Aflatoxin Mitigation in Zambia and Malawi
S.M.C., Njoroge, K. Kanenga, J. Maruwo, E. Musukwa, N. Machinjiri,
W. Sinkala, M. Siambi, F. Waliyar, and E. Monyo
Objectives
• Quantify the incidence of aflatoxin in
groundnut (along the value chain)
• Investigate and promote integrated
management approaches against aflatoxin
contamination and train farmers in integrated
management options
AFB1 contamination in peanut butter
• Chipata, Katete, Petauke, and Lusaka
• 954 containers, from 25 brands tested
• A sample = 6 containers of a single brand,
manufacturing date, and from the same shop
• Each container was assayed 5 times, ELISA
• Geometric means calculated (log transformed)
• 9, 12, and 8 brands were repeatedly tested
within 1 year, across 2 years, and in all 3 years,
respectively
• 0% of brands repeatedly tested across 3 years
had AFB1
• 8% of brands tested repeatedly across 2 years
had AFB1 ≤ 20 ppb
• 44% of brands tested in just one year had AFB1
≤ 20 ppb
• Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa
Other countries
• Mpunga et al. (2014)- Zimbabwe- 11 samples:
91% contaminated, mean 75 ppb
• Matumba et al. (2014)-Malawi- 14 samples:
local 34 to 116 ppb vs imported 0.2 to 4.3 ppb
• Ndungu et al. (2013)- Kenya- 22 samples: mean
318 ppb, ranged 0 to 2,377 ppb
• Schwartzbord & Brown (2015)- Haiti- 2 years-
56 samples: 94% > 20 ppb
• Developing countries
Other countries
• Kumagai et al. (2008)- Japan- 21 samples both
imported and local- 50% were contaminated,
highest 2.59 ppb
• Mortimer et al. (1987)- UK- 129 samples, 6.2%
exceeded 10 ppb, 8% had 2.5 to 10 ppb, rest non-
detectable
• Developed countries
• Over 100 countries have set standards
AFB1 in grain and powder
• 201 grain samples and 39 milled powder
• Chipata, Katete, Petauke, Lusaka, Kitwe,
Ndola, Kabwe
• 1 kg sample, analyzed 6 times
• 77% of 39 powder samples > 20 ppb AFB1
• 45% of 201 grain samples > 20 ppb AFB1
• No documented successful interventions in
informal markets
Regional
• Kamika et al. (2014)-Congo, South Africa,
40 grain samples: Kinshasa > Pretoria, 40% and
10%, respectively had > 20 ppb
• Mupunga et al. (2015)-Zimbabwe, 18 grain
samples: 3 had detectable aflatoxin, 7 to 620 ppb
• Ndungu et al. (2013)-Kenya, 82 grain samples:
43% > 10 ppb
Survey pictorial
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30.0
40.0
Feb 17 Feb 24 Mar 03 Mar 10 Mar 17 Mar 24 Mar 31 Apr 07 Apr 14 Apr 21 Apr 28
%VWC Chitedze_Soilmoisture_1234
VWCA VWCB VWCC VWCD
Rainfall and soil moisture 2013/2014
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10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
Jan 20 Jan 27 Feb 03 Feb 10 Feb 17 Feb 24 Mar 03 Mar 10 Mar 17
%VWC Chitedze_Soilmoisture_E,F,G,H
VWCA VWCB VWCC VWCD
Rainfall and soil moisture 2014/2015
Pre- and postharvest interventions
• 36 farmers in 64 villages, from 4 districts
• Farmer training centre’s
- Time of planting, Manure, Water-management
• Onstation (Msekera, Chitedze, Mwimba, Ngabu,
and Chitala)
-Liming, water-management
Tied Ridges
Mulching
Research question: Can we reduce aflatoxin contamination
through water management technologies?
Tied-ridges (dyking), mulching
Soil moisture data logger
Mulch Bare soil
Soil moisture probe
Water management
Survey- AFB1 contamination (ppb)
PET NYI CHI MAM
0-4 21 15 43 38
>4 to 20 41 50 32 31
>20 to 100 30 23 23 26
>100 to 1000 7 9 5 -
>1000 1 3 1 -
N 100 100 104 95
Maximum 3,258 4,980 1,077 69
Arithmetic mean 0.9 1.1 0.8 0.7
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
Time1 Time2 Time3 Mulch Tied ridges Control 2.5 T/Ha 3.5 T/Ha Control
Afl
ato
xin
B1
co
nta
min
ati
on
(L
og
pp
b)
Treatments
Chipata district, 2013/2014
Post-harvest, Chitedze, 2014/2015
Red: >20 ppb
Black: >10 ≤ 20 ppb
Orange: ≥4 ≤10 ppb
Green: < 4 ppb
Conclusions
• Integrated approach works
• Upscaling-TOP, Manure, Drying
techniques, Sorting
• Climate smart and enhance yield
• Market incentives needed
• Interventions needed- Peanut butter,
informal markets
• Beyond standards
ICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium