ISDAP Farmers Thrive with Improved Forage Seeds from Advanta
Benjamin Tashobya is pictured with his children in his Sugar Graze Garden.
Benjamin Tashobya, a 66-year-old farmer from Rukungiri, has made significant improvements on his farm after attending Integrated Smallholder Dairy Programme (ISDAP) training on advanced forages. Specifically, he learned about Sugar Graze, a high-energy sorghum, and Pearl millet, which is highly valued as animal feed due to its high protein content and ability to thrive in arid conditions. These millets provide essential nutrients for livestock, especially in areas with low rainfall.
These forages were introduced through a partnership between ISDAP and Advanta Seed Company to improve livestock production for smallholder farmers during the ISDAP interventions.
One of the two farmers from Rukungiri selected for the training, Tashobya, learned about seed selection and pest management.
Implementing these practices, he planted Sugar Graze, which increased his milk yield from 2 cows to 8-12 litres per cow per day.
The impact of these new forages extended beyond the dairy value chain. Tashobya invested part of his earnings from selling milk (25 litres daily at UGX 1,000 per litre) in two water tanks, one with a capacity of 3,000 litres and the other with 1,000 litres. This investment ensures a constant water supply for his cows, even during the dry season.
Other farmers have also experienced positive results from the improved forages. In Kisoro, Sugar Graze provided more biomass than traditional forage options, resulting in a 1.5–2 litre increase in daily milk production per cow.
In Kabale, a farmer noted that despite initial challenges with soil quality, Sugar Graze showed resilience, particularly in drought-prone areas, yielding high biomass and improving the condition of his dairy herd.
Introducing enhanced forages such as Sugar Graze and Peal Millet has significantly impacted the lives of smallholder farmers.
As more farmers embrace these forages, the potential for increased milk production and farm sustainability grows, improving regional food security and resilience.
Farmers should ensure proper soil preparation and apply DAP fertiliser (which provides both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), two essential nutrients for plant growth) where necessary to achieve the best results. Harvest Sugar Graze at 140–160 cm and Pearl Millet at 100–120 cm to maintain nutritional value. Feeding a combination of the two improves milk yield and overall livestock health. Pest control, such as monitoring for armyworms in Sugar Graze, is also crucial for maintaining crop quality.
To Learn more about the work Integrated Smallholder Dairy Programme (ISDAP) is doing
Kindly contact Martin de Jong at mdejong@snv.org
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