2023/12/29 by Ephrem Guchi, Abdella Ibrahim
#FOS: Biological sciences
paper · doi:10.20372/dijbar41582.v5i2.2023
Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus species restrict wheat production. The study was aimed to assess stakeholders’ awareness and knowledge about aflatoxin contamination of wheat flour and its associated problems. The study was conducted in the Afar region northeastern Ethiopia. Primary data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 90 purposively selected stakeholders’. The result revealed that 57.5% of respondents, i.e., 83.7% of traders, 27.2% of supporters, and 61.7% of consumers, were unaware of aflatoxin and its consequences. Moreover, 96.7% of traders responded that knowledge of long-term exposure to fungi and aflatoxin could not be as harmful to health. Marriage, educational level, and household income were the main factors significantly (χ2 = 13.461, χ2 = 14.217 and χ2 = 13.750, p ≤ 0.05) associated with knowledge about fungi and aflatoxin contamination in wheat flour. In conclusion, there is low stakeholders awareness and knowledge about aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin contamination in wheat flour. It is necessary to conduct concerted campaigns to create awareness among traders about aflatoxin contamination and its associated problems.