More Moldovan producers start certification of GLOBALG.A.P., GRASP
20:52 | 25.06.2020 Category: Economic
Chisinau, 25 June /MOLDPRES/ - Twenty agricultural producers from Moldova have started the 2020 year process of certification GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP. Sweet cherries are the first fruits due to be certified and the audit of the observance of the GLOBALG.A.P. is underway.
The certificates GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP confirm the observance of the requirements of products’ food safety, as well as the social responsibility of agricultural companies. At the same time, these certificates represent a compulsory requirement for the farmers willing to sell their products to networks from the European Union and on other international markets.
The agricultural enterprise „Staragro Group”, set up by Mariana Pîslaru, is the first company audited this year for the certification GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP, assisted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) High Value Agricultural Activity in Moldova project. The company is from the Ustia village, eastern Dubasari district, and has about 25 hectares of sweet cherries of modern varieties. The entrepreneur considers that the GLOBALG.A.P. standards confirm the safety and quality of the cherries produced and enhance the competitiveness of freights on external markets, especially as she wants to export to EU, where these standards are compulsory.
According to the head of the USAID mission in Moldova, Scott Hoklander, the number of Moldovan producers certified GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP is increasing each year. ‘’We already do not speak about exceptions, but about a tendency of producing fruits and grapes. This tendency proves that farmers are aware that the concerned certificates allow them having access to new markets, especially the ones from EU. Presently, Moldova is leader among the Commonwealth of Independent States member countries with most producers certified GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP and USAID is proud that it has become the principal partner of the horticultural sector in this process,’’ Scott Hoklander noted.
Presently, there are about 60 agricultural producers in Moldova which during the last 15 years have implemented GLOBALG.A.P standards and certified the processes of producing apples, sweet cherries and table grapes. The number of farmers has been continuously increasing, especially in the last years, as they made sure of the possibility to export on the EU market, where the prices for agricultural producers which comply with the international standards are higher than the prices on the traditional market. About 40 farmers have been certified with the support of the USAID High Value Agricultural Activity in Moldova project in the last three years alone.
The GLOBALG.A.P. standards comprise the entire production process, beginning with the selection of the farmland and ending with the delivery of fruits and vegetables on market.. The implementation of the GLOBAG.A.P. assure the buyer that the fruits and vegetables are safe for consumption through minimizing the negative effects on the environment, reducing the chemicals used and responsible approach on employees’ security, etc. In general, GLOBAG.A.P. refer to the production of vegetables and fruits, cultivation of cereals and flowers, breeding animals and birds, aquaculture. Moldova’s legislation comprises more than 75 per cent of GLOBAG.A.P. ‘s requirements, which being compulsory, must be implemented by the producers.