BRS Jacundá cassava promises to triple productivity in Amazonas

Starting October 9th, farmers in Amazonas will have access to a new cassava variety developed for the region's soil and climate conditions. BRS Jacundá, a cultivar created by Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental (AM), promises to boost production by offering productivity over 300% higher than the state average, as well as resistance to pests and diseases and characteristics that meet the traditional tastes of the local population. Boasting superior agronomic characteristics, BRS Jacundá also has yellow flesh, ideal for producing table flour.

Launch on October 9th during field day

The new cultivar will be presented to the production sector during a field day held at Embrapa's headquarters in Manaus. The event will be attended by rural producers, rural extension technicians, cassava seed producers, agribusiness representatives, and institutional partners. Data compiled from the experiences of producers who have already tested cassava in their fields will be shared.

According to Embrapa researcher Ferdinando Barreto, the new cultivar is adapted to the dry land environment and has the potential to strengthen the cassava production chain, especially in regions such as the Middle Solimões, where the crop is the basis of the agricultural economy.

The cultivar has a root productivity of over 30 thousand kilos per hectare (kg/ha) compared to the current state average of 10,560 kg/ha, that is, it is practically 300% more productive.

According to Barreto, with proper management, the qualitative characteristics of the root and its tolerance to major pests and diseases tend to favor the adoption of the new cultivar, especially in dryland regions. "Therefore, it should contribute to food security and the strengthening of the cassava production chain in the state of Amazonas," believes the researcher.

The importance of cassava for the Amazon

In Amazonas, cassava, consumed raw or in flour form, has been essential in providing carbohydrates, especially to the low-income rural population, contributing to food security and the generation of jobs and income through the sale of cassava or its derivatives. Therefore, the crop plays a strategic role in the lives of thousands of farmers.

Cassava genetic improvement research, developed by Embrapa Western Amazon, in partnership with Embrapa Cassava and Fruit Growing (BA), aims to identify genetic materials with superior agronomic characteristics compared to those traditionally used by producers in the state.

Yellow color is preferred for making flour

In Amazonas, it is customary to consume flour made from bitter cassava with yellow flesh. The yellow flesh of BRS Jacundá was one of the criteria defined by farmers for adopting cassava, especially in the processing of flour and tucupi.

Researchers believe that the yellow flesh, combined with other advantages such as high root productivity, high availability of seed cuttings, high starch content, and tolerance to major pests and diseases, should favor the widespread adoption of the new cultivar in the state.

The recommendation of BRS Jacundá for Amazonas is also related to its potential for flour processing. It is expected to be planted primarily in areas that are representative of cassava cultivation, such as the Médio Solimões microregion, which encompasses the municipalities of Tefé, Uarini, and Alvarães.

In the Middle Solimões microregion, cassava cultivation is the main agricultural and economic activity, currently concentrating its plantings on practically a single variety: "Catombo." Given that crops are permanently exposed to biotic (pests and diseases) and abiotic (heat, drought, rain, etc.) stresses, this situation presupposes that cassava varieties are undergoing genetic erosion, which is the gradual loss of a species' genetic diversity.

How the new cassava was developed

BRS Jacundá is the result of more than two decades of research and genetic improvement, which began with the collection of germplasm in the municipality of Uarini in 1997. Since then, it has undergone rigorous tests for yield, resistance, and stability.

Active cassava germplasm banks, associated with crop improvement programs, contain genetic material that is constantly evaluated and used as a basis for the development of new cultivars adapted to specific local environmental conditions.

BRS Jacundá is the result of a germplasm collection expedition carried out in the municipality of Uarini. This genetic material was incorporated into the Cassava Active Germplasm Bank (BAG) of Embrapa Western Amazon in 1997. According to farmers at the time, the genetic material was early-cycle and had been selected in a terra firme environment.

The researchers then applied the mass selection method to improve the cultivar. Field plants were characterized and evaluated at Embrapa's BAG in Manaus, Amazonas, using standardized descriptors for cassava genetic resource management.

Field research began in 1998 and continued throughout several production cycles. In subsequent years, BRS Jacundá participated in several evaluations involving agronomic yield tests and specific pest and disease resistance tests. It was also subjected to distinguishability, homogeneity, and stability (DHE) tests in terra firme environments in different regions of the state of Amazonas.

how to plant

Adequate spacing and optimal plant populations are low-cost cultural practices that are easy for farmers to adopt. In single-planting systems on terra firme, a spacing of 1 m x 1 m should be adopted, for a density of 10 plants per hectare, a situation that should also be adopted in mechanized plantings. Regardless of the cultivation system adopted, it is recommended to avoid successive plantings in the same area, due to the increased risk of root rot.

 Cassava has slow initial growth. When intercropped, the intercrop should grow quickly, protecting the soil while the cassava develops its canopy.

Rotation recommendation with grasses and legumes

Monoculture production for more than two years in the same area causes physical, chemical, and biological soil degradation, reducing crop productivity. In rotation, other plant species are used in the area previously occupied by cassava, avoiding the incorporation of new areas into the production process. The recommended species for rotation are the grasses corn and sorghum; and the legumes cowpea, mucuna, tephrosia, and flemingia.

BRS Jacundá should be planted at the beginning of the rainy season (November and December). If necessary, planting can be extended to other months, except those with less rainfall.

The ideal harvest period for BRS Jacundá ranges from eight to ten months after planting. If necessary, it can be extended up to 12 months.