Definition
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training aims to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability by equipping farmers with essential skills and knowledge. The training focuses on implementing effective farming techniques, such as proper land preparation, crop rotation, and pest management, while promoting the use of quality inputs and adherence to safety standards. GAP training aims to increase crop yields, improve quality of produce, and enhance income for farmers, ultimately fostering a more resilient agricultural sector that meets market demands and supports community livelihoods.
Lead Actors
Input Provider; Off-taker; Other Service Provider
Target Demographics
Farmer Groups; Farmer Organisations; Smallholder Farmers
Objectives addressed
Farmer related
Increase climate resilience:
GAP training promotes sustainable farming techniques that help farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions, e.g., learning to implement intercropping and crop rotation. Plus, training on weather forecasting informs farmer decisions about planting and harvesting times, mitigating risks associated with extreme weather events (e.g., floods).
Improve yields:
GAP training equips farmers with knowledge about effective agronomic practices that are essential for maximising productivity. Support from extension agents helps farmers implement practices effectively, leading to higher quality produce and increased yields.
Increase farmer income:
Higher yields and better quality produce translate to increased sales revenue which in turn increases incomes.
Business related
Address sourcing needs:
While farmers may not fully adopt practices, partial adoption of GAP can increase yields, returning higher volumes and more consistent quality to meet off-taker sourcing needs.
Contexts Best Suited to
Most crop contexts.
Subsistence or semi-commercialising farmers: where need is highest.
Subsistence or semi-commercialising farmers: where need is highest.
Key Risks
Resistance & Limited adoption: One risk is farmer opposition to practice adoption and subsequent minimal diffusion of practices outside of training touchpoints.
Environmental Impact
Positive:
GAP training supports sustainable farming—improves soil health, reduces run-off, and boosts biodiversity. However, some practices (e.g. tillage, spraying) can harm the environment and should be assessed. Still, the overall impact is likely net positive due to higher yields reducing pressure to expand farmland.
Ambition level
Low
Time
A moderate upfront time investment is required to train the ToTs, EAs and Lead Farmers. Thereafter, GAP training can be conducted on a routine basis (e.g., seasonally), led by the trainers and coordinated by the agri-SME.
Investment Need
Little to no equipment or infrastructure required. HR costs for trainers and development of curriculum. Unless training is conducted on an existing (demo) plot, then costs of land access, plus necessary inputs, should be considered.
