Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
91,826 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(1,810) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
90,016 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
90,018 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
(2) |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(2.0%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
103,292 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
285,395 |
||
TCP delivery |
59,390 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
448,074 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
5.0 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
14,658 |
315. Major Programme 2.1 directly supports the World Food Summit (WFS) Plan of Action, focusing on improving agricultural production and post production systems. It combines both normative and operational components promoting technologies to sustainably intensify and diversify agricultural production, reducing the effects of environmental degradation and market failures, especially on vulnerable and food-insecure households, and evaluating and raising awareness of the biosecurity risks of exchanges in agricultural inputs and products.
316. To complement its discipline-specific programmes, this major programme provides significant support to several Priority Areas for Interdisciplinary Action (PAIAs), in particular those related to biotechnology, biosecurity, biodiversity, food for the cities, sustainable rural livelihoods and integrated production systems. Beginning in the 2002-03 biennium, several new intra-departmental programme entities were established under Programme 2.1.0 to support the most significant of these activities.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
4,535 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
100 |
||
Final Programme of Work |
4,635 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
4,652 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
(17) |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
2.2% |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
458 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
9,428 |
||
TCP delivery |
1,052 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
10,937 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
2.4 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
360 |
317. This new programme addresses cross-cutting issues and brings more prominence and coherence to hitherto dispersed intra-departmental activities. The programme also provides for central support for PAIAs. Some of the more significant achievements include:
Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Following the adoption of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT/PGRFA) in 2001, the process of ratification proceeded rapidly during the 2002-03 biennium, resulting in the entry into force of the Treaty in June 2004. This provides an international framework on conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and sharing associated benefits, which is crucial for food security now and in the future. The rapid ratification of the International Treaty demonstrated the high priority members give to this activity. The Treaty provides the agricultural sector with a new forum in which to initiate and promote policy, and achieve synergy with the environmental and trade sectors.
318. Sustainable Intensification of Integrated Production Systems. The Integrated Production System (PROD) PAIA is constituted by a multi-disciplinary group comprising many units in FAO. Pilot sites in south-western Burkina Faso and western Kenya gave promising beginnings with high levels of involvement of FAO staff from Regional Offices and Headquarters.
319. The work on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) involved the development of a concept paper, the hosting of electronic conferences, activities, field activities in Burkina Faso, a national workshop with EMBRAPA Brazil and an Expert Consultation at Headquarters. Collaborative work with the private sector led to international guidelines on GAP for milk and meat. The gathering of a meta-database of case studies and success stories related to GAPs was started. A number of case studies, analyses and reports were commissioned relating to Africa (Burkina Faso and Kenya), Asia (Indonesia and Nepal) and Latin America (Brazil and Chile).
320. Promotion of Conservation Agriculture. The concept of conservation agriculture (CA) was successfully introduced in a number of countries and promoted at international level through international and regional workshops. Supporting publications of general as well of detailed technical nature were produced and distributed in member countries. Encouraging uptake can be noted during the 2002-03 biennium: nine SSA countries and seven Asian countries have introduced support to conservation agriculture into their national policies. Significant increase in CA farming area (in the range of millions of ha) is noted in countries where conservation agriculture has already a strong focus in commercial farming (South Africa, Central Asian Countries).
321. Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA). The CGRFA is recognized by both governments and civil society as a key inter-governmental institution which provides the agricultural sector with a forum in which to debate and adopt policies for all aspects of GRFA. The 9th Session of the Commission was held as planned. The process of ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources was completed on 29 June 2004 (see Box above). The CGRFA has initiated work towards the First Report on the State of the World's AnGR, with target completion in 2007. It continues work towards a possible Code of Conduct on Biotechnology. During the biennium, FAO's programme on ethics in food and agriculture, coordinated through the relevant PAIA, has become more integrated in the Organization's work, reflected in the establishment of a new publications series, Readings in Ethics in Food and Agriculture. The Panel of Eminent Experts on Ethics in Food and Agriculture met in March 2002 and subsequently published its report.
322. Committee on Agriculture (COAG). The 17th session of COAG was held as planned. Preparations for a special 18th session to review the FAO/WHO Expert Consultation Report on "Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases" were completed.
323. Technical Support for Partnership Development and Information Enhancement. Contributions were prepared for the report of the Task Manager for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, for FAO’s participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development including the Agriculture and Water sections of Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity (WEHAB), and for World Agriculture Towards 2015/30. Current news items and thematic spotlight articles were prepared and posted on the Agriculture section of the FAO web site.
324. Central Support to PAIAs. Resources of the programme entity were put at the disposal of PAIA groups following approval of proposals by Senior Management. Activities of the PAIA groups supported with the resources of the programme entity included development of web sites, review of databases, preparation of guidelines and case studies and other outputs as reported in the section on Progress Towards Strategic Objectives.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
15,994 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(810) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
15,184 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
15,180 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
4 |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(5.1%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
31,964 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
70,517 |
||
TCP delivery |
7,982 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
110,462 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
7.3 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
3,269 |
325. Programme 2.1.1 contributes to land and water development and management in assuring food security and poverty reduction. The activities under the programme:
326. Agricultural Water Use Efficiency and Conservation. Through a better understanding of crop water productivity in both irrigated and rainfed agriculture, cost effective irrigation techniques are progressively being adopted by farmers. Irrigation management modernization, including service-oriented management, are also increasingly considered by national authorities. Support to emerging water user agreements is also becoming an important aspect of agriculture and irrigation policies.
327. Land and Soil Productivity. Soil fertility/productivity decline is better understood and the concept of integrated plant nutrition management is becoming a part of national priorities. Similarly, concerned stakeholders are being sensitized to pay attention to assessment needs, better management of degraded soil, and concern for drought mitigation through soil moisture conservation techniques. Advice on optimal land use options, taking into account growing needs for agricultural diversification, and fertilizer use policies, especially in Africa was requested and addressed.
328. Integrated Land, Water and Plant Nutrient Management. This entity responds to the need for a more integrated approach to issues related to land and water management. It draws on sectoral expertise in land and water fields and is developed around critical land-water management issues. While further integration is needed in the implementation of this entity, the biennium 2002-03 has been the opportunity for significant progress.
329. Land and Water Information Systems, Databases and Statistics. Standards and norms in agro-ecological zones (AEZ), land resources and land use inventories are increasingly accepted as global standards. Developing countries and international institutions are more often complying with those standards. The Aquastat database and information system was extended and improved following a full review of the website. There was high demand for the data, shown in particular through steady increase in Web access to land and water information systems and use of data by the World Resource Institute, UNEP, UN-Water and other UN agencies.
330. Knowledge Management and Partnerships. A report on integrated planning and management of land resources was presented to CSD and WSSD Prepcoms, and a compendium of sustainable initiatives in agriculture and land management was prepared with case studies and was presented to WSSD in 2002 in the "Land and Agriculture" publication.
