Developing improved groundnut varieties and

awareness creation for uptake and aflatoxin

mitigation measures in Tanzania

Dr. Omari Mponda (PhD) – ARI Naliendele, P.O. Box 509 Mtwara. E-mail: mpondaomari@hotmail.com

Background

• Food and nutrition insecurity

• - Over half the pop live below the poverty datum line

– Over 40% of the children under 5 are malnourished

– Gnut as a source of nutrition (protein, oil) and income

Project Goal

• Reduction in poverty by

improving income level,

food and nutrition security

through investments in

short- and medium high

yielding groundnut varieties

with acceptable market

traits and resistance to

foliar diseases

Cultivar development

Improving crop Management

Availing seed

Improved varieties

Reduced aflatoxin In grain

Increased production

Reduced aflatoxin contamination in humans

Availability of safe food

Increased HH consumption

Increased marketable surplus

INCOME

NUTRITION

Labour serving techs

Processing and value add

Theory of Change -Groundnut Breeding and Aflatoxin project.

Groundnuts Production-Tanzania

Cropped

Area (2008-

10 avg)

Production

(2008-10

avg)

Av.

Yield (2008-

10 avg) (A)

Potential

yield (B)

Realizable

Yield (C)

Yield Gap

(C-A)

million ha

million

tonnes Kg/Ha Kg/Ha Kg/Ha Kg/Ha

0.54 0.39 721.38 3,000 1500 778.62

Groundnut Breeding Objectives

• To develop high yielding variety resistant to biotic and abioticstress and adoptable to the major groundnut growing areas of the country that farmer preferred and market acceptable.

• The breeding programmes aim at developing high yielding varieties with high oil content, but

• with the availability of cheaper oil from other sources,

groundnut has lost its ground as a premier oil seed crop Rising

confectionery market has assumed great significance as snack

food in domestic and international markets

• Bold seed, high protein, high oleic acid/linoleic acid, (O/L)

ratio and low oil.

Constraints to increased production

and trade

• Diseases

• Rosette – can cause 100% crop loss in

epidemic years in 2009/10 about 30% was lost

in TZ

• Leaf spots, LLS, ELS, Rust

• Aflatoxin contamination

• Drought – Climate Change

Leaf

spotRust

Rosette

Drought

Research Hypothesis

• Improved groundnut varieties (for yield,

disease and aflatoxin resistance) will stimulate

farmer adoption and increase production

enabling smallholder farmers to overcome

– Malnutrition

– Health related ailments

– Increased rural poverty

– Loss of soil fertility

Specific Objectives

• High yielding farmer and market-acceptable groundnut varieties with resistance to foliar/viral diseases and aflatoxin contamination developed.

• Nutritional status, dietary diversity, human health and mycotoxin contamination problem spatially characterized

• Adoption rates of improved farmer and market-acceptable varieties and production technologies enhanced

• Capacity of partners for management of mycotoxins in food, variety development and enabling policy environment enhanced

Project sites

• On-station trials• Southern Tanzania• Naliendele• Nachingwea• Nakayaya - Tunduru

• Central Tanzania• Makutopora • Hombolo• Bihawana• Western -Tumbi• Lake zone - Ukiriguru

• On-farm (each at least)• 20 sites PVS and seed prod• South and Central• Lake zone, Western zone• Western - T

Objective 1: Objective 1: High yielding farmer and marketHigh yielding farmer and market--acceptable acceptable

groundnut varieties developedgroundnut varieties developed

Milestones

�Screening by giving high

disease pressure for rust,

ELS,GRD, Aflatoxin

�Good X Good cross

Groundnut Crossing program

• Introgressing desirable traits to the improved varieties (rosette resistance, pod size, drought resistance, oil content)

