Presentation at the November 2012 dialogue workshop of the Biosciences for Farming in Africa media fellowship programme in Arusha, Tanzania. Please see www.b4fa.org for more information

1. Developing improved groundnut varieties and
awareness creation for uptake and aflatoxin
mitigation measures in Tanzania
Dr. Omari Mponda (PhD) – ARI Naliendele, P.O. Box
509 Mtwara. E-mail: mpondaomari@hotmail.com

2. Background
• Food and nutrition insecurity
• - Over half the pop live below the poverty datum line
– Over 40% of the children under 5 are malnourished
– Gnut as a source of nutrition (protein, oil) and income

3. Project Goal
• Reduction in poverty by
improving income level,
food and nutrition security
through investments in
short- and medium high
yielding groundnut varieties
with acceptable market
traits and resistance to
foliar diseases

4. Cultivar
development
Improved
varieties
Improving
crop
Management
Availing seed
Reduced aflatoxin
In grain
Increased
production
Availability of
safe food
Increased HH
consumption
Increased marketable
surplus
Reduced aflatoxin
contamination in humans
Labour serving
techs
N
U
T
R
I
T
I
O
N
Processing and
value add
INCOME
Theory of Change -Groundnut
Breeding and Aflatoxin project.

5. Groundnuts Production-Tanzania
Cropped
Production Av.
Area (2008- (2008-10 Yield (2008- Potential
10 avg)
avg)
10 avg) (A) yield (B)
million
million ha tonnes
Kg/Ha
Kg/Ha
0.54
0.39 721.38
3,000
Realizable
Yield (C)
Yield Gap
(C-A)
Kg/Ha
Kg/Ha
1500 778.62

6. Groundnut Breeding Objectives
• To develop high yielding variety resistant to biotic and abiotic
stress and adoptable to the major groundnut growing areas of
the country that farmer preferred and market acceptable.
• The breeding programmes aim at developing high yielding
varieties with high oil content, but
• with the availability of cheaper oil from other sources,
groundnut has lost its ground as a premier oil seed crop Rising
confectionery market has assumed great significance as snack
food in domestic and international markets
• Bold seed, high protein, high oleic acid/linoleic acid, (O/L)
ratio and low oil.

7. Constraints to increased production
and trade
• Diseases
• Rosette – can cause 100% crop loss in
epidemic years in 2009/10 about 30% was lost
in TZ
• Leaf spots, LLS, ELS, Rust
• Aflatoxin contamination
• Drought – Climate Change

8. Drought
Rosette
Leaf
spot
Rust

9. Research Hypothesis
• Improved groundnut varieties (for yield,
disease and aflatoxin resistance) will stimulate
farmer adoption and increase production
enabling smallholder farmers to overcome
– Malnutrition
– Health related ailments
– Increased rural poverty
– Loss of soil fertility

10. Specific Objectives
• High yielding farmer and market-acceptable
groundnut varieties with resistance to foliar/viral
diseases and aflatoxin contamination developed.
• Nutritional status, dietary diversity, human health and
mycotoxin contamination problem spatially
characterized
• Adoption rates of improved farmer and marketacceptable varieties and production technologies
enhanced
• Capacity of partners for management of mycotoxins in
food, variety development and enabling policy
environment enhanced

11. Project sites
•
•
•
•
•
On-station trials
Southern Tanzania
Naliendele
Nachingwea
Nakayaya - Tunduru
•
•
•
•
•
•
Central Tanzania
Makutopora
Hombolo
Bihawana
Western -Tumbi
Lake zone - Ukiriguru
•
•
•
•
•
On-farm (each at least)
20 sites PVS and seed prod
South and Central
Lake zone, Western zone
Western - T

12. Objective 1: High yielding farmer and market-acceptable
groundnut varieties developed
Milestones
Screening by giving high
disease pressure for rust,
ELS,GRD, Aflatoxin
Good X Good cross

13. Groundnut Crossing program
• Introgressing
desirable traits
to the improved
varieties
(rosette
resistance, pod
size, drought
resistance, oil
content)

14. Activity
Good X Good Crosses
Farmer
Preferred
Variety
Current Status
Selection
GRD, ELS, Rust

15. Objective 3:Adoption rates of improved varieties and
production technologies developed
Milestones
Improve Adoption
Demonstration
Technology

