Manila, The Philippines
October 17, 2006
Manila Bulletin via SEAMEO SEARCA
The government is collaborating with the
International Crops Research
Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on an
aflatoxin control project that will upgrade to international
standards the quality of local corn, peanut, and copra through
ICRISAT-invented technologies.
Aflatoxin, a substance that can be a precursor to cancer,
cirrhosis, and other diseases, develops from molds that grow
from inadequate crops drying. This has brought menace to
farmers' productivity, cutting their income and prompting feed
producers to massively import expensive corn and its
substitutes.
Dr. Farid Waliyar, ICRISAT plant pathologist and Agri-Science
Park chief, said the partnership may involve three
aspects-post-harvest technologies (dryers, processors),
communication and personnel training work with farm and health
authorities, and the country's adoption of an aflatoxin
detection kit.
ICRISAT itself has developed an aflatoxin detection device that
aids in its control that more farmers can afford compared to the
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) available in the
market.
"Dr. Waliyar has developed a very cost-effective device which
costs only $ 1 per sample compared to per sample (cost for
HPLC). The DA (Department of Agriculture) and the universities
should join hands to put up in strategic locations laboratories
(for aflatoxin control)," said Dr. William D. Dar, ICRISAT
director general.
The ELISA technique developed by ICRISAT is precise and is used
also for other virus detection including for the human
immuno-deficiency virus (HIV).
The research agency already had discussions with the DA,
University of the Philippines-Los Baños, and Isabela State
University on this.
Aflatoxin level of corn produced in the country may go to as
high as 200 parts per billion (PPB) which is far above the
foodsafe standard at 50 PPB since most farmers do not have the
equipment and know-how to enable drying down to a 14 percent and
below moisture content.
In Sub-Saharan African, aflatoxin contamination in a top crop,
peanut, caused a 19 percent export reduction for two decades. |