GLOBALG.A.P TOUR-NAIROBI
THEME: STRENGTHENING COMPLIANCE AND EXPANDING MARKETS FOR KENYA’S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
GLOBALG.A.P , an independent internationally recognized certification group for farm produce, was in the country to engage sector players on how best to strengthen compliance and improve Kenya’s market worthiness in the globe. GLOBALG.A. P’s main mission is to bring together supply chain players in the agricultural industry to ensure safe, socially and environmentally acceptable farming practices that translates to globally accepted produce.
The Nairobi conference created a platform for sector players that included the government of Kenya through the ministry of Agriculture, state agencies, Donor organizations, private firms and providers of farming goods and services to discuss how best to:
Create awareness of food standards for different value chains.
Engage on pertinent issues to enhance marketing of their fresh produce.
Discuss on issues that enhance the potential to facilitate viable and safe trade.
Articulate on issues that touch on the cost of compliance to the GLOBAL GAP standard.
Gain access to new markets for Kenyan produce regionally through the untapped regional markets through the African continental free trade area and internationally e.g. the U.S.A
Understand the involvement of our development partners in ensuring compliance to the market standards thereby being able to access the lucrative international market.
Different government agencies to emphasize on their commitment to improve food safety and quality to enhance compliance to GLOBAL STANDARDS
https://fpckenya.co.ke/2023/01/24/fpc-kenya-land-o-lakes-training-benefits-hundreds-of-farmers/
At the end of the three-day event, it was agreed that there was need to:
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Explore to integrate Africa’s markets in line with the objective and principals of Abuja Treaty and aspirations of Agenda 2063 through:
Obtaining a larger single market for agricultural goods and services in the continent
Liberalize market for agricultural goods and services
Allow easy movement for capital and natural resources
Further discussion on tariff liberalization modalities
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. Aligning local regulations/certifications to international ones.
- While mandatory are regulatory and guided by individual countries the voluntary, privately managed ones are key in opening up outside markets for our exporters
- There is need to align local standards (KS 1758) with GlobalG.A.P. to make standards work without burdening the producers.
- Establishment of a uniform criteria for setting standards (Aggregate centers) and delocalize GlobalGAP standards
- Certification of producers in clusters for cost sharing
- Government subsidy to be introduced for certification too (case in point, Murangá county)
- Encourage consumers to be part of the conversations on standards
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. The G.M.O conversation.
The lifting of the ban on GMO has raised questions with our markets abroad and there is course to offer clarity to consumers on the same.
Kenya currently does not produce anything through GM other than Bt cotton purely for pest control purposes and it is not for export. Research are underway to include maize and later Irish potatoes.
The government position on GMO is to ensure food security for her people. Any research and steps taken are to make sure Kenyans have enough food on their table and not for export.
There may be need for the government to provide non GMO certificates to cushions exporters to the EU markets. Presently there is certification for tea, coffee and macadamia nuts.
Research need to be done in situations where farms with GMO produce may cross pollinate with organic produce for export. Case in point, baby corn and okra.
Summary
GLOBALG.A.P TOUR created awareness on the time that the GLOBAL GAP IFA V6 was unveiled and will take effect in January 2024.
IFA V6 takes a holistic approach that will incorporate Food Safety, Legal Management Traceability, Production Processes, Animal Health and Welfare and Workers Well being.
GLOBALG.A.P TOUR STOP was summed up by exposure tours to different practitioners that have perfected good agricultural practices. They included KALRO Thika, Kakuzi, Plantech Kenya Ltd, Cropnut Laboratories and Mitchell Cotts.
