ISLAMABAD: The US Department of Agriculture has launched a project in Pakistan to eliminate fungus aflatoxin, which occur naturally in crops as well as causes liver cancer and stunting in children.

At a project launch ceremony on Wednesday, researchers, government agencies, and private businesses from Pakistan and the United States pledged their cooperation to eliminate the toxic fungus that causes liver cancer and stunting in children. The joint effort also aims to improve nutrition and safeguard the health of Pakistan’s citizens by securing a disease-free food supply.

The project will use a cutting-edge USDA technology that works to eliminate aflatoxin in the fields, where it effects up to 25 per cent of all crops grown. This joint effort will make Pakistan a leader in global efforts to grow safer vegetables, such as maze, as well as nuts like pistachios, and will even help secure the health of livestock by protecting the plants grown as feed for the animals.

Officials from the US Department of Agriculture were working with the Pakistani company of maize products to target the fungus.

Deputy Chief of Mission John Hoover from the US Mission to Pakistan congratulated the partners working on this effort and highlighted the long history of US-Pakistani cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Commenting on the impact that fighting aflatoxin will have, Mr Hoover said: “It will affect the health and job prospects of thousands of Pakistanis and improve the economic viability of Pakistani commodities for export.”

Key partners working with the USDA to safeguard Pakistani crops include the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the US Agency for International Development, the National Agricultural Research Centre, and the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018