16. Demonstration Technology
GRD, Aflatoxin
GRD

17. Improved Groundnuts varietiesTanzania
Masasi-2009
Mangaka-2009

18. NEW GROUNDNUT VARIETIES IDENTIFIED FOR RELEASE IN
TANZANIA

20. Rural seed fairs
• Inadequate awareness, availability and accessibility have
hindered adoption of improved varieties by farmers
• Improved seeds bred by national research institutes and
private seed companies have not been readily available in
Southern Tanzania
• Poor infrastructure including poor roads have not been
attractive to private seed companies to invest in remote areas
even liberalization of the seed industry in 1990s
• Naliendele designed a rural seed fairs since in 1997

21. Objectives of the seed fairs
• To create awareness of seeds available from
informal and formal seeds systems
• Increase availability, accessibility of
alternative seeds
• Establish working contacts: researchers,
extension, farmers, traders, policy makers
(linkage improved)
• Enhance the rural seed systems

22. Methodology
• Rural seed fairs were first started in Newala, Masasi and
Nachingwea in 1997
• Due to successful implementation of rural seed fairs it was
exapanded to include all district councils of Mtwara and Lindi
region in 1998,1999 and 2000.
• To organise rural seed fair
– Sensitize stakeholders on the importance of seed fairs and agree on its
implementation budget
– Identify local seed experts and invite them to the seed fair
– Select site village representative of potential growing area
– The site should be a centre where farmers could easily come
– Organise construction of booths and traditional dances and artists to
perform on the seed fairs
– Organize radio spot announcements prior to the seeds fairs

23. • Organize to collect/purchase seeds from research station
seed companies and in small samples of 50 – 200 gms, 500
gms depending on crop and sale at cost price.
• Organize radio live coverage during the seed fair event to
inform the public on the progress of seed fairs
• Seed fair is a venue for seed exchange, sale, and making
contact between seed producers, farmers, extension and
researchers and policy makers
• On the eve of seed fair in the evening organize to show video
films on various agricultural technologies up to 10.00 o’clock
in the evening then traditional dance till morning

24. • On seed fair day researchers, farmer seed experts
will exhibit seeds and share their knowledge to
others
• Farmers visiting exhibitors will purchase seed
packs from researchers, farmers to go and try in
their environments
• District Councils Leaders make speeches on the
importance of seeds and agriculture in general in
their districts and national at large
• Researchers learn from farmers of local seeds
and associated local knowledge

26. Traditional dances promote seed
knowledge and sharing

27. Achievements/impact
• Awareness of improved seed have significantly improved
• During these events we were able to exhibit about 70 crop
varieties of cereals, oilseeds, root and tubers, fruits and
vegetables
• Farmers accessing seeds were organised into Farmer Research
Groups for their participation in Participatory variety selection
and seed multiplication
• Farmers groups have become seed multipliers and registered as
Quality declared and certified seed production with Agricultural
Seed Agency and companies
• 15 – 20 tons groundnuts produced

28. • Demand for seed significantly increased
especially for sesame and groundnuts
• Adoption of improved groundnuts varieties
and sources of seeds significantly increased.
Pendo, Mnanje are popular in Tanzania
• Productivity of groundnuts increased on farm
from 700 kg/ha – 1000-1500 kg/ha

29. Groundnut Aflatoxin
• Aflatoxin and nutrition
– Need to establish whether the state of human nutrition is
at risk as a result of aflatoxin contamination of foods
• Aflatoxin and agriculture
– Ascertain the source of dietary contamination and its
management
– ensure that the general public is knowledgeable about
aflatoxin and its effects on health
• Disseminate available aflatoxin reducing technologies
• Building capacity of front line staff and farmers through farmer
friendly integrated aflatoxin management packages

