Kenyan Farmers Embrace Chinese-Engineered Grass for Fodder | VOANews

Having enough feed for livestock is critical to the food security of many African countries. Some farmers are considering adopting a Chinese-engineered grass called Juncao, advertised as high-yielding and fast-maturing. Francis Ontomwa has more from Kajiado, Kenya. Video: Amos Wangwa.
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[@ndwandwewasendwedwe7964]

Im 100% sure if it had came from US John Masina would be singing praises about jancao grass

[@estebancorral5151]

You clearly would disregard the warnings from African scientists. There intelligence is apparent which is independent of the color of their skin.

[@brandillysmom]

If Kenyans developed it and were careful about the repercussions of introducing potentially invasive species, I wouldn’t feel alarm about it. But this is China….. Think about it. US is equally sketchy. This grass could potentially suck up the soil fertility, spread all over the place and ruin the environment.

[@mikeaman2008]

Introducing any grass specie into another viable native habitat is very risky. I remember a specie (we call Bakeri) being introduced in Jamaica. It resulted in the denuding of certain areas of native grass, the hardening of the soil surface, and also choking out many other native plant species in the process, some of which are permanently lost. Please examine carefully the potential for invasiveness and the long term implications before employing live samples of these so called 'hybrids'.

[@OffGridInvestor]

There's one called banan grass which is a mix of 2 different species. They have SOME here in Australia but not much. Regular weed spray will kill it. But as an Australian, I know EXACTLY what you mean about introduced things going nuts. We have a toad that squirts poison that has only spread due to GREENIES being upset about HOW they're killed. And since then they're REALLY REALLY taken off, moving something like 6 or 8 times the speed they were spreading. Wrecked most of the north of the country. As adults they're near impossible to kill by hitting them. My dad found that out in the 70s. Hit one with a steel pipe until the pipe bent. It was only stunned.

[@lppoqql]

Lets be fair here, Africa could use a little more green.

[@sampsonagyapong3579]

@@lppoqql You don't think Africa has its own greens to make use of?

[@almarooffarms7926]

As a farmer in Nigeria, I'll like to explore the benefits of junkao, how do I buy its seeds or its plantable parts.

[@777Omwana]

Careful this looks like an engineered invasive plant under disguise. I hope Kenyans don't learn the hard way.

[@vukoni1]

Please check the organic type in Nigeria, especially along big rivers or swamps. Don't go far to China because they took it from Africa.

[@southernafricanboy4148]

How come no farming innovation ever comes from the so called Giant of Africa. None whatsoever If I see anything revolutionary in farming on your tune I know where it's most likely coming from

[@squirejkoroma6991]

From Ghana?​@@southernafricanboy4148

[@tutotutot5193]

@@southernafricanboy4148 wrongplatform.......

[@kaiblade760]

These farmers are playing with fire.

[@jojothepolyglot1866]

Don't be an idiot...Educate yourself

[@Kx0195]

Or maybe the Chinese are using it to gain soft power over these countries to get favourable resource deals. Don't believe everything the western media tell you. Look into what Yanis Varoufakis says about the way the Chinese approach these deals. It's usually no strings attached and very beneficial for the country they offer it to. Completely different approach to how the western world have made arrangements with the African nations.

[@yellowsunrecordsyellowsunr9486]

Why?

[@rajbeekie7124]

Do tell us why.

[@sylvesterkithiia3713]

Instead of appreciating the Chinese and embracing the grass.... you are here critising the good idea.Total bulshit 😅

[@wenlee8853]

If Kenya can only provide 40% food for its people, I think junkao a good thing. After all, feedings people should be the priority.

[@david255]

Do people eat grass

[@jojothepolyglot1866]

40% livestock fodder my friend....Hahahahaha! Kenya can sustain itself because it is an Agricultural based economy but like he said Livestock fodder(grass) is rare because not many people plant it so it is a form of new business venture

[@douglasshimishi2983]

In Zambia Lusaka where can I buy junkao sticks for planting

[@southernafricanboy4148]

Don't do it

[@yaredmatheos2465]

how can I get these junkao seeds go harvest?