Good X Good Crosses

Farmer

Preferred

Variety

GRD, ELS, Rust

Activity

Current Status

� Selection

Objective 3:Adoption rates of improved varieties and

production technologies developed

�Improve Adoption

�Demonstration

Technology

Milestones

Demonstration Technology

GRDGRD, Aflatoxin

Improved Groundnuts varieties-

Tanzania

Mangaka-2009Masasi-2009

NEW GROUNDNUT VARIETIES IDENTIFIED FOR RELEASE IN

TANZANIA

Rural seed fairs

• Inadequate awareness, availability and accessibility have

hindered adoption of improved varieties by farmers

• Improved seeds bred by national research institutes and

private seed companies have not been readily available in

Southern Tanzania

• Poor infrastructure including poor roads have not been

attractive to private seed companies to invest in remote areas

even liberalization of the seed industry in 1990s

• Naliendele designed a rural seed fairs since in 1997

Objectives of the seed fairs

• To create awareness of seeds available from

informal and formal seeds systems

• Increase availability, accessibility of

alternative seeds

• Establish working contacts: researchers,

extension, farmers, traders, policy makers

(linkage improved)

• Enhance the rural seed systems

Methodology

• Rural seed fairs were first started in Newala, Masasi and Nachingwea in 1997

• Due to successful implementation of rural seed fairs it was exapanded to include all district councils of Mtwara and Lindi region in 1998,1999 and 2000.

• To organise rural seed fair

– Sensitize stakeholders on the importance of seed fairs and agree on its implementation budget

– Identify local seed experts and invite them to the seed fair

– Select site village representative of potential growing area

– The site should be a centre where farmers could easily come

– Organise construction of booths and traditional dances and artists to perform on the seed fairs

– Organize radio spot announcements prior to the seeds fairs

• Organize to collect/purchase seeds from research station

seed companies and in small samples of 50 – 200 gms, 500

gms depending on crop and sale at cost price.

• Organize radio live coverage during the seed fair event to

inform the public on the progress of seed fairs

• Seed fair is a venue for seed exchange, sale, and making

contact between seed producers, farmers, extension and

researchers and policy makers

• On the eve of seed fair in the evening organize to show video

films on various agricultural technologies up to 10.00 o’clock

in the evening then traditional dance till morning

• On seed fair day researchers, farmer seed experts will exhibit seeds and share their knowledge to others

• Farmers visiting exhibitors will purchase seed packs from researchers, farmers to go and try in their environments

• District Councils Leaders make speeches on the importance of seeds and agriculture in general in their districts and national at large

• Researchers learn from farmers of local seeds and associated local knowledge

Traditional dances promote seed

knowledge and sharing

Achievements/impact• Awareness of improved seed have significantly improved

• During these events we were able to exhibit about 70 crop

varieties of cereals, oilseeds, root and tubers, fruits and

vegetables

• Farmers accessing seeds were organised into Farmer Research

Groups for their participation in Participatory variety selection

and seed multiplication

• Farmers groups have become seed multipliers and registered as

Quality declared and certified seed production with Agricultural

Seed Agency and companies

• 15 – 20 tons groundnuts produced

• Demand for seed significantly increased

especially for sesame and groundnuts

• Adoption of improved groundnuts varieties

and sources of seeds significantly increased.

Pendo, Mnanje are popular in Tanzania

• Productivity of groundnuts increased on farm

from 700 kg/ha – 1000-1500 kg/ha

Groundnut Aflatoxin

• Aflatoxin and nutrition

– Need to establish whether the state of human nutrition is at risk as a result of aflatoxin contamination of foods

• Aflatoxin and agriculture

– Ascertain the source of dietary contamination and its management

– ensure that the general public is knowledgeable about aflatoxin and its effects on health

• Disseminate available aflatoxin reducing technologies

• Building capacity of front line staff and farmers through farmerfriendly integrated aflatoxin management packages

Top 20 Groundnut Exporters, 2008Rank Country Quantity

(tonnes)Value (1,000 US$)

Unit value (US$/tonne)

1 India 293,128 274,154 9352 China 167,054 232,183 1,3903 USA 216,936 198,593 9154 Argentina 148,962 180,890 1,2145 Netherlands 80,287 137,390 1,7116 Nicaragua 77,973 90,058 1,1557 Brazil 44,361 50,586 1,1408 UAE 15,938 15,799 9919 South Africa 10,202 15,027 1,47310 Vietnam 14,300 13,700 95811 Paraguay 9,230 9,778 1,05912 Belgium 6,282 9,395 1,49613 Gambia 18,000 8,200 45614 Singapore 6,093 7,336 1,20415 Australia 3,984 7,254 1,82116 Bolivia 4,056 6,658 1,64217 UR of Tanzania 14,817 6,280 42418 Egypt 5,684 6,138 1,04719 Spain 3,275 5,874 1,79420 Uzbekistan 6,461 5,545 858

