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What are Good Agricultural Practices?
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is a comprehensive approach that forms the basis of today's agriculture and aims to ensure quality, safety, and sustainability at every stage of agricultural production. These practices promote agricultural techniques that do not harm human health, protect natural resources, and are environmentally sensitive by evaluating the social, economic, and environmental responsibilities required by modern agriculture together. Good Agricultural Practices offer detailed standards and guidance for producers. In addition to subjects such as soil management, effective use of water resources, fertilization techniques, methods for combating harmful organisms, occupational health and safety, it also covers important elements such as the control of chemical residues and product traceability. In this way, productivity increases in agricultural areas, product quality rises, and environmental impacts are minimized.
What is the Purpose of Good Agricultural Practices?
The main purpose of Good Agricultural Practices is to make agricultural production processes sustainable from social, economic, and environmental perspectives. These practices are shaped in line with the following main goals:
Protecting Human Health: Taking chemicals used in production processes under control ensures safe food production. Good Agricultural Practices aim to produce foods that do not harm consumers and are safe in terms of health.
Protecting Natural Resources: Effective methods are developed to protect soil, water, and biological diversity. Environmentally friendly agricultural practices are promoted through methods such as effective use of water resources, erosion control, and biological control.
Economic Sustainability: It helps agricultural producers increase their income by increasing their productivity. The increase in productivity reduces costs and increases the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises.
Social Sustainability: Good Agricultural Practices prioritize occupational health and safety. It improves the quality of life of farmers and workers, provides safe working environments, and observes social responsibilities.
Product Traceability and Quality Assurance: The fact that production processes of products are traceable strengthens the safe food supply chain. Determining quality standards and certification offers reliable product options for consumers.
This practice aims to ensure that agricultural production is managed in a way that suits modern needs and to leave a sustainable agricultural legacy for future generations. In this way, it is aimed to both protect environmental resources and improve public health.
Good Agricultural Practices Certification System
Control and certification processes carried out within the framework of GAP are performed in two different options: individual and group certification.
Individual Certification: The individual certification process is initiated in the event that natural or legal persons produce on agricultural lands under their control as owners or tenants. In this process, all areas where the product is produced are regularly inspected and certified by control bodies for compliance with the determined Good Agricultural Practices standards.
Group Certification: Producer organizations or producer groups come together on a contract basis and are included in the group certification process by control bodies. In this option, the process is managed by making a contract between the producer organization and the control body, and all production processes are inspected and certified on behalf of the producer organization. Additionally, contracts are arranged between the producer organization and its members to ensure that the requirements of Good Agricultural Practices are fully met.
These systems have been developed to promote the dissemination and implementation of Good Agricultural Practices in agricultural production. In both certification options, the process is supported by regular inspections and updates to verify that products are produced in a sustainable and safe manner.
How to Get a Good Agricultural Practices Certificate?
To obtain a Good Agricultural Practices certificate, first, the producer or producer union must make the necessary preparations in the agricultural field. In this process, it is important to ensure compliance with standards such as soil analyses, management of water resources, fertilization techniques, and methods for combating harmful organisms. Then, a control and certification body authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is selected. After applying to the selected body, the enterprise is inspected on-site and evaluated for compliance with Good Agricultural Practices standards. Following a successful inspection, a certificate is issued, and this document shows that the products are produced in a safe and sustainable way. The certificate must be renewed at certain intervals, and the producer must continue to manage the continuous improvement and certification process.
How to Get Good Agricultural Practices Support?
For producers who want to receive Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) support, the first step is to research the support programs provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The Ministry organizes various incentives and grant programs to promote Good Agricultural Practices. To benefit from these supports, certain conditions must generally be met and application processes must be followed. In addition, project-based supports are also organized from time to time and can be provided within the scope of special projects for a specific region or agricultural product. Producers can access the details of these supports through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's website or relevant local units. https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/Konular/Tarimsal-Destekler/Alan-Bazli-Destekler/Iyi-Tarim-Uygulamalari-Destegi
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