Nay Pyi Taw, 19 January 2018. The consultation on the Development of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) was held on 19 January 2018 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Tin Htut, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and Senior Officials from Department of Planning, Department of Agriculture and the Private Sector. All together there were 20 participants.
Mr. Chris May, ADB TA8163 Specialist on PGS and Head of the Mission, outlined how PGS relates to food safety and the overall importance of institutionalized quality assurance systems for agri-food produced by smallholders. He shared the experiences from successful models of PGS from GMS and other countries. Discussions followed on the establishment of a National PGS in Myanmar and potential economic benefits for PGS certified smallholders.
Dr. Tin Htut, Permanent Secretary emphasized the benefits of PGS for smallholders and establishment of quality assurances that support food safety not only in the domestic market but in the region as well. He encouraged Senior Officials from the Department of Agriculture to collaborate closely with the private sector to support the establishment of PGS and organic production nation-wide.
This meeting is part of the activities under Output 1: Strengthened regional policy framework and capacity for enhanced market access of safe and environmentally friendly agri-food products of Implementing Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Core Agriculture Support Program Phase 2 (CASP 2) and follow-through activities of the GMS Strategy and Action Plan for Safe and Environment Friendly Agrofood Value Chains 2018-2022, endorsed by the GMS Ministers of Agriculture last September 2017 in Siem Reap. This GMS strategy will help Myanmar and the other GMS countries to become a leading supplier of safe and environment-friendly agriculture products (SEAP) in the domestic and international markets.
Mr. Chris May met with the Private Sector and visited PGS farmers' in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon between 19-23 January 2018.