By Prossy Nandudu
The National Agriculture Research Organization has developed a solution that can prevent formation of aflatoxins in grains especially maize.
The Solution, called Aflasafe, is a product that reduces aflatoxin contamination by more than 80%. It is applied in the soil before harvest. It will be supported by trainings with emphasis on the prevention and management of aflatoxins.
The research on Aflasafe was revealed in statement from the Director General of NARO, Dr Ambrose Agona, on Monday.
Currently, testing and validation of the product has been going on in farmer’s fields to generate information that will be used to register and approve the solution in Uganda, before it can be commercialized.
According to Agona, the exercise that kicked off in 2020 is being conducted by NARO in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Results from sorghum, maize and ground nuts indicate an 85% reduction in aflatoxin levels.