Drought-resilient Urochloa forage for year-round livestock feeding

Better grass. Better livestock.

This technology is a set of improved Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) forage grass cultivars for pasture improvement and year-round livestock feeding: Piatá, MG4, Basilisk, and Xaraes. These grasses deliver high yields of nutritious forage and tolerate harsh conditions, making them suitable for smallholder farmers. Dense ground cover suppresses weeds and reduces labour, freeing women and youth for other activities. Integrating Urochloa with legumes and improved livestock breeds can amplify benefits.

This technology is pre-validated.

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use unknown

Positive impacts: 8

Target groups	Positive impacts
Married women (25–55) with limited control over land (often responsible for finding/collecting forage)	• Save time when forage is planted close to home. • More milk and more cash (milk, hay, planting material). • Can gain more say in decisions when training includes gender topics.
Female-headed households (widowed/divorced; small land area; limited labor)	• More control over income from milk/hay sales. • Chance to earn from selling planting material.
Youth (18–35), women and men, with little land (often under-employed/seasonal migrants)	• New jobs and small businesses (planting material multiplication, cutting/baling/transport services, “model farms”).
Agro-pastoralists / pastoralists in arid areas (collective/customary land)	• Better feed security in the dry season (where systems are more settled). • Can support community fodder banks and land restoration if well managed.
Better-off commercial farmers (dairy hubs, ranches)	• Faster adoption (dedicated plots, irrigation, mechanization). • Can structure hay/seed markets and increase sales.
Landless farm workers (daily laborers, often women)	• More seasonal jobs (land preparation, planting, harvesting, baling, transport) as forage area expands.
Peri-urban small producers (zero-grazing) (very small plots; women often manage feeding/milk)	• Gains from planting on borders/hedges/corners. • Lower spending on purchased feed; steadier supply for animals.
Marginalized groups / remote areas (strong patrilineal land rules; weak access to services)	• If reached through women’s groups: entry into planting material/hay markets and better animal feeding.

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Unintended impacts: 8
Mitigations: 8

Barriers: 8
Mitigations: 8

Problem

Persistent poverty: Limited access to quality feed keeps smallholder farmers in low‑productivity systems.
Labour burden on women and youth: Collecting feed takes time away from education or paid work.
Climate stress: Droughts and degraded soils intensify feed shortages and affect rural livelihoods.

Solution

Climate adaptation: Urochloa’s deep roots help it survive prolonged dry periods , making it suitable for climate‑resilient farming projects.
Productivity and nutrition: Producing 8–15 t of dried forage per hectare with 8–15 % protein , the grasses offer a substantial nutritional boost for livestock.
Economic benefits: Better feed can lift milk and meat production by 15–30 %, increasing household income and food security.
Soil health: Dense pastures protect against erosion and increase organic matter , supporting sustainable land management.
Continuous supply: Once established, fields can be cut every 8–12 weeks , providing a steady feed source for farmers and community fodder banks.

Key points to design your program

Urochloa (Brachiaria) forage grasses provide a practical solution to major livestock challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially feed shortages in the dry season, low animal productivity, and land degradation. These improved forages help farmers produce more and better-quality fodder, support milk and meat production, and protect soils through strong ground cover.

These forages support several Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 1 by increasing incomes through better livestock productivity and hay sales; SDG 2 by improving food and nutrition security through more reliable milk and meat production; SDG 13 by strengthening climate resilience with drought-tolerant, deep-rooted pastures and better feed availability during climate shocks; and SDG 15 by supporting sustainable land management through soil protection, reduced erosion, and improved soil health.

As part of the TAAT e-catalog and technology toolkits, Urochloa (Brachiaria) forages complement innovations such as better pasture establishment practices, fodder conservation (hay making and storage), and soil fertility improvement using manure and fertilizer top-ups. Together, these options help governments reduce dry-season feeding crises and strengthen livestock value chains.

Developed and promoted through partnerships led by the Alliance Bioversity International & CIAT (Tropical Forages Program) and integrated into scaling initiatives, these forages can be introduced through government programs that include seed access and quality control, demonstration plots, training for extension services and farmers, support to hay producer groups, and market linkages to dairy hubs and livestock cooperatives to drive adoption and sustained use.