[@kolapoanimashaun]

yes, its necessary to look carefully if there are negative long/short term side effects to ths Chinese invention?

[@jamesbond4810]

As a Sri Lankan I would say be careful or at best I would say don't even consider buying it. You can always look upto to our agriculture system and revolution as your inspiration and example.

[@jz94117]

With a few more genetic modifications, Juncao grass will be human-edible and promote a greater GDP yield.

[@OffGridInvestor]

Reminds me of banan grass. They have LIMITED amounts of it here in Australia for fodder. It's 2 things crossed together and has that same kinda bamboo segmented look.

[@ivanbata1370]

Is it good for the land and sustainable in the long run?

[@victory940]

👍🏾👍🏾same thing I was thinking.🧐

[@anthonykirk9174]

I wouldn't trust it I bet the side effects will start to show up as time go by. Did the Kenyan Agricultural department test it?

[@fb079]

What makes your so skeptical?

[@kimutainelson7930]

There's always this type of people

[@hildaayoo6853]

I think its when on test. But the worry is the quick weight gain

[@grosskarsten4216]

@@fb079nothing, just what always happen in the last 5000 years when we intoduce new species?

[@OffGridInvestor]

​@@fb079because grasses like this destroyed parts of kenya and almost EVERY introduced thing to Australia has just become a big problem. Like serrated tussock, skeleton weed, both bought to stop soil erosion, prickly pear, Patterson's curse, and prickly acacia. And probably about 20 others including blackberries and African boxthorn, both of which are problems on my farm.

[@sifisogeorgehlongwane8504]

How one get this grass. I'm in Zimbabwe? I would like to grow it for livestock

[@benedicz]

😂😂😂😂😂 this grass has been in Kenya since Longtime ago when i was a kid, we call it dhara, looks like sugarcane but its not sugarcane

[@donaldkasper8346]

It is bamboo.

[@johnnjuru2246]

No,this a different one

[@njengamakena]

But they have clarified that it is not napier grass

[@ireneakbar7513]

The difference between junkao grass and dhara is that this junkao produced from 87 grasses the Chinese man said. Which means this junkao is man created? Is it not? It did not exist before. I would be a bit cautious but let those who insist to use it, sometimes the genetically made foods are the ones causing human diseases but people don't associate these types of not naturally grown foods with cancers, dementia and other major diseases that affect human beings in cells. I am just saying, my thought which I have a right to air on yhus platform. So don't reply me with abuses.

[@eldios831]

Not napier...wewe ni wake walikuwa wanaskiza lecture ya intergers unaenda kuchora graph

[@dexterkaesha2652]

Hello, How can I get it in Zambia?

[@donaldkasper8346]

Yes, bamboo is a grass, but how cows eat it without first crushing it is impossible. Also, bamboo takes a lot of water. Vid shows it shredded.

[@vukoni1]

But this is an African wild grass. In our region we call it lire, but now we are seeing Chinese selling back our own grass. What's happening with we Africans?

[@conscious007]

He says it's a hybrid of many grasses

[@Adnancorner]

NO he said its a hybrid. Listen before speaking. In this world nobody listen. They hear but do not listen.

[@nenekarain539]

Y'all this is a china man selling hybrid to livestock ..ways to finish black men .. be on the look out esp wakikuyu who love huge profit margins 💯

[@benedicz]

Exactly, this gras has been in Kenya since Longtime ago and it grows next to river shows and wet places, we call it dhara and we feed it to cattles or use it to build mud hats n roofs, now the Chinese have changed its name and saying it's their invention, this is really petty, I can't even stand the reporter himself, he doesn't know exactly what he is reporting on😂

[@suezcontours6653]

@@nenekarain539 African women should marry these Chinese men, they're providing for them in every way.

[@squirejkoroma6991]

This is very helpful for Catlle Farmers

[@mucholangs]

Why not just plant Bracharia grass? It yields the same amount of crude protein.

[@symonkoech2594]

How can I get the seeds of the grass

[@TheAljohani]

Di Indonesia ada banyak jenis rumput potong seperti ini.

