Agriculture Ministry hosts Global GAP consultancy meeting for Essex Valley Project

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries today (September 2) hosted a Global GAP(Good Agricultural Practices) consultancy meeting for the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project (EVADP) with a view to conducting an assessment of the Government’s approach and the implementation of the Global GAP standard.

The standard is primarily designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm by minimizing detrimental environmental impacts of farming operations.

A total of 700 farmers are to be trained under EVADP towards achieving Global GAP certification.

Addressing stakeholders at the meeting, held at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dermon Spence, said the certification of farmers to the standard is critical to the sustainability of the agriculture sector.

“Global GAP has taken centre stage. We cannot compete globally if we are not certified,” he said.

A Global GAP certification will mean that farmers can assure their consumers that their products are healthy and safe for consumption and conform to environmental best practices.

In his remarks, Global GAP Consultant, Leonardo Ferrer Narvaez said training of farmers and other relevant individuals will commence in short order.  

Mr. Narvaez explained that it is important for farmers to become Global GAP certified to guarantee the safety of the foods eaten by many people.

Once certified, farms are stored in the Global GAP online database, one of the largest online sources for validated farm data on food safety and sustainability.

Funded by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership to the tune of £35million and managed by the Caribbean Development Bank, the EVADP aims to reduce the water-related challenges being faced by 700 farmers in the Essex Valley area in St. Elizabeth.

It will provide improved irrigation systems on approximately 700 hectares of land and will include the development of a climate-resilient off-farm irrigation system consisting of six irrigation wells and restoration of approximately 30 kilometres of farm/ community road.

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