Category: Crop Production

 

By Iyorkaa Nater

 

Land preparation

• Clear all vegetation before seedbed
• Prepare seedbed manually with a hoe or animal-drawn implement or tractor to ensures good germination and reduces weed infestation

Choice of variety

• Choose a variety suited to your agro-ecological zone
• Selection should be done based on the time to maturity
• Selection should be done yield potential
• Selection should be done susceptibility to stem lodging
• Selection should be done resistance to pests and diseases

Varieties characteristics

• TGX 1448-2E Southern and Northern Guinea savanna, Late maturing, high yield (1.5 t/ha)
• TGX 1951-3F Southern and Northern Guinea savanna, Medium maturing, high yield, high yielding (2.5 t/ha)
• TGX 1904-6F Southern and Northern Guinea savanna, Medium maturing, high yield (1.5 – 2 t/ha)
• TGX 1835-10E Sudan savanna, Early maturing, average yield, high yielding (1.5–2 t/ha)

Seed Sourcing

• Do not purchase seeds from the open market
• Always buy seeds from verified seed companies or the seed producers nearest to you

Date of planting

• Do not plant too early (before the establishment of rain) because a prolonged dry spell after planting may result in permanent wilting of the crop
• Late planting, on the other hand, may expose the crop to attack by some late-season pests and deprive the crop of sufficient moisture if the rains stop early

 

Recommended dates for planting soybean in Nigeria

• Moist savanna/Southern Guinea savanna Early June–early July
• Northern Guinea–Sudan savanna Mid-June–early July
• Sudan savanna Weeks 1–2 in July

 

Seed rate

• About 50–70 kg (20–28 standard mudus) are required to obtain a population of 444,444 plants/ha

 

Seed dressing

• Treat seeds with fungicides, such as Apron Plus, or Thiram, before planting, at the rate of 1 sachet/8 kg of seeds for protection against soil-borne fungal diseases

 

Plant spacing and sowing

• Sow soybean by hand, planter, or by drilling
• Plant 3 to 4 seeds/hole at a spacing of 75 cm between rows and 10 cm between stands
• Alternatively, drill seeds at 50–75 cm between rows and 5 cm within rows
• For the early maturing varieties, a spacing of 50 cm between rows and 5–10 cm within rows
• Do not sow seeds more than 2–5 cm deep

 

Fertilizer

• A good fertilizer recommendation for soybean production depends on a good soil test
• Under normal conditions, soybean should provide itself with nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation
• Until nodulation occurs, the soybean plant depends on soil nitrogen for growth
• Apply a mixture of 2 – 3 bags of NPK 15:15:15 in addition to 2 bags of SSP fertilizers
• Apply fertilizer on or not later than 7 days after planting

 

Soybean Inoculation using NoduMax for higher yield

• To enhance the ability of soybean to form nodules and fix nitrogen, soybean seeds need to be inoculated with Rhizobia

 

How to inoculate soybean with NoduMax

• Measure 10 kg of soybean
• Place the amount in any container that will accommodate the seeds
• Prepare the sticker. Dissolve the content of the enclosed packet of gum Arabic into 200 ml of warm water
• Apply the sticker to 10 kg of soybean seeds and mix them until uniformly coated
• Add 100g of inoculants (1 sachet of NoduMax) to the seeds and mix until seeds are uniformly covered
• Cover the inoculated seeds with a cloth and put it under the shade for the sticker to set
• Plant the seeds on the same day that you inoculate them
• Plant the inoculated seeds in a well-prepared moist soil and cover immediately

 

Weeds control

• A properly timed weed control program can minimize their effects
• Weed control in soybean could be achieved manually or with the use of chemicals or by a combination of both methods

 

Manual weed control

• Carry out the first weeding at 2 weeks after planting and the second at 5–6 weeks after planting

 