This technology is ideal for government initiatives aiming to strengthen livestock production, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. With technical support from TAAT and partners, Urochloa (Brachiaria) forage grasses offer a reliable and sustainable pathway to improve animal feeding systems across Africa.

Cost vs. revenue

Data reliability of this estimate: 100 %

Return on investment 680 %

Every USD invested returns USD 6.8 net income.

Detailed financial information ›

IP

Open source / open access

Positive impact 8

Target groups	Positive impacts
Married women (25–55) with limited control over land (often responsible for finding/collecting forage)	• Save time when forage is planted close to home. • More milk and more cash (milk, hay, planting material). • Can gain more say in decisions when training includes gender topics.
Female-headed households (widowed/divorced; small land area; limited labor)	• More control over income from milk/hay sales. • Chance to earn from selling planting material.
Youth (18–35), women and men, with little land (often under-employed/seasonal migrants)	• New jobs and small businesses (planting material multiplication, cutting/baling/transport services, “model farms”).
Agro-pastoralists / pastoralists in arid areas (collective/customary land)	• Better feed security in the dry season (where systems are more settled). • Can support community fodder banks and land restoration if well managed.
Better-off commercial farmers (dairy hubs, ranches)	• Faster adoption (dedicated plots, irrigation, mechanization). • Can structure hay/seed markets and increase sales.
Landless farm workers (daily laborers, often women)	• More seasonal jobs (land preparation, planting, harvesting, baling, transport) as forage area expands.
Peri-urban small producers (zero-grazing) (very small plots; women often manage feeding/milk)	• Gains from planting on borders/hedges/corners. • Lower spending on purchased feed; steadier supply for animals.
Marginalized groups / remote areas (strong patrilineal land rules; weak access to services)	• If reached through women’s groups: entry into planting material/hay markets and better animal feeding.

Unintended impact 8

Target groups	Unintended impacts	Mitigation measures
Married women with weak land rights	• Work shifts to women/girls (more cutting/transport/harvesting). • Household conflict if husband captures land or income.	• Add “forage + gender norms” training (joint decision-making, workload sharing). • Offer labor-saving services (cutting/chopping/baling). • Use traceable payments + clear benefit-sharing rules.
Female-headed households	• Risk of overload (limited labor). • Exclusion from finance/services; risk of local “land or water grabbing” (where irrigation is involved).	• Targeted vouchers for women/poor households with anti-capture rules. • Small seed/planting-material packs adapted to their capacity. • Formal land-use agreements where needed.
Youth with little land	• Benefits captured by elders who control resources. • Risk of being pushed into hard/unsafe work.	• Youth-led service businesses (cutting/baling/transport) with fair contracts. • Transparent targeting (public lists/complaints system). • Safety training and equipment where labor is hired.
Pastoralists / agro-pastoralists (arid zones)	• Risk of privatizing commons (“enclosures”) and tensions with mobility. • Unequal access to water/land.	• Community rules for access/management + local agreements on land use. • Plan seed availability suited to the zone + local governance for fodder banks.
Commercial farmers	• Capture of subsidies/certified seed. • Land pressure and buyers dominating hay prices (hurting smallholders).	• Use targeted vouchers with anti-capture clauses. • Structure hay markets with transparent pricing and traceable payments. • Strengthen cooperative inclusion rules.
Landless workers	• Harder work without protection; wage gaps; unstable jobs. • Possible herbicide exposure if chemical land prep increases.	• Require PPE + safety training + fair wage standards + contracts for hired labor. • Monitor incidents and pay gaps.
Remote / marginalized groups	• Exclusion of women through inheritance/land rules. • Misinformation and spread of poor-quality seed through informal channels.	• Distribute quality planting material through women’s groups + mixed channels. • Coordinate with regulators to improve certification/quality and availability.

