improvements inearlywarning systems. Another delegate saidthatmoreemphasis on groundwaterandlessonrainwasrequired insub-Saharan countries. 30.Manydelegates madereference totheparadox ofthemajorfoodsurpluses in sorneregions, whilethereisrampant famineandmalnutrition inothers. Sorne delegates observed thatmankinditselfisresponsible forthiscondition given conflicting national andinternational economic andsocialinterests. Therewas consensus amongdelegates ontheimperative formoreinvestment inagriculture. Sornedelegates observed thatmoreinvestment intheprivate sectorisacritical -23-needand,moreover, thatGovernments shouldlimittheirinterventions inthefoodandagricultural sector. Otherdelegates urgedmorepublicinvolvement inthesectorandagreater roleforco-operative andStatefarms. Several delegates fromdeveloped countries described theefforts theyhadmadeandwouldcontinue tomaketoincrease development assistance flows,especially toAfrican countries. ManyAfrican delegates described thenegative effects ofhighinterest ratepelicies,debtservice obligations, protectionism, expertsubsidy practic~s andotherfactorsontheireconomies. Several delegates indicated thatmoreflexibility indebtservice arrangements andinaidcommitments andallocations wasrequired tocountertheoutflow ofcapital fromdeveloping countries which,inturn,isinhibiting theachievement offoodobjectives. Onedelegate observed thatmarketprieesforcapital, manufactured goodsandrawmaterials arenotwithinthecontrol ofdeveloping countries. Thesamedelegate questioned howdevelopment assistance canbeeffective when,because ofthesefactors, capital outflows fromdevelopingcountries exceedcapital inflow. 31.Somedelegates observed thatinvestment priorities, including thosefordevelopment assistance, tostimulate foodandagricultural production shouldcentreon(a)thedevelopment oflocalagriculture andtheproduction ofindigenous foods,(b)theincentives, including priee,forassisting smallproducers, (c)thedevelopment ofaprocessing, storage andmarketing chaintoservice theneedsofbothproducers andconsumers and(d)theapplication ofknownresearch results,especially inAfrica, forimproved production andcropyields. Somedelegatesemphasized thatthetechnology toachieve foodself-reliance indevelopingcountries isavailable, butthataccessanduseofproventechnologies isrestricted asaresultofforeign exchange constraints andcontrols exercised bysometransnational organizations. 32.Whilemanydelegates insisted thatpopulation policies, particularly familyplanning measures, werematters forindividual countries todecide,allseemedtoagreethatthepopulation factor, especially therateofpopulation increasevis-à-vis therateofincrease offoodoutput, incomes andemploymentoppertunities, shouldconstitute avitalelement ofnational development plansandstrategies. 33.Somedelegates madereference tothedocument pertaining toimproved foodaccessbytheundernourished andwereabletosupport theproposal topursueaphasedapproach toreducechronic hungerandmalnutrition uptoandduringthe1990s. Delegates urgedthatparticular attention bedevoted tomeasures forprotection ofthealready fragile nutrition levelsoflow-income groupsasameanstoreducehunger. Somedelegates observed thatthecurrent international financeandtradeparalysis wasrestricting theability ofsomenational Governments toimprove accesstofoodbythepoor. Manydelegates agreedthatruralpoverty mustbealleviated, otherwise thealternative ofproviding directassistance tothePOOrwillcontinue toincrease andoutpace thefinancial resources ofGovernments toprotect vulnerable populations. Somedelegates notedthatsubsidies toprotect the undernourished aresometimes necessary but,onceimplemented, aredifficult tophaseout.Onedelegate suggested thatindividual countries shouldimprove theirownplanning mechanisms tobetterprotect thepoor,makingreference totheneedforemployment-led strategies inruralareas,andthatnational Governrnents arerespensible forestablishing theappropriate framework fordoingso. 34.Manydelegates reaffirmed thatfoodshouldnotbeusedasameasure Olinstrument ofpelitical pressure andtherewasbroadagreement thatpeaceanddisarmament areprerequisites totheelimination ofpoverty andtheeradication of -24-hu co de ré 35 co to th ac in to ov se it wi me prhunger. Somedelegates pointed outthatpolitical pressure andinterference which couldnegatively influence theachievement offoodobjectives inindividual
**Analysis**
The text discusses the issues and challenges related to food security, agriculture, and economic development in developing countries. It highlights the need for more investment in agriculture, the importance of local food production, and the impact of external factors such as high interest rates, debt service obligations, and protectionism on the economies of these countries. The text also touches on the topics of population growth, poverty, and humanitarian aid. Overall, the text appears to be focused on economic development and its relationship to food security and agriculture.

**Category**
Economic development, Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Humanitarian aid and relief