Abuja — Nigerian farmers participating in a trial program to test the effectiveness of Aflassfe, a biocntrol chemical product developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) say grain quality after application of the product has improved.

According to statement made available to Daily Trust by the Corporate Communication Officer West Africa Godwin Atser, the improvement signals prospects of a significant drop in aflatoxins on the grains.

"There has been an improvement in grain quality after the application of Aflasafe, the maize cobs are neater," says Christie Kpatuwak, a maize farmer in Kaduna State who is participating in the trials.

Another farmer Mr. Sanusi Liman who is also participating in the trials in Zaria said: "Since the application of the product, I have actually seen an improvement in maize quality, basically cleaner seeds. The seeds do not have disease on them as before."

The trials which are on about 85 hectares of farmlands across Nigeria is coordinated by the Kaduna State Agriculture Development Program and funded by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and European Union's MycoRed project.

Researchers and regulatory officials from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) see the improvement in grain quality as a welcomed development.

"We are impressed with the results on the field and a final analysis is under way. A reduction in aflatoxin contamination means better food and health for the farmers," says Dr. Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, IITA Pathologist, who is leading the trials.