Title: Aflatoxin awareness and food security among smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Authors: Fulgence Dominick Waryoba

Addresses: Economics Department, St. Augustine University of Tanzania, P.O. Box 307, Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract: Consumption of aflatoxin contaminated food causes serious human health problems. Extant literature paid much attention on awareness levels about the effects and causes of aflatoxin contamination. But, less is known about how aflatoxin contamination awareness affects food quality in a causal relationship manner. The analytical framework of this study integrated situation awareness theory and techno-ecology theory using structural equation modelling. The study found that farmers are highly informed on the causes, especially at the food storage stage, while less informed on the effects. Although the effect of aflatoxin contamination awareness on food security is only significant at the farm preparation stage, the analytical framework can be adapted for appropriate agricultural policy decisions at global, regional and country level. By adding more regions or enhancing longitudinal analysis and using aflatoxin test kits, future studies can overcome the technical faults of the current study.

Keywords: aflatoxin awareness; aflatoxin contamination; food security; situation awareness; technology adaptation; ecological system; structural equation modeling; global agricultural policy decision.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAITG.2026.155360

International Journal of Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation, 2026 Vol.5 No.3, pp.304 - 330

Received: 02 May 2025
Accepted: 25 Nov 2025
Published online: 30 Jul 2026 *

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