Chemical weed control

• The choice, however, depends on the predominant weed species and the availability of the herbicide
• Herbicides are available for pre-emergence or post-emergence weed control
• If the herbicide is applied at planting, one weeding may be required at 5–6 weeks after planting
• For pre-emergence weed control (Mix Glyphosate with Pendimethalin or Dual Gold) in a ratio of 150mils for Glyphosate, 200 – 250 mils for Pendimethalin and 150 – 200 mils for Dual Gold all in 20 litre knapsack and spray within 24 hours after sowing
• For post emergence weed control (use Raptor or IRIS at 1.5 – 2 litres per hectare when the plants are 19 – 21 days after planting

 

Insect’s pest control

• Insect pests can be controlled with a single spray of Cypermethrin + Dimethoate at flowering stage

 

Harvesting

• At maturity, the pod is straw- coloured
• Harvesting of soybean is recommended when about 85% of the pods have turned brown for a non-shattering variety but 80% for shattering varieties
• The crop can be harvested when the seeds are at the hard-dough stage
• The seed moisture content is between 14 and 16%
• Harvesting can be done with a cutlass, a hoe, sickles or mechanized operation
• Cut the mature plants at ground level
• Stack them loosely on tarpaulin and allow them to dry in the open for 2 weeks before threshing
• Do not harvest by hand-pulling because this may deprive the soil of nutrients added by the crop

 

Threshing soybean

• Thresh manually or mechanically when the plants are properly dried and as soon as possible

 

Storage

• Dry to 12% moisture for storage of 6–12 months and to 10–11% for longer storage
• Place bags of clean soybean on a rack in the cold room or in ambient store

By Iyorkaa Nater

 

Site Selection

Select a well drained loamy soil for maize production

 

Land preparation

For high grain yield, maize should be sown in well prepared ridges 75 cm apart. This can be done using animal-drawn implements can be used for preparing ridges, or these can be made by hand, hoe, or tractor mounted tillage equipment

 

Planting date

Planting should be done as soon as the rains are established and preferably immediately after a good rain. The establishment of rains varies according to the different ecological zones and from one year to another. However, optimal planting dates in the major ecological zones in northern Nigeria usually lie within the following ranges:

• Sudan savanna: first – second week of July.
• Northern Guinea savanna: last week in June to the first week in July.
• Southern Guinea savanna: mid-May to the second week in June.

However, where early and extra-early maturing varieties are not to be eaten green, planting may be adjusted in the southern parts of the State to mid-July to allow maturity to coincide with the onset of the dry season.

 

Maize varieties

Maize hybrids recommended for northern Nigeria

Ecology	Hybrids	Remarks
Northern Guinea and Sudan savannas	P48W03	Prolific, combines host plant resistance to Striga and tolerance to Metsulfuron methyl (MSM) for Striga control (4.5 t/ha).
Guinea Savanna	DK777	High grain yield, good stay-green characteristics, and tolerance to S. hermonthica (10.9 t/ha).
	SC719	High yield and large grain size (12 t/ha).
	SC651	Tolerance to drought and S. hermonthica. High yield potential and good husk cover (9.7 t/ha).
Guinea savanna and Forest Ecology	30Y87	High yield, excellent stay-green characteristics, uniform ear placement and good standability (12.0 t/ha).

 

Open-pollinated maize varieties (OPV) recommended for northern Nigeria

Ecology	Varieties	Remarks
Southern Guinea savanna	SAMMAZ 15 (IWDC2Syn-F2-W) SAMMAZ 40 (DTSTR-Y SYN2) SAMMAZ 51 (IWD C3 SYN/DTSTR)	Use in areas where drought and Striga are problems
Northern Guinea savanna	SAMMAZ 15 (IWDC2Syn-F2-W) SAMMAZ 27 (EV 99DT-W-STR) SAMMAZ 40 (DTSTR-Y SYN2) SAMMAZ 48 (2011 TZE W-DT) SAMMAZ 51 (IWD C3 SYN/DTSTR)	Use in areas where drought and Striga are problems
Sudan savanna	SAMMAZ 27 (EV 99DT-W-STR) SAMMAZ 48 (2011 TZE W-DT) SAMMAZ 32 (99 TZEE-STR-QPM)	Use in drought-prone areas and areas with a short season. Where Striga is a problem, use extra-early and drought escape varieties

