Guidelines “Good Agricultural Practices

1 Departmental Program on Food and Nutritional Security,Antioquia, Colombia, Project TCP/3101/COL UTF/COL/027/COLfor Family Agriculture Guidelines good Agricultural PracticesPagGuidelines good Agricultural Practices forFamily Agriculture AuthorsPreparation and edition of technical material:- Juan Izquierdo, Senior Plant Production Officer. FAO, Latin America and the Caribbean- Marcos Rodriguez Fazzone, GAP Consultant, FAO, Latin America and the Caribbean- Marcela Duran, FAO Volunteer Programme. FAO, Latin America and the and diagramming were under:- Marcia Miranda Designer- Marcelo Carrillo to comments and suggestions comingfrom:-TCP/COL/3101/COL and UTF/COL/027/COL project teams- Maria Teresa Oyarzun, FAO Consultant, Latin Americaand the CaribbeanThe designations employed and the presentation of material in this informationproduct do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of theFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning legal ordevelopment status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, orconcerning the delimitation of its frontiers or rights reserved.

2 Reproduction and dissemination of material contained in thisinformation product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorizedwithout any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the sourceis fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resaleor other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyrightholders. Applications for such permission should be addressed to Chief ElectronicPublishing Policy and Support Branch Information Division FAO, Viale delle TermediCaracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy, Or by e-mail to: FAO 2007 ISBN 978-92-5-105757-5 PagThis manual has been prepared by the Groupon Agriculture of the FAO Regional Office forLatin America and the purpose of this work is to spread the basicconcepts of good Agricultural Practices (GAP)in order to: guide the production systemstowards a sustainable agriculture andecologically safe, obtain harmless products ofhigher quality, contribute to food securitygenerating income through the access tomarkets and improve working conditions ofproducers and their manual addresses Agricultural techniciansand extension workers, producer organizations,rural school teachers, children, urban and peri-urban citizens and Family Agriculture groupsin ndex2I.

3 What are good Agricultural Practices ?ConceptWho benefit from the GAPs?Diagram: What do the GAPs foster?II. Why should I use good Agricultural Practices ?Advantages and benefits versus problems and risks by non application ofGAPsIII. How should good Agricultural Practices be implemented?1. How can working conditions be improved and those of male and femaleworkers? What services must be assured for male and female workers? What services must be assured for workers?2. Which is the best place to sow?3. How must the soil be prepared?4. How can crops be handled?5. How can water be used and manager? How must water and irrigation be used? Water for the family and workers6. How must agro-chemicals be used? What agro-chemical should I use? What elements should I use to protect myself? How should I apply agro-chemicals? How and where should I keep agro-chemicals? What must I do with the empty containers?Pag37. What fertilizer should I use and in what quantity? How must I apply fertilizers?

4 How and where should I keep fertilizers?8. How should organic manure be used? What type of manure should I apply and how should I do it? Where should I prepare organic manure?9. Animals in the Work Production Domestic animals (dogs, cats, others)10. Which is the best way of harvesting? In what conditions should the workers doing the harvesting be?11. How must the transport of food be done?12. What must be taken into account at the moment of selling the product?13. What information must I register to have a better control of the product?14. How does the buyer know that my product was processed with GAPs?PagConcept Consumers are ever more concerned aboutobtaining safe food and produced caringabout environment and worker wellbeing. good Agricultural Practices are born in thiscontext and can be simply defined as Doingthings well and guaranteeing it has beendone so GAPs and GMPs ( good ManufacturingPractices) are a set of principles, regulationsand technical recommendations applicableto production, processing and food transport,addressing human health care, environmentprotection and improvement of workerconditions and their benefit from the GAPs?

5 Farmers and their families that will obtainhealthy and good quality food to assure theirnutrition and nourishment, generating a valueadded in their products to access markets ina better way. Consumers, that will enjoy better and safequality food, with sustainable production. The population in general, that will benefitfrom a better What are good Agricultural Practices ?PagWhat do the GAPs foster?Environment- No contamination of water and soils- Rational handling of agro-chemicals- Concern about Biodiversity- Healthy food, not contaminated and of higher quality to improve nutrition and food consumptionFood Safety5 AnimalWellfare- Animal care- Adequate feeding- Improve worker and consumer conditions- Enhance the Agricultural Family wellfare- Improve food securitySecurity forPeoplePagSick workersHealthyworkersChildren do not give priority toschool attendance and spendenergies doing farming workII. Why should I use good Agricultural Practices ?

6 WITH BPA6 Healthy and good qualityproducts to improve nutritionand nourishmentof the in bad conditionsand/or contaminatedaffecting family healthSustainability and access tonew markets High quality(differentiated product)Loss of markets quality productChildrenattend schoolWITHOUT BPAPagAnimal welfareClean fieldToilets anddepositsAnimals are tiredContaminated fieldLatrine andinfrastructure in badconditions7 More incomeBetter prices for qualityLower costs ($) (-agro-chemicals)Higher yields (Productivity)Less incomeLower pricesHigher costs ($) (+agro-chemicals)Lower yieldsConfusion anddisregardControl ofproductionWITH BPAWITHOUT BPAPag- All workers should be registered in the socialsecurity system- All workers will be trained, especially in agro-chemicals/fertilizer management, hygiene andfirst How can working conditions be improved and those of male and female workers?- Priority of children is to attend school andthey may only help in the field in activitieswhich do not attempt against their securityand times to How should good Agricultural Practices be implemented?

7 What services must be assured for male and female workers?- Personal protection equipment,above all for the application offor the application of agro-chemicals- First aid kit- Emergency phones(fire brigade, police, hospitals)- Participate in healthsessions carried outby the hospital orhealth centers of yourcommunity- Weight and heightof your childrenshould be analyzedto see if they are Make a checkup for you andyour family and request healthcertificates from workersto be In order to improve nourishment, nutrition and health of yourfamily, use healthy products in daily What services must be assured for workers?- Workers should count with personal protectionequipment, especially for the application ofchemical products, and also a first aid There should be enough number of fixed or mobiletoilets for all Toilets should be kept clean, in good conditions,ventilated and doors should close Toilets should have: trush can, toilet paper, washbasin,potable water, soap, If bins or water tanks are used for hygiene,remember:- Containers should be kept clean on the insideand Water must be cold, clean, without odors and notallowed to them under When you have an infectious disease or withsymptoms (diarrhea, vomits, etc.)

8 Fresh foodshould not be measures:- Keep good personalcleanliness- Consider the posters use thetoilets and wash your hands - Remember to wash yourhands after using the GAP in cropsWhich is the best place to plant?12- Know the history of the field- Recognize more fertile landsand with availability of water1st year 2nd year 3rd yearPag8- Do not plant in fields withchemical contaminants- The field should be free of trash, papers,plastics and empty Check there is no risk ofwater contaminationPag- Be acquainted with the type ofpests, diseases and weeds thatexist, mainly in the crop Check on possible contamination sourcesfrom neighboring Signpost the place where the cropwill be planted with the number ofthe lot or name of the For all these activities consult with the technicianthat you With the support of the techniciananalyze the type of soil and its depth forgood growth of the Consider the slope of the field wherethe planting will be How must the soil be prepared?

9 16 Pag12- Perform the minimumpossible Avoid soil erosion and Practice crop rotation1st year 2nd year 3rd yearFor all these activities consult with the technician thatyou Select seeds that can adapt to the soilof the field- Select improved seeds and resistant tothe most frequent diseases accordingto the recommendations of How can crops be handled?19 Pag17- Select an adequate sowing date avoiding droughts,pests and diseases- If necessary, develop Practices toeliminate pests and diseases from theseeds in order not to affect the crop20 CALENDERPag- Wastes: install rubbish bins in strategiczones of the field and throw the rubbish inthem once the working day is over- Density: sow at anadequate distance21 Pag19- Transplant: select healthy seedlingsand discard the feeble ones or withsigns of disease- Use clean tools and disinfected22 Pag20- For all these activities consult with the technicianof your of crops- Seedbeds: protect them from the sun and heavyrains- Greenhouses: regard measures to obtain a goodcontrol of temperature and humidity- Ventilation: control temperatures, humidity andwind considering the season of the year andneeds of the How can water be used and managed?

10 - Analyze the water of the field atleast once a year to see if it iscontaminated- Use the required amount of water forsavings and care of the crop24 Pag22- For all these activities consult the technician of your trust- Avoid the entry of animals to thewater sources of the field- Do not perform applications andagro-chemical preparations nearthe water How must water and irrigation be used?- The use of irrigation may increase theamount of production- Identify the water sources used for irrigation and with the assistance of the technician verify thatthey are not ! - Sewage waters must never be used for irrigation, nor be given to drink to thefamily or Protect water tanks and irrigation channelsfrom animals, birds, etc. (If water iscontaminated your family and workers mayget sick and the food stuff may contaminatemaking you loose sales).- Keep channels where water flowsfree of rubbish27 PagRiego- For all these activities consult thetechnician of your trust- An incorrect use of water maydamage the quality of the crop,hence it is necessary toprogram the use of Use always the irrigation methodrecommended for your crop- Regard the water requirements of thecrop (do not irrigate in excess) Water for the family and workers29- If there is no potable water then itmust be treatedConsider the following methods:Boiling, clarification, chloration- The plot should count with potablewater for drinking and to washhands and body- Avoid still waters in emptycontainers or old tires- Still waters are a source ofmosquitoes and other animalswhich affect healthPag- Recognize the type of weeds,pests and diseases affectingyour crop6.