木薯是乌干达第二重要的主食作物,容易受到霉菌毒素的污染。这项研究旨在了解当前的农业实践,它们对霉菌毒素发生的潜在影响,以及评估木薯价值链关键参与者之间的霉菌毒素知识,包括农民,批发商,和处理器。数据是通过个人访谈收集的(210),关键线人访谈(34次)和4次焦点小组讨论。调查结果显示,51%的农民直接在裸露的地面上剥皮木薯,导致与可能藏有霉菌毒素产生真菌的土壤直接接触,如曲霉菌切片。在收获后处理期间,51.6%的农民直接在裸露的地面上干燥木薯片。几乎,所有批发商(95.2%)将木薯片包装在当地的麻袋中,并将其放在地面上而不是托盘上。在将木薯片加工成面粉时,14台加工机中只有一台获得了乌干达国家标准局的认证。此外,每180名(1:180)消费者携带木薯进行加工,只有一台加工机可用。50.8%接受采访的木薯消费者承认无论质量如何,都会食用木薯粉,而73%的木薯粉与来自霉菌毒素易感作物的面粉混合,主要是玉米,小米,还有高粱.木薯价值链上的大多数人(96.2%)不了解真菌毒素一词的含义。56%的受访者熟悉黄曲霉毒素这一术语。在知道霉菌毒素的木薯价值链参与者中,82.9%知道减少黄曲霉毒素污染的方法,但只有40.9%的人将这种方法付诸实践。与批发商(33.3%)和加工商(21.4%)相比,更多的农民(47.9%)管理黄曲霉毒素。黄曲霉毒素知识与价值链参与者显著相关(P=0.026)。户主(P=0.004),区域(P=0.033),年龄(P=0.001)和经验(P=0.001)。这项研究强调了乌干达木薯价值链中霉菌毒素污染的关键领域,并强调需要提高价值链参与者尤其是农民之间的知识。
Cassava is the second most important staple food crop for Uganda and is prone to contamination with mycotoxins. This study aimed at understanding the current agricultural practices, their potential influence on mycotoxin occurrence, as well as assessing mycotoxin knowledge among key cassava value chain actors, including farmers, wholesalers, and processors. Data were collected through individual interviews (210), key informant interviews (34), and 4 focus group discussions. The findings revealed that 51% of farmers peeled cassava directly on bare ground, resulting in direct contact with soil that potentially harbors mycotoxin-producing fungi, such as Aspergillus section Flavi. During postharvest handling, 51.6% of farmers dried cassava chips directly on bare ground. Nearly, all (95.2%) of wholesalers packed cassava chips in local gunny bags and placed them on ground instead of pallets. In the processing of cassava chips into flour, only one of the 14 processing machines was certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. Additionally, there was only one processing machine available for every 180 (1:180) consumers bringing their cassava for processing. 50.8% of cassava consumers interviewed admitted to consuming cassava flour regardless of quality, while 73% blended cassava flour with flour from mycotoxin-susceptible crops mainly maize, millet, and sorghum. Most (96.2%) of the people along the cassava value chain did not understand what the term mycotoxins meant. However, 56% of interviewed respondents were familiar with the term
aflatoxins. Of the cassava value chain actors aware of mycotoxins, 82.9% knew of methods for reducing aflatoxin contamination, but only 40.9% were putting such methods into practice. More farmers (47.9%) managed
aflatoxins compared to wholesalers (33.3%) and processors (21.4%). Knowledge on
aflatoxins was significantly associated with value chain actor (P = 0.026), head of household (P = 0.004), region (P = 0.033), age (P = 0.001), and experience (P = 0.001). This study highlights the critical areas of mycotoxin contamination within the cassava value chain in Uganda and underscores the need to improve the knowledge among value chain actors especially farmers.