[@ninchenatrevor]

How do I contact this farmer ? I want to buy juncao grass for livestock

[@gideonagbaje405]

How can I get the junkao grass

[@larsantiago9440]

We have good grass in Phils.easy to plant byseed..called Maramais

[@user-od9kw7wb4j]

Land erosion could be your next watch out.

[@stevepointe9087]

that's a big lie. this grass already exist in elsewhere. In Seychelles we call it elephant grass!

[@Nowseemypoint]

It will destroy the vegetable farmers because it depletes the soil nutrients so fast

[@user-yc8bz2gl7e]

How do you spell the name of this grass

[@cmartin5903]

We have it in Jamaica and bring it to cows known as cow grass/cow cane. ❤

[@BAYUTADOW]

Hi how are u. Is it good to feed animals?

[@donaldkasper8346]

@@BAYUTADOW Notice it has to be finely shredded for the animals to eat it. That takes machinery.

[@rickyraynor5513]

​@@BAYUTADOWyes it is

[@aberdeenaberdeen3959]

THIS GRASS IS CALLED SUPER NAPIER ITS BEEN AROUND A WHILE ITS A CROSS BETWEEN SERENGATI GRASS AND SORGUM IT WAS FIRST MADE BY THE THAILAND PEOPLE

[@norcalreppin1]

38 different times of grass sounds crazy.

[@marybroderick8265]

But is it an invasive grass like bamboo and kudzu

[@donaldkasper8346]

It is clearly bamboo, so it sends out rhizomes in the soil to expand its range.

[@Priscillazawadi]

Junkao si GMO vye huyo farmer anasema ngombe inaogeza a kilo per day .

[@saharodincarim6915]

Is this a high breed to Napier grass

[@stephenmutai2284]

Am in Eldoret..How may l obtain this grass?

[@samueliyambo4109]

How can I get jancao or junkao grass in Namibia?

[@cosmoray9750]

Here in North America the feedlots fed specially formulated feed based on corn or other grains. Don't know why they don't feed grass to the cattle.

[@rajbeekie7124]

Simple, corn fattens cows a whole lot faster. People love their steaks with a high fat content. It taste great.

[@Deontjie]

Grass is low in proteins.

[@OffGridInvestor]

2 reasons. Fatter quicker, and cows are kept in yards so they don't walk off ant weight gain.

[@auroralflame8515]

Where to buy

[@washingtonmeda2826]

How do get the seed jankau grass?

[@user-qs4zo5qs9z]

Am a Ugandan farmer how can i access it

[@teejayman215]

Its good until the soil is depleted. What happens after?

[@relaxingbeach8571]

super amazing facts.

[@RakhansEnterprise-ij3uc]

😂😂😂 this grass is growing in the Bahamas ,an island off florida all over the place

[@KxngDrake]

Wrong move that same grass is gonna find it’s way in ur water way you guys are gonna be sorry we have that problem right now in Jamaica

[@Tirra227]

That's not grass. It's bamboo.😂

[@arno557]

Bamboo is a grass. Not a tree botanically😅. Learnt it the hard way in my entrance exam.

[@ahmedmohamud1191]

Kkkkk

[@kristofp72]

Bamboo is a grass. The joke's on you.

[@Zoe186]

NO!, that’s not bamboo at all😂😂😂😂.

[@lazarusramaube8291]

Illiterate

[@ahmedmohamud1191]

Is the bag 50kg

[@carlosdangerfield9477]

What could go wrong?

[@JohN-lm6ix]

Gmo,the cow will grow like broiler chicken, and finally, people will grow tall like trees 🌳 after eating meat and drinking milk.

[@samajacob485]

This is elephant grass more common in my area.

[@terusanzues6571]

It's difficult for people or most farmers to understand the important of biodiversity. Even if they know that biodiversity is good and agree with that, their level of understanding is low.

[@robertotieno-jr4wl]

Good

[@donaldkasper8346]

Animals eat real grass. Grass grass, not bamboo grass. This has to be shredded to feed animals.

