There are numerous factors working against the nation’s agricultural exports potential, hence the move by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), to educate Nigerians on the danger of mycotoxins in food production that is one of the major obstacles to the country’s agricultural export opportunities, JOHN OBA, writes
A Director in the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. Anthony Negedu has stated that as a result of strict mycotoxin regulation in the international markets, African countries including Nigeria will have the export of their nuts, fruit and cereals reduced by 64% annually. Quoting the World Bank estimate, he said this will on average, cost these countries over $750 million in export revenue and thus, depriving African economies of the much needed foreign exchange and job creation.
Th is is even as the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) in collaboration with the Embassy of the Peoples’ Republic of China organised an “Awareness Creation workshop for market men and women on mycotoxin contamination in Agricultural and Food Commodities for farmers from Kano, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Focusing on the implications of exposure of humans to mycotoxins through consumption of mycotoxin contaminated foods, inhalation of fungal spores and mycelial fragments carrying the toxins, as well as through skin contact, Negedu said humans and animals exposed to mycotoxins will become sick depending on the amount and duration of exposure.
“Th e eff ects of this exposure include cancers, liver cirrhosis, intestinal dysfunction, immune suppression and increased susceptibility to some infectious diseases, marasmus, kwashiorkor, stunting and underweight in children, bleeding from the lungs, pulmonary oedema, incoordination, changing reproductive cycles and infertility. According to world Development Report (1993), diseases caused by mycotoxin exposure lead to the reduction in average life span of humans,” he said He said worldwide, about 2.5 billion people has been chronically exposed to afl atoxins in their diets while 4.5 billion people are at risk of afl atoxin exposure.
“Thus, food quality and safety issues resulting from mycotoxin contamination present a serious obstacle to improving nutrition, enhancing agricultural productivity and linking smallholder farmers to markets,” he addd. The NAQS Coordinating Director, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, who stood in for the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the objectives of the workshop were to educate, inform and enlighten participants on the occurrence and prevalence of mycotoxins in agricultural and food commodities; health and economic impacts of exposure to mycotoxins; prevention and control of mycotoxin contamination in food and feed stuffs and environment; the ubiquitous nature of fungi and occupational exposure to mycotoxins and inappropriate postharvest practices often employed by actors in agriculture and food value chains.
Isegbe stated further emphasized the role of agriculture and food commodities in the economic and industrial growth and the wellbeing of citizens and more importantly, the signifi cant roles of market men and women as the target groups of the workshop. He therefore stressed the need for critical attention to be given to any issue that has negative impact on agriculture, food and health, such as mycotoxin contamination in agriculture and food value chains. He added that mycotoxins have negative impact on the health of consumers which include all the market men and women and other actors in food value chain. Also addressing the participants, Ambassador of the Peoples’ Republic of China to Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Zhou Pingjian, who was represented by the Charge d’ Aff aires of Embassy of China, Mr. Lin Jing, said food security was not only about sustained supply of food for people, but also guaranteeing nutritious and safe food for the people. In view of this, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China was pleased to collaborate with Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service to educate stakeholders and raise awareness on mycotoxin contamination in Agricultural and food commodities. He added that, as members of Diplomatic corps in Nigeria, they are direct benefi ciaries of the workshop and other eff ective eff orts and measures taken by the Nigerian government to ensure safe food and consequently appreciated the Nigerian Government on behalf of the government of the Peoples’ Republic of China. Mr. Lin recalled that very recently, the Belt and Road Forum for International cooperation was successfully concluded in Beijing, China which would bring much more opportunities for cooperation between Nigeria and China in areas of agriculture. Furthermore, he stated that the newlylaunched Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) for achieving agriculture and food security has an unprecedented opportunity for synergy between China and Nigeria for mutual benefi ts and progress. In short, according to him, guaranteed safe and nutritious food for every consumer top’s the agenda of Chinese Government, thus, President Xi Jinping of China forever urged that the most stringent food safety standards be imposed and ensure compliance in the food safety control system, while the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang pledged “Zero tolerance for food safety violations. In addition, food is essential for human survival and the safety of food impacts on both the people’s livelihoods and public confi dence in government. He informed participants that China spares no eff orts to curb any violation of food safety through legislation, supervision, technologies among others. “As Nigeria’s strategic partner, China stands ready to share its experience in food safety with Nigeria and ready to provide financial and technical support to assist Nigeria to achieve agricultural transformation and food security,” he said. Speaking on a paper titled “Open Practices in Nigerian Markets by Market men and women”, an NAQS director, Dr. Maimuna A. Habib, said harmful practices and inappropriate practices by markets men and women such as Washing oranges, mangoes and other fruits and vegetables with detergents for the simple reason of cleaning the commodities; using carbide to hasten the ripening of fruits such as banana and plantain; preserving beans and other commodities with dichlorvos and other synthetic chemicals at unacceptable levels should be avoided. She went further to clearly explained the risks associated with such practices and the need to stop and embrace best practices for the common benefi ts of the sellers and consumers while giving them necessary steps to prevent spoilage of their commodities in stores and open markets. The risks associated with the use of chemicals in the preservation of commodities were highlighted and the health and economic benefi ts of good post-harvest practices were elaborated. Th e implications of such practices were given as illnesses which may be acute or chronic, market access restrictions and poor image of the country among others. Th e use of sodium hypochlorite, Bi-carbonates of soda to clean up environment for sanitary and phyto-sanitary purposes was also emphasized. A staff of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Mr. Alike Peter, also revealed that eff ects of exposure of livestock and poultry to mycotoxins. According to him, mycotoxins have been documented to induce several health eff ects in livestock and poultry, some which according to him include: reduction in productivity, decrease in milk quantity, birth defects, leucoencephalomalacia in horses, pulmonary oedema in pigs, embryonic toxicity, teratogenisis in shrimps, craniofacial enzema in sheep, damage to liver, kidney and other organs, abortions, weakened defenses against diseases, slow growth rate, infertility, reduced egg size and quantity, reduced egg shell thickness and reduced vitamins in eggs. He emphasised that any contaminated commodity that is unfi t for humans is unfi t for animals as they will end up as meat, eggs, and milk for human beings.