27th mango farm in Myanmar gains GAP certification
U Tin Htut, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation said that the first GAP certificates for mango growers were awarded in May 2016, and that now 27 separate mango gardens have the accreditation.
“We’re continuing efforts to award the GAP certificate to other fruits and vegetables,” he told The Myanmar Times.
The government issues a GAP certificate when it determines that a set of standards – including on food safety, quality, environmental impact, workers conditions and benefits – have been met in the production.
U Ye Tint Tun said the department is also planning to educate and train farmers in pesticide use in the Nay Pyi Taw area who are growing over 8000 vegetables and over 80,000 acres of black gram as cold seasons crops, according to staff officer U Maung Soe from the capital’s regional Department of Agriculture office.
“Education and discussions with farmers growing varieties of pulses will be conducted throughout the season to ensure the right [pesticide] spraying methods, frequency and spraying times,” he said. “At present the farmers are spraying pesticides in excessive amounts and more often than required for fear that the yield might be affected.”
source: mmtimes.com
