Cassava is a drought-tolerant, long-season staple crop grown mainly in the low-rainfall regions of Zimbabwe. It is a critical food security crop and has growing commercial value for starch and flour.
180
Days to Maturity
8–25 tonnes/ha
Typical Yield
Low
Water Need
Very High
Drought Tolerance
Optimal Soil Types
pH Range: 5.5 – 7
Tolerates poor soils but performs best in well-drained sandy loam. Avoid waterlogged clay soils which cause root rot.
Fertilizer: Compound S 200kg/ha at planting. Top-dress with AN at 3 months. Vermicompost 3t/ha improves starch content and root size.
Optimal Temp: 25–35°C
Rainfall: 500–1500mm/year
Climate Zones
Largely rain-fed. Supplemental irrigation at establishment and tuber development significantly improves yield. Not drought-tolerant in first 3 months.
19°C
overcast clouds
Mashonaland Central
27%
Humidity
11
km/h Wind
19–19°C
Min / Max Today
5-Day Forecast
Fri
20°
20°
Sat
32°
14°
Sun
34°
14°
Mon
35°
16°
Tue
35°
17°
Cassava (Slips) optimal climate: Temp: 25–35°C°C · Rainfall: 500–1500mm/yr
Planting Months
Harvesting Months
Planting Depth: 15–20 cm (stake at 45° angle)
Spacing: 1m × 1m or 1m × 0.8m
Material: Stem cuttings (25–30cm length)
Provinces
Natural Regions
Symptoms: Stunted growth, leaf deformation, white waxy covering
Management: Biological control (Anagyrus lopezi); neem spray; remove infested stems
Symptoms: Leaf distortion, rusty bronzing, tip dieback
Management: Predatory mites; abamectin spray; avoid spreading infested material
Symptoms: Yellowing, CMD virus transmission
Management: Imidacloprid; virus-free planting material
Symptoms: Mosaic mottling, leaf distortion, severe yield loss
Management: Use virus-free cuttings; rogue infected plants; whitefly control
Symptoms: Yellow leaf streaks, brown necrotic patches in roots
Management: Resistant varieties; certified clean planting material; whitefly management
Symptoms: Dark brown root decay, plant wilting
Management: Improve drainage; avoid waterlogging; metalaxyl drench
Governed Product Guidance
Crop-specific product selection, application rates, mixing, timing and treatment guidance for Cassava (Slips) are available only through ZEF's governed production-agronomy workflow after country readiness and product/regulatory approval.
Starch production, flour (cassava bread, fufu), livestock feed, biofuel, traditional food
Export Potential:
Cultivation Guide
Step-by-step guide tailored to Cassava (Slips) in Zimbabwe
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