The contamination accumulates on crops and grains when there are high moisture levels in the atmosphere

Sorghum on a farm in the Kano plains in Kisumu County. Scientists are developing crop varieties that are not susceptibility to aflatoxin. [Photo:Denish Ochieng|Standard]

Crop researchers are in the process of developing a maize variety that cannot be easily harmed by aflatoxin.

John Kimani said aflatoxin was more prevalent in maize, rice, wheat and groundnuts but other similar crops were susceptible if not properly dried before storage.

“The research is more biased towards the development of a maize variety that has low aflatoxin susceptibility since the crop is the country’s staple food,” he said.

Dr Kimani said the recent harvesting of rice at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme before the grains could attain the optimum 14 per cent moisture content was a classic example of high susceptibility to aflatoxin.

“Any crop harvested before attaining the optimal moisture content, whether to be dried or not before storage, is exposed to bacterial infection that is harmful to human beings when consumed,” said the researcher.

Kimani, who is the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) Mwea centre manager, said the less the moisture content at the harvesting and storage period, the lower the level of aflatoxin.

He said depending on the grain type, aflatoxin cases could be diminished and save consumers from poisoning and other ailments.

High risk

“Some maize varieties are soft while others are hard at the harvesting stage. Those with the soft cover are highly susceptible to aflatoxin, “he said.

Kimani said once the maize variety currently on trial was certified and approved by the relevant biosafety bodies, farmers would no longer have to be concerned much about aflatoxin in their crops.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that consumers of maize products are at high risk of aflatoxin exposure following the heavy rainfall that has affected the harvesting season.

Tests conducted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and maize producing counties found high moisture content of up to 18 per cent above the recommended 13 per cent in maize produced in the North Rift region.

FAO reports that the country’s grain basket region now risks aflatoxin contamination if measures are not taken to ensure that all harvested grains are properly dried before storage.