Peter Craufurd The University of Reading

Strategies for reducing aflatoxin levels in groundnut-based foods and feeds in India: A step towards improving health of humans and livestock Funded by Department for International Development (DFID): Crop Protection Programme (CPP) / Crop Post-Harvest Programme (CPHP)

Project Partners ANGRAU, Anantapur STAAD, Hyderabad AME, Bangalore ICRISAT University of Belfast, UK University of Reading, UK Project started July 2000

Project Objectives 1.Describe pre- and post-harvest groundnut production and processing practices of farmers and processors Find out if stakeholders are aware of aflatoxin [2000/01] Six objectives

Output 1: groundnut production & processing practices Visits/ interviews/ case studies with: farmers in: - 4 villages in Anantapur District - 2 villages in Pileru, Chittoor District in market yards and with traders & processors in Anantapur & Pileru

Output 1: groundnut production & processing practices Major outcomes there are socio-economic/ livelihood factors affecting adoption aflatoxin reducing technologies there are no incentives to produce aflatoxin-free produce there is no awareness of aflatoxin by farmers or processors

2.Survey of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut: pods & haulms at harvest & during storage; groundnut-derived confectionary products; and milk [2000/01] Develop molecular tools to characterise toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus [2001] Project Objectives

Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin contamination Farmers’ fields in Anantapur Year No. fields % Samples > permissible limit 10 ug/ kg % Samples >100 ug/ kg

Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin contamination Milk & traders/ millers in 2000/02 No. samples % Samples > permissible limit % Samples > 100 ug/ kg Raw buffalo milk Raw cow milk Groundnut fodder Traders Oil millers223257

Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin contamination Market samples in 2002 CropNo. samples % Samples > permissible limit (10 ug/kg) % Samples > 100 ug/ kg Maize72437 Sorghum seed800 Soyabean cake19890 Groundnut cake Groundnut seed25287 Cotton cake61000

3. Determine factors affecting aflatoxin contamination: pre-harvest in farmer’s fields through harvesting, drying, stacking and storage by farmers and traders/ processors, i.e. follow the chain of infection & contamination [2001/02] Project Objectives

Output 3: factors affecting contamination Two factors are needed for aflatoxin contamination: Infection of pods and kernels (seeds) with Aspergillus flavus and Favourable conditions for the production of aflatoxin by A. flavus

Output 3: factors favouring infection & contamination Fungus, A. flavus high relative humidity temperature o C kernel (seed) moisture content 10-30% many damaged pods Aflatoxin production soil or air temperature c. 30 o C >25d drought at end of season kernel moisture content % NOTE: undamaged pods can be infected and contaminated

Output 3: when can infection & contamination occur? At all stages from start of pod production in the field through storage and processing to consumption

Pre-harvest when pods are growing

At harvesting

Text During drying of haulms/pods in the field

Text In the stack, and subsequent storage

Factors affecting aflatoxin contamination

Project Objectives 4.Produce a short-list of ‘technology’ options to reduce aflatoxin contamination based on the findings of Project Outputs 1, 2 & 3 [2002] to be discussed in Session II

Output 4: technology options Pre-harvest genetic (variety) tolerance/resistance to infection and/or contamination biological control of A. flavus agronomic practices that improve soil water retention and reduce the effect of drought and high soil temperature during pod growth

Output 4: technology options Post-harvest rapid drying of pods/ kernels to <10% moisture content removal all damaged or mouldy pods store pods in conditions unfavourable to infection & contamination: dry, well aerated, insect-free

Project Objectives 5.Discuss ‘short-list’ (Output 4) with farmers, and validate on-station and on-farm in partnership with farmers and extension agencies [2002] to be discussed in Session II

Project Objectives 6.Identify target institutions and partnerships to promote public awareness of aflatoxin, and to develop and advocate strategies and policies that enable the production of aflatoxin-free groundnut to be discussed in Session II

Thank you Donors:DFID Crop Protection Programme DFID Crop Post-Harvest Programme Hosts:ICRISAT All those who have helped the research programme Participants at today’s meeting for their time