Experts: Maintain GAP to raise fruit and vegetable exports

The government must take more initiatives to raise awareness of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) among farmers in order to boost the country's fruit and vegetable exports, said the speakers at a roundtable discussion in Dhaka on Saturday.

The government has already taken several initiatives to boost fruit and vegetable exports, but more coordinated steps are needed to ensure the quality of fruits and vegetables, and help the sector fulfil its export potential, they added. 

GLOBALG.A.P. is a private sector body that sets voluntary standards for the certification of Agricultural products around the globe and the GAP standard is primarily designed to reassure consumers that the food is produced while minimizing the detrimental environmental impacts of farming operation, reducing use of chemical inputs, and ensuring a responsible approach to worker health and animal welfare. 

Ensuring safe food by implementing GAP certification is essential in commercial agricultural production for export. GAP is required to comply with various regulations for international trade of agricultural products, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.

Anwar Faruqe Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

The round table discussion titled “Prospect of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Fruits and Vegetables focusing Enhancement of Export” was organized by Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in association with Dhaka Tribune at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh. This discussion was facilitated by USAID funded Feed the Future Bangladesh Horticulture, Fruits, and Non-food Crops Activity.

Prof Dr Md Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan, Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), was the chief guest at the event while Balai Krishna Hazra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Md Abdus Salam, Member Director, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Reaz Ahmad, Executive Editor of Dhaka Tribune, among others, participated in the discussion. Dr Md Azizur Rahman of Bangladesh Agricultural University moderated the event, while Anwar Faruque, Former Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Advisor to Feed the Future Bangladesh Horticulture Activity, served as chair.

Prof Abu Noman Faruq Ahmmed Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Prof Abu Noman Faruq Ahmmed, Registered Trainer of GLOBALG.A.P. and Chairman of the Department of Plant Pathology of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, while presenting the keynote paper suggested training relevant stakeholders to start GAP certification in the country. 

Moreover, he said the government should provide subsidies for testing and capacity building of certified producers. He also emphasised to include GAP relevant courses at the diploma, undergraduate and graduate levels of agriculture training institutions and universities.

In order to qualify for GAP certification, products must be deemed safe throughout the pre-production, production, harvest, and post-harvest stages. Farmers and field workers should be trained on how to properly follow the process, while the government should also increase transport and testing facilities, the speakers said.

Balai Krishna Hazra Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

The authorities should also ensure that farmers in 460 upazilas of the country have easy access to option of GAP certification. The proper implementation of the endeavour requires significant coordination between government agencies and the private sector, they added.

Addressing the roundtable as the chief guest, Prof Dr Md Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan said: “Agricultural activities are progressing in many ways. It will take time to associate farmers with GAP We have to move forward step by step and in concert. We need to move forward in coordination with the private sector to ensure safe food production.”

Balai Krishna Hazra said: “Don't be disappointed. If we keep working and ensure GAP certification, it will be possible to meet the target of $10 billion in exports within the next 2 years. We must remember that not following GAP procedures does not mean that food is not safe. But if we want to export from our country to other countries, we must follow GAP. This will increase our opportunities to export food outside the country.”

Tajul Islam Patwary, Director of Field Services, Department of Agriculture Extension, said: “We have to work together not only with government departments but also with related private institutions.”

Prof Dr Md Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Anwar Faruque, Former Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Advisor, Feed the Future Bangladesh Horticulture Activity, said: “Although safe and nutritious food is a responsibility of the government, we are lagging behind. The Covid pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war made the situation worse.

“Although food products are readily available on the market, much of it is harmful for health. That is why we need GAP The Ministry of Agriculture recently took initiatives in this regard,” he added. 

Dr Abdur Razzaque, Former Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council, focused on developing a roadmap to GAP certification and said: “We need to develop manuals and roadmaps to strengthen security in agricultural production. Monitoring should be done to determine how much pesticides and fertilizers are used, and the crop quality of any land. After that, we will be able to proceed with exports.”

Dr Abdus Salam, Member Director (Crops) of the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC), said: “We have already sent a project proposal of Tk10 crore to the ministry over safe food and high quality crop production. The project will be started after confirmation. Besides, several projects are in the process. Our prime minister and agriculture minister are trying their best to bring changes to agricultural production.”

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Ataur Rahman Miton, President of Bikoshito Bangladesh, said: “Safe food production through GAP will increase food exports. Although GAP policies are already in place in other countries, we are belatedly starting the process. This will open new doors for Bangladesh's exports.”

Rafiq Sarkar, Team Leader of Matrix Bangladesh, said every agricultural office needs skilled, trained field workers to produce safe food.

Ahmed Ali Chowdhury Iqbal, Director of Training Bangladesh Seed Association, said: “If we can produce crops following GAP, then Bangladesh will become the best hub for quality seed production.”

Dhaka Tribune Executive Editor Reaz Ahmad said: “More awareness and discussions are needed to promote GAP policies so that everyone, from general farmers to policymakers, can be more active.”