Growing cassava resistant to cassava mosaic disease yields double the profit compared to the old variety.

QUANG NGAI: A model for growing cassava varieties resistant to cassava mosaic disease yields double the profit compared to traditional varieties, raising expectations for the recovery and sustainable development of cassava raw material areas in Quang Ngai.

Over the years, cassava has been one of the main crops in the mountainous areas of Quang Ngai province, playing an important role in economic development and providing raw materials for the cassava starch processing industry. However, the outbreak and rapid spread of cassava mosaic disease has become a major challenge for production, with many cassava fields experiencing serious yield reductions, or even complete crop failure, directly affecting people’s income.

The model of planting a new cassava variety resistant to cassava mosaic disease, implemented in three localities of Quang Ngai province, has yielded promising results. Photo: LK

Cassava mosaic disease is a viral disease that spreads mainly through cuttings and is transmitted by whiteflies. When cassava plants are infected, their growth is stunted, tubers are small, starch content is significantly reduced, and yields can decrease by 30 to 70%. Given this situation, introducing new disease-resistant cassava varieties is considered an urgent solution to restore and sustainably develop cassava cultivation in Quang Ngai province.

In 2025, the Quang Ngai Provincial Agricultural Extension Center collaborated with local authorities to implement a model of planting a new cassava variety resistant to cassava mosaic disease on an area of ​​13 hectares in Ba Vi, Son Mai, and Tra Bong communes, with 18 households participating. The selected areas all have hilly terrain, good drainage, suitable for the growth requirements of cassava plants, and convenient for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the model.

The cassava variety introduced into the model is HN5, which has been evaluated as resistant to cassava mosaic disease and well-adapted to the farming conditions in Quang Ngai. Participating households received 100% support in the form of standard cuttings, fertilizers, and some supplies according to the correct technical procedures. In addition, the Quang Ngai Provincial Agricultural Extension Center organized training courses to guide farmers in applying the correct procedures for planting, caring for, fertilizing, and controlling cassava pests and diseases.

In addition to receiving support with seeds and fertilizers, people participating in the model are trained in cassava cultivation techniques to improve production efficiency. Photo: LK

Through monitoring and evaluation at the model implementation sites, the HN5 cassava variety showed good adaptability to local climate and soil conditions. The plants grew vigorously, with uniform stem and leaf development, and the incidence of cassava mosaic disease was very low compared to traditional cassava varieties. Notably, throughout the production season, the models recorded virtually no outbreaks of cassava mosaic disease, giving farmers confidence in investing and caring for the crop.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan (residing in Hamlet 6, Tra Bong Commune) – one of the households participating in the model with an area of ​​1.5 hectares – said that his family received full support in terms of seeds and fertilizers, and was guided specifically on the care process by technical staff. “Through monitoring the growth process, I see that the HN5 cassava variety is completely different from previous varieties such as KM95 and KM149. The entire cassava area of ​​my family is not infected with cassava mosaic disease, and the plants are growing and developing very well, so I am very reassured,” Mr. Tuan shared.

The combined results from the three model implementation sites showed that the HN5 cassava variety exhibited vigorous growth, good pest and disease resistance, and no cases of cassava mosaic disease were recorded. The density of red mites and whiteflies was significantly lower compared to the cassava varieties commonly grown by farmers. At the time the cassava plants were 8 months old, the average yield reached 35 to 37 tons/ha.

According to the assessment results of the Quang Ngai Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, each hectare of cassava in the model yields a net profit of 15-18 million VND. Photo: LK

The economic efficiency of the model is considered promising. After deducting expenses, each hectare of cassava in the model yields a net profit of 15 to 18 million VND, more than double that of cassava outside the model (which only yields 7 to 8 million VND/ha). The cassava tubers develop relatively uniformly, with stable quality, suitable for starch processing, contributing to increased income for participating households and building confidence among cassava growers in the area.

According to Mr. Ung Van Thanh, Director of the Quang Ngai Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, the model not only brings efficiency in productivity and income but also contributes to changing the awareness and farming practices of farmers. Through training courses, field conferences, and practical visits, farmers clearly see the difference between disease-resistant cassava varieties and traditional varieties. Many households outside the model have expressed a desire to access disease-free cassava cuttings to switch to disease-free varieties in the future.

Based on the results achieved, the model is assessed as highly feasible and suitable for replication in localities with similar conditions in Quang Ngai province. This is an important solution to gradually build a safe and stable cassava raw material area, serving the sustainable development of agricultural economy .

Source : https://www.vietnam.vn