331. Direct Support to Member Nations and to the Field Programme. Significant inputs were provided to formulate the CAADP in consultation with NEPAD countries such as South Africa and Nigeria. Considerable resources were allocated to technical backstopping and assistance to project formulation in the areas of land, water and plant nutrient management including assistance in TCP, SPFS, emergency projects and to the Land Degradation Assessment (LADA). Also, direct advice on policy and institutional aspects on water and land management and fertilizer use was provided to member countries, in particular in Africa and Asia, through various mechanisms such as Farmer Field Schools.
332. International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID). Several research strategies, projects and programmes have been identified and formulated in Asia and North Africa and await funding.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
23,700 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(200) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
23,500 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
23,504 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
(4) |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(0.8%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
49,658 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
125,929 |
||
TCP delivery |
32,934 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
208,522 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
8.9 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
3,878 |
333. The programme deals with the enhancement and sustainability of crop production, prevention and reduction of losses due to pests, conservation and use of plant genetic resources and sustainable seed production. Some of the more significant achievements during the biennium include:
Disposal of Obsolete Pesticide Stocks
FAO continued the programme involving multi-donor involvement, with the aim of enabling countries to dispose of obsolete pesticide stocks and to prevent further accumulations of stocks. A multi-agency programme was being developed for clearing obsolete pesticides from Africa. A major commitment by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) (US$ 23,000,000) has been made to this programme. Inventories have been conducted in Africa, Near East, Asia, and Latin America. Monitoring of the disposal operations has been assured in Yemen and Ethiopia with a view to complying with international safety and environmental standards.
334. Alternative Crops and Cultivars for New Opportunities. FAO's work on alternative crops and cultivars has become an increasingly important component of the Plan of Action of the International Treaty on PGRFA, including normative information/decision support tools such as EcoCrop (now over 2000 crops characterized by environmental adaptation and use) and EcoPort to enable easier assessment of what options can be considered for diversification and income generation. The popularity of these tools (indicated by Web use and other means) shows that they are appreciated and relevant. To complement the normative tool development, promising crops and cultivars are being promoted to demonstrate opportunities, e.g. cold-tolerant oil palm, sweet sorghum, cactus pear etc.
335. Strategies and Technologies for Sustainable Crop and Grassland Production Systems. A broad range of technical publications were produced on crop improvement and forage production and conservation. The Global Cassava Development Strategy was consolidated through development of a global action plan on cassava improvement and implementation of projects through NARCs with IFAD and CGIAR partnerships. Crop biotechnology information was developed and shared, especially in Latin America. There is evidence of increased adoption of organic agriculture and of horticulture in general for income generation.
336. EMPRES - Plant Pests Component. Communications systems were upgraded in three affected countries (Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and India). Improved reporting procedures are now in place in the Africa Central Region, and are under development in the Western and South-west Asia Regions. The desert locust control capacity of the Central Region countries was reinforced through Training of Trainers workshops through which each country now has Master Trainers who can continue locust survey and control training in their own countries. A contingency planning seminar was held as a first step towards developing appropriate national plans. Improved methodologies on selected aspects of desert locust surveys are in place in the Central Region. The national officers of the Central Region, collaborating closely with the Central Region Commission (CRC), are now able to react to critical desert locust situations, and to perform improved surveys, through the exchange of information with the desert locust Information Service (DLIS) in Rome. Methodologies and guidelines for desert locust surveys and control were developed and disseminated in the Central Region. Technical advice and organizational support were provided by HQ staff to the Western, Central and South-west Asia regions.
337. "Mainstreaming IPM" by Enhancing Essential Ecological Processes. All the major pesticide consuming cropping systems, such as those based on rice in Asia, and on cotton, vegetables, and fruits in all regions, show declines in insecticide use and increases in production per unit insecticide, which is a strong indicator of production efficiency. There has also been a shift away from the most toxic pesticides towards less toxic pesticides in these systems, which has substantial impact on human health both of farm workers and of consumers. National IPM programmes have increased in numbers (especially in the Near East and Africa) and scope (especially in Asia, Africa, and Pacific). IPM approaches have been newly applied in weed management for plant protection specialists and farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Population dynamics and evolutionary science have been applied in relation to herbicide-resistant weeds and crops. The programme is increasingly integrating improved production and protection components.
338. Strengthening Sustainable Seed Production and Seed Security Systems in Member Countries. Seed production and seed security systems are very dynamic for two main reasons: seeds are the main vehicles for both conserving genetic diversity and for transferring advanced technology to farmers. There was growing participation of the private sector in all aspects of seed production of essential crops for food security including cereals, vegetables and fruits. The work within this programme entity concentrated on assisting countries in developing national seed policies and improving rules and regulations to ensure quality seed exchange at the regional and international level. Technical projects were undertaken to focus on strengthening local capacity for improving seed access, seed technology and seed production and harmonizing rules and regulations. Several activities were conducted to address seed systems rehabilitation during and after emergency responses The profile of the seed sector was raised at the national, subregional, regional and international levels as one of the essential inputs for food security.
339. Facilitating Plant Production and Protection Decision. This entity was broadened beyond the initial focused development of EcoPort, an open source agro-ecology knowledge management system originally based on crops and their pests. While the expanded EcoPort is now managed outside of FAO, EcoCrop (an alternative crop identification tool) was further improved as was pasture-crop, rice and horticulture information.
340. Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) held its 4th and 5th sessions and adopted six International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, three supplements to existing standards and two amendments to the Glossary. Several informal working groups were held to discuss issues of global concern (Standard Setting, Information Exchange and Technical Assistance) and several expert working groups were convened to develop draft standards. The International Phytosanitary Portal became an effective system for the provision of information by the Secretariat. A business plan was developed for the IPPC Secretariat and increased resources for the IPPC Secretariat's resources were approved by the FAO Conference. The ICPM has also adopted a voluntary Trust Fund mechanism which will allow increased participation by developing countries in standard setting, the implementation of standards and support to technical assistance and information exchange. Standards are used by governments as a basis for national phytosanitary regulations, partly because of the importance given to the standards in the WTO SPS Committee and in WTO dispute settlement. The large number of TCP requests to strengthen national phytosanitary systems reflects the priority countries give to the subject.
341. Pesticide Management. The revised Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides was adopted at the 123rd session of the FAO Council in November 2003. The 50th ratification of the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade was received in November 2003 resulting in the entry into force of the Convention in February 2004. The relevance of pesticide standards increased. Recommendations for maximum pesticide residues were developed by the WHO/FAO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). Since 2002, pesticide quality standards are being established jointly by FAO and WHO using the same criteria and process as the JMPR and thus providing a unique, universal reference for all countries. Work on the disposal of obsolete pesticide stocks continued with extra-budgetary support (see Box above for further details).
