AR Malik Farms on Tuesday became the first Bangladeshi institution to receive certification on good agricultural practices (GAP) from GlobalGAP.
GlobalGAP is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions developed by FoodPLUS GmbH in Cologne, Germany, with cooperation from producers, retailers, and other stakeholders from across the food industry.
Malik Seeds has been a leading supplier of quality seeds to vegetable and potato growers in Bangladesh since 1969.
Sadequl Islam, chief of policy and development of AR Malik Seeds said that four vegetables and one fruit from Malik Farms obtained this recognition.
During the certificate handover ceremony in the capital on the day, experts stressed taking GAP as a national movement to ensure food safety for the people of the country and to widen the scope of exports of agro products to Europe and the US.
As safe and organic agro products are the main condition to enter the markets of Europe, it is a must to introduce GAP nationally to increase the export of these products, they also said.
Ataus Sopan Malik, managing director of Malik Seeds said that this award is a result of the joint effort of every staff of the company.
“We have been awarded for five products (pumpkin, cabbage, cauliflower, bitter gourd and mango) and are working on another seven products. We need to collectively work together to create a sustainable vegetable value chain,” he added.
He also said that the support of the government, all departments, the private sector, media and farmers are needed to grab the export market of agro products.
The company is conducting contract farming with nearly 1,000 farmers and the number will increase in the future, he added.
Dr Rafiq Sarker, managing director of Matrix, the assurer of the GlobalGAP award, said that there should be a visible difference between safe and unsafe foods.
“Policy support is needed to send these GAP-awarded products to the common consumers,” he added.
Fakhrul Islam Khan, managing director of Control Union, the auditor and issuer of GlobalGAP, said that Control Union has been working for 102 years globally to ensure safe foods in 80 countries with 34 testing labs.
“We congratulate Malik Farms for obtaining this award,” he added.
In his speech, Kazi Zahedul Hasan, managing director of Kazi Farms, said that the award is well deserved for Malik Farms as per the facilities they have established.
“It is a path-breaking achievement and a lot of farms of Bangladesh will follow suit,” he added, saying that a transition is needed in the country’s agriculture.
He also said that this transition will ensure safe food for Bangladeshis and unleash the opportunity for exports.
Agriculture and media personality Shykh Seraj said that the future of agriculture is based on GAP and safe products.
“If GAP is introduced widely, we will be able to grab the largest agro products market in Europe. In this regard, government policy support is needed,” he added.
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Anne van Leeuwen said that Bangladesh needs to diversify its export baskets inside and outside of the RMG.
“All sectors have to come forward to achieve this. They have to work to enhance efficiency and skill,” he added, saying that the Netherlands will maintain a balanced relationship with Bangladesh after the LDC graduation.
Badal Chandra Biswas, director general of the Department of Agriculture, said that the advancement of Bangladesh in the agricultural sector is noticeable as per the country’s position.
“Like Malik Farms, a number of companies and farmers are practising GAP. We have limitations in some areas but we are moving point-to-point to overcome it,” he added.
Now the department is conducting a number of projects on exportable mango, potato and other products.
Top officials, government officials, private sector entrepreneurs and representatives from super shops also spoke at the event.
