While working on a research project (VT-USAID-ERA) on Conservation Agriculture, a rather unexpected opportunity came our way — provide hands-on training on grassland management and conservation.
Ozzie Abaye, a crop and soil environmental sciences professor on sabbatical in Senegal, writes: “We provided information covering the role of grassland management in building more resilient farming system to cope with more variable rainfall and long dry season where forage is in short supply.
“Here are a few simple grassland principles we shared with the villagers:
- Identify the different grassland species and how each respond to management schemes
- The difference between annual and perennial species and their response to management (grazing vs cut and feed)
- The dynamics between defoliation (grazing) and rest period – recovery
- Stress the difference between forage quality and quantity (in grassland forage biomass and quality is inversely related i.e as biomass increase quality decreases
- Optimize biomass yield/production vs quality through management
Activities
- To introduce innovative techniques to preserve forage crops to be used or marketed during the dry season when livestock feed is in short supply.
- Preserve the forage as hay
- Green chop (dried and stored in bags)
We had two to three activities. One dealing with harvesting the rapidity growing forages for hay and the other for green chop.”
More photos can be found on the CALS Facebook page.
What wonderful work you are doing sharing forage management knowledge and helping the villagers of Senegal develop skills that will benefit their livelihood. Keep up the good work!