Our Certification Journey

We carefully monitor steps to get certified with the help of our registered farm Auditors, ensuring farms are efficient in production, safe in trade and growth inclined. We follow the document and records to be clear on productivity and the current structure achieve better

Why Certification Matters

Certification Steps

Our clear process guides you through certification smoothly.

Understanding Terms

Learn what standards, logs, and SOPs mean for your certification.

Our Procedure

Follow our detailed steps to achieve your certification efficiently.

Certification boosts trust and opens doors in Nigeria’s market.

Why It Matters

FAQs

GENERAL FAQ: Agricultural Certification & Standards

Quick overview

Q — What is an agricultural “standard”?
A — A standard is a clear set of practical rules and steps that describe how to grow, harvest, store and handle crops and animals so the food is safe, the animals are treated well, the workers are protected, and the land and water are cared for. Standards tell farmers what to do and how to prove they did it.

Q — What is “certification”?
A — Certification is a formal check by an independent, trained person or organization that the farm follows the standard. If the farm passes the check, it receives a certificate or label that buyers trust. Certification is proof that the farm meets the standard.

Why certification matters (for farmers, buyers and communities)

Q — Why would a small farmer want certification?
A — It brings practical benefits:

• Better prices — certified products often earn higher prices or preferred contracts.

• Records - Producers are able to keep and monitor records while also tracking progress

• More buyers — processors, supermarkets and exporters often ask for certification as it creates more stability and sustinability.

• Safer food — fewer pests, diseases and chemical residues; better public health.

• Stronger planning — simple record-keeping helps you spot problems and plan costs.

• Training & support — many certification programs include farmer training and templates.

• Access to finance and Insurance — Producers become more credit worthy with a documented proof of competence, lenders and development programs prefer certified or compliant farms along side insurance companies

• Group opportunities — smallholders can join group certification to share costs and benefits.

Q — Why does a buyer ask for certification?
A — Buyers want consistent quality, and in many cases quantity, legal compliance, and reduced risk (food safety, reputational, and legal structures). A certificate means less time checking each farm and more confidence for their customers.

Q — Does certification protect the environment and workers?
A — Yes: modern standards include rules on soil care, water management, pesticide use, waste handling, and worker safety (fair pay, training, protective equipment).

Types of standards & where they come from

Q — What kinds of standards exist?
A — There are many types. Some examples:

• Global commercial standards: GLOBALG.A.P. (farm assurance), Codex (food safety guidance).

• Organic standards: National or international organic certification (rules for no synthetic pesticides/herbicides).

• Social & fair standards: Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance — include worker pay, community benefits.

• Sector specific: Standards for aquaculture, coffee, cocoa, cotton, fruit & vegetables, livestock.

• National or public standards: Government food safety, pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs), and export requirements.

Q — Are these standards the same as the law?
A — No. Standards are created by private organizations, governments or multi-stakeholder groups. If a law conflicts with a private standard, you must follow the law. Many standards reference national law and international guidance (Codex, OIE).

How certification is developed and kept local

Q — Who writes the standards?
A — Often a mix: experts, government vets/extension officers, scientists, industry and farmer representatives. Good standards are tested locally and adapted to local climate, pest/disease risks and market realities.

Q — How are local conditions handled?
A — Standards are adapted in three ways:

1. Risk-based controls — focus on hazards that matter locally ( aflatoxin in humid areas, infrastructural defects, water, hygiene etc).

2. Tiering — Basic (smallholders) / Advanced / Premium (export) so small farms can start and improve step wise.

3. Local SOPs — step-by-step instructions on how farms operate.

The certification process — step by step

Q — What is a typical certification process?
A — A typical pathway

1. Get the standard & checklist. Read the Basic requirements or ask a trainer.

2. Self-assessment. Use the checklist to find gaps.

3. Fix gaps. Build quarantine, start treatment logs, change farm layout — small steps matter.

4. Training. Train staff in handling, PPPs, records, and biosecurity to mention a few

5. Pre-audit (optional). A mock audit to practice.

6. Formal audit. Independent auditor visits, checks records and the farm.

7. Decision & certificate. Pass, conditional pass (fixes needed), or fail (critical issue).

8. Maintain & re-audit. Certificates last a year or two; re-audit required.

Q — What documents & records will auditors look for?
A — Typical list:

• Farm identification & map

• Animal/crop IDs or batch records

• Treatment & withdrawal log (medicine name, dose, date, withdrawal end)

• Quarantine log for incoming animals or new plants

• Pest management & spray records (for crops)

• Harvest & post-harvest records (dates, storage conditions)

• Visitor log & vehicle records

• SOPs for key tasks (quarantine, treatment, washing, storage)

• Training records for staff

Audits, non-conformities & appeals

Q — Who does the audits?
A — Independent auditors trained to the standard. They must be impartial and follow an audit protocol.

