Rhodes Grass Seed Import and Cultivation in Pakistan: A Grower's Guide

By Olympic AgenciesLast updated: 10 July 2026

Quick Answer

Rhodes grass seed for Pakistan is mostly imported from Australia, sown from February to October at about 8 kg per acre, and yields 2 to 4 tonnes of hay per acre under average management. Most of the crop feeds a growing hay export trade to Gulf countries.

Key facts
Main seed source	Australia, via specialist fodder seed importers supplying Pakistani growers
Seed rate	About 8 kg per acre, broadcast into standing water
Sowing window	February to October
Typical yield	2 to 4 tonnes of hay per acre under average management, higher with better irrigation
Export destination	Mainly Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman, driven by their fodder import needs

Rhodes grass seed grown in Pakistan is mostly imported from Australia, sown between February and October at around 8 kg per acre, and yields 2 to 4 tonnes of hay per acre under average field management. The crop has grown from a minor forage grass into an export line feeding Gulf countries that import their animal feed. This post covers the seed import side, the cultivation numbers, and the export link.

Where does the seed for Pakistan's Rhodes grass crop come from?

Fodder seed suppliers in Pakistan import Rhodes grass seed mainly from Australia, sourcing from established Australian producers and distributing the seed to growers across the country, according to Zarea's overview of Rhodes grass trade in Pakistan. Some suppliers also bring in imported hybrid seed lines rather than relying only on open-pollinated varieties, aiming for stronger germination and yield in Pakistani growing conditions.

The permit and quarantine mechanics for bringing this seed in are the same DPP-led process covered across our seed import posts, including our guides to hybrid vegetable seed and hybrid maize seed import; what differs crop to crop is mainly the sourcing country and the crop-specific inspection detail.

This import dependency sits alongside a growing domestic export trade in the finished hay, so many operations in this sector are importing seed on one side of the business and exporting hay on the other.

How do I sow Rhodes grass, and what seed rate does it need?

Land should be well prepared and leveled for effective irrigation before sowing. The seed is propagated by broadcast method into standing water, and the recommended seed rate is 8 kg per acre for good establishment, per Farm Dynamics Pakistan's cultivation guide. Sowing runs from February through October, giving growers a wide window compared with many other fodder crops.

At sowing, growers apply 1 bag of DAP and 1 to 1.5 bags of urea, then top up with 1 to 2 bags of urea after each cut. Harvesting is done with a mower, cutting above 4 inches from the soil. The first cut is ready around 50 days after sowing, with subsequent cuts following roughly every 30 days, giving 7 to 9 cuts per year and a productive stand life of up to 3 years.

How much hay does an acre actually yield?

Yield depends heavily on management. Average Rhodes grass hay yield in Pakistan runs 2 to 4 tonnes per acre, though output can climb to 6 to 16 tonnes of dry matter hay per acre annually with good irrigation, multiple cuts and stronger fertilizer inputs, according to Saremco International's yield guide. Farmers running good fertilizer and irrigation programs can expect 6 to 10 tonnes per acre annually, while low soil fertility or weak management pulls yield back down toward 3 to 4 tonnes per acre.

Input or output	Figure
Seed rate	About 8 kg per acre
Sowing window	February to October
First cut	Around 50 days after sowing
Later cuts	Roughly every 30 days
Cuts per year	7 to 9
Average yield	2 to 4 tonnes hay per acre
Yield with strong management	6 to 16 tonnes per acre
Productive stand life	Up to 3 years

Why is Rhodes grass grown for export rather than just local fodder?

Over the past decade, Pakistan has become a notable exporter of Rhodes grass hay, shipping mainly to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, countries with limited agricultural land and water that rely on imported animal feed, per Dawn's reporting on the export hay market. Saudi Arabia banned local fodder production in 2015 because of water shortages and turned to imports instead, which helped open the door for Pakistani hay.

By 2013, Rhodes grass was already grown on more than 20,000 acres in Pakistan across more than 20 farms in Punjab, Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa developed specifically for hay export. Cultivation for export has since concentrated more in central and southern Punjab, drawn by good returns, even as the area under cultivation for export has settled at under 18,000 acres. Even so, Pakistani hay still supplies no more than about 10 percent of Middle East hay import demand, and high-quality export hay sells for around 170 US dollars per tonne ex-farm.

Most export shipments to the UAE move through Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, while Saudi-bound cargo generally routes through Dammam and Jeddah. For the export side of this trade, our sibling post on Rhodes grass hay export from Pakistan to the Gulf covers the outbound documentation and port logistics in detail.

What should a Rhodes grass grower check before the next season?

Confirm seed origin and germination quality with the Australian-sourced supplier before committing acreage.
Time sowing inside the February to October window, and plan fertilizer for both sowing and post-cut top-ups.
Budget cutting cycles around the 50-day first cut and roughly 30-day later cuts to hit 7 to 9 cuts a year.
If the crop is destined for export, line up the hay grading and outbound clearance early rather than after the first cut is baled.

Getting the seed import right at the start of the season is what protects the yield numbers that make export-grade hay production worthwhile at the other end.

Olympic Agencies has cleared agricultural cargo, seeds, fertilizer and agricultural machinery, at Karachi Port and Port Qasim since 1982. We handle imported Rhodes grass seed consignments under our seed import clearance service, and we can also support outbound hay shipments through our freight forwarding service. Send us your seed volume or hay export plan on WhatsApp and we will handle the paperwork on both ends.

Growing Rhodes grass for export hay? Get your imported seed and outbound hay shipments cleared from one desk.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Pakistan's Rhodes grass seed come from?+

Pakistani fodder seed suppliers import Rhodes grass seed mainly from Australia, sourcing it from established Australian seed producers before distributing it to growers across Pakistan. Some operations also use imported hybrid seed lines of the grass rather than only open-pollinated varieties.

How much Rhodes grass seed do I need per acre?+

The recommended seed rate is about 8 kg per acre, broadcast onto standing water on a well-leveled field. Sowing is best done between February and October, and the first cut is typically ready around 50 days after sowing, with later cuts ready roughly every 30 days.

How much hay does an acre of Rhodes grass produce in Pakistan?+

Average yield under typical Pakistani management runs 2 to 4 tonnes of hay per acre, though yields can rise to 6 to 16 tonnes per acre with better irrigation, more frequent cutting and stronger fertilizer management. Poor soil fertility or management pulls yield back down toward the 3 to 4 tonne range.

Why has Rhodes grass become an export crop in Pakistan?+

Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman have limited agricultural land and water, and Saudi Arabia banned local fodder production in 2015 over water shortages, pushing those countries to import hay instead. Pakistani Rhodes grass hay has grown into an export line to meet that demand, though it still supplies no more than about 10 percent of Middle East hay imports.

Olympic Agencies

Clearing agricultural cargo - seeds, fertilizers, and machinery - at Karachi Port and Port Qasim since 1982. Members of PIFFA and the Chamber of Commerce.