Crop details

Cassava (mhogo)

Manihot esculenta

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Quick stats

Family	Euphorbiaceae
Typical harvest	18.0 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	6
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	shrub
Days to harvest	360
Main uses	Fresh and dried roots for ugali and porridge flours, chips, crisps, animal feed and starch. Young leaves can be cooked as vegetables.
Pollination	cross
Origin / where it grows	Cassava (mhogo) is widely grown in warm, low to mid-altitude areas, especially where rainfall is low or unreliable and maize often fails.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	24–29 °C
Rainfall	800–1300 mm/yr
Altitude	0–1800 m
Best pH	5.5–7
Soil type	Light to medium, well-drained sandy loam or loam. Cassava (mhogo) tolerates poor soils better than many crops but roots suffer in very heavy clays.
Row spacing	100 cm
Plant spacing	100 cm
Planting depth	10 cm
Seed rate	1500 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop has a growth habit described as "shrub". You can normally start harvesting about 360 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fresh and dried roots for ugali and porridge flours, chips, crisps, animal feed and starch. young leaves can be cooked as vegetables..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by cross. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Cassava (mhogo) is widely grown in warm, low to mid-altitude areas, especially where rainfall is low or unreliable and maize often fails. It is grouped under: Roots & Tubers.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 800 to 1300 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 1800 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 5.5 to 7. It does well in light to medium, well-drained sandy loam or loam. cassava (mhogo) tolerates poor soils better than many crops but roots suffer in very heavy clays.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 100 centimetres apart, and leave about 100 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 10 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 1500 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Use healthy, mature cassava stems. Cut 20–25 cm stakes and plant Cassava (mhogo) at the start of the rains, slanting or upright, burying about two-thirds of the cutting.

Transplanting: Cassava is planted using stem cuttings directly in the field, not from a seedling nursery.

Irrigation: Cassava (mhogo) tolerates dry periods but gives better yields with good moisture during the first 3 months and again during bulking (3–9 months). Avoid waterlogging.

Fertigation: Where drip or sprinkler is used, apply small doses of NPK several times early in the season rather than a single heavy application.

Pest scouting: Inspect fields every 2–3 weeks for cassava mosaic and brown streak symptoms, mealybugs, whiteflies and mites. Remove and destroy severely diseased plants.

Pruning: No pruning is required; keep the field weed-free, especially during the first 3–4 months when Cassava (mhogo) is still small.

Harvest: Harvest sweet types from about 8–12 months after planting when roots are well filled. Bitter types may stay longer but should be processed to remove bitterness.

Postharvest: Cassava roots do not store long in the open. Harvest as needed, or peel, chop and sun-dry quickly into chips or flour for longer storage.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	NPK 17-17-17 or similar balanced fertilizer	150 kg/ha	N: 25, P₂O₅: 25, K₂O: 25	Apply in bands 5–10 cm away from the Cassava (mhogo) cutting, and cover with soil.
2	Early topdress	45	Urea 46% N + MOP (muriate of potash)	100 kg/ha combined	N: 30, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 20	Apply when Cassava (mhogo) plants are well established and rains are reliable.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	30	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	60	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	20	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Early sweet cassava	KE	270	Sweet roots, good for fresh boiling and short-cycle production.
High dry-matter cassava	TZ	330	High flour yield, good for chips and gari-type products.
Local mhogo landrace	KE	360	Traditional taste and adaptation; moderate yield.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	150	Gives a balanced start for Cassava (mhogo) in poorer soils.
Topdress (early growth)	Urea 46% N	65	Apply where foliage is pale and soils are very poor, and moisture is available.
Topdress (K support)	Muriate of potash (MOP)	60	Improves root bulking and starch content of Cassava (mhogo), especially where residues are removed.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Cassava mosaic disease (CMD)	disease	Yellow and green mosaic patterns on leaves of Cassava (mhogo), leaf distortion and stunted plants.	Use clean, disease-free cuttings from healthy fields and plant resistant or tolerant varieties.
Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD)	disease	Chlorotic patches on leaves, brown streaks on stems and brown corky rotting inside roots.	Plant clean planting material, rogue out heavily diseased plants and avoid recycling cuttings from infected fields.
Cassava mealybug	pest	White cotton-like insects on shoot tips of Cassava (mhogo), stunting and distorted leaves.	Use clean planting material and encourage natural enemies; use recommended insecticides only when infestations are sever...
Whiteflies	pest	Tiny white insects on underside of leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould. They also spread virus diseases.	Plant early, avoid planting very late crops next to older cassava and remove heavily infected plants.
Termites and root borers	pest	Holes and tunnels in Cassava (mhogo) roots and stems, plants breaking or dying back.	Destroy old stumps, avoid very dry, cracked fields and use spot treatments in severe hotspots.
Rodents and bush pigs	pest	Roots eaten in the field, tunnels and disturbed ridges.	Use traps, fences and community control where possible.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Smallholder rainfed (low input)	8	5	12	Local Cassava (mhogo) varieties, minimal fertilizer and variable weed control.
Smallholder rainfed (improved management)	18	12	25	Improved varieties, good spacing, weed control and some fertilizer or manure.
High input / good management	28	20	35	Fertile soils, balanced fertilizer, clean seed material and timely weed and disease control.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Coastal and eastern lowlands (long rains)	Mar–Apr	Jan–Mar (following year)
KE	Coastal and eastern lowlands (short rains)	Oct–Nov	Aug–Oct (following year)
TZ	Coastal belt and lake zone	Nov–Dec	Sep–Nov (following year)

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Coastal lowlands and eastern drylands	High
KE	Very cool, wet highland zones	Low
KE	Western and lake basin low to mid-altitudes	High
TZ	Coastal and central plateau Cassava (mhogo) belt	High
UG	Lake Victoria basin and surrounding mid-altitude areas	High