Barriers 8

Target groups	Barriers to adoption	Mitigation measures
Married women with weak land rights	• Limited land and limited decision power. • Low participation in cooperatives (less information/seed/training). • Work is physically demanding; irregular access to quality seed/planting material.	• Small seed/planting-material packs via women’s groups. • Gender-smart training schedules + local languages. • Light mechanization services (cutting/chopping/baling) targeted to women users.
Female-headed households	• Limited credit and mechanization; upfront costs. • Labor needed for establishment/harvest. • Market access for bales/transport.	• Targeted vouchers + gradual entry (“small packs”). • Connect to service providers (youth contractors) for cutting/baling/transport. • Support market links for hay/planting material.
Youth with little land	• Under-represented in cooperatives (less inputs/training). • Limited land access. • Low capital for equipment and hay stocks.	• Create youth service-business pathways (baling/transport/chopping). • Lower entry cost with targeted vouchers and cooperative inclusion measures.
Pastoralists / agro-pastoralists (arid zones)	• Suitable seed not available. • Need collective rules for access/management. • Weak extension/vet services; distant markets.	• Work with local authorities on collective management rules + land-use agreements. • Improve seed availability and certification pathways.
Landless workers	• They don’t decide adoption (depends on landowners). • Little access to training and safety equipment; weak contracts.	• Include labor standards in programs: PPE, safety training, fair pay scales, written contracts.
Peri-urban zero-grazing small producers	• Very limited land. • Need quality seed/planting material. • Need practical advice (planting density, cutting, conservation).	• Promote hedge/border planting options + tailored coaching. • Provide small packs + close-to-home demos through groups/coops.
Remote / marginalized groups	• Isolation (markets/training), weak extension. • Dependence on informal seed channels; transport costs.	• Seed/planting-material distribution through structured channels + women’s groups. • Strengthen certification/quality and reduce bottlenecks.

Cost of the investment Sum of all fixed and operational expenses.	USD 2,616 Per hectare over 10 years
Gross revenue Sum of all income before subtracting costs.	USD 20,400 Per hectare over 10 years
Net income Gross revenue minus total cost.	USD 17,783 Per hectare over 10 years
Return on investment Percentage of income earned for each dollar invested, calculated as: (income ÷ cost of investment) × 100	680 % Over 10 years

References:

Drought-resilient Urochloa forage for year-round livestock feeding_CostRevenueROI_Date.xlsx.pdf (PDF, 60.43 KB)

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid		–		–
Subhumid		–		–
Humid		–		–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Better forage means farmers can produce and sell more milk/meat and also earn from selling forage planting material and hay, which can raise household income.

Goal 2: zero hunger

A more reliable feed supply helps farmers keep animals productive through the year, supporting steady availability of nutritious animal-source foods (milk/meat) for households and markets.

Goal 5: gender equality

Creates opportunities for women and youth to participate in forage seed and forage value chains, while also reducing labor demands, especially for women.

Goal 13: climate action

Increases animal stocking rates and reduces environmental footprint per unit product (emission reductions, land sparing, carbon sequestration)

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose a well-drained field and prepare a clean, fine seedbed (the seeds are small). Do land preparation before the rains to make weeding easier. If the field has tough weeds (e.g., couch grass), herbicide spraying is recommended. Plough to about 25 cm and harrow to obtain a fine tilth; avoid sloping or uneven land where possible.

2. Planting (start of the rainy season)

Start planting when rains have started well (the factsheet notes sowing can start after about 30 mm of rainfall).

3. Seeding rate and method

Row planting: plant in rows 40–50 cm apart, using about 8 kg of seed/ha.
Broadcast sowing: use 10–12 kg of seed/ha.

4. Cover the seed lightly (do not bury deep)

After sowing, cover the seed with a harrow. On small plots, use tree branches or large brooms to lightly cover the seed. Keep seed depth to 1–2 cm (do not exceed 2 cm).

5. Weed control during establishment

Keep the plot free of weeds during the first 6–8 weeks so the grass can establish well. (Field practice from your draft, maintained as requested.)

6. Fertilisation / manure

At planting, apply a phosphorus fertilizer (DAP) to support root development. Later, apply CAN at 100 kg/ha per year, preferably after rains and ideally after harvesting when soil is wet to support regrowth. In poor soils, farmers can also top up with manure.

7. First cut or first grazing

First use is around 80–90 days (about 3 months) after planting.

8. Regular harvesting / grazing schedule (leave stubble)

After establishment, harvest or graze in rotation. The factsheet suggests about 25–45 days during the rainy season and about 60–70 days during the dry season. When cutting or grazing, leave some stubble to allow quick regrowth.