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The two field trials evaluated the performance of sesame (var. PBTil) and sunflower (var. Isaanka) intercropped with cassava (var. TMS 30572 and TME 1) in a cassava‐based cropping system with a view to studying the phenology of the component crops and establishing mixture productivity in terms of biological efficiency (land equivalent ratio [LER] and area time equivalency ratio [ATER]), intercrop compatibility land equivalent coefficient (LEC) and economic efficiency (monetary advantage index [MAI] and cassava yield equivalent [CYE]) of the systems under humid tropical conditions during the early and late cropping seasons of 2003/2004. Intercropping highly significantly (P < 0.01) delayed number of days to flowering, physiological maturity and height at both stages, seed yield and yield attributes of sesame and sunflower relative to their monocrops. Similarly, intercropping highly significantly (P < 0.01) reduced number of leaves and plant height at 2, 3, 4 and 12 months after planting (MAP), number and weight of tubers per plant, mean tuber weight and tuber yield of cassava relative to their monocrops. The six intercropping systems recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher biological efficiency (LER > 1.00 in both plantings and ATER > 1.00 in the late planting) than their respective monocrops and relatively high intercrop compatibility (LEC > 0.037 and 0.25). Based on MAI and CYE, TME 1/Ses/Sun, TMS 30572/Ses/Sun and TMS 30572/Sun were the three most economically efficient cropping systems, especially in the late and more preferred planting season and are hereby recommended to prospective growers for cultivation, economic empowerment, and reduction of household food insecurity.

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