Journalist Peter Abanabasazi uprooting Kikuyu grass being assisted by a farm attendant in Kyankwanzi District on Thurdsay.
(Photo: John Kibego)
As pastoralists start migrating across the Albertine region in search for pasture due to the seasonal change from rainy to dry spell, an invasive Kikuyu grass has been identified to help those that embrace planting it.
Innocent Pentagon Kamusiime, the Member of Parliament for Butemba County in Kyankwanzi District has told Kazi-njema News that Kikuyu grass is making his plans hopeful to root into animal husbandry for development.
“i GOT THIS SPECIAL GRASS FROM bUSHENYI IN WESTERN uGANDA TWO YEARS AGO AND PLANTED IT. I CAN ACCESS PASTURE DURING THIS DRY SEASON.”
Butemba County MP, Mr Pentagon Kamusiime
According to him, the grass can be fed on directly in the field or be cut, dried and kept in a pit for future feeding of cows in case the dry spell is prolonged.
Kikuyu grass that is regarded to be native in Kenya –the East African country which is home to the Kikuyu people, started getting popular in Uganda’s Ankole region, part of the cattle corridor around year 2011.
It has started spreading to Bunyoro sub-region due to prolonged dry spells that has left thousands of domestic animals dead due to lack of enough water and pasture in the past four consistent years in some parts.
Kazi-njema News observed hundreds of cows grazing on Kikuyu grass planted on the west bank of River Kafu in Kyabigambire Sub-county, Hoima District. Others were feeding on dry Kikuyu grass near the farm gate.
Kamusiime says he is willing to offer free seedlings of Kikuyu grass to farmers from Bunyoro and Buganda such that they can resort to commercial farming with minimal fear for pasture shortage.
Kikuyu grass is reported to have been planted in some parts of Asia, America and Europe as an invasive grass due to its identified importance to herdsmen.
(Photo: John Kibego)
