Nigerian smallholder cassava farmers can significantly increase their yields by adopting several practices observed in Thailand:
1.Prioritize Improved, Market-Oriented Varieties:
Action: Actively seek out and adopt improved, high-yielding, and disease-resistant cassava varieties recommended by research institutions like IITA and national agricultural research institutes. Crucially, these varieties should also be suitable for diverse end-uses, including industrial processing (e.g., for starch, flour).
Benefit: Higher inherent yield potential, better disease resilience (e.g., against Cassava Mosaic Disease and Cassava Bacterial Blight), and meeting specific market demands.
2. Invest in Quality Planting Materials and Proper Propagation:
Action: Use healthy, disease-free stem cuttings from mature, productive plants. Consider establishing community-based stem multiplication centers to ensure access to certified planting materials.
Benefit: Reduces the spread of diseases and ensures vigorous plant growth from the outset.
3. Embrace Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs):
Soil Fertility Management: Conduct regular soil tests to determine nutrient deficiencies and apply the right type and quantity of fertilizers (organic and inorganic). Implement practices like intercropping with legumes and crop rotation to improve soil health and nutrient cycling.
Optimal Spacing and Planting Methods: Adhere to recommended planting densities and methods (e.g., vertical or angled planting) to maximize sunlight utilization and root development.
Timely Weed Control: Aggressively manage weeds, especially in the early stages of growth, as they compete fiercely with cassava for nutrients and water.
Appropriate Harvesting: Harvest at the optimal maturity period (typically 9-12 months) to ensure maximum root yield and starch content.
4. Strengthen Linkages to the Value Chain:
Action: Form or join farmer cooperatives to collectively access better markets, negotiate fair prices, and secure processing contracts. Engage with existing and emerging cassava processing industries to understand their quality requirements.
Benefit: Reduces post-harvest losses, provides a stable market for produce, and encourages investment in quality.
5. Access to Credit and Extension Services:
Action: Advocate for and utilize government and private sector initiatives that provide access to affordable credit for purchasing improved inputs and equipment. Actively engage with agricultural extension agents to receive training and guidance on modern farming techniques.
Benefit: Enables farmers to adopt improved technologies and practices that require initial investment.
6. Explore Appropriate Mechanization:
Action: For labour-intensive tasks like land preparation and harvesting, explore options for shared machinery or contract services within farmer groups. Even simple, appropriate tools can significantly improve efficiency.
Benefit: Reduces labour costs, improves timeliness of operations, and can contribute to higher yields.
While strategically adopting these lessons from Thailand, Nigerian smallholder cassava farmers can move beyond simply being the largest producers to becoming highly efficient and profitable players in the global cassava market, contributing significantly to food security and economic growth in Nigeria.
