1. Aflatoxins in Ethiopia
Alemayehu Chala (PhD, Hawassa University)
Usha Kulkarni (PhD, Mekelle University)

2. Background Ethiopia 18 major and 49 sub agro-ecological zones
Various crops are produced
EARO, 1999
Total crop production (2008/09)
17.12 million tones on 12.4 million ha (11.3% of total area)
Total crop production (2010/11)
22.5 million tones on 13.5 million ha
Very low productivity
4/21/2017

3. Aflatoxins affect at all levels of value chain systems

4. Status of Aflatoxin in Ethiopia
Endemic in the country, due to predisposing pre and post harvest factors:
Frequent end season drought (soil water stress)
Lack of resistant varieties???
Harvesting methods
Storage facility and conditions (sanitary level, pest, moisture level….)
Low or limited knowledge of Aflatoxin by value chain actors
Lack of regulation framework and monitoring facilities both at National and Regional level- Zero protocols, standards and regulations
Limited research/lab facilities and trained personnel

5. Institutions with food safety related activities
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Health
Ethiopian Standards Authority
Institute of Nutrition
Food processing industry
Universities and research institutes

6. Recent activities in Ethiopia
Survey
Laboratory analysis of samples
Mycological
Toxin analysis
Field experiments
4/21/2017

7. Laboratory capacity Hilina Food Processing Company
Ethiopian Standards Authority
Nutrition Institute
Universities??

8. Earlier reports
A mean levels of aflatoxin B1 of 34.7 and 105 µg/kg in samples of groundnut and peanut butter, respectively (Besrat & Gebre, 1981)
Aflatoxin levels of 5 to 250 µg/kg in groundnut seeds (Ayalew et al., 1995).

9. Total aflatoxin contamination of samples from East Ethiopia (Chala et al., 2013)
District
Positive sample
Negative sample
Total
Babile 34 5 39
Darolabu 35 40
Gursum 24 17 41 93 27
120
4/21/2017

10. Aflatoxin concentration in groundnut samples from East Ethiopia (Chala et al., 2013)
District
Store (µg/kg)
Market (µg/kg)
Babile
,865
Darolabu
Gursum
EU limit: 4 µg/kg
FAO/WHO: 15 (µg/kg)
4/21/2017

11. Total aflatoxin level in selected groundnut varieties in southern Ethiopia (Chala et al., 2012)
Aflatoxin (ppb)
Variety
No. of fields
Range
Mean
NC-4x 6
0-2.13
0.78
NC-343 5
1.71
Roba
0-5.97
2.04
Sedi 9
0-2.96
0.62
Lote 7
0-2.68
0.85
Bulki
3.01
Werer-961
2.96
Werer-962
0-7.36
2.33
Werer-963
0-1.82
0.30
Werer-964
0-4.72
1.80
Tole-1
0-3.38
0.57
Tole-2
0-3.14
0.77
Fayo
3.85
Fetan
0-7.86
2.74
4/21/2017

12. Conclusion and recommendation
Total aflatoxin recorded from each of the survey districts exceeds international standards
The current results should also serve as a wakeup call to create awareness on the aflatoxin problem in the country and possible remedies
Such studies will contribute to understand the full extent of the problem and also to work on appropriate control measures
4/21/2017

13. Conclusion and recommendation cont.
Regular monitoring/ surveillance is needed
PACA’s role
Contribute in developing standard protocols for the region
More awareness creation to improve the perception towards toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins
4/21/2017

14. Conclusion and recommendation cont.
Focus on
Adjusting planting and harvesting dates
Sanitation of fields and stores
Sorting out damaged kernels
Proper storage conditions
Biological control
Education and regulation for safe groundnut production and processing
4/21/2017

15. Metabolites present in sorghum samples (N=70 for Sorghum and 34 for finger millets)
Analyte
Sorghum
Finger millet
Major mycotoxins and derivatives 16 11
Fusarium metabolites 17 13
Aflatoxin precursors 8
Alternaria metabolites 6
Other Aspergillus metabolites 7
Penicillium metabolites 5
Unspefic metabolites
Bacterial metabolites 4
Total 84 62

16. Opportunities and Invitation to PACA
Design a model of integrating Agriculture, Nutrition and Public Health (consumption level) and Hospital based strategies to combat Aflatoxins
Private Public Partnership /investments in sophisticated infrastructure to manage outbreaks, monitor health risks, establish regulations and standards
Role of universities in PACA- Systematic research and dissemination
Filling up Critical Capacity Buildings in the area of FOOD SAFETY;
Deepening of awareness of all stakeholders right from communities to Policy makers ; Awareness creations
Strategies for Integrated approach to develop capacity of Health Extension Workers & Agriculture Extension Workers
Assessment

17. Aflatoxins Control in Ethiopia from Nutrition and Health Perspective
Nutrition Education Programs and capacity building of Health Extension Workers and mothers development army at the community level
Behavior change Communication strategies and IEC materials combined with Awareness Creation campaigns
Inclusion of course materials on dangers of Aflatoxins on children, Opportunistic infections with HIV aids into Public health/Nutrition curriculum
Nutrition Screening, cooking/recipe demonstration and low cost diagnostic nutrition and food science lab in conjunction with Agriculture research in Aflatoxins
Designing One Health Concept: Human and Animal Nutrition to control
Hospital based studies in determining aflatoxin level using human blood biomarkers

18. Thank You