Grass to gold: Pasture farming gains ground

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Uganda’s cattle corridor, which was once defined by dry spells, dwindling pastures, dying herds and reducing milk prices, is now buzzing with a new enterprise: hay.

More than 20,000 farmers grouped up in Kiboga, Nakaseke and neighbouring districts, are turning grass into a lifeline, that is, feeding their animals, stabilising incomes and opening up a market that stretches from village kraals to regional export prospects.

Launched last year and running until 2027, the Distributed Renewable Energy Eco-System Model (DREEM) Hub Project is spearheading the revolution that Heifer International Uganda is implementing in partnership with the Most Foundation.

The initiative is transforming smallholder livestock farming by promoting modern pasture management, renewable energy and financial literacy.

What was once dismissed as ordinary grass is now treated as a strategic resource. Farmers are harvesting, drying, and storing tonnes of hay to sustain cattle through dry seasons.

Dry spell and hay

A dry spell can wipe out herds in the cattle corridor.

Without pasture or water, milk production collapses and livestock prices crash.

 

The availability of pastures all year round has stabilised milk production for farmers in the cattle corridor.

“When disaster strikes, it’s common for the price of a heifer to drop to less than sh200,000 from sh2m. But that story is changing because of hay processing and improved pasture management,” says Samuel Sewankambo, a 28-year-old farmer in Kiwoko town council in Nakaseke district.

According to the dean of Makerere University School of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, David Kabaasa, the benefits of hay as an alternative are immense.

“But farmers suffer because of ignorance about the cause of low milk and beef output. When addressed with hay, the milk can shoot up to 20lts per day,” Kabaasa says.

For rural farmers, waste grass has become an income-generating commodity, sparking demand for baling machines, pulverisers, and transport services.

The project manager of DREEM Hub, Edna Nyamwaka, says the goal is to help smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, to build resilience against climate shocks.

“We are empowering communities by teaching modern pasture management. Pasture is now the new gold and those who invest in it are the miners of Uganda’s agricultural future,” Nyamwaka says.

Farmer co-operatives are also being linked to financial institutions and promoting value addition.

“When farmers are organised in savings groups, they can access credit, buy equipment and invest in technologies that boosts productivity,” she adds.

Several co-operatives are now accessing loans to buy baling equipment and solar-powered dryers. These renewable energy solutions reduce costs and preserve hay quality, making the venture profitable and sustainable.

The farmers have also embraced renewable technologies such as solar-powered dryers and water pumps, which have reduced post-harvest losses and maintained pasture quality. The Cost Prices of hay vary by species, bale size and quality.

“In Ngoma [Nakaseke district], a 13- 14kg bale of Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass) goes for sh8,000. In Kawempe, Kampala, smaller bales go for sh5,000 to sh15,000, while a 17kg bale from NAGRC&DB costs around sh10,000,” Sewankambo says.

NAGRC&DB stands for National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank. In the recent past, most of the hay has been exported to Kenya as alfalfa. The hay revolution is unlocking opportunities along Uganda’s livestock value chain.

Entrepreneurs are setting up supply businesses, truck drivers ferry bales to urban markets and co-operatives broker deals with processors.

Experts say Uganda could become a regional hub for processed fodder, supplying Kenya, South Sudan and Rwanda.

With standardised production and quality controls, hay could join coffee and dairy as a key export earner.

“Grass was once just grass. Now, it’s our gold mine,” Sewankambo says.

Farmers speak out

Elizabeth Nabatanzi, 22, a dairy farmer in Wakyato, contributes sh100,000 weekly to her savings group, money earned from milk sales.

“Sometimes I pay with 40lts of milk instead of cash. I dream of buying my own pulveriser instead of hiring it at sh100,000 per day. When the cows feed well, milk output increases, so does my income.”

Naluswata Kabuga, a farmer in Kanyogoga, Nakaseke district, says: “Cow dung is a blessing. It enriches the soil and promotes healthy grass growth. Everything in nature is connected; when the soil thrives, so do the cows.”

John Baptist Semanda, 77, veteran farmer in Kiwoko, Nakaseke district: Once dependent on rain-fed pastures, he now enjoys steady milk production year round. With 37 cows, he credits his success to training from Heifer International and the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (Emyooga).

Pasture processing machines

Mower/forage harvester

It cuts pasture crops such as Chloris gayana, Brachiaria and legumes at the right stage of growth.

Rake/tedding

Machine Spreads and turns freshly cut grass to speed up drying under the sun or in solar dryers.

Proper drying prevents mould and preserves nutrients. Solar or mechanical dryer Reduces moisture in the grass to the recommended levels before baling.

Solar-powered dryers are preferred in rural areas because they cut costs and protect hay from rains.

Pulveriser/ chaff cutter

Cuts dry or fresh grass into fine, uniform pieces. This makes fodder easier for cows to chew and digest, improving milk and beef production.

Baling machine

This can be manual, motorised or tractor-mounted. It compresses dried grass into compact bales of standard weight and size. Bales are easier to store, transport, and sell in local or export markets.

Bale wrapper / twine system

Ties or wraps the bales securely to maintain shape, protect them from moisture and reduce losses during handling.

Storage sheds/ barns

Ventilated structures are designed to keep baled hay dry and safe from pests, rain and rotting. Good storage maintains quality for months.

Loading and transport equipment

These include trolleys, trucks and pick-ups. They move bales from farms to collection points, markets or regional buyers. Efficient transport helps farmers benefit from the hay trade.