SIAS to organise agriculture seminar next month
KUCHING: The Sarawak Institute of Agriculture Scientists ( SIAS), in collaboration with Department of Agriculture (DOA) Sarawak and Malaysia Institute of Chemistry ( IKM) Sarawak branch, will be organising a seminar on sustainable, quality and safe agriculture production at Imperial Hotel here on Apr 17.
Themed ‘ Towards Safe and Quality Food Crop Production in Sarawak through Good Agriculture Practice (GAP)’, the seminar, which is expected to be officiated at by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, aims to highlight the importance of Quality Assurance Programme (QAP) in agriculture production, said SIAS and IKM in a joint press statement recently.
“The QAP is implemented by DOA through the myGAP and myOrganic certifications and these certifications will ensure a sustainable, quality and safe agriculture production,” said IKM Sarawak chairman Dr Alvin Chai Lian Kuet.
According to him, the seminar is expected to be attended by around 200 participants from government agencies, myGAP and myOrganic participants, entrepreneurs, NGO, consumer bodies, retailers, professional bodies and the chamber of commerce.
“Five papers will be delivered during the seminar namely ‘Quality Assurance Programme through myGAP & myOrganic certification’; ‘Pesticide residue in agriculture produce from myGAP certified farm’; ‘ Production of pesticide safe food crop through Integrated Pest Management’; ‘Production of pesticide free food crop through organic farming’; and ‘ Pesticide regulations in Malaysia’,” he revealed.
He also noted that among the highlights include presentation of myGAP certificates to 15 myGAP participants from Sarawak who have passed the certification in 2016.
“There will also be an exhibition by myGAP and myOrganic participants producing different food crops such as banana, coconut, vegetable, fruits, and rice.”