342. Migratory Pest Management. Special alerts and updates of the monthly bulletin were issued for desert locust outbreaks which occurred since October 2003 in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan and Saudi Arabia as a result of good rainfall and breeding during the summer. Swarms moved into Morocco, Algeria and Egypt. Desert Locust guidelines and standard operating procedures have been produced in Arabic, English and French. Technical advice was provided on the Migratory Pest Emergencies in Afghanistan, Niger, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, and on the development of projects on Desert Locust Pest Management. A new Locust Commission was established in the Africa Western Region (West and North-west) bringing together the Maghreb and Sahelian countries affected by the desert locust. The Desert Locust Control Committee and three Regional Locust Commissions met according to schedule.
343. Support to the FAO Global System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). Progress has been made in the implementation of the Global Plan Action, in particular responding to the capacity building, information exchange and monitoring needs in developing countries. As requested by the CGRFA, its Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on PGRFA met to consider the various steps to be taken to implement the GPA and made recommendations for the CGRFA to consider at its 10th Regular Session in 2004.
344. Support to Strategy Formulation and Promotion of Specific Action for Rice Development in Member Countries of the International Rice Commission (IRC). Success in promoting interest in IRC activities was demonstrated by the number of participants at IRC's 20th session (91 participants) and in other meetings organized by the Commission as well as the four inter-regional networks. The hybrid rice programme of the Commission led to the planting of 800,000 ha of hybrid rice outside China in 2003. Several countries have already adopted the RiceCheck System - an Integrated Crop Management System to address yield gaps in rice promoted by the IRC. Governments in West Africa established in 2002 the African Rice Initiative - in which FAO is a partner - to support the development and dissemination of New Rice for Africa (NERICA). The United Nations General Assembly at its 57th session in December 2002 approved the Resolution submitted by the Philippines and supported by other 43 countries resulting in the UNGA declaration to establish 2004 as the International Year of Rice (IYR-2004) and requested FAO to facilitate its implementation.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
16,928 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(570) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
16,358 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
16,348 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
10 |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(3.4%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
15,305 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
57,216 |
||
TCP delivery |
13,292 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
85,812 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
5.2 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
2,954 |
345. The programme provided analysis and helped enhance the contribution of the rapidly changing and expanding livestock sector to food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable use of natural resources, while also addressing food safety issues. In addition to wide-ranging normative activities, the programme provided technical assistance to Members and acquired significant extra-budgetary programme funds in support of its key objectives; e.g. for pro-poor livestock policy development and livestock-environment interactions analysis and policy advice. Substantially increased involvement of programme staff in emergency-type country support (animal diseases/natural disasters) combined with unexpected vacancies, led to the delay and cancellation of various biennial outputs. Substantial achievements include:
Improved Livestock Information on the Internet
AGA has restructured its website (http://www.fao.org/ag/aga.html) which has resulted in a strong impact on the use made of its various constituent information sources. Downloads from the divisional website have increased by 51% on a yearly basis, from 480,000 to 725,000, while daily visits to the website increased by 60%. The use of the dairy pages and the dynamic pages of GLiPHA (Global Livestock Production and Health Atlas) increased by 110% and 66% respectively.
346. Contribution of Livestock to Poverty Alleviation. The main focus during 2002-03 was on small stock (poultry and small ruminants). Several manuals and guidelines were published or revised. Internet-based information was updated and has been heavily used (see Box above). Support to the International Family Poultry Network was instrumental in its proposed merger and formal integration into the World Poultry Science Association.
347. Developing the Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources. More than 150 countries are actively participating in the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources reporting process and most of them established National Focal Points. To support them, FAO conducted 16 regional workshops during 2002-03; these were partly directed at finalising the training on country report preparation and partly at identifying regional and sub-regional priorities for action. Results are encouraging: over 75 reports were submitted to FAO during 2003 with another sixty or more expected during 2004.
348. Veterinary Public Health (VPH) Management and Food and Feed Safety. The most significant achievements during the period were the development of the VPH Networks and the data bases on Schools of Veterinary Medicine and on Veterinary Public Health Services at world level. The FAO-WHO-OIE Guidelines on Cysticercosis Surveillance, Prevention and Control were developed and will be published during 2004. An Expert Consultation on Community Based Veterinary Public Health Systems was organized in 2003. The results of this consultation are used as a basis for assisting developing countries in rationalizing their VPH systems according to demands for services. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) related country support was enhanced through extra-budgetary resources.
349. EMPRES – Livestock. The Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP) made important inroads in identifying regions free of the disease, evaluating country submissions for international recognition of status, and encouraging countries to cease vaccination. The sole known focus of infection by late 2003 was the Somali ecosystem (borders of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia) which requires and receives priority attention. Advances have been significant in South America on Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) control, under the lead of the Pan American Health Organization with direct technical support from EMPRES. In addition, the control of sheep pox in North Africa has made advances but will require further national investment and outside support. Disease surveillance has improved globally and EMPRES has used prediction models and trend monitoring to provide early warning messages to member countries. Emergency detection and early reaction depend, however, on investment by governments in contingency plans and their funding for the best use of such early warning. Disease reporting has also improved, although there are still difficulties with lack of transparency or timeliness of reporting, in some regions. The disease information system developed by EMPRES, TADinfo, has stimulated countries to develop systems at national level. TADinfo has been deployed to 40 countries and an additional six deployments are scheduled.
350. Technologies and Systems for Efficient Natural Resource Use in Livestock Production. The Entity supported the Livestock Environment and Development (LEAD) initiative, a multi-donor project and the LEAD Virtual Centre. It developed models and decision support tools that contribute to the technical and policy aspects of livestock-environment interactions. Expert meetings, workshops and publications contributed to the development of technical concepts and strategies for animal production, feeding and product processing. Major contributions were made on alternative animal feeds, animal food safety, integrated parasite control and on the understanding of parasite resistance to veterinary drugs. There were significant outputs relating to milk production and processing, including guides to milk producer groups and milk payment systems. A substantial body of information was produced, contributing to the intra-departmental focus on good agricultural practices and codes of practice for sustainable natural resource use.
351. Environmental Management of Insect Borne Diseases. On the basis of important findings in disease ecology and behaviour, risk mapping and assessment of potential spread, the control of insect borne diseases such as tsetse transmitted trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa and Old World Screwworm in the Middle East has become more focused and based on strategic intervention schemes. In addition to its primary application to insect borne diseases, the concept of environmental animal health and disease ecology-based approaches is increasingly also applied for infectious livestock diseases.
352. Livestock Sector Analysis and Strategy Development. Focus has been on the identification and assessment of policy issues in the livestock sector. Particular attention is given to the rapid structural change in the context of burgeoning demand for animal products in many developing countries and to options available to public policy makers. In doing so, FAO has assumed an internationally recognized leadership role.
