Land preparation

• Land preparation should be completed just before the rains begin in the ASALs from beginning to mid-October in the Southern Rangelands and late February to mid-March in the Northern counties.

• Preparation methods include use of ox-plough, range pits, no-till and mechanized land preparation

Seed rate

• Planting material should be sourced from registered nurseries e.g. KALRO, JKUAT & some private companies, such as Genetic Technologies, Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation & Aberdare Technologies Ltd.
• The seeding rate is 1 – 2 kg/ha and seeds should be covered in a carrier (sand or sawdust) if planting is mechanical.
• The seeds are small so a well-prepared fine seedbed is needed

Planting

• Planting is carried out through broadcasting and drilling in furrows at 5kg/ha and adjusted according to seed germination capacity.
• It spreads well by seed and easily covers the ground through rhizomes.
• It can be planted in mixtures with other range grasses such as Enteropogon macrostachyus, Chloris roxburghiana and Eragrostis superba.

Weeding

• Weeding is Very important during the first year.
• It’s done by hand by either uprooting or using a hoe or use of selective herbicides.

Fertilizer

• Fertilizer is rarely necessary since Cenchrus ciliaris should only be sown on fertile soils. 
• However, phosphorus may be necessary, especially if sowing with a legume. Stands become unproductive with time as nitrogen is tied up in the root system.
• It is generally not economical to apply nitrogen fertilizer to overcome this situation, but management techniques include use of legumes species or limited cultivation to release nitrogen from the soil organic matter every 3‒5 years.

Varieties include

• Biloela 
• MolopoGayndar
• Boorara
• Tarewinnabar
• Edwards
• The available ecotypes in Kenya include the following Kiboko (KBK1), Magadi (MGD3) and Kilifi (KLF1) 
• The ecotypes are high performing and better adapted ecotypes selected from indigenous Cenchrus ciliaris 
• The varieties have higher crude protein (up to 10.5%), are tolerant to grazing and are preferred by farmers because of high dry matter yield. 
• KLF1 is early maturing and preferred by farmers, KBK1 & MGD1 are late maturing and higher dry matter yielders. 

Ecological requirement

The grass grows in the Arid and semi-arid counties of Kenya

Rainfall

• The grass is grown in marginal areas with rainfall of about 300 – 700 mm/yr.

Temperature

• Requires temperature of as low as 10⁰ C and as high as 46.5⁰C 

Soil

• It can grow in soils with moderate to low fertility. However, the soils should not be waterlogged.
• The grass is established from seeds stored at least 1½ to 2 years before planting to break dormancy.

Altitude

The grass grows from 0 – 1500 m in open grasslands.

New Eragrostis superba- Local name Masai love grass, Wilmann love grass(ERSU) ecotypes Kiboko 1(KBK1), Kiboko 2 (KBK2) & Kilifi 1 (KLF1)

Introduction

• It is a perennial species, densely tufted which is quick growing up to 1m tall. 
• Has large, flat, attractive spikelets, up to 16 mm long, green, often flushed purple when young. 
• It occurs in areas below 2100 m above sea level
• The indigenous range grass species such as E. Superba have been used by livestock producers in the ASALs for a long time. 
• However, feed shortage, low livestock productivity and rangeland degradation is still experienced in the rage lands.
• The selected ecotypes of New Eragrostis superba selected from indigenous Eragrostis superbas are high performing, well adapted, preferred by livestock and produce good seed. 
• The ecotypes are more productive in terms of dry matter and crude protein (9-11.5%) levels. 
• They have higher digestibility than existing forages besides being more adaptable to moisture. 
• The ecotypes are more productive in terms of dry matter and crude protein (9-11.5%) levels. 
• They have higher digestibility than existing forages besides being more adaptable to moisture. 

Altitude

• It occurs in areas below 2100 m above sea level.

Rainfall

• Requires a rainfall range of 500-875 mm and prefers sandy soils but occurs also on clay loams and clays. 
• Tolerant to salinity, alkalinity and droughts Less tolerant to, waterlogging and slightly to the shade

Soil

• Does well on clay loams and clays.
• Tolerant to salinity and alkalinity
• less tolerant to water logging and slightly to shade.