30. Top 20 Groundnut Exporters, 2008
Rank
Country
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
India
China
USA
Argentina
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Brazil
UAE
South Africa
Vietnam
Paraguay
Belgium
Gambia
Singapore
Australia
Bolivia
UR of Tanzania
Egypt
Spain
Uzbekistan
Quantity
Value (1,000
Unit value
(tonnes)
US$)
(US$/tonne)
293,128
274,154
935
167,054
232,183
1,390
216,936
198,593
915
148,962
180,890
1,214
80,287
137,390
1,711
77,973
90,058
1,155
44,361
50,586
1,140
15,938
15,799
991
10,202
15,027
1,473
14,300
13,700
958
9,230
9,778
1,059
6,282
9,395
1,496
18,000
8,200
456
6,093
7,336
1,204
3,984
7,254
1,821
4,056
6,658
1,642
14,817
6,280
424
5,684
6,138
1,047
3,275
5,874
1,794
6,461
5,545
858
Source:
FAOSTAT

31. Countries with Permissible Limits for Total Aflatoxins in
Food & Feed

32. Problem
• Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), the poisonous secondary metabolites
produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, are one of the
most frequent contaminants in several crops produced under
rainfed conditions such as groundnut, maize, millets, chillies,
various nuts, etc. (Fig. 1).
• Aflatoxins have been linked with impaired child growth, liver
cancer and various other illnesses.
• Stringent food safety regulations have been established to prevent
aflatoxin contamination in foods. However, they are ineffective in
developing countries due to poor awareness, inadequate
monitoring skills and food inadequacy issues.
• Large percentage of populations (particularly low-income groups)
are at the highest risk of exposure to aflatoxin contaminated diets.

33. Pre-desposing factors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Weather conditions
Drought stress
Cultivars and farming practices
Time of harvest and pod removal
Method of harvest and drying
Mechanical/insect damage (pre-and post
harvest pests
• Conditions of packing and distribution

34. Model for understanding Risk of
Contamination

36. Aflatoxin, Health & Trade
Synergistic with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) to
cause liver cancer
• 30 times more potent in HBV+ people
• 5-60 times higher cancer risk
Impairs growth and development of
children
Suppress immune system – increased
susceptibility to diseases, e.g., HIV, malaria?
Impedes uptake and utilization of
micronutrients in human systems
Animal productivity reduced – growth rate,
embryo toxicity, feed efficiency, cancer,
death……
~2.3 million bags contaminated maize not
tradable in 2010 in Kenya

37. Fungi producing mycotoxins
Mycotoxins, the secondary metabolites of
Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium are among
the most common molds that invade food and
feed.

38. Aflatoxins
Toxic metabolites produced by
Aspergillus flavus and related
species in several crop species
Aflatoxin B1 is a potent toxin
It is considered as carcinogen
Aspergillus flavus: Aflatoxin
producing mold
Aflatoxin B1

39. Aflatoxin causes-Liver cancer

40. Aflatoxicosis
Aflatoxicosis is the poisoning that results from ingesting aflatoxins
Two types of aflatoxicosis have been identified
1)
Acute severe intoxication:
Results in liver damage and subsequent illness or death. Large dose leads to acute
illness and death, through liver cirrhosis
The 2004 outbreak in Eastern and Northern province of Kenya resulted in a total of
317 cases of aflatoxicosis, with 125 deaths This was due to widespread aflatoxin
contamination of locally grown maize, which occurred during storage of the maize
under damp conditions.
2) Chronic sub symptomatic exposure:
Due to frequent ingestion of sublethal doses
This have nutritional and immunological consequences, and a cumulative effect on
the risk of liver cancer
anitha©2011
anitha©

41. Cirrhosis of liver

42. Cirrhosis of Liver

43. Effects of mycotoxins in cattle

44. Birds affected with aflatoxin B1

45. Aflatoxin workshop with traders in Mtwara
WARSHA YA UTUNZAJI WA KARANGA WAFANYABIASHARA
KARANGA
MTWARA MJINI
WABISOCO, MTWARA 17 June 2011

46. Moulds in groundnuts-Ukungu (kuvu) kwenye
karanga

47. Microscope view of fungi aspergillus flavusUkungu husambaa kirahisi sana kwa vimelea vidogo
vidogo

48. Lifecyle of aspergillus flavus (fungi)
Mzunguko wa maisha ya ukungu

49. Aflatoxin contamination levels in groundnuts in
Tanzania (ppb)
Samples
Mean
AfB1
93
85
93
121
68
115

50. 1. Aflatoxin contamination starts in the fieldMashambulizi shambani

51. 1. How to reduce contamination in the fieldNjia za kupunguza mashambulizi shambani