 

Spacing and planting

The plant spacing recommended for maize in the Nigerian savannas is 75 × 50 cm, where 2 plants per stand are adopted

 

Seed rate

About 15–20 kg of maize seeds is required to plant a hectare, which is about 2½ acres. Plant 3 seeds per hole and later thin the stand to 2 plants at about 1–2 weeks after germination

 

Fertilizer application for OPVs

The recommended fertilizer rate should be applied in two split applications. The first dose (that is 50:50:50) should be applied at planting or within the first week of planting using about 6 bags of NPK 15-15-15.

The second dose of N (50 kg, about 2 bags of urea) should be applied between 4 and 5 weeks after planting in the Southern and Northern Guinea savanna zones, but between 3 and 4 weeks after planting for extra-early varieties in the Sudan savanna

 

Fertilizer application for Hybrids

The recommended fertilizer rate should be applied in three split applications.

The first dose should be applied at planting or within the first week of planting using about 8 bags of NPK 15-15-15.

The second dose of N (50 kg, about 2 bags of urea) should be applied between 4 and 5 weeks after planting

The third dose of N (50 kg, about 2 bags of urea) should be applied between 7 weeks after planting

 

All fertilizers should be buried during application. Ensure that the second weeding has been conducted before the second fertilizer dose is applied.

Note that delay in the application of the first dose of fertilizer beyond week 1 after planting will drastically reduce the grain yield of early and extra-early varieties. Also, the second dose should not be delayed beyond 4 weeks after planting. Fertilizer should be applied in small quantities of 2 coca cola caps filled with NPK 1 week after planting.

One coca cola cap filled with urea should be applied at 4 weeks after planting. The fertilizer should be poured into a hole made with a stick at a distance of about 5–8 cm away from the maize plant and below the soil surface. Do not leave applied fertilizers exposed on the soil surface. Always cover applied fertilizer with soil.

 

Weed control

Manual weed control: Two manual weeding is recommended to be conducted at 2 weeks and 4–5 weeks after planting. In areas where Imperata cylindrica is a problem, weeding may start as early as 2 or 3 weeks after planting and more than 2 manual weeding may be required.

Chemical weed control: The increasing problem of lack of appropriate labor has increased the adoption of chemical weed control. The herbicide recommendation provided in Table below is for both large scale and peasant farmers.

Chemical weed control in maize

Product	Rate/ha	Condition of use
Glyphosate	4 liters	Before land preparation
Primextra Gold	3–4 liters	Apply immediately after planting or the following day. Up to 4 liters/ha is recommended for the forest transition zone
Dual Gold 960 EC	0.6–1.6 liters	Apply immediately after planting or the day after planting.
Stricker	2 – 3 Bottles	Apply at 21 to 28 days after planting

 

Fall Armyworm (FAW) control

In Nigeria some insecticides are in the market that can control FAW if applied in the first 3 weeks after planting. For example, the chemical called Ampligo or Emacot should be applied once per week for 3 weeks after planting maize. For effective control, use 1 satchet in 20-L knapsack sprayer.

Harvesting

When maize is to be consumed fresh, harvesting should be conducted when the silk has turned brown (50–70 days after planting). But when grain is needed, harvest as soon as the grain is dry enough (80– 110 days after planting) depending on the variety.

By Iyorkaa Nater

 

Site selection

Rice can be grown in two main areas:

• Lowland areas: These are lowlands on the edges of flooded fadamas (inland valleys) and irrigation schemes where water is available for 4½ to 5 months. In some areas, water may be available for more than 5 months.
• Upland areas: These are areas with good soil and rainfall of over 700 mm. Select fertile land.