Expenditure(inputs)

• Land preparation cost
• Grass seed cost
• Weed and pasture management cost
• Harvesting cost
• Seed processing cost
• Gunny bag for seed storage

Kiboko range pits for water harvesting for pasture production

• Range pits are crescent (half-moon) shaped pits placed in staggered rows to harvest runoff water in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) receiving 250mm of rainfall and below. 
• The pits trap runoff and allows more infiltration leading to great moisture retention that enable higher pasture establishment
• Runoff is retained on site in the rage pits thus allowing greater infiltration and higher soil moisture. The resulting improvements supports better pasture establishment in these regions
• Communities with a history of land tillage adopt pitting compared to largely pastoral ones. Works better on land with sandy clay and loam soils and 5%slope
• Kavatini Pasture & Livestock Improvement Group (KAPALIG), a CIG in Makueni successfully used the technology jointly with run-off harvesting to establish/pasture fields

• Select appropriate hoe and shovel
• mark the pits facing up slope
• Line up along the contour
• Dig the pit starting from the Centre working out wards, making sure the Centre is deeper (max 0.15m) and ends shallow
• The span should be 1 metre and the pits should be dug along contours. Spacing within row = half meter, between rows = 1 metre
• Pile most of the soil in the middle
• Ram the inside slope of the crescent with the back of the shovel 
• Grass seeds are placed on the crescents. Staggering of the pits allows overflow of runoff to pits down slope
• Technology is developed for rhodic (redish) and orthic (brown) soils and works best in slopes of >8%.

Community based range grass seed bulking and management

Introduction

• Livestock productivity in extensive and semi-intensive production systems is limited by two major constraints, namely feed shortages and poor quality of the little available feed.  
• Although sowing a new pasture or improving an existing natural pasture are viable options to alleviate the feed constraints, this requires a reliable source of seeds of appropriate species.
• This management practice is addressing production, harvesting, processing, storage and viability testing of range grass seeds for small scale producers. 
• Community based range grass seed management and bulking is an essential management practice that ensures successful restoration of degraded rangelands. 
• The approach when done well to involve a big part of the community, guarantees availability and marketing of good quantity and quality seed locally and beyond. 
• The areas are managed to ensure regeneration and this makes the rangelands more productive and resilient to continue supporting livestock. 
• The community members are trained to choose suitable sites to close for seed production, qualities of seeds to bulk, and seed production as a source of household income.
• When the seeds are sold, the income is shared among members. 

Forage species selection

For the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) good grass species must have the following characteristics: –

• Tolerance to heavy grazing 
• Resistance to drought 
• High palatability 
• High biomass production 
• High seed production 
• Ease of seed harvesting.

Land preparation

• Clear bush or other invasive species if present in the farm 
• For faster land preparation, use a tractor. First, plough the land then follow-up with harrowing 
• An ox-plough can also be used to make the furrows
• Seed is placed on the soil heap which is firmed to prevent it being washed away when the pits are full of water. To prevent water loss, have an overflow that goes into the next pit

Planting 

• Grass seeds are very small and should be covered with a thin layer of soil or none.
• A seed rate equivalent to 5 kg/ha is used but can be adjusted depending on seed viability (% germination) 

There are two main planting methods: 

• Broadcasting:  The seeds are spread in the field while considering the direction of the wind for even distribution. 
• Furrow planting: The seeds are hand drilled into furrows of about 2 cm depth or ox plough furrows.

Weed management

• Mechanical, biological and chemical methods of weed control can be used. Chemical control is the most common method. 
• Time of chemical control can be either pre-plant, pre-emergence or post-emergence. Pre-plant refers to applications made before the crop is planted while pre-emergence treatments are made after the crop is planted but before it emerges.
•  Pre-emergence applications are usually applied to the soil surface and require rainfall or irrigation to move the herbicide into the soil.

Fertilizer management

• During planting, it is important to use a phosphate based fertilizer to enhance rooting of the plants. 
• Use of 50-100 kg/ha of Diammonium phosphate (DAP) or of Triple Superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer. 
• If farmyard manure is used, 5 - 10 tons/ ha should be broadcasted and possibly harrowed before planting. 
• For optimum production, top dressing with inorganic fertilizer or farmyard manure is necessary particularly after harvesting. 
• Top dress with 50-100 kg/ha N during the rainy season or use of 5-10 tons/ha of manure if necessary.

Timing of seed harvesting 

• Timing is crucial in achieving high quantity and quality of forage seed.  Fortunately, there is one important indicator that can be used – the colour / appearance of the seed heads.  
• For nearly all forage species, there is a characteristic colour that seed heads attain at maturity, which is golden brown.