353. Global Livestock Information System and Knowledge Framework. The AGA website provided improved access to livestock information on the Internet (see Box). As envisaged, sub-national livestock sector related information has been compiled for 20 countries.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
14,929 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(330) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
14,599 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
14,602 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
(3) |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(2.2%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
5,367 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
22,305 |
||
TCP delivery |
4,130 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
31,801 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
2.2 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
3,560 |
354. This programme provides services and produces information and training materials to assist organizations working with small farmers and non-farm enterprises to respond to the trends in commercialization, liberalization and urbanization affecting agriculture. A core set of training materials and extension guides has been produced which are being used to improve marketing and farm management extension and improve financial management skills. Several guidelines were produced to support improvements in agricultural marketing and rural finance services, and are being widely disseminated through the Internet and used in field projects. Other notable areas of progress include:
Enhancing the Provision of Agricultural Services to Farmers in Africa
The impact of structural adjustment on small farmers and related provision of agricultural support services remains a major policy concern in Africa. In response, the Agricultural Support Systems Programme gave priority to developing guidelines and training materials for improving the provision of support services to farmers in Africa. Reports were generated on fertilizer supply systems, financing of term investments, improving market access, and adjustments in export production as a basis for guiding policy and field programme formulation. Through case studies and an expert consultation, policy and capacity building priorities for expanding the provision of support services, such as mechanization and post harvest processing by the private sector through contracts between farmers and agribusiness firms, received special attention. In order to strengthen the capacity of public extension services to provide relevant advice and training for market-oriented agriculture, a farm business management training course was developed to complement other materials already available on marketing and rural finance.
355. Enhancing Small Farmer Livelihoods. Information materials were produced for smallholder farmers on new export opportunities, diversification opportunities and strategies, marketing and farm management extension, sustainable and efficient mechanisation options, and rural business services. During the course of developing and field testing training materials, extension officers were trained in farm management methods for market-oriented agriculture. Market information materials for use on radio, jointly prepared with CIDA, have been widely distributed to member countries. A new series, “FAO Diversification Booklets,” was developed and launched, describing income earning opportunities for farmers. With support from the World Bank, the impact of globalisation on small holders in Africa is being assessed. The importance of farm power and mechanization for sustainable livelihoods has been made more visible.
356. Meeting Urban Food Needs. Three Regional Workshops on Feeding Cities were held for Latin American, Horn of Africa and North African countries to sensitize municipal and government authorities on issues related to feeding their rapidly expanding urban populations and to provide assistance on policies and programmes development. Intensive assistance was provided to municipal authorities for urban-peri-urban (UPA) horticulture/agriculture strategic planning, technology innovation and building technical support mechanisms for growers. Supporting guidelines were published on adapted farmer field school approach for Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) in urban-peri-urban horticulture and the use of low-cost and simple crop diversification technologies in UPA in Southern Africa.
357. Sustainable Commercial Provision of Input Supplies, Mechanization, Investment Support and Marketing Services. Significant progress was made in finalizing studies in agricultural marketing and rural finance and various publications were made available on the Internet. Normative studies on mechanization strategies, and agricultural marketing and rural finance contributed to requests for field projects in these areas. FAO/GTZ MicroBanker was further developed and introduced into a number of countries. Field projects using guides, publications and computer programmes (MicroBanker and FAO Agrimarket) were implemented in over 20 countries.
Standards and Codes of Conduct for Agricultural Tools and Machinery
Pesticide residues are a major area of concern for food consumers and producers. To support FAO member countries in improving pesticide management and use through better application, a series of guidelines was developed on Standards and Codes of Conduct for Agricultural Tools and Machinery. These guidelines have been integrated into the revised FAO code of conduct on the distribution and use of pesticides. They also provide assistance to member countries in upgrading legislation and technical regulations to improve the safety and efficiency of spray equipment as well as defining good practices for the application of pesticides as a component of the Good Agricultural Practices concept. These guidelines have been translated into the five official FAO languages and distributed to member countries and relevant private sector businesses. They are accessible in full text on the FAO website. In addition, FAO is collaborating with the international standards organization to promote internationally harmonized standards for sprayer equipment.
358. Agribusiness Development. The integration of production and post-production operations was promoted by the development of management tools, the application and promotion of appropriate technologies, the launching and the promotion of agri-business linkages and the provision of advice and recommendations. These activities have stimulated the interest of the intended beneficiaries and, in some cases, generated new ideas for interventions. Above all, the interest from the beneficiaries has contributed to a greater level of awareness of the importance of the post-harvest sector as a source of income and employment generation, value added products, means to decrease the level of food insecurity, means to facilitate the role of women as major actors in the post-harvest system and increasing the sustainability of production systems by ensuring better use of the food produced.
359. Agricultural Services - Data and Information Systems. Notable progress has been achieved in several areas. A basic set of agricultural pesticide sprayer standards and related policy guidelines has been revised, updated, translated into all official languages and has become an integral part of the FAO Code of Conduct on distribution and use of pesticides (see Box). A post-harvest website is now recognised by practitioners as a core information source. The contents of the site have been duplicated on CD for potential users with computer access but no internet access. The development and application of the Agribank database is meeting the user expectations in support of rural finance development. The development of farm data and information systems is generally on-track and is much in demand.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
5,508 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
270 |
||
Final Programme of Work |
5,778 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
5,776 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
2 |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
4.9% |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
540 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
0 |
||
TCP delivery |
0 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
540 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
0.1 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
408 |
360. The programme is implemented jointly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and, together with other FAO programmes, supports applications of nuclear techniques and biotechnology for sustainable intensification of crop and livestock production systems and improving food quality and safety. The programme operates primarily through research networks, training courses and field projects in partnerships with NARCs, CGIAR Centres and national regulatory bodies and through assistance to international standard setting by IPPC, Codex and OIE. Significant achievements include:
361. While substantial progress was made at the political and international levels on strategies and technologies including SIT for addressing the constraints caused by tsetse flies, progress on the ground was slower than expected.
Responding to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies Affecting the Food Chain
Nuclear and radiological emergencies can affect the quality and safety of foods as well as the production and export of agricultural commodities over long periods of time. Cooperative arrangements between FAO and IAEA for notification, information exchange and technical support were agreed in 2003. An FAO/IAEA workshop on a Practical Integrated Approach to Agricultural Countermeasures was held in Greece and attended by 42 participants from 20 countries, and a resource kit containing information about basic emergency response and practical agricultural countermeasures to assist member countries with limited nuclear infrastructure is in preparation together with a related website.
362. Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production Systems through Technologies and Capacity Building. Technologies and practices promulgated by this entity are being successfully applied by institutions involved in natural resource management, crop improvement and plant protection. There are clear indications of benefits in terms of policies, institutions and technologies and of upward movements in most of the performance indicators. Most encouraging was progress made by member countries in introducing and strengthening work on both traditional and modern biotechnology for crop improvement, including the use of mutations, and in the integration of SIT within area-wide IPM programmes for the control or eradication of medfly, oriental fruit fly and moth insect pests. Outcomes of these approaches included the release of improved varieties and creation of insect free zones, areas of low pest prevalence and new trade relationships. Progress was also achieved in natural resource management in, for example, introducing better fertiliser and water management practices and assessing effects of different cropping practices on soil erosion.
363. Sustainable Intensification of Livestock Production Systems through Technologies and Capacity Building for Mitigation of Constraints and Risks. Particularly significant progress has been made by countries in improving their Artificial Insemination (AI) services for smallholder dairy systems, in the elimination of rinderpest, in the use of diagnostic and surveillance tests developed earlier for the control of other TADs (e.g. FMD, CBPP and Newcastle Disease), and in obtaining OIE approval for specific tests and laboratory accreditation systems. Progress in implementing SIT against screwworms and tsetse flies was less satisfying but, working with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) and through the Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT), the positions of all major stakeholders on policies and criteria for interventions in the respective regions (Near East and Sub-Saharan Africa) have been harmonized. The entity also assisted in the formulation of project proposals for feasibility studies and concept documents for interventions, and provided training that addresses the identification of priority areas based on SARD and the collection of baseline data for assessment of change induced through specific interventions. While these developments are noteworthy, it will be recalled that in relation to tsetse, the 2003 Conference recommended that further efforts are required to stimulate more field-oriented actions.
364. Capacity Building and Risk Analysis Methodologies for Compliance with Food Safety Standards and Pesticide Control and Strengthened Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures through Irradiation of Food and Agricultural Commodities. Progress in developing and reinforcing the policy and regulatory framework has been substantial as evidenced by approvals of a Codex Standard for Irradiated Foods, a Codex Recommended International Code of Practice for Radiation Processing of Food and Revised Codex Guidelines on Good Laboratory Practice in Pesticide Residue Analysis by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) at its 26th session in 2003. Also the 5th ICPM approved Guidelines for the Use of Irradiation as a Phytosanitary Measure in 2003. Member states were assisted in meeting standards and guidelines particularly in relation to pesticide residues and residues of veterinary drugs. Several national laboratories obtained international accreditation or are now in the process of doing so, and many others demonstrated proficiency in particular analyses as evidenced by results of proficiency-testing programmes.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
86,471 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(440) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
86,031 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
86,029 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
2 |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(0.5%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
39,156 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
6,424 |
||
TCP delivery |
10,885 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
56,465 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
0.7 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
5,737 |
365. This Major Programme is central to FAO’s mandate related to nutrition, food security, food and agricultural policy, and the compilation and dissemination of agricultural information. It addresses the insufficient progress in combating hunger and malnutrition, promotes greater participation of developing countries in the formulation of a rules-based food and agricultural trading system, contributes to improved quality and safety of food, and provides comprehensive statistics and information on food and agriculture. It is implemented by the Economic and Social Department (ES) and associated regional teams, except for the World Agricultural Information Centre (WAICENT), the virtual library and related activities which are implemented by the Library and Documentation Systems Division (GIL) also included in Programme 2.2.2.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
17,050 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
1,000 |
||
Final Programme of Work |
18,050 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
18,049 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
1 |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
5.9% |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
6,047 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
1,153 |
||
TCP delivery |
4,778 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
11,978 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
0.7 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
1,892 |
366. The programme focuses on the sustained improvement of nutritional well-being, with particular attention given to nutritionally vulnerable households and population groups, and on food quality and safety for consumer protection and fair practices in food trade. Achievements include:
367. With food safety issues receiving increased interest, both in developing and developed countries, there has been an increase in the request for scientific advice, specifically in the development of safety assessments of food additives and of risk assessments of chemical and microbiological hazards. There has also been a marked increase in requests for technical assistance and capacity building activities with resulting demands for the development of training tools and for information and communication activities. The Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius Commission) completed all of its planned activities for the biennium, much of which resulted in final Codex standards and other texts adopted by the 26th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, including the Principles for Food Safety Risk Analysis to be used in the Codex framework.
368. Human Nutrition Requirements. Expert consultations were held on Protein & Amino Acid Requirements, and on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Reports were finalized for Expert Consultations on Human Vitamin and Mineral Nutrient Requirements, and for Human Energy Requirements. Software development was initiated for calculating national human energy requirements based on demographic profiles. Technical support was provided in Asia, Latin America and Africa for updating regional as well as some national food composition tables.
369. Nutrition Improvement for Sustainable Development. Important progress has been made in identifying best practices and developing and pilot testing an assessment tool (available in English, Spanish and French) for increasing the impact and the sustainability of community-based food and nutrition security programmes. Collaborative work was carried out with The World Vegetable Centre (AVRDC) resulting in plans of action for identifying, domesticating and consuming micronutrient-rich indigenous foods, as means of reducing the high prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition in southern Africa. Technical assistance was provided to six countries for updating their National Plans of Action for Food Security and Nutrition.
370. Community Action for Improved Household Food Security and Nutrition. Assistance was provided to countries for promoting multisectoral community-based action programmes aimed at increased year-round access to, and consumption of, nutritionally-adequate diets. This included strong support to the field programme in six countries. Publications covered the nutritional aspects of home gardening, HIV/AIDS and micronutrient deficiencies. These are available in a number of languages and are widely used in FAO projects and by national and international development institutions and NGOs. "Sowing seeds of hunger," a documentary on the impact of HIV/AIDS on food security and nutrition in southern Africa, was produced and broadcast in collaboration with the BBC and is available in several languages as an advocacy tool. Home gardening as a means to improve nutrition was actively promoted.
371. Food and Nutrition Education, Communication and Training. In response to the growing demand from member countries for practical nutrition information, a range of educational materials and technical guidelines were produced, widely distributed and promoted in field projects and training workshops to develop and strengthen the capacities of national and local institutions. Materials include a manual and training course on nutritional care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger (FMFH) global education initiative was expanded to include 13 languages. Direct assistance was given to six countries for the development and implementation of nutrition education and school gardening projects.
372. Nutrition and Household Food Security in Emergencies. Assessment and technical support missions have been fielded to several countries/areas dealing with complex emergencies and/or natural disasters including Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Collaboration with the international nutrition emergency community (UN, NGOs and bilaterals) has been actively pursued at local, national and global level, in particular through active participation in the Sphere process, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Working Group (IASC-WG) on HIV/AIDS in emergency settings, and the WFP Partner Consultation on Emergency Needs Assessment. "Protecting and Promoting Good Nutrition in Relief and Rehabilitation" was published for use by development workers involved in relief and rehabilitation to better incorporate nutrition objectives into emergency responses.
