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Technical Support to Aflatoxin Management and Mitigation in Nigeria - TCP/NIR/3804

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 10

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) Nigeria is a country highly affected by aflatoxins, toxic and carcinogenic substances produced by certain fungi, that are known to cause liver cancer, chronic health effects and even death. Aflatoxins contaminate Nigeria’s staple foods like maize and groundnuts, greatly increasing the potential for human exposure and therefore making it a major health burden in the country. The number of aflatoxin-induced liver cancer cases annually lead to staggering financial losses of up to USD 997 million in Nigeria. Around 4 400 000 million children are stunted in Nigeria, with aflatoxin contributing to this result. This contamination also affects international trade of agricultural commodities, resulting in many export rejections from Nigeria. The control of aflatoxin has been identified as one of the four key nutrition-sensitive cost-beneficial interventions. It has the potential to impact nutrition scale up in Nigeria, as well as to reduce malnutrition and promote populace health. According to the country-led situation analysis and action planning the biggest challenge to the management of aflatoxins in Nigeria lies in a lack of awareness among farmers, food producers, consumers, policymakers and the general public about the causes and consequences of aflatoxin contamination. A lack of set programmes for extension messaging on aflatoxins is another challenge to its management, as are low infrastructural and technological capacities, weak regulatory controls and expertise and low dissemination/uptake of proven control technology.

Language English

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