Mechanized Cassava Planting and Harvesting

Empowering Cassava Farmers: More Yield, Less Labor, Better Quality

Mechanized cassava planting and harvesting technology is a specialized machinery of two-row planters and harvesters, typically operated by tractors. This technology significantly improves the efficiency of cassava farming by reducing labor requirements, increasing productivity, and minimizing root damage during harvesting. It not only addresses the labor bottleneck associated with manual planting and harvesting but also plays a vital role in increasing cassava yields, making cassava farming more competitive, and reducing production costs.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive low

Under 18: Positive low

Women: Positive low

Climate adaptability: Moderately adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: No impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Mechanized cassava planting and harvesting technology addresses several key issues in cassava production in Africa:

Low Yields: Cassava farmers in Africa often struggle with low yields of 10t/ha, making them less competitive in the global market where higher yields are expected.
Labor-Intensive Operations: Manual planting and harvesting of cassava are labor-intensive and time-consuming processes, requiring a significant workforce.
Root Damage: Manual harvesting can result in high root damage, especially during the dry season, leading to yield losses.
Labor Bottleneck: The reliance on manual labor creates a bottleneck in cassava production and limits productivity.
Competitiveness: To enhance the competitiveness of the cassava sub-sector, there is a need to overcome these issues and increase yields while reducing production costs.

Solution

The mechanized cassava planting and harvesting technology offers several advantages:

Increased Yield: This technology significantly boosts cassava yields, aiming to achieve a 38% yield increase and minimum of 25 tons per hectare when combined with the right fertilizer use, improved varieties and weed management practices, making African cassava farmers more competitive in the global market.

Labor Efficiency: Mechanization reduces the labor-intensive nature of planting and harvesting cassava. For example, a two-row mechanical planter can plant 7-10 hectares in a day, far more efficiently than manual planting with 8 to 10 laborers.

Cost Savings: Mechanized planting and harvesting are more cost-effective, with a two-row mechanical planter being 50% cheaper than manual planting. This cost efficiency benefits cassava farmers.

Minimized Root Damage: Manual harvesting can lead to root damage, especially during the dry season. Mechanized harvesting reduces root damage, ensuring better crop quality.

Enhanced Competitiveness: Overall, this technology aims to enhance the competitiveness of the cassava sub-sector by increasing productivity and reducing production costs, aligning African cassava farming with global standards.

Key points to design your project

The Mechanized Cassava Planting and Harvesting technology offers an efficient solution for planting and harvesting cassava, enhancing productivity while reducing labor requirements and costs. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 2, 5, and 13 by improving agricultural productivity, potentially alleviating women's workload, and promoting sustainable land use practices.

To integrate this technology into your project, consider the following steps and requirements:

Promote the mechanized cassava planting and harvesting technology through demonstration sessions at the community level.
Provide training to operators on the maintenance and operation of the machinery.

-The farmer must have access to suitable farmland of adequate size in an agro-ecology that is suitable for cassava growing.

-The components of mechanized cassava production include land preparation, cassava stakes, mechanical planting, pre-emergence herbicide and its application, post-emergence herbicide and its application, fertilizer and its application, other forms of weeding, mechanical harvesting and transportation of fresh roots, and other miscellaneous activities.

Evaluate the size and number of units needed for your project, considering the cost of mechanized planting (13 USD/ha) is relatively lower than manual planting (29 USD/ha). Harvesting cost under mechanized operation (25 USD/ha) is lower than under manual operation (61 USD/ha).. Factor in delivery costs, import duties, and taxes, considering the technology's sourcing from countries like Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia.

Engage a team of trainers to provide comprehensive training and post-training support for technology usage and maintenance. Develop communication materials such as flyers, videos, and radio broadcasts to raise awareness about the technology.

Collaborate with agricultural development institutes and fleet managers to implement the technology in your country.

Cost: $$$ 367 USD

Mechanical cassava production

50 %

Reduced of manual cost operation

13 USD/ha

Cost of mechanized planting

25 USD/ha

Cost of mechanized harvesting

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 5: gender equality

Goal 13: climate action

The steps involved in mechanized cassava planting and harvesting are:

Mechanical Planting:

Farm Preparation: Prior to mechanical planting, prepare the farm for cassava cultivation.
Choose the Planter: Select a two-row or four-row mechanical planter designed for flat ground.
Tractor Selection: Ensure you have a tractor with a minimum power of 90 hp (67.14 kW) to operate the planter.
Stake Cutting: Install a power take-off (PTO) driven circular saw to cut cassava stakes into cuttings, typically ranging from 14 ± 3 cm to 149 ± 3 cm in length.
Planting Depth: Maintain a planting depth between 60 and 100 mm below the soil surface.
Spacing: Plant cassava with a row spacing of 700 mm, and no ridges are needed for this model of planter.

Mechanical Harvesting:

Select the Harvester: Choose a two-row or four-row harvester, similar to the planter, for mechanical harvesting.
Tractor Requirements: Ensure you have a tractor with a minimum power of 120 hp (89.52 kW) to operate the harvester.
Digging Depth: Maintain a digging depth between 300 to 400 mm.
Harvesting Rate: Mechanical harvesting can achieve a rate between 0.3 and 0.5 hectares per hour (ha/h).