Q — What happens if I fail?
A — Outcomes:

• Pass — certificate issued.

• Conditional pass — minor or moderate non-conformities: you get time to fix them and a follow-up.

• Fail (Critical non-conformity) — immediate suspension until critical issues are corrected.
  Auditors give a report; you can appeal via the scheme’s appeals process.

Q — How long is a corrective action period?
A — Often 30–90 days for moderate issues; some critical issues require immediate correction (e.g., evidence of prohibited drug use).

Costs, finance & group certification

Q — How much does certification cost?
A — Costs vary: audit fees, training, changes to facilities and record systems. Smallholders can be certified more cheaply via group certification (cooperatives) and donor subsidies.

Q — What is group certification?
A — A group of small producers (cooperative) applies together under one certificate. The group manager ensures members meet standards. Group certification reduces per-farm audit cost and helps smallholders participate

Crop & post-harvest specifics (not only animals)

Q — What is GAP for crops?
A — Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are simple rules: safe pesticide use, irrigation management, worker hygiene, harvest timing and post-harvest handling (drying, sorting, storage) to reduce contamination.

Q — What about pesticides and residues?
A — Pesticides must be used according to label instructions. Record each spray (product, dose, date). Observe withdrawal periods (pre-harvest intervals). Buyers/test labs check residues against MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits). Test your produce if in doubt.

Q — How do we manage aflatoxin and mycotoxins?
A — Avoid harvest of moldy crops, dry quickly to safe moisture levels, use clean storage, test high-risk commodities (groundnut, maize). If high aflatoxin detected, do not sell for human consumption.

Q — What about post-harvest handling and storage?
A — Clean drying surfaces, raised platforms, good airflow in granaries, pest control, regular inspection. Proper packaging and traceability of batches helps during recalls.

Environmental, social & worker concerns

Q — Are workers protected by standards?
A — Yes. Many standards require child protection (no child labour), fair pay, PPE for chemical handling, and training. Social modules (like GRASP) assess worker conditions.

Q — How do standards protect water & soil?
A — Require nutrient management (manure spreading rules), buffer zones to water sources, erosion control and safe chemical storage/disposal.

Traceability, recalls and food safety

Q — What is traceability?
A — The ability to trace a product back to the farm (one-step back) and forward to buyer (one-step forward). It uses BatchIDs, transfer forms and dispatch notes so you can quickly find the source of a problem.

Q — What is a mock recall?
A — A test: pick a dispatched batch and try to trace it back and forward quickly. This shows how fast you can find and remove unsafe products. Good standards require regular mock recalls.

Market access & value chain

Q — How does certification help me sell more or export?
A — Certification removes doubt for buyers: buyers prefer certified sources as they lower risk. For export, many buyers require certification or evidence of compliance with international standards.

Q — What markets pay best?
A — Premium domestic processors, supermarket chains, processors for export and niche markets (organic, fair trade) pay higher prices. The exact market depends on product and quality.

Safety, residues & laboratory testing

Q — When should I test for residues or mycotoxins?
A — Test when: you use new pesticides/medications, you suspect contamination (wet storage, mold), before bulk sales for export, or as required by buyers.

Q — Which lab and standards?
A — Use an accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025). For export, check importing country MRLs and Codex.

Practical checklist to start

1. Get the standard & basic checklist (Basic tier).

2. Set up a small Farm File (SOPs, treatment log, movement log, visitor log).

3. Build a 14-day quarantine area for new stock.

4. Start a treatment & withdrawal log (medicine, date, dose, end of withdrawal).

5. Mark treated animals/produce during withdrawal.

6. Clean & dry storage for crops; test risky crops for aflatoxin.

7. Train one person as standards manager.

8. Run a mock audit (self-check or with an adviser).

9. Book a formal audit when ready.

GRANJERO DE BAUER FAQ

Q — What is Granjero de Bauer’s role in agricultural certification?
A — GB develops practical, locally adapted standards for crops and animals, focusing on farm-level implementation for Nigerian & African conditions. GB provides training, SOPs, mock audits, independent audits (Basic/Advanced/Premium), group certification pathways, traceability templates and market linkage services.

Q — How is GB different from other certification bodies?
A — Key differences:

• Local adaptation — GB simplifies international best practice into steps that match local climate, disease and farm scale.

• Farm-first design — Basic tier for smallholders; cooperative/group certification model.