[@naturalmystics-kd9vt]

The Chinese can turn samali and Ethiopia back into green posters and forest land and end the famine for ener

[@ariefsheik1716]

Wow great stuff, Africa on the rise with help from Chinese.

[@Deontjie]

The Chinese did not tell you that this bamboo must first be shredded? And it needs a lot of water.

[@deancarc]

A kilo a day?😳

[@ZielonySmogg]

Everything what's hybrid I'd be aware of, especially from Chinese...

[@macacanalspain-crotchetkni2623]

Kenyans borrowing everything without thinking of how risky it is to such to Kenya environment and other farmers in Kenya

[@buravan1512]

*CHINESE don't joke around...*

[@One_love223]

This GMO.....what are we doing as a people? We are ddoom because of our lack of knowledge and greed.

[@charitygichuki6811]

Mr Liu, I am very interested in this fodder. Can I come visit your farm?

[@walungamaandrewkiyingi3780]

Can't the birds and other fauna feed o the grass? Because biodiversity loss seems to be the biggest impediment raised by the conservatives

[@danteessa3062]

I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts

[@leratosetlogelo7004]

How stupid? Introduce genetically modified products into their natural environment! Why not pure natural chinese grass or bamboos? Yes there will b benefits, but disadvantages too especially to the kenyan natural environment!

[@volvo24091]

The fool from the museum talking about birds.

[@gj1234567899999]

Is VOA peddling Chinese propaganda?🧐

[@fb079]

Reporting facts is now propaganda??

[@southernafricanboy4148]

This will lead to disaster Don't do it Kenya😢 Invasive species are very hard to get rid of despite initial early promises. Look around the world

[@user-ol4pc4cm5b]

Dont you listen what they are saying? The cows fat increase so faster even 1kilo aday. what happens when we people consume the milk and meat coming from those animals they feed on that grass? We get obesity, we born fat babies our genetics get interference of lap made unknown foreign objects. it might sound good and production get increased and economic structure of our community get better wheels in the future maybe for a few weeks or months or maybe a few years but it dont mean that its good for our animals health and our health own. Somalis, Kenyan Ethiopian and Eriterean are very close people. Most of them they are tall people,very atlantic body built environment , very beautyfull people they have tolerance for pain, tolerance for hunger they have also tolerance for waterscarcity they can walk around days with no water and if a lion shows run from it.Thats the way of living they develeped through the harsh climate conditions they being living through generations after generations. But what happens real when we came with some stragergrass or any other plantetion? and clean land and grow in their farmerland? Indeed we are changing their natural living of way. We did the same thing in America. We cut all the native trees and clean land for grass so we could have grass for all those caws coming from europe at that time. We clean land for grass all Brazil so we could have graceland for our caws and otheranimals. Later when America found out all the mistake they made and all the montains they moved away it was already too late, all the force was gone. All the natural habitat was gone. The american Native nature was already gone. Only little bit reinforst was left in Brazil and know the last trees is on the news headlines every day because those who cut trees still cuting illigal in the forst woods. So Kenya and its neiboring they have to find a other way to solv their own nature problems before they starting taking in some stranger grass from China or any other place on this planet. Dont get me wrong i dont mean Chinese thing is bad. We have many good chinese things in this world thanks to china. This world wouldnt been the same with out chinese invetions and technolog. But In this world we are today Every little tree caounts. That is still on its motherland with its own grown roots. Also dont you remember The italian when they colonized Somalia. Dont look far its neibor with Kenya. First they take over controll all the farming land and then they cut all the wild Tomatos. Take with them to Roma changed it grow in laps. Introduce back Hybrid Grown Lap Tomato to Somalia. Since that Time Somalia never grown again their wild small native Tomatos and many other things. Now days you can buy it all over the world the small Hybrid once. So look around Kenya what you already got that is stilll got their native orginal seeds before you clean land and start growing something you dont know their Future or their intetions they have for you in the Future.

[@naturalmystics-kd9vt]

John musina lock technology he is blind Ethiopian samalian famine wake up and see the light

[@user-rp5sr6os7u]

Look like sugar cane. Why not plant sugar cane?