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Challenges for the fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) sector and state of development of GAP in Thailand. Structure of presentation. The FFV sector in Thailand Export requirements Key development Implementation of GAP by the DOA Support to the GAP programme
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Challenges for the fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) sector and state of development of GAP in Thailand
Structure of presentation • The FFV sector in Thailand • Export requirements • Key development • Implementation of GAP by the DOA • Support to the GAP programme • SWOT analysis, driving forces and constrains • Perspectives • Issues identified for attention • Conclusion
1. The FFV sector in Thailand • Agri. sector is 13% of GDP (68% is crops) • Agricultural sector involves 56% of the pop. • Average farm size: 3.7 ha • Baby corn farm size: 0.5-1.6 ha • Tangerine farm size: 1-18 ha • Value of agri. export: Bht 618 Bn (2003) • Value longan export: Bht 4,138 M (2004) • Value durian export: Bht 1,636 M (2004) • Value asparagus export: Bht 255 M (2004) • Value baby corn export: Bht 113 M (2004)
The main export markets • Longan: China and ASEAN countries (85%). • Durian: China and Taiwan (90%). • Asparagus: Taiwan and Japan (87%). • Baby corn: EU countries (73%).
Requirements for export of FFV • Requirements vary from country to country • Exporter has to fulfill requirements of importers and governments of the importing countries • Many countries require a pesticide residue certificate • Some importers require EUREPGAP certification
Thai requirements for export of FFV • Registration of exporters of fresh durian and longan fruits • Pesticide residue certificate for export of 12 fruits and vegetables to the EU and 6 other countries • Pesticide residue certificate for 21 vegetables and herbs to Japan • GAP certification for pineapples, longan and lichee to Australia • Sanitary certificate for 8 vegetables to EU
3. Key development • Food safety is increasingly emphasized for export of FFV • Many requirements and regulations on food safety have been promulgated • DOA Q-GAP implementation started in 2004, following earlier schemes
Offices involved with food safety in the Department of Agriculture (DOA) Cluster 1 Admin. Cluster 2 Basic and Applied Research and Dev. Cluster 3 Prod. Res. Dev. Cluster 4 Regional Research Dev. • Plant Protection • Research and Dev. Office • Agri. Production Science Research and Dev. Office • Post harvest • Product Processing • Research and Dev. Office • Office of Agri. • Regulations • Information TechnologyCenter • Technical One Stop Service Center (TOSSC) • Horticulture • Research Institute • Office of Agri. Research and • Development • (OARD)
Food Safety Committee : Coordination of food safety programme in DOA Food Safety Committee Sub. Com on GAP Certification Sub. Com on Technical Support Sub. Com on Coordination & Info. Services Sub. Com on Implementation • Office of Agri. • Res.Dev. • Tech. One Stop • Ser. • Agri. Prod. Sci. • Res. Dev. Office • Post-harvest Prod. • Proc.Res.Dev. • Office • Office Agri. Res. • Dev. • Tech. One Stop. • Ser. • Office of Agri.. • Reg. • Office of Agri. • Res. Dev. • Post-harvest • Prod. Proc. Res. • Dev. Office • Inf. Tech. Sys. • Post-harvest • Prod. Proc. Res. • Dev. Office • OfficeAgri. Res. • Dev. • Agri. Prod.Sci. • Res. Dev. Office
4. DOA and Food Safety Focus of DOA strategies and measures: • Inputs and raw materials • Production at farm level (GAP) • Packing house and processing establishments • Agricultural produce
Establishment of the Q programme • Commodity departments and ACFS signed MOU in 2003 • ACFS is Accreditation Body (AB); 6 other departments have status of Certification Body (CB) • Q logo is common logo for all agri. products • DOA grants several Q certifications including: Q Shop Q GAP Q GMP Q GMP/HACCP Q Fumigation Q Food Safety
Objectives of GAP programme • Government wants to ensure that food crops are safe, wholesome and meet standards GAP programme is meant to : • Maintain consumer confidence • Ensure safety for growers • Minimize negative impacton theenvironment
Previous programmes : “Hygienic vegetables”, “Pesticide-safe vegetables” and other variations. Private and public sector Implementing government agencies were: DOA, DOAE, DMS Programmes substituted by the new Q programme
