Minister for quick implementation of GAP

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque yesterday called for quick implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to increase export of farm produce.

The GAP is a "collection of principles to apply for on-farm production and post-production processes, resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agriculture products, while taking into account economic, social and environmental sustainability", according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

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Of the many government steps already taken to increase the exports, the formulation of the GAP Policy 2020 is one, Razzaque told a virtual meeting of a steering committee on the policy's implementation.

Officials, farmers, exporters and other stakeholders need to be involved and trained, he said.

Pilot projects or experiments need to be initiated on a priority basis focusing areas from where vegetables and fruits are most likely to be exported, he added.

Stressing on the policy's implementation, Agriculture Secretary Md Saidul Islam, presiding over the meeting, said agriculture can be made profitable through export-oriented farming.

"The GAP must be complied with to enter the international market for agricultural products. With this in mind, we are working hard to implement this policy. Implementation work is in progress," he said.

Officials concerned highlighted the implementation progress.

They informed that led by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, responsibility has already been delegated institutionally by formulating a time-bound action plan while technical and certification committees comprising various stakeholders have been formed.