Lesson 6.5.7 CASAVA, MANIOK - guide

 

FOOD FOREST COURSE 

AGRO-ECONOMY Lesson 6.5.7 

CASAVA, MANIOK - guide

Cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant carbohydrate rich crops that can grow in all types of soil in wet and dry areas of Taita Taveta County.

Its roots are harvested for both human food and animal feed. The leaves provide protein rich fodder for animals. Some communities harvest the freshly budding leaves for vegetables.

Rural farmers in Taita Taveta County can therefore put their non-utilized ASAL lands under cassava production because of its lower cost of production and numerous economic benefits.

Land Preparation and Propagation

Deep ploughing of the land, up to 30 cm deep, to plant cassava is necessary to loosen the soil and allow the roots to grow down well and extensively.

For clay soils, making of mounts and ridges will help in storing water and providing more loose soil for the roots to develop. Cassava is propagated using cuttings by planting pieces of the stem. The cuttings should be harvested from mature cassava plants that are above 8 months old.The cuttings should be between 20 - 30 cm long and with more than 4 growth buds.

Spacing And Manure/Fertilizer Application

Different planting spacings are applicable depending on the purpose of planting cassava such as:

a) A spacing of 1 meter between rows and 1 meter between plants for forage and flesh root production

b) A spacing of 1 meter between rows and 0.5 meter between plants for planting material production.

c) A spacing of 1.5 meters and 1 meter between plants for intercropping with maize or legumes.

Because of its extensive root system, stem development and foliage growth, cassava plants require generous applications of farmyard or compost manure and organic fertilizers. Green manure may also be used by planting legume cover crops such as Clotolaria, Cowpeas or Beans which will additionally be harvested for protein rich forage.

Existing Market Opportunities

The cassava value chain provides numerous economic, environmental and livelihood opportunities for rural farmers in Taita Taveta County. One of the greatest problems facing agriculture in Taita Taveta County is underutilization of land especially in the lower drylands. Since cassava is an inexpensive and drought tolerant plant, farmers can easily engage in its production and achieve greater land usage for food and animal feed production. There is still aren't enough centres producing cuttings of hybrid cassava varieties and therefore this is a good market opportunity.

Harvesting And Production Per Acre

Cassava leaves can be harvested for fodder as early as 3 months after planting. Mature cassava roots for food can be harvested 6 months after planting.

The yield potential is as follows:

a) 25 tonnes per acre of fresh flesh root cassava from a population of 4 600 plants.

b) 73 600 cuttings from at least 18 400 stems per acre.

Cassava For Animal Feed

Cassava leaves when harvested can be fed directly to the animals, incorporated in silage or dried in a shade and preserved for future use. Care should be taken when drying them to avoid decomposing or fungal growth - overturning the leaves in a large area helps.

Cassava roots must be peeled before feeding the animals when fresh or incorporating in silage. Fresh cassava roots have a high moisture level and they spoil very fast due to moulding and build-up of mycotoxins.

This can be prevented by slicing the peeled cassava into small pieces and drying them in sun while constantly turning. This will reduce the moisture content, reduces the hydrocyanic acid level and increases its shelf life.

Important Note

Rural farmers must avoid feeding animals with cassava peels or unpeeled roots. They contain high levels of toxic hydrocyanic acid which will be detrimental to the animal's health.

Environmental Benefit

Cassava peels can be used to make organic fertilizer.

Varieties

A number of varieties are available including: Kaleso, Karembo, Tajirika, Shibe, KME, Karibuni, Nzalauka, Ex-Ndovu, Mucericeri, Tereka, Adhiambo Lera.

KALRO Kenya Climate Innovation Center, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service - Kephis, Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust - MESPT Access Agriculture

Text from Craft Agricultural Solutions

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