$1.4Millon to be paid as incentive for maize farmers using AFLASAFE in Nigeria - IITA

The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA),recently said that the total sum of $1.4 million (over N400, 000, 000) will be paid as incentive to Nigerian maize farmers using Aflasafe in 2018.

An official of the agricultural institute, Dr. Debo Akande, disclosed this during his presentation at the Year 5 Implementer Induction and Training for farmers using Aflasafe to reduce the rate of aflatoxins of their crops,held at  IITA's conference centre, Ibadan.

Dr Akande who disclosed that the number of maize farmers using the product in the country increased from 1,015 in year 2013 to 26, 063 in 2018 added that Aflasafe has been contributing to the economic growth of Nigeria in the last five years.

According to him" The total sum of $674, 355 was paid as incentive to farmers making use of Aflasafe last year, as part of measures to encourage  the use of the product to ensure "safer crops, improved income and better health among Nigerians".

Also Alejandro Ortega-Beltran, an IITA official,bustressed that proper use of Aflasafe has helped in the  reduction of aflatoxin in maize planted in Nigeria and other African countries.

In his presentation, Ortega-Beltran maintained Aflatoxins are highly toxic metabolites common in maize, and there is history of aflatoxicosis in Africa.

He said the proper use of Aflasafe by maize farmers helps in improving health and nutrition of people, especially women and children; and increased livestock productivity and profitability.

Speaking with one of the maize farmers, Femi Osunraji disclosed  that apart from using Aflasafe to reduce the rate of aflatoxins of their crops, the proper use of it also helps increasing the quality of harvest.