What is future of Mombasa, Napier and Rhodes Grass || Crop Reformer
Mombasa and Napier grasses are new emerging fodders having versatile qualities. Maize and other fodders have been in use for a long time but now changing climate conditions have created a suitable environment for a number of insects that affect these conventional fodders. In this way, fodder production becomes very costly as compared to previous period. Mombasa grass and Napier grass are the fodders that are not as much affected by insects as other fodders. So, I recommend to cultivate these new fodders to cut extra cost on insecticides. These new fodders are liked by cattle as well.
We should adopt modern ways of cultivation to cope with the modern arising issues like water shortage, climate change, rising temperature, emergence of new insects and other several problems related to production technology of crops in the way of getting higher yield according to their yield potential. Old method and old seeds are becoming difficult to handle with conventional means of agricultural techniques.
Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) is a cherished perennial fodder containing 12-13 % protein which is more than most other summer season fodders like sorghum, maize, Sudan grass sorghum hybrid, Napier grass and Mombasa grass. In this video, we have argued that Rhodes grass is more profitable if its hey is properly prepared and exported. Its stems are hard to cut with common sickles and that is why common farmers do not like its cultivation as fodder. We have suggested the small farmers to plant this new fodder but additional use of urea has been recommended to maintain it as succulent. Its cutting should be managed within 35 days after cutting during summer season.
Production technology of Rhodes grass will be shared in another video. Their is a technique to take benefit of this fodder by a small farmer. This is the cutting of it before hardening of its stem in time before 35 days and by using more quantity of urea fertilizer.
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