Agriculture whose growth is constrained by over-reliance on rains and limited use of modern farming techniques, contributes one quarter of economy and employs three quarters of the labour force.
The main reason for the growth was low maize production and other major crops due to inadequate long rains especially in major crop production areas for the 2014/2015, agricultural season.
Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Tanzania with the highest growth potential since the local, regional and global demand for maize increases substantially.
It is the main staple food for Tanzanians and contributes significantly to income for lots of households. A substantial number of women and youth are employed in milling and aggregation activities.
The current report saying almost 20 per cent of maize produced in Tanzania is contaminated by aflatoxins should not be taken lightly. The killer fungus renders the staple unfit for consumption by both humans and animals.
A research conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in seven agricultural zones between 2012 and 2014 has shown that at least 16.2 per cent of the maize exceeded the aflatoxin test limit. Carried out with the support of the Australian government, the research zeroed in the northern, eastern, western and southern highlands zones.
The killer fungi causes soesophageal and liver cancer, and stunting and mental retardation of children. If the government will not take serious measures to allocate more funds for research in the maize crop more people and animals will be killed as a result of the neglect.
Maize is cultivated by 85 per cent of small scale farmers and eaten by 85 per cent of people. The research also shows some of the maize produced in these areas is unsafe for human consumption.
It is therefore the most important staple food in Tanzania that is produced for domestic use. As a result people and animals are in great danger of being affected by aflatoxin due to the use of the staple food.
The government should put more effort in research to protect people from contracting liver and oesophageal cancer, stunting and mental retardation of children and also ensure people and livestock eat uncontaminated maize for their health.
The government should take serious measures on the issue because the fungus is very dangerous to human and animal health.
In the same vein, government should create public awareness, including farmers, on what is aflatoxin, its effects to their health and the businesses they conduct so that they can produce safe maize.
Tanzanians need to understand the extent to which people are aware of aflatoxin contamination in maize so that they can develop comprehensive capacity building to address the problem.
We also call on the government to educate farmers on good agricultural practices so as to increase production and prevent aflatoxin in maize.
We also call on farmers to ensure they dry maize and store it properly to avoid the menace of aflatoxin.
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