Arooj Zulfiqar

Introducing innovative solutions to tackle aflatoxin contamination in the agricultural sector is a crucial step towards ensuring food safety and security in Pakistan. “The presence of aflatoxins not only poses a threat to the health of consumers but also causes significant economic losses for farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole. By adopting advanced technologies such as remote sensing and biocontrol agents, we can effectively monitor crops and suppress the growth of aflatoxin-producing molds,” said Nowsherwan, a scientific officer at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). “Deployment of advanced crop monitoring systems equipped with remote sensing technology enables real-time surveillance of crop health and early detection of potential aflatoxin outbreaks, empowering farmers to take proactive measures to mitigate risks,” he said. “Chilli is the crop most affected by aflatoxins.

In recent years, Pakistan's production of chilli has decreased and the main cause of the decline in demand for Pakistani chilli on the global market is high levels of aflatoxin and fungal and bacterial activity.” He said Pakistan was one of the top 10 producers and exporters of chilli in the world. “But overtime, its output and exports have decreased. It is possible to control such issues sustainably by using native biocontrol agents that do not degrade the quality of crop.” Talking to WealthPK, Dr Zakria, another scientific officer at NARC, said aflatoxin was a secondary metabolite produced by aspergillus flavus, especially during hot, humid conditions. “Directly or indirectly, these toxins enter our food chain through the consumption of contaminated food. As well as causing problems in livestock, it also causes problems in humans.” 

He said maize was the fourth most important crop in Pakistan, but its production had declined in recent years due to high levels of aflatoxins, leading to financial losses for farmers. “One of the primary reasons for this financial loss is the lack of awareness about aflatoxin and the control measures. He said the farmers didn’t have access to the latest technology. “In addition, international trading standards do not allow the export of food commodities, like maize, from Pakistan that have aflatoxin that exceed the limits. There is an adverse effect of these restrictions on regional trade and is resulting in economic implications for the countries affected by them.” He said robust detection and monitoring systems were necessary to protect Pakistan's agriculture from aflatoxin contamination.

"Aflatoxins are mycotoxins, and application of aflatoxin controls is increasing Pakistan’s agricultural exports," said Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik, caretaker Minister for National Food Security and Research, during a discussion on regulatory harmonisation in Pakistan for Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and Biopesticides. USAID, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Centre of Agriculture and Bio-Science International and the United States Department of Agriculture organised the event. On the occasion, PARC Chairman Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali stressed the importance of aflatoxin controls to boost the country's exports and ensure public health protection. He underscored the ongoing efforts of PARC scientists in developing biological control methods for aflatoxin in various crops such as chillies, maize, rice and groundnuts.

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