The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it has taken cogent steps to checkmate the prevalence of aflatoxins in locally processed food products moving into the export market.
The Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, said this at one-day training on “Minimising Aflatoxin Contamination in Agricultural Produce, in Owerri, on Thursday.
Ayeni, represented by the NEPC’s Coordinator in Imo, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, advised farmers and food processors to watch out for the substance, especially at post-harvest.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that aflatoxins are highly toxic carcinogenic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus fungi, commonly contaminating crops.
Ayeni urged farmers to take care of the soil on which plants are grown,
“We must care for the soil the way we care for ourselves because plants derive most of their food from the soil.
“We must therefore detoxify not just the harvested produce but also the soil,” she said
The Guest Speaker, Prof. Clifford Owuamanam, of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), warned that aflatoxins can damage the kidney, liver and other body organs.
Owuamanam, Head, Department of Food Science and Technology, FUTO also described aflatoxins as a “secondary metabolite produced from fungi moulds.”
“However, aflatoxins could be mitigated by the prompt drying of produce after harvest, monitoring of grain in the farm, and the application of proper biological and chemical control methods for pests,” he said.
Speaking, the Head of Produce Department of the state’s Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Investment, Mr Canice Nze, said that the state government’s task force would continue to ensure that only standard goods are moved into and out of the state.
Mr Justice Alihie, the Chief Executive Officer of Do It Yourself, an agriculture consulting firm, called for proper disposal of lead containing materials such as batteries and other toxic materials to ensure soil safety for healthy planting.
