Cassava, Manihot esculenta is an important food crop grown and eaten in many areas of the tropics. In tropical Africa, it is used in the preparations of many food. The young leaves of cassava are nutritious vegetables. It also has the potential to supply cheap raw materials for industrial uses and livestock production.
In Ghana, it is grown in all the agro-ecological zones but yields better in deep-loamy with good fertility and drainage. Even under harsh environmental conditions (low rainfall and low fertility) cassava will provide some food when other crops fail.
Agrihome’s initiative
The two(2) acre cassava demonstration is part of Agrihome’s Ten-year development plan to demonstrate the cultivation of cassava under the no-till technology.
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT
LAND PREPARATION
We adopted No-till technology under Conservation Agriculture . We cleared the land and left the vegetation residue on the field. This has several benefits to the soil and plants.
Field after clearing, applying the no-till technology
PLANTING
The quality of planting materials is very vital to good cassava farm establishment, so we selected disease free and healthy planting materials and planted by September 25th, 2015. The cuttings were 20-25cm long. Planting was done by September 25th, 2015 at a planting distance of 1m×1m. The variety planted was Bankyehemaa.
1ST WEEDING
We carried out first weeding on the 24th and 25th November, 2015. Due to the low incidence of rainfall, we left the the grass (as shown in picture above) until a couple of weeks after sprouting to help conserve moisture. We then slashed the grass to reduce competition with the cassava and also serve as mulch.
Field at first weed control after planting.
2ND WEEDING
Field was ready for 2nd weed control in the 6th month after planting. The cassava looked very healthy. During this stage the cassava had quite some amount of rains and was very important to reduce competition with weeds as much as possible.
Cassava field before second weeding.
Cassava field after 2nd weeding.
Field at 32 weeks after sprouting. The field withstood the dry spell between the October 2015 and March 2016. Notably, the application of no-till, under conservation agriculture on the cassava demonstration field helped in moisture conservation making the the cassava thrive throughout the dry period.
HARVESTING
The field was harvested on 26 September, 2015 (1 year after planting). Yield was approximately 27.0 t/ha (10.8t/acre).
The first truck load of our harvested cassava.
KEY OBSERVATIONS DURING THE YEAR OF CULTIVATION
- No observed disease presence above soil level.
- Harvested roots showed not sign of disease.
- Presence of mulch cover from cleared vegetation.
Read more on cassava here;
Detailed guide to good cassava cultivation
Diseases of cassava and identification
Cassava diseases: Prevention and control
Get more cassava sticks in 7 simple steps; Rapid multiplication of cassava
View full gallery on cassava cultivation.
Related Posts
February 20, 2018
August 26, 2017
January 19, 2018
11 Comments. Leave new
Looking at the image of the plants ‘before the 2nd weeding’ there seem to be some injuries on the leaves of the cassava plants. If it is so I would be happy if you would not mind sharing what caused it.
Secondly, a report published here; “facts on improved cassava varieties in Ghana” reveals that bankyehemaa produces a mean yield of 40-50tons/ha. If it’s so what happened to this demonstration case that it yielded as low as 10tons/ha.
I will be very glad to be enlightened by your responses. Thank you
Thanks Alex, for having time to read the report.
There was no injury or sign of disease on the leaves. This might be due to the picture quality at the time.
Secondly, the yield was 10.8t/acre which is 27t/ha and has been corrected and updated. This was still below the average and was due to the very low amount of rainfall during the period. We attribute the gains to no-till technology adopted. More so, we could have given little more time for the cassava to develop more tubers but we needed the planting materials.
Dear Team,
whilst searching for information on the fire resilience of cassava, I came across your page and find it very helpful.
I have a 20 acre cassava farm north of Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo region. We planted in June 2016 and the cassava has developed a healthy foliage. Unfortunately, we had an incidence of bush fire yesterday and about 80% of our field has been scorched.
How resilient are the following varieties to fire: Sika bankye, bankyehemaa and dokuduade?
Many thanks in advance for your feedback.
Francis
Sorry Francis, for the unfortunate incidence of fire. Depending on the seriousness of the fire, cassava may not survive fire outbreak. However, if the burns are not visible on the sticks, give it sometime to see if new leaves develop. Under favourable weather conditions, the plants are likely to recover. More so, you may want to protect your field from such incidence in future by creating fire-belt.
Please keep us updated on how it turns out. Thanks
alright if the estimated cost will be bearable I can. Please just a brief introduction, am a 26 years of age and graduate of the university of cape coast and is my first year into farming. I have already cultivated maize and I want to intercrop with cassava.
Glad to hear Stephen, will keep you posted. Meanwhile if you need assistance on your farming, please use this link to open a topic; http://www.agrihomegh.com/Support/forum/crops-production-forum/ . Make any inquiry about your farm and you will be guided all the way through. Thank you.
Thanks alot.
please I need advice on the nearest place to procure cassava sticks. am in nsoatre in brong ahafo thanks
We are glad you reached out Stephen. I can mention Mampong and Nyinahini all in the Ashanti Region. Depending on the quantity you want Foase in the Atwima Kwanwoma District may be able to help. May i know how much materials to need or the size of farm?
The size of my farm is about 6 acres. Initially I was getting some of the sticks from an agric extension officer’s farm but the farm has ran shot. I have been able to plant 1 and half acres only. The variety i got to be specific is bankyehemaa
Yea bankyehemaa, a popular variety.
Stephen, if you wouldn’t mind the extra cost of transporting the materials from other regions, we could make some inquiries for you.