More farmers in Nyandarua inspired to plant oats

Owing to reduced grazing land, livestock farmers in Nyandarua are forced to tether animals on roadsides along numerous roads in the County.

Even grass on the roadside is no longer enough for the increasing animal population and the farmers have resulted in growing oats for feeding the animals.

Oat growing is now popular in Shamata and Kaheho of Ndaragua sub-county where you find most families have at least a plot under the crop. In fact, oat farming is now the new thing in Murungaru, Engineer, Magumu and Njambini areas of Kinangop Sub-County and in Ol Kalou farmers in Kaimbaga, Siranga and Passenga have taken up the enterprise.

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Although the crop is mainly for fodder, some traders have started flocking the County to buy the grains which they sell to multinational firms that use oats to manufacture breakfast cereal meal and porridge flour.

Ol Kalou Sub County livestock production officer Samuel Kariuki explains why oat farming is spreading fast in Nyandarua, saying, “Potato farming which was a dominant agricultural activity in this region is no longer profitable. It is a labor-intensive enterprise that requires costly farm inputs. Excess rainfall and frost have led to heavy loses for farmers, however, oat is very resistant to adverse weather conditions.”

Kariuki said the climate in the entire county is favorable for oat farming which performs well in altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level. Kariuki emphasized the need for the certified seed that will improve yields and resistance to leaf rust disease.

Most farmers said they found oat crop to yield more per acre and has higher returns compared to maize and potatoes. They said they harvest oat crop three times in a year giving them more returns. A 70-kilogram bag of oat seed goes for between Sh3,500 to Sh4,500 while a bail of the chuff retails at Sh400.

Shamata Livestock Extension Officer Bernard Guchu said with good management, a farmer is assured of 100 percent output from oats.

“There is huge untapped potential for oat farming in this region. It is a high altitude crop that has the capacity to transform the financial status of the residents. The crop matures within two and half months and is drought resistant”, Guchu said.

Mr. Guchu notes that when harvested as animal fodder, an acre of the crop has the capacity to yield 200 bales which could earn the farmer Sh80, 000 per season. The extension officer said oat farming does not require farm inputs such as fertilizers and herbicides. It is also not labuor-intensive like potatoes since there is no need for weeding the crop.

John Mwangi who wants to venture into oat farming said reports that a multinational company intends to contract farmers in the county to grow oat is music in the ears of local farmers who lacked an alternative to potato farming.

Mwangi wants the County Government to invest in agricultural extension officers who will specialize in oat farming.

“Now that oats are going to attract major companies; it is a clear indication that there is going to be a huge demand. The onus is on local farmers to produce quality crop; we are lucky since the weather conditions in this county are very favourable for oat farming” Mwangi added.

With many farmers growing oats, the dairy sector is going to flourish since the stock farmers can now be assured of a reliable and affordable supply of fodder. They have been relying on Napier grass for fodder but suffer when the grass is wiped by frost.

Better alternative

Farmers have been relying on Napier grass which is very susceptible to frost. Oats are not prone to diseases and cold conditions, according to Ndaragua Sub County Livestock Officer Elizabeth Gichinga.

“Oats is a very good fodder when harvested at flowering stage. We have trained farmers to integrate oat fodder with protein sources which improve milk yields. Oats have the right nutrients for both beef and dairy animals” states Ms. Gichinga.

Just like wheat, oat is a cereal crop although it is mainly used in dietary menus.

“I plant oat mainly for use as a livestock feed and for seed production. In Nyandarua, milk production is key to the economy, with many farmers engaging in the business. This has made the demand for animal feeds very high giving me good business,” says Evans Gichuhi, adding that as fodder, it is harvested green before the seeds are fully formed.

Oat and wheat, according to the farmer, require the same weather conditions to grow and mature.

To grow the crop, one plows the land to a fine tilth, spreads 25 kilograms of fertiliser per acre over the prepared land and plants seeds.

“The good thing with oat is that it helps the soil to rejuvenate and increases humus. Once harvesting is done, I leave the oat stumps in the ground to increase the air capacity in the soil and transform into humus through decaying,” says Gichuhi.

Once he has harvested the oat seeds, the stalks are turned into haystacks to be sold to milk producers who will be stocking for the coming dry season, where there is the scarcity of feeds.