Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) provide a certification (guarantee) process that has been specifically developed to help small holders (mostly organic producers) to participate more effectively in local and domestic markets. The basic PGS concept has been around for many years and has been applied in different ways, but the term PGS itself is a relatively recent phenomenon and was first documented by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) in 2004. Since that time IFOAM has gone on to document the PGS process through a collection of case studies, and a PGS Guidelines Document, as well as leading a number of other initiatives to promote PGS world wide (ifoam.org). There are now many established PGS around the world and many more in the process of development, including the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries (Cambodia, PRC, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam) where, as part of TA 8163-REG: Implementing the Greater Mekong Sub-region Core Agriculture Support Program, Phase 2 (following on from a Regional Workshop held in February 2014 and subsequent national workshops held in February and March 2014) PGS pilots have been initiated in Viet Nam, Thailand and Lao PDR and for Myanmar and Cambodia workshops will be held later in 2014 and PRC in 2015. The groups selected for these pilots are diverse and reflect how the PGS approach can be applied in many different situations. For example, the pilots cover land holding arrangements that are both contiguous and scattered and include wild harvesting and drying, of bamboo shoots (Lao PDR), rice production (Thailand), intensive vegetable growing (Thailand, Viet Nam and Lao PDR) and fruit production (Thailand) in upland areas. Key stakeholders such as supermarkets and specialty stores along with traders, consumers and supporting agencies (NGO and Government) all play varying roles in supporting these PGS pilots. How they do this varies with the situation but the overall principle of the PGS is to encourage the active engagement of all stakeholders (as far as is practical) not just farmers in supporting the guarantee process. There are many reasons as to why PGS is proving so popular as a certification for small-holder farmers including lower costs and less bureaucratic processes compared with third party certification systems (which are perceived as expensive). Other strengths include the grass roots focus of the process which is built around capacity building for farmers and the integration of local customs and norms into the guarantee process that make it relevant and reinforce farmer commitment and also consumer trust in the PGS approach. Alongside the PGS pilot development, the CASP 2 is also providing technical input to help build the support infrastructure for PGS in each country. PGS infrastructure is at various stages of development in the GMS countries and it is considered important that each country should have, at the national level, a PGS coordination arrangement. This arrangement may be part of a government or private sector initiative or a collaboration between the two. What is important is that key issues, such as national standards (organic), PGS registration and monitoring systems are set in place by the key stakeholders, in order for there to be continuity and national baselines to guide PGS development. Such arrangements may also make it possible for collaboration at the regional level, to help address cross border trade issues for PGS products that will inevitably arise between countries that share borders. The CASP 2 will continue to support the development and implementation of PGS pilots and the development of a national support infrastructure in each country over the next 18 months. Prepared by Mr. Christopher May - PGS Consultant to TA 8163-REG: Implementing the Core Agriculture Support Program, Phase 2 (CASP 2) and Managing Director of Bioglobal Consultancy Ltd.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 01:23:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015