A quiet farming community in Imo State turned into a scene of celebration and shock this week after a local woman unearthed a cassava tuber so massive it stood taller than an adult man. The find has since gone viral, with residents calling it a sign that “Nigeria is blessed.”
The woman, known in the village as Mama Ngozi, was harvesting cassava from her family plot when she and two helpers noticed something unusual. One tuber refused to budge after several pulls. Curious, they dug deeper and soon realized they were pulling out a single root that stretched over 5 feet long and weighed an estimated 45 to 50 kilograms.
Word spread fast. Within minutes, neighbors, children, and passersby gathered at the farm to see the giant cassava. Videos show the tuber laid on the ground next to a grown man for scale. The root was thick, clean, and free of rot — a rare sight even for seasoned farmers. Villagers shouted, laughed, and took turns posing for photos. “Chineke, see blessing!” one woman shouted in the background of the clip.
Agricultural officers in Imo say such a size is unusual but not impossible. “Cassava can grow this big when you have fertile soil, good rainfall, and you leave the crop to mature for 12 to 18 months without disturbing it,” explained an extension officer from the Imo ADP office. “The variety also matters. Some local and improved varieties are known for bulk.”
Cassava is Nigeria’s most important staple crop. The country produces over 60 million metric tons annually, more than any other nation. It feeds millions and is processed into garri, fufu, starch, and flour used by food and manufacturing industries. A single tuber this large could yield over 20 kilograms of garri, enough to feed a family for weeks or sell for a good profit in the market.
For Mama Ngozi, the harvest has already attracted buyers from Owerri and nearby towns. Traders offered to pay above the normal rate, seeing the tuber as both food and a curiosity. She told neighbors she plans to use the money to pay her children’s school fees….See More
