Enhance Food Sufficiency with Cassava Cultivation

Cassava is now one of the important perennial food crops in Africa with thickened storage roots that are a valuable source of expensive calories.

Enhance Food Sufficiency with Cassava Cultivation

Cassava industry provides employment for thousands of rural farmers beginning from land preparation, planting, processing and marketing.

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From a historical perspective, Cassava is originated from Brazil and is now widely spread in the tropics and subtropics regions.

The gradual spread of cassava as world-class food consumable is indeed a welcome development to rural farmers who derive their daily sustenance from its production, processing and marketing.

To have successful cassava cultivation and a bounty harvest the following steps should be followed.

Site selection:

Cassava should be cultivated in an area where there is an annual rainfall of about 1000 to 2500 mm and is evenly distributed. It needs light textured and well-drained soils with enough moisture and balanced nutrients.

Field Measurement:

To have successful cultivation of cassava adequate field measurement is required because accurate field measurement will guide the Farmers to know the actual area of their farm. To achieve this use geographical positioning system to simplify the recall of land measurement.

Land Preparation:

Cassava production requires good soil preparation land practices vary considerably depending mainly on climate soil type vegetation topography degree of mechanization and other economic practices generally heroine of the area and then the region is 1m X 1m between rows and plants application of 5 to 10 tons of organic manure is necessary especially in Sandy soils.

Planting Date, Time, And Method:

Planting of cassava should be done as soon as reigns become a study in the area the period will depend on the location of the farmland. Cassava stems will be stored under share for 4 to 10 days between cutting and planting. This process makes stems sprout faster than if planted immediately when freshly cut from the field.

Integrated Soil Fertility Management:

4 to 8 bags of either 200 or 400kg of N. P. K 15:15:15 should be applied per hectare base on the type of soil between 4 to 6 weeks after planting. Other organic manure can as well be applied. But fertilizer should not be applied when the soil is dry.

Soil Management:

Cassava production required optimum soil management. A well-drained, rich, friable, loamy soil is preferable. Rotation of cassava with other crops like legumes will facilitate efficient soil management.

Weed Management:

weeds must be controlled during the first three months after planting in order to allow young cassava plants to grow vigorously and develop canopy early. Apply atrazine at 2 to 3 lit/ha followed by one hoe weeding.

Safety Use and Handling of Pesticides:

precautions stated on the label of the pesticide must be followed while only trained personnel should apply a pesticide at the recommended rate. Even after use, the empty containers must be disposed of very well by burning them. the personnel show also wears protective clothing during the application of pesticides.

Harvest of Cassava:

depending on variety and growing conditions tuberous roots could be ready for harvest from 6 to 18 months after planting. harvest should take place when the soil is moist so that the roots can be pulled easily from the ground either by hand or machine.

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