In the world of farming, timing is everything. For cassava farmers, deciding when to harvest can often be a tough balancing act between preventing spoilage and waiting for the best possible market price. Uprooting your crop when prices are low can eat into your profits, but leaving it in the ground too long risks the entire harvest.
At AyosifamHub, we believe in providing practical solutions for profitable farming. What if there was a simple, on-the-spot test to tell you if your cassava can safely stay longer in the soil, allowing you to wait for that market price to climb?
There is! And it’s an age-old secret practiced by savvy farmers.
🔪 The Cut Test: Your Guide to Cassava Readiness
The key to this strategy lies in understanding the onset of post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD)—the natural process that causes cassava roots to spoil rapidly after harvest. You can use this process as an indicator of how much “shelf life” the root still has in the ground.
How to Perform the Test:
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Select a Few: Uproot a small sample of fully mature cassava roots from different parts of your field.
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The Mid-Section Cut: Use a sharp knife to cut a root cleanly across its middle section (perpendicular to its length).
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Inspect the Colour: Immediately inspect the exposed cross-section of the root.
Interpreting the Results:
Cross-Section Appearance |
What It Means | Your Next Step |
Pure White |
The cassava is perfectly healthy. It has not started the PPD process. |
✅ Can Wait! You can delay the harvest and continue to monitor the market price, giving you more negotiation power. |
Showing Colour (Blue, Black, or Brown Streaks/Spots) |
The root is beginning to develop PPD. The spoilage process has started. |
🚨 Uproot Immediately! The plant is giving you a final warning. Delaying harvest further will lead to significant losses. |
💰 Navigating the Market with Confidence
This simple cut test empowers you to make data-driven decisions that directly affect your bottom line.
“If you are not satisfied with the current market price, this test is your way to navigate the market clout.”
If the test shows a pure white centre, you hold the advantage. You can stand firm on your price negotiations, knowing your crop is safely stored in the soil—your most cost-effective storage method! This method significantly reduces the risk associated with waiting for a price increase, turning a gamble into a calculated business move.
By adopting the Cut Test, you move from guessing games to confident market mastery, ensuring you get the maximum value for your hard work. This is the kind of practical farming knowledge AyosifamHub is committed to sharing. Happy harvesting!
