Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) is one of the most widely grown green fodder crops on Saudi farms, and many investors see it as a project with guaranteed demand. Before any feasibility study for Rhodes grass today, one question comes before the numbers: is it allowed on your farm's location at all?
What is Rhodes grass?
Rhodes grass is a perennial forage grass, planted once and cut several times per season, and used fresh or as hay to feed sheep, camels and cattle. Because it is perennial and irrigated most of the year, it is among the most water-intensive crops, which made it central to the Kingdom's water policies.
The decision that changes the project's numbers
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced that the halt of perennial fodder cultivation in sedimentary-shelf areas starts on Monday 17 November 2026, implementing Council of Ministers Decision No. 66 dated 25/02/1437 AH, phased in gradually over no more than three years, with a shift to seasonal fodder.
The Ministry states that perennial fodder consumes about 32,000 cubic metres of water per hectare per year, compared with no more than 9,000 cubic metres for seasonal fodder. Rhodes grass is explicitly named in the green fodder rules alongside alfalfa and sorghum.
In practice, any feasibility study for a Rhodes grass project starts by locating the farm on the sedimentary-shelf map and confirming its regulatory status and agricultural registry, before discussing yields and prices.
How much does a hectare of Rhodes grass yield?
There is no single figure for every farm; yield depends on irrigation, fertilisation, soil and the number of cuts. In a published field study by King Saud University researchers (Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2016) on a Rhodes grass field in the Riyadh region with three cuts in the 2012 season, mean cumulative hay yield ranged from about 21.8 to 24.5 t/ha depending on the management zone, rising to about 24.7–27.8 t/ha under the best irrigation and nitrogen treatment.
These are research-trial figures under specific conditions, not a production promise. A sound feasibility study bases expected output on the farm's own data and its permitted water.
Rhodes grass for sheep: why breeders want it
Sheep and camel breeders favour it as a palatable forage that can be fed fresh or as hay and stored relatively easily. Actual nutritional value varies with plant age at cutting and drying method, so laboratory feed analysis is used for pricing or ration formulation rather than general figures.
Investment alternatives if your site falls within the ban
- Switching to seasonal fodder under the Ministry's approved mechanism.
- Fodder-related activities that do not depend on growing it, such as trading imported fodder or concentrated feed mills.
- Livestock activities such as fattening, or protected agriculture with lower water use.
Each alternative has different capital, licensing and market requirements; numbers cannot be copied from one project to another.
What a fodder or Rhodes grass feasibility study covers now
- Regulatory check: farm location, agricultural registry, and how the perennial fodder decision applies to it.
- Water: what is actually available and permitted, and pumping and irrigation costs.
- Production: realistic estimates of cuts and yield from the farm's data, with a conservative scenario.
- Market: actual hay prices in your region through the year, and sales channels to breeders and traders.
- Costs: seed, fertiliser, energy, labour, harvesting, baling and transport.
- Comparison: does switching to seasonal fodder or an alternative activity give a better return with the same resources?
Frequently asked questions
Is Rhodes grass banned across all of Saudi Arabia?
The announced decision concerns perennial fodder in sedimentary-shelf areas and is applied gradually over no more than three years from 17 November 2026. Confirm your farm's status with the Ministry before investing.
Can I rely on a yield figure from the internet?
No. Published figures come from trials under specific conditions. Use them for comparison only and build the study on your farm's data.
What is the closest alternative for Rhodes grass farms?
Seasonal fodder under the Ministry's mechanism, or fodder-related and livestock activities. Choosing between them requires a study of each option.
Planning a fodder or alternative agricultural project?
Googan prepares agricultural feasibility studies that start with regulatory and water checks, then production, market and costs. Contact us to discuss your farm.
