A Study on the Analysis of Groundnuts Without Aflatoxins at Community Marketing for Conservation (Comaco) in Lusaka District of Zambia

Abstract

The study was conducted at Community Marketing for Conservation (COMACO) in the Lusaka District of Zambia. The research aimed to analyze groundnuts without aflatoxins and suggest the possibility of producing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food RUTF using locally grown groundnuts without aflatoxins. Random sampling of groundnuts was done at COMACO, an institution that analyses and makes peanut butter in the Lusaka district.

Food product development is the organized, business-focused study of making new food goods and methods that meet the needs of a known group of consumers or consumers that are thought to have those needs. Coming up with new food products is a difficult task that needs an understanding of ingredients, processing methods, packaging materials, laws, and what people want. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information about the production and analysis of groundnuts.

All the respondents agreed that the Zambian policy allows the production of RUTF using locally grown groundnuts, considering the aflatoxins and the safe levels of aflatoxins before processing. Community Marketing and Conservation COMACO supplies the groundnut seed to the farmer, monitors the growth and maturity, and then buys the produce for processing. Formulation of RUTF using local groundnuts has been supported because of the many varieties, and it contains 26% of the proteins and more fats between 40 -55%, vitamins, and minerals essential for the product. All the groundnuts are assessed, analyzed, and tested for aflatoxins before processing. It is also because Zambia can produce tonnes of groundnuts that can accomplish the production of RUTF.