Thank you Mr. Chairman.

It is with great pleasure that I address this Governing Council at its Thirty-Fifth Session on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Since Governors met a year ago, we have witnessed three significant global events with implications for agriculture and food security. 

First, a humanitarian crisis of inordinate proportions unfolded in the Horn of Africa, where millions of people faced famine and starvation.  Severe drought – the worst in sixty years – and food shortages, quickly led to famine, human suffering and dislocation.  

Second, we witnessed a remarkable period of social and political transformation in the Middle East and North Africa that promises to alter the face of world politics in the years ahead.  This region, notorious for poor rainfall, is home to rural communities that are vulnerable to food insecurity and conflict.  

In both of these cases, short-term emergency responses are not enough.  Longer-term food-nutrition resilience, disaster prevention and conflict resolution must be an essential part of the equation.

Third, we were all part of IFAD’s ninth replenishment.  The IFAD9 target of $1.5 billion – a 25 percent increase over the previous replenishment – reflects extraordinary resolve and political good will in support of IFAD’s mandate. 

Canada remains a strong and dedicated supporter of IFAD and of its mandate.  I can today proudly announce that our replenishment pledge maintains IFAD funding at CDN $75 million. 

IFAD’s drive to work directly with smallholder farmers remains closely aligned with Canada’s Food Security Strategy.  Both seek to deliver country-specific solutions.  Canada firmly believes that smallholder farmers, many of whom are women, must be part of the answer to food and nutrition insecurity. 

Canada has strongly advocated for the need to “stay the course” on reform, for greater effectiveness and for an institutional culture that focuses on “results”.

In this regard, we commend IFAD’s pioneering work to better measure the number of people who have escaped poverty through agriculture.  Similar work on measuring nutrition gains should now be undertaken.

Of similar importance is furthering efficiency with clear targets, mainstreaming climate change in all operations, scaling up successful programs and human resource reform.

Mr. Chairman, no economy has been developed by agriculture alone, but none has done so without agriculture. This is certainly true for Canada.  Similarly, in developing countries today, we look to agriculture to contribute much more than food and raw material for industry.  It can, and must, provide solutions to many of the challenges of development, including the need for employment and better livelihoods.  

For this to happen, governments need to demonstrate the political will to build enabling environments, backed by processes and institutions that include effective participation from the private sector and civil society.

To stave off hunger today, meet the food needs of tomorrow, and find sustainable solutions to food and nutrition insecurity, concerted and coordinated action is required. In this action, we must never lose sight of the ultimate beneficiaries of agricultural development – the poor, including farmers themselves. 

Food security remains an issue of central global importance. This attention must be sustained and the resources committed to this effort must be disbursed in an aid effective manner. 

IFAD is well-placed to contribute to the global efforts on food and nutrition security and must continue to be a key player in the future.  

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

23 février 2012