Speakers For Using Modern Technology To Eliminate Aflatoxin From Crops

Speakers in an event on 'Food Safety' expressing reservation over food security and purification in the country urged to use modern technology to target and eliminate a toxic fungus Aflatoxin from the crops.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2018 ) :Speakers in an event on 'Food Safety' expressing reservation over food security and purification in the country urged to use modern technology to target and eliminate a toxic fungus Aflatoxin from the crops.

Representatives from the U.S Department of agriculture (USDA), Refhan Maize Products, Pakistan Agriculture research Council (PARC), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International, and World Food Programme participated in the event.

The toxic fungus 'aflatoxin' which occurs in crops including red chili, nuts and vegetables that cause liver cancer and stunting growth in children need efforts to grow safer vegetables, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Muhammad Yousuf Zafar said.

"Safer Food through Aflatoxin control Programme" was jointly organized by United State Embassy in Islamabad and Rafhan Maize Products Co Ltd here.

Yousuf Zafar said the PARC has honor to establish first lab in the country for identification and detection of different fungus including 'Aflatoxin' to protect the people's health and check quality and standards of exports.

He said his institution is conducting research on all sphere and all component on food including plant disease, production and modern technology for enhancing the per acre yield of seeds in the country.

Dr Yousuf Zafar said Pakistan is surplus in food including wheat, rice and sugar but "We are facing lack of nutrient food, which is cause of malnutrition and stunting in the country.

"We are implementing the consumer rights act 1999 through Food Security Agency (FSA) for protecting the consumer's rights in the country," he added.

Deputy Chief of the US Mission in Pakistan John Hoover congratulated the partners working on this effort and highlighting the long history of US Pakistani cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Commenting on the impact that fighting aflotoxin will have, Hoover said it will affect the health and job prospects of thousand of Pakistani and improve the economic viability of Pakistan I commodities for exports.

Rafhan Maize Products Chief executive Usman Qayyum said Rafhan have long history on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSP) and "We are committed to provide quality food products to the people since 1975".

We see this as national and social responsibility to save the life of the people. He said maize was the fifth largest crop in the country, and we support farmers to further increase the production of the crop.