The Next Strategy in the Adaptation of Good Agricultural Practices

for SME Farmers in Asia and Pacific Region

Kit Chan
APO Conference on State-of-the-Art Technology to
Drive Agriculture Productivity in the Next Quarter of the Century
28th 30th June 2016, APO Secretariat, Tokyo

What will change in 25 years ?

A new generation of farmers who can read and write and Info Tech savvy
The Information Effect becomes even more entrenched in the economy
(speed, magnitude, intangible economy, sharingnot owning)

There is a global entity of the Internet of Everything and Everywhere

There are 2 major sources of food producers; big commercial plant factories
and small subsistence plant units
The environment will impact in every action and decision that we make,
particularly in food production

Where are the risks that we go wrong going into the future?

We could have really wrecked the environment and

risk the ability to produce safe food, or in the least,
increase the cost of food production to an unacceptable level
We rely too much on human in the decision making process
in the production of food

Concerns of the Asia Pacific Food Economy

Concerns

Classic Interventions

Food Insecurity

Protectionism, expand cultivation acreage

Cost of Food

Fiscal approaches

Farm Productivity

Crop yield, Crop fertilization, P&D management, Post-harvest

handling technology

Market Access

Promotion, price competitiveness

Economics of small farms, rural

poverty, length of food chain, etc

Supply chain, Policy - infrastructure investment, farm aid,

subsidy, shortening the food distribution chain

Food Safety

Food safety regulations

Environmental concerns on farming

Environmental regulations

Climate Change

No consensus in resolving problem

Concerns of the Asia Pacific Food Economy

Concerns

Next Interventions

Food Insecurity

Save food loss and save food waste

Cost of Food

Prices independent of production costs, From supply chain to

value chain, Value of food accessibility, brands, reputation

Farm Productivity

Technology and efficiency - gadgets, process and systems

management, Farm sustainability (physical and financial)

Market Access

Demand > supply, Larger & wealthier population, Post-harvest

and distribution management

Economics of small farms, rural

poverty, length of food chain, etc

Value chain, 2- tiers of food producers, Policy - building climate

resilience in farming sector (farmers adaptive capacity)

Food Safety

Intrinsic assurance

Environmental concerns on farming

Environmental pollution credits on food production (e.g.

carbon value and carbon trade, food miles)

Climate Change

Food produced in factories or environment shelters, farmers

must harmonize their cultivation with the environment 5

Guiding Principles of Good Agriculture Practice

1.
2.

Assurance of safe food production

Sustainable production

Assurance of food safety is a fundamental responsibility of the producer

Sustainable production ensures that producer must reap economic returns for
his efforts and investments, and able to do so continually
For this to happen, the farmer must recognize the impact of his practices
will have on the environment and to the consumer

Good Agriculture Practice - GAP

GAP is a production pathway that identifies critical control points and

establish compliance standards of varying degrees to eliminate hazards and prevent accidents
in order to progressively promote safe and hygienic fresh produce at the farm
with minimum negative impacts to the environment.

The good practices proposed in GAP are universally established

science - based rationales and justifications.

The close monitoring and specific control system provides assurances

of safety to the consumers of GAP produce.
Conducting a continual risk assessment of farm activities and the farm
physical conditions to continually keep check of accidents and upgrade the standard.

Issues in Current Practices in the Adaption of GAP

1.

How to making GAP attractive

2.

Market access and preferred supplier

Improvement in quality and productivity in production

Certification of Standards

3.

Compliance of criteria

Compliance of farmers to monitor and control farm activities

Farmers are liable to monitoring and making remedial decisions

-

Conduct risk assessments of the operational and environmental condition

Farmers lack monitoring tools and effective analytical skills

In building the adaptive capacity for the farmers, require:

Farmers to utilize the data & information from their daily monitoring work

Effective tools for farmers via farm extension and TOT programs

Active participation of farmers and interaction with the farmers

8

Process of Enabling Farmers into GAP via Technology Participation - 1

1.

Consumers making the demands for GAP food productions

2.

2 - levels of farmers: those with and those without the capacity to GAP production

3.

Pushing the farmers to adapt a production system without their sincere support
Farms with capacity in GAP production

Economic Loss / Cost to Value Chain

High cost of inefficiency

High wastage in production
Pollution cost
Cost of accidents and contamination

GAP Product Consumer Driven

Farms without capacity in GAP production

Non-GAP Product
Producer Driven
Current status

Process of Enabling Farmers into GAP via Technology Participation - 2

1.

