It aims to improve quality, food safety and marketability of agricultural produce by strengthening application of good production and processing practices and supervision, and expand Good Agricultural Practices to more areas. Apart from providing technical support, the project has helped producers and distributors with packaging, building brands, and marketing to ensure outlets for the vegetables.
All vegetables grown under the pilot project have met GAP requirements. No crop protection residues have been found in vegetable samples, according to the city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Profits have been increased significantly since participants have joined the project, it said.
Jim Lee, a Canadian technical specialist, suggested that small farmers form large-size farming to facilitate the application of Vietgap. The city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also said that training on VietGap standards and Good Manufacturing Practices for farmers should be continued. Activities promoting consumption of Gap-certified products should also be enhanced.
Source: saigon-gpdaily.com.vn