GAP inspection/certification process GAP volunteers - Completes the application form Grower • - Makes appointment • Dispatches inspector • Inspect farm and • production plan • Summarize results - Trains grower OARD OARD Board - Reviews result Subcom. on GAP certification - Compiles information - Issues GAP certif. Com. on Food Safety Mgmt
Levels of GAP certification • Level 1: Pesticide-residue safe (within MRL) Level 1: most GAP certified farms today • Level 2: 1 + pest free • Level 3: 2 + quality Level 2 and 3: Direction for the future. Currently only a small number of farms certified for these levels, esp. vegetables
Status of GAP implementation • Q shop (9000 shops selling inputs in Thailand): - 32 certified so far, 40 more have applied • Q GAP : - 440,000 farmers applied, of which 136,000 certified so far, covering an area of 2,800,000 rai (6-7% of total) • Q GMP/HACCP: - 795 processors applied, of which 519 certified so far. • Pesticide residue analysis for FFV: - 10% exceeded MRLs in 2003, 4% in 2004- Rejected consignments 0.36% in 2003, 0.13% in 2004
Documents that guide FFV producers on applying GAP • GAP implementation guidelines • GAP for specific crops • For inspectors: GAP inspection manual and Checklists for GAP inspection
Capacity building provided to inspectors and volunteers • Training for GAP inspectors: 4-day training course 4-day refresher training, every 3-6 months • Training for GAP volunteers: 2-day training course from inspectors Inspector : GAP volunteer : Grower 1 : 25 : 1,250 Currently there are 700 inspectors in total
Support to the GAP programme Private sector involvement Private sector programmes on-going Main incentives to implement GAP for government, private sector and farmers Q GAP to meet export requirements Influence of Q GMP/HACCP on Q GAP
1. Strengths of GAP programme: • DOA has a very strong network with eight OARDs • DOA has many well-trained and experienced personnel
2. Weaknesses of the GAP programme : • Unclear linkages among Departments • Units in Department work independently • DOA not familiar with new tasks • Weak in analysis of microorganisms • Personnel do not work solely on GAP • Documents on GAP are quite confusing
3. Opportunitiesand threats for the GAP programme: Opportunities • Government policy support for food safety • Market access, possibly with price premium Threats : • Failures may undermine confidence
Driving forces and Constraints : Driving forces • Thai Government policy Constraints • Limited resources, poor education • Profits from GAP not equally shared along the chain • Immediate needs of farmers not addressed • Pesticides remain a cheap solution for farmers because of subsidies • Physical appearance of FFV is key in determining market price, more than other factors • Lack of reliable information • Labour shortages increase herbicide use • Weak institutional coordination
Perspectives: • Lessons learnt from previous programmes • Inclusion of environmental & social issues • Increase in demand for GAP
Issues for attention: Marketing level • Fair and equitable financial reward • Participating in inspection and endorsing the quality of produce • Storage facilities • Shortening the supply chain • etc.
Issues for attention : Government level • Written, complete GAP manual, increase consistency and transparency • Technical equivalence of ThaiGAP with international programmes • Disseminate information on food safety programme • Avoid redundant regulations/requirements • Coordination among ministries, departments • etc.
Issues for attention : Farming level • Training in non-production skills • Cold storage facilities • Q-GAP should include collecting house • Micro-organism hazards should be addressed • Simplify guidelines • Alternative avenues for information dissemination • etc.
Summary of Key Challenges • Coordination among the different divisions • Strengthen capabilities of farmers and traders • Fair and equitable financialreturns • Building awareness to all supply chain actors • High number of farms and processing firms • Long supply chains
Conclusion : • Consistent, transparent, acceptable system takes time to develop • Exported FFV have improved in safety and quality through Q programme • There should be consistent follow-up to recommendations that have been made by projects and workshops