Evans Muugu, 63, is no ordinary farmer. The retired police officer has struck gold in Guatemala grass, an alternative fodder crop that withstands Napier stunt and head smut diseases. The fodder is fed to livestock to improve milk production. Muugu retired in 1982 before working as a security guard in various city hotels in Nairobi …
Former Cop Harvests Improved Milk Yield & Profits from Guatemala Grass Read More »
Livestock farming plays a vital role in Kenya’s economy, yet traditional feeds have failed to meet productivity challenges. Livestock farmers need alternative options to enhance animal health and productivity. Ordinary Napier grass lacks sufficient protein and energy, resulting in reduced meat and milk production. According to Alex Wanjala, an agriculture expert, Napier grass contains only …
Super Napier Grass (Pakchong 1): Revolutionizing Livestock Farming in Kenya Read More »
A farmer from Naro Moru village in Nyeri County has turned to Facebook to advertise and sell Brachiaria Mulatto II hybrid grass, a move that has enabled him to reach over 2,426 people. Gibson King’ori opened his Facebook page in January 2016 but only used it for posting social matters until he learnt how the platform …
According to data from the USDA Foreign Agriculture Office, soybeans, soybean meal, and corn imports have seen a 72 per cent increase from 2012 to 2021. This has been driven by the rise in the cost of livestock feed production. In 2021, Kenya imported $21.0 million of soybean meal– a 97 per cent increase from …
Livestock feed drives up Kenya’s grain imports by 72% Read More »
Pastoralists in the arid Baringo district have finally discovered a huge benefit to a weed that has for over two decades invaded their land at a fast rate and killed their livestock. Prosopis juliflora locally known as Mathenge withstand harsh climatic conditions explaining why it grows fast in arid and semi arid areas and covering …
Farmers growing tagasaste, tree lucerne, can feed livestock for close to 30 years with this hardy, leafy and protein rich fodder shrub. Besides being a nitrogen fixing tree, tagasaste has sweet scented flowers for bees. It is a highly palatable fodder for goats, cows, sheep and other livestock including poultry. Its digestibility is between 77 …
Tree lucerne: Hardy, nutritious fodder that grows for 30yrs Read More »
Research has shown that smallholder farmers can increase milk yields for their animals by feeding them on a mixture of Napier grass and Desmodium. Napier grass is a species of perennial tropical grass native to the African grasslands. A majority of small scale farmers use the crop to feed their animals in the dairy production …
Intercropping Napier and desmodium raises milk output Read More »
By George Munene George Muturi, a 26-year-old farmer has cut a lucrative niche for himself in offering innovative organic farming solutions through the rearing of redworms, black soldier flies and growing azolla. Ventures which net him about Sh50,000 a month. Lacking school fees after completing his secondary education, Muturi began rearing poultry and rabbits in …
Young farmer cuts lucrative niche in offering organic farming solutions Read More »
