»Cassava harvest made easier«
As a factor of production considered in agriculture economics, the type and amount of labor determines the size of field cleared to grow cassava.
Being a staple food for people, cassava are harvested in 7-12 months after planting and the roots are only kept for 2 days which forces farmers to harvest them for immediate use as away of minimizing the food wastage.
Cassava management
First, vertical planting of cassava cuttings is preferred only in sandy soils as this make cuttings develop deeper roots while horizontal planting make roots develop close to surface. The application of compost make soils loose and harvest easier.
As wood chips are mixed into manure to make compost manure, edge compost manure before applying in field. Randomly spread manure into field or apply a few weeks after planting and make a trench around each plant, add compost and cover with soil as manure stimulates root growth.
Continue by growing legumes in between lines of cassava to add organic matter to soil as this keeps soil moist and also suppresses weeds and add nitrogen from air to soil. Only 2 m long wooden pole is used as iron pole is fixed with screw.
Similarly during harvesting, when you hold pole upright, the iron pole should be at knee height and inside, iron pole should have serrated edge to firmly hold stem. Make sure cassava stems are cut before use of iron pole and removed from field.
Finally, slide pole for iron pole to grab the stem and pull the stick upwards to lift roots out of soil.
