GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES - Efresh India

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GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
Introduction
Objectives
Basics of GAP
GAP for selected agricultural components
GAP for production of vegetables
GAP for production of Fruits
GAP for fresh fruits and vegetables
GAP for production of leafy greens
GAP for Medicinal Crops
GAP and Pesticide use
GAP Certification
GAP for Growers
What Growers Should Know
On-Farm Food Safety
Potential benefits and Challenges
Related materials

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Objectives
1. Ensuring safety and quality of produce in the food chain
2. Capturing new market advantages by modifying supply chain governance
3. Improving natural resources use, workers health and working conditions, Creating new market
opportunities for farmers and exporters in developing countries.
Key Elements of GAP
1. Prevention of problems before they occur
2. Risk assessments
3. Commitment to food safety at all levels
4. Communication throughout the production chain
5. Mandatory employee education program at the operational level
6. Field and equipment sanitation
7. Integrated pest management
8. Oversight and enforcement
9. Verification through independent, third-party audits
Basics of Good Agricultural Practices
The specific GAPs steps are outlined in detail in the “Good Agricultural Practices Self Audit
Workbook” developed by Cornell University. GAPs principles can be summarized as follows:
clean soil, clean water, clean hands, and clean surfaces. Examples of applicable procedures are
listed below. These principles must be applied to each phase of production (field selection, preplant
field preparations, production, harvest, and post-harvest) to be effective.
“Clean soil” involves taking steps to reduce the possibility of introducing microbial contaminants
into the soil, particularly via manure and other animal excrements. GAPs address the need to
properly compost, apply and store manure. Additionally, the exclusion of domesticated animals
from production fields is essential in helping to reduce the possibility of faecal contamination.
Taking steps to minimize the presence of wild animals in fields is also important.
“Clean water” entails making sure all water used in washing, cooling and processing is of
drinkable quality. Packing ice should also be made from drinkable water. Ground and surface
water sources need to be protected from runoff and animal contamination. Water used for
irrigation and foliar applications also needs to be free of human pathogens. Regular water quality
testing may be necessary, particularly for surface water sources.
“Clean hands” applies to workers and the use of good personal hygiene in the field and packing
house. Providing washing facilities for customers at U-Pick operations is also an important
consideration.
“Clean surfaces” means ensuring that all packing bins, work surfaces, storage areas, and
transportation vehicles are properly washed and sanitized on a regular, often daily, basis. Farm
equipment should also be routinely cleaned and sanitized. An essential aspect of GAPs
procedures is accurate record keeping. While keeping records is an important part of any farm
operation, it can become critical in cases of food safety issues. When food-borne illnesses do

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occur, attempts are made to trace the contamination back to the point of original. Growers who
document their GAPs procedures will be able to provide evidence that their farm is an unlikely
source of the outbreak.
Good Agricultural Practices for Selected Agricultural
Components
Soil
i) The physical and chemical properties and functions, organic matter and biological activity of the
soil are fundamental to sustaining agricultural production and determine, in their complexity, soil
fertility and productivity. Appropriate soil management aims to maintain and improve soil
productivity by improving the availability and plant uptake of water and nutrients through
enhancing soil biological activity, replenishing soil organic matter and soil moisture, and
minimizing losses of soil, nutrients, and agrochemicals through erosion, runoff and leaching into
surface or ground water. Though soil management is generally undertaken at field/farm level, it
affects the surrounding area or catchment due to off-site impacts on runoff, sediments, nutrients
movement, and mobility of livestock and associated species including predators, pests and
biocontrol agents.
ii) Good practices related to soil include maintaining or improving soil organic matter through the
use of soil carbon-build up by appropriate crop rotations, manure application, pasture
management and other land use practices, rational mechanical and/or conservation tillage
practices; maintaining soil cover to provide a conducive habitat for soil biota, minimizing erosion
losses by wind and/or water; and application of organic and mineral fertilizers and other agrochemicals
in amounts and timing and by methods appropriate to agronomic, environmental and
human health requirements.
Water
iii) Agriculture carries a high responsibility for the management of water resources in quantitative
and qualitative terms. Careful management of water resources and efficient use of water for
rainfed crop and pasture production, for irrigation where applicable, and for livestock, are criteria
for GAP. Efficient irrigation technologies and management will minimize waste and will avoid
excessive leaching and salinization. Water tables should be managed to prevent excessive rise
or fall.
iv) Good practices related to water will include those that maximize water infiltration and minimize
unproductive efflux of surface waters from watersheds; manage ground and soil water by proper
use, or avoidance of drainage where required; improve soil structure and increase soil organic
matter content; apply production inputs, including waste or recycled products of organic, inorganic
and synthetic nature by practices that avoid contamination of water resources; adopt techniques
to monitor crop and soil water status, accurately schedule irrigation, and prevent soil salinization
by adopting water-saving measures and re-cycling where possible; enhance the functioning of the
water cycle by establishing permanent cover, or maintaining or restoring wetlands as needed;
manage water tables to prevent excessive extraction or accumulation; and provide adequate,
safe, clean watering points for livestock.
Crop and Fodder Production
v) Crop and fodder production involves the selection of annual and perennial crops, their cultivars
and varieties, to meet local consumer and market needs according to their suitability to the site
and their role within the crop rotation for the management of soil fertility, pests and diseases, and

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their response to available inputs. Perennial crops are used to provide long-term production
options and opportunities for intercropping. Annual crops are grown in sequences, including those
with pasture, to maximize the biological benefits of interactions between species and to maintain
productivity. Harvesting of all crop and animal products removes their nutrient content from the
site and must ultimately be replaced to maintain long-term productivity.
vi) Good practices related to crop and fodder production will include those that select cultivars
and varieties on an understanding of their characteristics, including response to sowing or
planting time, productivity, quality, market acceptability and nutritional value, disease and stress
resistance, edaphic and climatic adaptability, and response to fertilizers and agrochemicals;
devise crop sequences to optimize use of labour and equipment and maximize the biological
benefits of weed control by competition, mechanical, biological and herbicide options, provision of
non-host crops to minimize disease and, where appropriate, inclusion of legumes to provide a
biological source of nitrogen; apply fertilizers, organic and inorganic, in a balanced fashion, with
appropriate methods and equipment and at adequate intervals to replace nutrients extracted by
harvest or lost during production; maximize the benefits to soil and nutrient stability by re-cycling
crop and other organic residues; integrate livestock into crop rotations and utilize the nutrient
cycling provided by grazing or housed livestock to benefit the fertility of the entire farm; rotate
livestock on pastures to allow for healthy re-growth of pasture; and adhere to safety regulations
and observe established safety standards for the operation of equipment and machinery for crop
and fodder production.
Crop Protection
vii) Maintenance of crop health is essential for successful farming for both yield and quality of
produce. This requires long-term strategies to manage risks by the use of disease- and pestresistant
crops, crop and pasture rotations, disease breaks for susceptible crops, and the
judicious use of agrochemicals to control weeds, pests, and diseases following the principles of
Integrated Pest Management. Any measure for crop protection, but particularly those involving
substances that are harmful for humans or the environment, must only be carried out with
consideration for potential negative impacts and with full knowledge and appropriate equipment.
viii) Good practices related to crop protection will include those that use resistant cultivars and
varieties, crop sequences, associations, and cultural practices that maximize biological
prevention of pests and diseases; maintain regular and quantitative assessment of the balance
status between pests and diseases and beneficial organisms of all crops; adopt organic control
practices where and when applicable; apply pest and disease forecasting techniques where
available; determine interventions following consideration of all possible methods and their shortand
long-term effects on farm productivity and environmental implications in order to minimize the
use of agrochemicals, in particular to promote integrated pest management (IPM); store and use
agrochemicals according to legal requirements of registration for individual crops, rates, timings,
and pre-harvest intervals; ensure that agrochemicals are only applied by specially trained and
knowledgeable persons; ensure that equipment used for the handling and application of
agrochemicals complies with established safety and maintenance standards; and maintain
accurate records of agrochemical use.
Animal Production
ix) Livestock require adequate space, feed, and water for welfare and productivity. Stocking rates
must be adjusted and supplements provided as needed to livestock grazing pasture or rangeland.
Chemical and biological contaminants in livestock feeds are avoided to maintain animal health
and/or to prevent their entry into the food chain. Manure management minimises nutrient losses
and stimulates positive effects on the environment. Land requirements are evaluated to ensure
sufficient land for feed production and waste disposal.

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x) Good practices related to animal production will include those that site livestock units
appropriately to avoid negative effects on the landscape, environment, and animal welfare; avoid
biological, chemical, and physical contamination of pasture, feed, water, and the atmosphere;
frequently monitor the condition of stock and adjust stocking rates, feeding, and water supply
accordingly; design, construct, choose, use and maintain equipment, structures, and handling
facilities to avoid injury and loss; prevent residues from veterinary medications and other
chemicals given in feeds from entering the food chain; minimize the non-therapeutic use of
antibiotics; integrate livestock and agriculture to avoid problems of waste removal, nutrient loss,
and greenhouse gas emissions by efficient recycling of nutrients; adhere to safety regulations and
observe established safety standards for the operation of installations, equipment, and machinery
for animal production; and maintain records of stock acquisitions, breeding, losses, and sales,
and of feeding plans, feed acquisitions, and sales.
Animal Health and Welfare
xi) Successful animal production requires attention to animal health that is maintained by proper
management and housing, by preventive treatments such as vaccination, and by regular
inspection, identification, and treatment of ailments, using veterinary advice as required. Farm
animals are sentient beings and as such their welfare must be considered. Good animal welfare
is recognized as freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain,
injury or disease; freedom to express normal behaviour; and freedom from fear and distress.
xii) Good practices related to animal health and welfare will include those that minimize risk of
infection and disease by good pasture management, safe feeding, appropriate stocking rates and
good housing conditions; keep livestock, buildings and feed facilities clean and provide adequate,
clean bedding where livestock is housed; ensure staff are properly trained in the handling and
treatment of animals; seek appropriate veterinary advice to avoid disease and health problems;
ensure good hygiene standards in housing by proper cleansing and disinfection; treat sick or
injured animals promptly in consultation with a veterinarian; purchase, store and use only
approved veterinary products in accordance with regulations and directions, including withholding
periods; provide adequate and appropriate feed and clean water at all times; avoid nontherapeutic
mutilations, surgical or invasive procedures, such as tail docking and debeaking;
minimise transport of live animals (by foot, rail or road); handle animals with appropriate care and
avoid the use of instruments such as electric goads; maintain animals in appropriate social
groupings where possible; discourage isolation of animals (such as veal crates and sow stalls)
except when animals are injured or sick; and conform to minimum space allowances and
maximum stocking densities.
Harvest and On-farm Processing and Storage
xiii) Product quality also depends upon implementation of acceptable protocols for harvesting,
storage, and where appropriate, processing of farm products. Harvesting must conform to
regulations relating to pre-harvest intervals for agrochemicals and withholding periods for
veterinary medicines. Food produce should be stored under appropriate conditions of
temperature and humidity in space designed and reserved for that purpose. Operations involving
animals, such as shearing and slaughter, must adhere to animal health and welfare standards.
xiv) Good practices related to harvest and on-farm processing and storage will include those that
harvest food products following relevant pre-harvest intervals and withholding periods; provide for
clean and safe handling for on-farm processing of products. For washing, use recommended
detergents and clean water; store food products under hygienic and appropriate environmental
conditions; pack food produce for transport from the farm in clean and appropriate containers;
and use methods of pre-slaughter handling and slaughter that are humane and appropriate for
each species, with attention to supervision, training of staff and proper maintenance of
equipment.

