OF THE UNITED NATIONS
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| FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS |
ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK | |||||
IDB/FAO Meeting on Regional Food Security Programme
Follow-up of the WFS-fyl
Dr. Mohamed Albraithen
ADG/RR
Welcoming words
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Food security and sustainable agricultural development have been long-standing and major national goals of almost all the countries in the Near East Region, particularly following the world food crisis in the mid 1970s. These goals were further strengthened by the high-level participation of leaders of Near East countries in the World Food Summit in1996 as well as in the WFS-fyl in 2002.. However, the achievement of this is challenged by a range of problems and constraints such as: the lack of an overall strategic framework for agricultural development; the problem of over-lapping and contradictions in the management of the agricultural sector; inadequate policies and programmes for achieving sustainable food security and poverty eradication; inefficient water resources management; pollution and environmental issues; constraints on livestock development; land distribution and property rights; market distortions; inadequate marketing facilities and rural finance; under-utilized agro-biodiversity; and insufficient assessment of the implications of newly emerged trading system.
Even when adequate national policies and measures are in place, it is often necessary to have a complementary effort at regional level. Regional Economic Groups could play a key role in this area. They can implement sub-regional interventions to address cross-border issues such as trade, conflict and transboundary diseases and pests. They can also promote intra-regional infrastructure development, the fostering of trade harmonization and liberalization policies, economic integration and improvement of food quality and safety standards; export diversification and integrated early warning systems for the region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Following the WFS in 1996, FAO began giving increasing importance to the role of Regional Economic Organizations (REOs) in supporting and complementing national efforts for the achievement of the WFS sustainable food security objectives. This role was stressed during the "WFS: five years later" (WFS-fyl) held in Rome in June 2002, where specific Side-Events were held to discuss regional food security strategies for regional economic groupings. A specific Side-Event Session was devoted to discuss a draft Regional Strategy for Agricultural Development and Food Security for some REOs in the region. The objectives of these events were to provide REOs with the opportunity to discuss their respective draft strategies or programmes for regional food security with various stakeholders, particularly those from the donor community and financing institutions.
This Workshop is a follow up the constructive dialogue initiated at the WFS:fyl between FAO, the REOs and the concerned e financial institutions and donors. The Workshop aims at spearheading the process of formulation and implementation of Regional Programmes for Food Security; promote agricultural trade, promote effective measures at regional and sub-regional to alleviate poverty in rural areas; and strengthening the dialogue among the Regional Economic Organizations and between them and interested technical and financing agencies.
Ladies and gentlemen
Many Near East (NE) countries are currently opening their agricultural markets at three distinct but interacting levels: (1) unilateral liberalization, (2) regional integration schemes and (3)multilateral trade liberalization.
Despite the several schemes of regional integration in the NE, intra-regional agricultural trade performs poorly and the potential for regional trade remains untapped. Total intra-regional agricultural exports for the Near East barely reaches 10 percent of total agricultural exports. The pattern of intra-regional agricultural trade is centred on few items like live animals and fish, and trade is concentrated among few partners. Major constraints and challenges facing intra-regional trade are: lack of diversity in agricultural products, non-tariff barriers, choice of integration approach, lack of trading support services and divergent political and economic interests.
Ladies and gentlemen;
In addition to discussing the views of REOs on food security and regional cooperation, the Workshop will include four presentations on technical themes of special interest to the NE region:
(1) National Food Security Strategies and RPFS; (2) Food Safety and Trade Facilitation; (2) Livestock Potentials in the Region; and (4) Sustainable Water Resources Use and Management for Food Security. We will also have the chance to have a presentation by the Islamic Development Bank on the IDB's perspective on Resource Mobilization and Financing Requirements and Modalities..
The paper on "National Strategies and Regional Programmes for Food Security" will highlight the conceptual issues for linking the national strategies with the regional perspectives. It will stress on underlining the interrelationships between the two levels in the context of the available literature and experiences on regionalization and economic integration. The paper will specify some practical measures to be considered in strategic planning at both the national and regional levels to ensure synergy and coherence at all levels. The paper will also propose a conceptual framework that enables REO to complement the national efforts with strategies, programmes/projects that focus on issues which are better addressed at regional level. It will also suggest selection criteria for programme and/or projects that are regional and/or multi-country in nature, bearing in mind the need for synergy, harmony and complementarily between national and regional programme for food security.
Ladies and gentlemen;
In the initial years of functioning of the world trading system under the auspices of the WTO it has been observed that many countries are trying to set standards which may act as non-tariff barriers, especially to exports originating from developing and least developed countries. Moreover, these barriers are taking new forms, thus making developing and least developed countries more exposed to volatility with respect to sustainable market access in industrialized countries. A number of trade disputes concerning SPS and TBT Agreements highlight that: the WTO members are interested to use these rules to reduce market access opportunities of their trading partners. The paper on "Trade, Food Safety and Market Access" is expected to give an overview on the trading system in the Region and discuss challenges and constraints to agricultural trade in the region. It will draw lessons from experience with implementing WTO Agreement on Agriculture in some countries in the region, emphasizing regional co-operation as appropriate instrument for bargaining more effectively within WTO. The paper will provide some thoughts on the possible impact of implementing WTO Agreements (AoA, SPS and TBT) on food security in the Near East
Ladies and gentlemen:
With the highest water deficit in the world, the Near East Region is threatened by more pronounced shortage in the future in a way that could constrain economic development, food security and social stability, unless drastic measures are taken, including through regional cooperation. In this regard and in addition to national efforts, there is a need for cooperation at all levels as several aspects of the problem are of regional and international dimensions.
Experience with water resources planning and management in the region has been mixed. Major deficiencies include the lack of long-term resource planning and of cooperation at the regional and basin levels, and their aggregation into national resource plans and long-term strategies. A need to avoid a situation of water-based conflicts, pursuing irreversible exploitation and thus unsustainable development is urgent. The third technical paper on Water Resources in the Near East will assess the past and present situation regarding regional cooperation in water resources development and management in the Near East region. It will also identify the potential and options for addressing the regional dimension of water resources as a means of complementing national efforts, promoting greater productivity and sustainability and the resources and ensuring a higher level of food security.
Ladies and gentlemen:
The last technical paper is expected to discuss the issue of Livestock Development in the Region, which makes a significant contribution to nutrition and livelihood in the Neat East Region. This is particularly important given that large numbers of the rural poor are small farmers or mobile herders who have no means of livelihood other than raising livestock with some seasonal cropping. Therefore, livestock development in the region should be conceived as part of the overall framework of household food security. However, this depends entirely on improving livestock productivity, which is sharply reduced by many natural and man-made constraints. This paper is expected to identify these constraints and explore the potentials and prospects of livestock in the region.
Ladies and gentlemen:
Following the technical papers, we will have two presentations on "Regional Cooperation: the road ahead", which will outline the vision for regional cooperation and food security from the viewpoint of two important REOs in the Near East: the Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The role of active and progressive Development Financial Institutions like the Islamic Developing Bank in supporting regional and national efforts to fight hunger and achieve sustainable food security is increasingly recognized and appreciated. The presentation of the IDB will explain resource mobilization, mode of finance and financial requirements applied in the context of its project cycle and the acceptable format that should be followed by REOs in their preparation for food security projects.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hope this meeting will lead to enhancing our commitments to support the process of Regional Programmes for Food Security; better definition of regional and sub-regional visions and strategies regarding agricultural trade facilitation, with particular attention to an enhanced role of Regional Economic Organizations; improved partnerships and complementarities between Regional Economic Organizations and national strategies, programmes and projects related to food security and agricultural development; and more refined review of priority issues related to rural development, sustainable food security and poverty alleviation.
I hope this meeting will also support the continuous cooperation between REOs and the financial institutions in the region including the IDB and other regional and international organization of concern. FAO would like to confirm its firm stand in supporting these efforts and to continue its technical support to the REOs to enhance their capacities to achieve the sustainable food security in their respective sub-regions.
Finally, I hope the meeting, will suggest the necessary steps to support this cooperation and continue the dialogue that would hopefully lead to the preparation and implementation of bankable projects for which the private sector and participating countries will take the lead.
I wish you all success in your deliberations
