Rural Business
and exposure in humans in Zimbabwe by
researchers from the University of Zimbabwe
and the international humanitarian
organization, Action Contre la Faim.
Dr.LovenessNyanga, the project principal
investigator and researcher at the University of
Zimbabwe, notes that the high-level of a atoxin
contamination is a public health concern
because Zimbabweans eat maize and legumes
on a daily basis.
e existence of a atoxins has other
consequences to Africa's economy. e
continent is losing more than $450 million
annually when its commodities are rejected on
global markets because of high contamination
levels, says the Partnership for A atoxin
Control in Africa (PACA), an initiative of the
African Union Commission (AUC) whose aim
is to protect crops, livestock and people from
the effects of a atoxins.
e United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) con rmed that a atoxins
affect 25% of the world's food crops and hurt
trade. About US$1.2 billion is lost in global
commerce annually as a result of a atoxins,
according to IITA. While the International
Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) notes
that the World Food Programme has sharply
reduced the quantities of maize it has been able
to buy locally in Africa since 2007 because of
a atoxin contamination.
Africa also faces a health burden associated
with humans' exposure to contamination.
Harming our health
An estimated 26,000 people die annually in subSaharan Africa from liver cancer resulting from
chronic a atoxin exposure, according to a 2013
research by IFPRI.
Globally, 5% to 30% of all liver cancer cases are
linked to a atoxin exposure, with the highest
incidences occurring in Africa, according to the
Platform for African-European Partnership on
Agricultural Research for Development
(PAEPARD), an eight-year project sponsored
by the European Commission.
In Mozambique, a high prevalence of liver
cancer in southern part of the country has been
associated with consumption of a atoxin
contaminated food, especially from
groundnuts.
Sustainable solutions
Cultivate Africa's Future is one of several
ongoing efforts to contain a atoxin
www.farmersreviewafrica.com
contamination. If experiments with the plastic
“s u p e r b a g s” a r e e ff e c t i v e a g a i n s t
contamination, they will be a highly sought
aer item by Zimbabwean farmers who lose up
to 30% of harvested maize every year to pests
and poor post-harvest handling.
More than $50 million worth of maize, the
staple food, is lost annually during storage
alone, says Ringson Chitsiko, the permanent
s e c re t ar y i n Z i mb abwe ' s m i n ist r y of
agriculture.
To ght a atoxins contamination and maintain
food quality and safety, scientists recommend
an integrated approach, including, among
other techniques, timely planting and
harvesting, proper plant density and managing
insects. is is in addition to crop rotation,
shelling, enhancement of proper plant health
and nutrition, rapid drying of grains in the sun
for days, or with driers to reduce the moisture
content and proper storage.
Bandyopadhyay leads Africa-wide efforts on
the development and scaling-up of the
a atoxin biocontrol technology known as
A asafe, a novel biological product developed
by the IITA to ght pre-and post-harvest
a atoxin contamination.
Already the IITA has a programme to develop
A asafe in Malawi where between 40% and
100% of the country's groundnut-based
commodities contain unsafe toxin levels.
A asafe has also been tested in Burkina Faso,
Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal since
2009. About 30,000 farmers in Nigeria,
Senegal, e Gambia and Kenya are using
A asafe and getting 200 to 500% return on
investment, Bandyopadhyay said.
Tanzania in June 2016 announced that it was
undertaking eld trials in the use of Alfasafe
targeting four regions. A 2012 study in
Tanzania established high incidents of
a atoxin contamination in maize and
groundnuts in the country.
e Africa A atoxin Information
Management System platform spearheaded by
PACA is creating a “one stop shop” database for
a atoxin-related information in the health,
trade and agriculture sectors as a way to raise
awareness and prevent contamination.
e A asafe product has been registered in
S e ne g a l and G ambi a w he re a atox i n
contamination is a major deterrent for
groundnut exports. Bandyopadhyay said
a atoxin exposure in humans is rampant in
West Africa with the toxin found in the body
[41] FARMERS
REVIEW AFRICA
uids of 100% Senegalese and e Gambian
people in a few instances.
In 2005 the World Bank estimated that
investments in a atoxin control can add $281
million to the Senegalese economy from
increased export volume and price diff