A.N. Kaaya
Department of Food Science and Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
W. Kyamuhangire
Department of Food Science and Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
S. Kyamanywa
Department of Crop Science,
Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
ABSTRACT
A survey was conducted in 2003 to establish aflatoxin levels in maize and the associated farmer practices in the three agroecological zones of Uganda. Maize kernels obtained from farmers in the Mid-Altitude (moist) zone had the highest aflatoxin contaminated samples (83%) and mean aflatoxin levels of 9.7 ppb followed by those from the Mid-Altitude (dry) where 70% were contaminated with a mean of 7.7 ppb, while the kernels sampled from the Highland zone had the least contaminated samples (55%) and mean aflatoxin levels of 3.9 ppb. Aflatoxin contamination in maize grain was positively related to leaving maize to dry in the field for more than three weeks, drying maize without husks, drying maize on bare ground, shelling maize by beating, heaping maize on the floor during storage and use of baskets for storage of maize. The practices that negatively impacted on aflatoxin development in maize in the agroecological zones were sorting before storage, storage of maize in shelled form, storage of maize in bags, use of improved granary as storage structures, storage of maize above fireplace and use of synthetic pesticides. Thus, those practices that reduce aflatoxin contamination of maize should be adopted by all farmers in Uganda to reduce the health hazards associated with consumption of contaminated maize grain.
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How to cite this article
A.N. Kaaya, W. Kyamuhangire and S. Kyamanywa, 2006. Factors Affecting Aflatoxin Contamination of Harvested Maize in the Three Agroecological Zones of Uganda. Journal of Applied Sciences, 6: 2401-2407.
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2006.2401.2407
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2006.2401.2407
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2006.2401.2407
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2006.2401.2407
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