Theme 2-1: Forage Production and Utilization--Oral Sessions

Description

Seeds of Mulato II hybrid brachiaria [Urochloa ruziziensis (syn. Brachiaria ruziziensis) x U. brizantha (syn. B. brizantha) x U. decumbens (syn, B.decumbens)] produced by smallholder farmers in villages in northeast Thailand and northern Laos, under contract to Ubon Forage Seeds Co. Ltd, a tropical forage seed company in Thailand, have come home to Africa. Since 2012, over 20,000 kg of Mulato II seed have been exported from Thailand to Kenya. The seed is hand-harvested from seed-heads in Laos and by hand-sweeping the seed from the ground in Thailand. The farmers semi-clean the seed in the field and then further winnow the seed back at their houses in cane trays or through small motorized seed cleaners. Ubon Forage Seeds Co. Ltd purchases the seed and then treats the seed with sulphuric acid to improve seed germination from below 10% to above 80%. Since 2008, 300,000 kg of Mulato II seed have been produced by the smallholder farmers and exported to over 20 countries. The pathway of smallholder farmers producing Mulato II seeds in Thailand and Laos and then exporting this seed to Kenya and other countries in Africa to be used by smallholder farmers to improve livestock production, is discussed.

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Smallholder Farmer Seed Production of Mulato II Hybrid Brachiaria in Thailand and Laos - Bringing Quality Forage Seeds Home to Africa

Seeds of Mulato II hybrid brachiaria [Urochloa ruziziensis (syn. Brachiaria ruziziensis) x U. brizantha (syn. B. brizantha) x U. decumbens (syn, B.decumbens)] produced by smallholder farmers in villages in northeast Thailand and northern Laos, under contract to Ubon Forage Seeds Co. Ltd, a tropical forage seed company in Thailand, have come home to Africa. Since 2012, over 20,000 kg of Mulato II seed have been exported from Thailand to Kenya. The seed is hand-harvested from seed-heads in Laos and by hand-sweeping the seed from the ground in Thailand. The farmers semi-clean the seed in the field and then further winnow the seed back at their houses in cane trays or through small motorized seed cleaners. Ubon Forage Seeds Co. Ltd purchases the seed and then treats the seed with sulphuric acid to improve seed germination from below 10% to above 80%. Since 2008, 300,000 kg of Mulato II seed have been produced by the smallholder farmers and exported to over 20 countries. The pathway of smallholder farmers producing Mulato II seeds in Thailand and Laos and then exporting this seed to Kenya and other countries in Africa to be used by smallholder farmers to improve livestock production, is discussed.