1. Communicating the Findings
Sharing the findings Aflacontrol
Conference
Southern Sun Hotel, Nairobi
30th November 2011
Stanley Guantai / Steve Collins

2. Why the concern
 Center for Disease Control has estimated that more than 4.5
billion people in developing countries are chronically exposed to
Aflatoxins in their diets.
 Over 82,000 cases of cancer diagnosed annually mainly due to
dietary lifestyles (according to Dr. Mwangi, KNH)
 The annual recurrence of aflatoxicosis and the loss of life and
incomes.
 Maize is the staple food of preference in Kenya with an
estimated consumption of 88 kg. per capita per year.
 75 percent of the maize is produced by small scale farmers and
most of that is consumed at the household or traded informally
within the rural areas.
 Over 60 percent of the maize is processed using posho mills in
the rural and peri-urban centres.
 Maize standards and grades not applied despite their existence.

3. The problem
 The problem starts at the farm but
extended and magnified during
handling, conditioning,
transporting, storage and
packaging.
 producers, traders, transporters,
processors, retailers and
consumers involved.
 Consumer awareness is low.
- Consumers often buy that with a
lower price tag
 Business ethics not always
practiced.
 Health aspects are chronic but not
always seen as part of Aflatoxins.
 Myths and misinformation abound

4. Understanding the problem
 Epidemiological studies and interrelation of findings
with mycotoxins.
 Bring out short term and long term results as relates
to acute and chronic effects.
 By products of livestock fed on mycotoxins
contaminated feeds have health effects on the
humans.
 Diversification of food crops and dietary sources.
 Need for soil mapping and survey (spores found in
the soil).

5. How then to reach out
 Work with extension workers, public heath
officials, provincial administration, to reach
out to producers, traders and consumers.
 Start awareness campaigns early before
the crop harvest.
 Involve women and school children for
lasting assimilation.
 Follow up with traders and processors
 Advise on HCCP at all stages (Simple
practical remedial approaches). Over 2,500
households have been trained in PHH and
grain bulking.

6. Reaching out to the
government
 Create close linkage with the Ministry of
Agriculture, Public health, Research and
institutes of higher learning.
 If you go it alone there is dissent.
 Importance of joint response from public
health and ministry of agriculture
 What role ministry of trade?
 Research not always problem focused but
more academic oriented.

7. Ensuring support
 Shared ownership of the problem
and the solutions
 Meet and consult regularly and at all
levels. (carried out 4 briefs).
 Simple solutions that officials can
use to convey message of hope.
 Research to provide viable bio-
control methods
 Need low cost diagnostic equipment.

8. Reaching out to producers
 Reach out through opinion leaders,
provincial administration and
extension workers.(26 MoA ToT
trained in Kitui County)
 (Two ToT in Nakuru and Eldoret (56)
and PHH trainings in Bungoma,
Bomet, Kisii, Laikipia, Nakuru, Trans
Mara, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu
carried out under KMDP)
 Demystify the problem.
 Public barazas, and social
gatherings. (3 field days, by MoA in
Kaiti)
 Use multiple information channels –
Mass media, Skits, posters and
pamphlets

9. Traders and processors
 Often we demonize the trader yet they bulk,
condition, bag and distribute the commodity.
 Contamination occur through poor conditioning,
handling, storage and packaging.
 producer, trader, transporter, processor,
retailer and consumer involved.
 Need for trained warehousing managers and
appropriate storage and conditioning
equipment.
 (56 Warehouse managers and traders trained
in collaboration with Smart logistics and MLI)
 Revisit the use of biodegradable packaging
(import duty on jute bags and tarpaulins).
 Emphasize business ethics as a way of life
(Ministry of Trade).

10. Consumers
 Consumer awareness is low and
usually guided by affordability.
 Consumers do not have an
organized forum for advocacy
and information.
 Educate consumers through
mass media and other
communication avenues.
 Encourage new trends towards
traditional foods consumers
 Seek cooperation of retailers to
adopt Aflatoxins free
commodities.

11. Development partners
 Development partners often
working tangentially, need to
collaborate.
 Piece meal approach to
problem
 No simple solutions availed.
 Team work and partnerships a
must. (New initiatives, IITA;
ILRI & IFPRI)
 Food quality and nutrition must
be adopted as a component
under the food security and
Feed the Future strategies.
 Website:http://programs.ifpri.org/afla
/afla,asp

12. Issues on Aflatoxins
 To day work is on Agronomic
aspects:-
 Bio-control
 Diagnostics and
 Post harvest handling
 Need work on Health aspects.
 Serological, biomarkers
 Overall increased awareness
maybe driven by health and not
only Agronomic aspects.

13. Way Forward
 Host government ownership /
involvement is critical
 Problem is regional (CAADP) and global
so multilateral engagement is needed.
 High interest from donors (particularly
if near term solutions are available).

14. Asante Sana
 The Aflacontrol team.
 USAID
 With the support of Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation