Cassava products are in very high demand all over the world for the production of various products and compounding of animal feeds. The advent of global warming has put cassava on the front burner as a prime raw material for the production of ethanol which does not emit carbon dioxide unlike fossil fuels. High cost of grains like corn, has also made cassava chips a preferred substitute for compounding animal feeds. The demand for cassava products is ascending and enquires flow in on daily basis from nooks and crannies of the world but we are handicapped because our farming systems are still rudimentary and based on peasant farmers that farm small holdings with hoes and knives. With mechanised farming, cassava is a money spiner.
Cassava Farming Stages Selection Of Farm Land: Choose an accessible, well-drained fertile soil where you can grow your cassava without too much problem and as well, have access to main road to transport your produce to the market or for your buyers to have access to buy your products. Land Preparation: A total herbicide
round up (a glyphosate), should be applied 10 days before land preparation. This will help in controlling the weed at long run and it’s more economical than using manual labour. For cost effectiveness and optimum plant population, mechanisation and planting on ridges are recommended as you prepare for planting. Liming: It is recommended that lime be applied during land preparation but optional.
Ploughing: You can hire tractor to plough the land before planting or you buy hand tractor, it is not expensive and it is easy to maintain.
Planting And Planting Materials • Planting starts in April and can be extended to October. • Cassava stem are used for planting. A bundle goes for #1000 • Stem cuttings, 25 cm long should be planted at a spacing of 1 m x 1 m. • Maintain 100 per cent planting rate by replacing dead or nonviable stems.
Cassava Varieties: Choose varieties that are best suitable for the climatic and environmental conditions of your region. To increase yields, it’s best to choose varieties that tolerate diseases and pests, are drought-resistant, grow fast and mature early and that can be stored in the ground for months such as vitamin A cassava stems.
Post Planting Weed Control Where a total herbicide was not used before land preparation, it is recommended that a selective preemergence herbicide be applied within three days after planting.
Fertiliser Cassava plants can be fertilised with the help of manure, such as poultry droppings, cow or goat dung, organic liquid fertiliser, NPK. If you plough the fields, leguminous cover crops can be used to improve soil nutrition. Apply artificial fertiliser carefully and according to instructions.
Disease Control It is best to select varieties that are naturally resistant to pests in your area. There are several pests and
diseases that affect this plant. Among them are: •Mealy Bug (Phenacocusmanihoti)•Green Mite (Monoychellustanajoa) •Termites•Cassava Mosaic Disease•Cassava Bacterial Blight•Cassava Anthracnose Disease •Root Rot
Cassava Loan With No Collateral This is made possible by government’s powered Cassava Initiative Loan that has been pushing for a revolution in the agricultural sector in recent times. For you to be eligible for loan from the Federal Government, you have to register as a member of Cassava Growers Association.
Mechanised Equipment · Tractor or Hand tractor · Planter · Sprayer · Harvester
Return on investment is high as the demand for cassava is on increase, both locally and internationally.