Homegrown forages: Ethiopia’s newly released Panicum grasses

Two panicum grass varieties Chano (Panicum maximum Jack) and Gardula (Dichanthelium latifolium) have been released for cultivation in Southern and Central Ethiopia. Chano and Gardula are local landraces, selected from farmer-maintained populations and assessed by Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center in collaboration with the International Canter for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA). These indigenous grasses were approved for Release by the Ethiopian Variety Release Standing Committee in May 2025. 

In multi-location field trials from 2019 to 2025, Chano and Gardula showed consistent dry matter production under rain-fed and drought conditions, with mean yields of 13.99 and 11.18 t DM/ha respectively. At late harvests, leaf biomass was consistently 14–18% greater than that of the check comparator, Degun Giziya (Panicum maximum). Degun Giziya is recognized for its adaptation and moderate yield performance southern Ethiopia. Strong regrowth after cutting and the preservation of stem integrity as plants grew older contributed to better quality retention beyond growth stages. The varieties are suited to lowland to mid-altitude environments at elevations of 1000-1600 m a.s.l. with annual rainfall of 300-1400mm. Temperature range for highest growth potential is 15.6-32^oC. Both varieties use 10 kg seed or 100,000 splits per hectare. Evaluation across six sites spanning sandy loam to heavier clay soils indicated broad adaptation and stable ground cover under variable seasonal conditions, including dry periods. No pest or disease incidence was recorded during the six-year assessment period. No yield penalty was recorded in saline and saline sodic soils in Shele, Fura, Chamo and Abaya Lake basins. The varieties are suitable for both grazing and conserved forage systems. 

Chano and Gardula do not represent a single-trait solution, but rather an example of integrated forage development in which agronomic performance, feed quality, rumen fermentation efficiency, animal palatability, drought tolerance, tolerance of saline and soils are aligned. Their release recognizes that gains at the paddock level must translate through the animal to be meaningful.

Tessema Atumo, the PhD student leading the study of the new varieties, noted that Arba Minch Research Center is introducing the grasses across three zones in Southern Ethiopia and one zone in Central Ethiopia. The center is committed to intensifying extension efforts, to expand farmer access to the newly released varieties, buoyed by the varieties’ potential to significantly boost income from the livestock sector. Tessema is collaborating with ICARDA in promoting commercial seed production opportunities that will create additional revenue streams for Youth & Women banded together through cooperatives.

Ongoing climate variability is placing strain on traditional farming systems, underscoring the potential of innovations like Chano and Gardula panicum grasses to improve resilience in livestock productivity.

We acknowledge funding from Hawassa University and Arba Minch Research Center, Ethiopia and two CGIAR Science Programs; The Sustainable Farming Program and the Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Program. We would like to thank all funders who support this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund: www.cgiar.org/funders.

Story by Tessema Tesfaye Atumo¹, Jane Wamatu², Muluken Zeleke Ekule²

¹ ArbaMinch Agricultural Research Center; Hawassa University. 

²International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA.