Tanzania, like many African nations, faces a significant challenge with aflatoxin poisoning, exacerbated by climate conditions, inadequate crop storage, and a general lack of awareness about the dangers of this toxin.
Staple foods such as maize and groundnuts, which are key components of the Tanzanian diet, are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination.
A Quality Control Specialist with the Tanzania Aflatoxin Control Project (Tanipac) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Bruno Massao, said the issue during a recent event in Iringa aimed at educating farmers on controlling aflatoxin contamination, which predominantly affects cereal crops.
The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (Sagcot), in collaboration with the USAID Feed the Future Let's Save Food project, convened a business-to-business (B2B) meeting that brought together farmers, processors, and primary farmer cooperatives (Amcos) from Morogoro, Nombe, and Mbeya regions to discuss aflatoxin management strategies.
"Aflatoxins are toxic chemicals produced by fungi present in the soil, and they can develop in crops at various stages, including cultivation, harvesting, storage, and transportation," explained Ms Massao.
She underscored the severe health and economic impacts of aflatoxins, urging farmers to adopt best agricultural practices as advised by experts.
She also introduced a biological pesticide known as 'Afla Safe, which acts similarly to how a cat controls mice-it prevents the fungi from producing aflatoxins, ensuring contamination-free crops.
Ms Massao advised farmers to use tarpaulins or mats during harvesting to avoid placing crops directly on the ground, which could lead to contamination.
Additionally, she emphasized the importance of thoroughly drying crops after harvesting to prevent fungal growth.
During storage, crops showing signs of fungal contamination, such as yellow, green, or orange discoloration, should be separated to avoid further contamination.
"Aflatoxins pose significant health risks, including symptoms like abdominal swelling, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, and, in severe cases, death," Ms Massao warned.
"Economically, aflatoxins hinder international trade, as many countries demand toxin-free crops for the safety of their citizens and livestock."
The aflatoxin issue in Tanzania first came to light in 2018 when 68 people were affected, with some losing their lives. In 2019, additional cases were recorded, resulting in 20 fatalities.
The Director of Ergon Holding Ltd in Kyela District, Mbeya, Region, Mr George Ndenga, said his company, which processes crops, particularly rice, for both export and domestic markets, has greatly benefited from the education on aflatoxin control provided by the USAID Feed the Future Let's Save Food project.
The Feed the Future Tanzania Tuhifadhi Chakula (Let's Save Food) project is actively working to reduce food loss in the country. A recent highlight was a three-day B2B meeting organised by SAGCOT from August 21 to 23, which brought together key stakeholders to explore innovative post-harvest loss reduction solutions and establish strategic partnerships.
Mr Prudence Lugendo, a Policy Specialist at Sagcot Centre Ltd, emphasized the project's mission to significantly reduce the persistent loss of agricultural produce that undermines food security.
This collaborative effort between the Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha) and Sagcot, funded by USAID, aims to enhance food security, mitigate climate change's impact on agriculture, and improve the livelihoods of local communities by reducing food waste.
Source - https://www.thecitizen.co.tz
