Regional training on good agricultural practices in South Asian Countries

A Regional Training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in South Asian Countries is being organized by Quality Council of India in collaboration with SAARC Agricultural Centre from 27-30 August in Mahagun Sarovar Portico Suites, Ghaziabad.

The event saw participation from Governmental representatives of 7 SAARC Countries – India, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Good Agricultural Practices is a standard that defines the appropriate methodology and inputs to be followed by farmer sin order to produce safe and high quality produce which is in demand throughout the world. Through this training, QCI aims towards building capacity around development and implementation of GAP standards in the SAARC countries.

The Indian version of GAP, which is called INDGAP, developed and managed by the QCI, has been instrumental in increasing exports of grapes with the help of APEDA from India and increasing the income of grape farmers by manifolds.

The Chief Guest of the event was Dr. S. K. Malhotra, Agricultural Commissioner of India. In his inaugural address, he said that GAP is a crucial tool for India to increase agricultural exports and become a 5 trillion economy by 2024. He emphasized on the need for harmonization of the individual national GAP standards to enhance regional trade in South Asia and also urged for the establishment of certification systems in all these countries.

Sanjay Dave, former Chair – Codex Alimentarius, spoke in the inaugural session and said that GAP has been instrumental in the transformation of the grape industry in India and we must expand it to other products and countries in South Asia.

Dr. Nasreen Sultana from SAARC Agricultural Centre also graced the occasion. Through this training, she said that SAC wishes to develop an agreement within the SAARC country for free movement of GAP certified produce, and enhancing awareness of SAARC GAP with involvement of private sector, civil society organization (CSOs), and NGOs on SAARC GAP implementation.

Dr. R. P. Singh, Secretary General, QCI has committed full technical support for the development of GAP standards in the SAARC in collaboration with SAC.

The speakers for the training include experts from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Agricultural Produce Export Development Authority (APEDA), GLOBAL Good Agricultural Practices, and the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB).

The training includes a field visit on 29th August to a GAP certified farm in Dehradun, Uttarakhand to give practical exposure to the participants about the implementation of GAP on a farm.