en

Impact of Aflatoxin Contamination on Groundnut Exports in Malawi Babu, S.C; Subrahmanyam, P; Chiyembekeza, A.J & Ng'Ongola, D Abstract Aflatoxin contamination is a serious quality problem at various stages of groundnut production, from crop growth to transportation. This paper presents an economic analysis of the impact of aflatoxin contamination on groundnut exports and trade balance in Malawi. Export losses due to aflatoxins ranged from MK 0.16 million (=US $0.057 million) in 1988/89 to MK 1.58 million (= US $ 0.845 million) in 1985/86 with a mean of MK 0.943 million (US $ 0.586 million). The export losses in groundnut as a percentage of the trade balance ranged from 0.01% in 1988/89 to 1.77% in 1981/82. Policy implications that would minimize aflatoxin contamination in groundnut are derived based on the results of the analysis. Keywords Aspergillus flavus, economic analysis, peanut, seed quality, trade balance

© Copyright 1994 - African Crop Science Society