Overview

Aflatoxin contamination of groundnut production in West Africa poses severe health problems for the populations of the region and is becoming an increasingly important constraint to economic growth due to the severe limits it imposes on international trade. It is known that women of the region are central to the production, postharvest, consumption, marketing and processing systems that may hold the key to the integrated control of aflatoxin contamination. However, there is a dearth of information about women’s knowledge, attitudes, practices, and constraints in relation to dealing with the aflatoxin menace at each stage in the groundnut production-consumption channel. Even less is known about the potential to mobilize women in their roles as groundnut producers/processors/marketers and primary family caregivers to act to control aflatoxin contamination. This research will identify and address these issues resulting in greater understanding and more promising aflatoxin prevention and control strategies for the region.