Managing aflatoxin in smallholder groundnut production in Southern Africa: Paired comparison of the windrow and Mandela cock techniques

Timely drying of groundnuts is important after harvest. In most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, moisture content reduction is practically achieved by solar drying. In particular, the groundnuts are traditionally cured in the field using the inverted windrow drying technique. Recently, the Mandela cock technique, a ventilated stack of groundnut plants with a chimney at the center, has been introduced in the southern Africa region with the aim of reducing moisture content and the risk of aflatoxin contamination. An on-farm study was conducted in Malawi to compare the effectiveness of the Mandela cock and Windrow drying techniques with respect to aflatoxin control. For two consecutive years, farmers (2016, n = 29; 2017; n = 26) were recruited to test each of the two drying techniques. A mixed-design ANOVA showed that the Mandela cock groundnut drying technique led to sig- nificantly (p < 0.001) higher aflatoxin levels in groundnut seed compared to the traditional inverted windrow drying (5.7 μg/kg, geometric mean vs 2.5 μg/kg in 2016 and 37.6 μg/kg vs 8.4 μg/kg in 2017). The present findings clearly demonstrate the need for regulation and technology validation if farmers and consumers are to benefit

Climate-smart community seed banks conserve and share essential farm biodiversity resources

Community seed banks offer a sustainable way to improve access to high-value seeds, creating viable community-based businesses and maintaining biodiversity. In addition, community seed banks contribute to farmer adaptation. They also indirectly enhance household income diversification, community seed systems, and gender outcomes at community level

Des banques de semences communautaires intelligentes face au climat essentielles pour la biodiversité

Les banques de semences communautaires permettent d'améliorer de manière durable l'accès à des semences à valeur élevée, en créant des entreprises communautaires viables et en protégeant la biodiversité. De plus, ces banques contribuent à l'adaptation des agriculteurs. Elles participent en outre indirectement à la diversification des revenus des ménages, aux systèmes de semences communautaires et à l'égalité des femmes et des hommes au niveau des communautés