Ongoma, Victor (2013) A review of the effects of climate change on occurrence of aflatoxin and its impacts on food security in semi - arid areas of Kenya. International Journal of Agricultural Science Research, 2 (11). pp. 307-311. ISSN 2327-3321
Preview |
PDF (A review of the effects of climate change on occurrence of aflatoxin and its impacts on food security in semi-arid areas of Kenya)
- Published Version
Download (136kB) | Preview |
Abstract
There are adverse impacts by the changing climate on the agricultural sector; Kenya’s back borne may
exacerbate the challenges of ensuring food safety and security, and reducing poverty in Africa as a
whole. Understanding how climate change scenarios will affect agriculture is essential in ensuring
future food security. In this paper whose objective was to review the potential impact of climate change
on important mycotoxins that contaminate maize in Kenya, it focused on climatic factors: temperature
and relative humidity, which affect fungal infection of crops and mycotoxin production by these fungi.
Aflatoxins are potent mycotoxins that cause immune weakening, cancer and even death. Aflatoxin
contamination causes significant loss for farmers, businessmen, marketers and consumers of varied
susceptible crops. Climate change alters the complex communities of aflatoxin-producing fungi. This
includes changes in space, time and in the quantity of aflatoxin-producers. Generally, if the temperature
increases in cool or temperate climates, the respective countries may become more susceptible to aflatoxins. However, tropical countries may become too inhospitable for conventional fungal growth and mycotoxin production. Although some regions can afford to control the environment of storage facilities to minimize post-harvest problems, this happens at high additional cost.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment |
| Depositing User: | Victor Ongoma |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Apr 2019 23:57 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Apr 2019 23:57 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/11513 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |