64th Session Of The United Nations General Assembly Statement

64th session of the united nations general assembly statement during the meeting of the second committee on agenda item agriculture d

64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Statement during the meeting of the Second Committee
On agenda item Agriculture Development and Food Security
By Ms. Lila Hanitra Ratsifandrihamanana
Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations
22 October 2009
At the outset I wish to express FAO’s appreciation for the opportunity
to participate in this meeting which is taking place at a critical
time when the world has been going through severe financial and
economic turbulence for more than a year. This has compounded the food
crisis that has shaken the global economy since 2007 and has
highlighted the vulnerability of the world food system.
As part of the United Nations system response to the food crisis and
as called for the General Assembly resolution 63/235, the report on
agriculture development and food security looks not only at the status
of the current world food situation, but also at trends and challenges
in the long run. As indicated in the report, the UN system has already
proposed a comprehensive framework for action which suggests
short-term as well as long-term structural measures to deal with the
crisis and place it in the context of a comprehensive and coordinated
response at all levels.
In this regard, enhancing agricultural productivity, making a
sustainable green revolution a reality, promoting cooperation for
mobilizing new and additional resources, and investing in rural
infrastructure, research and development, and in the technical and
social capacities of government agencies as well as local communities
are identified as top priorities which require immediate an concerted
action by the international community.
We are reminded of the need for urgent and decisive action by the
Committee for World Food Security (CFS) that just met in Rome on 14,
15 and 17 of October, which considered that world food production
ought to be increased by 50 percent in 2030 and by 70 percent in 2050,
if it is to feed the world population expected to grow to 9.1 billion
in 40 years.
Also, meeting in Rome on 12-13 October 2009, the High Level Experts’
Forum on How to Feed the World in 2050, indicated that net investments
of $83 billion a year must be made in agriculture in developing
countries if there is to be enough food to feed 9.1 billion people in
2050. In this regard, we welcome the support and commitments made by
the G8 in L’Aquila and look forward to their implementation.
Aware of the different needs and challenges faced by countries in the
various regions of the world regarding food security, FAO will
continue to work in close collaboration with Governments, UN partner
agencies, civil society organizations and the private sector on
programs such as the “Jagdeo Initiative” in the Caribbean,
Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) in
Africa and the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and the
Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN region.
Mr. Chairperson,
The events of the last two years have shown that food security is also
indispensable for world peace and security. Sharp increases in food
prices were followed by riots and social unrest in 22 countries in the
different continents with a number of people killed and injured.
Presently, there are 31 countries in the world in grave food crisis
requiring emergency assistance.
It is within this context that the FAO proposed the organization of a
World Summit of Heads of State and Government on Food Security to
address the key challenges concerning world food security and
agriculture as well as initiatives at improving the food security
governance.
The outcome of this Summit will complement and strengthen the ongoing
reform of the Organization, enhancing the Global Partnership for
Agriculture and Food Security and achieving greater coherence and
coordination of the Committee on World Food Security, which is
committed to a wide-ranging reform.
As a result, the new Committee on Food Security would include a wider
range of organizations working with food security and nutrition from
UN agencies like the International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD), the World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Secretary-General’s
High Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis. The
Committee would also include civil society organizations, agricultural
research institutions, the World Bank, the International Monetary
Fund, regional development banks and the World Trade Organization. It
would be also open to representatives of private sector associations
and philanthropic foundations.
While I have touched upon the pressing issues concerning the world
food security situation in this intervention, I wish to assure you of
FAO’s full support as you deliberate the many issues regarding
agricultural development before this Committee.
I thank you.
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