»Managing aflatoxins in peanut«
Pean nuts are rich in nutrients, minerals, energy, vitamins and source of income. Poor management of groundnuts result into aflatoxins that cause contamination.
Aflatoxins result from moulds that live in soil and multiply more during hot and humid conditions. Additionally diseased peanut pods usually have drown spots with green colour inside with unpleasant smell.
Diagnosis and spread
Usually moulds are can be easily identified since they form blackish green layers on outer surface of affected pods. Furthermore, formed moulds on peanuts spread from diseased pods to healthy pods upon harvesting by either contact or by wind.
Aflatoxin control
Ensure timely control of garden weeds to avoid formation of humid conditions that facilitate development of mould which contaminate the peanuts resulting into aflatoxins. Additionally always avoid harvesting ground nuts too early or too late to avoid moulding that cause aflatoxins that contaminate groundnuts.
