Abstract:
Aflatoxins are toxins produced by certain strains of Aspergillus flavus that are found in several
crops. This toxin is produced by Aspergillus flavus in food and feeds results in adverse health
effects for humans and animals, as well as economic barriers to farmers and countries. This study
aimed to assess the awareness of farmers in harvesting and postharvest handling practices for the
management of Aflatoxin in maize. The assessment was conducted using questionnaire to
capture data on bio-data information, farmer’s awareness on aflatoxin contamination, harvesting
time, post-harvesting practices, and storage facilities. Statistical analyses were performed using
Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25. The result shows that 65.63% of
farmers in Kilosa and 67.28% of farmers in Gairo districts were aware of aflatoxin
contamination. The study revealed that, during harvesting time, 92% of farmers at Kilosa and
98% of farmers in Gairo district harvest maize when completely dry. In drying practice, the use
of canvas had higher usage compared to other practices where 42.70% of farmers in Kilosa and
16.70% of farmers in the Gairo district were using canvas. Additionally, it was observed that the
majority of farmers in both districts store their maize by using storage bags/sacks that favor the
rise of insect/pest contamination. The study suggests that there is a need for establishing an
educational campaign for maize farmers on the effect of aflatoxin contamination to improve their
awareness. The knowledge should base on harvesting, drying practices, and modern storage
facilities that can reduce aflatoxin contamination. |
