Developing an Inclusive Market for Nutritious Fodder Seeds

Promoting rye grass seeds in appropriate pack sizes for smallholder farmers in Gilgit-Baltistan

Farm Dynamics Pakistan (FDP), in partnership with MDF, worked to improve access to nutritious fodder by promoting rye grass seeds and packaging them in affordable sizes for smallholder farmers in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The initiative focused on awareness, market development, and inclusive distribution to improve livestock nutrition and farmer incomes.

5,248
farmers benefited
2,624
women farmers reached
404 USD
additional income per farmer per year

Voice from the Field

I myself prepare the land and grow rye grass seeds. I cut the crop on my own and feed it to my animals. With the use of nutritious feed, the milk yield has increased by 4 litres per animal per day. I make butter from the surplus milk and sell it to a nearby retailer. I get new books for my children from the surplus income.

- Dilshad Bibi, Small Dairy Farmer, Gilgit-Baltistan

The Challenges

Before the intervention, smallholder dairy farmers in Gilgit-Baltistan faced multiple constraints:

Limited Access to Nutritious Fodder
  • Lack of availability of quality fodder seed varieties
  • Heavy dependence on low-nutrition crop residues
Low Awareness
  • Limited knowledge of hybrid fodder varieties such as rye grass
  • Lack of understanding of multi-cut, long-duration fodder benefits
Affordability Barriers
  • Large commercial seed pack sizes were unaffordable for small farmers
Seasonal Feed Shortages
  • Inconsistent fodder supply throughout the year
  • Reduced animal nutrition leading to low milk yields

These challenges directly affected livestock productivity, household income, and food security.

Goals and Objectives

The partnership between MDF and FDP focused on the following objectives:

Primary Goals
  • Improve access to nutritious fodder seeds for smallholder farmers
  • Promote awareness of rye grass as a high-yield, multi-cut fodder option
  • Develop inclusive distribution channels targeting small and medium farmers
  • Increase milk productivity through improved animal nutrition
  • Support women farmers actively engaged in livestock and fodder production

Gilgit-Baltistan is a remote region in northern Pakistan where small dairy farmers face severe
constraints in accessing nutritious fodder. Seasonal shortages force farmers to rely on crop
residues such as wheat straw, which are poor in nutritional value and lead to reduced milk yields
particularly during dry seasons.

Quality fodder availability is limited, with most supplies being purchased by large commercial
dairy farms. As a result, smallholder farmers who form the majority of Pakistan’s dairy sector
remain largely underserved.

Our Approach: Market Development and Inclusive Distribution

To address these challenges, MDF and FDP implemented a coordinated market development approach:

Rye grass seeds were packaged in appropriate sizes
affordable for smallholder farmers.

High-level opinion leaders were invited to information
seminars, while farmer days were organized to demonstrate fodder benefits.

Field agronomists provided on-ground guidance to farmers on
fodder cultivation and use.

Seeds were sold through distributors and mid-tier farms in
areas with local demand.

Women farmers, who lead many farming activities in GB, were a
major focus of the intervention.