India appeals for harmonisation of GAP standards in SAARC nations to boost trade

India on Tuesday pitched for harmonisation of individual national standards on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) among SAARC nations to boost regional trade in south Asia.

GAP is a standard that defines appropriate methodology and inputs to be followed by farmers in order to produce safe and high quality agri-products which is in demand throughout the world. The Indian version of GAP, called INDGAP, is developed and managed by Quality Council of India (QCI).

"GAP is a crucial tool for India to increase agricultural exports and become a 5 trillion economy by 2024," India's Agricultural Commissioner S K Malhotra was quoted, in a statement issued by the QCI, as saying while addressing a regional training on GAP for South Asian countries held in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Malhotra "emphasized on the need for harmonisation of the individual national GAP standards to enhance regional trade in South Asia," the statement said.

He also urged for the establishment of certification systems in all these countries.

The event saw participation from government representatives of seven SAARC countries - India, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

The Indian version of GAP has been instrumental in increasing exports of grapes with the help of export promotion body APEDA and increasing the income of grape farmers by manifolds.

Codex Alimentarius former chairman Sanjay Dave said, GAP has been instrumental in the transformation of the grape industry in India and "we must expand it to other products and countries in South Asia."