Cassava (Manihot Esculenta) is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics after rice and maize. In this post, we will highlight the comprehensive guide on how to start a cassava farm.
According
to Wikipedia,
the origin of cassava can be traced back to West-central Brazil where
it was likely first domesticated no more than 10,000 years BP. It was
however introduced to Africa by Portuguese traders from Brazil in the
16th century.
Today,
Nigeria ranks first position as the world largest producer of
cassava. This is followed by Thailand, Brazil and Indonesia.
Cassava does very well in most parts of West Africa like Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Benin Republic, and Ghana. No matter the location you find yourself, this cassava farming process remains the same.
Except in some locations with
weather conditions that do not adequately support the successful
growth of cassava.
Commercial process of cultivating cassava involves simple farm operations such as; land preparation, planting, weeding, fertilization, and harvesting.
The
following are steps involved in growing cassava plant from selecting
the suitable land for planting to the final stage of processing the
crop for edible or non-edible purposes.
Step 1: Selecting a Suitable Land Cultivation of Cassava
The first step in the cassava
farming process is the selection of suitable land for cultivation.
The crop can be grown on most soils; however, the best soils are
sandy clay loams that are well drained without a fluctuating water
table.
Cassava is a tropical crop that
finds the most favorable growing conditions in humid-warm climates at
temperatures of between 25 – 29°C and precipitations of between
1000 – 1500 mm which ideally should be evenly distributed
throughout the year.
The
type of land to look out for is one with good soil texture,
preferably loamy soils with good drainage. Do not plant in lands with
steep slopes, valleys and depression areas to avoid flooding issues.
Step 2: Land Preparation for Planting Cassava
After successfully choosing
a suitable site for cultivating your cassava,
clear all bushes in the area immediately.
The reason for clearing the bushes
around the area is to allow more sunlight to the soil and to remove
weeds and undergrowth which might otherwise compete with the growth
of your cassava.
By clearing the bush in the
selected area using the burning method, you will destroy disease
vectors and other parasites present in the soil.
In addition, the layer of ashes
left after burning may help to increase the quantity of potassium
salt in the soil available to the growing plants.
The best way to avoid depleting the
soil through bush burning is to rotate the method of clearing the
vegetation in your cassava
farm
with other methods.
As you are preparing the soil for
cassava farming, dried animal manure or compost can be incorporated
to increase soil fertility.
The
land should be cleared and tilled properly before planting starts.
Tilling would help loosen up the soil drainage and encourage the
healthier development of the cassava root.
During
tilling, dried manure from animals can be added and mixed with the
soil to increase its fertility.
The
ridges or mounds for planting should be constructed at 0.75m-1m
apart. The spacing and population is also determined by how the
planting wants to be done; either solely or planted alongside other
crops such as legumes, maize, vegetables e.t.c
Ridges or mounds which are 0.75m-1m
apart are constructed depending on the availability of planting
materials and the fertility of the soil.
The cassava
plant spacing and population
also vary, depending on whether cassava is planted solely or in
association with other crops.
Some experiments have shown ridging
to produce relatively lower yields than flat cultivation, but the
work of weeding and harvesting is greatly reduced by ridge planting.
For farmers in the rainforest and derived savanna zones where soils are prone to water-logging, planting on ridges or mounds is a general practice.
Read Also: How to Control Cassava Diseases and Pests
Step 3: Select
The Best Cassava Variety
To get
a good harvest, you would need to select the best cassava variety to
plant. There are over 40 varieties of cassava different in their
tuber yields and ability to withstand pests and diseases. When
selecting the best variety to plant, take note of the following:
- Ability
to grow fast - Ability
to store well in the soil - Ability
to withstand pests and diseases - Longer
shelf life - High
starchy content
Step 4: Planting the Cassava Stems
In planting stage of the cassava
farming process, the first thing to do is to carefully
select a cassava variety that you will grow.
Select varieties with multiple pest
and disease resistance, high and stable root yields, and acceptable
quality.
The optimal cassava plant spacing is 1 meter by 1 meter apart along each row and across ridges or mounds.
The remaining space between the cassava plants can be used you grow vegetables, maize, legumes, and other plants.
Intercropping cassava with other crops reduces the danger of loss caused by unfavorable weather and pests by spreading the risk across several plants with different vulnerabilities.
Ensure you are planting cassava stem cuttings taken from plants that are up to 8 – 18 months old. Use a sharp machete or cutlass to cut the stem.
Take care not to bruise the buds or
otherwise damage the stem. The cuttings should be about 20-25 cm in
length with 5 or more nodes.
Cuttings from the base of the stalk
are better planting materials than those from the top in terms of
germination and plant yield.
Methods of Planting Cassava
There are three methods of planting cassava;
1.
