Greater Nebbi Farmers embrace Napier grass to promote sustainable livestock farming
The initiative is being spearheaded by SAGE Uganda, a local non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with the Nebbi District Local Government
NEBBI, August 26, 2025 – At least 50 farmers from the Greater Nebbi sub-region, covering the districts of Nebbi, Zombo, and Pakwach, have taken up the cultivation of Super Napier grass [Pennisetum purpureum or Pennisetum americanum] as part of an initiative aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and green energy solutions.
This significant step towards enhancing commercial livestock production, particularly for improving diets and generating income through the sale of milk, beef, mutton, hides and skins, was shared on Saturday during a seed distribution event held in Nebbi Municipality.
The initiative is being spearheaded by SAGE Uganda, a local non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with the Nebbi District Local Government. Speaking to our reporter, Emillio Odongo Wathum, Director of SAGE Uganda, revealed that the project began in December 2023 with support from Sun24, a US-based partner focused on green energy innovation, particularly in briquette charcoal production.
Wathum explained that farmers across the Greater Nebbi area have embraced the cultivation of this multipurpose grass, primarily for livestock feed, while also addressing climate mitigation challenges and land shortages related to animal rearing.
The Napier grass has already matured on a 1.6-acre demonstration plot located at Namthin Primary School. Farmers are now collecting seed cuttings to transplant onto their own farms.
“We developed the idea to promote Super Napier grass as a commercial enterprise supporting sustainable livestock production. This grass is also a viable source of green energy,” Mr Wathum said.
He added: “With the presidential ban on commercial charcoal burning and logging, the pressing question has been—what alternatives exist for firewood? Super Napier grass offers a promising solution.”
Wathum affirmed that participating farmers are committed to planting on a combined total of at least 100 acres in the current and upcoming planting seasons.
“We believe this marks a new chapter in livestock production for the Greater Nebbi districts,” he emphasised.
Dr Paul Jatho, a farmer from Laju Cell in Forest Ward, Nebbi Municipality, currently manages 80 acres of land dedicated to commercial livestock. He is planting Napier grass on five acres, with plans to expand to ten acres over the next two years.
He expressed his intention to diversify into sheep and goat rearing to meet the growing demand for meat in the region, which is being driven by rapid urbanisation.
“I heard about this venture and decided to join. I encourage others to embrace cattle rearing to tap into the growing market in West Nile,” Dr Jatho urged.
Christopher Watumbe, a retired teacher from Zombo District now engaged in commercial goat farming in Paidha Town Council, stressed the importance of collective effort. With the increasing number of farmers growing Napier grass, he suggested forming a savings and credit cooperative [SACCO] to help lobby for funding and realise shared goals.
Watumbe, who plans to transition to semi-zero grazing due to frequent conflicts over animals straying into neighbours’ fields and a lack of natural grass, shared his motivation. “At my age, I can’t engage in crop farming for commercial purposes. That’s why I’ve chosen to rear goats. This opportunity feels like a golden chance,” he told our reporter.
The West Nile region, with a population of over three million according to the 2024 national census, has long relied on livestock from other parts of Uganda, including Lango, Teso, Karamoja, Central, and Western sub-regions. Subsistence agriculture remains dominant, with major crops being beans, cassava, and limited Arabica coffee.
Obothi Onencan, a butcher in Paidha, lamented the high cost of purchasing cattle from outside West Nile, which ranges from Shs 1.2 to 1.7 million or more, excluding transport. Traditionally, cattle were a symbol of wealth and social status, often used for dowries or as draught animals. However, cattle numbers in West Nile have declined due to land shortages and other factors.
Uganda’s 2021 National Livestock Census highlights the regional disparity in cattle populations. The Eastern and Western regions had the highest numbers, with about 3.3 million cattle [23 percent], followed by the Central region at 3.0 million [20.8 percent]. The Northern and Karamoja sub-regions had the fewest, with 2.4 million cattle [17 percent].
Patrick Aneniu, Zombo District’s Senior Agricultural Officer, praised the shift towards sustainable livestock farming. He advised farmers to adopt zero-grazing practices and integrate livestock rearing with key enterprises such as banana, coffee, and dairy farming.
“In Zombo, the average land holding per household is about 3.5 acres. We recommend allocating one acre for banana, one for pastures, and another for coffee, while considering piggery or poultry as supplementary ventures. These animals should be managed intensively under zero grazing,” Aneniu advised.
He also criticised the mismanagement of dairy cattle distributed by the government under various livelihood programmes, and cautioned that goat rearing requires larger land parcels to be successful.
According to the International Livestock Research Institute [ILRI] 2020 report, cattle play a central role in African livelihoods. Across the continent, around 800 million people depend on livestock for food, income, soil fertility through manure, and various socio-cultural purposes. However, many Ugandan farmers have struggled to access the capital needed for modern cattle farming.
John Othembi, a resident of Ubimu Cell in Zombo Town Council, shared his own experience. He recalled that between the 1990s and early 2000s, they had over 60 head of cattle in his village. Today, those herds have vanished.
“Many young people in Greater Nebbi have never even seen a cattle kraal at home. It’s a lost heritage,” he remarked.
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