By Grace Samuel
Kenyan farmers are gradually adopting cassava production because of the availability of disease-resistant varieties and favorable market prices.
Cassava is a hardy and drought-tolerant crop, which makes it ideal for smallholder farmers since it can be grown in various conditions.
It is an essential source of carbohydrates, serves as a primary food for 33 percent of Africa’s population, providing over 50 percent of their daily caloric intake.
Agriculturist note that the crop can thrive in areas with as little as 200 mm of rainfall and can do well in soils with high acidity and low nutrient levels.
It has low maintenance costs since it doesn’t require expensive agricultural inputs like fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides.
Additionally, cassava production requires minimal labor and does not have significant peaks in labor demands, as the necessary tasks can be spread out throughout the year.
It was gathered that the cultivation of cassava in Kenya has expanded to 65,769 hectares since 2022, with more farmers getting involved due to attractive market prices and affordable maintenance costs.
Reports have it that over the last five years, the price of a 100 kg bag of cassava tubers has risen from Sh1,982 to Sh3,200 at the farm gate, and from Sh2,544 to Sh4,852 at wholesale.
The crop also tends to have more stable yields compared to cereals.