 

Recommended rice varieties and their Characteristics in the Table below

Variety	Adaptation	Potential yield (t/ha)	Days to maturity	Ligule type/ length
FARO 44	Shallow Swamp	7	95–110	Long grain
FARO 52	Shallow Swamp	6	125–135	Long grain
FARO 61	Shallow Swamp	5	100–115	Long grain
FARO 59	Rain-fed Upland	3	95–100	Intermediate
GAWAL R1	Rain-fed Upland	10	90–95	Long grain

 

Land preparation

Proper land preparation is necessary for rice production to minimize competition with weeds. Two harrowings provide sufficient tilth for rice growth. Ridging is not necessary and is often a waste of space. In places where the soils are more fragile and prone to erosion, minimum or zero tillage is recommended. Where zero tillage is to be adopted, the field should be sprayed with glyphosate at the rate of 4 L/ha to kill emerged weeds. About 10 days after spraying the glyphosate, slash or mow the dead weeds.

Seed rate

It is advisable to use good quality seed from a reliable source for sowing. If the farmers plan to use their own seed, it is important to first sort out unfilled grains before sowing to enhance good germination. Lowland rice: Use 50–60 kg/ ha of seed. Upland rice: About 40–50 kg of seed is required to plant a hectare when sowing is conducted by dibbling.

Time of sowing

The time for sowing rice depends on the available kind of land, whether it is lowland or upland and on the agro ecology where the farm is situated. The recommended time for sowing rice in Northern Nigeria is indicated in Table 2. The actual timing of sowing should, however, be adjusted in accordance with the time of the establishment of the rains.

 

Time of planting rice in Northern Nigeria

Ecology	Time of planting
Southern Guinea savanna	Between weeks 1 and 2 in June
Northern Guinea savanna	Between weeks 1 and 2 in June
Sudan savanna	Between weeks 3 and 4 in June

 

Spacing

• Lowland rice: Sow rice seeds by drilling in rows at spacing of 20 cm or 30 cm apart. For transplanting method, transplant seedlings at a rate of 2–3 seedlings per hill, to a depth of 3–4 cm, and at a spacing of 30 × 30 cm (best for late-maturing cultivars), or 20 × 20 cm when soil is fertile or sufficient fertilizer is available.
• Upland rice: Dibble 5–6 seeds at a spacing of 20 × 20 cm or 30 × 30 cm and later thin to 3 to 4 seedlings per stand at 2 to 3 weeks after sowing.

 

Fertilizer Application

• Lowland rice: Apply about 4 bags of NPK 15: 15:15 applied at sowing and about 2 to 3 bags of urea applied at 6‒8 weeks after sowing.
• Upland rice: Apply about 4 bags of NPK 15:15:15 applied at sowing. Incorporate (bury) the fertilizer in the soil properly to avoid losses. The second dose of about 2 to 3 bags of urea fertilizer should be applied at 6–7 weeks after sowing.

 

Manual weed control

Weeding should be carried out twice, at 2–3 weeks and 5–6 weeks after sowing. Pull out weeds by hand or with a small hand hoe; heap the weeds outside the field.

 

Chemical weed control

It is important to note that special skills are required in handling and using herbicides to ensure effectiveness and to avoid poisoning the user. Read and follow the instructions on the product label before using any herbicide. It is important to note that herbicides will not be effective if land preparation is poorly done. Non

 

Recommended herbicides for upland and lowland rice production

Treatment formulation	Commercial name	Rate	Time of application	Remarks
Pendimethalin (455 g/L)	Stomp CS	2.53 L/ha	Pre-emergence	Apply within 2−3 days of planting (for upland and lowland rice). For annual grass and small-seeded broadleaf weed control.
Propanil + 2,4-D amine (360+200 g/L) EC	Vespanil plus	1.25−2.5 L/ha	Post-emergence	Applied at 1‒4 leaf weed stage, irrespective of the stage of the rice or 14‒21 days after seeding or transplanting. Selective to rice with broad spectrum weed control.

