PREREQUISITES FOR A BETTER USE OF DRAUGHT ANIMAL POWER IN ETHIOPIA
OSMAN ABDUKSHEKUR, JOSEF OUBRECHT
Abstract
The energy expended in the preparation of the soil
to sowing and in other operations in field crop production in Ethiopia is, for
the most part, represented by animal and human power. The tractive power of
animals is not adquately utilised because the implements and harnessing used
with the animals do not have the characteristics which would support longer-term
use at an optimum performance level. Even today does it remain impossible for
farmers who till one or two hectares of land to afford b etter harnessing, implements
and machines. Such farmers will hardly have any crop left to sell. Novel cultivating
implements and harnessing can only be afforded by those who farm on more than
ten hectares of arable land. Zebus are used as a source of draught power. The
Sanga zebus are particularly suitable because they have sufficient body weight.
Key words:
implements for animal traction, draught animal power,
relative tractive power, resistance of the implement.