Calliandra

Part of the pea family, Calliandra is a small, thornless shrub that grows up to 12m high from direct sowing, seedlings or stem cuttings.
It is best grown alongside other crops and grows well in a wide range of soil types, from deep volcanic loams to more acidic sandy clays. It is well adapted to acid infertile soils, but will respond to fertiliser. It does not tolerate waterlogged conditions, or drought,and does not grow well on poorly drained soils.

Grows well in Central and Eastern Province, and is evergreen in humid climates, but semi-deciduous in areas with a long dry season.

The first cut can be 8-12 months after sowing, and it can be cut back to half to one metre every 2 to 3 months. Direct grazing by cattle, sheep and goats will often kill the plant, as will cutting below 30cm. But when cut and fed, the leaves and pods are rich in protein and can contribute 25 per cent of livestock diet, compared to between 8 and 10 per cent for elephant grass and nappier grass.

Calliandra can provide fodder for up to 20 years.

Commercial Value
A farmer with 1 cow and 500 calliandra as a substitute for  dairy meal will increase his net monthly income by between Sh15,000 and Sh30,000.