Source:

FAOSTAT

Countries with Permissible Limits for Total Aflatoxins in

Food & Feed

Problem

• Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), the poisonous secondary metabolites

produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, are one of the

most frequent contaminants in several crops produced under

rainfed conditions such as groundnut, maize, millets, chillies,

various nuts, etc. (Fig. 1).

• Aflatoxins have been linked with impaired child growth, liver

cancer and various other illnesses.

• Stringent food safety regulations have been established to prevent

aflatoxin contamination in foods. However, they are ineffective in

developing countries due to poor awareness, inadequate

monitoring skills and food inadequacy issues.

• Large percentage of populations (particularly low-income groups)

are at the highest risk of exposure to aflatoxin contaminated diets.

Pre-desposing factors

• Weather conditions

• Drought stress

• Cultivars and farming practices

• Time of harvest and pod removal

• Method of harvest and drying

• Mechanical/insect damage (pre-and post harvest pests

• Conditions of packing and distribution

Model for understanding Risk of

Contamination

Aflatoxin, Health & Trade

� Synergistic with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) to cause liver cancer

• 30 times more potent in HBV+ people

• 5-60 times higher cancer risk

� Impairs growth and development of children

� Suppress immune system – increased susceptibility to diseases, e.g., HIV, malaria?

� Impedes uptake and utilization of micronutrients in human systems

� Animal productivity reduced – growth rate, embryo toxicity, feed efficiency, cancer, death……

� ~2.3 million bags contaminated maize not tradable in 2010 in Kenya

Fungi producing mycotoxinsFungi producing mycotoxins

� Mycotoxins, the secondary metabolites of Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium are among the most common molds that invade food and feed.

� Toxic metabolites produced by

Aspergillus flavus and related

species in several crop species

� Aflatoxin B1 is a potent toxin

� It is considered as carcinogen

Aflatoxin B1

Aspergillus flavus: Aflatoxin producing mold

AflatoxinsAflatoxins

Aflatoxin causes-Liver cancer

AflatoxicosisAflatoxicosis

Aflatoxicosis is the poisoning that results from ingesting aflatoxins

Two types of aflatoxicosis have been identified

1) Acute severe intoxication:

Results in liver damage and subsequent illness or death. Large dose leads to acute

illness and death, through liver cirrhosis

The 2004 outbreak in Eastern and Northern province of Kenya resulted in a total of

317 cases of aflatoxicosis, with 125 deaths This was due to widespread aflatoxin

contamination of locally grown maize, which occurred during storage of the maize

under damp conditions.

2) Chronic sub symptomatic exposure:

Due to frequent ingestion of sublethal doses

This have nutritional and immunological consequences, and a cumulative effect on

the risk of liver cancer

anithaanitha©©20112011

Cirrhosis of liverCirrhosis of liver

Cirrhosis of Liver

Effects of mycotoxins in cattle

Birds affected with aflatoxin B1Birds affected with aflatoxin B1

Aflatoxin workshop with traders in Mtwara

WARSHA YA UTUNZAJI WA KARANGA WAFANYABIASHARA

KARANGA

MTWARA MJINI

WABISOCO, MTWARA 17 June 2011

Moulds in groundnuts-Ukungu (kuvu) kwenye

karanga

Microscope view of fungi aspergillus flavus-

Ukungu husambaa kirahisi sana kwa vimelea vidogo

vidogo

Lifecyle of aspergillus flavus (fungi)

Mzunguko wa maisha ya ukungu

Aflatoxin contamination levels in groundnuts in

Tanzania (ppb)

