Presented by S. Anitha (ICRISAT) at the Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Malawi, 14-16 July 2015

1. Aflatoxin mitigation to improve nutrition, safety and market
competitiveness in Kongwa and Kiteto, Tanzania
S. Anitha
ICRISAT
Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Review and Planning Meeting,
Malawi, 14-16 July 2015

2. Hot spots mapped
Toxigenic isolate fluorescing on
coconut agar
Aspergillus
recovery from
Bamabaranut

3. Aflatoxin in Fresh and stored grain samples
Aflatoxin contamination across crops
Aflatoxin in crop samples

4. Field and freshly
harvested samples
Number of
samples tested in
2012-2013
Frequency of
samples having
>20 ppb toxin (%)
Number of
samples tested in
2013-2014
Frequency of
samples having
>20 ppb toxin (%)
Bambara nuts 78 6.4 64 1.5
Groundnut 163 18.4 112 5.3
Sunflower 138 2.1 131 9.1
Sorghum 57 0 35 8.5
Maize 366 1.91 166 3.6
Storage samples Number of samples
tested in 2012-
2013
Frequency of
samples having >20
ppb toxin (%)
Number of samples
tested in 2013-
2014
Frequency of
samples having >20
ppb toxin (%)
Bambara nuts 48 62.5 131 1.52
Groundnut 83 81.9 137 6.5
Sunflower 96 61.4 183 3.82
Sorghum 40 10 137 18.2
Maize - - 235 0.85
Aflatoxin contamination in fresh and stored grain samples

5. Survey after the post-harvest management training Frequency
(%)
Farmers who attended training from all five villages 38.0
Aflatoxin awareness among farmers attended training 82.0
Farmers grading their grains 84.0
Criteria for grading grains
1. Based on rottenness
2. Based on size
3. Based on plumpness
4. Based on color
78.0
65.0
35.0
29.0
The reason for drying the grains
1. To reduce moisture
2. Not known
3. Just as a traditional practice
82.0
13.0
6.0
Farmers awareness and practice on proper drying, grading and storage of
grains to reduce aflatoxin in grains
92.0
Impact on post harvest management training on crop management

6. Skills transfer and Capacity
Thirty lead farmers from Kiteto
and Kongwa trained on aflatoxin
contamination in different crops
and its managements on 20th
May.
1. ELISA based analytical capacity
being developed
• Chemicals and equipment's
were shipped to SUA
• ELISA reader- yet to ship to
SUA

7. Nutrition component
• Research team visited project sites and met the Village Extension
Officers and village Officials
• The research team identified and selected randomly 20 mothers
with children less than three months from each of the five villages.
• Research team conducted mini-survey in the five villages to obtain
information on current complementary foods and child feeding
practices.
• Identified mothers (100) from the five villages were trained on
importance of good nutrition and good hygienic practices.

8. Baseline survey on
current
complementary
feeding practices

9. Summary of baseline survey results
Type of data collected Response of
participants
Frequency
Starting age of complementary
feeding
Six months 72.0
Source of complementary foods Individual HH made 97.0
Cereals used Maize 42.0
Legumes used G/nuts 68.0
Proportion of G/nuts in mixture 10% 50.0
20% 18.0
Feeding frequency Once a day 12.0
Twice 47.0
Thrice 35.0
Weaning age 2 yrs 69.0
Foods fed weaning Porridge 44.0

10. Training mothers on nutrition

11. Work under progress
• Profiling nutrient content in legumes and cereals and
recipe formulation
• Training mothers on grading to mitigate aflatoxin
• Training mothers on recipe preparation, sensory
evaluation and monitoring for sustainable adoption of
diversified food preparation to improve nutrition

12. Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
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