Ghana Peanut Value Chain Interventions

Using Applied Research and Technology to Minimize Aflatoxin Contamination and Increase Production, Quality and Marketing of Peanut in Ghana


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Visiting scientist conducts research on peanut pathogen at UGA Griffin
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Jordan helping peanut farmers from North Carolina to Ghana
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Through the value chain project, researchers in the U.S. and Ghana work with plant breeders, farmers, processors and others to find and implement improvements that increase yield and quality of peanuts grown in the region, while discouraging aflatoxin contamination.

Improving production with pest-resistant cultivars, adequate soil fertility and plant nutrition, and synchronization of peanut growth with soil moisture can increase yield and quality and minimize aflatoxin contamination.

Adequate and timely drying of peanut minimizes the production of additional aflatoxin as the crop is stored prior to marketing. Effective processing can also reduce aflatoxin prior to purchase and consumption. By determining current practices by farmers, conducting research to mitigate aflatoxin and improve peanut quality, and transferring appropriate technology, researchers can increase productivity, profits, food safety and quality of peanuts.

Research into aflatoxin contamination in Ghana is taking place in nine villages in the northern and central parts of the country (Kpongu, Sillbelle-Sorbelle and Tamale in northern Ghana and Drobonso and Ejura in central Ghana near Kumasi) with 8-10 farmers in each village.

Research is conducted at two institutions associated with the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) and at the Crops Research Institute (CRI) to develop appropriate production and pest-management strategies and to evaluate new germplasm suitable for the region.


Lead Scientist

Dr. David L. Jordan, Professor

More about Jordan

Research Collaborators

CSIR-Crops Research Institute

  • Dr. James Asibuo
  • Dr. Grace Bolfrey-Arku
  • Dr. Awere Ansong Dankyi
  • Dr. Moses Brandford Mochiah
  • Dr. Michael Owusu-Akyaw

CSIR-Savanna Agriculture Research Institute

  • Dr. Mumuni Abudulai
  • Dr. S.S. Buah
  • Dr. Jessie Naab

Heflin and Associates, LLC

  • Mr. Mark Heflin

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

North Carolina State University

University of Connecticut

University for Development Studies

  • Dr. Israel Dzomeku

University of Florida

University of Georgia

  • Dr. Koushik Adhikari
  • Dr. Timothy Brenneman
  • Dr. Jinru Chen
  • Dr. Manjeet Chinnan
  • Dr. Robert Phillips
  • Dr. Jonathan Williams

University of Ghana

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University


Partner Institution

North Carolina State University Logo

Research Location

Ghana

Duration

May 13, 2014 - July 31, 2017

Award No.

AID-ECG-A-00-07-0001

Sub-Award Amount

$1,091,445