Turkmenistan, October 24, 2024 – Turkmen almond producer Hemsaýa has earned its GLOBALG.A.P. (Global Good Agricultural Practices) international certification, with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Owned by Joint Stock company Mive, Hemsaýa is Turkmenistan’s largest almond farm situated on 180 hectares in the Kaakhka district of the Ahal region, employing over 70 local workers.

Its first certification audit was conducted in line with requirements of the GLOBALG.A.P.’s Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) version 6.0 Smart.  It scrutinized the business’s entire production cycle, from growing to post-harvest operations at the product handling facility, including crop cleaning, sorting, packaging, storage, and transportation.

As part of the audit, USAID’s Trade Central Asia (TCA) activity facilitated internships for 11 young professionals who intend to be GLOBALG.A.P.-certified farming consultants and agriculture auditors.  Once fully qualified, these professionals will be an invaluable source of local expertise.

Obtaining the certificate opens new opportunities for Hemsaýa to trade directly with leading global food retail chains, which impose on their suppliers strict requirements for product safety and quality.  With this milestone, the firm joins a pool of 200,000 GLOBALG.A.P.-certified producers in 132 countries which maintain high food quality and safety standards, while being environmentally and socially conscious, and protecting employee health and well-being at work.

Through TCA’s consistent and comprehensive support provided in May 2024, USAID facilitated Hemsaýa’s participation in the international Macfrut 2024 exhibition in Rimini, Italy, as one of eight leading agricultural producers united under the national stand ‘Made in Turkmenistan’.  Hemsaýa showcased its produce to global clients, establishing new export linkages with potential overseas business partners ahead of its formal GLOBALG.A.P. certification.

In February 2023, USAID’s TCA activity also supported Turkmenistan’s ‘Ýigit’ greenhouse complex in obtaining GLOBALG.A.P. certification.  Together with Hemsaýa these two agribusinesses serve as an inspiration for many more Turkmen horticultural producers, incentivizing them to replicate this successful model.

GLOBALG.A.P. is an internationally-recognized set of standards prescribing best agriculture/fish farming practices.  This certification confirms that produce meets required safety and quality standards, is grown in an environmentally responsible manner, and in line with workers’ health and safety, environmental, and animal welfare considerations.

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USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results.  For more information, visit the USAID Central Asia website: https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USAIDCentralAsia.