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The Special Working Party on Technical Assistance The existence of this working party arose from the provisions made by United Nations and the Economic and Social Council to make funds available for a programme of expanded technical assistance to underdeveloped countries. The working party had before it the recommendations of each of the other working parties, most of which agreed that the first necessity was an initial broad survey to determine what lines technical assistance should follow in each country. All agreed also that the next step would have to be the setting up of suitable extension services. Extension and Advisory Services The point was made strongly that to increase the level of efficiency of food production in under-developed countries, it was vitally necessary that suitable advisory and extension services be built up by the Governments concerned. FAO's main role would be the provision of advice and specialist personnel. Particular attention was paid to the fact that the development of these services must be through the culture of the people and accord with accustomed ways, institutions, and organizations. The necessity for the closest liaison between research and extension and the value of recruiting only personnel of the highest qualifications were emphasized. The Agriculture Working Party Measures designed to facilitate the reporting and control of both plant and animal diseases were considered, and it was recommended that centralized agencies to deal with both matters should be set up. Believing that most countries have potentialities for further productive development of their land and water resources, it was recommended that each member Government should examine its legal powers and administratve machinery and seek to obtain further powers if it finds these to be necessary. Where required FAO should promote inter-governmental consideration of the problem. It was also recommended that a worldwide meeting of specialists be held during 1951 on the problem of water utilization and control, and that the work initiated for the exchange of seeds and disease resistant and high-yielding strains and varieties be strengthened. Economics, Marketing, Statistics, and Distribution The working party drew attention to the necessity for member Governments to submit food balance sheets. In addition, noting that information on total national supplies of food alone is insufficient for adequate planning of food policy, the Conference considered it desirable