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, Nonye Ayeni, said this at a one-day training on “Minimising Aflatoxin Contamination in Agricultural Produce” in Owerri on Thursday.

Ms Ayeni, represented by the NEPC’s coordinator in Imo State, Anthony Ajuruchi, advised farmers and food processors to watch out for the substance, especially at post-harvest.

The aflatoxins are highly toxic carcinogenic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus fungi, commonly contaminating crops.

Ms 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, Clifford Owuamanam, of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), warned that aflatoxins can damage the kidney, liver and other body organs.

Mr Owuamanam, Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology at 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 on the farm, and the application of proper biological and chemical control methods for pests,” he said.

Speaking, the head of the produce department of the state’s Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Investment, 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.

The Chief Executive Officer of Do It Yourself, an agriculture consulting firm, Justice Alihie, called for the proper disposal of lead-containing materials such as batteries and other toxic materials to ensure soil safety for healthy planting. 

(NAN)