AGENDA 21 OBLIGATIONS

Chapter 14

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

14.4. The following programme areas are included in this chapter:

·        Agricultural policy review, planning and integrated programming in the light of the multifunctional aspect of agriculture, particularly with regard to food security and sustainable development;

·        Ensuring people's participation and promoting human resource development for sustainable agriculture;

·        Improving farm production and farming systems through diversification of farm and non-farm employment and infrastructure development;

·        Land-resource planning information and education for agriculture;

·        Land conservation and rehabilitation;

·        Water for sustainable food production and sustainable rural development;

·        Conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and sustainable agriculture;

·        Conservation and sustainable utilization of animal genetic resources for sustainable agriculture;

·        Integrated pest management and control in agriculture;

·        Sustainable plant nutrition to increase food production;

·        Rural energy transition to enhance productivity;

·        Evaluation of the effects of ultraviolet radiation on plants and animals caused by the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

A. Agricultural policy review, planning and integrated programmes in the light of the multifunctional aspect of agriculture, particularly with regard to food security and sustainable development

Objectives

14.8. The objectives of this Programme area are:

·        By 1995, to review and, where appropriate, establish a programme to integrate environmental and sustainable development with policy analysis for the food and agriculture sector and relevant macroeconomic policy analysis, formulation and implementation;

·        To maintain and develop, as appropriate, operational multisectoral plans, programmes and policy measures, including programmes and measures to enhance sustainable food production and food security within the framework of sustainable development, not later than 1998;

·        To maintain and enhance the ability of developing countries, particularly the least developed ones, to themselves manage policy, programming and planning activities, not later than 2005.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.9. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Carry out national policy reviews related to food security, including adequate levels and stability of food supply and access to food by all households;

·        Review national and regional agricultural policy in relation, inter alia, to foreign trade, price policy, exchange rate policies, agricultural subsidies and taxes, as well as organization for regional economic integration;

·        Implement policies to influence land tenure and property rights positively with due recognition of the minimum size of land-holding required to maintain production and check further fragmentation;

·        Consider demographic trends and population movements and identify critical areas for agricultural production;

·        Formulate, introduce and monitor policies, laws and regulations and incentives leading to sustainable agricultural and rural development and improved food security and to the development and transfer of appropriate farm technologies, including, where appropriate, low-input sustainable agricultural (LISA) systems;

·        Support national and regional early warning systems through food-security assistance schemes that monitor food supply and demand and factors affecting household access to food;

·        Review policies with respect to improving harvesting, storage, processing, distribution and marketing of products at the local, national and regional levels;

·        Formulate and implement integrated agricultural projects that include other natural resource activities, such as management of rangelands, forests, and wildlife, as appropriate;

·        Promote social and economic research and policies that encourage sustainable agriculture development, particularly in fragile ecosystems and densely populated areas;

·        Identify storage and distribution problems affecting food availability; support research, where necessary, to overcome these problems and cooperate with producers and distributors to implement improved practices and systems.

(b) Data and information

14.10. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Cooperate actively to expand and improve the information on early warning systems on food and agriculture at both regional and national levels;

·        Examine and undertake surveys and research to establish baseline information on the status of natural resources relating to food and agricultural production and planning in order to assess the impacts of various uses on these resources, and develop methodologies and tools of analysis, such as environmental accounting.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination 14.11. United Nations agencies, such as FAO, the World Bank, IFAD and GATT, and regional organizations, bilateral donor agencies and other bodies should, within their respective mandates, assume a role in working with national Governments in the following activities:

·        Implement integrated and sustainable agricultural development and food security strategies at the subregional level that use regional production and trade potentials, including organizations for regional economic integration, to promote food security;

·        Encourage, in the context of achieving sustainable agricultural development and consistent with relevant internationally agreed principles on trade and environment, a more open and non-discriminatory trading system and the avoidance of unjustifiable trade barriers which together with other policies will facilitate the further integration of agricultural and environmental policies so as to make them mutually supportive;

·        Strengthen and establish national, regional and international systems and networks to increase the understanding of the interaction between agriculture and the state of the environment, identify ecologically sound technologies and facilitate the exchange information on data sources, policies, and techniques and tools of analysis.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.12. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) on implementing the activities of this programme to be about $3 billion, including about $450 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.13. Governments at the appropriate level and with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations should assist farming households and communities to apply technologies related to improved food production and security, including storage, monitoring of production and distribution.

