Cassava Farming Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Scientific Name: Manihot esculenta

Cassava, locally known as muhogo in Swahili, is a versatile and hardy crop widely grown across tropical regions. This woody plant can reach up to 4 meters in height, with erect stems and spirally arranged, simple, lobed leaves on petioles measuring up to 30 cm. Its edible roots are usually cylindrical, tapered, and may be white, brown, or reddish. Cassava is typically ready for harvest 9–12 months after planting, making it an ideal crop for both subsistence and commercial farming.

Cassava leaf

Ideal Conditions for Cassava Farming

Cassava thrives in warm, moist climates with regular rainfall. Some key requirements include:

• Temperature: 25–32°C is ideal for maximum root production.

• Sunlight: Full sun exposure is crucial, as cassava is highly sensitive to shading.

• Rainfall: The crop requires at least 8 months of warm weather and can withstand drought, but it does not tolerate waterlogging.

• Soil: While cassava can grow in poor soils, well-drained sandy clay loams with a pH of 5.5–6.5 are optimal.

Land Preparation, Cuttings, and Propagation

Cassava is propagated using stem cuttings, as the tubers themselves do not produce buds. Here’s how to get started:

Selecting and Preparing Cuttings

• Choose healthy, disease-free plants at least 10 months old that have borne tubers.

• Take 20 cm cuttings from hardened stems, each containing 1–2 nodes.

• Dip the cuttings in a suitable fungicide to prevent diseases.

Nursery or Pre-Sprouting

• Plant cuttings in cell trays, polyethylene bags, or nursery beds.

• When planting in trays/bags, push the stem in the same orientation as on the mother plant.

• Keep in partial shade until sprouts appear, usually within 7–10 days.

• Nursery beds should be 1 m wide, with cuttings planted horizontally to encourage multiple stems.

Transplanting to the Field

• Transplants are ready after 4–6 weeks.

• Prepare the field by clearing weeds and cultivating the soil.

• Plant cuttings 75–100 cm apart in rows spaced 1–5 m apart.

• Fertilize as needed with manure or poultry droppings, and keep soil around plants loose to allow root growth.

Cassava plantation

Harvesting Cassava

• Cassava is ready for harvest approximately 12 months after planting, depending on the variety.

• Some early-maturing varieties can be harvested in 9 months.

• Carefully dig up the roots to avoid damage, which can affect storage and quality.

Common Pests and Diseases

Cassava can be affected by several pests and diseases:

1. Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD): Pale green, yellow, or white mottled leaves, stunted growth, and poor tuber yield.

2. Cassava Bacterial Blight: Brown, water-soaked leaf lesions that expand and may coalesce, leading to necrosis.

3. Anthracnose: Stem cankers, drooping leaves, wilting, defoliation, and death of shoots.

4. Bud Necrosis: Dark brown or gray fungal growth on buds and stems.

5. Brown Leaf Spot: Circular brown spots on older leaves, sometimes causing leaf drop.

6. White Leaf Spot: Large white spots with gray centers, common in humid conditions.

7. Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD): Necrotic lesions on stems, vein banding in leaves, and tuber rot.

8. Cassava Root Rot: Leaves brown and wilted; roots show swelling and dieback.

9. African Root and Tuber Scale: Oval scales that kill young plants and prevent tuber formation.

10. Cassava Green Spider Mite: Yellowing, stunted, and deformed leaves.

11. Grasshoppers: Large, brightly colored insects that defoliate plants and remove bark.

12. Root Knot Nematode: Galls on roots, plant yellowing, and reduced vigor.

Regular monitoring and timely interventions with proper pest management practices can protect your crop and ensure a good yield.

Uses of Cassava

Cassava is not just a staple food but also an industrially important crop:

• Food: Cassava roots are cooked before consumption due to their natural toxicity.

• Flour and Starch Production: Used in cooking, baking, and industrial processes.

• Ethanol Production: Roots can be fermented to produce biofuel.

• Animal Feed: Cassava hay is a nutritious feed for livestock.

• Industrial Uses: Adhesives, textiles, and cosmetics often utilize cassava derivatives.

Cassava farming is a rewarding venture for small-scale and commercial farmers alike. With the right conditions, careful propagation, and proper pest management, you can enjoy healthy crops and a high yield.