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Regional Workshop
on
Agriculture-Related Issues in The Preparation for Accession
to The WTO
Countries in the Process of Accession to
the WTO in the Near East: Major
Agriculture and Food Security
Issues
Nasredin Hag Elamin
FAO Regional Office for the Near East, Cairo
Importance of Agriculture

Agriculture employs the majority of the population
in most of the countries (tab)

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the
rural people

In some countries, the share of agriculture in total
merchandise exports is very high

Agricultural trade is highly concentrated in a few
commodities
(back)
Importance of Agriculture
Share of
agric in
GDP
2005-07
Agric
Population (%
in total pop.)
2007
Share of agric in
total exports
2003-05
Share of
agric in total
Imports
2003-05
Afghanistan
36.0
66.3
30.0
51.1
Algeria
8.0
23.5
0.2
15.7
Iran
9.7
25.5
4.5
17.6
Iraq
na
9.2
11.0
9.2
Lebanon
6.3
3.3
10.7
4.8
Libya
5.6
5.3
0.1
5.4
Somalia
6.3
70.3
51.0
70.3
Sudan
32.7
59.2
22.0
46.0
Syria
19.3
27.1
19.0
23.2
Yemen
10.0
48.4
2.4
29.2
Source: FAOSTAT, FAO; World Development Indicators, 2008, World Bank
Food Security Status
Number of undernourished is high in most of the
countries
 Little progress has been achieved in meeting the
MDG and WFS Targets


More than 75% of the poor and undernourished
reside in rural areas
Undernourished Population, 1990-92, 2002-04
Total
population
(million)
Number of people
undernourished
(million)
Proportion of
undernourished in total
population (%)
2001-03
1990–92
2002-2004
1990 - 92
2002-2004
Algeria
31.3
1.3
1.4
4.0
4.3
Iran
68.1
2.1
2.5
3.0
3.6
Lebanon
3.6
0.1
0.1
3.5
2.7
Libya
5.4
0.0
*
0.0
—
Sudan
32.9
7.9
8.7
32
25.7
Syria
17.4
0.7
0.6
5
4
Yemen
19.3
4.2
7.6
34.0
38.2
Source: FAOSTAT, AFO; World Development Indicators CD-Rom, 2008, World Bank
Major Challenges Facing Agriculture

Water scarcity





Acute scarcity (< 500 m3 per capita ): Algeria, Libya, Yemen
Stress (500 – 1000): Lebanon, Somalia, Syria
Abundance (1700): Iraq, Iran, Sudan
Global average (5000 m3 per capita)
Coping with drought and natural disasters


High dependence on rainfall
Frequent incidence of droughts

Low productivity per unit of land and water

High dependence on food imports

Loss of several export markets (cotton, dates, livestock, raisins)

Compliance with the growing demand for high quality and standards in world
markets
Food Imports

The majority of these countries are net food
importers with high and increasing dependence on
food imports (tab)

Nature of the problem:
- Severe scarcity of irrigation water
- Changing consumption pattern
- High variability in rain fall, hence fluctuations in
production of basic foods
Cereals: percentage share of imports in
total domestic consumption
1980-83
1990-93
2002 –05
Libya
81
91
90
Algeria
67
68
69
Yemen
48
72
84
Iran
28
26
19
Syria
27
28
28
Sudan
11
19
25
Lebanon
na
90
87
(back)
Emphasis of Current Strategies:
Priority Areas for Action







Increasing water use efficiency
Raising agricultural productivity per unit of land and water
resources
Diversification of production and trade into high value
crops and processed products
Enhancing competitiveness of farmers, processors and
traders
Improving market access conditions to foreign markets,
particularly in Europe, the major market
Safeguarding against import surges and unfair trade
practices
Raising self sufficiency (in some countries)
What the WTO Accession Mean for
these Countries?
Policy
Framework
- Obligations
Outcome
- Potential gains
- Rights
- Potential risks
Risks

Reduced policy space to design domestic priorities
along existing strategies

Some of the emerging and growing sectors/subsectors may prematurely be exposed to
unnecessary, and possibly unfair, external
competition
Accession to WTO: Some Concerns

Lack of clarity on expected benefits and costs (for agriculture)
of joining the WTO – in the short and long terms

Lack of, and difficulties in conducting, comprehensive and
credible studies to assess impact of accession to the WTO on
agriculture and rural development, trade and food security

Preparing schedules of commitments in a way that serves the
economic and social development in the country

Securing flexibility through negotiations:

Maintaining the necessary domestic policy flexibility

Safeguarding the economy from world market hazards and
unfair trade practices
Access to developed country markets, particularly the EU