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Energy and Waste Management
xv) Energy and waste management are also components of sustainable production systems.
Farms require fuel to drive machinery for cultural operations, for processing, and for transport.
The objective is to perform operations in a timely fashion, reduce the drudgery of human labour,
improve efficiency, diversify energy sources, and reduce energy use.
xvi) Good practices related to energy and waste management will include those that establish
input-output plans for farm energy, nutrients, and agrochemicals to ensure efficient use and safe
disposal; adopt energy saving practices in building design, machinery size, maintenance, and
use; investigate alternative energy sources to fossil fuels (wind, solar, biofuels) and adopt them
where feasible; recycle organic wastes and inorganic materials, where possible; minimize nonusable
wastes and dispose of them responsibly; store fertilizers and agrochemicals securely and
in accordance with legislation; establish emergency action procedures to minimize the risk of
pollution from accidents; and maintain accurate records of energy use, storage, and disposal.
Human Welfare, Health and Safety
xvii) Human welfare, health and safety are further components of sustainability. Farming must be
economically viable to be sustainable. The social and economic welfare of farmers, farm workers,
and their communities depends upon it. Health and safety are also important concerns for those
involved in farming operations. Due care and diligence is required at all times. With regard to
agricultural workers, the ILO in collaboration with governments, employers and trade unions, has
developed core conventions on labour including codes of practice for agriculture, which have not
been specifically included in the indicators and practices.
xviii) Good practices related to human welfare, health and safety will include those that direct all
farming practices to achieve an optimum balance between economic, environmental, and social
goals; provide adequate household income and food security; adhere to safe work procedures
with acceptable working hours and allowance for rest periods; instruct workers in the safe and
efficient use of tools and machinery; pay reasonable wages and not exploit workers, especially
women and children; and purchase inputs and other services from local merchants if possible.
Wildlife and Landscape
xix Agricultural land accommodates a diverse range of animals, birds, insects, and plants. Much
public concern about modern farming is directed at the loss of some of these species from the
countryside because their habitats have been destroyed. The challenge is to manage and
enhance wildlife habitats while keeping the farm business economically viable.
xx) Good practices related to wildlife and landscapes will include those that identify and conserve
wildlife habitats and landscape features, such as isolated trees, on the farm; create, as far as
possible, a diverse cropping pattern on the farm; minimize the impact of operations such as tillage
and agrochemical use on wildlife; manage field margins to reduce noxious weeds and to
encourage a diverse flora and fauna with beneficial species; manage water courses and wetlands
to encourage wildlife and to prevent pollution; and monitor those species of plants and animals
whose presence on the farm is evidence of good environmental practice.

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Good Agricultural Practices for the Production of Vegetable
crops
Growers need to produce a high-quality product efficiently to remain competitive, however, soil
and water resources must also be preserved. Healthy, productive plants require healthy soil and
clean water.
Soil and Water Management
Intensive vegetable production, whether for processing or fresh market, returns little organic
matter to the soil. Tillage used to prepare the seedbed increases the loss of organic matter. To
maintain or increase organic matter levels:
• Use cover crops within the rotation. Following short-season vegetables, establish a cover
crop as soon as possible. This green manure crop increases organic matter levels and
also breaks some pest life cycles.
• For long-season vegetables, annual or cereal rye is usually the best cover crop. It grows
well in cooler weather such as late autumn and early spring. Rye's large, fibrous roots
help hold the soil together, preventing erosion. Tillage or herbicides will kill the rye prior to
spring planting.
• When a cereal crop precedes vegetables, underseed the cereal with either clover or
alfalfa to improve soil structure and reduce compaction. Legumes produce nitrogen, so
make allowances in your nutrient applications.
• Reduce tillage and add manure, mushroom compost (a permit is required by Ministry of
the Environment for the application of organic off-farm waste) and other plant waste.
Take care not to increase soil compaction. Adjust the following year's nutrient application
depending on the content of these materials.
Cereal crops like wheat make a good break in a crop rotation, helping to build and maintain soil
organic matter and soil structure.
Soil Compaction
Soil compaction is a growing concern for vegetable producers. Increased mechanization has led
to larger and heavier equipment to ensure planting and harvesting are handled on time.
Seedbed preparation and harvest operations under wet soil conditions are the major causes of
soil compaction. Perishability and maturity of the vegetable crop are important to quality. Because
staying out of wet fields is often not an option, research continues into solutions.

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Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is a best management practice for vegetable growers. It will address loss of organic
matter, disease, weed and insect pressures, soil nutrition, compaction and erosion. Two rules of
thumb:
• The longer the rotation, the better.
• Rotate between different families of crops.
In designing a rotation, ask yourself the following questions:
• Is the rotation profitable?
• Are the yields sustainable?
• Does the sequence allow the use of cover crops?
• Does it make use of nitrogen produced by an earlier crop?
• Does it allow for timely planting and harvest?
• Are harmful herbicide residues left?
Recent tomato research shows that yields improve with good crop rotations. Building and
maintaining soil resources should produce similar results for all vegetable crops.
Processing peas can be particularly hard on soil structure. Tightly scheduled planting and harvest
seasons mean soil moisture levels may not be optimum when machinery, such as pea combines,
are running over the soil.
Early or short season crops such as melons allow the use of cover crops and green manure
crops to build and maintain soil organic matter.
Wind and Water Erosion
Level sandy soils are at the highest risk of wind erosion while hilly fields are also subject to water
erosion. Windbreaks, grassed waterways and other structures address problems in the long-term.
Increased residue on the soil surface and use of cover crops will help in the short-term.
For precision-seeded crops, choose a field sheltered by a windbreak, woodlot or other means.
Strip cropping with another crop will also cut down wind. The cereal will shelter the seedlings. A
timely application of contact grass herbicide will kill the cover crop before it competes with the
vegetable.
In some transplanted vegetable production systems, ground beds roughen the soil surface which
slows water, wind and soil movement. Some growers are also managing cover crops on ground
beds to control wind. Another alternative is the use of narrow grass strips spaced across a field to
reduce the speed and soil-carrying ability of wind.
A rye cover crop on beds can be managed with a timed application of herbicides to provide shortterm
wind protection in the spring. This system also minimizes the number of passes over the
field in spring.
Irrigation
Average rainfall is irregular and sometimes is inadequate for vegetables. Irrigation can be
profitable with high-value vegetable crops. Both overhead and sprinkler irrigation systems are
being used in Ontario. Overall costs are comparable. Drip irrigation has two advantages: reduced

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water needs and uniform soil moisture; but, overhead irrigation is adaptable to any crop and can
be used for frost protection.
Irrigation is important after planting until seedlings emerge and during fruit development. Most
vegetables have periods where a lack of water can affect yield and quality. Use a scheduling
method such as the tensiometer or the evapotranspiration model to assist in irrigation timing.
Plasticulture
This practice combines plastic mulches with row covers and drip irrigation. The practice is costly
and is only practical with fresh market vegetables.
Benefits include: early harvest, increased early season yield, improved quality and reduced soil
movement due to erosion. Removing and disposing of plastic materials in land fills after harvest is
a drawback.

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Good Agricultural Practices for the production of Fruit Crops
There is a need to develop fully-integrated orchard management systems that will promote
production and be environmentally sound. Healthy and vigorous orchards produce high-quality
fruit at the best possible cost and also, reduce the need for chemical treatments.
Best management practices for orchards include attention to: site preparation, soil management,
water management including irrigation and drainage, nutrient management and pest
management. Growers can adjust each component to maximize profits while protecting the
environment.
Orchard Site Preparation
When planning a new orchard, select and prepare an appropriate site at least one to three years
in advance. Consider soil testing, past levels of nematodes, organic matter levels, perennial weed
control, drainage, soil depth, slope, stoniness and frost pockets.
Soil testing is a must prior to planting. Determine nutrient and pH levels and correct any
problems.
Control nematodes, especially Root Lesion nematode. This is crucial to proper establishment of
young fruit trees. Nematodes can damage roots and allow fungi to enter roots, disrupting water
and nutrient absorption. To determine whether fumigation is necessary, look at the previous crop
(corn, for example, increases nematodes), soil type (sandy soils tend to have higher populations
than clays), rootstocks tolerance to nematodes and the results of soil samples. If counts are
higher than 1,000 nematodes per kilogram of soil, treatment is recommended.
Plan ahead – consider soil test results, past levels of nematodes, weed control, drainage, soil
depth, slope, stoniness and frost pockets.
Fumigation
Applying fumigants is usually done with a three-point hitch cultivator which places fumigants in a
shallow band 1.75 m wide and 15 cm deep. The entire field can be fumigated or just the strips
where trees will be planted. Before applying fumigants, prepare a good seedbed. A new method
uses a twin-shank subsoiler to deliver fumigant in a narrow band at 15, 30 and 45-centimetre
depths. Establishing the sod cover in the summer before fumigation is recommended. Fumigating

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row strips through the sod allows better weed and erosion control. This may give better nematode
control and also subsoils the planting area. The reduced tillage also preserves organic matter and
reduces erosion.
Tree Density
Deciding how wide the tree rows should be and how far apart trees should be planted will affect
productivity, nutrient management, pest management and water requirements. Before making a
decision, consider equipment requirements, availability of skilled labour and availability of
irrigation water.
Apples
Tree density has steadily increased over the years as dwarfing rootstocks replace standard
rootstocks. The most cost-efficient systems in use are high-density training systems, such as
slender spindle (1,750 trees per hectare) are in use. The advantages are:
• Earlier production with higher yields
• Orchard efficiency is higher (more fruiting wood is produced per hectare)
• Production costs per bin decrease
• Potentially higher-quality fruit
• Pesticide use may decline (tree row volume techniques)
• Cost recovery time is shorter
This system requires:
• High initial investment
• More professional skills and management are needed
Peaches
The standard for Ontario is 417 trees per hectare. This allows easy movement of standard
equipment. The slender spindle system allows densities of 834 trees per hectare. Research
completed in 1991 shows yields up by 17% compared to the standard system. Consider the
following when making a decision:
• Higher costs to establish orchard
• Pruning methods will be different
• Training of trees is critical in the first and second years
75% of all work can be done from the ground
Soil Management
Good soil management in orchards should promote tree growth and good health, productivity and
overall fruit quality while preserving soil structure. Issues include ground covers, organic matter
and erosion.
Soil management systems include clean cultivation, cultivation plus cover crop, sod plus
herbicide strip, sod plus mulch and intercropping between tree rows. In Ontario, growers usually
use sod or cultivation plus cover crop. Clean cultivation decreases organic matter, degrades soil
structure, increases erosion and increases the potential for winter injury.

