New York- Statement on behalf of the Least Developed Countries by Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Minister Counsellor of Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations at the Second Committee, 64th session of the General Assembly on Agenda Item 62: Agriculture Development and Food Security.

New York, 22 October 2009 

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). I would like to associate it with the statement made by Sudan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

 

We welcome the report of the Secretary-General on Agricultural technology for development in line with the General Assembly resolution 62/190 which has put forward important recommendations for boosting productivity and promoting growth and food security through sustained and scientific agricultural technology. The recommendations could be good policy guidance for all concerned stakeholders.

 

Agriculture is lifeline of the people and economy of LDCS as it is the largest sector of employment and contributor to the economy. This has clearly signified the importance of development of agriculture sector in LDCs.

 

Agricultural sector in LDC has been marred with multiple deficiencies. It lacks irrigation, scientific tools and technology, seeds and fertilizer and it is far short of investment, institutions and integrated farm management system. This ended in low-productivity and ultimately causes hunger and poverty. The vicious cycle of low productivity and rampant poverty needs to be intervened with modern tools and technology. Irrigation, institutions, knowledge transfer and integrated management of farm system are also essential components for ensuring high productivity in agricultural sector. While using modern and scientific tools and technology, we cannot undermine sustainability aspect and the time-tested indigenous knowledge and practices which are deeply engrained in the lives of local people.

Mr. Chairman,

The report of the Secretary-General reveals the importance of the development of agricultural sector as an engine of economic growth in Africa providing facts that 70 per cent of full-time employment in Africa is from agricultural sector. 33 per cent of gross domestic product and 40 per cent of exports earnings are from agricultural sector.

 

The slogan of “Green Revolution” needs further collaboration and partnership in North-South, South-South and triangular form for bridging the knowledge, technology and investment gap.  Knowledge enhancement of farmers, involvement of women, easy access to extension services, creation of agricultural institutions, availability of finances and markets can be achieved through technical and financial support from the developed countries.

We are deeply concerned with the agricultural subsidy in developed countries which has created unequal playing field for the product of LDCs. We want early conclusion of Doha Development Round of trade negotiations for creating non-distorted, non-discriminatory, and equitable market that can promote agricultural and rural development in the LDCs and contribute to world food security.

Mr. Chairman,

 

We are seriously concerned to note that the share of agriculture in official development assistance has declined sharply over the past two decades. High-Level Expert Forum on How to Feed the World convened in 12 October 2009 in Rome estimated that $44 billion official development assistance (ODA) in a year will need to be invested in agriculture in developing countries – against the $7.9 billion that is being spent now. This calls for the need of enhanced level of cooperation and thus, we urge international community to reverse the declining trend of ODA in agricultural sector. We take note of G8 Summit L’Aquila Food Security Initiative held on 8 10 July 2009 and their commitment to invest 20 billion dollars in 3 years to encourage rural development in the poor countries.

Mr. Chairman,

Food security is a matter of grave concern for LDCs as these countries are least able to respond to increased hunger and poverty. It has direct link to poverty alleviation and sustainable economic growth and closely related with the peace and security in the society. It is disturbing to note that 1 billion human beings in the world mostly in developing countries presently do not have sufficient food to meet their daily basic nutritional needs.

The current global food crisis calls for an enhanced level of international support to the least developed countries on food supply to feed the hungry people. It also calls for long-term sustainable measures for agricultural development, especially in the least developed countries.

There is need of concerted effort to free humankind from hunger and poverty. Global food crises necessitated the need of appropriate arrangements of institutional capacities at national and global level for governance of food security. These institutional arrangements for global food security should be built on existing United Nations organizations and international financial institutions ensuring their optimal use, coordination and effectiveness. We appreciate the UN High Level Task Force on the global food security crisis, and hope to see more concrete action on the ground including the implementation of the framework that it has adopted.

The World Food Summit to be held in Rome in November should be used as an opportunity to reorient the world’s focus on food security and agricultural development issues. We are hopeful that the Summit would pave the way for creation of effective global governing system and accountability mechanism for food security.

Food security, agriculture development and climate change crises are closely associated which need focus on adaptation, mitigation, sustainable management of water, land, soil and other natural resources, including the conservation of biodiversity. We are hopeful that the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009 will give due emphasis on agriculture and food security.

Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the group of LDCs, we commit ourselves to improve the productivity of our agricultural sector and fight against hunger and poverty and at the same time we expect augmented level of cooperation from our development partners. Together we can ensure that all people can enjoy “right to food” by eradicating hunger and povery once and for all.

I thank you Mr. Chairman.