Seed storage

In order to store grass seed for long in good condition

• Dry the seed to attain 8-12 % moisture content 
• Pack in non-porous containers such as aluminum tin with a tight-fitting lid

• Most strains mature as seed crop in 3–4 months when planted in 60 cm rows at onset of wet season.
• A good seeder gives up to 10-60 kg/ha of clean seed per harvest.
• The seeds are harvested by hand, or mechanically when they show signs of browning (straw-like colour) before the start of seed fall by striping the ripe panicles.
• Harvesting should be carried out during dry conditions.

Seed harvesting methods 

These seeds can be harvested by cutting off the stalk or stripping.

Cutting stalks 

This involves:

• Harvesting the seed head and its stalk plus the last leaf 
• Stalking in the field for 2 weeks to dry or the harvested stalks can be sweated by heaping them together for a few days 

Threshing advantages and sweating 

• High seed recovery 
• High seed quality 
• Only light threshing is necessary 
• Longer seed storage

Stripping 

This involves harvesting of only the seed head without the stalk. 

Advantages of stripping method 

• Less labour intensive compared to stalk cutting
• Harvest when seeds start shedding at the tip of the seed head
• Seeds recovered require less processing

Drying pasture seeds 

• The harvested seed should be thinly spread to dry under shade. 
• Thick heaps lead to heating and damage. 
• Turn regularly (2-3 days) to aerate and prevent mould and rotting.

Seed cleaning

• Remove inert matter (e.g. sand, stones pebbles), crop seeds, weed seeds and damaged seed. 
• This can be done by mechanical methods or manually.
• After cleaning, the seed is ready for packaging and storing.

• The most important factors considered in seed storage are temperature, humidity (moisture), pests (insects and rodents) and moulds.

Temperature 

• Cold storage is the best for long-term seed storage as this slows down the rate of biological activity within the seed. 
• High temperatures are not desired because they destroy viability of seeds. 
• Seed stores should be well ventilated and located in dry conditions.

Humidity 

• Seed tend to absorb moisture from the air under high relative humidity. 
• This mainly occurs with packaged seeds where storage materials are not water-proofed. 
• Relative humidity has the most influence on seed longevity because it affects the moisture content and may trigger germination or rotting. 
• High moisture contents allow insects, pest and disease and microbial activity
• Seed should be dried to 8-12% moisture content for safe storage.
• Storage facilities should be located in areas where relative humidity is low or have artificial humidity. 

Pests and moulds

• Pests and moulds that affect stored seeds include rats, mice, ants and termites. 
• Moulds can occur due to humid/moist conditions in the store.
• These make seed susceptible to disease and rotting resulting into losses. 

Packaging and storage containers

• Packaging is important because it protects the seed from physical, climate and also biological damage. 
• Ensure seeds are well dried. Air tight containers are the best for long term storage. 
• The Package should have a label indicating species, cultivar, date harvested and other details as may be required by the law.

• Packaging involves sealing of seed in containers ready for storage transport and (or) sale. 

Examples of good package and storage containers include: - 

• Tailor-made white woollen /cotton bags 
• Woven or synthetic sack
• Prefabricated aluminium tins 
• Brown paper bags
• High-density polythene paper bags 
• Metallic containers

Management/How to grow

• The trees grow naturally or can be planted in ASALs areas such as Kajiado, Makueni and Marsabit where sheep and goats are kept by the agropastoral communities and form important source of their livelihoods. 

Post–Harvest

• The pods are picked manually from the mature trees and sundried.

Storage

• The dry pods can be packed in bags and stored in cool dry sheds.

Utilization

• The dry pods can be fed as whole pods without grinding or can be ground and fed to weaners as a meal.

Mechanization

• The dry pods can be ground into a meal using a portable manual miller or posho mill.

Basic costs/Estimated returns

• When offered as a feed supplement to weaners, the supplement may cost KES. 20/goat/day

Marketing

• Fodder market indicate that pastoral household harvest acacia pods to feed own livestock and for sale to other livestock keepers to earn extra income.
• Sale of surplus pods to earn extra income is the main driving factor behind production of Acacia tortilis pods.

Essential factors for promotion

• Availability of P. Juliflora
• Affordable and efficient milling machines 
• Ability of the farmer to adapt to the technology

Cost and economic benefits

• Economic Benefits: This means that the costs invested in the improvement of pasture through Prospolis juliflora pods are recovered and high benefit realised.
• Other benefit of Prospolis juliflora pods were improvement of the tropical livestock unit and the carrying capacity.

