Brachiaria in Kenya (photo credit: CIAT)

Brachiaria grass is helping Kenyan farmers improve their dairy production and alleviate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and ground water pollution.

An article in the Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub blog last week (24 Sept) says scientists from the Hub and other partners are developing appropriate varieties of Brachiaria. They aim to enhance access to the ‘wonder grass’ for  smallholder farmers and livestock keepers in east Africa.

‘Brachiaria grasses are highly nutritious, possessing about 12 per cent protein at harvest which can be sustained over a long period as compared to the commonly used Napier grass whose protein concentration starts diminishing after about four months.’

Read the full article ‘Improved Brachiaria grasses broaden horizon for Kenya’s livestock sector‘ on the BecA-ILRI Hub blog.

Read a related ILRI Clippings article: Secrets of Brachiaria: An African pasture grass holds enormous promise for reducing greenhouse gases