(c) Human resource development

14.14. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Involve and train local economists, planners and analysts to initiate national and international policy reviews and develop frameworks for sustainable agriculture;

·        Establish legal measures to promote access of women to land and remove biases in their involvement in rural development.

(d) Capacity-building

14.15. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should strengthen ministries for agriculture, natural resources and planning.

B. Ensuring people's participation and promoting human resource development for sustainable agriculture

Objectives

14.17. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        To promote greater public awareness of the role of people's participation and people's organizations, especially women's groups, youth, indigenous people, local communities and small farmers, in sustainable agriculture and rural development;

·        To ensure equitable access of rural people, particularly women, small farmers, landless and indigenous people, to land, water and forest resources and to technologies, financing, marketing, processing and distribution;

·        To strengthen and develop the management and the internal capacities of rural people's organizations and extension services and to decentralize decision-making to the lowest community level.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.18. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop and improve integrated agricultural extension services and facilities and rural organizations and undertake natural resource management and food security activities, taking into account the different needs of subsistence agriculture as well as market-oriented crops;

·        Review and refocus existing measures to achieve wider access to land, water and forest resources and ensure equal rights of women and other disadvantaged groups, with particular emphasis on rural populations, indigenous people and local communities;

·        Assign clear titles, rights and responsibilities for land and for individuals or communities to encourage investment in land resources;

·        Develop guidelines for decentralization policies for rural development through reorganization and strengthening of rural institutions;

·        Develop policies in extension, training, pricing, input distribution, credit and taxation to ensure necessary incentives and equitable access by the poor to production-support services;

·        Provide support services and training, recognizing the variation in agricultural circumstances and practices by location; the optimal use of on-farm inputs and the minimal use of external inputs; optimal use of local natural resources and management of renewable energy sources; and the establishment of networks that deal with the exchange of information on alternative forms of agriculture.

(b) Data and information

14.19. Governments at the appropriate level, and with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should collect, analyse, and disseminate information on human resources, the role of Governments, local communities and non-governmental organizations in social innovation and strategies for rural development.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.20. Appropriate international and regional agencies should:

·        Reinforce their work with non-governmental organizations in collecting and disseminating information on people's participation and people's organizations, testing participatory development methods, training and education for human resource development and strengthening the management structures of rural organizations;

·        Help develop information available through non-governmental organizations and promote an international ecological agricultural network to accelerate the development and implementation of ecological agriculture practices.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.21. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $4.4 billion, including about $650 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.22. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Encourage people's participation on farm technology development and transfer, incorporating indigenous ecological knowledge and practices;

·        Launch applied research on participatory methodologies, management strategies and local organizations.

(c) Human resource development

14.23. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should provide management and technical training to government administrators and members of resource-user groups in the principles, practice and benefits of people's participation in rural development.

(d) Capacity-building

14.24. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should introduce management strategies and mechanisms, such as accounting and audit services for rural people's organizations and institutions for human resource development, and delegate administrative and financial responsibilities to local levels for decision-making, revenue-raising and expenditure.

C. Improving farm production and farming systems through diversification of farm and non-farm employment and infrastructure development

Objectives

14.26. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        To improve farm productivity in a sustainable manner, as well as to increase diversification, efficiency, food security and rural incomes, while ensuring that risks to the ecosystem are minimized;

·        To enhance the self-reliance of farmers in developing and improving rural infrastructure, and to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound technologies for integrated production and farming systems, including indigenous technologies and the sustainable use of biological and ecological processes, including agroforestry, sustainable wildlife conservation and management, aquaculture, inland fisheries and animal husbandry;

·        To create farm and non-farm employment opportunities, particularly among the poor and those living in marginal areas, taking into account the alternative livelihood proposal inter alia in dryland areas.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.27. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop and disseminate to farming households integrated farm management technologies, such as crop rotation, organic manuring and other techniques involving reduced use of agricultural chemicals, multiple techniques for sources of nutrients and the efficient utilization of external inputs, while enhancing techniques for waste and by-product utilization and prevention of pre- and post-harvest losses, taking particular note of the role of women;

·        Create non-farm employment opportunities through private small-scale agro-processing units, rural service centres and related infrastructural improvements;

·        Promote and improve rural financial networks that utilize investment capital resources raised locally;

·        Provide the essential rural infrastructure for access to agricultural inputs and services, as well as to national and local markets, and reduce food losses;

·        Initiate and maintain farm surveys, on-farm testing of appropriate technologies and dialogue with rural communities to identify constraints and bottlenecks and find solutions;

·        Analyse and identify possibilities for economic integration of agricultural and forestry activities, as well as water and fisheries, and to take effective measures to encourage forest management and growing of trees by farmers (farm forestry) as an option for resource development.

