A study was carried out at three sites in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the aim of reducing the time taken for harvesting, the energy required and the labour intensity, as well as minimising tuber damage and breakage. The performance of two harvesting tools was compared to that of the traditional hoe. The tools were the lifter1 and the lifter2. The lifter1 rests on three legs and works on the "grip and lift" principle, while the lifter2 consists of a handle with a chisel attached to it that serves as a base for lifting cassava from the ground. The results showed that using a hoe increased the time taken to uproot by 42 %, and the force required by 7 %, compared to using a lifter2. Furthermore, the heart rate recorded by the hoe was 16 % higher than that recorded by the lifter2. These results show that using the lifter2 involves moderate-intensity physical activity, whereas harvesting cassava with a hoe involves vigorous-intensity activity. However, adjustments are currently needed to improve grip on the cassava stem when using the lifter2 for harvesting. This can improve the efficiency of cassava harvesting, allowing local farmers to work more comfortably and boost their performance.