TITLE:
Sorghum Conservation Techniques in Three Agro-Climatic Zones and Their Impact on Food Security in Burkina Faso
AUTHORS:
Sibiri Nebié, Fatoumata Hama-Ba, Baloua Nebié, Roger Kaboré, Djeneba Konaté, Sibiri Bougma, Aly Savadogo
KEYWORDS:
Climate, Storage, Sorghum, Aflatoxin B1, Burkina Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment,
Vol.13 No.4,
November
27,
2024
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to examine the sorghum preservation techniques in response to climate variability and to evaluate the prevalence of aflatoxin B1 in selected sorghum stocks in Burkina Faso. The cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of six months, from October 2020 to January 2021. A questionnaire was administered to 450 sorghum farmers in order to ascertain their knowledge and practices with regard to conservation techniques. A total of 23 farmers’ stocks were sampled for the determination of aflatoxin B1 using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method and for the assessment of moisture levels using the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) method. A total of five distinct preservation techniques were identified. The most frequently utilized techniques were straw loft (49.2%) as a storage structure, pallets (36.69%) as the structure’s internal management, plastic bags (40.42%) as packaging material, panicles (64.3%) as a form of storage, and chemical products (15.22%) as preservatives. Three biotic constraints were identified: insect (51.18%), rodent (30.14%), and mold (15.38%). Three significant abiotic constraints were identified: humidity (44.6%), lack of hygiene (15.2%), and grain immaturity (10.2%). A comparative analysis reveals that the majority of these techniques and constraints exhibit notable differences between climatic zones, largely due to the influence of climatic variability. The aflatoxin B1 level exhibited considerable variation, ranging from 0 µg/kg to 2.07 ± 0.08 µg/kg DM. Of the analyzed stocks, 38% were found to be contaminated. Abiotic and biotic factors exert influence on sorghum stocks. Chemical agents are employed for their protection, and contamination by aflatoxin B1 is a further issue. However, the levels of contamination observed are not cause for concern.