Latest news with #GoodAgriculturalPractices
Barnama
24-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
KADA, NAFAS Boost National Agriculture Through Tautan Tani Programme
KOTA BHARU, July 24 (Bernama) -- The collaboration between the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) and the National Farmers Organisation (NAFAS) is expected to strengthen the country's agricultural sector through the enhancement of input supply chains and more structured, strategic capacity-building for farmers, said KADA chairman Khalid Abdul Samad. He expressed appreciation to NAFAS for its willingness to be KADA's key strategic partner in implementing the Tautan Tani programme, which he described as an essential platform for elevating the status of the agricultural sector. "The close cooperation between KADA and NAFAS is a timely and strategic move to ensure national food security, especially in today's context, which demands multi-stakeholder collaboration to address the challenges of the agro-food sector. "I am confident that the combination of KADA's expertise in area development and human capital, along with NAFAS' strength in logistics and agricultural input supply chains, can create a more sustainable, productive, and competitive agricultural ecosystem," he said during today's launch of the Tautan Tani programme here. Khalid said such programmes are a manifestation of both agencies' commitment to strengthening agricultural knowledge and practices among farmers, while also promoting a thriving culture of collaboration within the industry. "The initiative of organising product introduction talks and factory visits is an effective effort to augment farmers' understanding of the agricultural input value chain, while also raising awareness on the proper and efficient use of fertilisers. "Farmers must be informed consumers who understand fertiliser contents, the functions of nutrients and their impact on crop yields, and the use of pesticides that must adhere to safety guidelines to ensure quality harvests and environmental protection," he said. He said that the briefing that KADA conducted on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is crucial in ensuring that the country's agricultural produce meets international standards to penetrate the global market. "The sharing sessions by farmers are also significant as they provide opportunities to learn from one another, share successes, techniques, and innovations from the field, which are often more practical than theory alone," he said.
The Star
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
King of fruits: China welcomes Cambodian durian exports
A worker ties up durians at a plantation in Kampong Cham province. - Photo: Supplied PHNOM PENH: Cambodia can now officially export fresh durians to the Chinese market. On Friday (July 4) evening, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that final permission had been granted by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), in accordance with a protocol signed by both parties on April 17. 'The decision was made after the GACC evaluated and approved the registration applications of 112 durian plantations and 30 packing facilities, which met the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards, phytosanitary requirements and Chinese food safety standards,' explained a ministry statement. The ministry advised growers and other stakeholders to ensure the quality and sustainability of export fruit, and called on all farm owners and packing facility operators to comply with the protocol's conditions — free from harmful contaminants, pesticide residues or banned chemicals. It encouraged other farm and packing facility owners who wish to export durian to submit registration applications to the ministry's General Directorate of Agriculture. According to the Ministry of Commerce, durian is the ninth Cambodian agricultural product which is licensed for export to China. It follows rice, broken rice, dried cassava chips, corn, bananas, mangoes, longans, and peppers. 'This is a fruitful achievement born from the strong cooperation between Cambodia and China,' added the agriculture ministry. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
Daily Express
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Tawau emerging as a leading durian district
Published on: Friday, July 04, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 04, 2025 By: Amir Anuar Text Size: Nizam giving the thumb up to one of the durian growers. TAWAU: The growing demand for durian in both domestic and international markets is fuelling the expansion of new plantations in Tawau, reaffirming the district's position as a key durian producer in Sabah's East Coast region. According to the Sabah Agriculture Department, under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development initiative, Tawau is expected to see the addition of 100 hectares of durian cultivation this year, primarily driven by private sector investment. Another 40 acres are projected to be developed by smallholders. Advertisement Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, said the expansion would add to the district's current 336 hectares of durian plantations, largely concentrated in Apas, Balung, and Merotai. 'Tawau remains the leading durian-producing district on the East Coast, and there's still room for expansion, especially to meet export market demand,' he said during the Durian Crop Technology Transformation Course held at Dewan Sri Tawau, recently. Nizam encouraged farmers and rural communities in the district to seize the opportunity to venture into durian cultivation using modern agricultural techniques, with support and guidance from the Agriculture Department. He also urged industry players to ensure their produce meets quality and safety standards by adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) or organic farming methods, which can lead to certifications such as myGAP or myOrganic. 'We must ensure that our durian produce is safe for consumption and of high quality. 