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Cultivation/Cover Crops
Soil is worked in April and cultivated regularly until early June. Cultivation reduces competition for
moisture between trees, grasses and weeds and increases the air in the soil and soil
temperatures (which may help reduce risk of spring frost). In mid June, a cover crop is planted.
When cultivating an orchard, leave some plant material on the soil. The purpose of cultivation is
to suppress annual weed growth, not to overwork the soil.
Factors to consider when deciding on the cover crop include:
• Ease of establishment
• Dry matter produced
• Effect on nematodes and pests
• Nutrient interactions
The cover crop most widely used is annual ryegrass. It establishes quickly and will survive
droughts by delaying establishment until conditions improve.
Sod Systems
Producers grow permanent sod between tree rows and mow sod for the life of the orchard.
Advantages are:
• Decreased erosion
• Moderate soil temperatures
• Increased organic matter
• Decreased mechanical injury of roots
• Water penetrates soil more easily
• Easier orchard operations
• Decreased soil compaction
Some growers are trying to establish sod the year before planting. In the fall, sod in the tree row
is killed with a herbicide. The following spring, trees are planted into the dead grass without
cultivation.
Herbicide Strips
The objective of herbicide strip is weed suppression during the critical growth stage from early
spring to midsummer. A strip of bare ground is left at the base of the trees to reduce competition
for moisture between trees and grasses and to aid in the control of voles and mice. The wider the
strip, the better tree growth will be. However, a permanently bare strip creates soil problems,
increases the possibility of roots being injured over the winter and encourages perennial weeds.
The best solution is to use mulches. Mulches are organic materials that are placed within the tree
row. Mulches should be applied early to allow decomposition before fall months.
Advantages
• Moisture is retained /conserved.
• Soil temperatures are moderated.
• Microbial activity is higher.
• More extensive rooting is encouraged.
• Soil structure improves.

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• Enhanced nutrient availability.
Disadvantages
• Mulches may encourage rodents.
• Material and labour increases costs.
• Potential for excessive nitrogen.
• Introduction of weed seeds.
• Mechanical harvest of fall apples more difficult.
Possibilities for mulch include: straw, hay (legume hay may contain high levels of nitrogen which
may increase late tree growth causing winter damage), wood chips and related products,
decomposed organic wastes and grass clippings. Apply mulches when soil moisture is high,
usually in the spring.
Soil Compaction
The constant movement of equipment between tree rows may compact soil and result in poor
drainage. Sub-soiling or mechanical aerators open up soil. However, care must be taken to
prevent unwanted root pruning. Techniques should be used when soils are dry as working on wet
soil will make problems worse.
Some growers are modifying their mowers to throw sod clippings into the row area as mulch.
A strip of bare ground at the base of the tree helps to reduce competition for moisture from the
sod and aids in vole and mice control.

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Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for fresh Fruits and
Vegetables
Fruits and vegetable consumption is an important component of diet of the US consumers who
have access to varied types of domestic and exotic fruits from all parts of the world. As the
consumption of fresh produce has increased in USA, it was also noticed that there was significant
increase in the number of foodborne disease outbreak associated with fresh produce. There
were few cases where documented evidence had shown that the foodborne illness could be
traced back to poor agricultural practices. Media attention related to foodborne diseases
associated with fresh produce caught attention and consequently many food experts have
developed a strategy that would reduce the occurrence of microbial contamination.
Consequently, the food retailers have enforced their growers to follow certain growing practices
which could reduce, not eliminate, the microbial contamination of produce. These practices are
known as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
The concept of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) has evolved in recent years in the context of a
rapidly changing and globalising food economy and as a result of the concerns and commitments
of a wide range of stakeholders about food production and security, food safety and quality, and
the environmental sustainability of agriculture. These stakeholders include governments, food
processing and retailing industries, farmers and consumers, who seek to meet specific objectives
of food security, food quality, production efficiency, livelihoods and environmental benefits in both
the medium and long term.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), GAP is the application of available
knowledge to addressing environmental, economic and social sustainability for on-farm
production and post-production processes resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food
agricultural products. Many farmers in developed and developing countries already apply GAP
through sustainable agricultural methods such as integrated pest management, integrated
nutrient management and conservation agriculture. These methods are applied in a range of
farming systems and scales of production units, including as a contribution to food security,
facilitated by supportive government policies.
Presently, GAP is formally recognized in the international regulatory framework for reducing risks
associated with the use of pesticides, taking into account public and occupational health,
environmental and safety considerations. The use of GAP is also being promoted increasingly by
the private sector through informal codes of practice and indicators developed by food processors
and retailers in response to emerging consumer demand for sustainably produced and

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wholesome food. This trend may create incentives for the adoption of GAP by farmers by
opening new market opportunities, provided they have the capacity to respond.
Considering the importance of GAP, fruits and vegetable farmers should adopt it and minimize
the risk of contamination, right from pre-planting stage of crop to post-harvest stage of the crop.
Some of the major risk and minimizing measures are highlighted below:
Pre-Planting Measures
Site selection
Land or site for fruits and vegetable production should be selected on the basis of land history,
previous manure applications and crop rotation. The field should be away from animal housing,
pastures or barnyards. Farmers should make sure that livestock waste should not enter the
produce fields via runoff or drift.
Manure handling and field application
Livestock manure can be a valuable source of nutrients, but it also can be a source of human
pathogens if not managed correctly. Proper and thorough composting of manure, incorporating it
into soil prior to planting, and avoiding top-dressing of plants are important steps toward reducing
the risk of microbial contamination.
Manure storage and sourcing
Manure should be stored as far away as practical from areas where fresh produce is grown and
handled. Physical barriers or wind barriers should be erected to prevent runoff and wind drift of
manure. Manure should be actively compost so that high temperature achieved by wellmanaged,
aerobic compost can kill most harmful pathogens.
Timely application of manure
Manure should be applied at the end of the season to all planned vegetable ground or fruit
acreage, preferably when soils are warm, non-saturated, and cover-cropped. If manure is being
applied at the start of a season, then the manure should be spread two weeks before planting,
preferably to grain or forage crops.
Selection of appropriate crop
Farmers should avoid growing root and leafy crops in the year that manure is applied to a field.
Manure should be applied to perennial crops in the planting year only. The long period between
application and harvest will reduce the risks.
Production Measures
Irrigation water quality
Ideally, water used for irrigation or chemical spray should be free from pathogen. However,
potable water or municipal water is not feasible for extensive use for crop production. Hence,
surface water used for irrigation should be quarterly tested in laboratory for pathogen. Farmers
can filter or use the settling ponds to improve water quality. Fruit and vegetable crops should not
be side dressed with fresh or slurry manure. If side dressing is required, well composted or well
aged (greater than one year) manure should be used for the application.
Irrigation methods
Drip irrigation method should be used, whenever possible to reduce the risk of crop
contamination because the edible parts of most crops are not wetted directly. Plant disease
levels also may be reduced and water use efficiency is maximized with this method.

- 16 -
Field sanitation and animal exclusion
Farmers should stay out of wet fields to reduce the spread of plant or human pathogens.
Tractors that were used in manure handling should be cleaned prior to entering produce fields.
Animals, including poultry or pets should not be allowed to roam in crop areas, especially close to
harvest time.
Worker facilities and hygiene
Ideally, farm workers should be provided clean, well-maintained and hygienic toilet facilities
around the farming areas. Farmers should get proper training to make them understand the
relationship between food safety and personal hygiene. These facilities should be monitored and
enforced.
Harvest
Clean harvest aids
Bins and all crop containers have to washed and rinsed under high pressure. All crop containers
should be sanitized before harvest. Bins should be properly covered, when not in used to avoid
contamination by birds and animals.
Worker hygiene and training
Good personal hygiene is particularly important during the harvest of crops. Sick employees or
those with contaminated hands can spread pathogens to produce. Employee awareness,
meaningful training and accessible restroom facilities with hand wash stations encourage good
hygiene.
Post-Harvest Handling
Worker hygiene:
Hands can contaminate fresh fruits and vegetables with harmful microbes. Packing area should
be cleaned and sanitized. Supply liquid soap in dispensers, potable water, and single-use paper
towels for hand washing. Workers should be properly educated about the importance of restroom
use and proper hand washing. Encourage proper use of disposable gloves on packing lines.
Sick employee should not be given food-contact jobs.
Monitor wash water quality
Potable water should be preferably used in all washing operations. Clean water should be
maintained in dump tank by sanitizing and changing water regularly. Use chlorinated water and
other labeled disinfectants to wash fresh produce.
Sanitize packinghouse and packing operations
Loading, staging, and all food contact surfaces should be cleaned and sanitized at the end of
each day. Exclude all animals, especially rodents and birds from the packinghouse. Wash, rinse
and sanitize the packing line belts, conveyors, and food contact surfaces at the end of each day
to avoid buildup of harmful microorganisms. Packaging material should be stored in a clean area.
Pre-cooling and cold storage
After harvesting, fruits and vegetables should be quickly cooled to minimize the growth of
pathogens and maintain good quality. Water bath temperature for cooling should not be more
than 10F cooler than the produce pulp temperature. Refrigeration room should not be overloaded
beyond cooling capacity.
Transportation of produce from farm to market
Proper cleanliness of the transportation vehicles should be ensured before loading. Farmers
have to make sure that fresh fruits and vegetables are not shipped in trucks which have carried

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live animals or harmful substances. If these trucks must be used, they should be washed, rinsed,
and sanitized them before transporting fresh produce. For traceability norms, it must be ensured
that each package leaving the farm can be traced to field of origin and date of packing.
The above-mentioned Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are still at a nascent stage in India.
There are very few farmers who may be practicing it because of compulsion from the international
buyers. But it should be thoroughly emphasized that food safety, from farm to fork, is the
responsibility of everyone throughout the food system. In addition to growers and packers, food
handlers such as food processors, retailers, food service workers, and even consumers in their
homes have a responsibility for food safety.

