Get MyGap certification, P'pang farmers urged
Published on: Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Penampang: Penampang BN Chief Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin urged farmers in the district to get the Malaysian Good Agriculture Practice (MyGap) certification to ensure their agricultural produce are recognised as being of quality and safe to eat. He said MyGap is an agricultural practice that emphasises environmental safety, economy and social aspects to ensure the product created is safe and of quality."The district produces rice, fruits and vegetables. Thus the quality and safety of the agricultural produce is a priority.
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"As such, I urge all agriculture producers, especially fruit and vegetable producers, to continue to practise MyGap and get certification. "Such certification is the evidence that one's farm practises MyGap and the produce are safe to eat and of quality, he said, adding that such certification will also promote consumer confidence that produce are safe to eat.He said this in his speech at the 2016 Penampang District Good Agricultural Practice seminar closing and presentation of certificates at Wisma Kinsabina, here, Tuesday.Donald said according to the Agriculture Department, the total area of agriculture in the district is 1,229.55 hectares.
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"This show the district is an important food producing area for the State. At present, the district is guiding three farmers involved in bamboo shoots, padi and fruits agricultural production involving an area of 5.3 hectares towards the MyGap certification."The Penampang agriculture office also has currently certified four farms as MyOrganic i.e. two vegetable farms and two mushroom farms. In line with this, we are thankful to the Government and the Agriculture Department, especially the Penampang agriculture office, for taking proactive steps to certify those farms practising MyGap."
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Meanwhile, Agriculture Department Director Idrus Bin Shafie said based on a 2015 report on pesticide residue monitoring in agricultural produce Statewide, 17 per cent of random checks on agricultural produce samples have shown very high levels of pesticides.As such, he said the department has targeted 2,000 farmers and food producers in 10 districts via an awareness roadshow on good agricultural practices as well as encourage them to get MyGap and MyOrganic certification.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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