'This includes using certified planting materials and participating in training courses organised by the department, such as those that help farmers identify genuine durian seedlings,' he said. He emphasised that authenticity and quality assurance would play a crucial role in enhancing the competitiveness of Sabah's durian in premium markets. Also present were Sabah Agriculture Director Datuk Jifrin Mohamad, Assistant Director of the Crop Industry Development and Extension Division Jackson Ronald Jaimi, and Assistant Director of Research and Innovation ChM Alinah Abdul Rahman. Others included District Senior Agricultural Officer Abd Samat Injau, who served as co-secretariat for the event and Senior Principal Assistant Director of the Agricultural Extension and Technology Transformation Section Linda Lily Cosmas. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Coffee Master Trainer Upgrade (Coffee MUG) Program Surpasses 4,700 Farmers Trained, Boosting Yields and Incomes Across Indonesia's Top Arabica Regions
The Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) ( announced key findings of the mid-term survey from the Coffee Master Trainer Upgrade (Coffee MUG) Program, a five-year initiative helping smallholder farmers in North Sumatra and Aceh adopt sustainable coffee-growing practices. Since its launch in October 2021, the program has trained 4,754 farmers—37% (1,781) women—across 130 villages, with 3,700 hectares now managed under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Nineteen Master Trainers and eight candidates act as local champions, guiding farmer groups on soil health, pruning, post-harvest handling, and quality control. The field midline survey conducted to the program and confirmed that average yields in the target areas rose 13.7 percent in 2023, equivalent to 78 kilograms of green bean per hectare compared to the previous year. Capacity-building results are equally encouraging participating trainers demonstrated 91 percent competence in sustainable coffee farming and 87 percent competence in training methodologies during recent evaluations. Farmer livelihoods are beginning to reflect these gains. Average annual coffee sales reached IDR 82.95 million (US$5,100) per farmer in 2023, while average net farm income rose to IDR 71.52 million (US$4,400). Earlier this year, SCOPI and ITFC convened twin data-utilisation workshops in Berastagi (Karo Regency) and Takengon (Central Aceh Regency). Local officials, private buyers, Master Trainers, and farmer leaders reviewed the mid-line survey results, explored a new web-based monitoring dashboard, and agreed on concrete follow-up actions—such as establishing demonstration plots that now serve as 'living classrooms' for young farmers and expanding market pathways with ofi Indonesia, Louis Dreyfus Company, and Ecom/Indo Cafco. 'This survey is more than just data collection—it is a strategic tool to sharpen the program's direction and ensure it remains responsive to farmers' real needs' said Ade Aryani, Executive Director of SCOPI Nazeem Noordali, Chief Operating Officer of ITFC, added: 'Farmer surveys offer data-driven guidance, help identify gaps, and support the development of more impactful strategies. Programs like Coffee MUG must remain dynamic and responsive to field realities.' At data-utilization workshops Karo Regency and Central Aceh Regency, SCOPI and ITFC joined officials, buyers, trainers, and farmers to review mid-line findings, test a new monitoring dashboard, and launch demo plots for youth training. Looking ahead, the program is scaling its trainers network through a new recruitment drive that will bring more young people into the Master Trainer pipeline, securing generational renewal. Field trials focused on soil-health interventions will also continue, targeting a further yield increase by 2026. In parallel, fresh modules on financial literacy and digital marketing are being developed for rollout later this year, with a special emphasis on empowering women and youth farmer groups. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). ITFC Contact: Tel: +966 12 646 8337 Fax: +966 12 637 1064 E-mail: ITFC@ SCOPI Contact: Email: info@ ITFC Social Media: Twitter: @ ITFCCORP Facebook: @ ITFCCorp LinkedIn: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) SCOPI Social Media: Linkedin: Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI) Instagram: @ scopi_id Website: About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC): The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is the trade finance arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving the socio-economic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$83 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries' needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity-building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market. About the Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI): The Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI) is a leading organization dedicated to promoting sustainable coffee production and improving the livelihoods of coffee farmers. SCOPI is a platform for collaboration among key stakeholders in the Indonesian coffee industry, working towards a shared vision of a thriving and sustainable coffee sector.
Bloomberg
26-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Thai Cannabis Industry Thrown Into Chaos as Government Aims to Recriminalize Weed
Three years after becoming the first Asian nation to decriminalize cannabis, Thailand is poised to reverse course amid political turmoil and now requires a prescription to buy cannabis at any of the 10,000 dispensaries that have sprung up since 2022. The new rules have thrown the fledgling industry into chaos and sparked criticism from pro-cannabis activists, who championed liberalization as a way to boost Thailand's wellness and tourism sectors. Dispensaries must now sell only cannabis produced by farms that have obtained the 'Good Agricultural and Collection Practices' certifications issued by the government, and amounts are capped at a 30-day supply per customer.