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Good Agricultural Practices for the production of Fruit Crops
There is a need to develop fully-integrated orchard management systems that will promote
production and be environmentally sound. Healthy and vigorous orchards produce high-quality
fruit at the best possible cost and also, reduce the need for chemical treatments.
Best management practices for orchards include attention to: site preparation, soil management,
water management including irrigation and drainage, nutrient management and pest
management. Growers can adjust each component to maximize profits while protecting the
environment.
Orchard Site Preparation
When planning a new orchard, select and prepare an appropriate site at least one to three years
in advance. Consider soil testing, past levels of nematodes, organic matter levels, perennial weed
control, drainage, soil depth, slope, stoniness and frost pockets.
Soil testing is a must prior to planting. Determine nutrient and pH levels and correct any
problems.
Control nematodes, especially Root Lesion nematode. This is crucial to proper establishment of
young fruit trees. Nematodes can damage roots and allow fungi to enter roots, disrupting water
and nutrient absorption. To determine whether fumigation is necessary, look at the previous crop
(corn, for example, increases nematodes), soil type (sandy soils tend to have higher populations
than clays), rootstocks tolerance to nematodes and the results of soil samples. If counts are
higher than 1,000 nematodes per kilogram of soil, treatment is recommended.
Plan ahead – consider soil test results, past levels of nematodes, weed control, drainage, soil
depth, slope, stoniness and frost pockets.
Fumigation
Applying fumigants is usually done with a three-point hitch cultivator which places fumigants in a
shallow band 1.75 m wide and 15 cm deep. The entire field can be fumigated or just the strips
where trees will be planted. Before applying fumigants, prepare a good seedbed. A new method
uses a twin-shank subsoiler to deliver fumigant in a narrow band at 15, 30 and 45-centimetre
depths. Establishing the sod cover in the summer before fumigation is recommended. Fumigating

- 19 -
row strips through the sod allows better weed and erosion control. This may give better nematode
control and also subsoils the planting area. The reduced tillage also preserves organic matter and
reduces erosion.
Tree Density
Deciding how wide the tree rows should be and how far apart trees should be planted will affect
productivity, nutrient management, pest management and water requirements. Before making a
decision, consider equipment requirements, availability of skilled labour and availability of
irrigation water.
Apples
Tree density has steadily increased over the years as dwarfing rootstocks replace standard
rootstocks. The most cost-efficient systems in use are high-density training systems, such as
slender spindle (1,750 trees per hectare) are in use. The advantages are:
• Earlier production with higher yields
• Orchard efficiency is higher (more fruiting wood is produced per hectare)
• Production costs per bin decrease
• Potentially higher-quality fruit
• Pesticide use may decline (tree row volume techniques)
• Cost recovery time is shorter
This system requires:
• High initial investment
• More professional skills and management are needed
Peaches
The standard for Ontario is 417 trees per hectare. This allows easy movement of standard
equipment. The slender spindle system allows densities of 834 trees per hectare. Research
completed in 1991 shows yields up by 17% compared to the standard system. Consider the
following when making a decision:
• Higher costs to establish orchard
• Pruning methods will be different
• Training of trees is critical in the first and second years
75% of all work can be done from the ground
Soil Management
Good soil management in orchards should promote tree growth and good health, productivity and
overall fruit quality while preserving soil structure. Issues include ground covers, organic matter
and erosion.
Soil management systems include clean cultivation, cultivation plus cover crop, sod plus
herbicide strip, sod plus mulch and intercropping between tree rows. In Ontario, growers usually
use sod or cultivation plus cover crop. Clean cultivation decreases organic matter, degrades soil
structure, increases erosion and increases the potential for winter injury.

- 20 -
Cultivation/Cover Crops
Soil is worked in April and cultivated regularly until early June. Cultivation reduces competition for
moisture between trees, grasses and weeds and increases the air in the soil and soil
temperatures (which may help reduce risk of spring frost). In mid June, a cover crop is planted.
When cultivating an orchard, leave some plant material on the soil. The purpose of cultivation is
to suppress annual weed growth, not to overwork the soil.
Factors to consider when deciding on the cover crop include:
• Ease of establishment
• Dry matter produced
• Effect on nematodes and pests
• Nutrient interactions
The cover crop most widely used is annual ryegrass. It establishes quickly and will survive
droughts by delaying establishment until conditions improve.
Sod Systems
Producers grow permanent sod between tree rows and mow sod for the life of the orchard.
Advantages are:
• Decreased erosion
• Moderate soil temperatures
• Increased organic matter
• Decreased mechanical injury of roots
• Water penetrates soil more easily
• Easier orchard operations
• Decreased soil compaction
Some growers are trying to establish sod the year before planting. In the fall, sod in the tree row
is killed with a herbicide. The following spring, trees are planted into the dead grass without
cultivation.
Herbicide Strips
The objective of herbicide strip is weed suppression during the critical growth stage from early
spring to midsummer. A strip of bare ground is left at the base of the trees to reduce competition
for moisture between trees and grasses and to aid in the control of voles and mice. The wider the
strip, the better tree growth will be. However, a permanently bare strip creates soil problems,
increases the possibility of roots being injured over the winter and encourages perennial weeds.
The best solution is to use mulches. Mulches are organic materials that are placed within the tree
row. Mulches should be applied early to allow decomposition before fall months.
Advantages
• Moisture is retained /conserved.
• Soil temperatures are moderated.
• Microbial activity is higher.
• More extensive rooting is encouraged.
• Soil structure improves.

- 21 -
• Enhanced nutrient availability.
Disadvantages
• Mulches may encourage rodents.
• Material and labour increases costs.
• Potential for excessive nitrogen.
• Introduction of weed seeds.
• Mechanical harvest of fall apples more difficult.
Possibilities for mulch include: straw, hay (legume hay may contain high levels of nitrogen which
may increase late tree growth causing winter damage), wood chips and related products,
decomposed organic wastes and grass clippings. Apply mulches when soil moisture is high,
usually in the spring.
Soil Compaction
The constant movement of equipment between tree rows may compact soil and result in poor
drainage. Sub-soiling or mechanical aerators open up soil. However, care must be taken to
prevent unwanted root pruning. Techniques should be used when soils are dry as working on wet
soil will make problems worse.
Some growers are modifying their mowers to throw sod clippings into the row area as mulch.
A strip of bare ground at the base of the tree helps to reduce competition for moisture from the
sod and aids in vole and mice control.

- 22 -
Good Agricultural Practices for the Production of Leafy Greens
Principles and practices that will help minimize contamination, reduce survival of pathogens and
prevent cross-contamination.
Know where the risks are:
Irrigation
Like all crops, leafy greens require water either via rain events or through irrigation. If it's time to
irrigate, know the quality of your water source. Growers pull water from ponds, rivers, streams,
canals, and ditches. The risk of contamination upstream, especially when pulling from rivers,
streams, canals and ditches must be considered. Regardless of the irrigation source, test your
water regularly. This will provide a snapshot of water quality at the time of testing and will allow
growers to document changes over time. It may also pinpoint periods during the growing season
when water quality may be suspect.
Evaluate the irrigation method. For instance, trickle irrigation can reduce the risk of contamination
because there is minimal contact with the edible portion of the plant. Compare this to overhead
irrigation, where most water contact occurs on the foliage.
In addition, one important agricultural practice is to protect and maintain safe irrigation water
sources. For example, maintenance of wells and ponds and the prevention of polluted run-off
from entering water sources will help to reduce the risk of contamination.
Fertilizer
All horticultural crops require nitrogen and other nutrients to grow. Growers can provide nitrogen
to their crops through synthetic fertilizers, manure or manure-based composts. If manure or
manure-based composts are used, growers must recognize the risk of contamination. Manure
and improperly managed compost may act as a reservoir for pathogenic bacteria like E.coli. Good
agricultural practices require that untreated or partially treated manure not be used in leafy
greens production because the interval between application, planting and harvest, is not long
enough to reduce the risk of contamination (you need approximately 120 days between nutrient
application and harvest). If you want to use manure as a source of nutrients, apply to the field
after final harvest to maximize the interval. Also, if purchasing compost, always ask for
documentation to ensure a composting process was completed. If you are composting on-farm,
keep good records - record the treatment procedure and the date treated.
Worker Sanitation

- 23 -
Ensure that all staff is educated on the importance and need for good hygiene. Washing of
hands is an effective way to minimize worker-based contamination. If running water isn't
available, supply workers with water-free hand sanitizers, they only cost a few dollars! And,
ensure field workers have access to washroom facilities that are properly maintained and
serviced.
Harvest and Packing
Many leafy greens are harvested and packed in the field. However, some do receive further
processing including washing and individual packaging. It is important that all equipment that
comes in contact with leafy greens, whether in the field or packing shed, is cleaned on a regular
basis. Knives, containers, and baskets should be sanitized between uses. All processing water
should be sampled on a regular basis. If your operation uses re-circulated water, ensure that
practices are in place to reduce the risk of contamination through the use of sanitizers, or
frequent changes of water.
Transportation
Unfortunately, the risk of contamination doesn't end when the produce leaves the grower's
premises. The risk of microbial pathogens and reduced quality can increase during transportation
if proper temperatures are not maintained. In fact, temperature abuse anywhere along the foodchain
can turn a small problem into a large problem due to rapid growth of bacteria. Another
important factor to consider is vehicle cleanliness. Always inspect trucks for cleanliness, odours
and obvious dirt before loading.

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Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Medicinal crops
General Introduction
Interest in traditional systems of medicine and, in particular, herbal medicines, has
increased substantially in both developed and developing countries over the past
two decades. Global andnational markets for medicinal herbs have been growing
rapidly, and significant economic gains are being realized. According to the Secretariat of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, global sales of herbal products totalled an estimated Rs.
2,917,206 in 2000. As a consequence, the safety and quality of herbal medicines have become
increasingly important concerns for health authorities and the public alike.
The safety and quality of raw medicinal plant materials and finished products depend on factors
that may be classified as intrinsic (genetic) or extrinsic (environment, collection methods,
cultivation, harvest, post-harvest processing, transport and storage practices). Inadvertent
contamination by microbial or chemical agents during any of the production stages can also lead
to deterioration in safety and quality. Medicinal plants collected from the wild population may be
contaminated by other species or plant parts through misidentification, accidental contamination
or intentional adulteration, all of which may have unsafe consequences.
The collection of medicinal plants from wild populations can give rise to additional concerns
related to global, regional and/or local over-harvesting, and protection of endangered species.
The impact of cultivation and collection on the environment and ecological processes, and the
welfare of local communities should be considered. All intellectual property rights with regard to
source materials must be respected. WHO has cooperated with other United Nations specialized
agencies and international organizations in dealing with the above-mentioned issues. Such
cooperation will be further strengthened through the development and the updating of relevant
technical guidelines in these areas.
Safety and quality assurance measures are needed to overcome these problems and to ensure a
steady, affordable and sustainable supply of medicinal plant materials of good quality. In recent
years, good agricultural practices have been recognized as an important tool for ensuring the
safety and quality of a variety of food commodities, and many Member States have established
national good agricultural practice guidelines for a range of foods. However, quality control for the
cultivation and collection of medicinal plants as the raw materials for herbal medicines may be
more demanding than that for food production; possibly for this reason, only China, the European
Union, and Japan have recently developed guidelines on good agricultural practices for medicinal
plants. Since their guidelines were established to meet the requirements of specific regions or
countries, they may not be universally applicable or acceptable.
At a WHO Informal Meeting on Methodologies for Quality Control of Finished Herbal Products,
held in Ottawa, Canada from 20 to 21 July 2001, the entire process of production of herbal
medicines, from raw materials to finished herbal products, was reviewed. It was recommended
that WHO should give high priority to the development of globally applicable guidelines to
promote the safety and quality of medicinal plant materials through the formulation of codes for
good agricultural practices and good collection practices for medicinal plants. It was envisaged
that such guidelines would help to ensure safety and quality at the first and most important stage
of the production of herbal medicines.
Objectives
The main objectives are to:

