Doubling Cassava Farmers Income Through Agronomic Interventions

Importance of cassava (Manihot escuelnta Crantz) as a food crop is well recognized in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Cassava in general is a rainfed crop, however, recent studies have revealed that manifold increase in tuber production could be obtained by irrigation. A major problem in increasing tuber productivity is the non-availability of quality planting materials. Use of the same planting material over several years degenerate the genetic quality and thereby the yield declines. The other two vital factors responsible for increased yield are the appropriate soil nutrient and moisture management. Studies conducted at ICAR-CTCRI, Trivandrum, India have evolved an integrated approach comprising the use of quality planting materials generated through minisett technique, improved agro-techniques, and appropriate soil nutrient and water management by which the income could be doubled. Virus free planting materials generated through minisett technique were transplanted to the main field on ridges at a closer spacing of 60x45 cm. Integrated fertility management of the soil involved the application of farm yard manure @12.5 t ha^-1 at the time of field preparation along with 50 kg/ha of phosphorous fertilizer, followed by N and K @ 100:100 kg ha^-1 after transplanting. The experiment was under a fertigation lay out, in split plot design with three replications. The main plots included three levels of drip irrigation and sub plots comprised of three levels of fertigation. Results indicated that irrigation at 100% PE yielded maximum tuber yield in all the three years (43.9 t ha^-1). Water requirement of cassava was worked out to be 3.0 mm per day during summer months and thereby a saving in 50% of irrigation water was observed. Economics worked out revealed two times increase in the revenue of farmers.