A fruitful education – Changing the lives of durian smallholders through agricultural training sessions

Bayer

As part of Bayer’s commitment to food security and sustainability and the company’s support for more than 100 million smallholder farmers in developing countries by 2030, Bayer aims to provide greater access to sustainable agricultural solutions.

The BayG.A.P. service programme, a collaboration between Bayer, Kasetsart University and the Thai Department of Agriculture, Region 6, supports farmers in their efforts to be certified and connected to the food value chain. The Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P.) programme was introduced in Thailand in 2019. Since then, hundreds of smallholders, have attended BayG.A.P. training sessions and fast-tracked their local G.A.P. certification process.

When China announced new certification requirements for durian fruit imports in July 2019, Thai farmers were left unsure of how to adhere to the new, strict regulations on the use of crop protection products, soil quality control, water use and more. However, if they want to continue to export fruit to China, meeting these regulations is necessary. Access to the Chinese market is crucial for Thai smallholder farmers is crucial, since China is the largest importer of Thai durian and therefore provides a major source of income. In addition, Chinese consumers rely on these transactions as Thailand supplies 80 per cent of fresh durian, their favourite delicacy, each year.

Challenging beliefs through training

As of today, more than 1,000 farmers in Chanthaburi, an important durian growing area in Thailand, and other nearby provinces have participated in ongoing BayG.A.P. training sessions. BayG.A.P. designs its modules as straightforward, hands-on experiences. The training includes a mixture of theory discussions and in-field demonstrations together with exercises and an examination at the end of each module to evaluate the participants’ comprehensiveness.

Moreover, the training features BayG.A.P. Farm Advisors who provide smallholders with customised, on-farm consultations regarding integrated crop management and sustainability practices.

“BayG.A.P. training modules encourage farmers to reconsider some of their farming traditions and, instead, place emphasis on safe use practices and sustainable production,” says Dr. Chainarong Rattanakreetakul, Associate Professor at Kasetsart University.

Upon successfully completing the training, farmers receive both a BayG.A.P. recognition certificate and a pre-audit to directly obtain their local ThaiGAP certificate that facilitates access to both regional and global export markets. For durian growers, this access makes certificate due to the cost and the resources a world of difference as it allows them to export their fruit to China as opposed to selling exclusively in the saturated market of Thailand. This expanded access prevents them from losing out on vital financial opportunities needed to support their families.

Access to overseas markets also avoids food waste as growers can sell their entire supply. With the United Nations General Assembly declaring 2021 as the International Year of Fruit and Vegetables (IYFV), reducing the losses and waste in fruit food systems is of the utmost importance as food waste contributes to climate change, hunger, economic insecurity and pressure on limited resources.

Reaching more farmers, virtually

While BayG.A.P. has already helped hundreds of farmers, there are still many more in need of their local G.A.P. or equivalent certificate. Thai smallholders have difficulty in getting their certificate due to the cost and the resources required. On top of that, Covid-19 presents its own challenges and threatens in-person interactions including training sessions. In response to these issues, BayG.A.P. provides sponsorships to fully cover the cost of training and is planning to extend its reach by making the service programme available virtually.

In December 2020, the Office of Agricultural Research and Development, Region 6, in collaboration with Bayer Thailand and Kasetsart University presented their 2- in-1 G.A.P. app at the HortEx Fair in Thailand. Through the app and associated website, farmers can attend virtual lessons on G.A.P. and take their ThaiGAP certification assessment online. In addition to ThaiGAP, the app also provides entry knowledge to what is needed for any other G.A.P.-based certification. By going virtual, BayG.A.P. hopes to speed up the steps of the certification process and provide convenience both for farmers and for auditors.

1,120 farmers in Chanthaburi take part in a BayG.A.P. training session.

Contact details: Bayer Thai Co., Ltd Communications Division Tel: +66 2 232 7000 www.bayer.co.th