Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39615021›Full record

ArticleMycotoxin research2025

Aflatoxin awareness and preventive agricultural practices are key to adoption of biocontrol among maize smallholder farmers in Tanzania.

Sambwe Fundikira, Rashid Suleiman, Sarah De Saeger, Marthe De Boevre, Martin Kimanya

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Mycotoxin research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sambwe FundikiraDepartment of Food Science and Agro-Processing, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3006, Morogoro, Tanzania. Sambwe.fundikira@sua.ac.tz.
Rashid SuleimanDepartment of Food Science and Agro-Processing, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3006, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Sarah De SaegerCentre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Marthe De BoevreCentre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Martin KimanyaSchool of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.

Funding

Universiteit Gent 01W01421
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species that infect staple foods like maize causing threat to public health and economic impacts. The use of atoxigenic Aspergillus species is considered one of the promising technologies to prevent aflatoxin contamination in maize. Tanzania approved the use of aflatoxin biocontrol (Aflasafe®) in 2018 and introduced it to eight districts. Adoption and effectiveness of this technology depend on many factors including application of pre- and post-harvest practices. There is scant information on awareness of biocontrol and factors which influence the adoption and effectiveness of this technology. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tanzania to assess awareness and identify factors influencing adoption of the technology. Data was collected from 334 smallholder farmers in Kiteto and Chemba districts and analyzed using SPSS version 20; p-values < 0.05 using a two-tailed test were considered statistically significant. Results indicated 95.4% are not aware and that only 2.7% of the farmers had used biocontrol technology. The use of biocontrol was significantly associated with high income level (p = 0.001) and exposure to print media (p = 0.03) and radio (p = 0.008). The use of hybrid seed (p = 0.01), grazing (p = 0.017), and rotation of crops on yearly basis (p = 0.024) were also significantly associated with the use of biocontrol. Income limits the use of biocontrol, requiring government subsidies for Aflasafe and a premium market for aflatoxin-free maize. Aflatoxin awareness and sensitization on adherence to good pre-harvest practices should be emphasized to enhance adoption of the technology.

Indexed as

AflatoxinsAgricultureFarmersFood ContaminationHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeZea maysAdultAspergillusCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTanzaniaAflatoxinsAflasafeAflatoxinsAtoxigenic Aspergillus speciesHybrid seedsPre-harvest

Identifiers

PMID39615021

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.