373. Food Composition (INFOODS). INFOODS held its regional data centre coordinators meeting in conjunction with the 5th International Food Data Conference, to review accomplishments and plan activities. Twelve issues of the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis were published, including two special theme issues related to presentations at the Nutrient Databank Conference (USA), and the International Food Data Conference (Slovakia). The reference textbook, Food Composition Data: Production, Management and Use, was published. A technical consultation on international standards for identification of food components for international interchange of food composition data was held and updated standards were agreed. Three food composition training courses were held in collaboration with the United Nations University.
374. Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius). The Codex Commission completed all of its planned activities for the 2002-03 Biennium. The 26thSession of the Commission adopted, inter alia, 59 new or revised Codex standards or related texts, including guidelines for the food safety assessment of foods derived from biotechnology; amendments to the Rules of Procedure concerning the membership of Regional Economic Integration Organizations, and on consensus; and Working Principles for Food Safety Risk Analysis to be used in the Codex framework. In addition, the FAO/WHO Evaluation of the Codex Alimentarius and Other FAO and WHO Food Standards Work made recommendations for the future relevance of standards or alternative approaches in meeting overall objectives in consumer protection, especially for health, and in fair practices for food trade. Most of the recommendations were endorsed by the 26th Session of the Codex Commission, with the concurrence of its parent organizations and some of the recommendations have already been implemented.
375. Food Quality Control and Consumer Protection. Thirteen countries have been assisted in the harmonization of their food standards and regulations with international requirements (Codex); another nine countries have received assistance in the establishment and operation of national Codex committees; and the food control systems in seven countries have been reviewed and upgraded using science-based approaches and risk analysis principles. Regional and sub-regional training workshops organized on food safety risk analysis and on modern approaches to food control systems have increased awareness among food control officials of basic principles in food safety management and control, including the food chain approach. The development of materials on national food control systems, food safety risk analysis, on enhanced participation in Codex process, and on the quality and safety of fresh fruits and vegetables, should lead to improvement in national food safety programmes.
Global Forum of Food Safety Regulations
The successful convening of the First FAO/WHO Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators (Marrakech, Morocco, January 2002) which brought together food safety regulators from over 120 countries to discuss current food safety issues and exchange information and experiences on best practices to improve food safety and quality worldwide, marked the beginning of a new series of international and regional consultations on food safety that complement the official negotiation work under Codex and the capacity building activities undertaken by FAO and WHO in this field. The FAO/WHO Pan-European Conference on Food Safety and Quality organized in Budapest in February 2002, was the first regional event in this series, and resulted in a comprehensive plan for the improvement of food safety and quality across the region.
376. Food Safety Assessment and Rapid Alert System. Technical reports of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and results of the ad hoc expert consultations on risk assessment of microbiological hazards in food and safety of foods derived from biotechnology were released and results considered by FAO/WHO member countries in the review of their food regulations, standards and control measures. Reports were also provided to the Codex Alimentarius system and have been used in the review of standards on food additives, veterinary drug residues and contaminants in food; in the review of codes of hygienic practices for products such as fish and fish products, eggs and in the review of papers on risk management strategies for specific pathogens such as Listeria. Guidelines on hazard characterization for pathogens in food and water, and for incorporating microbiological risk assessment in the development of food safety standards have been used by FAO/WHO member countries and Codex in the preparation of risk assessment and management documents.
377. Public Information about Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety. Five issues of Food, Nutrition and Agriculture were produced, addressing human energy requirements; ensuring a safe food supply; meeting micronutrient needs; promoting healthy diets through schools; and HIV/AIDS and nutrition. The Food and Nutrition website was redesigned and enhanced.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
33,364 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(260) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
33,104 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
33,107 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
(3) |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(0.8%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
15,401 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
307 |
||
TCP delivery |
3,542 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
19,250 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
0.6 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
2,255 |
378. The Programme addresses FAO’s mandate to meet the needs of Members and the international community for comprehensive information through the collection of food and agricultural statistics relating to resources production, trade, food supply and consumption, as well as other socio-economic statistics related to agriculture. It also provides assistance at the national level in building capacity to electronically disseminate information and in strengthening statistical and technical information systems on agriculture to support policy formulation and decision making. Significant achievements include:
FAOSTAT2
The FAOSTAT2 project to modernize and upgrade the corporate database of FAO has been started. Work was initiated to improve FAOSTAT’s conceptual framework and working system. The project will also address data dissemination and connection to the national databases on agriculture through its new country component named CountryStat.
Access to Global Online Research on Agriculture
The Access to Global Online Research on Agriculture (AGORA) project was launched in 2003. Led by FAO, the programme leverages resources and fosters partnerships (e.g. Cornell University Mann Library, WHO, publishers, donors) for the benefit of the poorest countries. As a consequence, these countries have access to peer reviewed scientific information in agriculture, food and related fields free of charge. "I am a young research scientist with the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute of Ghana and we are working towards alleviating poverty in the most deprived area in my country," explains Adams Frimpong. "I can now access this valuable source of knowledge for the benefit of my people and the scientific community at large."
379. Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS). This biennium has been a critical watershed for FIVIMS Initiative, which underwent an External Assessment in preparation for a redefined strategic plan. Through the provision of quality and timely information on the various dimensions of food insecurity and vulnerability, country level impact is now becoming more evident, particularly in some of the pilot FIVIMS countries. The biennium has seen increased dialogue and greater understanding within FAO of the contributions that different services can contribute. Coordination has improved within FAO across services and Departments, facilitating more integrated support from FAO to member countries.
380. FAO/World Bank/USDA Initiative for Agricultural Statistics in Africa. Two interim regional trust fund projects were approved for the Africa Region with funding from the World Bank and the Government of France. Under these projects four additional countries will be involved as pilot countries. A high level international seminar with the participation of all stakeholders was organized.
381. FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System. A new version of the FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System (FCPMIS) was released in 2002. The new version featured improved user-friendliness and graphic design, new sources of information and improved navigation of the site. Customized versions of the system have been implemented for the Water and Food Security Country Profiles and the Biotechnology PAIA. FAO's "physical presence" was mapped out on the FCPMIS site, whereby users can access information on country profiles, projects and link to the Regional and Subregional pages. Electronic publishing templates and guidelines were developed for the FAO Representative offices.
382. Systematic Evaluation and Improvement of Statistical Data Quality. The Statistics Division has undertaken a proactive approach to data collection through regional workshops to familiarize countries with international concepts and definitions, followed up by regular contact with national statisticians identified at the workshops. Electronic transfer of data has also significantly improved the statistical data collection and assembly process. The Agricultural Bulletin Board on Data Collection, Dissemination and Quality of Statistics (ABCDQ) project helps the users of FAO data determine their quality, and indicators showing the quality of the statistics (based on national collection methods used) as well as the coverage of official statistics are up-dated regularly. Special efforts have been made to obtain more official data and tap new sources for statistics particularly in Africa.
