Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs)

GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) are a set of principles, regulations and technical recommendations applicable to production, processing and food transport, addressing human health care, environment protection and improvement of worker conditions and their families.

Benefit from the GAPs:

▪︎Farmers and their families that will obtain healthy and good quality food to assure their nutrition and nourishment, generating a value added in their products to access markets in a better way.
▪︎Consumers, that will enjoy better and safe quality food, with sustainable production.
▪︎The population in general, that will benefit from a better environment.

Focus at farm:

Food Safety: agricultural produce and workers well being.
Environment Hygiene: related to the soil, water, waste disposal etc.
Hygienic Production: related to fertigation and pesticide spray schedules, irrigation schedule, planting material, storage and handling of Agro and non agro chemicals etc.
Handling Storage and Transportation: related to practices essential to maintain food safety (may also be quality) during handling, storage and transportation.
Cleaning, Maintenance and Personal Hygiene: related to cleaning of pack house/storage premises; maintenance of fertigation and pesticide equipment and personal hygiene.
Training: Training for safety of produce, environment and hazards.

Process of implementation:

1. Improved working conditions for male and female workers:

▪︎All workers should be registered in the social security system.
▪︎All workers will be trained, especially in agro- chemicals/fertilizer management, hygiene and first aid.
▪︎Priority of children is to attend school.

1.2 Services for workers:

▪︎Workers should have personal protection equipment, especially for the application of chemical products, and also a first aid kit.
▪︎There should be enough number of fixed or mobile toilets for all workers with well closed doors.
▪︎Toilets should be kept clean, in good conditions, ventilated and with potable water, soap & towels.
▪︎Emergency phones (fire brigade, police, hospitals, etc.)
▪︎Regular health check-up for worker & their family and request health certificates from workers to be recruited.
▪︎Participate in health sessions carried out by the hospital or health centres of your community in order to improve nourishment, nutrition and health of your family, use healthy products in daily meals.
▪︎Water Tank & Containers should be kept clean on the inside and outside with potable water.
▪︎Sick workers with infectious disease (diarrhea, vomits, etc.) should not be allowed to work.
▪︎Hygiene measures: Keep good personal cleanliness, Remember to wash your hands after using the toilets. Consider the posters “use the toilets” and “wash your hands”

2. Best place for crops:

▪︎Know the history of the field.
▪︎Recognize more fertile lands and with availability of water.
▪︎The field should be free of garbage, papers, plastics and empty containers.
▪︎Check there is no risk of water contamination.
▪︎Be aware with the type of pests, diseases and weeds that exist, mainly in the crop area.
▪︎Check on possible contamination sources from near-by plots.
▪︎Identification of place where the crop will be planted (Crop Name/ Lot No.).
▪︎For all these activities consult with the agriculture expert.

3. Soil preparation:

▪︎With the support of the technician analyse the type of soil and its depth for good growth of the roots.
▪︎Consider the slope of the field where the planting will be done.
▪︎Perform the minimum possible tilling.
▪︎Practice crop rotation.
▪︎For all these activities consult with the agriculture expert.

4. Crops handling:

▪︎Select seeds that can adapt to the soil of the field.
▪︎Select improved seeds and resistant to the most frequent diseases according to the recommendations of the technician.
▪︎If necessary, develop practices to eliminate pests and diseases from the seeds in order not to affect the crop.
▪︎Select an adequate sowing date avoiding low availability of water, pests and diseases.
▪︎Density: sow at an adequate distance.
▪︎Transplant: select healthy seedlings.
▪︎Use clean tools and disinfected.
▪︎For all these activities consult with the agriculture expert.

Protection of crops
▪︎Seedbeds: protect them from the sun and heavy rains.
▪︎Greenhouses: regard measures to obtain a good control of temperature and humidity.
▪︎Ventilation: control temperatures, humidity and wind considering the season of the year and needs of the crop.

5. Water management:

▪︎Analyse the water of the field at least once a year to see if it is contaminated.
▪︎Use the required amount of water for savings and care of the crop.
▪︎Avoid the entry of animals to the water sources of the field.
▪︎Do not perform applications and agro-chemical preparations near the water sources.
▪︎Sewage waters must never be used for irrigation.

5.1 Irrigation:

▪︎The use of proper irrigation may increase the amount of production.
▪︎Field must have water channels for proper irrigation.
▪︎Use always the irrigation method recommended for your crop.
▪︎Regard the water requirements of the crop (do not irrigate in excess).
▪︎An incorrect use of water may damage the quality of the crop, hence it is necessary to program the use of irrigation.
▪︎For all these activities consult with the agriculture expert.

5.2 Water for the family and workers:

▪︎Potable water for drinking and wash hands.
▪︎If there is no potable water then it must be treated. Consider the following methods: Boiling, clarification, chlorination.

6. Use of agro-chemicals:

6.1 Agro-chemical:

▪︎Recognize the type of weeds, pests and diseases affecting your crop.
▪︎Analyze if it is possible to apply a biological control instead of a chemical one.
▪︎Consult a technician to know what agro-chemicals are recommended to be used in accordance with your crop and the type of weeds and diseases affecting it.
▪︎Govt. approved agro-chemicals only to used.
▪︎Expired agro-chemicals not to be used (verify expiry date).

