YANGON: As countries increasingly emphasise food safety, Myanmar is promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to produce safer agricultural products and strengthen export standards, Ye Min Aung, vice president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), said during the GAP certificate presentation ceremony held on Friday (May 15) in Yangon.
Myanmar's GAP system has been in place for more than 10 years. In the past, trading partners did not require GAP certificates, but later began requesting them as food safety standards became more important in international trade, he said.
"As countries around the world place greater emphasis on food security and safety, ensuring food safety has become a top priority," explained Ye Min Aung.
"Therefore, we need to have recognised certifications properly and systematically through the correct procedures so we can consistently sell and export our products to international markets.
He said the certifications issued by the Department of Agriculture are intended to support farmers. "To further expand these efforts, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation among exporting companies, farmers, and the government," he added. "By doing so, agricultural exports could potentially double, while farmers' incomes could also increase significantly."
Among Myanmar's agricultural exports, pulses and beans account for the second-largest cultivated area after rice, covering about 20 per cent of the country's crop area. Among them, green mung beans occupy the largest share, he said.
Green mung beans are one of Myanmar's most promising export crops and generate significant foreign income. Therefore, the GAP system is being promoted in green mung bean cultivation, he added.
Farmers in Khayan township and Thongwa township in the Yangon region practicing GAP said the system had improved both food safety awareness and their livelihoods.
Zayyar Htwe, 37, who has practiced GAP farming for about two years, said the system is important for the country's food safety.
"Nowadays, diseases and health problems have become more common, and one of the contributing factors is unsafe food consumption," he noted.
"By practicing GAP farming methods, farmers can avoid the unnecessary use of pesticides and reduce harmful chemical residues in food products," he said.
"As a result, food becomes safer and healthier for consumers. That is why I believe GAP farming practices should be more widely adopted."
He added that GAP also benefits trade and market access because products are safer and meet international standards.
According to Ye Min Aung, some exporting companies are implementing contract farming systems under the GAP framework to provide technical support, quality assurance, stable market access and better income for farmers.
GAP-certified green mung beans from Myanmar are exported to China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and several European countries, he said.
In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Myanmar exported nearly 360,000 metric tonnes of green mung beans.
"This fiscal year, we plan to export more than 400,000 metric tons of green mung beans and generate around US$500 million in export earnings," he said. - Xinhua
