Stemming Aflatoxin pre- and post-harvest waste in the groundnut value chain

31 October 2014. Lilongwe. Launch of the CRF project “Stemming Aflatoxin pre- and post-harvest waste in the groundnut value chain (GnVC)”.

The specific objectives of the project are:

• To conduct applied research and identify, further validate and disseminate successful Aflatoxin contamination reduction practices and technologies adapted to specific socio-economic and socio-cultural contexts benefitting smallholder farmers. 
• To reach scale and sustainability in the adoption of good Aflatoxin contamination reduction practices and technologies through innovative approaches in farmer-led Rural Advisory Services (RAS), capacity-building and effective knowledge management. 
• To address policy constraints related to Aflatoxin contamination reduction issues through increased awareness of policy makers and through fostering of effective mechanisms for learning and sharing of experiences amongst Actors. 

“In the pas projects were initiated by research institutions without the involvement of users. The originality of PAEPARD II is that it promotes proposals that are based on the need of (end) users”. Dr Jean-Pierre Busogoro, the Programme Manager Rural Development and Food Security Section in the EU delegation based Lilongwe, Malawi.

  Consortium Partners

• National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM) 
• Eastern Province Farmers’ Cooperatives (EPFC) Limited. 
• Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) 
• Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) 
• Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich 
• Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) 
• Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) 
• Agricultural Consultative Forum (ACF) 

Research questions

During the 3 years-period of the implementation of the project, partners will address the following questions:

1. What are the promising practices and technologies that relates to production, income and gender pathways that has a potential to reduce Aflatoxin contamination in the GnVC? 
2. What are the best ways to compile, disseminate and scale up good practice/ promising technology options for reducing pre- and post-harvest losses due to Aflatoxin contamination? 
3. What are and how can appropriate Aflatoxin regulatory frameworks and conducive policies on reducing pre- and post-harvest losses in GnVC at national and regional levels be advocated?