Old craft technologies

Draught animal utilization
by Peter Munzinger

As one of the oldest form of renewable energy, the use of draught animals for various purposes has in recent years again gained more and more importance in developing countries. This is partly a result of the energy crisis and the increase of costs for fuel and tractor-powered machinery within the last decade, but is also related to its recognition by national and international decision makers in development organizations and in local ministries.

An indicator for this somehow novel trend can be seen in the number of respective development projects recently initiated by and/or implemented through the World Bank, FAO, UNIDO, EEG as well as national development and volunteer organizations. In November 1982 some basic DAP experiences and related research activities were discussed during an FAO expert meeting in Rome. The following views and proposals are partly based on these discussions, but, moreover, on the practical knowledge the author himself gained during some years of work for and in DAP projects. The basic idea of the article is strongly related to the general GATE objectives, namely the exchange of information on appropriate technologies.

Some basic facts on animal traction

Although in some developing countries today the number of draught animals is decreasing due to various reasons - so for example in Lesotho, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand - about two million people in the world still depend on animal traction for ploughing, puddling of irrigated rice fields, carrying goods and other adjunct farming operations. According to RAMASWAMY [6] more than 400 million draught animals (see Table 1) provide energy for the cultivation of nearly 50 percent of the world's total cropped area. And over 25 million animal drawn vehicles, mostly in Asian countries, are still operating in rural and urban regions. Several reports and studies prove, that animal traction - even today- can for example contribute
- to extending land cultivation compared to pure hand labour
- to increasing farmers' income
- to the creation of labour for rural unemployed.

As soon as the natural environment and the people concerned permit the use of DAP, these improvements are often recorded (cf. Table 1).

In general, aside of commercial transport work, DAP is, from the economic point of view in most developing countries, the most appropriate form of agricultural mechanization for the small farm sector with holdings of less than 5 to 6 ha (excluding grazing land). In some countries - for example Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Malawi - an increasing number of small scale farmers are using their draught oxen at the "above-farm level", more and more earning some additional off-farm income.

The average draught power output from different species of animals, as reported by GOE [3], is given in Table 2. Normally, a work animal generates 0.4-0.8 hp on a sustained basis. If one takes a figure of 0.5 hp per animal, then the above mentioned 400 million draught animals - if at work - generate about 200 million hp. Quite an enormous figure of permanently renewable energy!

Even though DAP may be a major source of energy in many developing countries and may be the only source of energy for certain special situations, the use of draught animals has, on the other hand, many constraints as well. Despite diseases and the possible lack of fodder, grazing land and/or drinking water, some important limitations are often related to social and traditional factors, which can only be changed - if at all - in a larger extension process. A more detailed discussion of such limitations is included in the GTZ manual on "Animal Traction in Africa" (see MUNZINGER et al. [5]).

Research and development

During the last two decades of national and international development assistance quite a lot of research has been carried out worldwide in the field of animal traction. A great number of relevant publications and reports are available. The most comprehensive knowledge is probably collected in French institutions, based on the research and development efforts in West and North Africa as well as in Madacascar.

At present some European universities, which are somehow involved in agricultural mechanization research in developing countries, are also doing some research on DAP. Very often the "development planners" concerned with DAP recognize this by chance, as there are hardly any regular information bulletins circulated or distributed between the respective universities and the development organizations.

On the international level, the most important research institutions working on animal traction are:

ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semiarid Tropics) mainly deals with tests and modifications of animal-drawn multipurpose toolcarriers under different semiarid conditions. Very promising results have been obtained with a watersaving cultivation method called "broadbed-and-furrow system" (see relevant publications, which will be sent on request [4]).

ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa), in collaboration with other national and international institutions and donors, more or less concentrates on research related to living conditions, diseases and the general livestock environment in Africa, and, therefore, also on DAP.

CEEMAT (Centre d'Etudes et d'Experimentation du Machinisme Agricole Tropical) has presumably got most experiences with DAP, due to its long-lasting direct integration in French development support to developing countries.

IIM (Indian Institute of Management) is involved in research on energy requirements, improved harnessing of draught animals and modern types of carts. Some of its probable 2: Average draft capacity of several species with drawn implements at low and high speeds
jects of a more national character have been financed by the Indian Government, while its international success is based on FAO/UNIDO projects.

