Farmers can double cassava yield –IITA

Preliminary results from experimental plots carried out by researchers working under the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-led Cassava Weed Management Project has shown that by switching to improved weed management practices, Nigeria cassava farmers can double current national average yield of 12- 13 tons per hectare. The current national average yield of cassava puts the yield per stand of cassava plant at 1.2-1.3 kg. However, recent harvest from trial plots recorded a breakthrough as a single cassava stand at Igbariam in Anambra State, produced 3.4kg roots. Project Leader for the Cassava Weed Management Project, Dr.Alfred Dixon, said: “Elsewhere, our preliminary results show that average national yield of 20-39 tons per hectare is achievable if farmers can simply adopt and use improved weed management practices. The results we are seeing in the field reinforce the fact that weeds are a major factor limiting yield and eliminating them (weeds) from cassava can help African farmers benefit more from the investments in research.” Researchers estimated that in uncontrolled fields, weeds wreak havoc on cassava, pulling down about 80 per cent of cassava yield. Women farmers who bear the brunt of keeping cassava farms weed free in most cases end up with backaches. Dr. Adeyemi Olojede, who is the Coordinator from the Nastitute (NRCRI), Umudike, described the results as “great.” “Nothing special was done to the cassava fields. All we did was to ensure the fields were without weeds,” he said. He added: “Though weed control is a major bottleneck to cassava production, it has never gained desired attention as compared to pest and diseases of livestock.” Also, Principal Investigator, Cassava Weed Management Project, Prof. Friday Ekeleme, observed that weed control in cassava was a major constraint to productivity because the crop is left for a long time in the field usually 9-12 months before harvest. Farmers therefore have no other choice than to control weeds over this long period of time to keep the farms free of weeds.