Controversy over the most publicized
aflatoxin diseases that mostly affect oily crops like maize, groundnut and
cowpea may seem not going down well with some major stakeholders in the value
chains of these produce in Nigeria as they demand that more proof must be
presented before Federal Government can embark on the procurement of any preventive
product based on the information that IITA is already making moves towards
government procurement.
The stakeholders who pleaded
anonymity for obvious reason argued that the issue of aflatoxin especially in
Nigeria calls for more investigation as the scientific arguments for it in the
country may not be too acceptable when considering the high level of sunshine especially in Kaduna state where it was being
accused to be prominent saying mould infection is a function of plenty rain or
precipitation.
They argued further that IITA and
other international organizations need to conduct more research findings to
give justification for its presence in the country stressing anything otherwise
would be seen as an attempt to sabotage markets for the produce saying the “
high degree of sunshine in the North may not justify its present in Nigeria as
the disease is a function of mould due to rain or water”
These Nigerians according to their
spokesman pointed that the present outcry is important to checkmate propaganda
against our produce as being sub
standard especially in the face of market for maize and others that are already
attracting foreign demands for further processed foods production by the
multi-nationals saying that “ how can we stop IITA from propagating aflatoxin
in Nigeria. Let us know where the problem is before proclamazation. We
stakeholders want more scientific evidence since is a disease that is peculiar
in a mouldy areas where there is no enough sunshine to dry the crops before
harvest”
They
further commented that the high cost of the preventive measure through aflasafe
tends to send a signal of market creation for this item through government to
farmers just as the group wanted the Federal government to involved all the
stakeholders in the whatever procurement they might want to embark upon in the
name of aflasafe saying “since farmers are the ones to apply them, then it
significant that their view are considered before any action”
However
research finding has revealed that Aflatoxins often occur in crops in
the field prior to harvest. Postharvest contamination can occur if crop drying
is delayed, and during storage of the crop if water is allowed to exceed
critical values for the mold growth. Insect or rodent infestations facilitate
mould invasion of some stored commodities.
Aflatoxins are detected occasionally
in milk, cheese, corn, peanuts, cottonseed, nuts, almonds, figs, spices, and a
variety of other foods and feeds. Milk, eggs, and meat products are sometimes
contaminated because of the animal consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feed. However,
the commodities with the highest risk of aflatoxin contamination are corn,
peanuts, and cottonseed.
Also research finding has revealed that aflatoxin mycotoxins are produced by the Aspergillus species
of molds. Aspergillus molds grow mostly on crops such as grains and nuts. Under the right conditions, Aspergillus often grows on grain
before it is harvested. But it can also grow on harvested grain if the grain is
stored damp.Aspergillus also grows on substances like soil, hay and decaying
vegetation. The best conditions for Aspergillus to grow on organic materials is
when the temperature is warm and when the material has a high level of moisture
(7% or more).
The American Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that
25% of the food crops in the world are affected by mycotoxins. Of these
mycotoxins, aflatoxins are the biggest problem.
Corn, cottonseed and peanuts are the crops most at risk of
being contaminated by aflatoxins. Aspergillus also commonly grows on beans,
rice, tree nuts and wheat. It grows less often on other grains and nuts.If
animals are given feed contaminated with aflatoxins then aflatoxin mycotoxins
can end up in milk, eggs and meat. Aflatoxin M1 and M, which are often found in
cow's milk, are metabolites produced by animals which have eaten aflatoxins.
Safety
is a key issue for scientists working in the aflatoxin area. Steps must be
taken to minimize exposure to the toxins as well as to the producing
microorganisms, Aspergillus flavus
and Aspergillus parasiticus. A
safety program should be established that meets the requirements of the
Laboratory Standard of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1990)
and the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health (1981) covering use of
chemical carcinogens.
The economic impact of aflatoxins derive directly from crop
and livestock losses as well as indirectly from the cost of regulatory programs
designed to reduce risks to animal and human health. The Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) estimates that 25% of the world's food crops are affected by
mycotoxins, of which the most notorious are aflatoxins. Aflatoxin losses to
livestock and poultry producers from aflatoxin-contaminated feeds include death
and the more subtle effects of immune system suppression, reduced growth rates,
and losses in feed efficiency. Other adverse economic effects of aflatoxins
include lower yields for food and fiber crops.
Aflasafe was developed by IITA in
collaboration with Agriculture and Research Service of the United State
Department of Agriculture, University of Bonn and University of Ibadan (UI).
According to IITA, about 4200 strains of Aspergittus species from naturally
infected maize cobs collected from farmers’ field and stores in Nigeria. After
six years of meticulous and painstaking research using several microbiology ,
plant pathology, molecular biology and toxicology method; 12 safe and effective
atoxigenic strain were identified out of which four (4) were further tested four six (6) years in experienced
station and farmers fields in Nigeria.
The Aflasafe strains cannot produce
aflatoxin since they have inherent defects in one or more of the 26 genes in
the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. They also cannot become toxigenic since the
selected atoxigenic strain. Hence, genetic exchange between members of the same
atoxigenic genetic group cannot transform atoxigenic strams to toxigenic ones.
Members of two different genetic groups cannot exchange DNA.
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