Narok livestock keepers advised to invest in pasture

NAROK, KENYA: Livestock farmers in Narok county have been challenged to invest in pasture plantations during rainy seasons to cushion their livestock against drought during dry spells as well as to earn income from it.

Area County Agricultural Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP) Coordinator Anthony Munyao said the practice will boost livestock farmers and ensure their livestock are in good health even when the rains fail.
He particularly urged farmers to plant Boma Rhodes type that he said adapts well in the area and has high yields.
"Five Kilograms of Boma Rhodes seeds are enough to plant in one acre of land. A Kilogram of its seeds now retails at Sh600 thus affordable to majority of the farmers," he explained.
Mr. Munyao said one acre of land can produce between 200 and 300 bales of grass where a farmer can sell each bale at Sh250 to Sh300 thus can make up to Sh100,000 per acre with good maintenance.
Apart from the sale of the grass,he said,a farmer can also leave the grass to mature to get mature seeds which they can package and sell to other farmers.
He explained that once grown, the grass does not require a lot of labour or replanting as it grows for several years.
"One can harvest the grass twice annually and store it in form of hay for use during dry season," he said.
Narok County Farmers Stakeholders Forum Chairman Simon Poror asked residents in the area to plant grass in large-scale plantations so as to sell to other counties during dry seasons.