But something is still missing. The regular exchange of information between the research institutions and the project implementing and planning agencies of the various donor countries and development organizations. In the form of a regular, perhaps quarterly newsletter, the ongoing activities and permanently obtained results of the different development projects and countries could be published. Such as for example a description of the selected extension method, where DAP has been successfully introduced in a region or for a type of toolcarrier and its utilization under specific conditions. Such information can contribute tremendously to information exchange and, consequently, to the general development of DAP utilization in countries for which it is appropriate.

In order to give first information in such a way, we listed the main development projects of GTZ promoting DAP in one or the other form. If you are interested in further details please contact GATE (for our address see p. 2 of this issue). Most of the projects have been planned and implemented in African countries, where draught animal utilization is often an innovation to the farmers, and where DAP - as the most appropriate form of agricultural mechanization - can contribute tremendously to easier land cultivation and extended land use. Various experiences have proved this in the last two decades.

Proposals for further support of DAP

The following proposals only describe some fields of action which need very detailed planning for implementation in the respective situation.

1. An exchange of "DAP-experienced" personnel between two different developing countries (for example India and Tanzania) could - if the right approach is chooser - lead to earlier adaption of the innovation and to generally improved transfer of the necessary know-how. Extension personnel with practical experience in animal traction from one country could possibly work under the donors' or implementing agencies' contract and directly train farmers and local staff in the project.
2. In those areas/countries where DAP is already practiced, but still of basic importance for the agricultural development, the situation can probably be reformed by
- introducing new animal-drawn implements (such as for example the ICRISAT toolcarriers) in order to use DAP for a wider range of necessary farm operations. Not only ploughing and land preparation but also planting, weeding, fertilizer application and some harvesting can be done with draught animals,
- improved and considerate harnessing of animals so that the available draught power per animal can be used more efficiently and that, consequently, animals are better treated,
- utilizing single harnessing of animals for certain purposes (weeding, planting, transport) mainly to make best use of a limitated number of available animals in a certain area. This aspect should especially be considered when relatively high competition between man and animal exists due to a shortage of land.
- a generally more efficient employment of DAP for irrigation (water rifling), capstandriven machinery (oil mills, sugar-cane crusher, pumps, chaff cutters) and rural transport.
3. Support for the local production of animal-drawn implements should not only be given to manufacturers/small plants but also to rural workshops responsible to farmers for repairs and minor production. Training of craftsmen/blacksmiths as well as their basic provision with urgently needed tools perhaps on a credit basis - can be a suitable activity.
4. Introduction of DAP in regions where land labour in the smallscale farm sector still dominates and where
- draught animals are available and farmers are willing to use them
- land, fodder and the basic infrastructure exist or can be prepared by appropriate means
- the natural environment is suitable for DAP utilization.
5. The breeding of draught animals is a long-term measure, but of definite importance for countries where the number of animals is decreasing due to different reasons. If cattle are raised and if DAP is practiced in the country, multipurpose breeds can possibly be of higher value than simple draught animals.
6. Regular workshops/seminars at a national and international level especially for those people working directly with the farmers (target group) in the respective development projects, can really contribute to the needed technology transfer and information exchange.

Above all, the willingness of local ministries and farmers to support and

adopt the new technologies is needed. DAP is still partly be seen as a step backwards instead of a solution for more appropriate development. This often hinders more rapid project planning and implementation, and can only be overcome with adequate extension and advice.

References:
1) CEEMAT: "Manuel de culture avec traction animale". Techniques rurales en Afrique;No. 13, Paris, 1968.
2) FAO: Report on the meeting of the Expert Panel on "Draught Animal Power" Nov. 1982, Rome.
3) GOE, M. R./Mc DOWELL, R. E.: Animal Traction: Guidelines for Utilization, Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Itaca, New York, Dec. 1980.
4) ICRISAT: Information Bulletin No. 11 "An Approach to Improved Productivity on Deep Vertisols; July 1982; International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Patancheru P. O., A. P. 502324, INDIA.
5) ILCA: Bulletin No. 14 "Animal Traction in Sub-Saharan Africa" Dec. 1981; International Livestock Centre for Africa P. O. Box5689-Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
6) MUNZINGER, P. et al.: "Animal Traction in Africa", A manual of GTZ, Eschborn 1982.
7) RAMASWAMY, N. S.: "The Management of Animal Energy Resources" The Modernization of the Bullock-cart System Indian Institute of Management, 33, Langford Raod - Bangolore/lNDlA, 560027.

Table 1: Total Estimated World Livestock and Draught Animal Population

Table 2: Average draught capacity of several species with drawn implements at low speed and high speeds