This list of grass and herbaceous legume accessions considered suitable for areas with arid and semi-arid climates (<1000mm rainfall, 0-180 growing days) was compiled from the results of evaluation trials in sub-Saharan Africa mostly in the 1980s and 1990s. Specific accessions, which showed good adaptation and biomass, were identified through multi-locational trials carried out by partners in national programmes and ILRI forage agronomists in zonal sites.