(b) Data and information

14.28. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Analyse the effects of technical innovations and incentives on farm-household income and well-being;

·        Initiate and maintain on-farm and off-farm programmes to collect and record indigenous knowledge.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.29 International institutions, such as FAO and IFAD, international agricultural research centres, such as CGIAR, and regional centres should diagnose the world's major agro-ecosystems, their extension, ecological and socio-economic characteristics, their susceptibility to deterioration and their productive potential. This could form the basis for technology development and exchange and for regional research collaboration.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.30. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $10 billion, including about $1.5 billion from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.31. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should strengthen research on agricultural production systems in areas with different endowments and agro-ecological zones, including comparative analysis of the intensification, diversification and different levels of external and internal inputs.

(c) Human resource development

14.32. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Promote educational and vocational training for farmers and rural communities through formal and non-formal education;

·        Launch awareness and training programmes for entrepreneurs, managers, bankers and traders in rural servicing and small-scale agro-processing techniques.

(d) Capacity-building

14.33. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Improve their organizational capacity to deal with issues related to off-farm activities and rural industry development;

·        Expand credit facilities and rural infrastructure related to processing, transportation and marketing.

D. Land-resource planning, information and education for agriculture

Objectives

14.36. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        To harmonize planning procedures, involve farmers in the planning process, collect land-resource data, design and establish databases, define land areas of similar capability, identify resource problems and values that need to be taken into account to establish mechanisms to encourage efficient and environmentally sound use of resources;

·        To establish agricultural planning bodies at national and local levels to decide priorities, channel resources and implement programmes.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.37. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Establish and strengthen agricultural land-use and land-resource planning, management, education and information at national and local levels;

·        Initiate and maintain district and village agricultural land-resource planning, management and conservation groups to assist in problem identification, development of technical and management solutions, and project implementation.

(b) Data and information

14.38. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Collect, continuously monitor, update and disseminate information, whenever possible, on the utilization of natural resources and living conditions, climate, water and soil factors, and on land use, distribution of vegetation cover and animal species, utilization of wild plants, production systems and yields, costs and prices, and social and cultural considerations that affect agricultural and adjacent land use;

·        Establish programmes to provide information, promote discussion and encourage the formation of management groups.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.39. The appropriate United Nations agencies and regional organizations should:

·        Strengthen or establish international, regional and subregional technical working groups with specific terms of reference and budgets to promote the integrated use of land resources for agriculture, planning, data collection and diffusion of simulation models of production and information dissemination;

·        Develop internationally acceptable methodologies for the establishment of databases, description of land uses and multiple goal optimization.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.40. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $1.7 billion, including about $250 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.41. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop databases and geographical information systems to store and display physical, social and economic information pertaining to agriculture, and the definition of ecological zones and development areas;

·        Select combinations of land uses and production systems appropriate to land units through multiple goal optimization procedures, and strengthen delivery systems and local community participation;

·        Encourage integrated planning at the watershed and landscape level to reduce soil loss and protect surface and groundwater resources from chemical pollution.

(c) Human resource development

14.42. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Train professionals and planning groups at national, district and village levels through formal and informal instructional courses, travel and interaction;

·        Generate discussion at all levels on policy, development and environmental issues related to agricultural land use and management, through media programmes, conferences and seminars.

(d) Capacity-building

14.43. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Establish land-resource mapping and planning units at national, district and village levels to act as focal points and links between institutions and disciplines, and between Governments and people;

·        Establish or strengthen Governments and international institutions with responsibility for agricultural resource survey, management and development; rationalize and strengthen legal frameworks; and provide equipment and technical assistance.

