STANDARDS IN FOCUS ... Standards are useful for shaping local Agriculture

STANDARDS IN FOCUS … Standards are useful for shaping local Agriculture

Oct 21, 2018 Features / Columnists, Standards in Focus

As we continue to look closely at Agriculture during October and celebrate the successes of the sector, standards must be at the back of our mind as the guiding tools and principles that will help to shape our approaches towards further improvements and sustainability of Agriculture in Guyana.
The use of standards will also help all players including policymakers, experts and scientists, agro-processors and farmers to shape the activities of the agro-sector in consideration of the need to maintain a green economy.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards in keeping with its mandate to develop national standards has formulated a number of agriculture related standards in order to improve the quality of products available for local consumption as well as exportation.
Some of these standards are: Specification for grades of banana, pineapple, watermelons, cassava, eddoes, plantains and hot peppers.
These standards have been harmonized with international standards, mainly Codex Standards and CARICOM Regional Standards, to improve production and quality and also to facilitate acceptance regionally and internationally.
In addition, the GNBS has worked with the experts to formulate some critical standards for the sector. Among these standards are the Code of Practice for packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables which specifies hygienic practices for the production and packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables. It addresses microbial, physical and chemical hazards, as these relate to good agricultural and manufacturing practices.
There is also the Guidelines for the production, processing, labelling and marketing of organically produced foods which sets out the principles of organic production at farm, preparation, storage, transport, labelling and marketing stages; and provide an indication of accepted, permissible inputs for soil fertilizing and conditioning; plant pest and disease control; food additives and processing aids.
Additionally, useful to agro-processors is the Guidelines for Good management practices for micro and small enterprises which sets out the principles for implementing a Quality Management System, Environmental Management System and an Occupational health and safety Management System in all small enterprises including, those that cultivate and process fresh fruits and vegetables.
The GNBS also has a number of other standards that can be of great benefit to farmers and agro-processors. These include Specification for Rice, Poultry and Poultry Products, Food Hygiene, Packaged Coconut Water, Salted Fish, Labelling of Pre-packaged Goods, Jams and Jellies, and the Transport and Handling of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
As we continue to observe Agriculture month under the theme: ‘Shaping Agriculture for a Green economy’ we have to take the standards approach to prevent the ‘reinvention of the wheel’ and to ensure consistency in production.
Many stakeholders in the agro-sector are already adopting more and more efficient ways to rear, cultivate and manufacture. This changed approach to agriculture can similarly be realized through the acquisition and use of standards.
The GNBS invites all contributors to the Agro sector including farmers to visit its Technical Standards Information Unit and peruse the range of standards which is available. This is the first steps towards using standards to guide what you do to reshape Agriculture in Guyana.
For further information, visit the Guyana National Bureau of Standards at the Exhibition Site, Sophia or its website: www.gnbsgy.org or call: 219-0062, 219-0065, 219-0066.