Cassava yield increased by 30 - 50% due to efficient irrigation

Where 95% of the cassava-growing land applies efficient irrigation

Cassava is known as a crop that requires little land and investment. From being a crop that helps alleviate hunger and poverty, cassava has secured a significant position in Vietnam's and the world's economic map. In 2023, despite a decrease in cassava exports and cassava-related products compared to 2022, it still remained one of the agricultural export items valued at over $ 1 billion.

In Tay Ninh, where the predominantly sandy soil on an ancient alluvial foundation is suitable for cassava, thanks to good farming techniques and bold investments in scientific and technological advancement, especially inefficient irrigation systems allowing year-round farming, cassava yields are 1.5 times higher than the national average. Over time, cassava has become a major crop, providing decent income for the people of Tây Ninh.

With Tay Ninh's weather conditions featuring a prolonged dry season of six months, the time from planting to harvesting cassava takes 10 months. During the first three months, cassava requires ample irrigation, making proactive irrigation a prerequisite for its high productivity. Currently, cassava irrigation techniques include sprinkler irrigation using nozzles and automated misting.

We visited the cassava fields of Mr Nguyen Van Cho in Cha aà commune, Duong Minh Chau district, Tay Ninh. Unable to hide his excitement, Mr Cho shared that this year's cassava yield exceeded 50 tons/ha, bringing profits of nearly VND 80 million/ha, all thanks to an automated irrigation system that conserves water.

According to Mr Cho, cassava requires plenty of water during its initial growth stage. Unlike relying solely on rainfall like in many other regions, he and many locals here have been proactively irrigating their cassava fields from the early stages. However, in the past, most people used inconvenient gravity irrigation methods, resulting in uneven water distribution and wastage. In recent years, amidst erratic weather patterns and increasingly scarce water resources, Mr Cho boldly invested in an advanced irrigation system using rotating nozzles, which saved over 40% of water consumption, reduced labour, cut costs, and increased income.

"The investment cost for an automated irrigation system using rotating nozzles is around VND 20 million/ha. Installing this system is quite simple, but it's essential for farmers to calculate water distribution according to the plant's needs, providing sufficient and uniform water supply to support robust plant growth. Each system can be used for 3 - 5 years, and it's portable, so even though my family invested in only one system, it can be used for all 3 ha of cassava. I have seen the numerous benefits they bring, and after just one crop cycle, it's more than enough to recover the investment", Mr Cho enthusiastically shared.

Similarly, in the border district of Tan Chau - considered the cassava capital of Tay Ninh province, people have recognized the benefits of water-saving automated irrigation systems, and now the majority of cassava growers in the area have adopted this technology. Mr Duong Thanh Phuong, the head of the Agricultural Promotion Station in Tan Chau district, enthusiastically shared that currently, the total cassava-growing area in the region exceeds 20,000 ha, with over 95% of the area utilizing water-saving automated irrigation.

"Areas growing cassava using automated irrigation methods have shown high efficiency. Specifically, cassava yields have increased by 30 - 50% compared to non-irrigated areas (cassava without irrigation yields only 20 - 25 tons/ha, while irrigated cassava can reach 40 - 50 tons/ha depending on the level of fertilization). Additionally, automated irrigation helps wash away spider mites, pests, and diseases on cassava plants," Mr Duong Thanh Phuong, head of the Agricultural Promotion Station in Tan Chau district, explained.

Supporting 50% of investment in water-saving irrigation for farmers

According to the Tay Ninh Agricultural Promotion Center, the cassava-growing area in the province has been continuously increasing in recent years. By the end of 2023, Tay Ninh had over 60,000 ha of cassava. In the future, Tay Ninh aims to maintain and develop cassava growing areas at around 55,000 to 65,000 ha per year.

Although the province has a relatively comprehensive irrigation system that provides abundant freshwater, which is highly favourable for cassava cultivation, water resources are limited. The impact of climate change has led to signs of groundwater depletion in the region in recent years. However, the people of Tay Ninh have rich experience in cassava production. Besides adopting water-saving irrigation, they have also mechanized land preparation, bed forming, and combined organic fertilization to improve soil structure, save irrigation water, and maintain good moisture levels. This approach has yielded positive results for cassava growers in Tay Ninh.

In addition to these measures, cultivating new cassava varieties with resistance to leaf blight and drought, such as HN1, HN3, and HN5, and changing planting methods, are also secrets for cassava growers in Tây Ninh to overcome challenges. Instead of traditional horizontal planting, many farmers have switched to vertical planting. "With horizontal planting, cassava tubers only grow on one side of the root. However, with vertical planting, tubers grow evenly around the root, resulting in a higher quantity of tubers. Additionally, it helps the plant resist breakage and requires less water", shared an experienced cassava farmer in Tay Ninh.

Support conditions: For individuals, the minimum irrigated area is 0.3 ha and support for individuals is facilitated through grassroots irrigation organizations. For grassroots irrigation organizations, the minimum irrigated area is 2 ha, and they must have a contract with households or individuals directly involved in production.