Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Plant Health Services Collaboration with Agro-dealers/Commercial Sector to Promote Use of Pre-harvest.

Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives

Plant Health Services

Collaboration with Agro-dealers/Commercial Sector to Promote Use of Pre-harvest and Post-harvest Solutions Known to Reduce Aflatoxin

Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services

Katemani MdiliPlant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services

Key Questions •Are the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry enough to address the issue of aflatoxin?

•Can the agro dealers/ Commercial Sector have an impact towards reducing aflatoxin given opportunity to work in collaboration with the Government?

Contributing factors:i) environmental factors -high humidity and

temperature favour fungal propagation, drought conditions increase risk of aflatoxin

ii) agronomic factors- Low-input farming practicesiii) socio-economic factors- Food insecurity, Limited

choice for low risk and high value

Risk of aflatoxin

Risk of aflatoxin contamination of food and feed in East Africa is increasing

Solution to Control of aflatoxin

• The control of mycotoxins is a complex process• an integrated quality control program is needed

throughout the production chain• molds producing mycotoxins can either penetrate food

before harvest during the postharvest stages

Pre and Post harvest Solution

• Several methods of pre-harvest handling and best practices for post-harvest handling can reduce contamination

• To fully address this in a comprehensive approach Country has to embrace Good Agricultural Practices

• The concept of GAP evolved recently as a result of the big concern about food safety and quality, and the environmental sustainability of agriculture

Pre and Post harvest Solution

• In a broad sense“GAP applies available knowledge in addressing

environmental, economic and social sustainability for on-farm production and post-production processing, resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agricultural products produce”

• Through the MoA this approach is being gradually instigated and sensitized to farmers

Strategic Areas

• Seed, crop selection and seedlings production• Create understanding of the importance of selecting suitable

seeds and crops suitable for growing condition and that comply with market requirement

• understand the importance of using pure certified seed• understand key questions on suitability of crop for small-holder• production.

• Crop pests and diseases• understand the impact of crop enemies and the needs for plant

protection strategies• able to carry out observations on pests and disease• understand crop infestation and damage during production and

postharvest

Strategic Areas

• Integrated pest management (IPM)• understand IPM approach in managing crop pests• understand crop protection principles

• Pesticide application• Understanding pesticide best practices• Understanding the importance of pesticide safe use• Understanding the importance of observing MRL

Post harvest crop management practices

• Highlighting the most important intervention areas such as food processing, storage strategies such as drying and improving conditions.

• Control Insect and pest management• Aflatoxin contamination has been shown to

increase with storage period

Inspection and Detection

• MoA through Plant Health Services have the mandate to regulate agric commodities destined for imports and exports

– Conducting Pest Risk Analyses – Exit/Entry points Inspection– Warehouse and Go down Inspection

World distribution of Aspergillus flavus

SIRALINAMANGA

TARAKEA

HOLILI

HOLOHOLO

TANGA HABOUR

DAR HABOUR

TAZARA

JNIA

MTWARA PORT

MTAMBASWALA

MBAMBA BAY

ITUNGI PORT

TUNDUMA

KASUMULO

KASESHA

KASANGA

KAREMA

KALYA

KIGOMA PORT

MANYOVU

KABANGA

RUSUMO

MABAMBA

MUSOMA PORT

MWANZA PORT

MTUKULA

TENGERU

KIA

Tanzania Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services Inspectorate Border Posts

ISAKA

Intercepted Materials

Intercepted Materials

Intercepted Materials

Potential Challenges

• Limited resource personnel to deliver Extension Services

• incentives, subsidies and policy instruments related to agricultural trade

• product certification, labelling and consumer trends• Can the Government do all these by itself?• Is there need for a third party certification system?

• consistency with food security measures and priorities of limited resource or potentially marginalized groups

How do we address these challenges?

Can the commercial sector be an integral part in finding the sound solutions that will ensure food safety?

Thank you