383. World Agriculture Information Resource System (WAIR). Development of the WAIR proceeded as planned. The International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology (AGRIS) was significantly enhanced under a new vision of the AGRIS institutions as resource centres with a strong capacity building component. To enable information to be accessed and exchanged more effectively, a new WAICENT information standard was developed, the Agricultural Metadata Element Set (AGMES), which addresses semantic standards in the domain of agriculture. The web-publishing and dissemination tools of AGRIS were further developed, enhanced, and deployed in countries. The agricultural thesaurus AGROVOC was made available in five official languages on the Web and coverage regarding gender-specific concepts improved considerably. A large number of training and capacity building missions were carried out.
384. Agricultural Resources and Income Statistics. The data series on agricultural resources statistics (human resources, land, irrigation, farm machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides) has been regularly updated and revised. The efforts on re-establishing the producer price data compilation started giving promising outputs in terms of increasing response from countries which has allowed the dissemination of updated time series and their use for the preparation of derived indicators. The time series on Agriculture Investment and Official Development Assistance were regularly updated; their quality and timeliness was significantly enhanced. Regular updating and improvements of the "Summary of World Food and Agricultural Statistics" has provided FAO authorities with an easy and quick reference tool on the wide range of food and agricultural statistics at the world and regional levels.
385. Agricultural Production, Trade Statistics and Food Balance Sheets. As countries have moved from paper to electronic files it has been possible to collect raw trade data from countries and, with processing, improve coverage and data quality significantly. The development by FAO of the world's agricultural trade matrix (WATM) and the display module (WATF) produced, for the first time, statistical information which allows the tracing of food and agricultural products from their origin to their destination. The project proposal for FAOSTAT2 moved to full project implementation to be funded from arrears (see Box). FAOSTAT downloads of data reached more than 25 million a month. Additional data collections and charts/graphics were disseminated from the FAO Web site along with sorting tools for production and trade statistics , methodological papers and substantive reports. At the close of the biennium, work on the preparation of food balance sheets was completed earlier than in recent years, due to progress made in trade data processing.
386. Agricultural Statistics Development. Training activities were carried out in all regions. Requests for assistance and capacity building were met within the resources available. Extensive use was made of guidelines on census and survey taking as they relate to agricultural statistics. The agricultural census database was improved and updated.
387. Programme for the Improvement of Language Coverage. See Chapter on Organizational Performance.
388. WAICENT Corporate Information Management and Dissemination Systems. The new WAICENT Portal was constructed to improve subject-based access to the main entry points of the FAO Web site. The Search tool was improved, and extensive analytical work was done towards an enterprise search engine. New workflow tools were deployed to improve and streamline electronic publishing. A methodology was developed to obtain user-feedback from various FAO stakeholders in order to improve FAO's information dissemination services. Liaison with all technical departments has been significantly enhanced through the WAICENT Advisory Group (WAG) and the WAICENT Committee. The number of visitors to the FAO Web site grew by 60% during the biennium, from 1 million in January 2002 to 1.6 million in December 2003, reflecting more than 40 million hits per month. The FAO WAICENT portal received the Pirelli "INTERNETional Award" in 2002 for the best multimedia product for environmental information.
389. Document Repository and Electronic Publishing Systems, and Integrated Documentation Activities. The Corporate Document Repository (CDR) and the FAO online catalogue have been developed and improved considerably, including better search and export facilities; the CDR has grown by more than 10,000 items covering the official languages of the Organization. Access to the on-line FAO catalogue has been extended to the Regional Offices, which can also retrieve meeting documents and reports of the Regional Conferences. Various thematic CDs have been produced and disseminated with material from the CDR to provide access to FAO information to users lacking Internet connectivity.
390. Facilitation of WAICENT Outreach. The Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK) was designed and developed to support member nations in enhancing their capacity to manage and exchange agricultural information. The first IMARK CD-based e-learning module was published on managing electronic documents. Three other modules covering digital libraries, electronic communities and in support of managers of agricultural information systems are in development. Several integrated communication activities were implemented for events such as the WFS:fyl and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
391. Virtual Library Information Services. Substantive improvements were made in the scope and coverage of quality externally produced information resources accessible to the Organization. Participation in the United Nations System Electronic Information Acquisitions Consortium continued to expand the information tools available to FAO staff and members, achieving i) significant reduction in costs of access; ii) increased access to more journals at the same financial outlay; iii) global access for FAO Regional/country Offices to key information databases without additional costs; and iv) established access pathways to articles for several thousands of subscribed and non subscribed sources. Working with exchange partners, 2,832 books were provided for the Library collection.
392. Assistance to Countries in Capacity Building for Agriculture and Food Information through WAICENT. A proposal for a strategic programme on "Bridging the Rural Digital Divide" (BRDD) was prepared, relationships with potential partners for WAICENT Outreach were developed and extra-budgetary funding from partners was secured. Technical services were provided through 23 field projects. Advisory missions were undertaken and projects were formulated for national capacity building in information management. A total of 22 regional or national training workshops were cosponsored. Study tours to FAO headquarters were organized for delegations from eleven national institutions or regional organizations to strengthen collaboration with WAICENT Outreach. The Consultation on Agricultural Information Management (COAIM) convened its second meeting and brought together representatives from 75 Member Nations, 5 UN specialized agencies, 17 inter-governmental organizations, 6 non-governmental organizations and 2 national organizations to discuss ways to improve access to and use of agricultural information.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
13,228 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(580) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
12,648 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
12,643 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
5 |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(4.4%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
5,359 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
1,823 |
||
TCP delivery |
787 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
7,968 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
0.6 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
323 |
393. This programme meets Members’ need for regular and timely flows of information on, and assessments of, current food supply and demand, the outlook for agricultural commodities, and for longer-term strategic analyses on food, agriculture and food security. Major achievements during the biennium include:
Global Perspective Studies
A 100-page Summary Report under the title "World agriculture: towards 2015/2030" was published in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. The full technical 440-page report was co-published with Earthscan Publications Ltd (London) in March 2003 under the title "World agriculture: towards 2015/2030 - An FAO Perspective" and announced with a news release. Based upon book reviews in professional journals, citations and receipt of invitations to conferences, both the summary report and the full study have been well received.
394. The State of Food and Agriculture. SOFA, of which two issues were published, is one of the oldest continuous series of global reports in the world on major developments in food and agriculture. With the 2003-04 edition, the format was changed to focus on the thematic section where a single major issue was explored in greater depth: biotechnology and its capacity to help the poor. Future issues will continue the thematic focus.
395. Market Assessments for Basic Food Commodities and Impact on Global Food Security. FAO has developed unique databases for all basic food commodities at the country level designed for analyzing global market developments and assessing their impact on developing countries. These tools were used to provide frequently updated market assessments for these products within the Global Information and Early Warning System, as well as to conduct policy and impact analyses of emerging developments (such as animal diseases, global weather events, significant policy changes etc.). The assessments and analyses done were comprehensive in both commodity and country coverage, so that invitations for presentation of results and collaborative activities continued to come from prominent international industry associations dealing with basic food commodities and international organizations.