• Practical tools — Ready SOPs, printed pocket cards in Hausa/Igbo/Yoruba, and farmer handouts.

• Support — Mock audits, subsidised prep (where donors apply), and direct market introductions.

Q — What sectors does GB cover?
A — GB has standards for livestock (goats, sheep, cattle, turkeys), poultry (broilers, layers), and crop production (vegetables, cereals, legumes) — all focused on primary production and pre-harvest/post-harvest controls.

Q — What are the GB certification tiers?
A — Basic (domestic & smallholders), Advanced (larger farms & better traceability), Premium (export grade: full electronic traceability, routine residue testing, audited processors). Each tier has clear checklists.

Q — What support does GB provide before audit?
A — GB offers: training (local languages), SOP templates, record templates, mock audits, and advisory visits. GB can link farmers to vets and labs for testing.

Q — Who does the audit and how are they trained?
A — Independent auditors approved by GB — they undergo GB training, competency testing and monitoring. GB ensures auditor impartiality and quality assurance.

Q — How does GB use donor funds & fees?
A — Fees cover audit administration and quality systems. Donations support standards development, training for smallholders, subsidised audit prep and pilots. GB publishes annual impact and financial reports.

Q — How does GB measure impact?
A — KPIs: farms trained, audits completed, certified farms, reductions in residues or mortality, income changes, traceability performance. GB publishes summary reports.

Q — How to start with GB?
A — Contact GB (email or website), receive a starter checklist, join training, do a self-assessment, prepare records and request a mock audit or schedule an official audit.

Q — Data privacy & farmer ownership?
A — GB keeps farmer data secure; farmers own their data; GB publishes anonymised impact data only with consent.

Q — Complaints & appeals?
A — GB operates a transparent grievance & appeals process: written complaint → independent panel review → response/appeal with timelines.TRANSLATIONS (HAUSA, IGBO, YORUBA)

Important: These translations were written as most likely to be translated as possible,

HAUSA TRANSLATION — FULL FAQ

GABATARWA: Menene Takaddun Shaida da Ka’idoji?

Tambaya: Menene “ka’ida” a aikin noma?
Amsa: Ka’ida ita ce tsarin daki-daki wanda ke nuna yadda za a shuka, noma, kula da dabbobi da adana su don tabbatar da cewa abincin ya zama lafiya, mutane sun samu kariya, ma’aikata sun samu kariya, da kuma muhallin ya zauna lafiya.

Tambaya: Menene “takaddun shaida”?
Amsa: Takaddun shaida shi ne tabbacin da wani kamfani mai zaman kansa ko mai izini ya bayar bayan bincike (audit) cewa gona na bin ka’idojin da suka dace. Wannan takaddun shaida yana ba masu siye kwarin gwiwa.

ME YA SA TAKADDUN SHAIDA KE DA MUHIMMANCI?

Tambaya: Me zai sa manomi karami ya so samun takaddun shaida?
Amsa: Manoma na samun fa’ida da dama: samun farashi mai kyau, samun kasuwa mai yawa, abinci mafi lafiya, tsari mai kyau, tallafi, saukin samun lamuni, da kariya ga muhalli

Welcome to [Your Website Name]!

These terms and conditions outline the rules and regulations for the use of [Your Company Name]'s Website, located at [Your Website Address].

By accessing this website, we assume you accept these terms and conditions. Do not continue to use [Your Website Name] if you do not agree to take all of the terms and conditions stated on this page.

Cookies:

The website uses cookies to help personalize your online experience. By accessing [Your Website Name], you agreed to use the required cookies.

A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.

We may use cookies to collect, store, and track information for statistical or marketing purposes to operate our website. You have the ability to accept or decline optional Cookies. There are some required Cookies that are necessary for the operation of our website. These cookies do not require your consent as they always work. Please keep in mind that by accepting required Cookies, you also accept third-party Cookies, which might be used via third-party provided services if you use such services on our website, for example, a video display window provided by third parties and integrated into our website.

License:

Unless otherwise stated, [Your Company Name] and/or its licensors own the intellectual property rights for all material on [Your Website Name]. All intellectual property rights are reserved. You may access this from [Your Website Name] for your own personal use subjected to restrictions set in these terms and conditions.

You must not:

• Copy or republish material from [Your Website Name]

• Sell, rent, or sub-license material from [Your Website Name]

• Reproduce, duplicate or copy material from [Your Website Name]

• Redistribute content from [Your Website Name]

This Agreement shall begin on the date hereof.

