By Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, Feb 07 (INP-WealthPK): Pakistan fails to fully tap its potential in exports of maize and wheat grain and other food items because of a higher level of aflatoxins on them than permitted under the international trading standards. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus cause aflatoxins in food crops such as maize, ground nuts, chillies, nuts, spices, rice, figs, beans, dried foods, crude vegetable oils etc, leading to discolouring and wilting in crops. This type of fungus creates serious health problems in humans and livestock as this contaminates crops. The disease can even erode a country’s ability to trade in food crops (in raw or processed forms). Biological control that uses native bio-control agents is the only approach to handle such fungal diseases. Pakistan’s warm and humid climatic conditions are conducive to development of aspergillus flavus, causing secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins. High levels of aflatoxins (mostly at 20ppb; countries have different permissible levels according to climatic conditions) cause serious health issues like liver cancer, stunted growth, illness outbreaks and even fatalities at some time. Aflatoxins cause deleterious effects on animals’ body structure and reduce milk production, and inhaling problems to humans because of dust generated during the handling and processing of contaminated crops and animal feed. Last year, a research was conducted in Pakistan to find a cure to this disease. The National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC), in collaboration with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Rafhan Maize Products Co. Ltd, Pakistan conducted an extensive experimental from January to September 2021 to help produce a drug to protect crops, especially maize, from aflatoxins. As a result of the research, a biologically-controlled native drug was produced with the name of AflaPak. However, the product is under slow registration process. Dr Atif Jamal, principal scientific officer at the Crop Disease Research Institute in NARC, told WealthPK that the first-ever bio-pesticide for aflatoxin control named AflaPak has been successfully introduced in Pakistan with the combined efforts of the NARC, USDA, CABI and Rafhan Maize Products. He said the medicine is only for maize. “To find aflatoxin remedy for other crops, an active and effective research is needed for sustainable agricultural growth.” Dr Jamal said hermetic bags are also useful for controlling moisture to some extent. He suggested it is critical that yields are properly dried before being stored or packaged. “Different factors like climatic conditions, soil quality, and unhealthy water are possible reasons causing fungal diseases. There is a dire need to explore broad-spectrum anti-fungal products for sustainable crop production in Pakistan.” Talking to WealthPK, production manager of Rafhan Maize Products, Dr Khalid said being one of the largest corn products company in Pakistan, a large network of farmers is attached with Rafhan. “Due to this reason NARC, USDA and CABI considered it important to make Rafhan an active research partner to produce such a medicine that effectively protects maize from aflatoxin.” He said a vast network of farmers attached with Rafhan fully coordinated with the research bodies to carry out the experimental process to develop a native biological fungicide. “After the series of experiments, agriculture scientists successfully developed a fungicide suitable to the local environment called AflaPak. The medicine is still under the registration process and is expected to be available in market soon”. Aqeel Tabassum, a technical sales officer at Syngenta Pakistan Limited, told WealthPK that aflatoxins can be controlled by proper fungicidal sprays. “Though biologically-controlled fungicides are the need of the hour to cure such a disease, post-harvest care is also an important factor. Farmers must dry the crop under the full sun till it becomes fully crisp as any retaining moisture can cause multiple moulds which contaminate the crop. Well-dried warehouses, moisture-proof storage bags and a well-functioning ventilation system also play an important role in securing the crop.” Khizar Suhail, digital marketing executive at Haji Sons International, in an interview with WealthPK, said the company uses special imported hermetic bags to preserve dried crops and food items. “These bags are manufactured with non-recycled plastic with special chemical coatings in the Philippines. These bags are available both in zip and tie or cable locks. They prevent the stored material from moisture and air contamination as well. If handled carefully, they can be used many times.” Suhail stressed that it is important to vacuum air completely before zipping or locking the bag. Air can be vacuumed by pressuring or sucking the air from inside. “Hermetic bags are available from one kilogramme to 90 kilogrammes capacity. Prices of multiple capacities range from Rs80 to Rs600.” He said before saving the product in these bags, it is important to maintain the moisture level; recommended level for maize is at least 13%, for chillies it is 10-12%, for wheat it is below 14%. “By maintaining the recommended moisture level, crop harvest or dried fruit items can be saved for long time with appropriate colour and aroma.”