Uganda Seed Profile

The study aimed to explore the potential of cultivated forages as a solution to the availability of quality feed for livestock in developing countries. Cultivated forages rely on high-quality forage seeds, and business models developed in the five geographies show that the costs per nutrient necessary for the dairy and fattening sectors are lowest for forages compared with commercial feed alternatives. The study approach involved six steps: partnership landscape, information gathering, identifying global best practice case studies, demand estimation, conducting economic analyses, and business model propositions. Key stakeholder interviews were conducted to learn about the forage sector opportunities and challenges. Information was collected and mapped pertaining to demand sinks and infrastructure facilities, including quarantine sites, feedlots, dairy centers, warehouses, and national agricultural research centers. The study identified several forage species with desirable attributes for different production contexts. Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombasa and Megathyrsus maximus cv. Massai showed high digestibility and tolerance to drought, while Urochloa hybrid cv. Mulato II and Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman exhibited high tolerance to water logging and drought. Urochloa humidicola cv. Humidicola showed high adaptability to soils with low pH and high tolerance to drought. The length of growing period (LGP) across the five countries varied, with Sudan and Ethiopia having a longer LGP than Zambia and Cambodia. The LGP is an important factor in determining the suitability of forage species for different production contexts. The study also highlighted the need for a strong and sustainable seed supply value chain, high adoption of improved technologies, and land to produce forages. The forage seed value chain is interconnected with the market for cultivated forages as improved feed and the output market for the livestock feed. Mobilizing high-quality feed preservation technology can generate a new avenue of demand for forages. The study's findings suggest that cultivated forages can be a viable contender for providing quality feed for livestock in developing countries, and that business models developed in the five geographies can make high-quality animal feed affordable and available year-round.