The planting material most commonly used are portions of the central corm, from 100 to 150 g, with three or four buds. They give greater yields than the cormels which are also sometimes used. With this material, not only is the yield quadrupled but the exportable portion of the harvest increases from 40 to 80 percent, which amply compensates for the cost of sowing. The system consists of producing plantlets in public or private laboratories, which supply them to growers or cooperatives capable of developing them under the special conditions required. The ground for planting is ploughed and raked and mounds or ridges are formed for planting the seed.
Planting is done in ridges when harvesting is semi-mechanized.
The portions of the corm are placed at a depth of 6 to 7 cm since, if planted closer to the surface, they produce numerous side shoots which reduce yield. The planting distance in commercial cultivation is 1.3 m between rows and 40 to 50 cm between plants. In small plantations, they are planted in mounds spaced at 1 x 1 or 1.3 x 1.3 m. In Nigeria, the best results were obtained with distances of 1.6 x 1.6 m on plots where cormels were planted. The first six months is a critical period for weed control.