Archives of Agriculture Research and Technology
[ ISSN : 2832-8639 ]
Adoption of Post-Harvest Strategies to Minimize Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea) in Ghana
1Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Tamale, Ghana
2Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana
3Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
4Agricultural Economics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
5Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
Corresponding Authors
Keywords
Abstract
Aflatoxin, a mycotoxin caused by the mold Aspergillus flavus or parasiticus, can have negative impacts on human health, especially vulnerable populations. Several management practices can minimize risk of contamination of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). A survey was conducted with thirty-six farmers who were involved in research designed to develop strategies to minimize aflatoxin contamination in groundnut in northern Ghana in 2017 and again in 2020. Fewer farmers in 2020 were consuming groundnuts with mold that produces aflatoxin or selling grain suspected of containing aflatoxin in local markets. Farmers increased use of tarpaulins as a drying surface in 2020 compared with 2017. Drying on tarpaulin has been shown to reduce aflatoxin contamination going into storage by minimizing spores on groundnut and enabling farmers to cover their crop when rain occurs after harvest and initial drying of pods. Hermetically-sealed bags limit fluctuations in humidity and can maintain groundnut moisture at optimum levels during storage. Farmers did not adopt hermetically-sealed bags to minimize aflatoxin, most likely because of availability and cost. Results from this longitudinal study provide knowledge on what aspects of aflatoxin mitigation after harvest need to be addressed in future research.