Aflatoxin contamination costs Tanzanian agriculture greatly: researchers

Tanzania is losing over 332 million U.S. dollars annually from the negative impacts of aflatoxin, a deadly toxin affecting cereal crops like maize, sorghum, rice, wheat, groundnuts and cassava, researchers said on Wednesday.

"Agricultural products contaminated with aflatoxin poses a major threat to human and animal health," said Bendantunguka Tiisekwa, a senior researcher at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), when speaking at the Tanzania stakeholders meeting for reviewing draft aflatoxin action plan and mainstreaming into the Tanzania Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plan (TAFSIP).

The meeting has been organized by Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), a flagship program in the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture in Africa Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) and Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM- AIST).

Tiisekwa described aflatoxin as a toxic metabolite produced by fungal species during their growth under favorable conditions of temperature and moisture.

"In the situation analysis, we came to learn that Tanzania is losing 332.5 million dollars, the amount that would be saved if efforts to reduce aflatoxin exposures were made," the professor said.

Martin Kimanya, another senior researcher at NM-AIST, who took part in the analysis, described aflatoxin as a very serious challenge to the country's food security and safety as it affect cereal crops like maize and groundnuts, the main staple food in the east African nation.

"In some parts of Tanzania where we did the analysis we found that 80 percent of maize in those areas was contaminated with aflatoxin. In some parts of Morogoro region, the contamination of aflatoxin in maize was at 43 percent," he said, adding that the similar experience has been seen in other countries particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The expert said that practical measures are needed as aflatoxin poses a serious threat to human health as it causes liver cancer, suppresses the immune system and retards the growth and development of children.

Yokobety Malisa, assistant director in the Prime Minister's Office, said large number of Tanzanians consume high and unsafe levels of aflatoxin through their daily diets.

The official suggested the need to embrace a holistic and multi- sectoral approach in addressing the deadly disease.

Janet Edeme, who is in charge of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of Africa Union Commission, said Tanzania is one of the six pilot countries which also include Gambia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda that PACA will focus on aflatoxin mitigation efforts.

She said PACA will work with the pilot countries to identify comprehensive interventions to tackle aflatoxin through Country- led Situation Analysis and Action Planning (C-SAAP) for food safety. Endi