The demand for food is expected to be greater than supply

2.

Food standards will rise, the high standards will become a norm

3.

Small farm units will suffer from the information effect and the information gap
Plant factories pioneering the standards of food production

Economic difference between these producers:

Access to information
Access to technology
Production efficiency and accuracy

Small farm units running on inefficient technologies

will not be sustainable (they have to relinquish their
farm assets)

Current status

Supply Base in the future

Demand for high

quality of food
becomes the norm

Non GAP food product

has high production
cost

Process of Enabling Farmers into GAP via Technology Participation - 3

1.

The bridge of the 2 producers lies in the access to technology, i.e. access to information

2.

Enabling factors for small farm units - Building the resilience of farmers towards climate
change via adaptive capacity

Plant factories pioneering the standards of food production

Enabling small farmers to sustainable production

Tools that help them access basic data

Gadgets that can continually monitor data changes
Set automated analysis and decision actions

There will be only

one food standard

What Drives this Leap Need for Sustainability, need for affordable information

Current status

Supply Base in the future

The Next Strategy

What are the paradigm changes that enable farmers to GAP production
There is a shift in the outlook of environmental impact, from a possibility to a
definite situation
Farmers move from preventing damage into mitigating environmental damage
Farmers work in an environment of resource scarcity
GAP production is no longer a choice but a necessity (it is the only way to
sustain their farm function)

Farmers must work with greater degree of dynamic information collection that
correlates space and time, besides the basic agronomic information

12

Steps in Developing the MRL Management Program

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

List all approved chemical permissible use in the country

Confirm the list with importing country permit to use

List the pest and disease infestation on calendar / production progress

Confirm chemical suitability / effectiveness for crop and pest
Prepare a spray plan
Chemical persistency (contact / systemic compounds)

Mode of Action of Chemicals

6.
7.

Modify spray program based on MOA and persistence management

Prepare alternative spray program for:
PHI
Change in weather condition
Chemical resistance
Residue accumulation

8.

Refine spray program for other considerations

Non-chemical alternative
Cultural practices
13

Existing Risk Assessment on Environmental Issues of IrrigationFertigation Water Management

Description of Impact of
Environment due to Irrigation /
Fertigation Water Usage

Action Taken to Prevent Occurrence

Remedial Action
Taken before Hazard
Occur

Severity

Frequency

1. Irrigation / fertigation waste

water seep into water ways
that is utilized by populations
downstream.

- Build bunds in the slopes to prevent rain wash

from entering water ways that is used by
populations downstream
- Build buffer / storage ponds in the farm to store
irrigation/fertigation water run-offs.

- Test water quality

of water used by
populations
downstream.

2. Irrigation / fertigation water

containing toxic materials and
it gets to neighboring farms

- Build buffer / storage ponds in the farm to store

irrigation / fertigation water run-offs.

- Test water quality

of water used by
populations
downstream.

3. Impact on water availability

due to unsustainable usage
or unsustainable source

- Calculate water usage and water availability

- Consider rain
harvest

4. Impact to crops due to poor

quality of water source

- Test / analyze water quality used for irrigation /

fertigation.

- Consider rain
harvest

5. Impact of sudden rush of

flash flood water due to
unpredictable rain storm

- Dig rain storm drains round the farm perimeter

- Raise fertilizers &

pesticides above
flood levels

Rank 1 Low risk and low severity Rank 9 High risk and high severity
Last Reviewed:

14

Deconstructing the Static Risk Assessment Monitor

Weaknesses in identifying and measuring Impact of environment on irrigation - fertigation
water usage
Spatial view of farm and surrounding areas not considered (contours, vegetation, other
sensitive economic activities of neighbors, etc.)
Need to detect and measure inflow of water seepage from upland / surrounding area
Need to detect and monitor direction and rate of flow of water seepage into neighboring areas
Need to monitor and measure toxicity of water seepage regularly
Pre-emptive action taken to prevent occurrence
Define tolerance level of contamination
Setup up sensors and detectors in the farm and in the vulnerable areas to detect and measure
contaminants
Setup early warning system to warn of impending floods or drought situations
Design effect drainage and barriers based on the vulnerable areas
Remedial Action Taken before Hazard Occur
Identify and measure the sensitivity of crop on the contamination
Develop SOP of actions for farmers in anticipation of adverse events

15

Reconstructing a Dynamic Risk Assessment Monitor on Environmental Issues of

Irrigation-Fertigation Water Management
Description of Impact of
Environment due to Irrigation /
Fertigation Water Usage

Severity

Frequency

Action Taken to Mitigate / Prevent Occurrence

Advance Warning
System of Impending
Occurrence

1. Irrigation / fertigation waste

water seep into water ways
that is utilized by populations
downstream.

