Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Salt Affected Soils

Abstract

Food safety has gained increasing importance over the years due to its impact on the health of consumers and the growth in the domestic and global trade in food products. Production of safe food is essential for protecting consumers from the hazards of food borne illnesses. Further, food safety is an integral part of food security and also contributes towards increasing competitiveness in export markets. Food safety hazards may occur at different stages of the food chain starting right from primary production and extending to secondary and tertiary processing, storage and distribution, and packaging. It is therefore very important to address food safety starting from the field level. Implementing good practices during on-farm production and post-production processes is of immense importance for assuring a safe food supply. Many importing countries as well as domestic buyers, especially organized retailers, are now requiring producers to implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) as a prerequisite for procurement to ensure the quality and safety of their produce. Restoration of soil quality for the required crop production or to limit and/or slowing down the further deterioration is a pre-requisite for safe and quality food. Thus, preventing productive lands to turn in to saline lands would be the key to sustain agriculture growth and productivity in the country. Non-sustainability of agricultural systems evolves around three principal indicators; soil erosion, soil organic matter decline and salinization. Therefore, there is a urgent need to eliminate the unsafe and unceasing components of traditional agriculture to result into quality farm produce. The purpose of this Bulletin is to spread the basic concepts of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) amongst all the stakeholders in order to promote sustainable agriculture and contributes to meeting national, environmental and social developmental objectives under salt affected regions.