| Minimising aflatoxin contamination in groundnut
Aflatoxin contamination in groundnut poses serious threat to human and livestock health. This carcinogen produced by a fungi, Aspergillus flavus, can occur in the groundnut crop during the entire crop growth period and during storage. Principal Investigator at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi- arid Tropics (ICRISAT) says that they have put together a package of low-cost practices to minimize aflatoxin contamination, and the growers could benefit immensely by adopting these simple techniques. Both biotic factors such as soil insects and soil pathogens, and abiotic factors such as end-of-season drought and soil temperature during crop growth can lead to aflatoxin contamination. Improper post-harvest handling and storage of the produce such as high moisture, temperature and insect or mechanical damage can also influence the incidence of the fungus that produces the toxins. The fully matured crop should not be exposed to severe drought conditions, and it should be harvested as early as possible. By applying liberal quantities of farmyard manure and the recommended quantities of gypsum, the aflatoxin contamination can be avoided. The moisture retention capacity of the soil, especially at the end of crop maturity, will be enhanced with the application of organic manure. The stress due to pests and foliar diseases during the cropping season should be avoided to prevent the incidence of the fungus that produces aflatoxin. Care should be taken to avoid mechanical damage to the nuts during the harvest. Damaged pods are highly vulnerable to aflatoxin contamination. After pulling out, the plants with the pods should be heaped upside down in small bundles exposing the pods directly to the sun. By following this proper method of drying, fungal infection can be avoided. After adequate drying (to about 10% moisture), all the pods should be carefully removed from the haulms, and the shriveled and unfilled pods, which are the potential source of the fungal infection, should be separated and destroyed. The haulms should be free of shriveled and immature pods, before being fed to livestock to avoid contamination from entering the animal and human food-chain. Dried and selected produce should be stored in a well-ventilated place with low humidity and free of stored product pests. |
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