6.2 Protective Equipment & major’s:

▪︎Elements: Protection lenses, Rubber gloves, Face mask, Rubber boots & Waterproof suit.
▪︎Once the application is over, the worker should have a shower and wash the protection elements.
▪︎Children, pregnant women and old age people must not be near the area where agro-chemicals are applied.

6.3 Application of agro-chemicals:

▪︎Apply the needed proportion of agro-chemicals according to the recommendation.
▪︎Periodical observation of the crops for timely detection of any problem.
▪︎Respect waiting time for each application.
▪︎Do not enter into the field immediately after the application.
▪︎Write down the applications of agro- chemicals that are being done.

6.4 Storage of agro-chemicals:

▪︎Separate place for storage of agro-chemicals should be available at the field.
▪︎The place should be out of reach for the children and animals.
▪︎Storage place should be locked, and well ventilated.
▪︎Highlight the place with the following posters: “WARNING”, “POISON”, “NO SMOKING”, “NO DRINKING”, “NO EATING”, “DO NOT TOUCH”
▪︎Agro-chemicals must be duly separated and isolated from the seeds, fodder, harvested products and fertilizers.

6.5 Disposal of empty containers of agro-chemicals:

▪︎Give them a triple wash. Do not mix wash waters with drinking and working waters.
▪︎Break them so as not to use them again.
▪︎Keep them in close bags for proper disposal.

7. Use of fertilizer:

▪︎Consult with the agriculture expert for necessary application of chemical fertilizers or if it is possible to use only organic manure.
▪︎Fertilizers quantity to be used as recommended for your crop.

7.1 Application of fertilizers:

▪︎Apply only the dose required as per recommendations.
▪︎Do not apply more than the recommended dose to avoid contamination of waters and soils.
▪︎Write down the applications of fertilizers being done.

7.2 Storage of fertilizers:

▪︎Separate place should be available at the field to store fertilizers.
▪︎This place must be: locked, secure and well ventilated.
▪︎The place must be out of reach for children and animals.
▪︎Signpost the place with the following posters: “RISK”, “POISON”, “NO SMOKING”, “NO DRINKING”, “NO EATING”, “DO NOT TOUCH”

8. Application of organic manure:

8.1 Type & application:

▪︎Use only stabilized manure.
▪︎Use manure of animal or plant origin in your field.
▪︎Remember that the wrong use of manure is one of the main sources of contamination.
▪︎Always apply organic manure before planting the crops.
▪︎Write down the applications being done.

8.2 Place of preparation: Manure should be prepared in places far away from the crop area & water sources.

9. Animals in the field:

▪︎Verify with the veterinary doctor that the animals for work are healthy.
▪︎Domestic animals (dogs, cats) must be far away from the crop area and from the places where agro-chemicals and fertilizers are stored.
▪︎All workers should be informed that they are not allowed to enter animals into the crop area.

10. Harvesting:

▪︎The harvesting staff must have clean hands, short nails, tied hair and no smoking nor drinking during the harvest.
▪︎Fallen fruits should not be collected from the ground.
▪︎Carefully collect the products avoiding damages.
▪︎The fruits and vegetables harvested should be placed in clean containers without touching the ground.
▪︎The fruits and vegetables harvested must be placed under shadow and away from animals and the storage of chemicals and fertilizers.

11. Transportation:

▪︎Transport food stuff in a clean transport vehicle, in good conditions.
▪︎Take care while loading food stuff.
▪︎In case of using an open transport medium, the load must be covered to avoid the sun, dust and rain.
▪︎Do not transport together with animals, fertilizers, or agro-chemicals.
▪︎Document the type and amount of product loaded.

12. Retail:

▪︎Study the market and seek information about prices.
▪︎Have a meeting with the different stakes holders to know about prices.
▪︎Associate with the rest of the producers to obtain a better price.
▪︎Sell to someone you trust.
▪︎Make contracts with cooperatives, wholesalers and supermarkets to safeguard the sale.
▪︎Point out the better quality of the product.

13. Documentation for better control of production:

Advantages of the documentation:
▪︎Get a better knowledge & history of your field and crop
▪︎Save money in production
▪︎Identify where the problems, pests and diseases are located
▪︎Improve the quality of the product

Documentation of the field:
▪︎Name of the plot location
▪︎Owner of the plot
▪︎Name of the technician or administrator
▪︎ Planted area type
▪︎Variety used
▪︎Year of application

Documentation of Income and Expenses:
▪︎Price and expenses in the purchase of the seed & agro-chemicals and fertilizers
▪︎Expenses in plantation, equipments and salaries for workers
▪︎ Total expenses in harvesting & family welfare
▪︎ Selling price of the product

14. Identification & advertisement of GAP certified products:

▪︎The product must be labelled during packaging for better differentiation.
▪︎GAP certified products can be sold in other markets obtaining better selling conditions.

▪︎ The consumer may recognize GAP certified products at supermarkets by visual merchandising.