The Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), a programme under the African Union with focus on ECOWAS states is organising a three day regional conference in Accra to explore strategies to fighting the dangers Aflatoxin poses to people in the sub region.

PACA, an advocacy group, in a statement said, Aflatoxin is a dangerous food toxin found in over 40% of household grains across sub-Saharan Africa and its released by a toxic fungus found in the soil of farms.

Aflatoxins contaminate many Africans dietary staples such as maize, groundnuts, rice and cassava, particularly under certain dry weather conditions; high moisture during harvest, inadequate drying and storage of crops.

Further, Aflatoxins in human food causes acute and chronic health effects ranging from increased diseases susceptibility, growth retardants, cancer and even death from acute poisoning. The diseases severely impact livestock productivity through contaminated feed.

In view of this, the Accra conference will address the impact of Aflatonxin on Agriculture, Trade and health sectors in Africa, as well as outline range of solutions that are being developed for implementation.

The conference, among other things, will develop a common understanding of the information available and steps being taken to control aflatoxin, including the identification of technical, institutional, and policy opportunities to address the Aflatoxin challenge in west African States.

The three day conference which is being attended by experts and farmers as well as civil society organisations is themed "Improving health, trade and food security through regional efforts to mitigate Aflatoxin, contamination.

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