- 25 -
• contribute to the quality assurance of medicinal plant materials used as the source for
herbal medicines, which aims to improve the quality, safety and efficacy of finished herbal
products
• guide the formulation of national and/or regional GACP guidelines and GACP
monographs for medicinal plants and related standard operating procedures; and
• encourage and support the sustainable cultivation and collection of medicinal plants of
good quality in ways that respect and support the conservation of medicinal plants and
the environment in general.
This section presents general guidelines on good agricultural practices for medicinal plants. It
describes general principles and provides technical details for the cultivation of medicinal plants.
It also describes quality control measures, where applicable.
Identification/authentication of cultivated medicinal plants
Selection of medicinal plants
Where applicable, the species or botanical variety selected for cultivation should be the same as
that specified in the national pharmacopoeia or recommended by other authoritative national
documents of the end-user's country. In the absence of such national documents, the selection of
species or botanical varieties specified in the pharmacopoeia or other authoritative documents of
other countries should be considered.
In the case of newly introduced medicinal plants, the species or botanical variety selected for
cultivation should be identified and documented as the source material used or described in
traditional medicine of the original country.
Botanical identity
The botanical identity – scientific name (genus, species, subspecies/variety, author, and family) –
of each medicinal plant under cultivation should be verified and recorded. If available, the local
and English common names should also be recorded. Other relevant information, such as the
cultivar name, ecotype, chemotype or phenotype, may also be provided, as appropriate.
For commercially available cultivars, the name of the cultivar and of the supplier should be
provided. In the case of landraces collected, propagated, disseminated and grown in a specific
region, records should be kept of the locally named line, including the origin of the source seeds,
plants or propagation materials.
Specimens
In the case of the first registration in a producer’s country of a medicinal plant or where
reasonable doubt exists as to the identity of a botanical species, a voucher botanicalspecimen
should be submitted to a regional or national herbarium for identification.
Where possible, a genetic pattern should be compared to that of an authentic specimen.
Documentation of the botanical identity should be included in the registration file.
Seeds and other propagation materials
Seeds and other propagation materials should be specified, and suppliers of seeds and other
propagation materials should provide all necessary information relating to the identity, quality and
performance of their products, as well as their breeding history, where possible. The propagation
or planting materials should be of the appropriate quality and be as free as possible from
contamination and diseases in order to promote healthy plant growth. Planting material should
preferably be resistant or tolerant to biotic or abiotic factors. Seeds and other propagation
materials used for organic production should be certified as being organically derived.
The quality of propagation material should
• including any genetically modified germplasm

- 26 -
• comply with regional and/or national regulations and be appropriately labelled and
documented, as required.
Care should be taken to exclude extraneous species, botanical varieties and strains of medicinal
plants during the entire production process. Counterfeit, substandard and adulterated propagation
materials must be avoided.
Cultivation
Cultivation of medicinal plants requires intensive care and management. The conditions and
duration of cultivation required vary depending on the quality of medicinal plant materials
required. If no scientific published or documented cultivation data are
available, traditional methods of cultivation should be followed, where feasible. Otherwise a
method should be developed through research. The principles of good plant husbandry, including
appropriate rotation of plants selected according to environmental suitability, should be followed,
and tillage should be adapted to plant growth and other requirements.
Conservation Agriculture (CA) techniques should be followed where appropriate, especially in the
build-up of organic matter and conservation of soil humidity. Conservation Agriculture also
includes “no-tillage” systems.
Site selection
Medicinal plant materials derived from the same species can show significant differences in
quality when cultivated at different sites, owing to the influence of soil, climate and other factors.
These differences may relate to physical appearance or to variations in their constituents, the
biosynthesis of which may be affected by extrinsic environmental conditions, including ecological
and geographical variables, and should be taken into consideration.
Risks of contamination as a result of pollution of the soil, air or water by hazardous chemicals
should be avoided. The impact of past land uses on the cultivation site, including the planting of
previous crops and any applications of plant protection products, should be evaluated.
Ecological environment and social impact
The cultivation of medicinal plants may affect the ecological balance and, in particular, the genetic
diversity of the flora and fauna in surrounding habitats. The quality and growth of medicinal plants
can also be affected by other plants, other living organisms and by human activities. The
introduction of non-indigenous medicinal plant species into cultivation may have a detrimental
impact on the biological and ecological balance of the region. The ecological impact of cultivation
activities should be monitored over time, where practical.
The social impact of cultivation on local communities should be examined to ensure that negative
impacts on local livelihood are avoided. In terms of local income- earning opportunities, smallscale
cultivation is often preferable to large-scale production, in particular if small-scale farmers
are organized to market their products jointly. If large scale medicinal plant cultivation is or has
been established, care should be taken that local communities benefit directly from, for example,
fair wages, equal employment opportunities and capital reinvestment.
Climate
Climatic conditions, for example, length of day, rainfall (water supply) and field temperature,
significantly influence the physical, chemical and biological qualities of medicinal plants. The
duration of sunlight, average rainfall, average temperature, including daytime and night-time
temperature differences, also influence the physiological and biochemical activities of plants, and
prior knowledge should be considered.
Soil
The soil should contain appropriate amounts of nutrients, organic matter and other elements to
ensure optimal medicinal plant growth and quality. Optimal soil conditions, including soil type,
drainage, moisture retention, fertility and pH, will be dictated by the selected medicinal plant

- 27 -
species and/or target medicinal plant part. The use of fertilizers is often indispensable in order to
obtain large yields of medicinal plants. It is, however, necessary to ensure that correct types and
quantities of fertilizers are used through agricultural research. In practice, organic and chemical
fertilizers are used.
Human excreta must not be used as a fertilizer owing to the potential presence of infectious
microorganisms or parasites. Animal manure should be thoroughly composted to meet safe
sanitary standards of acceptable microbial limits and destroyed by the germination capacity of
weeds. Any applications of animal manure should be documented. Chemical fertilizers that have
been approved by the countries of cultivation and consumption should be used.
All fertilizing agents should be applied sparingly and in accordance with the needs of the
particular medicinal plant species and supporting capacity of the soil. Fertilizers should be applied
in such a manner as to minimize leaching.
Growers should implement practices that contribute to soil conservation and minimize erosion, for
example, through the creation of streamside buffer zones and the planting of cover crops and
"green manure" (crops grown to be ploughed in), such as alfalfa.
Irrigation and drainage
Irrigation and drainage should be controlled and carried out in accordance with the needs of the
individual medicinal plant species during its various stages of growth. Water used for irrigation
purposes should comply with local, regional and/or national quality standards. Care should be
exercised to ensure that the plants under cultivation are neither over- nor under-watered.
In the choice of irrigation, as a general rule, the health impact of the different types of irrigation
(various forms of surface, sub-surface or overhead irrigation), particularly on the risks of
increased vector-borne disease transmission, must be taken into account.
Plant maintenance and protection
The growth and development characteristics of individual medicinal plants, as well as the plant
part destined for medicinal use, should guide field management practices. The timely application
of measures such as topping, bud nipping, pruning and shading may be used to control the
growth and development of the plant, thereby improving the quality and quantity of the medicinal
plant material being produced.
Any agrochemicals used to promote the growth of or to protect medicinal plants should be kept to
a minimum, and applied only when no alternative measures are available. Integrated pest
management should be followed where appropriate. When necessary, only approved pesticides
and herbicides should be applied at the minimum effective level, in accordance with the labelling
and/or package insert instructions of the individual product and the regulatory requirements that
apply for the grower and the end-user countries. Only qualified staff using approved equipment
should carry out pesticide and herbicide applications. All applications should be documented. The
minimum interval between such treatments and harvest should be consistent with the labelling
and/or package insert instructions of the plant protection product, and such treatments should be
carried out in consultation and with the by agreement of the buyer of the medicinal plants or
medicinal plant materials. Growers and producers should comply with maximum pesticide and
herbicide residue limits, as stipulated by local, regional and/or national regulatory authorities of
both the growers’ and the end-users’ countries and/or regions. International agreements such as
the International Plant Protection Convention5 and Codex Alimentarius should also be consulted
on pesticide use and residues.
Harvest
Medicinal plants should be harvested during the optimal season or time period to ensure the
production of medicinal plant materials and finished herbal products of the best possible quality.
The time of harvest depends on the plant part to be used. Detailed information concerning the
appropriate timing of harvest is often available in national pharmacopoeias, published standards,
official monographs and major reference books.

- 28 -
However, it is well known that the concentration of biologically active constituents varies with the
stage of plant growth and development. This also applies to non-targeted toxic or poisonous
indigenous plant ingredients. The best time for harvest (quality peak season/time of day) should
be determined according to the quality and quantity of biologically active constituents rather than
the total vegetative yield of the targeted medicinal plant parts. During harvest, care should be
taken to ensure that no foreign matter, weeds or toxic plants are mixed with the harvested
medicinal plant materials.
Medicinal plants should be harvested under the best possible conditions, avoiding dew, rain or
exceptionally high humidity. If harvesting occurs in wet conditions, the harvested material should
be transported immediately to an indoor drying facility to expedite drying so as to prevent any
possible deleterious effects due to increased moisture levels, which promote microbial
fermentation and mould.
Cutting devices, harvesters, and other machines should be kept clean and adjusted to reduce
damage and contamination from soil and other materials. They should be stored in an
uncontaminated, dry place or facility free from insects, rodents, birds and other pests, and
inaccessible to livestock and domestic animals.
Contact with soil should be avoided to the extent possible so as to minimize the microbial load of
harvested medicinal plant materials. Where necessary, large drop cloths, preferably made of
clean muslin, may be used as an interface between the harvested plants and the soil. If the
underground parts (such as the roots) are used, any adhering soil should be removed from the
medicinal plant materials as soon as they are harvested.
The harvested raw medicinal plant materials should be transported promptly in clean, dry
conditions. They may be placed in clean baskets, dry sacks, trailers, hoppers or other wellaerated
containers and carried to a central point for transport to the processing facility.
All containers used at harvest should be kept clean and free from contamination by previously
harvested medicinal plants and other foreign matter. If plastic containers are used, particular
attention should be paid to any possible retention of moisture that could lead to the growth of
mould. When containers are not in use, they should be kept in dry conditions, in an area that is
protected from insects, rodents, birds and other pests, and inaccessible to livestock and domestic
animals.
Any mechanical damage or compacting of the raw medicinal plant materials, as a consequence,
for example, of overfilling or stacking of sacks or bags that may result in composting or otherwise
diminish quality should be avoided. Decomposed medicinal plant materials should be identified
and discarded during harvest, post-harvest inspections and processing, in order to avoid
microbial contamination and loss of product quality.
Personnel
Growers and producers should have adequate knowledge of the medicinal plant concerned. This
should include botanical identification, cultivation characteristics and environmental requirements
(soil type, soil pH, fertility, plant spacing and light requirements), as well as the means of harvest
and storage.
All personnel (including field workers) involved in the propagation, cultivation, harvest and postharvest
processing stages of medicinal plant production should maintain appropriate personal
hygiene and should have received training regarding their hygiene responsibilities.
Only properly trained personnel, wearing appropriate protective clothing (such as overalls, gloves,
helmet, goggles, face mask), should apply agrochemicals. Growers and producers should receive
instruction on all issues relevant to the protection of the environment, conservation of medicinal
plant species, and proper agricultural stewardship.

