AFLOTOXIN
BY MAINA WARURU
As Kenya grapples with losses of millions of kilos of maize due to aflotoxin infestation,scientists are offering what they say is a natural and safe solution to avoid future recurrence of the problem.

Experts at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) , say they have identified strains of fungi native to Kenya that can effectively control the fungus strain that produces aflotoxin poison in poorly dried grains, as happened in Kenya this year, resulting in 2.3 million bags of maize being condemned as unfit for consumption this year.

The experts say that introducing strains of A.flavus that do not produce aflotoxin drastically reduces strains of poison producing strains avoiding post-harvest losses as witnessed in parts of the East African country .

“A.flavus strains are either toxigenic (producing aflotoxin) or atoxigenic(do not produce aflotoxin) .Our bio-control technology makes use of carefully selected atoxigenic strains that can safely compete and virtually eliminate their toxic relatives effectively reducing contamination of maize in fields” said Rananjit Bandyopaghyay a plat pathologist at IITA.

The resultant biopesticide (pesticide made from biological method as opposed to chemicals ) is introduced in maize crop 2-3 weeks before flowering preventing contamination throughout the crop is in the field and after harvesting.

Kenya is one of the hotspots of aflotoxin, a colorless but highly poisonous chemical that causes liver cancer produced by Aspergillus flavus.ie A. Flavus fungus . The fungus thrives in poorly dried grains as happened in Kenya this when heavy rains were recorded at harvest time.

In the country 200 people have died after consuming maize infected by the poison causing fungi since 20004 mainly is lower parts of the country.

IITA said in a statement posted on it’s website that research by Peter Cotty of Agriculture Research Service (ARS) of U.S showed that Kenya had a high occurrence of the S strain of the A.flavus , one of the most toxic in the world.

In the United States the statement said biological control of aflotoxin with atoxigens has successfully reduced contamination . Closer home in Nigeria the technology in 2009 was used to reduce contamination by up to 80%.

IITA has in Nigeria has managed to obtain provisional registration the technology under brand name Alfasafe and in conjunction with Un’s UNIDO is seeking a commercial manufacture to make and market the product in the country.

On Thursday Kenya’s finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya’s finance minister in his budget speech set aside Ksh 400million for purchase of maize driers to be installed in affected areas in an attempt to control the menace.

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