396. Projections and Global Commodity Analyses. All activities were implemented as planned, notably projections to the year 2010, Commodity Market Review and preparation of the new publication on the State of World Agriculture Markets (SOCO).
397. Market Assessments and Food Security Reports for Tropical, Horticultural and Raw Material Commodities. The steady demand for information products has been met, and the range of information and studies extended to cover additional commodities. Particular highlights have been the successful completion of the fiber consumption survey, the study of non-traditional agricultural exports which provided unique analytical information on diversification possibilities, and responses to increasing demands for information concerning organic and fair trade products. The balance of activities has shifted to emphasize analytical studies and use of quantitative/modelling tools to provide for rigorous policy analysis and forecasting, including the development of consistent databases of value to a wide range of users within and outside FAO. Collaborative work with other interested agencies was pursued.
398. Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture. GIEWS continued to play a major role in the conduct and improvement of the joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessments (CFSAMs) of which 25-30 per year were completed. These high profile documents formed the basis for non-food and food assistance emergency activities by host countries and the international community. Recent examples included CFSAMs in Afghanistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.
Regular Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Programme of Work |
14,138 |
||
Adjustments to Programme of Work arising out of Budgetary Transfers |
(500) |
||
Final Programme of Work |
13,638 |
||
Expenditure against Final Programme of Work |
13,641 |
||
Variance of Expenditure (Over)/Under Final Programme of Work |
(3) |
||
Budgetary Transfers as percent of Programme of Work |
(3.5%) |
||
Field Programme |
|
US$000 |
|
Extrabudgetary TF and UNDP delivery |
12,349 |
||
Extrabudgetary emergency project delivery |
3,141 |
||
TCP delivery |
1,778 |
||
Total Field Programme delivery |
17,269 |
||
Ratio of Field to Regular Programme delivery |
1.3 |
||
Technical Support Services, professional staff cost |
1,205 |
399. This programme provided the overall vision on global food security achievements and challenges to reduce hunger. It aims at sustainable improvements in the standard of living and nutritional status of the whole population. Analyses undertaken under the programme contribute to better understanding of the dimensions and causes of poverty and hunger, as well as interventions needed
400. The twin-track approach was developed as the FAO framework for promoting hunger reduction through sustainable agricultural and rural development, combined with measures to ensure the direct and immediate access to food by the most needy. Its discussion in major international fora, including the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and the World Food Summit: five years later, brought world attention to the need for more articulated efforts and actions. Follow-up was made by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Analysis on poverty, food security and sustainable development gave a sound basis for developing a framework for National Food Security Strategies that were applied later at the country level.
The World Food Summit: five years later, reaffirmed pledges to end hunger and called for an international alliance against hunger. The WFS:fyl held in conjunction with the Twenty-eighth Session of CFS to expedite action on implementing the WFS Plan of Action, attracted 180 delegations (179 countries and the European Union). Thirty four were represented at the level of Head of State, 9 at the level of Deputy Head of State, 17 at the level of Head of Government, 12 at the level of Deputy Head of Government, 1 at the level of Crown Prince, 96 at the level of Minister and 11 at the level of Ambassador or other. In addition, 191 other high-level representatives (including 109 Ministers and 82 Vice-Ministers and Under-secretaries) participated in the Summit as members of the delegations of the participating countries.
401. World Food Summit Monitoring and Follow-up. A first review cycle was completed with the report, every other year, of two sets of clusters of WFS commitments - people centred (conducted in 2000) and development centred (2002). Fifty-four countries, 6 UN agencies, 2 international organizations and a regional body responded with reports to CFS in 2002. Work on methods of assessing progress was initiated in support of the Mid-term Review in 2006 of Progress Towards the WFS Target.
402. Servicing the Committee on World Food Security. Two sessions of the CFS were serviced during the biennium.
403. Commodity and Trade Policy Support to Developing Countries for Trade Negotiations. The developing countries were supported in their trade negotiations through a number of activities, notably Geneva Round Tables, country missions, regional seminars under the Umbrella framework, a symposium at Cancun, a Ministerial Roundtable in Rome, and publications on the implications of negotiating proposals. These activities contributed significantly to strengthening the negotiating capability of the developing countries.
404. Agricultural Adjustment and Policy Reforms. Implementation of the Current and Emerging Issues for Economic Analysis and Policy Research (CUREMIS) project proceeded slower than expected due to both staff attrition, lack of adequate resources and difficulty in co-coordinating the work of the five Regional Offices. Nevertheless the regional seminars were attended by a wide array of stakeholders including government officials, NGOs and others. The work on policy analysis using the General Equilibrium Models was completed. Analysis on issues of resource mobilization continued. The FAO-led joint publication (with IFAD and WFP) on resource mobilization presented in Monterrey during the International Conference on Financing for Development had a large impact.
405. Contribution of Agriculture to Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development and Food Security. The twin-track approach was further developed and was used as the FAO framework for promoting hunger reduction and increased resources for agriculture and rural development. Outputs related to the cost of hunger and the role of agriculture and off-farm income constituted the cornerstones of the analysis. The Anti-Hunger Programme, the document for the Monterrey Conference and the development of the conceptual framework for the Initiative to Update the National Strategies for Agricultural Development and Food Security were prepared. At the same time, 11 case studies were produced under the "Roles of Agriculture" project linking agriculture to food security and poverty reduction.
406. Economics of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. Methodologies for assessing the agricultural biodiversity and human welfare impacts of different types of seed systems are being developed and will be used as a basis for a series of new studies to be conducted by CGIAR centres in collaboration with government counterparts. The conceptual framework developed for assessing potential synergies between poverty alleviation and climate change mitigation is being incorporated into an information document for the next Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
407. International Action on Commodity and Trade Issues. Major studies were completed on world markets for organic and fair trade products. Demand for information and publications on organic markets from Members was extremely high. The 64th Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) and all Intergovernmental Groups on Commodities (IGGs) were organized successfully. IGGs for raw materials, tropical and horticultural products held in producing countries were welcomed by members and provided a vital international forum for discussion and planning of international action in relation to the specific commodities concerned. Major studies were conducted on developments of food import bills for vulnerable countries, value added production in the oil crops sector, and measuring trade impacts of SPS/TBT measures (sanitary and phytosanitary measures/technical barriers to trade) on basic foodstuffs. The IGGs conducted in conjunction with conferences and symposia have been well received by delegates to these meetings.
408. Measures to Enhance Commodity and Trade Development. Technical assistance was provided to several regional economic groupings in developing regional food security strategies, notably to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU). Effective responses were made to Members' requests for assistance in national commodity policy formulation and implementation.