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Good collection practices for medicinal plants
This section describes the general strategies and basic methods for small- and largescale
collection of fresh medicinal plant materials. Collection practices should ensure the long
term survival of wild populations and their associated habitats. Management plans for collection
should provide a framework for setting sustainable harvest levels and describe appropriate
collection practices that are suitable for each medicinal plant species and plant part used (roots,
leaves, fruits, etc.). Collection of medicinal plants raises a number of complex environmental and
social issues that must be addressed locally on a case-bycase basis. It is acknowledged that
these issues vary widely from region to region and cannot be fully covered by these guidelines.
Permission to collect
In some countries, collection permits and other documents from government authorities and
landowners must be obtained prior to collecting any plants from the wild. Sufficient time for the
processing and issuance of these permits must be allocated at the planning stage. National
legislation, such as national “red” lists, should be consulted and respected.
For medicinal plant materials intended for export from the country of collection, export permits,
phytosanitary certificates, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) permit(s) (for export and import), CITES certificates (for re-export), and
other permits must be obtained, when required.
Technical planning
Prior to initiating a collection expedition, the geographical distribution and population density of
the target medicinal plant species should be determined. Distance from home base and quality of
the target plant(s) available are factors to be considered. When the collection sites have been
identified, local and/or national collection permits should be obtained, as indicated in section 3.1.
Essential information on the target species (taxonomy, distribution, phenology, genetic diversity,
reproductive biology and ethnobotany) should be obtained. Data about environmental conditions,
including topography, geology, soil, climate and vegetation atthe prospective collecting site(s),
should be collated and presented in a collection management plan.
Research on the morphology of the target medicinal plant species and variability of its
populations should be carried out in order to develop a “search image” for the species. Copies of
photographs and other illustrations of the target medicinal plant(s) from books and herbarium
specimens, and ethnographical information (common or local names) of the target species and
plant parts are useful field instruments, especially for untrained workers. Botanical keys and other
taxonomic identification aids are useful at collection sites where either related species, or
unrelated species of similar morphological characteristics, may be found.
Rapid, safe and dependable transportation to carry personnel, equipment, supplies and collected
medicinal plant materials should be arranged in advance.
A collection team familiar with good collecting techniques, transport, and handling of equipment
and medicinal plant materials, including cleaning, drying and storage, should be assembled.
Training of personnel should be conducted regularly. The responsibilities of all those involved in
collection should be clearly set out in a written document. All stakeholders, in particular,
manufacturers, traders and government, are accountable for the conservation and management
of the targeted medicinal plant species.

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The social impact of field collection on local communities should be examined and the ecological
impact of field collection activities should be monitored over time. The stability of the natural
habitat(s) and the maintenance of sustainable populations of the target species in the collection
area(s) must be ensured.
Selection of medicinal plants for collection
Where applicable, the species or botanical variety selected for collection should be the same as
that specified in the national pharmacopoeia or recommended by other authoritative national
documents of the end-user's country, as the source for the herbal medicines concerned. In the
absence of such national documents, the selection of species or botanical varieties specified in
the pharmacopoeia or other authoritative documents of other countries should be considered. In
the case of newly introduced medicinal plants, the species or botanical variety selected for
collection should be identified and documented as the source material used or described in
traditional medicine in original countries.
Collectors of medicinal plants and producers of medicinal plant materials and herbal medicines
should prepare botanical specimens for submission to regional or national herbaria for
authentication. The voucher specimens should be retained for a sufficient period of time, and
should be preserved under proper conditions. The name of the botanist or other experts who
provided the botanical identification or authentication should be recorded. If the medicinal plant is
not well known to the community, then documentation of the botanical identity should be recorded
and maintained.
Collection
Collection practices should ensure the long-term survival of wild populations and their associated
habitats. The population density of the target species at the collection site(s) should be
determined and species that are rare or scarce should not be collected.
To encourage the regeneration of source medicinal plant materials, a sound demographic
structure of the population has to be ensured. Management plans should refer to the species and
the plant parts (roots, leaves, fruits, etc.) to be collected and should specify collection levels and
collection practices. It is incumbent on the government or environmental authority to ensure that
buyers of collected plant material do not place the collected species at risk. Medicinal plant
materials should be collected during the appropriate season or time period to ensure the best
possible quality of both source materials and finished products. It is well known that the
quantitative concentration of biologically active constituents varies with the stage of plant growth
and development. This also applies to non-targeted toxic or poisonous indigenous plant
ingredients. The best time for collection (quality peak season or time of day) should be
determined according to the quality and quantity of biologically active constituents rather than the
total vegetative yield of the targeted medicinal plant parts.
Only ecologically non-destructive systems of collection should be employed. These will vary
widely from species to species. For example, when collecting roots of trees and bushes, the main
roots should not be cut or dug up, and severing the taproot of trees and bushes should be
avoided. Only some of the lateral roots should be located and collected.
When collecting species whose bark is the primary material to be used, the tree should not be
girdled or completely stripped of its bark; longitudinal strips of bark along one side of the tree
should be cut and collected.
Medicinal plants should not be collected in or near areas where high levels of pesticides or other
possible contaminants are used or found, such as roadsides, drainage ditches, mine tailings,
garbage dumps and industrial facilities which may produce toxic emissions. In addition, the
collection of medicinal plants in and around active pastures, including riverbanks downstream

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from pastures, should be avoided in order to avoid microbial contamination from animal waste. In
the course of collection, efforts should be made to remove parts of the plant that are not required
and foreign matter, in particular toxic weeds. Decomposed medicinal plant materials should be
discarded.
In general, the collected raw medicinal plant materials should not come into direct contact with
the soil. If underground parts (such as the roots) are used, any adhering soil should be removed
from the plants as soon as they are collected. Collected material should be placed in clean
baskets, mesh bags, other well aerated containers or drop cloths that are free from foreign
matter, including plant remnants from previous collecting activities.
After collection, the raw medicinal plant materials may be subjected to appropriate preliminary
processing, including elimination of undesirable materials and contaminants, washing (to remove
excess soil), sorting and cutting. The collected medicinal plant materials should be protected from
insects, rodents, birds and other pests, and from livestock and domestic animals. If the collection
site is located some distance from processing facilities, it may be necessary to air or sun-dry the
raw medicinal plant materials prior to transport. If more than one medicinal plant part is to be
collected, the different plant species or plant materials should be gathered separately and
transported in separate containers.
Cross-contamination should be avoided at all times. Collecting implements, such as machetes,
shears, saws and mechanical tools, should be kept clean and maintained in proper condition.
Those parts that come into direct contact with the collected medicinal plant materials should be
free from excess oil and other contamination.
Personnel
Local experts responsible for the field collection should have formal or informal practical
education and training in plant sciences and have practical experience in fieldwork. They should
be responsible for training any collectors who lack sufficient technical knowledge to perform the
various tasks involved in the plant collection process. They are also responsible for the
supervision of workers and the full documentation of the work performed. Field personnel should
have adequate botanical training, and be able to recognize medicinal plants by their common
names and, ideally, by their scientific (Latin) names.
Local experts should serve as knowledgeable links between non-local people and local
communities and collectors. All collectors and local workers involved in the collection operation
should have sufficient knowledge of the species targeted for collection and be able to distinguish
target species from botanically related and/or morphologically similar species. Collectors should
also receive instructions on all issues relevant to the protection of the environment and the
conservation of plant species, as well as the social benefits of sustainable collection of medicinal
plants.
The collection team should take measures to ensure the welfare and safety of staff and local
communities during all stages of medicinal plant sourcing and trade. All personnel must be
protected from toxic and dermatitis-causing plants, poisonous animals and disease-carrying
insects. Appropriate protective clothing, including gloves, should be worn when necessary.
Technical aspects - medicinal plants

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Pesticides and Good Agriculture Practices
Pesticides Regulations
Pesticides regulations are governed in India under following Acts/Rules:
1. The Insecticides Act, 1968 and Rules, 1971
2. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
3. Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989
4. Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
5. Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
6. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
7. The Factories Act, 1948
8. Bureau of Indian Standards Act
The Committee has been informed that pesticides Consumption in some of the major countries, is
as follows:
1.USA : 7.0 Kg/ha
2.Europe : 2.5 Kg/ha
3.Taiwan : 17 Kg/ha
4.Japan : 12 Kg/ha
5.Korea : 6.6 Kg/ha
6.India : 0.5 Kg/ha
From the above it is noted that in India pesticide consumption is far less vis-a-vis other Countries.
However, we have the problem of pesticide residue in food products, which mainly percolate from
fruit and agriculture crops wherein pesticides are used to kill pests. Giving reasons for more
pesticide residue in food products in India vis-a-vis other countries, representative of CSE during
her evidence before the Committee stated that other countries were using degradable pesticides.
Pesticides used by them are not persistent. However in India due to more use of persistent
pesticide, their residues remain in food products.
Due to problem of persistence of pesticide residues in food and agricultural products, as
also lack of awareness on the part of farmers with regard to judicious use of pesticides, the
Committee called for detailed information from the Ministry of Agriculture, Central Insecticides
Board and Registration Committee, which are the Government agencies entrusted with the task
of registration, regulation and usage of pesticides in the country. Their representatives were also
called before the Committee to tender their oral evidence on the subject.
As per a note furnished to the Committee by the Ministry of Agriculture pesticides mainly enter
into food products due to following reasons:
• Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides
• Non-observance of prescribed waiting periods
• Use of sub-standard pesticides
• Wrong advice and supply of pesticides to the farmers by pesticide dealers
• Continuance of DDT and other uses of pesticides in Public Health Programmes
• Effluents from pesticides manufacturing units
• Wrong disposal of left over pesticides and cleaning of plant protection equipments
• Pre-marketing pesticides
• Treatment of fruits and vegetables
Use and Regulation of Insecticides and Pesticides

