Malawi groundnuts rejected in EU markets

Experts have warned that it will be impossible for groundnuts grown in Malawi to sell in European Union markets unless the country improves on reducing levels of poison called aflatoxin that is found in the ground nuts.

Scientific officer for Icrisat at Chitedze Research Centre in Lilongwe, Harry Msere, confirmed in an exclusive interview.

He said the high poison levels in the country’s groundnuts are as a result of poor knowledge in handling the crop from the field to post harvest handling.

“Aflatoxin is an emerging issue. It concerns issues of health and also trade. We are thinking of up-scaling information sharing so that it reaches out to different stakeholders involved in groundnuts,” said Msere.

Isaac Gokah, a trade adviser at Ministry of Industry and Trade, said there is information indicating that consignments of groundnuts from Malawi were sent back at EU and American borders because of poison levels beyond the required four parts per billion (ppb).

“Groundnuts from Malawi can go up to 2 000 ppb. This is serious and studies have shown that Malawi will be losing up to K2 billion in potential revenue that would have been earned from the international markets,” he said.

He added that Malawi sends its groundnuts to South Africa because its standards are 10 ppb unlike the 4 ppb as demanded by the EU.

A medical doctor Judith Mkwaila of Bwaila Hospital said the hospital has been receiving patients suffering from the groundnut related poison.

She said it leads to liver, lung, blood disorders among other diseases.

Groundnuts is targeted as one of the export crops to be promoted as the country is diversifying its agricultural export base.