E. Land conservation and rehabilitation

Objectives

14.45. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        By the year 2000, to review and initiate, as appropriate, national land-resource surveys, detailing the location, extent and severity of land degradation;

·        To prepare and implement comprehensive policies and programmes leading to the reclamation of degraded lands and the conservation of areas at risk, as well as improve the general planning, management and utilization of land resources and preserve soil fertility for sustainable agricultural development.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.46. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop and implement programmes to remove and resolve the physical, social and economic causes of land degradation, such as land tenure, appropriate trading systems and agricultural pricing structures, which lead to inappropriate land-use management;

·        Provide incentives and, where appropriate and possible, resources for the participation of local communities in the planning, implementation and maintenance of their own conservation and reclamation programmes;

·        Develop and implement programmes for the rehabilitation of land degraded by water-logging and salinity;

·        Develop and implement programmes for the progressive use of non-cultivated land with agricultural potential in a sustainable way.

(b) Data and information

14.47. Governments, at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Conduct periodic surveys to assess the extent and state of its land resources;

·        Strengthen and establish national land-resource data banks, including identification of the location, extent and severity of existing land degradation, as well as areas at risk, and evaluate the progress of the conservation and rehabilitation programmes launched in this regard;

·        Collect and record information on indigenous conservation and rehabilitation practices and farming systems as a basis for research and extension programmes.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.48. The appropriate United Nations agencies, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations should:

·        Develop priority conservation and rehabilitation programmes with advisory services to Governments and regional organizations;

·        Establish regional and subregional networks for scientists and technicians to exchange experiences, develop joint programmes and spread successful technologies on land conservation and rehabilitation.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.49. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $5 billion, including about $800 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.50. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should help farming household communities to investigate and promote site-specific technologies and farming systems that conserve and rehabilitate land, while increasing agricultural production, including conservation tillage agroforestry, terracing and mixed cropping.

(c) Human resource development

14.51. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should train field staff and land users in indigenous and modern techniques of conservation and rehabilitation and should establish training facilities for extension staff and land users.

(d) Capacity-building

14.52. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop and strengthen national research institutional capacity to identify and implement effective conservation and rehabilitation practices that are appropriate to the existing socio-economic physical conditions of the land users;

·        Coordinate all land conservation and rehabilitation policies, strategies and programmes with related ongoing programmes, such as national environment action plans, the Tropical Forestry Action Plan and national development programmes.

F. Water for sustainable food production and sustainable rural development

14.53. This programme area is included in chapter 18 (Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources), programme area F.

G. Conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and sustainable agriculture

Objectives

14.57. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        To complete the first regeneration and safe duplication of existing ex situ collections on a world-wide basis as soon as possible;

·        To collect and study plants useful for increasing food production through joint activities, including training, within the framework of networks of collaborating institutions;

·        Not later than the year 2000, to adopt policies and strengthen or establish programmes for in situ on-farm and ex situ conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, integrated into strategies and programmes for sustainable agriculture;

·        To take appropriate measures for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits and results of research and development in plant breeding between the sources and users of plant genetic resources.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.58. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop and strengthen institutional capacity, structures and programmes for conservation and use of PGRFA;

·        Strengthen and establish research in the public domain on PGRFA evaluation and utilization, with the objectives of sustainable agriculture and rural development in view;

·        Develop multiplication/propagation, exchange and dissemination facilities for PGRFAs (seeds and planting materials), particularly in developing countries and monitor, control and evaluate plant introductions;

·        Prepare plans or programmes of priority action on conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, based, as appropriate, on country studies on PGRFA;

·        Promote crop diversification in agricultural systems where appropriate, including new plants with potential value as food crops;

·        Promote utilization as well as research on poorly known, but potentially useful, plants and crops, where appropriate;

·        Strengthen national capabilities for utilization of PGRFA, plant breeding and seed production capabilities, both by specialized institutions and farming communities.

(b) Data and information

14.59. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop strategies for networks of in situ conservation areas and use of tools such as on-farm ex situ collections, germplasm banks and related technologies;

·        Establish ex situ base collection networks;

·        Review periodically and report on the situation on PGRFA, using existing systems and procedures;

·        Characterize and evaluate PGRFA material collected, disseminate information to facilitate the use of PGRFA collections and assess genetic variation in collections.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.60. The appropriate United Nations agencies and regional organizations should:

·        Strengthen the Global System on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA by, inter alia, accelerating the development of the Global Information and Early Warning System to facilitate the exchange of information; developing ways to promote the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, in particular to developing countries; and taking further steps to realize farmers' rights;

·        Develop subregional, regional and global networks of PGRFA in situ in protected areas;

·        Prepare periodic state of the world reports on PGRFA;

·        Prepare a rolling global cooperative plan of action on PGRFA;

·        Promote, for 1994, the Fourth International Technical Conference on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA, which is to adopt the first state of the world report and the first global plan of action on the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA;

·        Adjust the Global System for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA in line with the outcome of the negotiations of a convention on biological diversity.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.61. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $600 million, including about $300 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.62. Governments, at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop basic science research in such areas as plant taxonomy and phytogeography, utilizing recent developments, such as computer sciences, molecular genetics and in vitro cryopreservation;

·        Develop major collaborative projects between research programmes in developed and developing countries, particularly for the enhancement of poorly known or neglected crops;

·        Promote cost-effective technologies for keeping duplicate sets of ex situ collections (which can also be used by local communities);

·        Develop further conservation sciences in relation to in situ conservation and technical means to link it with ex situ conservation efforts.

(c) Human resource development

14.63. Governments at the appropriate level and with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations should:

·        Promote training programmes at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels in conservation sciences for running PGRFA facilities and for the design and implementation of national programmes in PGRFA;

·        Raise the awareness of agricultural extension services in order to link PGRFA activities with user communities;

·        Develop training materials to promote conservation and utilization of PGRFA at the local level.

(d) Capacity-building

14.64. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should establish national policies to provide legal status for and strengthen legal aspects of PGRFA, including long-term financial commitments for germplasm collections and implementation of activities in PGRFA.

H. Conservation and sustainable utilization of animal genetic resources for sustainable agriculture

Objectives

14.66. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        To enumerate and describe all breeds of livestock used in animal agriculture in as broad a way as possible and begin a 10-year programme of action;

·        To establish and implement action programmes to identify breeds at risk, together with the nature of the risk and appropriate preservation measures;

·        To establish and implement development programmes for indigenous breeds in order to guarantee their survival, avoiding the risk of their being replaced by breed substitution or cross-breeding programmes.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.67. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Draw up breed preservation plans, for endangered populations, including semen/embryo collection and storage, farm-based conservation of indigenous stock or in situ preservation;

·        Plan and initiate breed development strategies;

·        Select indigenous populations on the basis of regional importance and genetic uniqueness, for a 10-year programme, followed by selection of an additional cohort of indigenous breeds for development.

(b) Data and information

14.68. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should prepare and complete national inventories of available animal genetic resources. Cryogenic storage could be given priority over characterization and evaluation. Training of nationals in conservation and assessment techniques would be given special attention.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.69. The appropriate United Nations and other international and regional agencies should:

·        Promote the establishment of regional gene banks to the extent that they are justified, based on principles of technical cooperation among developing countries;

·        Process, store and analyse animal genetic data at the global level, including the establishment of a world watch list and an early warning system for endangered breeds; global assessment of scientific and intergovernmental guidance of the programme and review of regional and national activities; development of methodologies, norms and standards (including international agreements); monitoring of their implementation; and related technical and financial assistance;

·        Prepare and publish a comprehensive database of animal genetic resources, describing each breed, its derivation, its relationship with other breeds, effective population size and a concise set of biological and production characteristics;

·        Prepare and publish a world watch list on farm animal species at risk to enable national Governments to take action to preserve endangered breeds and to seek technical assistance, where necessary.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.70. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $200 million, including about $100 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.71. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Use computer-based data banks and questionnaires to prepare a global inventory/world watch list;

·        Using cryogenic storage of germplasm, preserve breeds at serious risk and other material from which genes can be reconstructed.

(c) Human resource development

14.72. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Sponsor training courses for nationals to obtain the necessary expertise for data collection and handling and for the sampling of genetic material;

·        Enable scientists and managers to establish an information base for indigenous livestock breeds and promote programmes to develop and conserve essential livestock genetic material.

(d) Capacity-building

14.73. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Establish in-country facilities for artificial insemination centres and in situ breeding farms;

·        Promote in-country programmes and related physical infrastructure for animal livestock conservation and breed development, as well as for strengthening national capacities to take preventive action when breeds are endangered.

