Codex Committee for Methods of Analysis and Sampling at its 23rd Session and incorporated into the good laboratory practices document by the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues.

219. Workshops on Certification of Irradiation as a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Treatment for Food and Agricultural Commodities were convened for senior food control and plant quarantine officials in the Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean regions. These resulted in a Guideline on Certification of Irradiated Food being submitted to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for consideration.

220. Based on data generated through research and field project activities, the 3rd Session of the Interim Commission for Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) agreed to develop an international standard on irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment. An IPPC Working Group was subsequently convened and developed a draft international standard for further elaboration by the ICPM.


Training and capacity building on biotechnology and compliance
with international standards

Training and capacity building on biotechnology and implementation of IPPC, OIE and Codex standards and guidelines were implemented through 36 courses, workshops and seminars. Participants included over 700 senior-level government staff and technical specialists from national plant protection, animal health and food control institutions with regulatory responsibility for biosecurity issues. Subjects covered included establishment of pest-free areas and areas of low pest prevalence, guidelines for fruit-fly monitoring and irradiation as a quarantine treatment for food and agricultural products. Quality assurance of diagnostic tests for transboundary animal diseases and accreditation of national laboratories, quality assurance and quality control for pesticide products and for pesticide residue and mycotoxin analysis, and validation of analytical methods for trace-levels of organic chemicals were also covered. The events were conducted both regionally and interregionally and aimed primarily at building awareness, influencing decision-making and promoting the correct application of technology and quality standards. These events provided significant opportunities for translating normative outputs into positive outcomes within countries. Indicators of their success included the subsequent ability of some institutions to obtain national and international accreditation and of many others to satisfy follow-up proficiency testing standards fully.

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