- Setup alternative drainage system and buffer

zones to delineate / isolate farm from the
surrounding areas.
- Spatial maps to assist farmers to construct
effect alternative drainage system

- Sensors detect
waste water outflow
continuously on
seepage

2. Irrigation / fertigation water

containing toxic materials and
it gets to neighboring farms

- Setup alternative drainage system and buffer

zones to delineate / isolate farm from the
surrounding areas.
- Revise fertigation formulation that prevents
toxic occurrence precision application

- Sensors detect
waste water outflow
of toxicity
continuously on
seepage

3. Impact on water availability

due to unsustainable usage
or unsustainable source

- Precise measurement and control on rate of

usage
- Coordinate production rates with input
resources requirements
- Precision of fertigation needs (one that does
not allow toxic occurrence)

- Sharing of water
resources between
districts

4. Impact to crops due to poor

quality of water source
5. Impact of sudden rush of
flash flood water due to
unpredictable rain storm

- Construct storm water tunnels to safe areas

- Coordinate the construction of storm water
tunnels based on spatial condition
- Harvest storm water for irrigation use

Rank 1 Low risk and low severity Rank 9 High risk and high severity
Last Reviewed:

- Sensors detect
toxicity of irrigation
water
- Weather sensors to
measure severity of
impending storm
16

Building Adaptive Capacity in GAP for Farmers towards Climate Change

Producing food under an environment of climate change, GAP can no longer be a system of certification
compliance. It has to be a system that necessitates the sustainability of the farm to exist.
Pest management, soil management, water management, interpreting accurate weather forecast are
imperative to achieve the productivity of the production farm units. Such farm management activities must
interact with the unpredictable and continuous changing conditions of the environment.
Farmers must adapt to these production methods. They need to have access to the measurements of the
changing environment parameters and tools that analyze the data in their decision making process.

Necessary conditions
for sustainable GAP production

Necessary conditions
Farmers access to
information
Farmers make correct
decisions
Extension officers serve to
coordinate the activities
Open source information

Building climate
resilient farmers

Next approach in accessing and

affording GAP information
Farmers participate interactively
in TOT projects
Emphasis on farm environmental
processes soil, water, weather,
pest, carbon sequestration,
geospatial parameters, etc.

Useful Enablers
APO (promoting GAP)
NPO (demonstration projects)
Academic institution
(collaborative network, e.g.
GIS Mechanism with UNMC)

Geographic Information System (GIS) Mechanism

Data Input

Project Management / Farmer

Data Output

Farmer
Daily environment
monitoring
Temperature
Rain duration
Pest monitor
Plant crop cycle
monitoring
Fertilizer/Pesticide
application data
Geo-tag
(coordinates)

Data
Collection
(Database)

Spatial Analysis

Planning

Decision making

Thank you

For more enquiries please write to

kitchan@kfarm.com
or visit us @

www.kfarm.com
19

References:
1.

Building Climate Resilience in the Agriculture Sector in Asia and the Pacific
International Food Policy Research Institute
Asian Development Bank
2009 Asian Development Bank
ISBN 978-971-561-827-4 Publication Stock No. FLG090810

2.

GlobalG.A.P.
Integrated Farm Assurance
All Farm / Crop Base / Fruit and Vegetables
Checklist
English Version 5.0
Valid from: 1 July 2015
Obligatory from: 1 July 2016

3.

Dr. Tuong-Thuy Vu
Associate Professor
OSGEO Research Lab, School of Geography
University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
tuongthuy.vu@nottingham.edu.my

20

AF 1.2
AF 1.2.1

Site Management
Is there a risk assessment
available for all sites
registered for certification
(this includes rented land,
structures and equipment)
and does this risk
assessment show that the
site in question is suitable
for production, with
regards to food safety, the
environment, and health
and welfare of animals in
the scope of the livestock
and aquaculture
certification where
applicable?

