GAP certified for over 2,000 crop acres in Monywa District

The crop acreage certified under the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) has exceeded 2,000 in Monywa District, Sagaing Region so far.
“GAP adoption commenced on mango cultivation in Sagaing Region in the 2016-2017 Financial Year. The acreage under GAP have increased year over year on account of the benefits of GAP. Over 3,000 acres of 17 types of crops in the district are engaged in GAP system and more than 2,000 have been granted GAP certificate. Agriculture Department is making efforts to issue GAP certificate for the remaining,” said an officer of GAP section under Sagaing Region Agriculture Department.
A total of 2,507.5 acres have been certified GAP as of the last week of December 2021, with 891 monsoon paddy acres, 30 acres of summer paddy, 217 acres of summer sesame, 210 acres of monsoon peanut, 15 acres of chilli, 20 acres of pigeon pea, 50 acres of banana, 217.5 acres of pre-monsoon green gram, 464 acres of winter sesame, 50 acres of winter peanut, 43 acres of watermelon, 183 acres of cucumber and 117 acres of mango.
The region department is implementing GAP acreage in a bid to ensure food safety, worker safety in the supply chain, conservation of the environment and reduce input cost.
Furthermore, the GAP growers can get more market access, locally and internationally, according to the Agriculture Department.
Additionally, the region department has introduced digital touch for seeking GAP certificates to cut unnecessary red tape and bring smooth and quick service to the growers.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has encouraged farmers to use its GAP protocol in a bid to boost productivity, profitability, market access, and competitiveness in the agricultural sector. The Agriculture Department raised awareness of GAP among growers by providing courses. The GAP protocol and guidelines include the most consumed and major export items — mango, pomelo, honeydew, watermelon, avocado, chili, tomato, onion, cabbage, corn, sesame, various beans, rice, and coffee.—Lu Lay/GNLM