 

Pest and disease control

Pests: The major pests of rice are borers and army-worms

Control: Some of the measures recommended for the control include the use of resistant varieties

 

Diseases: The major pests of rice are Brown leaf spot and Blast

Control: Some of the measures recommended for the control include the use of resistant varieties

 

Harvesting

Rice is fully mature for harvesting when 80–85% of the grains are straw color. To harvest, cut the rice stems with a sickle at about 10–15 cm above the ground.

 

Threshing and winnowing

Thresh on hard surfaces by beating the grains out from the ears. Winnow to separate the chaff and empty grains from the well-filled mature grains. Dry the paddy to a safe moisture level of between 12 and 14% before storing. Freshly harvested paddy does not store well under high temperatures.

By Iyorkaa Nater

 

Site selection

The best soil suitable for cultivating the crop should be deep, well drained, medium textured, non-gravelly and non-lateritic.

 

Land Preparation

The land preparation operations involve broadly clearing the existing shrubs, felling of the existing trees and burning. These operations should begin 2 to 3 months before the time of burning. The felled trees should be packed or burnt. The land should be ready for planting at the beginning of the rains in April/ May.

After land clearing the field could be lined out with wooden pegs on planting points at a triangular spacing of 9m x 9m x 9m giving a density of about 140 – 150 palms per hectare. The palm rows should run in a north-south direction. This orientation and planting arrangement permit maximum solar interception by the individual palm.

Since the soil is usually left bare after burning, erosion may cause serious problems to the soil. As such it may be necessary to plant legume covers to protect the soil from erosion and to check the invasion of troublesome weeds. The legume cover crops widely planted are Calopogonium mucunoides, Peuraria phaseoloides and Centrosema pubescens. The legumes are sown after the onset of the rains.

 

Recommended Variety

Tenera hybrid variety from the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) is recommended for Nigeria across agro-ecological zones for high yield. Sprouted nuts or raised oil palm seedlings which can be obtained through the NIFOR, A.D.P’s and Tree Crops Unit (TCU). Tenera hybrid variety starts fruiting 3 – 4 years after field planting. Relatively, it is resistant to a number of palm diseases and has a yield potentials of 15-18 tonnes fresh fruit bunches (fib) per hectare per year as against 2-3 tonnes of the wild and improved Dura varieties.

 

Nursery

A nursery is necessary for growing the germinated seeds to produce strong, healthy and viable seedlings for the field establishment. Recommended system of raising oil palm seedlings is the single stage poly bag nursery in which seedlings are grown in polybags until they are ready for transplanting into the field.

The system involves the use of 400- 500 gauge black polythene bags (usually about 40 x 35 cm lay flat). The bags are filled with top soil from the nursery area and placed in square formation at 45 x 45cm spacing. The bags are filled to the top and made firm by watering for a least a week before planting.

 

Sprouted Seed Planting

When sprouted seedings are received, they are planted almost immediately after their plumule and radicles are well differentiated to prevent planting the seed upside down (planting the seed upside down results in delayed shoot emergence and twisted seedling that never does well). The depth of planting should not be more than 2.5cm, taking care not to damage the radicle and plumule.

Planting starts in mid April and ends in June (when rain stabilises) in order to ensure uniform seedling emergence and good take-off. As soon as planting is done, mulching with partially shredded oil pahn bunch refuse or dry grass.

Seedlings raised in polybags have higher rate of survival, faster field establishment and minimum transplanting shock.

 

Fertilizers Application in Nursery

Application of a compound fertilizer NPK Mg in the ratio 12: 12:17:2 at the rate of 14g (i.e. one table-spoonful) per seedling per application in two doses at 2 and 8 months after planting is recommended.

The fertilizer should be spread in a ring about 7.5 cm away from the seedling to avoid scorching of the leaves.

 

Nursery Watering

During the dry season, the seedlings should be watered with 2 litres of water applied in two equal doses per week. A large amount may be required in severe harmattan conditions in which watering may be carried out both in the mornings and evenings daily because oil palm seedlings are vulnerable to any measure of water stress. Mulching also helps to conserve moisture.

