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Full-fledged implementation of good agricultural practices (GAP) across the country could be possible within 2025, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) Secretary Md Sayedul Islam said at a programme.
The government introduced GAP policy, targeting to produce safe foods – both for domestic and international markets.
Implementation of GAP would make Bangladeshi farm and processed products more competitive in the international market, he said while speaking at the 15th and 16th annual general meetings (AGMs) of the Hortex Foundation, held at its office on Monday.
The government-run Hortex Foundation works with farmers and private sector entrepreneurs to promote export of farm produces, especially vegetables, fruits and other horticultural items.
The agriculture secretary, also chairman the foundation, chaired the programme.
He also said the government took GAP policy in 2016, which has been implemented and the country’s total agriculture will be good agriculture within 2025.
Hortex Foundation managing director Manzurul Hannan, Department of Agricultural Extension director general Benajir Ahmed, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute director general Dr Md Shahjahan, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute director general Debasish Sarker, Department of Agricultural Marketing director general Abdul Gaffar Khan, Bangladesh Agro Processors Association general secretary Md Iqtadul Hoque, Hortex Foundation director Mitul Saha, and export-based Green Global founder Razia Sultana also spoke, among others, on the occasion.
Speakers at the AGM also emphasised raising fund and manpower of the Hortex Foundation for ensuring its full-fledged function to facilitate the country’s agricultural export.
Md Iqtadul Hoque said 3D scanner shortage in the airports, shortage of cargo space, lack of pesticide residue application (PRA) test, crop zoning, slow progress in GAP implementation, lack of proper training and awareness, shortage of safe foods, scarcity of good seedlings, and lack of necessary cold chain facility were some obstacles for raising export of farm produces.
GAP is a set of standards for safe and sustainable production of crops as well as livestock and other farm products.
It aims to help farmers and entrepreneurs to maximise output as well as to optimise trade through reducing production costs and environmental impact.
GAP helps growers and entrepreneurs to supply produces by maintaining required quality – demanded by consumers and importers.
(FE)