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The Ministry of Agriculture regulates the manufacture, sale, import, export and use of pesticides
through the ‘Insecticides Act, 1968’ and the rules framed there under. Central Insecticides Board
(CIB) constituted under Section 4 of the Act advises Central and State Governments on technical
matters. The Registration Committee (RC) constituted under Section 5 of the Act approves the
use of pesticides and new formulations to tackle the pest problem in various crops. The
monitoring of pesticides residue levels in food comes under the purview of Union Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.
Insecticides Act, 1968
The Insecticides Act, 1968 regulates import, manufacture, sale, transport and distribution and use
of insecticide, with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animals and the matters connected
therewith. This Act was passed by the Parliament in the Nineteenth year of Republic of India and
came into force on 01.03.1971.
Central Insecticides Board (CIB)
A Central Insecticide Board (CIB) has been constituted under Section 4 of the Insecticides Act,
1968 to advise Central Government and State Governments on technical matters viz.:
• Safety measures necessary to prevent risk to human beings or animals in manufacture,
sale, storage, distribution and use;
• Assess suitability for aerial application;
• Specify shelf-life;
• Advise residue tolerance limit and waiting period;
• Suggest colorization;
• Recommend inclusion of chemicals/substances in the Schedule or insecticide;
Other functions incidental to these matters.
Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is ex-officio
Chairman of CIB. Board consists of 28 members, out of which 16 are ex-officio and 12 are
nominated members.
Registration Committee (RC)
A Registration Committee (RC) has been constituted under Section 5 of the Insecticides
Act, 1968 to register insecticides after scrutinizing formulae, verifying claims of efficacy and safety
to human beings and animals, specify the precautions against poisoning and any other function
incidental to these matters. To assess efficacy of the insecticides and their safety to human
beings and animals, the RC has evolved exhaustive guidelines/data requirements which inter-alia
includes residue in crops on which the insecticides are intended to be used. The onus lies with
the importers/manufacturers to generate data relating to the insecticides for which registration is
sought. The Committee was informed that so far 181 pesticides have been registered for regular
use in the country.
GLOBALGAP Certification for Good Agricultural Practices
Introduction
Due to global expansion in food trade, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has set as one of
their objectives the opening up of trade between countries and aims to address restrictive trade

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barriers. Sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues have always been important in global trade
and have become one of the most important potential Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Pests or
pathogens may exist in one country but not in another, thus ultimately resulting in restrictive TBT.
In addition, food safety has become one of the most important minimum requirements for future
trade with developed countries. The rapid increase in newly reported cases of outbreaks of foodborne
diseases particularly associated with fresh produce has been the primary drive towards
establishing minimum food safety standards. To be part of global trade in fresh produce and food
related products it will in future require compliance to some kind of food safety assurance system.
The global drive towards ensuring safe food supplies must also be seen as part of the focus on
food security. Safe food must be ensured in both developed and developing countries and
appropriate legislation needs to be put in place to address these concerns. The global emphasis
on safe and secure food supplies must also be seen against a backdrop of an increasing number
of immuno-compromises people (i.e. HIV / AIDS) as well as increased outbreaks of diseases
such as cholera and typhoid, particularly in developing countries, which are often causes by
inadequate sanitary measures and contaminated drinking water.
With respect to developed countries such as the European Union, the importance of food safety
was emphasized by the recent outbreaks of BSE (Mad Cow disease) and Food and Mouth
disease as well as traditional concerns with environmental pollution, particularly pesticides and
the issues surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). In contrast to this, the main focus
of concern in the United States of America is the reported outbreaks of food borne diseases often
associated with the consumption of fresh or processes food.
In this scenario the importance of microbial contamination is of major concern and has been the
driving force behind the establishment of the USA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) policies and
surveillance systems. Currently, there are numerous systems that growers can adopt to ensure
safe food production, which include amongst others Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Hygiene
Practices etc.
One of the GAP systems that have taken off within the European community is GLOBALGAP.
Apart from Germany and France, most other countries within the EU support this system, as do
the major retailers, which consider it the minimum standard for food trade. It is important to note
that these global standards will hopefully be harmonized but for the time being, major retailers will
still have their own set of requirements that growers will have to adhere to.
What is EUREPGAP CERTIFICATION?
GLOBALGAP started as a retailer initiative in 1997 with major inputs and support from the
chemical companies. GLOBALGAP was established by the Euro-Retailer Produce Working
Group (EUREP) with the aim of setting standard and procedures for the development of GAP.
What are the Objectives of EUREPGAP?
The main objective of GLOBALGAP is, to lead the system to an EN 45011-based accredited
certification system, referring to the cope of "GLOBALGAP Fruits and Vegetables". Partners from
the entire food chain for fruit and vegetable production have agreed upon the GLOBALGAP
certification document and procedures, which were achieved after extensive consultation over a
three-year period.
Benefits
Certification to GLOBALGAP will become mandatory as from March 2003 for farms growing
produce for export to Europe, although the EC may allow some latitude in this regard. At this
point in time different certification systems could be required for export to other countries such as
the USA, and Australia. As Europe is our largest export destination, GLOBALGAP certification will
in all likelihood become a minimum requirement for entry into the EU market. However, it should
be kept in mind that additional retailer requirements will still have to be met.

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Discussions are already underway to ensure harmonization between the different food safety
schemes and benchmarking will be essential to link the various systems. While certification to
GLOBALGAP will result in additional costs to growers, there will be numerous benefits. Long-term
benefits include more motivated farm workers due to improved facilities, training and better
working conditions with a subsequent increase in living standards. This would obviously also
result in better productivity and outputs to the ultimate benefit for the grower.
Other benefits include -
• More environmentally sound farming practices
• More judicious use of chemicals and
• Most importantly a cost benefit to the grower due to better management practices
enforced by the standard.
It is important to note that GLOBALGAP only covers produce up to the farm gate and thereafter
other systems such as GMP, HACCP etc will become essential. All food industries must also
implement GMP and GHP, both of which are prerequisite programs for HACCP. The South
African fish industry, represent a classical case study in terms of its adoption of HACCP. The
challenge is now for primary agriculture and the food procession industries to follow this example.
Besides the fruit and vegetables other GLOBALGAP certification procedures have been
developed for fresh flower, while draft documents covering animal production protocols which
includes beef and lamb; pig meat; poultry; eggs; dairy; fish farming; and game/exotic foodstuffs,
have been issued. Other drafts for crops, such as barley, beans, wheat, linseed, maize,
soybeans, etc. have also been prepared for release. Feed is also in the process of being
addressed due to the many food scares over the past few years.
GAP for Growers
A farmer who practices Good Agricultural Practices implements proactive food safety control
measures to prevent crop contamination. GAP guidelines can be grouped into four categories;

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health and hygiene, water quality, soil supplements, and environmental hazards. A brief
discussion of each is discussed.
Health and Hygiene – Growing fresh produce requires a significant amount of hand contact
during harvesting, sorting, and packing. A worker who shows signs of diarrhea, vomiting, or
sudden yellowing of the skin or eyes may have a disease that can be transmitted through food
and should not handle fresh produce. Every food handler should wash his or her hands before
starting work, after breaks, and especially after using the restroom. It may be difficult to provide
the necessary sanitary facilities, but clean, accessible, and appropriately stocked restroom and
hand washing stations are essential for preventing product contamination.
Water quality—Water has a many pre- and post-harvest uses for irrigation, pesticide application,
washing harvested produce, cleaning harvest containers, and for drinking and hand washing.
Food safety risks are greatest when surface water from ponds, streams, or rivers comes into
contact with the edible parts of fruits and vegetables. Ground or well water is usually a safer
choice, but it should be tested regularly and wells should be inspected to make sure they are
intact and not located in areas that are subject to runoff during storms or floods. Municipal water
is the safest source because you can be sure it has met government safety requirements. The
choice of water to use and the level of risk is determined by the timing and application method.
For instance, a safer source of water should be used as harvest time approaches or when
overhead irrigation is used since the edible portions of the plant is likely to come into contact with
the water just before harvest. Water used after harvesting should be free of human pathogens. If
the safety of the water is in doubt, a sanitizer should be added to the water.
Soil supplements—Healthy soils contain abundant populations of microorganism and most are
harmless to people. In fact, they are beneficial to crops because they break down organic matter
into more readily available plant nutrients. However, when animal manure is used as a soil
conditioner or a source of nutrients, contamination risks increase. It should be assumed that all
raw manure contains microorganism that can make people sick. Therefore, proper manure
management and application techniques are essential. If raw manure is applied to fields where
fresh produce is grown, allow a minimum of 120 days between manure application and harvest.
Working it into the soil in the fall of the previous year is even better since long term exposure to
the elements greatly reduces pathogen levels. A better choice when using animal manures is to
follow established aerobic composting techniques that will raise core temperatures to above
130oF for at least 5 days. Turn the pile several times to ensure even heat exposure to all parts of
the pile. It is also important to store raw and incompletely composted manure as far away as
possible from crop growing areas and to prevent runoff after heavy rains or flooding.
Field and Packinghouse Hazards—Farms and packing houses are by no means sterile
environments and there are ample opportunities for contamination from harvest equipment and
containers, harvest implements, packing equipment, storage facilities, and during transportation.
Growers need to be aware of potential contamination sources from adjacent properties such as
junk yards, toxic waste sites, and dairy or cattle operations and, to the extent possible, keep wild
animals away from the crop. Harvest containers and totes should be cleaned before each use
and stored so they are protected from sources of contamination.
The voluntary recommendations described above are applicable to all fresh produce growers. But
growers who supply fresh produce to grocery stores and restaurants are increasingly being asked
to supply documented evidence that GAP standards are being followed. An inspection from an
independent third party auditor is typically required at some point during the harvest season.
There are resources available to those who have received certification notices from their
wholesale buyers. A new United States Department of Agriculture audit service is available that is
supported by funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Currently under

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development from Penn State Extension and the Department of Food Science is a training
program that will help growers understand farm food safety risks and develop a food safety plan.
What Growers Should Know

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Growers can minimize the pre-harvest risk of contamination from pathogen sources such as
irrigation water, green or inadequately composted manure, or wild animals, through the following
GAPs practices:
Irrigation and Spray Water Quality
E.coli and Salmonella
• Irrigation water is from a capped well in good condition that can be readily treated if
indicator organisms are detected in annual water test.
• Source of water for topical sprays is from a capped well in good condition that can be
readily treated if indicator organisms are detected in annual water test.
• All water sources are tested for indictor organisms such as thermo tolerant coliforms and
generic E. coli with records kept on file.
• Findings and efforts of local watershed committees are known.
• Records are kept of monitoring of sediment levels in surface water used for irrigation.
• Irrigation method used for fresh produce is known to be free from pathogens.
• Backflow prevention is in place with no cross connections between water supplies.
• Self-assessments or consultant assessments are made (and documented) to reduce
negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
On-Farm Wells
• Well casing and well cap seal condition is good.
• Recommended well-casing depth is verified with local health department.
• Records are maintained of location and maintenance of on-farm septic systems.
• Records are kept of well positions and distances in relation to potential contamination
sources (e.g. fertilizer or pesticide storage and handling areas, livestock yards, septic
leach fields, manure piles, fuel storages, direction of surface water runoff, and diversions
of surface water runoff).
• Record/diagram exists of anti-backflow or check-valve devices on plumbing (indicate if
cross connections exist between water supplies).
• Records of all annual water tests are on file (tested for nutrients and chemical/microbial
contaminants).
Manure Sources and Application Practices
• Manure handling documentation from provider is on file.
• Only mature-animal manure is applied to produce fields (never from young, immature
animals).
• Time between manure application and harvest is always maximized.

