A wise man once said, “A Hungry Nation is an Angry Nation”. When you feed a nation, you have succeeded is solving a large percentage of their problems. In the midst of the impoverishment faced by a great number of Africans, agriculture has proven itself a steady and reliable source of revenue and survival. Agriculture, most especially Crop Farming in Nigeria, is fast becoming the center of attraction providing employment for about 30% to 40% of the population.
Cassava, Manihot esculenta is a flowering plant that belongs to the spurge family. It is a tuber crop that grows well in poor soils with limited labour requirements. More than 80 countries grow cassava. It is also a primary component of the diet of more than 900 million people in the world. In Nigeria, cassava farming is a prominent type of crop farming. Most of our foods are end products of cassava.
Cassava is a multi-purpose farm crop. Asides being an important source of food for mankind, the peels are used to feed animals. Items and materials such as fabrics, papers and plywood are equally made from cassava, including starch and drug production.
Ever wondered how this beneficial crop is being planted? Cassava production depends on a supply of quality stem cuttings. The multiplication rate of planting materials is very low compared to grain crops.
Cassava stems are obtained from previous cultivated fields, cut to length of about 1meter and tied in 50 stems per bundle.
Here are five amazing facts about Cassava stems:
- High Starch Content
The starch content in cassava stems is much higher than those found in the stems of many other plants. This starch has been proven to be extractable using water. Cassava stems have a global production of approximately 40 TG. Cassava stems have previously been overlooked in starch and energy production; hence it would be ideal if the starch from cassava stems could be used as a substitute for root starch, or to increase available starch resources.
- Income Generating Stream
Do you know you can make good money from Cassava stems? Cassava stems have been proven to be a profitable business, benefitting lots of farmers who have access to improved varieties. During harvest, farmers are strongly advised to ensure they do not cut vital parts of the stems carelessly while trying to harvest tubers. These Cassava stems are neatly harvested and parked in bundles to be sold. The end users are usually small-scale farmers, farmers that do not have enough stems to be planted and large-scale farmers who plant for commercial purposes.
- A Healthy Remedy
Cassava stems are used in treating several illnesses such as Arthritis, fever, headaches, etc. It is a traditional form of medication that requires boiling with ingredients like ginger and lemon grass. It is a good remedy for curing fever-related illnesses.
- Storage for Planting
Stem production is another area of crop farming. Not all stems make it to planting as there are certain procedures for storing cassava stems. It is important to select stems from high-yielding and healthy cassava plants of between 8 and 18-month old. Healthy cassava plants have robust stems and branches, are about 2 to 4cm thick, with minimal stem and leaf damage caused by pests and diseases.
The harvested stems are tied in bundles for at least 10 days before planting. However, the stems can be stored for a period of 2 months or more in a dry, well-ventilated, shaded area away from sunlight until it is time for planting.
- Provides Plant Support
In cassava farming, the stem is the plant axis that bears buds and shoots with leaves and at its basal ends, roots. The stem conducts water, minerals and food to other parts of the plant.
The cassava stem supports the leaves to conduct water and mineral to the leaves. The stems conduct water and nutrients from their site of absorption in the root to the leaves. Food and water for the plants are stored in the stem.
The rainy season is the perfect time for cassava farming. You don’t want to miss out on the many benefits of having a cassava farm in Nigeria. Not only will you benefit from the facts mentioned above, but you’ll also set yourself up for long-term success.
If you’re in search of a source to get affordable, healthy and high-yield cassava stems, you can call us on +234 8024902445 or find out more about our Crop Farming methods.
