HOW TO MAKE WEALTH IN CASSAVA FARMING BUSINESS HOW TO MAKE WEALTH IN CASSAVA FARMING BUSINESS | Page 35

A COMPREHENSIVE & PRACTICAL GUIDE ON HOW TO START CASSAVA FARMING & PROCESSING BUSINESS By: Micheal B. O. HARVESTING All parts of the crop (stems, leaves and tuberous roots) can be harvested for specific markets. STEMS There is usually a high demand for planting materials of improved varieties at the beginning of the planting season. You can harvest, package and sell stems to increase your profit margin from the farm. Stem harvesting can be total or partial. In total harvesting all the stems are pruned leaving only the stumps to regrow while in partial harvesting a few stems are pruned from plants having multiple stems. In a well-established production field 400 or more bundles of stem can be harvested per hectare depending on the variety, plant population and environment. LEAVES As vegetable, harvest only the young succulent leaves and process. As silage for animal feed, all the green leaves including the young parts of the stem are harvested, chopped and ensiled. TUBEROUS ROOTS Plants can be harvested at 9 – 18 months after planting to give root yields ranging from 15 – 50 tons or more per hectare depending on the variety, environment (soil fertility status, acidity level, moisture level and sunshine hours) and agronomic practices adopted. Harvest roots only when you have a ready market. Avoid bruising the roots excessively during harvesting otherwise they will deteriorate very rapidly. For quality products, process the roots as soon as they are harvested and not later than 48 hours. The major quality trait for market acceptability of roots is dry matter content. It is usually high soon after the rains and during the harmattan period but low in plants recovering from stress particularly during the reflushing of new leaves. MANAGEMENT OF PESTS AND DISEASES A good pest and disease information and management is necessary for high productivity in cassava. DISEASES: CASSAVA MOSAIC DISEASE (CMD) The disease is caused by a complex of viruses and transmitted by a whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Leaves become smaller, wrinkled and chlorotic. In severe cases root yield losses are very high (near 100%). The best control measure is to plant resistant varieties. Rogue off infected plants during the early stage to reduce secondary spread. Intercrop with tall growing plants like maize to reduce vector movement and transmission of the disease. CASSAVA BATERIAL BLIGHT (CBB) The disease is caused by bacteria (Xanthomonas sp.) Symptoms are first characterised by wet angular spots on the lower leaf surface, which finally lead to blighting and exudates on petioles and stems. Infected leaves drop early and in severe cases the stem is leafless and Hotlines: 09090040011, 09031617999. 35. E-mail: [email protected]