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• Pathogen contamination risks on recently manured ground are considered when making
crop choices. (For example, never plant lettuce or root crops on recently manured
ground).
• Manure teas are never used.
• No manure is used to side dress produce crops.
• Barriers are used to reduce manure runoff or movement to surface water sources, to
minimize risks of pathogen contamination of water used by downstream neighbors.
• Produce is not grown in fields that might receive manure run-off.
• Manure is never spread to fields that are water saturated, prone to flooding or runoff, and
is not spread on frozen or snow-covered ground.
• Detailed records are kept of manure use.
On-Farm Manure Storage and Handling
• Manure storage areas are isolated from produce fields and handling facilities.
• Proper slurry storage periods are observed, prior to field application.
• Manure storage facility is covered, and there is no opportunity for liquid runoff.
• Surface diversions are present to prevent clean water from entering manure storage.
• There are records of slurry storage engineering design and inspection, with emergency
plan for pit failure or spills.
• There are records on file of farm environmental impact assessment, with record of
necessary changes made.
Compost Sources and On-Farm Storage
• Compost handling documentation from the provider is on file.
• Records of composting conditions for manure and bedding are on file.
• On-farm compost storage is secured, prior to land application.
Compost Application Practices
• No compost teas are used.
• No produce crops are side dressed with compost.
• Barriers are in place to reduce compost runoff or movement to surface water sources.
• There is detailed record keeping of compost use.
Herd Health
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs) or protocols are written to protect herd health and
are updated continuously based on consultant or vet advice, all of which are recorded.
• Manure handling of young or new animals is separate from older animals, clean water
movement on-farm is protected through containment of barnyard runoff, restriction of
Hygiene
• Workers receive training on hand washing and personal hygiene for food safety.
• Management exists of worker training programs on food safety and personal hygiene.
• On-farm signage of personal hygiene requirements is posted – instructions for hand
washing and personal hygiene for food safety in English and non-English (diagrams for
benefit of illiterate workers).
• Worker illness is reported, as required.
• Records are kept of worker training.

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Harvest and Post-harvest sources of contamination are addressed under GAPs as follows
Harvest Sanitation
• Workers are trained regarding quality and grade of harvested product.
• Harvest aids, field packing equipment and machinery are washed and sanitized daily.
• Workers practice proper hand washing.
• Gloves are used properly while harvesting.
• Proper procedures are followed when loading field bins. (Workers are not allowed in
bins.)
• Harvesting, packing and shipping containers are new or clean and sanitized prior to each
use.
• Containers used for packing produce are properly stored.
• Soil is removed from produce and bins in field. Bins are cleaned and sanitized prior to
field use.
• Written SOPs exist for all aspects of field harvest sanitation, with documentation that
SOPs are being implemented.
Post-harvest Packing House Sanitation and Safety
• Written SOPs for pest control of rodents, birds and insects in storage and packing areas,
with daily inspections and records.
• Soil is removed from produce and bins in field.
• Overhead light bulbs are screened or covered.
• Backflow devices are in place to protect water source.
• Written SOPs exist for packing line sanitation and damage inspection, with daily
inspection records.
• Good grade oils and lubricants are used.
• Proper storage of containers used for packing and shipping ensure containers are not
exposed to rodents, dust or condensation.
• Cull pile management occurs at proper location, with daily composting or appropriate
removal.
• Workers practice proper hand washing.
• Gloves, smocks and aprons are properly worn during packing.
• Shipping trucks are properly sanitized, with recorded documentation.
• There are written SOPs for all aspects of packing house sanitation, with records of
routine verification of practices.
Post-harvest Handling of Produce
• Soil is removed from produce and bins in field to prevent contaminating wash water or
other loads of produce.
• Potable-quality water is used for washing produce and making ice, with results of annual
water test on file.

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Proper cleaning of produce before storage
• Water quality in dump tanks, flumes, hydro coolers or other batch-water tanks is
monitored several times a day, with appropriate chlorine or other disinfectant levels
maintained for each particular crop. Water pH is monitored and adjusted to correct levels.
• There are written SOPs for temperature management of water in dump tanks (no more
than 10˚ F cooler than produce).
• Records are maintained of scheduled cleaning of ice storage and handling facilities.
• Backflow devices separate dump tanks from water source.
• Harvesting, packing and shipping containers are new or clean and sanitized prior to each
use
Proper Storage of produce
• Proper storage of containers used for packing and shipping ensures containers are not
exposed to rodents, dust or condensation.
• A cold chain is maintained to minimize growth of pathogens, with records of monitored
temperatures.
• There are written SOPs for cleaning of temperature-controlled produce storage, with
records to verify implementation.
• There is proper refrigerated- or cold-room loading and management.
• Refrigerated or temperature-controlled trucks are used to move produce optimizing crop
post-harvest quality. Temperatures are printed on manifests to ensure maintenance of
the cold chain. Temperature monitoring records are kept.
• Prior to loading produce, shipping vehicle is inspected for cleanliness, odors and debris,
and cleaned and sanitized, if needed. Records are kept.
• A trace-back system is implemented on the farm, coding for field, harvest date and crew,
with records maintained for access by grower, auditor or inspector.
• Farm records demonstrate adherence to SOPs and scheduled protocols, such as
monitoring of restrooms, worker training, product coding, and postharvest sanitation.
When variations in protocols occur, they are noted in the records. All farm records are
verified by management and kept on file.

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• Product identification is in place for each piece or container of produce shipped from the
farm. It is coded to allow tracing from field or origin to the distributor. The coded lot
numbers are included on the bill of laden.
• Records of results of annual self-assessments, including action plans and dates of
implementation, are kept on file.
• A written recall plan is updated and reviewed regularly by farm management and
employees. Copies of the plan are filed with farm support services, including lawyers and
distributors.
• The written recall plan includes names of employees to serve as recall team leaders,
process for notification of the public and regulatory agencies, procedures for
implementing the recall, strategies for handling recalled produce and methods for
verifying recall plan effectiveness.
• Recall Notification Contacts include current phone and fax numbers for the key farm
personnel, produce buyers and distributors, and farm support agencies. Notification will
include request that all contacted parties reply to the notice.
• A mock recall is conducted on the farm to test the recall strategy and verify trace-back
procedures.
• Records of any customer complaints, responses and actions taken to fix problem are
keep on file.
Farm Bio-security
• Farm and packing shed buildings are locked when not occupied. Access keys are
restricted to designated farm personnel.
• Visitor protocols limit and monitor access of all non-employees. These protocols are
documented and all employees are aware of them.
• Standards for employee hiring are developed with consideration for biosecurity.
• All employees are trained to notify their supervisor if they see suspicious vehicles or
people, unusual product or suspicious packages on the farm, in the packing shed or
around farm buildings.
• Public Health, Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002–Farm
owner, operator or manager is aware of the act and understands how their operation is
affected.
• Farm operation qualifies as a food production facility under this act and has been
registered.
Crisis Management
• Farm owner/operator has received crisis management training, and a written crisis
management plan is in place.
• The farm has individuals who have media training and are familiar with farming
operations to answer questions from the media. These individuals are familiar with all
farm food safety protocols that are in place to prevent problems.
• The farm has a crisis management team designated and a plan to assign employees to
different tasks should a crisis occur. Each critical person has a backup.
• Employee training includes discussion of the crisis management plan and employee
responsibilities in the event of a crisis.
• The crisis management plan outlines which operations must continue and those that can
be temporarily halted during a crisis.
• The crisis management plan includes a list of all priority contacts that support or provide
services to the farm in the event of a crisis including lawyers, grower organizations, state
health officials and vendors.
• A mock crisis has been conducted to insure the plan is effective.

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Pesticide Use
• Pesticides are applied according to label directions and at less than label rates when
effective.
• A spill kit is readily available near mixing area. A holding tank for rinsate is available.
Excess material and rinsate is used according to label instructions.
• A spill response plan is written, updated and routinely reviewed by farm management and
employees. Phone numbers of emergency response personnel are posted near all
phones and authorities are notified immediately after a spill of a hazardous compound.
• SOPs are written for maintenance, calibration and inspection of spray equipment.
• Records of spray equipment maintenance are kept.
• A drift management plan is written and followed.
• Records of all pesticide applications are kept on file (includes date, chemical and trade
name, EPA registration number, rate applied, weather conditions, stage of crop, target
pest, area treated and name and certification number of applicator).
• Crops are inspected for pests during critical periods of crop and pest development. The
farm uses IPM and pesticides. Pesticides are only applied when pest populations are
large enough to cause economic losses.
• Spray water is from a municipal, treated water source or from ground water obtained from
a properly constructed, capped well, in good condition, that could be readily treated if
indicator organisms were detected in annual water tests.
• Any person who handles and applies pesticides is a certified applicator.
• All pesticide applicators have access to and wear proper safety equipment for applying
pesticide.
• The pesticide storage area is locked and used only for pesticides.
• Pesticide storage area is designed with impermeable shelves over and impermeable floor
with curbs or dikes to contain leaks or spills. There is no floor drain or drain is to an
acceptable holding tank.
• Signs are posted notifying of pesticide applications. Workers are prevented from re-entry
to fields until the re-entry period has expired.
• No produce is harvested until the legal number of days, post application, as stated on the
pesticide label.
• Proper pesticide container disposal is followed.
Personal practices
• Smoking, eating chewing gum, drinking beverages, or using tobacco should be confined
to areas away from the growing area
• If there is a significant risk for contamination, policies should be established to minimize
this risk.

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Potential benefits and challenges related to Good Agricultural
Practices
Potential benefits of GAP
• Appropriate adoption and monitoring of GAP helps improve the safety and quality of food
and other agricultural products.
• It may help reduce the risk of non-compliance with national and international regulations,
standards and guidelines (in particular of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Plant Protection Convention
IPPC regarding permitted pesticides, maximum levels of contaminants (including
pesticides, veterinary drugs, radionuclide and mycotoxins) in food and non-food
agricultural products, as well as other chemical, microbiological and physical
contamination hazards.
• Adoption of GAP helps promotes sustainable agriculture and contributes to meeting
national and international environment and social development objectives.
Challenges related to GAP
• In some cases GAP implementation and especially record keeping and certification will
increase production costs. In this respect, lack of harmonization between existing GAPrelated
schemes and availability of affordable certification systems has often led to
increased confusion and certification costs for farmers and exporters.
• Standards of GAP can be used to serve competing interests of specific stakeholders in
agri-food supply chains by modifying supplier-buyer relations.
• There is a high risk that small scale farmers will not be able to seize export market
opportunities unless they are adequately informed, technically prepared and organised to
meet this new challenge with governments and public agencies playing a facilitating role.
• Compliance with GAP standards does not always foster all the environmental and social
benefits, which are claimed.
• Awareness rising is needed of 'win-win' practices which lead to improvements in terms of
yield and production efficiencies as well as environment and health and safety of
workers. One such approach is Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM).
SOURCE ; http://agritech.tnau.ac.in

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