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Strategies for reducing aflatoxin levels in groundnut-based foods and feeds in India: A step towards improving health of humans and livestock
Dr Peter Craufurd
The University of Reading, U.K
Funded by Department for
International Development (DFID): Crop
Protection Programme (CPP) / Crop Post-Harvest
Programme (CPHP)
Project
Partners
- ANGRAU,
Anantapur
- STAAD,
Hyderabad
- AME,
Bangalore
- ICRISAT
- University of
Belfast, UK
- University of
Reading, UK
Project started
July 2000
Six objectives :
# 1 Project
Objectives
Describe pre- and
post-harvest groundnut production and processing
practices of farmers and processors
Find out
if stakeholders are aware of aflatoxin
[2000/01]
Output 1: groundnut production
& processing practices
Visits/ interviews/
case studies with:
- Farmers in:
- 4
villages in Anantapur District
- 2 villages
in Pileru, Chittoor District
- In market yards
and with traders & processors in Anantapur
& Pileru
Output 1: groundnut production
& processing practices
Major
outcomes
- There are
socio-economic/ livelihood factors affecting
adoption aflatoxin reducing
technologies
- There are no
incentives to produce aflatoxin-free
produce
- There is no
awareness of aflatoxin by farmers or
processors
# 2 Project
Objectives
- Survey of
aflatoxin contamination in groundnut: pods &
haulms at harvest & during storage;
groundnut-derived confectionary products; and
milk [2000/01]
Develop molecular tools to
characterise toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains
of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus
[2001]
Output 2:
Survey of aflatoxin
contamination
Farmers’
fields in Anantapur
| Year |
No.
fields |
% Samples
> permissible limit 10 ug/
kg |
% Samples
>100 ug/ kg |
| 2000 |
126 |
26 |
17 |
| 2001 |
96 |
31 |
8 |
Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin
contamination
Milk &
traders/ millers in 2000/02
|
/ |
No.
samples |
% Samples
> permissible limit |
% Samples
> 100 ug/ kg |
| Raw buffalo
milk |
352 |
53 |
0 |
| Raw cow
milk |
50 |
34 |
0 |
| Groundnut
fodder |
80 |
30 |
3 |
|
Traders |
229 |
30 |
14 |
| Oil
millers |
223 |
25 |
7 |
Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin
contamination
Market samples in
2002
| Crop |
No.
samples |
% Samples
> permissible limit (10 ug/kg)
|
% Samples
> 100 ug/ kg |
| Maize |
72 |
43 |
7 |
| Sorghum
seed |
8 |
0 |
0 |
| Soyabean
cake |
19 |
89 |
0 |
| Groundnut
cake |
7 |
100 |
71 |
| Groundnut
seed |
25 |
28 |
7 |
| Cotton
cake |
6 |
100 |
0 |
# 3 Project
Objectives
- Determine factors
affecting aflatoxin contamination: pre-harvest
in farmer’s fields through harvesting, drying,
stacking and storage by farmers and traders/
processors, i.e. follow the chain of infection
& contamination [2001/02]
Output 3: factors affecting
contamination
Two factors are
needed for aflatoxin contamination:
- Infection of pods
and kernels (seeds) with Aspergillus
flavus
- Favourable
conditions for the production of aflatoxin by A.
flavus
Output 3: factors favouring
infection &
contamination
| Fungus, A.
flavus |
Aflatoxin
production |
- High relative
humidity
- Temperature
25-35oC
- Kernel (seed)
moisture content 10-30%
- Many damaged
pods
|
- soil or air
temperature c. 30oC
- >25d drought at
end of season
- kernel moisture
content
10-30%
|
NOTE:
undamaged pods can be infected and
contaminated
Output 3: when can infection
& contamination occur?
At all
stages from start of pod production in the field
through storage and processing to
consumption
Pre-harvest when pods are growing Click here for image
At
harvesting Click here for image
During
drying of haulms/pods in the fieldClick here for image
In the
stack, and subsequent storage Click here for image
Factors
affecting aflatoxin contamination Click here for image
# 4 Project
Objectives
Produce
a short-list of ‘technology’ options to reduce
aflatoxin contamination based on the findings of
Project Outputs 1, 2 & 3 [2002]
Output 4: technology
options
Pre-harvest
- Genetic (variety)
tolerance/resistance to infection and/or
contamination
- Biological control
of A. flavus
- Agronomic
practices that improve soil water retention and
reduce the effect of drought and high soil
temperature during pod growth
Post-harvest
- Rapid drying of
pods/ kernels to <10% moisture
content
- Removal all
damaged or mouldy pods
- Store pods in
conditions unfavourable to infection &
contamination: dry, well aerated,
insect-free
# 5 Project
Objectives
Discuss
‘short-list’ (Output 4) with farmers, and
validate on-station and on-farm in partnership
with farmers and extension agencies
[2002]
# 6 Project
Objectives
Identify target
institutions and partnerships to promote public
awareness of aflatoxin, and to develop and
advocate strategies and policies that enable the
production of aflatoxin-free groundnut
Thank
you
Donors: DFID Crop
Protection Programme, DFID Crop Post-Harvest
Programme
Hosts:
ICRISAT
Participants at
today’s meeting for their
time
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