ABSTRACT
Most of the world's cassava is grown by small farmers who employ traditional production systems, which give low but stable yields. Cassava growing areas in southern West Africa, parts of Zaire, the Amazon jungle, and the less densely populated areas of Indonesia are classified as hot, humid lowland tropics. In India, where cassava is mainly produced for local consumption, cassava growers' farms are usually less than 1 hectare, and there are many backyard patches in the urban areas. The broad array of ecological and sociological conditions under which cassava is grown gives rise to extreme diversity in production systems and practices. Weed control is important in the early growth stages because a cassava crop is slow to establish and cover the ground. Latin America, the center of origin of cassava, has all major problems except locusts and African mosaic disease.
