How to Grow Cassava
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a vegetable crop that yields 10–40 tonnes (fresh roots) per hectare and takes 8–24 months from planting to harvest. It grows best in wide range; sandy loam preferred, pH 5.5–7.0; tolerates poor soils, needs 500–1,500 mm of water, and is widely grown in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya. The current average farm-gate price on GeraFarm is about $0.12 per kg.
Yield / hectare
10–40 tonnes (fresh roots)
Time to harvest
8–24 months from planting
Avg. price
$0.12/kg
Top regions
Nigeria, Ghana
About Cassava
Cassava is the food security backbone of sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria as the world's largest producer. Growing industrial demand for starch, flour, and ethanol creates commercial opportunities.
Cassava growing facts
- Scientific name
- Manihot esculenta
- Category
- Vegetable
- Yield per hectare
- 10–40 tonnes (fresh roots)
- Time to harvest
- 8–24 months from planting
- Growing season
- Year-round in humid tropics; planting at onset of rains
- Avg. farm-gate price
- $0.12 / kg
- Soil requirements
- Wide range; sandy loam preferred, pH 5.5–7.0; tolerates poor soils
- Water requirements
- 500–1,500 mm; highly drought tolerant once established
How to grow cassava, step by step
- 1
Prepare soil to the crop’s needs
Test and prepare your soil to match cassava's requirement: Wide range; sandy loam preferred, pH 5.5–7.0; tolerates poor soils. Correct pH and add organic matter before planting.
- 2
Plant in the right window
Plant during the recommended season: Year-round in humid tropics; planting at onset of rains. Use certified seed or healthy planting material to avoid carrying over disease.
- 3
Irrigate to target
Supply 500–1,500 mm; highly drought tolerant once established. Even, well-timed moisture during the critical growth stages drives yield and quality.
- 4
Scout and protect against disease
Watch for Cassava mosaic disease and Cassava brown streak disease. Rotate crops, keep good spacing for airflow, and act early — AI disease-scan apps can warn you days before damage is visible.
- 5
Harvest at the right time
Harvest after 8–24 months from planting. Handle gently and cool quickly to cut post-harvest losses, which can otherwise reach 20–40%.
- 6
Sell direct for a better price
List your cassava free on GeraFarm, set your own price, and sell direct to verified buyers — keeping the margin a broker would otherwise take.
Diseases & pests to watch for
- Cassava mosaic disease
- Cassava brown streak disease
- Cassava bacterial blight
- Cassava mealybug
Smart-farming tips for cassava
- AI leaf-disease apps detect mosaic and brown streak viruses from smartphone photos in real time
- Processing-grade varieties (high-starch) identified by lab-on-chip AI tools at harvest point
- Harvest scheduling AI minimises post-harvest deterioration (cassava deteriorates within 48 hours)
- Planting density optimiser balances canopy closure vs. fresh root yield for target markets
- Cold storage feasibility maps guide cooperative cold-chain investment decisions
Get cassava price alerts & growing tips
Seasonal cassava price updates, planting reminders and disease alerts, plus when to sell for the best price — straight to your inbox. Free.
Growing cassava — frequently asked questions
- How much cassava can you grow per hectare?
- A well-managed cassava crop yields 10–40 tonnes (fresh roots) per hectare. Actual yield depends on variety, soil fertility, irrigation, and disease pressure — Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo are among the leading growing regions. On GeraFarm, growers selling direct typically earn 40–60% more than through traditional middlemen.
- When is the cassava growing season and how long until harvest?
- Cassava is typically planted in: Year-round in humid tropics; planting at onset of rains. It takes 8–24 months from planting to reach harvest. Timing your planting to local conditions is the single biggest factor in yield.
- What soil and water does cassava need?
- Cassava prefers Wide range; sandy loam preferred, pH 5.5–7.0; tolerates poor soils. Water requirement: 500–1,500 mm; highly drought tolerant once established. Matching soil and irrigation to these needs is essential for a healthy cassava crop.
- What are the main diseases and pests that affect cassava?
- The most common threats to cassava are Cassava mosaic disease, Cassava brown streak disease, Cassava bacterial blight. Crop rotation, certified seed or planting material, good spacing for airflow, and early scouting are the most reliable defences. AI disease-scan tools can flag many of these before they spread visibly.
- Is cassava farming profitable?
- Cassava sells for around $0.12 per kg at farm gate, and a hectare can yield 10–40 tonnes (fresh roots). Profitability hinges on yield, input costs, post-harvest losses, and the price you can negotiate — selling direct to buyers on GeraFarm removes the broker margin that usually takes 40–60% of the gap between farm-gate and retail price.
- Where can I sell cassava after harvest?
- You can list cassava free on GeraFarm and reach verified buyers — restaurants, wholesalers, processors and exporters — in 50+ countries. There are no listing fees, only a small commission on completed sales, and you set your own price in your local currency.