Farmers milk profits from Chinese 'magic grass'

A plantation of Juncao grass in Rongai, Nakuru County on July 18, 2023. [Kennedy Gachuhi, Standard]

Catherine Ruguru wades through the lush foliage of what at a glance looks like overgrown napier grass on her farm in the heart of Embu County.

But at a close look, one cannot help noticing the subtle difference in the features between the two fodder crops.

Ms Ruguru is making waves in her village after embracing the farming of Juncao grass, also known as “Chinese magic grass.”

Juncao grass is a type of perennial fodder that resembles local napier grass but has softer leaves, which matures in approximately three months, allowing for harvesting more than five times a year.

The fodder was first introduced in Kenya by Chinese agripreneur Jack Liu in 2021, helping change the animal husbandry landscape in the country, especially in semi-arid regions.

Juncao grass yields over 180 metric tonnes of fodder per acre, is rich in protein and micro-elements, and can sustain 20 cows or 200 sheep per year.

Its velvety leaves and quick regrowth make it an ideal choice for livestock feed, especially during dry seasons.

It can also produce nutritious silage within just 48 hours, offering farmers like Ms Ruguru a pathway to substantial income amidst the challenges of modern agriculture.

The 50-year-old Ruguru is a Bachelor of Commerce graduate and also holds a diploma in sales and marketing.

Before going into full-time farming, she previously worked in the corporate world at Kenya Airways(KQ), Karen Hospital, and CIC Insurance.

Ms Ruguru’s journey into farming began with her late father’s dairy cows, where she first witnessed the benefits of Juncao grass, significantly boosting milk production.

However, recognising the changing market demands, she pivoted her focus to beef cattle.

In addition to her cattle, she also raises goats, pigs, and chickens, creating a diverse agricultural enterprise.

“As the last born, I decided to take up my elderly parents’ animal farming enterprise on their four-acre piece of land as they faced a lot of challenges in getting good feeds,” Ms Ruguru told Smart Harvest.

It is through her twin sister that she was introduced to Juncao Grass through Jack Liu, a Chinese investor and managing director of Crevation International Ltd, the firm behind Juncao Grass.

Mr Liu was at the time looking for farmers with extensive pieces of land in the Coast region to grow the new fodder.

Ms Ruguru said she started with 200 stem cuts two years ago, which she propagated to fill three and a half acres of the family land in Nembure village, Gaturi South, Embu County.

“Today, I have plenty of feed for my animals and for selling stem cuts to other farmers. I also sell to feedlot farmers,” she said.

Ms Ruguru recalls one of the most challenging times in 2021 during a prolonged drought that ran for two seasons. It saw milk production in the county go down, but she could not sell her dairy cows.

“I had just started growing the Juncao grass, and I noticed that the milk production would double anytime I fed my animals the fodder,” she recalled.

When allowed to fully grow for stem cuts, Ms Ruguru said it goes way above six meters tall, but the best feeding height is 2.5 meters tall.

She has also introduced lemon grass, which acts as an antibiotic to the animals while keeping the soil intact with its compact nature, hence preventing soil erosion.

“My farm did not experience flooding during the recent heavy rains due to the fibrous root system of Juncao that made the water sip into the ground,” said Ms Ruguru.

This shift to Jancao grass has not only maximised her land’s potential but also diversified her income streams.

With Juncao grass as a cornerstone of her livestock feed, Ms Ruguru enjoys consistent profits while contributing to the local economy.

She also distributes stem cuttings to other livestock farmers in the Eastern region, where she is keen on sustainable commercial fodder farming.

According to Ms Ruguru, to get maximum generation during planting, the stem cuttings with two nodes have to be completely covered from tip to tip with soil.

Ms Ruguru makes a decent profit, with a stem cut going for Sh20.

“One stem can produce about 50-100 cut stems, fetching me Sh1500-Sh2,000, and depending on the demand, I can make Sh100,000 per season,” Ms Ruguru said.

Peninah Karimi, a sales and marketing officer at Crevation International Ltd, said they have witnessed the transformation in dairy farming across the 47 counties through Juncao grass.

She observed that Juncao is a combination of 46 different grass species, which increases its nutritional value.

“It is also high in crude protein (CP) of between 17 to 18 per cent, coming after Boma Rhodes and Lucerne,” said Ms Karimi.