Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Bajra Napier Hybrid (P. perpureum X P. glaucum) BNH, also known as Elephant Grass, is one of the most versatile and high-yielding perennial crops cultivated across the tropical and subtropical world, including India. Traditionally favoured as a rich source of green fodder for dairy animals, Hybrid Napier is now emerging as a strategic crop in India’s clean energy mission. It is being increasingly recognised as an energy plantation — especially for compressed biogas (CBG or CNG) production — due to its exceptionally high biomass productivity and ability to grow on marginal lands with minimal inputs.

But whether cultivated as fodder or an energy crop, one thing is clear: Drip irrigation is the most efficient and productive way to grow Napier grass, and Jain Irrigation’s drip solutions are leading this transformation in India’s fields. Optimum irrigation and nutrient application directly influence biomass as well as biogas yield and quality.

Napier Grass: From Fodder Crop to Energy Powerhouse

The hybrid Napier was one of the best options for green fodder. In recent years, Napier grass has attracted attention beyond the dairy sector. With India’s National Bio-Energy Mission and policies promoting decentralised renewable energy, Napier is being widely explored as a biomass feedstock for CNG and biogas production.

What makes Napier and BNH ideal for energy plantations is their rapid growth, high biomass yield (up to 100–150 tons/acre/year), and capacity for multiple harvests per year. Unlike traditional energy crops such as sugarcane or corn, Napier is one of best water utilizers, grows in a wide range of soils, and does not compete with food crops — making it a sustainable choice.

Biogas plants using Napier as a feedstock have reported high methane content and fermentation efficiency. Moreover, since Napier regenerates from the same rootstock for several years, the cost of replanting is negligible, making it economically viable for long-term energy projects.

However, to realise its full potential — both as a fodder and as an energy crop — Napier requires a precise, water-efficient, and nutrient-optimised irrigation system. This is where drip irrigation becomes not just beneficial, but essential.

Why Drip Irrigation is the Best Method for Growing Napier Grass

Napier grass has deep roots and responds very well to irrigation and fertigation during its peak vegetative growth stages. Traditional irrigation methods, such as flood or sprinkler systems, often result in water wastage, uneven water application resulting to poor growth, and susceptibility to fungal diseases due to water contact with foliage. Drip irrigation overcomes all these challenges by delivering water directly to the root zone, reducing evaporation losses, minimising weed growth, and supporting uniform growth across the field.

Moreover, drip systems enable fertigation — the application of fertilisers through the irrigation system — ensuring balanced nutrition for vigorous Napier growth. This is especially important in energy plantations, where biomass quantity and quality are directly linked to input efficiency. The quantity of irrigation and fertiliser can also be regulated as per crop stage to achieve the best feedstock quality.

The result? Healthier plants, faster regrowth after cutting, and significantly higher yields per acre — whether the end use is fodder or compressed natural gas.

Why Jain Drip is the Ideal Partner for Napier Cultivation

Jain Irrigation has been at the forefront of micro-irrigation in India, offering field-proven, crop-specific solutions for over three decades. For Napier grass, Jain provides a tailor-made drip system that ensures optimal performance under various agro-climatic and soil conditions — from rain-fed zones to intensive energy crop farms.

Many industries are evaluating the cultivation of Napier on wasteland where land levelling is not possible; in such a situation, Jain drip comes as an appropriate solution to manage irrigation and nutrient application.

Jain’s drip systems are designed with high-quality UV-stabilised pipes and anti-clogging emitters that perform reliably even in hard water or semi-treated wastewater — a common feature in large-scale energy plantations. The company also offers integrated fertigation units, advanced filtration systems, and automation solutions to simplify operations for farmers and institutional CBG developers alike.

What truly sets Jain apart is its end-to-end support ecosystem — from agronomic guidance, layout design, and installation to post-sales service and subsidy assistance. Whether you are a smallholder dairy farmer or a green energy entrepreneur or a large corporation, Jain Drip offers unmatched value in every hectare.

Jain Irrigation also provides support to the assessment of soil quality and water resources, along with planning and development accordingly.

Empowering India’s Energy Future, One Acre at a Time

With the rise of compressed biogas plants across the country, Napier grass is poised to play a vital role in India’s renewable energy landscape. Farmers can now diversify their income streams by supplying Napier to CNG plants while also using the residual slurry as organic fertiliser.

Adopting drip irrigation — particularly Jain Drip — makes this transition efficient, profitable, and sustainable. It ensures higher yields with lower input costs, conserves precious water, and promotes climate-resilient farming — aligning perfectly with India’s vision of energy independence and ecological sustainability.

In a world that demands more from agriculture — more food, more fodder, and more clean energy — the synergy of Napier grass and Jain Drip irrigation offers a powerful, future-ready solution.

At Jain Irrigation, we believe every great journey starts with the right partner. If you are ready to unlock the full potential of Napier — whether as fodder or as a green energy crop — our team is here to guide you every step of the way. With our pioneering drip technology, we ensure "More Crop Per Drop" is not just a promise, but a reality for your farm. Get in touch with us today, and let’s begin your Napier journey together — smarter, greener, and more prosperous.