Samples 688593

Mean

AfB1 93 121 115

1. Aflatoxin contamination starts in the field-

Mashambulizi shambani

1. How to reduce contamination in the field-

Njia za kupunguza mashambulizi shambani

2. Contamination during harvest-

Mashambulizi wakati wa kuvuna

2. How to reduce contamination- Timely harvest-

Njia za kupunguza mashambulizi wakati wa kuvuna

3. Contamination during drying-

Mashambulizi wakati wa kukausha

3. How to reduce contamination during harvest-

Njia za kupunguza mashambulizi wakati wa

kukausha

3. How to reduce contamination during drying- Njia

za kupunguza mashambulizi wakati wa kukausha

4. Mashambulizi kwenye karanga

zilizobanguliwa

4b. Mashambulizi kwenye karanga

zilizobanguliwa

4.Sorting and Grading-Jinsi ya kupunguza

mashamabulizi kwenye karanga zilizobanguliwa

5a. Njia za punguza mashambulizi wakati wa

utunzaji

5b. Njia za punguza mashambulizi wakati wa

utunzaji

Breeding - International aflatoxin screening

trials involving 100 lines for Spanish and 49 lines

for Virginia – control: J11 and 55-437 at ICRISAT

Malawi

Joint action needed – by value chain actors

Policy makers (Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Industry, Finance, Trade, PMO, Loc GOvt),TFDA,

Adapted from Homann-Kee Tui (2010) Training/Planning Workshop Report on Establishing

Small Stock Innovation Platforms, Gaborone

Research communityNARS, ICRISAT,IITA, TFDA, TFNC,TBS

Input & service suppliers (incl extension, SIDO, AMCOS; Farmer groups, PvTTOSCI,ASA, NGOs)

FarmersTraders

ProcessorsSupermarkets

Consumers

Exporters

Method Purpose

I. Primary prevention To minimize fungal infestation and aflatoxin

contamination

� Cultivation of A. flavus resistant

varieties

� Potential for control of fungal invasion

and toxin production during crop

growth.

� Control of field infection by following

appropriate phytosanitary measures to

reduce the fungal inoculum

� Limit fungal inoculum in the field

� Seed treatment and application of

fungicides

� Limit fungal invasion during crop

growth

� Appropriate scheduling for planting,

harvest and post harvest

� Avoid drought stress and other abiotic

stresses

� Application of soil amendments

(gypsum, farmyard manure etc

� Enhancing soil nutrient (especially

calcium) and water holding capacity,

promoting the growth of antagonistic

native soil-microflora

� Lowering moisture content of seeds

after harvesting and during storage

� Limit fungal invasion and growth

during storage

� Preservatives to prevent insect

infestation and fungal contamination

during storage

� Limit fungal invasion during storage

Aflatoxin ManagementAflatoxin Management

Method Purpose

II. Secondary prevention Elimination or limiting the fungal

contamination

� Sorting of contaminated pods and

kernels

� Reducing aflatoxin contamination in

final product

� Re-drying the groundnut pods and

kernels

� Limit further mold invasion during

storage

� Appropriate storage conditions to

avoid favorable conditions for mold

growth

� Limit further mold invasion during

storage

� Detoxification of contaminated

product

� Chemical inactivation of aflatoxins

through use of detoxification clay,

ammonification, electronic sorting of

kernels.

Aflatoxin ManagementAflatoxin Management

Challenges

• Inadequate funding, no sustainable funding, facilities (cold storage)• Limited access to seed of improved varieties due to inadequate seed

production of preferred seed varieties.• Lack of access to information on available varieties –farmers do not know

about new varieties, their potential, where to access and how to manage them and market requirements

• Export markets constrained by stringent aflatoxin standards set by importing countries- value chain actors limited awareness

• High transaction costs due to collection from a large no of smallholder farmers resulting in grain of mixed quality leading to low prices

• Lack of premium price for quality (aflatoxin free nuts)-Traceability

• Low mechanization technologies - gender

• Cheap oils -Inadequate value addition – groundnut oil, peanut butter

• Too centralized formal seed system certification limits participation of other seed value chain actors - decentralize

Thank you.

Further Contacts on Mycotoxin/aflatoxinDr. Madinda – Consultant Surgeon +255789333282

Dr. Martin Kimanya TFDA - +255754317687

AcknowledgementsMcKnight Foundation CCRP, Tropical Legumes I&II,

ICRISAT, IITA, DRD MAFSC