Description

Abstract: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important source of protein and fat in Ghana and other developing countries. However, peanut is often contaminated with aflatoxin because of poor storage conditions. One possible approach to minimizing human consumption of aflatoxin is to sort and remove contaminated nuts at various stages of marketing. Logistic regression models were used to investigate factors influencing market participants’ decision to sort peanut before processing and consumption. Results show that farmers’ decision to sort peanut before consumption was influenced by gender, education, age, number of dependents assisting, knowledge of health problems associated with consuming aflatoxin contaminated peanut, total revenue per hectare of peanut, and the form in which the peanut is consumed. Livestock owners’ decision to sort before consumption was influenced by education and the form in which the peanut is consumed. The level of education of consumers, and the form in which the peanut is consumed influenced consumers’ decision to sort peanut. Farmers’ decision to sort peanut before processing into paste was influenced by the number of dependents assisting in household labor activities, the revenue from peanut and the form in which the peanut is consumed. The form in which the peanut is consumed and knowledge of the health effects of aflatoxin influenced livestock owner’s, retailer’s, and consumer’s decision to sort peanut before processing into paste. Processors’ decision to sort before conversion into paste was influenced by education, knowledge of the reasons for sorting and the form in which peanut is consumed.