Guinea: workshop to launch the development of the Good Practice Guide for the potato sector.

A national workshop consultation for stakeholders in the Guinean potato sector was held in Mamou on 13 July, as part of the development of the Good Practice Guide (GPG) for the value chain of this commodity.

This workshop brought together more than 20 participants from the main farmers’ organisations in the sector (Fédération des Paysans du Fouta Djallon, FPFD; Union des Groupements Agricoles de Labé, UGAL; Union des Groupements Agricoles de Soumbalako, UGAS), the private sector, partner projects (the Belgian development agency, ENABEL), representatives of national NGOs (ECOR), Bareng Agricultural Research Centre and the National Directorate for Plant Protection and Stored Foods.

Initiated by COLEACP, within the framework of the projects implemented in Guinea (STDF/498 and FFM-SPS) in collaboration with its operational partners, this meeting addressed the activities to be carried out within the framework of the elaboration of the GPG.

Chaired by the Governor of the administrative region of Mamou, represented by Mamadou Diao Diallo, Regional Director of Agriculture, accompanied by the Regional Director of Plant Protection, the launch of the project began with optimism. Mamadou Diallo underlined the availability of the authorities at all levels to support the development of the GPG.

The representative of Union des Groupements Agricoles (UGAS), Diogo Bah underlined the interest of the elaboration of such a Guide which will allow the sector to improve the quality of their products and to be more competitive in the subregional market.br>

National experts trained by COLEACP presented on the essential objectives of the GPG which aims to: (i) facilitate compliance of practices and products; (ii) facilitate recognition of compliance with standards and regulatory requirements; (iii) facilitate dialogue and exchange of practices within the sector; and (iv) provide an educational tool.

The next steps in the development of the GPG were discussed by the experts present, namely field surveys and an inventory of the regulations and SPS standards relevant to the sector; analysis of practices, hazards, and identification of control measures; the development of a draft GPG; and the final dissemination of the GPG.

The experts stressed that this GPG will help the different actors working in potato production to produce them using appropriate SPS measures and achieving an optimal commercial quality of the product by harmonising the current specifications with international standards and commercial quality criteria adopted by the markets.

As a result of the workshop, the structures and resource persons who are members of the Steering Committee (COPIL) and the Technical Group were selected.

More information on the phytosanitary problem in Guinea Conakry.

This activity was organised within the framework of the Project to strengthen the phytosanitary monitoring and certification system in Guinea, supported by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) project and implemented by COLEACP. This is also supported supported by the Fit For Market and Fit For Market SPS programmes, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. Fit For Market is co-funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).