By Our Reporter
PELA Commodities in Soroti is set to install Uganda’s first Aflatoxin removal machine (TOXI-SCRUBⓇ) in the coming weeks.
The machine which arrived in the country recently, is designed by Eye-Grain and supplied along with the grain handling equipment by Perry Engineering who are an authorised reseller of the TOXI-SCRUBⓇ system. It is assembled by Eye-Grain ApS, their local partner Grain and Toxin Solutions LLC (Uganda) and Perry Engineering who have also supplied the conveying and elevating system for the TOXI-SCRUBⓇ.
The machine will remove aflatoxins from high levels to 10ppb or less. It has different treatment programs and can be adjusted to make the necessary treatment to bring the contamination well below allowed levels. The machine can also eliminate not only Mycotoxins, but other biologic activity as well such as bacteria, mites and insects.
Further more, the processing line can be tailored to any product in the Agro, Feed, Cereal supply chain, including all types of grain, nuts, beans and cakes from the oilseed industry.
Commenting on the latest development, the PELA Commodities General Manager, Isaiah Langa said; “Uganda’s grain handlers have had a long-standing aflatoxin problem, but this is a step in the right direction to help enhance our yields and output. It will turn harmful maize or grain that cannot be exported or sold to reputable processors into a high-value product. We have already trained our team members on aflatoxin testing and they’re ready to start operating the machine.”
Uganda has lost over $38 million (Shs140 billion) as a result of its inability to sell maize owing to aflatoxins. Maize is Uganda’s most important cereal crop, which is grown on both small and large scales and traded locally and globally by farmers.