Stakeholders Discuss Scaling Up Aflatoxin Solution
Ene Okwanihe, Abuja
Stakeholders in the Agriculture value chain have come together at a workshop to chart a course for scaling up aflatoxin solutions in Nigeria to boost agriculture production, healthy food and export quality.
The workshop was aimed at sharing results of aflatoxin levels in maize sampled nationwide under the Central Bank of Nigeria-Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (CBN-ABP) 2020 wet season project.
It is also targeted at prompting concerted efforts towards the adoption of appropriate technologies for the reduction of aflatoxin in our crops, food, feeds and livestock as required by global food quality standards.
WHAT IS AFLATOXIN
Aflatoxins are poisonous chemicals that are produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus molds which grow in soil, decaying
Vegetations, hay, and grains.
The effects of aflatoxins on the Nigerian agriculture sector has been damaging as it has led to rejection of some Nigerian agriculture produce in the international markets and by some processing companies in the country.
To mitigate and curtail the effects of aflatoxins on farm produce particularly maize and groundnuts, aflasafe was introduced to Nigerian farmers.
Aflasafe is a non toxic type of Aspergillus flavus produced by Harvestfields with support from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture that when applied correctly pushes out the poisonous producers.
During the one day workshop organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Harvestfields Nigeria in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital, The Managing Director of Harvestfields Mr. Martins Awofisayo said the solution to aflatoxins was needed because of the harmful effects on the economy and health of Nigerians.
“Our farmers are suffering from the economic angle, they borrow money to farm and they won’t find where to sell, our children are also suffering because it causes stunted growth and we are also suffering, anywhere we go and mention aflatoxin people shiver, so we to do something and have everyone we to do something”
The National President of Maize Association of Nigeria Dr. Abubakar Bello said the provision of free aflasafe to Maize farmers in the country by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has gone a long way in boosting the confidence of processing companies in Nigerian maize.
He said before now farmers had no idea of what aflatoxin contamination meant until they were sensitized on the its effects adding that the Ministry of Agriculture had made it a point of duty to provide aflasafe to maize farmers at no cost.
“The Federal Ministry of agriculture because of our relationship with them they called our attention on the use of aflasafe and for the past four the Ministry they have been providing us with aflasafe for free”
“And since we started applying aflasafe, most of the companies that raised concerns of aflatoxins contamination are back to patronizing our farmers”
The Director of Nutrition, Crop Protection and Food Safety of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Oyeleke Razak said aflatoxin is a silent killer and a major cause of Liver cancer in Nigeria.
“You know aflatoxin is a silent killer, it is responsible for many liver cancer cases in Nigeria and aflatoxins have been implicated in the stunting of our children and it also leads to loss of income as a result of rejection of our commodity because of aflatoxin contaminations”
He noted that fighting aflatoxins is not just for the financial benefit of farmers but also for the health and nutritional benefit of Nigerians while adding that stakeholders needs to do more in order for the issue aflatoxin contamination to be put to rest.
