Be careful about Aflatoxin

Aflatoxin is a toxic poison produced by a kind of fungus called “Aspergillus flavus” in the soil. This one may cause negative side effects to plants, animals as well as human health.-By Yves Didier Irakoze

An Aflatoxin destroys many plants like maize, peanuts, wheat, cassavas and animals like pigs, chickens and even cow milk. “That toxic poison likes an area which is hot and wet. It is observed everywhere in Africa, Asia and Latin America. To human beings, it can cause cirrhosis, cancer of the liver or hepatitis B. It can also kill,” states Hamisi Hamim Kahondogoro from the Department of Plants Protection. He adds that there are 5 kinds of Aflatoxin but the most frequent are B1 and B2. This poison is not visible to the naked eye; it is identified thanks to a detective kit in a laboratory by using chromatography which is an analysis method for identification and dosage of a mixture of elements. “In Burundi, we don’t have that kit device; we use the common method like looking at wet and rotten maize that has mould on it. But it is always important to proceed to a laboratory analysis,” insists Kahondogoro. According to many specialists, the government through Burundi Institute of Science and Agriculture (ISABU) should avail detective equipment and train qualified experts to identify that toxic poison.
Kahondogoro says that in EAC countries much effort is being made to fight against Aflatoxin because it constitutes a big threat in agriculture within the community. For him, some phytosanitary measures have been set up to help people to prevent Aflatoxin. “We sensitize people to plant seeds growing in a short time and resisting that toxic poison. We also advise them to dry and store products very carefully after harvesting,” points out Kahondogoro.
In conclusion, he calls upon farmers to use “Aflasafe” which is a pesticide against Aflatoxin because the latter has an advantage of being very effective when it is put on plants on the field only once in the rainy season.