Financing of Draft Animal Cultivation and Strategies for Equipment

Abstract

The analysis of conditions favorable for developing draft animal power and farmers’ strategies helped characterize the several types of farmers who adopted and developed this technique. Three major groups are highlighted: (i) the young enterprising farmers, who seek to develop cash crop production and compensate the lack of labor by the use of draft cattle; the stability of the farm remains fragile and to maintain draft animal cultivation, farmers need to own a minimum capital in the way of a herd so as to better face poor years and avoid dipping into capital; (ii) the confirmed farmers, who have mastered the technique and know how to balance their budgets; animal traction helps them be less subjected to climatic and economic hazards, and capitalize on land and animals; (iii) the big farmers, who own several animal teams and lend a few; their capital of land and animals increases progressively, in part thanks to draft animal cultivation. The States and so-called development projects enabled a wide range of farmers to access to animal traction. States disengagement and projects suppression slowed down animal power development. This even occurred in the areas where commercial crops, credit financial structures, and a favorable services environment (cattle markets, blacksmiths) were maintained. Farmers who managed to acquire implements and keep animal traction are also those who managed to build a capital in the form of cattle or land. In the context of post-disengagement, pursuing the development of this technique will have to coincide with the creation of a new services set-up to provide the support needed to those using it.

Keywords

• Energie animale
• Culture attelée
• Exploitation agricole
• Service
• Classification
• Circuit de commercialisation
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroun
• Sénégal