Market information

• Fodder market indicate that fodder has been produced by pastoral household to feed own livestock as well as for sale to other livestock keepers so as to earn extra income.
• Agro pastoral households were found to sell up to 75% of their fodder produce. As the main driving factor behind fodder production, was financial benefits.
• In addition to revenue earned from sale of fodder and livestock and products such as milk they utilize a portion of the produced fodder to feed own livestock

Related opportunities

• Good business opportunity especially in the milling 
• Development of cottage industries by communities if technology is refined esp. the milling of P. juliflora
• P. juliflora flour been incorporated in commercial feeds e.g. Sigma Feeds

Application Guidelines

• There is need to address the causes of market failure and develop an efficient beef and red meat value chains

Essential factors for successful promotion

• Commercially oriented livestock production in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems, knowledge on factors of supply and demand, finished animals for sale and livestock traders

Partners/stakeholders for scaling up and their roles

• County governments – training farmers MoALF&I – training extension staff, funding dissemination activities Farmers – applying the information to produce for markets KMC – buy livestock from farmers KLMC – Source for livestock markets for farmers and lobby for good prices, link farmers to the markets

Gender related concerns and opportunities 

• Male and female livestock traders get good prices for their livestock and livestock products
• The men, women and youth should all be involved

Critical/essential factors for successful promotion

• Community understanding of indicators in their respective areas 
• Farmers ability to interpret the indicators
• Ancestors consistency in giving indicators

Marketing Information

• Fodder market indicate that fodder has been produced by pastoral household to feed own livestock as well as for sale to other livestock keepers so as to earn extra income.
• Agro pastoral households were found to sell up to 75% of their fodder produce for financial benefits.

Related Opportunities

• Pastoral communities can use the knowledge to improve livestock and crop production 
• ITK can be tapped from VMGs, documented, published and the books used to generate income
• Youth to identify with the ITK for sustainable resource use and conservation

Success Stories

• Tana North experience where the community have one elder known across the Orma community as the seer on weather forecasting

Application Guidelines

• High demand for forage improvement materials
• Low adoption of reseeding technology
• Inadequate information on socioeconomic of reseeding
• Lack of elaborate marketing systems of natural pasture products
• Low priority given to range management and sown pasture by farmers and the government

Basic Cost and Economic Benefits

• Basic Costs
• Average = KES 12,625.58 per hectare 
• Estimated Returns
• Average KES 94,052.10 per acre

Marketing Information

• Fodder market indicate that fodder has been produced by pastoral household to feed own livestock as well as for sale to other livestock keepers so as to earn extra income.
• Agro pastoral households were found to sell up to 75% of their fodder produce. As the main driving factor behind fodder production, was financial benefits.

Related Opportunities

• Target youth more for quick adoption 
• VMGs can also use the information to invest in NAPI

Application Guidelines

• Growing of forage in pastoral communities under irrigation reduces land and resource use conflict especially during drought. 
• Irrigation enables the producers to get at least three harvests in a year.
• Irrigated fodders could be in areas near permanent water sources and could be stockpile for release when needed. 
• The practice is suitable for Agro pastoralists and pastoralists

Critical/essential factors for successful promotion

• Reliable sources of water
• Ability of farmer to adapt to the technology

Cost and Economic Benefits

Basic Costs

• KES. 7,000 (US$83) and 14,000 (US$165) using draught power or tractor per acre excluding cost of water pump 

Estimated Returns

• About KES. 30,000 (US$ 360) /ha

Marketing Information

• Fodder market indicate that fodder has been produced by pastoral household to feed own livestock as well as for sale to other livestock keepers so as to earn extra income.
• Agro pastoral households were found to sell up to 75% of their fodder produce. 
• As the main driving factor behind fodder production, was financial benefits.
• In addition to revenue earned from sale of fodder and livestock and products such as milk they utilize a portion of the produced fodder to feed own livestock.

Related Opportunities

• Good business opportunity 

• Reduces length of time women take in looking for feed for young stock.
• Technology presents an opportunity for men, women and youth to make money 

Success Stories

• Case of Korio Farm and Biskidera Jabesa group in Tana North, Singale Buradanza Tiltil Farms in Mbalabala, Garissa. These groups used the technology to successfully establish pastures

Justification for the TIMP

• Low milk yield and slow growth rate of beef cattle in ASALs resulting in low beef animals’ productivity and beef supply. 
• Availability of Cotton seedcake is available as a by-product in cotton ginneries.
• It is rich in protein and relatively cheap compared to other commercial protein supplements.