A written risk assessment to determine whether the sites are

appropriate for production shall be available for all sites. It shall be
ready for the initial inspection and maintained updated and
reviewed when new sites enter in production and when risks for
existing ones have changed, or at least annually, whichever is
shorter. The risk assessment may be based on a generic one but
shall be customized to the farm situation.

Major
Must

Risk assessments shall take into account:

- Potential physical, chemical (including allergens) and biological
hazards
- Site history (for sites that are new to agricultural production,
history of five years is advised and a minimum of one year shall be
known)
- Impact of proposed enterprises on adjacent stock/crops/
environment, and the health and safety of animals in the scope of
the livestock and aquaculture certification.

AF 7.1

Impact of Farming on the Environment and Biodiversity

AF 7.1.1

Does each producer have a

wildlife management and
conservation plan for the
farm business that
acknowledges the impact
of farming activities on the
environment?

There shall be a written action plan that aims to enhance habitats

Minor
and maintain biodiversity on the farm. This can be either an
Must
individual plan or a regional activity that the farm is participating in
or is covered by. It shall pay special attention to areas of
environmental interest being protected and make reference to legal
requirements where applicable. The action plan shall include
knowledge of integrated pest management practices, nutrient use of
crops, conservation sites, water supplies, the impact on other users.
21

CB 5

WATER MANAGEMENT
Water is a scarce natural resource and irrigation should be designed and planned by
appropriate forecasting and/or by technical equipment allowing for the efficient use of
irrigation water. For information about responsible water use, see Annex CB 1.

CB 5.1

Predicting Irrigation Requirements

CB 5.1.1

Are tools used routinely to

calculate and optimize the
crop irrigation
requirements?

The producer can demonstrate that crop irrigation requirements

are calculated based on data (e.g. local agricultural institute data,
farm rain gauges, drainage trays for substrate growing,
evaporation meters, water tension meters for the percentage of
soil moisture content). Where on-farm tools are in place, these
should be maintained to ensure that they are effective and in a
good state of repair. N/A only for rain-fed crops.

Minor
Must

CB 5.2.1

Has a risk assessment

been undertaken that
evaluates environmental
issues for water
management on the farm
and has it been reviewed
by the management
within the previous 12
months?

There is a documented risk assessment that identifies

environmental impacts of the water sources, distribution system
and irrigation and crop washing usages. In addition, the risk
assessment shall take into consideration the impact of own
farming activities on off-farm environments, where information is
known to be available. The risk assessment shall be completed,
fully implemented and it shall be reviewed and approved annually
by the management. See Annex AF.1 (General Guideline for Risk
Assessments) and Annex CB.1 (Guideline for On-farm Water
Management) for further guidance. No N/A.

Minor
Must
(Will
become
Major
Must as of
1 July
2017)

22

CB 6

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves the careful consideration of all available pest control
techniques and the subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the
development of pest populations, and keeps plant protection products and other interventions to
levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the
environment. An IPM Toolbox (Annex CB 2) has been developed to provide alternative actions for the
application of IPM techniques in the commercial production of agricultural and horticultural crops.
Given the natural variation on pest development for the different crops and areas, any IPM system
shall be implemented in the context of local physical (climatic, topographical etc.), biological (pest
complex, natural enemy complex, etc.), and economical conditions.

CB 6.5

CB 7

Have anti-resistance
When the level of a pest, disease or weed requires repeated controls in Minor
recommendations, either on the crops, there is evidence that anti-resistance recommendations
Must
the label or other sources,
(where available) are followed.
been followed to maintain
the effectiveness of available
plant protection products?

PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS

CB 7.6.1 Can the producer

demonstrate that
information regarding the
Maximum Residue Levels
(MRLs) of the country(ies) of
destination (i.e. market(s) in
which the producer intends
to trade) is available?

The producer or the producer's customer shall have available a list of

Major
current applicable MRLs for all market(s) in which produce is intended Must
to be traded (domestic and/or international). The MRLs shall be
identified by either demonstrating communication with clients
confirming the intended market(s), or by selecting the specific
country(ies) (or group of countries) in which produce is intending to be
traded, and presenting evidence of compliance with a residue
screening system that meets the current applicable MRLs of that
country. Where a group of countries is targeted together for trading,
the residue screening system shall meet the strictest current applicable
23
MRLs in the group. Refer to Annex CB. 4 Residue Analysis.