Cassava is a nutty-flavored, starchy root vegetable or tuber and is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics aside rice and maize. Native to South America, it’s a major source of calories for people in developing countries and is grown in tropical regions of the world because of its ability to withstand difficult growing conditions. In fact, it’s one of the most drought-tolerant crops. In the United States, cassava is often called yuca and may also be referred to as manioc or Brazilian arrowroot. Despite the riches known to be associated with cassava, without a cassava farm it is unachievable. How then do you start a cassava farm, here we are looking at farm that whose land is rich in nutrients, a farm that is able to produce quality cassava only.
Selecting a Suitable Land.
The initial phase in the cassava cultivating process is the choice of appropriate land for development. The crop can be grown on most soils; nonetheless, the best soils are sandy, clay and loamy soil that are well drained without a fluctuating water table. The type of land to look out for is one with good soil texture, preferably loamy soils with good water drainage.
Preparation of land for Planting.
After picking a land for planting, the next thing to do is to clear all bushes in the area. This is done to allow more sunlight to the soil and to remove weeds and undergrowth which might compete with the growth of the cassava. You then move on to burn the weeds in the area which will destroy disease vectors and other parasites present in the soil and increase the level of potassium salt in the soil from the ashes. The land should be cleared and tilled properly; tilling would help loosen up the soil drainage and also promote the healthy development of the cassava root.
Selecting the best Cassava Variety
For your harvest to yield, you need to select the best cassava type to plant. There are over 40 varieties of cassava and they are different in their tuber yields and their ability to withstand pests and diseases. During selection, take note of the following: its ability to grow fast and to store well in the soil, the ability of the cassava to stand pests and diseases and most importantly, the shelf life of the cassava and its high starchy content.
Planting of the Cassava Stems.
The maximum cassava plant spacing is 1 meter by 1 meter apart along each row and across ridges or mounds. The space left between the cassava plants can be used to grow other products such as vegetables, maize and legumes. Intercropping cassava with other produce reduces the loss caused by unfavorable weather and pests by spreading the risk across several crops. You also need to ensure that you are planting the cassava stem cuttings taken from plants that are up to 8 to 18 months old by using sharp cutlass to cut the stem. You can plant them either horizontally, vertically or by inclining them.
Weeding and fertilization of the Cassava Farm.
To weed, you need to apply post-emergence herbicides to control weeds immediately they are spotted on the cassava farm and it must be applied before planting to control weeds. Once that is done, then you fertilize the plantation. The fertilizer should be applied 8 weeks after planting and 6 cm in width and 10cm from the stems or leaves. For effective absorption of fertilizer nutrients into the soil, you must not apply fertilizer when the soil is dry.
Harvesting the Cassava Tubers
Cassava maturity differs from one variety to another. You can harvest your cassava 8 to18 months after planting. However, the appropriate time for harvesting cassava depends on the variety of the cassava, the land where it is planted, and the practices adopted. The stems of the cassava plant are first cut by hand, machete or machine. When cutting the stems, you need to leave a small portion of the stem at the base of the plant to serve as a handle to pull the root up. From this stage, you can move on to process your cassava into any form suitable either for consumption or industrial use.
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