Dang. Mixar Chaudhary of Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-6 has cultivated Barsim grass on 22 kathas of land. He has raised two milk buffaloes and eight sheep. He said that from Kartik to Baisakh, he cuts green grass and feeds it to the buffaloes and sheep and is also selling seeds.
Chowdhary informed that he sold grass seeds worth Rs 200,000 last year. He expressed confidence that this year too, saying that there was plenty of grain, he would earn more than last year. ‘After sowing Barsim grass in the fields, there is no need to go in search of grass during the winter, which has saved time. When it is green, it can also be used for feeding grass and its seeds are sold as seeds,’ he said.
According to him, farmers in Dang have started earning lakhs of rupees by selling grass seeds. Prem Chaudhary of Ghorahi-6 has raised three buffaloes, one cow and six goats. He said, ‘I have sown Barsim grass in 19 acres of fields. As it has become easier to feed grass to livestock, animal husbandry has become easier. The buffaloes have also increased their milk production by eating green grass in winter.’
Prem said that he has been cultivating grass every year by producing seeds at home and informed that there has been an increase in the interest of livestock farmers in cultivating grass for grass. ‘During the rainy season, the seeds of this grass are sown like lentils before harvesting the rice planted. “By the time the grass grows, the rice must have been harvested, someone has even plowed the field and sowed it,” he said.
Prem said that he sold grass seeds worth Rs 90,000 last year and estimated that they would be sold for more than Rs 100,000 this year.
The Grass Seed Producers Association said that farmers in Ghorahi-5, 6, 7, 8 and 17 have cultivated grass in areas ranging from 15 to 25 kathas. The association’s secretary, Bimal Adhikari, informed that farmers’ attraction towards it has increased as it is more beneficial than other crops.
Farmers from Guruwagaun, Gurgai, Jajragaun, Beruwagaun, Bergai, Fachakpur and Aghara in Ghorahi-6 and Karjahi and Gairagaun in Ghorahi-17 have been cultivating barsim grass for the past 10 years, he informed.
‘It is also known as ‘Greengold’. It brings double benefits to farmers who cultivate it. “Since it is possible to feed green grass, dry stalks and sell the feed to earn cash income, farmers in almost all municipalities of Dang have started doing this grass farming,” the official said.
Last year, farmers earned an income of Rs 290,000 to Rs 300,000 by selling grass feed. The official said that it is very profitable as the animals that eat this grass increase their milk production.
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