Preventing your groundnuts from aflatoxins contamination right from farm

Currently 3 new improved varieties are available (Sumnut 24, 25 and 26)

It is estimated that the concentration of aflatoxins in all local peanut varieties produced in Nigeria reaches 392 micrograms per billion, which is about 20 times the permissible level of aflatoxins contaminated by 20 micrograms per billion, set by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (ODS) on peanuts produced in the country.

Aflatoxins are a toxic substance produced by some fungi on crops found in soil and decaying materials. When his dispute is released, he can infect crops on the farm, reproduce in stores and even in the processed product.

After the earthquake in 1975, when more than 7.5 million hectares of peanuts were destroyed as a result of the emergence of a gambling outlet, there was no such diversity as sustainable, as the newly developed improved varieties Sumnut 24, 25 and 26 countries.

The introduction of good agricultural practices among the majority of farmers with limited resources is a key factor in combating the pollution of aflatoxins in peanut production in the country. This is done by promoting the use of the most suitable seeds, timely planting, regular weeding, timely harvesting at maturity, as well as adequate post-harvest drying of the crop compared to biological control measures.

Turning to the Daily Trust to promote the production of aflatoxins without peanuts in the country, the project manager of the International Institute for Crop Research for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), who is working on a project for processing peanuts in Jigawa State, Dr. Wabi Bobo Michael, said that pollution aflatoxins can be controlled directly from the farm field in comparison with the usual practice of applying measures of biocontrol.

He explained that the safety of peanuts begins right from the selection of the seed, because when the farmer planted the infected seed, he also has to collect the infected products.

Aflatoxins affect peanut seeds when the shell is eaten by termites or any insects on the farm. This is based on the fact that farmers are advised not to patronize contaminated areas or areas that have a history of infection of insects for peanut production.

Farmers must sow their farms regularly at the right time, as the inability to keep the farm clean increases the chances of a field farm producing aflatoxins contaminated with peanut chips. Farmers also should not delay the extraction of their products during the early repayment period.

In a situation where the harvest of peanuts is delayed over the relevant period, uncertain farming begins where the pod begins to grow, and this increases the chances of aflatoxin contamination on the product.

After harvesting, the peanuts should be left on the farm for about five to seven days to dry before removing the pods from the stems.

At this stage, farmers are also advised not to rush so that all broken pods are removed from the product. This safety management should be thorough, because broken pods are the roots of aflatoxin contamination.

When stored in a storage bag, the product must be stored in a place with an adequate supply of air and on boards. Depending on the circumstances, contact with the ground or the floor of the store should not be allowed.

Dr. Boboh Michael also said that the introduction of new improved varieties of peanuts, which have lower aflatoxin contamination than even the national standard of 8 to 15 micrograms per billion, reduced the risk of high levels of contamination from local varieties.

The improved variety not only reduces the incidence of infection, but also improves the yield per hectare of peanuts. Sumnut 24, 25 and 26 yield up to 2.5 tons per hectare versus 1.2 tons per hectare from a local variety.

A new variety has an early maturity of 90 to 95 days against a local variety that lasts from 120 to 150 days before preparing for harvest.

He said: “The International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) presented three improved peanut varieties for farmers in the state of Jigawa – Sumnat 24, 25 and 26 – with the goal of increasing yields per hectare and reducing high levels of aflatoxin contamination, commonly found in local cultural diversity.

“With good management, each of the newly introduced improved varieties can produce up to 2.5 tons per hectare compared with the local variety with the highest capacity of 1.2 hectares.

“The safety of farming begins with the farm. The pollution of aflatoxins in peanuts is largely due to termites and other insects. To provide aflatoxins with free peanuts without biocontrol measures, farmers must patronize improved varieties and also ensure the use of fieldless termites for farms, ”said the project manager.

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