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MYCOTOXINS: DANGERS OF FREQUENT CONSUMPTION OF NSIMA AND RICE AMONG MALAWIANS

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A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by the biological processes of biological organisms. Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins that are produced by moulds or fungus and can be found in food. The moulds grow under warm and humid conditions on crops and foodstaffs like cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, apples and coffee beans (WHO, 2023) There are over 500 mycotoxins that have been identified, but the most commonly ones that affect livestock and human health are; Aflatoxins, Ochratoxins, Fumonisins, Trichothecenes and Zearalenones. In this article, much examples will dwell on aflatoxins as a special type of mycotoxins which is found in staple foods commonly in Malawi while some examples will include general features of mycotoxins. Figure showing various types of mycotoxins Aflatoxins are amongst the most poisonous mycotoxins. They are produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus Parasiticus which grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay and grains. The most favourable condit...
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EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF LIWONDE BARRAGE

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 Since 2011, the country of Malawi has been experiencing low water levels in Lake Malawi but the situation started changing when the country received high amount of rains. To prevent the future uncertainties of drop in the level of water again, Malawi Government and National Water Reserve Authority (NWRA) implemented renovation of Liwonde barrage to control level of water in Lake Malawi. A barrage is a type of dam or barrier constructed across a river to control water flow and flooding. It can also be used to generate hydroelectric power and facilitate irrigation. Barrages have gates that can be opened and closed to regulate the water flow. Recently, water levels in Lake Malawi had increased to 475.39 metres above sea level in March 2023 which was 47.5cm higher than same month of the previous year. The barrage usually has one or two gates opened to let some water pass through downstream and close the rest of the gates to retain some water upstream in the river and Lake Malawi. It i...
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EXPLORING THE HIDDEN GEM BENEATH BUNDA MOUNTAIN

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 Placing a thermometer in a boiling tube with water connected to a heat supply at the top of this physical feature, the boiling point reading on the thermometer would be approximately 97 degrees Celsius or 370 Kelvins. Yes! Your calculations are right. This elevation of the land is about 1,159 meters above sea level. It is located to the south of Lilongwe city. If you are still wondering what this feature is, wonder no more. It is the Bunda mountain. At the highest peak of the mountain, you can view part of Bunda campus of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) and Bunda aquaculture dam. When the sky is clear, Kamuzu dam can be viewed to the west side of the Bunda mountain. Visitors are welcomed by a rock sign written “Mwalandilidwa m’mudzi mwa Yehova”. In English, it means “Welcome to the village of the Lord”. The passages in the mountain are well decorated with rocks spicing the village of the Lord. The man behind the Village of the Lord is Radford Kamw...
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GO GREEN AND SAVE NATURE

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 If Mungo Park or Dr. David Livingstone had reached Lilongwe city exploring around Malangalanga, they would have found a river, not as big as Niger or Shire, but full of life as that in Ezekiel 47:1. Trying to find the source of this life sustaining river, they would have passed through Area 45, Likuni, Malingunde going to the south-west of Lilongwe city. Deep breaths are then accompanied by a sigh of relief when they reach a mountain range covered with trees of different species up to 1650m above sea level, the Dzalanyama forest. Dzalanyama forest reserve is located 60 km south-west of Lilongwe city and covers a total of 989.35km2. The forest reserve was established in 1922 to protect Lilongwe’s water resource. Dzalanyama means “full of animals”. This is evidenced as it has several species of birds hovering around trees in the forest. Most common trees are miombo with some mixture of Msuku and clumps of Nyowe. The forest is dominated with birds like; Olive headed weaver, Miombo pi...
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