Cassava Production
Site
selection
Choose an accessible well-drained fertile soil.
Varieties
The following varieties are recommended for their high yield and processing
quality: TMS 30572, NR 8082, NR8083, TMS 4(2) 1425, TMS 81/00110, TMS
92/0326. An additional 10 varieties are in the process of being released.
Weed
control and land preparation
A total herbicide – Round up (a glyphosate) should be applied at
the rate of 4–5 l/ha 10 days before land preparation.
For cost effectiveness and optimum plant population, mechanization and planting on ridges are recommended.
Liming
It is recommended that 5 (50 kg) bags of agricultural lime be applied
/ha during land preparation.
Planting
and planting material
1. Planting starts in April and can be extended to October.
2. The quantity recommended for 1 ha is 60 bundles of cassava stem.
3. Stem cuttings 25 cm long should be planted at a spacing of 1 m x 1
m.
4. Maintain 100% planting rate by replacing dead or nonviable stems.
Post-planting
weed control
Where a total herbicide was not used before land preparation, it is recommended
that a selective pre-emergence herbicide be applied within three days
after planting. Five litres of Primextra is recommended /ha.
Fertilizer
use, type and rate
The following fertilizers and their rate/ha are recommended
• NPK 15:15:15–12 (50 kg) bags
• NPK 20:10:10–9 (50 kg) bags
• NPK 12:12:17–15 (50 kg) bags
Apply fertilizer at 8 weeks after planting. Apply fertilizer in a ring, 6 cm wide and 10 cm from the plant or broadcast with care around the plant, making sure the fertilizer does not touch the stem or leaves.
Yield
Yield of 25 t/ha and above can be obtained with good agronomic practices
and management.
Note
To reduce cost of production and attain high yields, it is recommended
that land preparation be fully mechanized. A power tiller can be used
if the total land area under cultivation is not more than 250ha
Production cost for one hectare of cassava to ensure yield of 25 t/ha and above
| N | ||
| 1 | Land preparation | 10,000.00 |
| 2 | Cassava cuttings (60 bundles @ N300/bundle) | 18,000.00 |
| 3 | Planting (8 pd* at N500/pd) | 4,000.00 |
| 4 | Pre-emergence herbicides (5 liters at N1000/l) | 5,000.00 |
| 5 | Fertilizer (20:10:10, 9 bags at N2500/bag) | 22,500.00 |
| 6 | Insecticides (2 liters at N1000/l) | 3,000.00 |
| 7 | Application of herbicide | 3,000.00 |
| 8 | Application of insecticide | 3,000.00 |
| 9 | Application of fertilizer (8 pd at N500/pd) | 4,000.00 |
| 10 | One weeding (20 pd at N500/pd) | 10,000.00 |
| 11 | Harvesting (35 pd at N500/pd) | 17,500.00 |
| Total | 100, 000.00 |
* pd = person
days. Farm labor wage rates vary by location
Note: Fixed capital investments are not included. Such
capital investments include knapsack or boom sprayers, tractors or power
tillers, stem cutters, planters, and harvesters. With planters and harvesters,
manual labor use can be minimized.
| Enterprises |
| Cassava production |
| Flour |
| Starch |
| Glucose syrup |
| High quality cassava flour |
| Gari |
| Glue |
| Ethanol |
| Confectioneries |
| Chips |
| Livestock feed |
| Links |