Parts of this website offer users an opportunity to post and exchange opinions and information in certain areas of the website. [Your Company Name] does not filter, edit, publish or review Comments before their presence on the website. Comments do not reflect the views and opinions of [Your Company Name], its agents, and/or affiliates. Comments reflect the views and opinions of the person who posts their views and opinions. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, [Your Company Name] shall not be liable for the Comments or any liability, damages, or expenses caused and/or suffered as a result of any use of and/or posting of and/or appearance of the Comments on this website.

[Your Company Name] reserves the right to monitor all Comments and remove any Comments that can be considered inappropriate, offensive, or causes breach of these Terms and Conditions.

You warrant and represent that:

• You are entitled to post the Comments on our website and have all necessary licenses and consents to do so;

• The Comments do not invade any intellectual property right, including without limitation copyright, patent, or trademark of any third party;

• The Comments do not contain any defamatory, libelous, offensive, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material, which is an invasion of privacy.

• The Comments will not be used to solicit or promote business or custom or present commercial activities or unlawful activity.

You hereby grant [Your Company Name] a non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, edit and authorize others to use, reproduce and edit any of your Comments in any and all forms, formats, or media.

Hyperlinking to our Content:

The following organizations may link to our Website without prior written approval:

• Government agencies;

• Search engines;

• News organizations;

• Online directory distributors may link to our Website in the same manner as they hyperlink to the Websites of other listed businesses; and

• System-wide Accredited Businesses except soliciting non-profit organizations, charity shopping malls, and charity fundraising groups which may not hyperlink to our Web site.

These organizations may link to our home page, to publications, or to other Website information so long as the link: (a) is not in any way deceptive; (b) does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement, or approval of the linking party and its products and/or services; and (c) fits within the context of the linking party's site.

We may consider and approve other link requests from the following types of organizations:

• Commonly-known consumer and/or business information sources;

• Dot.com community sites;

• Associations or other groups representing charities;

• Online directory distributors;

• Internet portals;

• Accounting, law, and consulting firms; and

• Educational institutions and trade associations.

We will approve link requests from these organizations if we decide that: (a) the link would not make us look unfavorably to ourselves or to our accredited businesses; (b) the organization does not have any negative records with us; (c) the benefit to us from the visibility of the hyperlink compensates the absence of [Your Company Name]; and (d) the link is in the context of general resource information.

These organizations may link to our home page so long as the link: (a) is not in any way deceptive; (b) does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement, or approval of the linking party and its products or services; and (c) fits within the context of the linking party's site.

If you are one of the organizations listed in paragraph 2 above and are interested in linking to our website, you must inform us by sending an e-mail to [Your Company Name]. Please include your name, your organization name, contact information as well as the URL of your site, a list of any URLs from which you intend to link to our Website, and a list of the URLs on our site to which you would like to link. Wait 2-3 weeks for a response.

Approved organizations may hyperlink to our Website as follows:

• By use of our corporate name; or

• By use of the uniform resource locator being linked to; or

• Using any other description of our Website being linked to that makes sense within the context and format of content on the linking party's site.

No use of [Your Company Name]'s logo or other artwork will be allowed for linking absent a trademark license agreement.

Content Liability:

We shall not be held responsible for any content that appears on your Website. You agree to protect and defend us against all claims that are raised on your Website. No link(s) should appear on any Website that may be interpreted as libelous, obscene, or criminal, or which infringes, otherwise violates, or advocates the infringement or other violation of, any third party rights.

Reservation of Rights:

We reserve the right to request that you remove all links or any particular link to our Website. You approve to immediately remove all links to our Website upon request. We also reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions and its linking policy at any time. By continuously linking to our Website, you agree to be bound to and follow these linking terms and conditions.

Removal of links from our website:

If you find any link on our Website that is offensive for any reason, you are free to contact and inform us at any moment. We will consider requests to remove links, but we are not obligated to or so or to respond to you directly.

We do not ensure that the information on this website is correct. We do not warrant its completeness or accuracy, nor do we promise to ensure that the website remains available or that the material on the website is kept up to date.

Disclaimer:

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we exclude all representations, warranties, and conditions relating to our website and the use of this website. Nothing in this disclaimer will:

• Limit or exclude our or your liability for death or personal injury;

• Limit or exclude our or your liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;

• Limit any of our or your liabilities in any way that is not permitted under applicable law; or

• Exclude any of our or your liabilities that may not be excluded under applicable law.

The limitations and prohibitions of liability set in this Section and elsewhere in this disclaimer: (a) are subject to the preceding paragraph; and (b) govern all liabilities arising under the disclaimer, including liabilities arising in contract, in tort, and for breach of statutory duty.

As long as the website and the information and services on the website are provided free of charge, we will not be liable for any loss or damage of any nature.

Terms & Conditions