Horizontal planting
Plant cuttings are buried 5-10cm
below the soil surface in dry climates and when mechanical planting
is used.
Cuttings planted horizontally
produce multiple stems and more tuberous roots but they are
relatively smaller in size. However, in loamy and rich soils the
multiple stems and roots are at an advantage resulting in high
yields.
2.
Vertical planting
this is done during rainy days so
that cuttings will not rot if constantly wet. In contrast, under low
rainfall conditions, vertical planting may result in dehydration of
the cuttings.
3.
Inclined planting
Cuttings are inclined at 45o
in semi-rainy areas, leaving 2-3 nodes above ground level. The
inclination of the stem and roots provide a leverage which makes
harvesting easier than in the other orientations.
Plant early in the morning or late afternoons when the sun is cool to prevent excess heat from heating the crop. Replace all cuttings which did not bud after two weeks of planting.
Step 5: Weeding of Cassava Farm
An ancient Chinese philosopher once
said, “Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is
great while it is small.”
With this quote in mind;
- A
thorough land preparation is a key to reduced weeding activity. - Plant
cassava cuttings early enough before weeds start emerging. - Cassava
requires approximately 3 months of weed-free condition for optimum
yield. Use a contact and/or pre-emergent herbicide to control weeds
for the first three months of growth. - Apply
post-emergence herbicides as soon as weeds begin to emerge after the
pre-emergence herbicide treatment. - Weed
with hoes or adapted cutlasses 3 or more times depending on the type
of weed. - On a large scale, use tractor
operated weeders.
To
weed, apply post-emergence herbicides to control weeds immediately
they are spotted on your cassava farm. Pre-emergence herbicides
should have been applied before planting to control weeds.
For
small-scale farms, use
hoes or cutlasses to clear out weeds and tractor operated weeders
for larger farms.
Note that, Land preparation needs to be done properly to control the weeds at least for the first 3 months to achieve optimum yield.
Read Also: Comprehensive Guide on How to Make Bread with Cassava Flour
Step 6: Fertilization of Cassava Plantation
The
type and quantity of fertilizer to use are based on the variety and
nature of the soil.
Fertilizers
should be applied 8 weeks after planting and done 6 cm in width and
10cm from the stems or leaves of the cassava plant.
Also,
it is advisable to conduct a soil test to determine the type of
fertilizer to apply.
Apply
fertilizer 4-8 weeks after planting in the ratio determined from the
soil test and 16 weeks after planting. You may not need to
fertilize the farmland immediately after clearing vegetation.
If you have grown cassava on the
land for several years in succession or in a rotation, the soil
nutrients deplete. Therefore, fertilizer application becomes
necessary.
Most farmers use different kinds of organic manures, such as cattle dung or chicken droppings to improve soil fertility. Remains of leguminous plants, incorporated into the ground, also improve soil nutrients.
To further enhance the growth and
overall yield of your farm, you will need to apply fertilizers. Use a
good fertilizer to improve soil nutrient.
Test a sample of your soil to
determine the fertilizer types and application rates that will be
suitable for your farmland.
A fertilizer that is rich in potassium salt, favors the formation of starch in cassava. Nitrogen and phosphorus, on the other hand, are essential for growth.
If the soil contains large
quantities of absorbed nitrogen, the result will be like the
proverbial fig tree in the Holy Bible that Jesus Christ saw on his
way to Jericho, “having a heavy development of vegetative growth
without a corresponding increase in root production.”
Apply the first dose of NPK
fertilizer, in the ratio as determined by the soil test, 4-8 weeks
after planting.
Place fertilizers 15cm to 45cm from
the base of the stem in drill holes – 10cm to 15cm deep. Placement
of fertilizers in drill holes reduces fertilizer loss through runoff
water.
A second dose of Fertilization of
plants 16 weeks after planting significantly increases the yield of
roots and enhances tuber bulking.
For effective absorption of
fertilizer nutrients into the soil, do not apply fertilizer when the
soil is dry.
Step 7: Harvesting the Cassava Tubers
Cassava maturity differs from one variety to another. You can harvest your cassava 8 – 18 months after planting.
However, the exact time for harvesting cassava depends on the variety of the cassava, the environment where it is planted, and the agricultural practices adopted.
The best way to harvest cassava is to do it manually. The stems of the cassava plant are first cut by hand, machete or machine.
When you are cutting the stems,
leave a small portion of the stem at the base of the plant to serve
as a handle to pull the storage root up.
Don’t damage the stems when you
are cutting them. Keep the stems you will plant next season. Stack
them together in small portions as you move.
Step 8:
Processing
The
process involved after harvesting is based on what it would be used
for.
For
example, the process involved in making garri includes:
Peeling,
grinding, Fermentation, Dewatering the fermented cassava, Drying,
sieving, frying.
Step 9: Eat!
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