NAMULONGE— The government of Uganda working with an alliance of civil society organizations has on Tuesday, March 26 launched a campaign dubbed – The Joint Advocacy Campaign in Aflatoxin Control- to help intensify the fight against aflatoxins in food.
Aflatoxins are mold-produced mycotoxins that can wreak havoc on produce that hasn’t been properly dried. Food crops such as grains, legumes, oil crops, and others can be contaminated at high levels, providing a major health danger to humans and cattle.
According to a previous study, eating foods high in aflatoxin increases the risk of liver cancer and other disorders. High aflatoxin restrictions have also been cited as a significant impediment to Ugandan agricultural exports to the East African area and beyond. Contamination can also result in crop loss, which adds to hunger.
The Joint Advocacy Campaign in Aflatoxin Control will raise awareness of safe food and animal feed handling practices to reduce contamination. The campaign, designed to support locally driven aflatoxin control in Uganda, is implemented by FRA through a grant funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Feed the Future Uganda Institutional and Systems Strengthening Activity.
Ms. Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director of FRA, emphasized the importance of the campaign.
“The country needs to ensure that all actors are very cautious about the risks that aflatoxin contamination brings to health but also to trade,” said Ms. Kirabo. “We are looking at raising civic consciousness and the competency to engage in best practices to reduce and control aflatoxin levels.”
The campaign aims to engage stakeholders along the value chain, including farmers, aggregators, processors, transporters, traders, consumers, and policymakers on aflatoxin control and management. By addressing the root causes of aflatoxin contamination and promoting proper harvesting and storage practices, the campaign aims to safeguard public health and preserve Uganda’s market share within the region.
She told reporters in an interview that the campaign aims to raise awareness and provide training to all stakeholders in the food supply chain, from the farm to the end consumer, on how to handle food safely and avoid contamination.
The campaign is spearheaded by the Food Rights Alliance (FRA); the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF); and the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).
The campaign aims to empower food and feed handlers to reduce aflatoxin contamination. Additional collaborators in the campaign include The Grain Council of Uganda (TGCU), the World Food Programme (WFP), CABI International, the Global Consumers Center, Sasakawa Africa Association, and Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative.
Aflatoxins are poisonous molds found in crops that pose a serious threat to food safety and public health.
Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries in a speech read by Mr. Paul Mwambu, the Commissioner, in charge of Crop Inspection and Certification said aflatoxin-contaminated grains hinder international trade as evidenced by the recent interceptions of Ugandan maize imports with trading partners Kenya and South Sudan.
The Minister reaffirmed the government of Uganda’s dedication to combating aflatoxin contamination.
“We as a ministry are thrilled to be part of this partnership between government, civil society, and private sector aimed at accelerating the reduction of aflatoxins in food and in feed. We ask each of you to continue contributing to raising awareness, implementing best practices, and supporting innovative solutions to combat aflatoxin contamination effectively,” the Minister said.
“Together, let us work towards a safer and more prosperous future. For all Ugandans by eliminating aflatoxins from our food and animal feed.”
A study by Food and Nutrition Solutions, Ltd. at Makerere University linked aflatoxin exposure to an increased risk of liver cancer, stuntedness in livestock and other health disorders, and crop loss, exacerbating hunger in the region. Recent incidents of aflatoxin contamination in food, resulting in Ugandan food exports being blocked due to high aflatoxin presence, highlight the urgency of the issue.
