Abstract
Aflatoxin contaminated maize is of public health concern in Kenya. Training farmers on good agricultural practice (GAP) has been touted as a mitigative measure. Little is known of the effect of such training on aflatoxin levels in maize grown in Kenya. This study evaluated what effect training farmers on GAP has on aflatoxin levels in maize grown in Kaptumo, Kilibwoni, and Kipkaren divisions in Nandi County. Ninety farmers were recruited for the study and interviewed on GAP. Maize samples were additionally collected from the participating farmers and analyzed for aflatoxins using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). All farmers prepared the land before planting, applied correct spacing between the planted crops, carried out weeding, cleaned their stores before use, checked the condition of the maize after harvesting, sorted maize after shelling, and knew about aflatoxins. The majority of the farmers (90%) used fertilizers, dried maize after harvesting, knew that aflatoxins were harmful to humans, and used clean transport in transporting the harvested maize. About 98% of farmers did stooking after harvesting and 97% used wooden pallets in the maize stores. The percentage of farmers who practiced early planting, top dressing, crop rotation, raising stores above the ground, applying insecticide after shelling and feeding damaged/rotten seeds to their animals was 84–96%, 62–80%, 67–85%, 86–98%, 63–81%, and 7–21% respectively. About 18/90 (20%) of all farmers reported that they had a relative who had died from liver cancer, and the mean aflatoxin levels in season 1 were significantly different from those in season 2 (1.92 ± 1.07 ppb; 1.30 ± 1.50 ppb). Our findings suggest that although training farmers to adopt good agricultural practices was observed to be efficient in mitigating the problem of aflatoxins, the receptiveness of farmers to different aspects of the training may have differed. Therefore, in designing an optimized regional aflatoxin contamination strategy, local applicability should be considered.
Highlights
Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins that are produced by soil-borne fungi (Aspergillus species) that are ubiquitous in nature [1]
This study reported that 50% of maize products sampled had aflatoxin levels greater than the Kenyan regulatory limit (20 ppb at the time)
Socio-Demographics of Maize Farmers Interviewed in the Study Area
Summary
Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins that are produced by soil-borne fungi (Aspergillus species) that are ubiquitous in nature [1]. The major types are AFB1 , AFB2 , AFG1 , and AFG2 [1]. Most species of Aspergillus produce B-type aflatoxins, species related to A. parasiticus and A. nomius can produce G-type aflatoxins [1]. The fungus may be recognized by a grey-green or yellow-green mold growing on corn kernels in the field or storage [2]. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, mutagenic, Sci 2020, 2, 85; doi:10.3390/sci2040085 www.mdpi.com/journal/sci. Sci 2020, 2, 85 and immunosuppressive in both humans and animals [1]. At high levels of exposure, they can cause acute toxicity and potentially death in mammals, birds, and fish [1]
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