Brachiaria is one of the most extensively cultivated tropical pasture with acreage of approximately 99 million ha in Brazil alone (Jank et al. 2014). All Brachiaria species with known forage values occur naturally in eastern Africa, which represent the centre of diversity of the genus (Keller-Grein et al. 1996). The genus Brachiaria (Trin.) Griseb. belongs to the tribe Paniceae in the subfamily Panicoideae of the family Poaceae (Jungmann et al. 2009). It consists of more than 100 documented species distributed in the tropics mainly in Africa (Renvoize et al. 1996). Of these, seven perennial species have been used for fodder production particularly in tropical America, Asia, the South Pacific and Australia. These species are Brachiaria arrecta (Hack. ex. Th. Dur & Schinz) Stent, Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf, Brachiaria decumbens Stapf, Brachiaria dictyoneura (Fig. & De Not.) Stapf, Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick, Brachiaria mutica (Forssk.) Stapf and Brachiaria ruziziensis Germain & Evrard (Keller-Grein et al. 1996). The use of Brachiaria grass for pasture production has been limited in Africa until recently, because other forages were more appropriate to the prevailing livestock production systems (Ndikumana and Leeuw 1996) and, as a result of a low priority given to forage research and development activities in Africa. An increase in livestock production coupled with diminishing forage availability, as a result of overgrazing, rangeland degradation, dwindling natural pasture and frequent and/or prolonged droughts have inspired livestock farmers in the region to grow improved and nutritious forages, including Brachiaria grass. Institutions, such as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), have dedicated research and development (R&D) programs on Brachiaria grass. The ILRI runs the Brachiaria R&D programme across sub-Saharan Africa. These programs have developed Brachiaria grass technologies for Africa, integrated them successfully into mixed crop-livestock production systems, documented benefits of Brachiaria grass on forage availability (especially in the dry season) and livestock productivity, and created new income generation opportunities through sale of Brachiaria hay and planting materials (Ghimire et al. 2015; Maass et al. 2015). In Rwanda, approximately 70% of the population own livestock and the success of national livestock programs, such as 'One Cow Per Poor Family' and 'Livestock Intensification Programme' rely on the sustainable production of quality feed. Studies have shown a good performance of improved Brachiaria grass cultivars across different agro-ecological zones of Rwanda and their significant contribution to alleviate livestock feed shortage in the country, including in the dry seasons (Mutimura and Everson 2012). These studies reported Disease surveillance and farmers' knowledge of Brachiaria (Syn. Urochloa) grass diseases in Rwa...