Application Guidelines

• Cottonseed meal is derived from the production of cottonseed oil. 
• The dehulled seed is pressed and solvent is extracted to remove oil. Varying amounts of ground hulls are added to the extracted seeds to modify the protein content. 
• Cottonseed meal contains gossypol, a toxin that more greatly affects no ruminants than ruminants. Accordingly, the feeding of cottonseed meal to calves should be limited.

Users of TIMP

• Agro-pastoralists and Pastoralists

Sources

• Accredited cotton ginneries

Critical/essential factors for successful promotion

• Availability of financial resources to support dissemination activities
•  Availability of the cakes 
• Ability of farmer to adopt the technology

Counties where already promoted

• Kitui, Taita Taveta

Cost and Economic Benefits

• Basic Costs
• KES. 650/bag of 50kg 
• Estimated Returns
• KES 80/kg/day

Related Opportunities

• Good business opportunity because of increased production of milk and value of animals. 
• More milk for women and children 
• Animals attain market weight faster thus benefitting the men

Application Guidelines

• This is a place for the cows to relax and sleep during the night. Each cow has their own place in the resting area, called cubicle. 
• The roof must be high enough so that it cannot be eaten by a cow if it is made of grass or if hay is stored under it.  
• The cubicle should be constructed such that the cow remains clean all the time. Clean the cow shed every day.
• A rough concrete floor will stop the cow from slipping.  A sloping floor will help waste to drain away Collect it outside the shed.
• Clean and disinfect the floor every day. This stops foot rot and abscesses.
• A cow needs space to lie down. One should construct the number of cubicles enough to be occupied by animals most of the time. Unoccupied cubicles are a waste of space and money.
• A cubicle has a length of 210 cm (7ft) and a width of 120 cm (4 ft). Cubicles are separated from each other by 2 timbers. The cow should not be able to turn around in the cubicle.
• Feeds in troughs at least 3 ft above the ground. Fix a mineral block to each cubicle to limit fighting between the animals.
• Your cow must always have clean water. Catch rainwater off the roof.

Users of TIMP

• Agro pastoralists and pastoralists

Critical/essential factors for successful promotion

• Availability of pastures, big herd sizes
• local availability of required building material 
• Ability of farmers to adopt the technology

Counties where already promoted

• Agro pastoral and pastoral areas in Tana North, Marigat, Taveta, Turkana west Sub-counties

Cost and Economic Benefits

• Quality and quantity of conserved feed provide forage for animals and a source of income for men, women and youth

Marketing Information

• Fodder market indicate that fodder has been produced by pastoral household to feed own livestock as well as for sale to other livestock keepers so as to earn extra income.
• Agro pastoral households were found to sell up to 75% of their fodder produce. As the main driving factor behind fodder production, was financial benefits.
• In addition to revenue earned from sale of fodder and livestock and products such as milk they utilize a portion of the produced fodder to feed own livestock.

Related Opportunities
 

• Fodder trade by youth, women and men. 
• Business opportunity for VMGs 
• There are employment opportunities for the youth, men and women Affirmative action, capacity building and practical support to be provided

Application Guidelines

• Azolla produces about 347 tons/ha of fresh material
• Has high nutritive value (CP 25-35%)
• moderate energy (1759 kcal ME/kg)
• high DM digestibility (79.6%) 
• rich in trace minerals 

Critical/essential factors for successful promotion

• Availability of Azolla 
• Assessment of effect of Azolla harvesting on the rice is needed 
• Ability of farmers to adopt the technology
• Has been promoted in Kajiado, Makueni and Marsabit 

Cost and Economic Benefits  

• Basic Costs
• KES. 6,000 in labour cost to collect and dry a ton from rice fields 
• Estimated Returns
• With 1.5 – 2 kg of Azolla, a farmer gets 15 – 20% increase in milk yield and live weight gain

Marketing Information

• Fodder market indicate that fodder has been produced by pastoral household to feed own livestock as well as for sale to other livestock keepers so as to earn extra income.
• Agro pastoral households were found to sell up to 75% of their fodder produce. As the main driving factor behind fodder production, was financial benefits.
• In addition to revenue earned from sale of fodder and livestock and products such as milk they utilize a portion of the produced fodder to feed own livestock.

Related Opportunities

• All gender can harvest the Azolla and sell to users for money 
• Increased production of meat makes the farmers earn a living
• Azolla provides an opportunity to utilize what is produced in rice growing areas

Success Stories

Experimental studies have confirmed the following

• improved in rumen microbial population
• improved feed intake
• improved digestibility and animal growth