State of knowledge regarding aflatoxins: evidence from farmers in Ghana

Résumé fourni par la source

A significant challenge faced by pest and disease management programs is their limited effectiveness, often due to a lack of understanding of farmers’ baseline knowledge, perceptions, and practices. This study aimed to assess farmers’ general perceptions and knowledge of the causes, consequences, and control strategies for aflatoxin contamination based on analysis of data obtained from 447 households randomly sampled from 20 communities in northern Ghana. The data analysis revealed varying levels of knowledge among farmers regarding the causes, control strategies, and consequences of aflatoxins on livestock and humans. The probability of a farmer knowing the causes, consequences, and control strategies for aflatoxin contamination was 17%, 54% and 76%, respectively. An average farmer was more likely to lack knowledge in all three areas rather than have complete knowledge. This notwithstanding, most farmers (85%) were willing to pay for training on how to manage aflatoxins, buy aflatoxin-resistant varieties, or treat their seeds against aflatoxins. The existing gaps in farmers’ understanding of the causes, consequences, and control measures of aflatoxins can be addressed by training farmers on how aflatoxins can be transferred from crops to livestock or humans, the role of Asperigillus flavus and A. parasiticus in the infection of grains and subsequent accumulation of aflatoxins, and the relationship between aflatoxins, livestock and human diseases, growth, productivity, and mortality.

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