West Nile Farmers Adopt Super Napier Grass to Enhance Livestock Production

West Nile Farmers Adopt Super Napier Grass to Enhance Livestock Production 

By Mike Rwothomio

Farmers in Uganda’s West Nile sub-region, particularly in Nebbi, Zombo, Pakwach districts, and Nebbi Municipality, are increasingly adopting Super Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum americanum), a high-yielding forage crop, to bolster livestock production and promote climate-smart agriculture.

This hybrid grass, also known as Pakchong or Hybrid Napier, is valued for its versatility as a fresh or dried feed, which can be chopped and mixed with other fodder sources such as hay, silage, or concentrates to optimize livestock nutrition.

Super Napier grass is a robust, high-biomass forage crop with leaves measuring 6-8 cm in length, capable of yielding up to 20 tons of dry matter per hectare annually, with 7-8 harvests per year. Once established, it sustains high productivity for 7-8 years, producing 180-200 metric tons of green, succulent forage per acre annually. Its deep root system enhances soil health, prevents erosion, and sequesters carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation.

The initiative, driven by a partnership between Sun24, a U.S.-based organization, and SAGE Uganda Limited, a local NGO focused on sustainable agriculture, promotes Super Napier grass as an alternative to charcoal production, which has led to rampant deforestation in Uganda, where 99% of households rely on wood biomass for cooking.

By establishing a 1.6-acre Super Napier mother garden at Namthin Primary School in Nebbi Municipality in 2023, the project serves as a demonstration site for skill-based learning aligned with Uganda’s new curriculum. The site, located along Namthin stream, also supports value-added processes like briquette production from grass biomass, reducing dependence on tree-based charcoal.

Emilio Odongo, a director at SAGE Uganda, emphasized that the initiative aims to enhance sustainable livestock production and climate resilience.

 “We introduced Super Napier grass as an enterprise to promote sustainable livestock production,” Odongo stated during an interview on August 23, 2025, at the demonstration site. 

He highlighted its potential as a green energy source, aligning with Uganda’s presidential directive to curb commercial tree felling for charcoal.

Super Napier grass supports CSA by increasing agricultural productivity, improving resilience to extreme weather events, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Its drought and flood tolerance makes it ideal for regions like Pakwach and Nebbi, which face variable climatic conditions.

According to agricultural experts, the grass’s pest and disease resistance further enhances its suitability as a reliable forage crop. Harvesting can begin 90 days after planting, with subsequent cuts every 45-60 days when the grass reaches 1.5 meters in height. For optimal quality, it should be cut using a sickle or scythe and sun-dried for 2-3 days before storage.

Odongo commended 50 farmers from the Greater Nebbi region who registered to cultivate Super Napier grass on plots ranging from 1 to 10 acres. 

The initiative addresses challenges in livestock feeding, particularly during dry seasons when forage scarcity leads to crop destruction by roaming livestock, exacerbating farmer poverty.

 “This is a revolution in livestock production in Greater Nebbi. We are changing the narrative,” Odongo asserted.

With the region’s growing population straining limited land resources, Super Napier grass supports sustainable, high-value agriculture on small-scale plots, aligning with Uganda’s push for climate-smart practices.

On August 23, 2025, farmers from Nebbi, Zombo, and Pakwach gathered at the Namthin Primary School demonstration site to collect Super Napier cuttings.

Christopher Watumbe, a retired teacher and farmer from Zombo, praised the initiative for addressing feed shortages on his small plot, particularly during dry seasons. “I’ve struggled with grasses like Panicum maximum and Brachiaria, but Super Napier is a golden opportunity for zero-grazing or semi-intensive systems,” he said, noting the possibility of reduced future conflicts with neighbors over stray livestock.

Dr. Jatho Paul, a farmer from Nebbi Municipality with 80 acres, allocated 5 acres to Super Napier and described the project as innovative. “This will provide the necessary energy for livestock and boost meat production in the community,” he said, urging other farmers to adopt the practice.

According to Uganda’s National Livestock Census 2021, the Eastern and Western regions had the highest cattle populations, each with approximately 3.3 million cattle (23% of the total). The Central region followed with 3.0 million cattle (20.8%), while the Northern region and Karamoja had the lowest, with about 2.4 million cattle (17%).

Patrick Anenuiu, Zombo’s District Agricultural Officer, emphasized the need for a mindset shift toward such initiatives, which offer viable solutions for livestock farmers.

Super Napier grass is propagated using cuttings from 90-120-day-old plants, with three nodes per cutting, planted at a 45-degree angle in rows spaced 30 cm apart, requiring 6,000-8,000 cuttings per acre. Regular watering ensures establishment. The grass is highly palatable and nutrient-rich, providing protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins for livestock, including hogs, poultry, rabbits, plant-eating fish (tilapia and pangasius), and horses (using 45-day-old growth) or larger ruminants like dairy and beef cattle (using 60-70-day-old growth).

 Shredded Napier can also be mixed with manure for vermiculture, producing nitrogen-rich vermicompost.