 

Pests of Nursery

The three main insect pests of oil palm nursery are termites, grasshoppers and beetles.

1. Termites: They attack and destroy the root system of seedlings in the soil which cause the seedlings to be pale, stunted or dead in heavy infestations. Termites can be controlled culturally by increasing the frequency and volume of watering during the dry season from November to onset of the next rainy season. Termites can also Furadan 3G at 1 Og/seeddling (1 tea spoon) or ultracide 40SCW at 6% concentration.
2. Grasshoppers: These feed on the leaves and can cause considerable deterioration to nursery seedlings. The young nymphs are the most destructive stage of these Grasshoppers can be controlled by handpicking and destroying the nymphs at low infestation intensity or by spraying of a good insecticide.
3. Beetles (Small Weevils): The adult weevil lays eggs on cut parts or tiny holes, it finds on the petioles, leaf bases or bulb of seedlings. The eggs later develop into larvae which eat through the affected parts of the seedling. In severe cases the affected part will cause wilting and later death of the seedling.

In order to minimize its attack, it is advisable to provide light shading during the dry season or period of drought during July- August. The insect can also be controlled culturally by avoiding wounding any part of the seedlings. It is advisable to uproot affected seedlings and burn. Chemical control of the insect is by spraying with a good insecticide.

 

Transplanting to the Field

The Ball-Of earth method of transplanting is the best method. Polybag seedlings are best transplanted with all the soil in the bag. Transplanting of seedlings should commence when they have attained the age of 10 – 12 months. The operation should start as soon as the rains become regular and be completed at least 2 months before the rains cease.

 

The following steps are involved in this method of transplanting:

1. Dig hole big enough to accommodate ball-of-earth
2. 2. Separate top soil from sub-soil
3. Lift polybag seedlings carefully to planting point to avoid disturbing the ball-of-earth.
4. Tear off polybag carefully and slide ball-of-earth into planting hole
5. Make sure that surface of ball-of-earth levels up with soil surface
6. Fill gap with top soil and ram gently with stick to avoid water logging and ensure firm establishment of seedling.

 

Weed Control

Always maintain a clean field especially round the plant

 

Harvesting

Oil palms can be harvested the 4th year after planting if they are given the proper care and management. The correct time to harvest bunches is when a few of the fruits become loose and can be dislodged.

NOTE: Always contact your nearest Farm Warehouse office for advice when you observe changes in leaf colour and yield

By Iyorkaa Nater

 

Site Selection

• Choose a good soil with medium fertility and good drainage
• Avoid stony, clayey or water-logged soils
• Use a farm that has been well maintained
• Use land that is not sloppy

Land Preparation

• Clear the weeds with Glyphosate 3 weeks before tillage operations
• Practice minimum tillage in sandy soils to conserve organic matter, and moisture, and to reduce soil erosion
• In shallow or hard soils, make ridges or mounds to increase the topsoil volume per plant for a better establishment

Choice or Variety

• Select planting materials from healthy cassava plants (9-15 months old) without stem or leaf damage from pests or diseases
• Choose improved varieties with the highest and most stable yield performance in the particular farm locations

Cassava Varieties Available for Farmers in Nigeria

Variety	Characteristics
Game – Changer	High Yielding, High Starch Content
Hope	High Yielding, High Starch Content
Obasanjo – 2	High Yielding, High Starch Content
Baba – 70	High Yielding, High Starch Content
Poundable	Sweet Cassava, High Yielding, High Starch Content
TME-419	High Yielding, High Starch Content
TMS 30572	High Yielding, High Starch Content

 

Preparing healthy cassava stems for planting

• Obtain stems for planting from mature plants 10–12 months old
• Store under the shade for 2–5 days (never more than 2 weeks) before cutting and planting. This makes the stems sprout faster than when they are planted freshly cut from the field
• Stems should be stored vertically on the soil under a shade. The distal end of the stems should touch the soil, which is moistened regularly, with the surroundings kept free from weeds
• Handle the stems with care not to destroy the nodes that may result in losses. Do not make jagged cut surfaces or keep stems in the open (leading to drying)
• Cut stems, with sharp tools, preferably secateurs or cutlasses, into 25-cm cuttings with 5–7 nodes

