Varieties --- each variety of tapioca comprises different strengths and weaknesses. Growers have to choose the variety that best fit to their planting area. And it should be easily secured in the local area. Acquiring planting materials without cost or at low cost would help to achieve the maximum profits, as most current varieties perform similarly a good productivity. The characteristics of each variety can be described as follows:

Rayong 5 --- This variety has green stems with 150-200 centimeters in height. It initially branches out at the height of 80-150 centimeters. It yields 4.4 ton of fresh roots/rai with 23% starch content in roots when harvested during the rainy season and 28% starch content in roots when harvested during the dry season. The stems can be stored for 30 days after cutting.

“Rayong 5” can be planted in all parts of Thailand both at the beginning and at the end of the rainy season but is not suitable for planting in the laterite land.

Rayong 72 --- This variety has green stems with 180-250 centimeters in height and only a few branches. In the North-east of Thailand, it yields 5.2 ton of fresh roots/rai with 22% starch content in roots during when harvested the rainy season and 28% starch content in roots when harvested during the dry season. In the East of Thailand, it yields 4.9 ton of fresh roots/rai with 20% and 27% starch content in roots when harvested during the rainy season and during the dry season respectively. The stems can be kept for 30 days after cutting.

“Rayong 72” has low starch content in roots if it is planted in the area of high level of underground water or in the long and heavy raining area. However, in the North-east of Thailand like Dan Khuntod District, Nakornratchasima, from January-February, 2003 it did perform up to 30% of starch content in roots.

Rayong 90 --- This variety has orange brown stems with the moderate curve character and 150-200 centimeters in height. It initially branches out at the height of 80-120 centimeters. It yields 4 ton of fresh roots/rai with 25% of starch content in roots when harvested during the rainy season and 30% of starch content in roots when harvested during the dry season. Besides, it is tolerant to leaf-burnt disease. And the stems can be kept for 15 days after cutting.

Compared to others, “Rayong 90” has a rather light stem; thus, its stems cannot be kept over 15 days. The stems that are cut long before planting will have low germination rate in particularly if they are planted at the end of the rainy season.

Kasetsart 50 --- This variety has silver green stems with a slight curve character and 180-250 centimeters in height. It branches out at the height level of 80-150 centimetersabove the ground. It yields 4.4 ton of fresh roots/rai with 23% starch content in roots when harvested during the rainy season and 28% of starch content in roots when harvested during the dry season. The stem can be kept for 30 days after cutting.

Huay Bong 60 --- This variety has silver green stems with 200-300 centimeters in height. It branches out at the height level of 90-140 centimeters above the ground. It yields 5-8 ton of fresh roots/rai with 25.5% of starch content in roots. The stem can be stored for 15-30 days after cutting.