“Six Steps” cassava weed management

Weed-free Fields, Bountiful Yields!

The "Six Steps Cassava Weed Management" technology is a comprehensive solution to the persistent issue of weed encroachment in cassava fields across Sub-Saharan Africa. By offering a decision support framework that covers various key control measures, it empowers farmers to keep their cassava crops free of weeds, resulting in significantly higher root yields. This innovative approach is adaptable to the diverse agricultural conditions and resources of small-scale farmers, making it a valuable tool for increasing cassava productivity and improving food security in the region.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

6•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 6/9; level of use 7/9

Problem

Weed Encroachment: Cassava fields across Sub-Saharan Africa are often overrun by weeds, as farmers generaally do not take adequate and timely measures to keep weed covers low.
Slow Canopy Development: The planting arrangement of cassava and its slow canopy development make the crop susceptible to encroachment by weeds in the first 10-16 weeks of cultivation.
Nutrient and Water Competition: When weeds are abundant on farms, they consume significant nutrients and water from the soil, severely reducing the yield of cassava roots.
Complex Weed Challenge: The diversity of weed types, including grasses, broad leaves, and even bushy plants, requires a multifaceted approach.
Resource Availability: The availability of equipment and herbicides can be a limiting factor for some small-scale farmers.

Solution

Improved Yield: By effectively managing weeds, cassava farmers can achieve significantly higher root yields, often exceeding 20 tons per hectare, compared to the national average of 9 tons per hectare.
Comprehensive Approach: The technology provides a holistic strategy that includes site selection, weed identification, herbicide application, tillage operations, plant spacing, and post-emergence weeding, ensuring thorough weed control.
Customized to Local Conditions: It is adaptable to diverse agricultural contexts, from sub-humid savannahs to highlands and humid lowlands, addressing various forms of weed encroachment.
Enhanced Decision Support: The "Six Steps" approach offers decision support and recommendations aligned with prevailing conditions, helping farmers keep their cassava crops free of weeds and achieve high root yields.
Resource-Friendly: Small-scale farmers can implement this strategy using simple and cost-effective equipment and herbicides, making it accessible to a wide range of farmers.