I. Integrated pest management and control in agriculture

Objectives

14.75. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        Not later than the year 2000, to improve and implement plant protection and animal health services, including mechanisms to control the distribution and use of pesticides, and to implement the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides;

·        To improve and implement programmes to put integrated pest-management practices within the reach of farmers through farmer networks, extension services and research institutions;

·        Not later than the year 1998, to establish operational and interactive networks among farmers, researchers and extension services to promote and develop integrated pest management.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.76. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Review and reform national policies and the mechanisms that would ensure the safe and appropriate use of pesticides - for example, pesticide pricing, pest control brigades, price-structure of inputs and outputs and integrated pest-management policies and action plans;

·        Develop and adopt efficient management systems to control and monitor the incidence of pests and disease in agriculture and the distribution and use of pesticides at the country level;

·        Encourage research and development into pesticides that are target-specific and readily degrade into harmless constituent parts after use;

·        Ensure that pesticide labels provide farmers with understandable information about safe handling, application and disposal.

(b) Data and information

14.77. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Consolidate and harmonize existing information and programmes on the use of pesticides that have been banned or severely restricted in different countries;

·        Consolidate, document and disseminate information on biological control agents and organic pesticides, as well as on traditional and other relevant knowledge and skills regarding alternative non-chemical ways of controlling pests;

·        Undertake national surveys to establish baseline information on the use of pesticides in each country and the side-effects on human health and environment, and also undertake appropriate education.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.78. Appropriate United Nations agencies and regional organizations should:

·        Establish a system for collecting, analysing and disseminating data on the quantity and quality of pesticides used every year and their impact on human health and the environment;

·        Strengthen regional interdisciplinary projects and establish integrated pest management (IPM) networks to demonstrate the social, economic and environmental benefits of IPM for food and cash crops in agriculture;

·        Develop proper IPM, comprising the selection of the variety of biological, physical and cultural controls, as well as chemical controls, taking into account specific regional conditions.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.79. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $1.9 billion, including about $285 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.80. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should launch on-farm research in the development of non-chemical alternative pest management technologies.

(c) Human resource development

14.81. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Prepare and conduct training programmes on approaches and techniques for integrated pest management and control of pesticide use, to inform policy makers, researchers, non-governmental organizations and farmers;

·        Train extension agents and involve farmers and women's groups in crop health and alternative non-chemical ways of controlling pests in agriculture.

(d) Capacity-building

14.82. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should strengthen national public administrations and regulatory bodies in the control of pesticides and the transfer of technology for integrated pest management.

J. Sustainable plant nutrition to increase food production

Objectives

14.85. The objectives of this programme area are:

·        Not later than the year 2000, to develop and maintain in all countries the integrated plant nutrition approach, and to optimize availability of fertilizer and other plant nutrient sources;

·        Not later than the year 2000, to establish and maintain institutional and human infrastructure to enhance effective decision-making on soil productivity;

·        To develop and make available national and international know-how to farmers, extension agents, planners and policy makers on environmentally sound new and existing technologies and soil-fertility management strategies for application in promoting sustainable agriculture.

Activities

(a) Management-related activities

14.86. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Formulate and apply strategies that will enhance soil fertility maintenance to meet sustainable agricultural production and adjust the relevant agricultural policy instruments accordingly;

·        Integrate organic and inorganic sources of plant nutrients in a system to sustain soil fertility and determine mineral fertilizer needs;

·        Determine plant nutrient requirements and supply strategies and optimize the use of both organic and inorganic sources, as appropriate, to increase farming efficiency and production;

·        Develop and encourage processes for the recycling of organic and inorganic waste into the soil structure, without harming the environment, plant growth and human health.

(b) Data and information

14.87. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Assess "national accounts" for plant nutrients, including supplies (inputs) and losses (outputs) and prepare balance sheets and projections by cropping systems;

·        Review technical and economic potentials of plant nutrient sources, including national deposits, improved organic supplies, recycling, wastes, topsoil produced from discarded organic matter and biological nitrogen fixation.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

14.88. The appropriate United Nations agencies, such as FAO, the international agricultural research institutes, and non-governmental organizations should collaborate in carrying out information and publicity campaigns about the integrated plant nutrients approach, efficiency of soil productivity and their relationship to the environment.

Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

14.89. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $3.2 billion, including about $475 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

14.90. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:

·        Develop site-specific technologies at benchmark sites and farmers' fields that fit prevailing socio-economic and ecological conditions through research that involves the full collaboration of local populations;

·