Napier grass farming becomes boon for Khulna farmers

Many farmers in Khula have achieved self-reliance and changed fortune through commercial basis cultivation of high-yielding variety Napier or Pakchong grass.

Local sources said cultivation of nutrient-rich Pakchong varieties of grass as affordable cattle feed has increased in Rupsha upazila of the district.

According to Department of Livestock Services (DLS) sources, about 60 acres of land in the upazila is being used for grass cultivation.

An initiative is ongoing to expand the cultivation further, said upazila livestock resources officer Dr Pradeep Kumar Majumder. Upazila DLS sources said there are more than 400 cattle farms in 5 unions of Rupsha.

According to cattle owners, recently, along with daily commodity prices the cost of cattle feed has also increased drastically. Many cattle owners have struggled to buy rice husk, oil cake and other common feed for their cattle.

The upazila DLS office came forward with the idea of cultivating nutrient rich grass to help the farmers deal with the situation. Along with encouraging the farmers to cultivate the foreign varieties of grass, the office also provided necessary medical care and medicine for the cattle.

Although a few farmers began cultivating on a small scale, the production is expanding gradually as it proved to be profitable.

Farzana Taskin, livestock farmer of Kazdia village of the upazila said, “I have two well-bred cows and a calf. After the sudden increase in cattle feed I could not properly feed them and even thought about selling the cows.”

She then said at the advice of the upazila livestock officer she and some others started cultivating the foreign varieties of grass on a small scale.

The nutrient rich grass has visibly improved her cattle health. The dairy cow is giving more milk than before. Farzana is currently cultivating grass on 4 decimals of land.

Jobayer Mahmud of the same village said cultivating grass has been financially beneficial for him as he owns four well bred dairy cows. He said grass cultivation does not take much time and effort and is cost effective.

“Grass does not need to be replanted and grows naturally once the cuttings are sowed. I harvest the grass as per my need and it regrows,” he added.

His neighbour Anisur Rahman, also a cattle farmer, followed in his footsteps in cultivating grass after seeing the benefits. Sheikh Abdul Ghafoor, the grass cultivation extension worker of the upazila DLS office said the farmers are being encouraged to cultivate grass as cattle feed.

“We regularly inquire the farmers about the cultivation as well as provide them advice and support,” he added.

Dr Pradeep Kumar Majumdar, upazila livestock resources officer, said cultivating grass not only benefits the farmers financially but also the nutrient rich feed helps improve the cattles health.

“We provided training and advice and encouraged the farmers to cultivate Napier and Pakchong varieties of grass. These grass are much more nutritious than high-priced grain feed sold in the market,” adding that these grasses also improve the cattles immunity.

Pradeep also said that an initiative is underway to expand the cultivation of Napier and Pakchong grass in the upazila as it is beneficial.