Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Towards Post Harvest Remedy for
Aflatoxin Contamination of Crops
Dr. A.O. Oyebanji
08033908094;femcovc@yahoo.com
Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Km
3, Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Causes of Aflatoxin Contamination
and detection post harvest
• Occurrence, field injury, delayed drying,
growth and activity of aflatoxigenic moulds
• Warm tropical climate, high moisture above
safe level for long enough to support growth
and activity of toxigenic moulds
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Cultural practice factors of high
moisture in crops post harvest
• Inadequate drying – field and open air sun
drying
• Exposed packaging under humid condition
(>70% r.h.) - Moisture absorption
• Improper storage – Insect infestation
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Mouldy Yam Chips in bulk storage in a room
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Bagged Yam Chips placed outdoors
during rains
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Reasons and solutions of post
harvest problem of aflatoxin?
• Ignorance – Sensitization and creation of awareness on
technical issues of timely harvesting, drying, proper
packaging and storage
• Carelessness – Discipline in monitoring of crop
maturity for harvest, proper harvesting, insect
infestation control, dryness for packaging and
suitability of storage condition
• lack of access to post harvest facilities –dryer, moisture
meter, packaging material and storage structures –
Strategy for access
• High cost of technology and poverty of stakeholders –
Support and assistance
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
NSPRI Achievement, Contributions and Recommendations of
Control of Aflatoxin in Crops Post Harvest
• Development of Improved Dryers
• Establishment and Determination of Safe Moisture
Content for crops
• Recommendation of use of hermetic containers for
packaging adequately dried crops to prevent moisture
absorption
• Safe insect infestation control by proper fumigation
• Prevention of moisture migration
• Prevention of moisture condensation
• Prevention of wetting and flooding of crops in stores
• Technical messages in seminars and training workshops
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Improved Dryers and
Storage Structures
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Improved Crib
Solar Tray
Solar Tent
Multipurpose Dryer
Hybrid Dryer
Electric Fan Force Cabinet Dryer
Hermetic Containers
Improved Warehouse
Inert Atmosphere Metal Silos
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Solar Trays
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
BEYOND THE SOLAR TRAYS
Solar Tent
Multipurpose Dryer
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
TOWARDS LARGE CAPACITY
DRYING
HYBRID DRYER
ELECTRIC FAN FORCE CARBINET DRYER
HERMETIC CONTAINERS FOR DOMESTIC STORAGE:
(METAL AND PLASTIC AIR TIGHT CONTAINERS)
NSPRI RECOMMENDED FUMIGATION PROTOCOL
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Product should be well dried
Load hermetic container half way
Put a tablet of phosphine in an
envelope
Place the sealed envelope in the
partially filled hermetic container
Fill up the container with remaining
produce
Seal up container for 5-7days for disinfestation
Fumigated seed stock should be
aerated for ambient temperature
storage in a dry (less than 70% R.H.)
disinfested atmosphere
The envelope can be retained in the
sealed container for continued
protection of produce against insect
infestation in storage
Remove envelope at desired time for
proper disposal
Aerated produce is ready for use as
food or industrial raw material
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Improved Warehouse for Storage of Bagged
Chips and Flour Stacked on Pallet
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Inert Atmosphere Silos
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
NSPRI Products
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Conclusion
• Aflatoxin contamination of crops and products
waste the effort at production and value addition
in the rejection and wastage
• Loss of revenue in rejection and regulatory
destruction,
• More money must be spent to detoxify, which is
expensive and uneconomical.
• Aflatoxin detection serves to indicate the poor
handling state of the crop in its history and this
will not be tolerated in the growing regulation
locally and for export.
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
Conclusion….
• Improvement in education, promotion of the ideals of
proper handling, processing and storage of crops and
products, as well as improvement in availability and
access to improved facilities and funding are steps in
the right direction for the control of Aflatoxin in
Agricultural Products in Nigeria.
• The control of problems, effects and implications of
Aflatoxin on crops and products through adequate
consideration for the technical realities and necessary
upgrade of our cultural and post harvest practices
would bring economic and health benefits.
Increasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Self Reliance through Adequate Post Harvest
Loss Prevention
• Thank you all for your attention