How to plant cassava cuttings

• Cassava cuttings can be planted in a slanting or angular position (45^o). In this case, the cuttings are buried in the soil with one-third above the soil surface. Ensure that the buds point upwards. This is where the cuttings sprout
• Plant the cuttings at a spacing of 1 m × 1 m on the crest of ridges or mounds as conventionally recommended. This will give a plant population of 10,000 stands/ha
• Vertical or angular planting is recommended in areas of high rainfall
• Horizontal planting is better in dry areas

Weed control practices in cassava production

• Weeds are controlled so that cassava grows and develops well.
• Control weeds in the first 3-4 months after planting

When and how to apply chemicals

Pre-planting: Apply herbicides such as Glyphosate 7-10 days before planting

Pre-emergence: Apply herbicides such as Primextra Gold or Vigor at 4 liters per ha or Lagon at 1.25 liter per ha.

Do not apply pre-emergence herbicides on dry soil

Post-emergence: Use Fusilade Forte 150EC recommended at 3 L/ha at 12 weeks after planting, for grasses. Apply Gold, Basta, Fasinate under cassava canopy at label rate (spray) 8 weeks after planting (early post emergence) for broad leaved weeds. Avoid direct or drift damage to the crop

Fertilizer Application

Application of N-P-K 15-15-15 (15 bags) per hectare in three doses is recommended for higher yield. Ensure covering of applied fertilizers to avoid evaporation

• First dose 3 bags per hectare at 4-6 weeks after planting
• Second dose 3 bags per hectare at 10–12 weeks after planting
• Third dose 3 bags per hectare at 16–20 weeks after planting

Harvesting

• Harvest cassava roots when they are mature to have accumulated enough starch but have not yet become fibrous.
• The optimum age when the starch and dry matter yields are highest is 9 – 12 months after planting, depending on the variety and the climate. Some varieties mature in 15 – 18 months. Extended cold season may delay the maturity of cassava
• Cassava roots may lose the valuable starch, rot or become woody if not harvested at maturity
• When harvesting, cut the roots from the stem leaving 2-5cm of the stuck on the roots

Transporting cassava roots

To avoid root deterioration and loss of quality, transport to the homestead, market or processing plant immediately after harvesting

How to transport cassava roots

• Use wheel barrows or any other suitable container to transport roots in small quantities and short distances, such as from the farm to road side or bulking center where they will be loaded on a vehicle for long distance transportation.
• Gently off load the roots from the wheelbarrow or container without causing bruises or damage to the roots
• Vehicles transporting cassava a long distance should be covered with tarpaulin to avoid rapid moisture loss from the roots
• Do not seat or put heavy objects such as vehicle tyre s on roots after loading.

Storing cassava roots

Cassava roots start deteriorating soon after harvesting. Internal discoloration and loss of marketing value occur if they are not cooked or processed within 24 – 48 hour of harvesting. Secondary fungi and bacteria infection may cause rot in untreated roots

Improved storage methods

• Select a well-drained area, preferably shaded, and slightly sloping.
• Dig trenches measuring 1 meter (m) wide and 30–40 cm deep. The length varies according to the volume of roots. A trench 1 m long can contain 70–80 kg of roots
• Dig the trenches in such a way that the length is directed downhill
• At the lower end of the trench, make a drainage ditch, at least 20 cm wide and 5 to 10 cm deeper than the storage trench
• Arrange mature, undamaged roots inside the trench. Cover each layer with soil, preferably river- sand or sea- sand. Clay-loam soil can also be used if it is not too wet
• Do not use heavy clay. Soil of this type could speed up root deterioration
• Do not keep cassava in a waterlogged area because roots will rot easily.