ABUCAY, Bataan—The Bataan Peninsula State University is helping farmers in the province to be ready for the upcoming full Association of Southeast Asian Nations or Asean integration.
“You cannot sell your produce to other Asean countries unless you have Good Agricultural Practices [GAP] certification from Department of Agriculture,” BPSU director for Research and Development Office Dr. Hermogenes Paguia told local mango growers during the university-initiated GAP orientation on Friday.
“Unfortunately, there is still no GAP-certified mango farm in the province, and this is why BPSU is initiating this orientation to help local farmers,” he pointed out. “Bataan farmers must become competitive in order to take advantage of the thriving Asean market.”
The BPSU official said they are helping the mango orchard of Anthony Villanueva in Sitio Bodega, Barangay Tuyo, Balanga City to be the first mango farm in the province to have GAP certification.
“We will assist Mr. Villanueva who already started checking the requirements to comply with GAP. We will also assist in submitting his application and would follow to DA the inspection of his farm,” Paguia said.
He said BPSU will also assist a rice farm in the province to get GAP certification.
“We will continue the GAP orientation of farmers in Bataan,” he concluded.