Do GAP Farmers do Better than Non-GAP Farmers?:

Pesticide Management Practices of Horticultural Farmers in Damnoen Saduak, Thailand

Abstract

In order to provide better and safer agricultural food products, the Thai government has introduced a public standard of good agricultural practices (GAP) which has been implemented since 2004. Using data obtained from interviews with farmers applying intensive horticultural systems in Damnoen Saduak District (Ratchaburi Province) we determined whether those who followed the GAP program could gain access to foreign markets to sell their produce and whether their practices were better in terms of improving food security and worker safety through adequate synthetic pesticide use compared to non-GAP farmers. The results showed that the GAP program has been beneficial for the farmers, by focusing its efforts on certification which is a necessary requirement for export access. However, pesticide management practices did not differ between GAP and non-GAP farmers. We argue that inadequate implementation of the standard in the region is due to a lack of sufficient governmental resources necessary to train farmers and to control on-farm activities that may lead to a decrease in synthetic pesticide use.