Mechanized farming

With a tractor, the work is done more quickly.

A tractor can work all day. It does not get tired like oxen.

There is no delay in sowing. You can farm bigger fields. You can carry heavy loads. You can clear land more easily.

But
You need a lot of money to buy a tractor.

A tractor costs between 700 000 francs and 1 000 000 francs.

You also need plenty of money to buy the tools.

A plough to use with a tractor costs much more than a plough for oxen. It is bigger and more complicated.

You also need plenty of money to buy petrol (gasolene); to buy lubricating oil; to pay for repairs; to pay insurance.

You must know how to drive the tractor and make good use of the tools.

You must know how to mend the tractor if there is no garage in your village. Repairs are costly.

To pay for all this, you must farm a lot of land, say 50 hectares. You must grow crops that bring in a lot of money.

In many places the agricultural service has tractors.

Farmers can pay to have these tractors work in their fields.

You can hire them.