1. Peter Craufurd The University of Reading

2. Strategies for reducing aflatoxin levels in groundnut-based foods and feeds in India: A step towards improving health of humans and livestock Funded by Department for International Development (DFID): Crop Protection Programme (CPP) / Crop Post-Harvest Programme (CPHP)

3. Project Partners ANGRAU, Anantapur STAAD, Hyderabad AME, Bangalore ICRISAT University of Belfast, UK University of Reading, UK Project started July 2000

4. Project Objectives 1.Describe pre- and post-harvest groundnut production and processing practices of farmers and processors Find out if stakeholders are aware of aflatoxin [2000/01] Six objectives

5. Output 1: groundnut production & processing practices Visits/ interviews/ case studies with: farmers in: - 4 villages in Anantapur District - 2 villages in Pileru, Chittoor District in market yards and with traders & processors in Anantapur & Pileru

6. Output 1: groundnut production & processing practices Major outcomes there are socio-economic/ livelihood factors affecting adoption aflatoxin reducing technologies there are no incentives to produce aflatoxin-free produce there is no awareness of aflatoxin by farmers or processors

7. 2.Survey of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut: pods & haulms at harvest & during storage; groundnut-derived confectionary products; and milk [2000/01] Develop molecular tools to characterise toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus [2001] Project Objectives

8. Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin contamination Farmers’ fields in Anantapur Year No. fields % Samples > permissible limit 10 ug/ kg % Samples >100 ug/ kg 20001262617 200196318

9. Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin contamination Milk & traders/ millers in 2000/02 No. samples % Samples > permissible limit % Samples > 100 ug/ kg Raw buffalo milk 352530 Raw cow milk 50340 Groundnut fodder 80303 Traders2293014 Oil millers223257

10. Output 2: Survey of aflatoxin contamination Market samples in 2002 CropNo. samples % Samples > permissible limit (10 ug/kg) % Samples > 100 ug/ kg Maize72437 Sorghum seed800 Soyabean cake19890 Groundnut cake710071 Groundnut seed25287 Cotton cake61000

11. 3. Determine factors affecting aflatoxin contamination: pre-harvest in farmer’s fields through harvesting, drying, stacking and storage by farmers and traders/ processors, i.e. follow the chain of infection & contamination [2001/02] Project Objectives

12. Output 3: factors affecting contamination Two factors are needed for aflatoxin contamination: Infection of pods and kernels (seeds) with Aspergillus flavus and Favourable conditions for the production of aflatoxin by A. flavus

13. Output 3: factors favouring infection & contamination Fungus, A. flavus high relative humidity temperature 25-35 o C kernel (seed) moisture content 10-30% many damaged pods Aflatoxin production soil or air temperature c. 30 o C >25d drought at end of season kernel moisture content 10- 30% NOTE: undamaged pods can be infected and contaminated

14. Output 3: when can infection & contamination occur? At all stages from start of pod production in the field through storage and processing to consumption

15. Pre-harvest when pods are growing

16. At harvesting

17. Text During drying of haulms/pods in the field

18. Text In the stack, and subsequent storage

19. Factors affecting aflatoxin contamination

20. Project Objectives 4.Produce a short-list of ‘technology’ options to reduce aflatoxin contamination based on the findings of Project Outputs 1, 2 & 3 [2002] to be discussed in Session II

21. Output 4: technology options Pre-harvest genetic (variety) tolerance/resistance to infection and/or contamination biological control of A. flavus agronomic practices that improve soil water retention and reduce the effect of drought and high soil temperature during pod growth

22. Output 4: technology options Post-harvest rapid drying of pods/ kernels to <10% moisture content removal all damaged or mouldy pods store pods in conditions unfavourable to infection & contamination: dry, well aerated, insect-free

23. Project Objectives 5.Discuss ‘short-list’ (Output 4) with farmers, and validate on-station and on-farm in partnership with farmers and extension agencies [2002] to be discussed in Session II

24. Project Objectives 6.Identify target institutions and partnerships to promote public awareness of aflatoxin, and to develop and advocate strategies and policies that enable the production of aflatoxin-free groundnut to be discussed in Session II

25. Thank you Donors:DFID Crop Protection Programme DFID Crop Post-Harvest Programme Hosts:ICRISAT All those who have helped the research programme Participants at today’s meeting for their time