Cassava Farmers in Delta State Report Bumper Harvest Despite Flood Fears

Cassava farmers across several local government areas in Delta State are reporting a bumper harvest this season, a welcome turnaround after flood-driven losses hit yields hard in previous years, with agricultural extension officers crediting the shift partly to flood-tolerant cassava varieties introduced ahead of planting season.

Farmers who adopted the new varieties, alongside earlier planting windows recommended by extension workers, say their plots weathered this year's flooding with far less damage than surrounding fields still using older stock. "The water still came, but the cassava held. That has never happened before for us," said one farmer in Ndokwa East.

The state's agriculture ministry says it plans to expand distribution of the flood-tolerant seedlings ahead of next season, alongside a parallel push to improve rural feeder roads that farmers say remain a major bottleneck in getting harvested cassava to processing mills and markets before spoilage.

Local processors report that garri and cassava flour supply has already begun to stabilise in nearby markets as the harvest comes in, with some traders noting early price relief compared to the same period last year.