Assessment of the possibility of implementing the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard in selected beanproducing farms in western Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of implementing GLOBAL. G.A.P. in bean-producing farms in the region of Talas in northern Kyrgyzstan. The assessment concerned the analysis of non-conformities with the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard in farms that had implemented the standard but had not been certified. The detailed objective was to identify critical areas in implementing said standard. To achieve the objective established, research was conducted in 2018. The research covered 112 farms that produce beans (local variety called ‘Łopatka’). Internal audits were carried out in the examined farms, in accordance with the checklist of the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard version 5.1. The results of the conducted research indicate that at the current level of agricultural development and awareness of farmers from Kyrgyzstan, implementation of the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard is going to be very difficult. Problems apply both to infrastructure and to producers’ mentality. Problems with infrastructure concern primarily the places to store plant protection products as well as mineral and organic fertilizers. Moreover, the identified non-conformities concerned adequate infrastructure serving for segregation and management of waste (both production waste and municipal waste). With respect to hygiene, problems concern both lack of sanitary infrastructure, as well as producers’ mentality associated with the need for maintaining hygiene. In most cases, the issue of the possibility of improving the condition of the environment within the farm’s premises is omitted. With respect to production technology, using organic and mineral fertilizers is problematic. In no case was water, soil or products analyzed, which is obligatory in the standard being discussed. A considerable problem in the area of the study is lack of support from government entities or companies dealing with efficient implementation of the standard. Effective development of the standard also depends on educating at the level of producers, inspectorate bodies, as well as on introducing quality management courses at individual education levels to the curriculum.