Workshop on Cost Effective Aflatoxin Risk Reduction Strategies in Maize Value Chain 26 th to 30 th March ACDI/VOCA Activities under KMDP

Transcription

1 Workshop on Cost Effective Aflatoxin Risk Reduction Strategies in Maize Value Chain 26 th to 30 th March 2009 ACDI/VOCA Activities under KMDP

2 Kenya Maize Development Programme The Kenya Maize Development Programme (KMDP) is one of the main interventions in the maize sub-sector in Kenya. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Instituted under the Strategic Objective 7 of the USAID/Kenya s integrated strategic plan for and reviewed under plan.

3 Implementing partners KMDP is implemented by ACDI/VOCA Kenya in partnership with a consortium of organizations in the maize value chain: Cereal Growers Association (CGA); Farm Input Promotion Services Africa Ltd (FIPS) and Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE) The programme works closely with other development partners including KARI, Tegemeo, EAGC and private sector service providers.

4 Increasing Rural Household Incomes There are four inter-related Intermediate results: IR 7.1 Increased productivity of targeted agricultural subsectors; IR 7.2 Increased agricultural trade; IR 7.3 Increased access to business support services for micro and small holder enterprises; and IR 7.4 Increased effectiveness of small holder organizations to provide business services to their members.

5 Project activity area W N S E KENYA: Key Maize Growing Areras Critical Maize Growing Areas Important Growing Areas Marginal Maize Growing Areas Non Maize Growing Areas Miles Project activity maize producing area (indicated in green) in North Rift, Western Highlands, Central and Southern Rift, South Nyanza and parts of Central Kenya. Maize trade flow (indicated in yellow) to Northern Kenya; Nyanza; Central and Eastern Kenya, North Eastern and coastal region Cross border trade into Kenya from Uganda and Tanzania and out of Kenya to Sudan and Tanzania

6 Results Reaching out to over 370,000 farmers Earnings among the farmers amounting to $133 million. Over 100,000 farmers trained in Farming as a Business. Productivity per unit area increased from 8 bags to over 24 bags per acre with a number of farmers achieving more than 32 bags.. Cost of production reduced from Kshs 810 per acre to Kshs 585 in Trans Nzoia and 562 in Lugari with average at Kshs 621 Over 82 percent of project farmers have surplus maize to sell Proportion of farmers selling maize at farm gate reduced by 19 percent.

7 Working under the Intermediate results Work on mycotoxins has been an integral part of the IR s fulfillment mandate The work starts at the productivity level by ensuring Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and resultant healthy plants that maximize on yields. The marketing strategy is to ensure quality and wholesome grains are availed to the market for an assured market outlet.

8 Why interest in mycotoxins in grains Maize and maize products remain the food of choice to over 85 percent of Kenyans whose per capita daily consumption is 0.4 kg. Maize is also a major component of livestock and poultry feeds. Contamination of maize with mycotoxins thus present a devastating risk to health through primary and secondary exposure. Contamination is an impediment to expansion of grain trade.

9 Increased productivity The approach as been to use field demonstration plots and field days in addition to group training sessions. Over 40,000 small improved maize production learning plots (SiMPLe) set up in Focus on adoption of improved certified seeds best suited to the agro eco-zones. Focus on increased usage of planting and top dressing fertilizers. Focus on best management agronomic practices.

10 Expected results on mycotoxins control Adoption of certified varieties with characteristics that minimize post harvest losses. 96 percent of project farmers use certified seeds and planting fertilizers. Increased yields ensure enough food for the family and surplus for trade. Reduced temptation to consume suspect grains.

11 Increased trade To ensure increased trade focus as been on group bulking and joint sales. Quality assurance at farm level through drying, proper storage, cleaning and grading. Hazard control points at all levels of handling along the supply chain Moisture management at all levels of the supply value chain

12 Specific actions at the farmer level Post harvest handling and quality assurance training with emphasis on moisture management and quality control assurance. Introduction to basic business ethics and quality standards. Use of innovative storage facilities such as hermetic bags Good store management and pest control during storage at the farm level Use of designated EAGC warehouses for better quality and store management.

13 At the farmer group level Farmer groups consolidate the maize and market jointly, they also buy inputs in bulk. Trained graders to manage the group stores. Moisture meters provided to the groups Over 1043 farmers trained on Mycotoxins last two years.

14 At the trader level Training in Business ethics Training in grading and quality parameters Training in Mycotoxins Hazard critical control points Introduced to legal issues relating to grain trade. Moved from commission brokers to investment in storage and handling facilities. A few of these traders providing moisture checking, weighing and grading services. A couple of the traders working under contract arrangement with national millers

15 At the processor level Organized Posho millers into associations in Eldoret, Thika and Nairobi/Rongai. Training in business ethics and legal implications. Practical training in Hazard critical control points Value adding in processing All resulting to upgrading of a number of the mills and diversification into animal fees and value added fortified products.

16 At extension service level Regular training of extension officers together with their farmers and traders in eastern Kenya; over 234 trained in the last two years. Facilitated post harvest workshop for Rift Valley Province extension officers Participated in FAO sponsored workshop in Kitui to develop mycotoxins training materials. Participated in the DFID/ CDC workshop on Mycotoxins in 2005

17 Designated warehouses EAGC identified designated warehouses where farmers deposit grain for safe custody under WRS. This was successful in 2008 when over 12,000 bags were deposited. In 2009 the environment was not conducive due to government interference in marketing EAGC mandate is to promote structured grain marketing and trade in the eastern Africa region EAGC has been involved in regional harmonization of standards and specifications, and works closely with COMESA. EAGC has trained a group of arbitrators to mitigate disputes in grain trade. EAGC has facilitated regional grain summits and national food security and assessment forums. EAGC works closely with KMDP to create awareness among farmers on the merits of GWRS.

18 Issues of Concern Epidemiological surveys confirm exposure of consumers to adverse effects of mycotoxins. Acute afflatoxicosis reported in 1981, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, mainly in eastern Kenya. Aflatoxin in animal feeds first identified in Kenya in Since then several cases of death among poultry, ducks, and dogs recorded. During the 2004/5 incidence, aflatoxin levels of up to 46,400 ppb detected (national aflatoxin dissemination workshop 2005) A total of 109 out of 503 samples (21.7%) had samples above 20 ppb Aflatoxin contamination endemic in eastern Kenya while other mycotoxins (fumonisin, Zearalenone and Deoxynevalenol) are evident in the main maize producing areas. The contamination cases in eastern Kenya found to be home grown crop, implying poor post harvest handling and storage.

19 ACDI/VOCA and other Organizations involvement Working with KARI and the university of Nairobi under KAPP project to identify and market field kits for testing mycotoxins. The region with the most acute cases of aflatoxin occurrence is Asal areas especially in eastern Kenya; hence need for Title 11(CRS) organizations to be involved and the need to find the underlying reasons. Need to establish if there is linkage between common cancer related occurrences and mycotoxins in other maize producing areas of the country. The Director of Medical Services Dr. Kimani recently observed that there are over 82,000 new cases of cancer every year mainly due to dietary lifestyles among other causes. Need for clear policy on food quality assurance and regular inspectorate services to ensure this is observed.

20 Thank you Let there be bountiful harvest of quality and wholesome grain within our borders.