Cassava is well recognized for its excellent tolerance to drought and capability to grow in impoverished soils. The plant can grow in all soil types even in infertile soil or acid soil (pH

4.2-4.5), but not in alkaline soil (pH > 8). Despite of that, cassava prefers loosen-structured soil such as light sandy loams and loamy sands for its root formation. As the drought — tolerant crop, cassava can be planted in the lands having the rainfall less than 1,000 mm or unpredictable rainfall. Rather than seeding, the plants are propagated vegetatively from stem cuttings or stakes, having 20-cm in length and at least 4 nodes. To ensure good propagation, good-quality stakes obtained from mature plants with 9-12 months old should be used. The appropriate time of planting is usually at an early period of rainy seasons when the soil has adequate moisture for stake germination. When planted, the stakes are pushed into the soil horizontally, vertically or slanted; depending on soil structure. For loosen and friable soil, the stakes are planted by pushing vertically ("standing"), or slanted approximately 10 cm in depth below the soil surface with the buds facing upward. This planting method gives higher root yields, better plant survival rates and is easy for plant cultivation and root harvest (Howeler, 2007). The horizontal planting is suited for heavy clay soils. Planting with 100 x 100 cm spacing (or 10,000 plants/hectare) is typical, however, less spacing (100 x 80 cm or 80 x 80 cm) and larger spacing (100 x 120 cm or 120 x 120 cm) are recommended for infertile sandy soil and fertile soil, respectively. At maturity stage with 8­18 months after planting, the plants with two big branches (i. e. dichotomous branching) or three branches (i. e. trichotomous branching) are 1-5 m in height with the starch — accumulating roots extending radially 1 m into the soil. Mature roots are different in shapes (as conical, conical-cylindrical, cylindrical and fusiforms), in sizes (ranging from 3 to 15 cm in diameter, as influenced by variety, age and growth conditions) and in peel colors (including white, dark brown and light brown). Although the roots can be harvested at any time between 6-18 months, it is typically to be harvested on average at 10-12 months after planting. Early or late harvesting may lower root yields and root starch contents. Still, the actual practice of farmers is depending on economic factors, i. e. market demand and root prices. Root harvesting can be accomplished manually by cutting the stem at a height of 40 — 60 cm above the ground and roots are then pulled out by using the iron or woody stalk with a fulcrum point in between the branches of the plant. Plant tops are cut into pieces for replanting, leaves are used for making animal fodder and roots are delivered to the market for direct consumption or to processing areas for subsequent conversion to primary products as flour, chips and starch.