Farmers compare notes during the selection exercise at KALRO research station in Katumani, eastern Kenya (photo credit: ILRI/Samuel Mungai)
The inherent ability of Brachiaria grasses to grow in drought and marginal soils make them ideal forage for arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa. Native to Africa, Brachiaria grasses produce palatable and nutritious biomass and increase both milk and meat production. These grasses are good for the environment as they enhance nitrogen use efficiency, sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emission and ground water pollutions. These attributes make Brachiaria one of the most widely cultivated forages in South and Central America, and Australia.
Despite their copious presence across sub Saharan Africa, these grasses are yet to be explored and fully utilized as forage on the continent. The implementation of the Swedish funded research program “Climate-smart Brachiaria grasses for improved livestock production in East Africa” which is led by BecA-ILRI Hub in partnership with International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO); Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB); and Glasslanz, has led to the heightened publicity of the importance of Brachiaria grasses. As a result, there is now substantial interest in these grasses among farmers, policy makers and
researchers across the continent.
Kenyan farmers work with researchers to choose preferred local varieties for improvement
The enthusiasm of local livestock keepers was evident in the participation of more than 100 farmers from eastern Kenya in the project’s participatory variety selection process. This exercise was involved small scale farmers in the selection of Brachiaria grass varieties that best fit to their needs.
During the participatory varietal selection process, the farmers identified preferred varieties based
on their top five criteria – drought tolerance; soil erosion control; plant height at harvest; growth habit; and herbage colour. The selection took place at the project’s experimental plots situated at the KALRO – Katumani Experimental Station in eastern Kenya.
The participating farmers were representative of the 80% of milk producers in Kenya who operate
smallholder crop-livestock mixed farms on less than 10 ha and keep less than ten dairy animals. These farmers rely on fresh milk as an income source and are at pains to increase their production in a set up where natural grazing is limited or no longer available. Large scale on farm evaluations of selected Brachiaria grasses and livestock feeding trials in Kenya are planned to take place in
the next season.
Rwandan farmers try imported varieties
Farmer in Rwanda makes hay from improved variety of Brachiaria grass (photo credit: CIAT/Stephanie Malyon)
In Rwanda where land is under severe pressure from a rapidly growing population, farmers are experiencing difficulties in feeding their livestock. The average farm size in the country is among the smallest in sub-Saharan Africa at just over half a hectare, from which farmers must grow their
household food, cash crops and livestock feed. This has contributed to year round shortage of cultivated forages and resulted overuse and degradation of soils as well as decline in soil fertility.
Here, national partner RAB is working with Rwandan farmers to evaluate the performance of eight
different cultivars of this “wonder grass” which has been shown to increase milk and meat yields in cattle in South-America. The grass has proved popular among the farmers in Rwanda and farmer to farmer dissemination of grasses is happening with 33 farmers growing this grass at present. The initial feeding trials have demonstrated up to 78% increase in the milk production.
This collaborative effort of five different institutions hopes to revolutionize livestock farming across eastern Africa.
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Ethel Makila, Communications Officer, BecA-ILRI Hub and Stephanie Malyon Communications Specialist, CIAT
For information on the Brachiaria grass planting materials in Kenya and the field trials being coordinated by KALRO Katumani research center, call Tel: 0722206986
where can one get the seeds for this brachiaria grass
I am upcomming farmer in machakos county, please advise where I can buy Brachiaria seed for grass. I have 10 acres that I grow grass to sell as hay. I would like to replace it with Brachiaria grass. I have also recently purchased heifer and looking to acquired more.
is there a company supplying this grass to farmers? i am interested to grow it at the coast.
Dear Edwin, please get in touch with KALRO Katumani for advice on acquiring and planting the grass.
I am selling brachiaria grass splits and brachiaria seeds very cheaply.contact me on +254701750294.I deliver world wide.
Kindly advise where and how i can get Bracharia grass.
Looking forward to read from you soon.
Thanks
I’m from keringet in Nakuru county,where can I get the seeds n does it do well in the highlands?
Who can I contact to grow Brachiaria grass in Namanga?
Hallo.Lack of information on pasture managment is hindering potential dairy farmers from realizing excellent benefits of this sector as a way of poverty eradication programme in Kenya.Make it easier for poor farmers in the rural areas access reliable info on this.I work in the middle east and i have seen governments here invest billions of dollars in pasture farming and dairy industry thus cutting costs on imports of dairy products and increase their national revenues tremendiously in the desert.
It is very exciting to see such great interest in the Brachiaria grasses! For more information on the seed and how to plant the grass, please contact Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Katumani on tel: 0716964732.
I am a small scale dairy farmer in Mwea Kirinyaga county. I would like to know whether I can be trained in seed production of the wonder grass. I have five acre piece of land which I want to use for this purpose.
I live at Kimangu in Rongai, Nakuru. Where can I get the brachiaria grass’ seeds?
Dear farmers in Kenya, please get in touch with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) scientist Donald Njarui in Katumani using this phone number 0716964732. You will also be able to get additional information on planting the grasses.
I’m in need of brachiaria seeds kindly assist
Dear farmers in Kenya, please get in touch with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) scientist Donald Njarui in Katumani using this phone number 0716964732. You will also be able to get additional information on planting the grasses.
i want to grow the fodder in Kenol-Muranga
Farmers in Kenya, for all your information about where to get Brachiaria grass please contact Donald Njarui from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)-Katumani on tel:0716964732. He is able to connect you to farmers near you who are growing the grass and could supply grass splits.
where are the seeds around Thika
Farmers in Kenya, for all your information about where to get Brachiaria grass please contact Donald Njarui from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)-Katumani on tel:0716964732. He is able to connect you to farmers near you who are growing the grass and could supply grass splits.
I am from Nigeria and I am marvelled by this wonderful grass. Please do one get it for use in Nigeria. Regards.
Dear Mazi,
thank you for getting in touch. We will request our lead scientists on this projects for any possible contacts they may have of people who can assist you in your country.
Brachiaria is set to revolutionaries the dairy sector in Kenya, especially with the small scale dairy farmers.
Where can I get seeds and advice on planting the brachiaria grass in Kisumu county?