52. 2. Contamination during harvestMashambulizi wakati wa kuvuna

53. 2. How to reduce contamination- Timely harvestNjia za kupunguza mashambulizi wakati wa kuvuna

54. 3. Contamination during dryingMashambulizi wakati wa kukausha

55. 3. How to reduce contamination during harvestNjia za kupunguza mashambulizi wakati wa
kukausha

56. 3. How to reduce contamination during drying- Njia
za kupunguza mashambulizi wakati wa kukausha

57. 4. Mashambulizi kwenye karanga
zilizobanguliwa

58. 4b. Mashambulizi kwenye karanga
zilizobanguliwa

59. 4.Sorting and Grading-Jinsi ya kupunguza
mashamabulizi kwenye karanga zilizobanguliwa

60. 5a. Njia za punguza mashambulizi wakati wa
utunzaji

61. 5b. Njia za punguza mashambulizi wakati wa
utunzaji

62. Breeding - International aflatoxin screening
trials involving 100 lines for Spanish and 49 lines
for Virginia – control: J11 and 55-437 at ICRISAT
Malawi

63. Joint action needed – by value chain
actors
Policy makers (Ministries of
Agriculture, Health, Industry, Finance,
Trade, PMO, Loc GOvt),TFDA,
Input & service
suppliers (incl
extension, SIDO,
AMCOS; Farmer
groups, PvT
TOSCI,ASA,
NGOs)
Farmers
Research community
NARS, ICRISAT,IITA,
TFDA, TFNC,TBS
Traders
Exporters
Processors
Supermarkets
Consumers
Adapted from Homann-Kee Tui (2010) Training/Planning Workshop Report on Establishing
Small Stock Innovation Platforms, Gaborone

64. Aflatoxin Management
Method
Purpose
I. Primary prevention
To minimize fungal infestation and aflatoxin
contamination
Cultivation of A. flavus resistant
varieties
Potential for control of fungal invasion
and toxin production during crop
growth.
Control of field infection by following
appropriate phytosanitary measures to
reduce the fungal inoculum
Limit fungal inoculum in the field
Seed treatment and application of
fungicides
Limit fungal invasion during crop
growth
Appropriate scheduling for planting,
harvest and post harvest
Avoid drought stress and other abiotic
stresses
Application of soil amendments
(gypsum, farmyard manure etc
Enhancing soil nutrient (especially
calcium) and water holding capacity,
promoting the growth of antagonistic
native soil-microflora
Lowering moisture content of seeds
after harvesting and during storage
Limit fungal invasion and growth
during storage
Preservatives to prevent insect
infestation and fungal contamination
during storage
Limit fungal invasion during storage

65. Aflatoxin Management
Method
II. Secondary prevention
Purpose
Elimination or limiting the fungal
contamination
Sorting of contaminated pods and
kernels
Reducing aflatoxin contamination in
final product
Re-drying the groundnut pods and
kernels
Limit further mold invasion during
storage
Appropriate storage conditions to
avoid favorable conditions for mold
growth
Limit further mold invasion during
storage
Detoxification of contaminated
product
Chemical inactivation of aflatoxins
through use of detoxification clay,
ammonification, electronic sorting of
kernels.

66. Challenges
• Inadequate funding, no sustainable funding, facilities (cold storage)
• Limited access to seed of improved varieties due to inadequate seed
production of preferred seed varieties.
• Lack of access to information on available varieties –farmers do not know
about new varieties, their potential, where to access and how to manage
them and market requirements
• Export markets constrained by stringent aflatoxin standards set by
importing countries- value chain actors limited awareness
• High transaction costs due to collection from a large no of smallholder
farmers resulting in grain of mixed quality leading to low prices
• Lack of premium price for quality (aflatoxin free nuts)-Traceability
• Low mechanization technologies - gender
• Cheap oils -Inadequate value addition – groundnut oil, peanut butter
• Too centralized formal seed system certification limits participation of
other seed value chain actors - decentralize

67. Thank you.
Further Contacts on Mycotoxin/aflatoxin
Dr. Madinda – Consultant Surgeon +255789333282
Dr. Martin Kimanya TFDA - +255754317687
Acknowledgements
McKnight Foundation CCRP, Tropical Legumes I&II,
ICRISAT, IITA, DRD MAFSC