ICRISAT IPM project 09: Safer and better groundnut production for southern India

Duration: 1 year (2005 –2006)

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to spread awareness about aflatoxins and associated economic and health risks to various groups in groundnut-based production systems in Southern India, and development and dissemination of low-cost aflatoxin management technologies.

Background/description: Aflatoxin contamination is widespread in groundnut-based food and feed chain in Andhra Pradesh, India. Farmers, traders and consumers are not aware of the risks associated with aflatoxin contamination in food and feeds. Low-cost technologies that can reduce aflatoxin contamination at source have been developed. This involved pre-harvest control through cultivation of aflatoxin resistant groundnut cultivars, and post-harvest control by improved post-harvest processing of groundnut crop. In addition, an integrated crop management package was developed by combining cultural practices and use of inorganic, organic and biocontrol agents, to increase groundnut productivity, and to reduce aflatoxin contamination. These methods need to be implemented through via farmer-participatory approach in groundnut-growing regions in Andhra Pradesh state. Awareness campaigns on health and economic risks associated with aflatoxin contamination will be conducted, and new technologies that mitigate contamination will be promoted among the stakeholders.

Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Semi-Arid zones in India.

Expected outputs: a) Sustainable participatory processes to test and promote aflatoxin-free production of groundnut in Andhra Pradesh developed b) Build networks and promote awareness of aflatoxin, and c) Influence policies to produce aflatoxin-free groundnut and its products in southern India.

Potential impact and beneficiaries: Primary beneficiaries are small-scale farmers, who will have an increased access to aflatoxin resistant/improved groundnut cultivars via participatory variety selection. Access to improved cultivars will have long-term benefits for human health. This will also contribute to improved livelihoods for the farm families. Increased awareness of aflatoxin as a health issue will contribute to creation of a demand for aflatoxin-free produce. Beneficiaries will include groundnut exporters, poultry and dairy industries, and rural and urban consumers.

Partners: a) International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India; b) University of Reading (UoR), England; c) Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), India; d) Society for Transformation Agricultural and Alternatives in Development (STAAD), India; e) Rural Development Trust (RDT), India; f) Sahajeevan, India.

Development investor(s): The Crop Protection Programme of the Department for International Development, United Kingdom.

ICRISAT contact person(s)/principal investigator(s): Farid Waliyar f.waliyar@cgiar.org; website http://www.icrisat.org; http://www.aflatoxin.info