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		Animal Traction in Rainfed Agriculture in Africa and South America (GTZ, 1991, 311 p.)
			Short Introduction
			A. Preface
			B. Introduction
			C. General factors influencing the use of draft animals
			D. Features of draft animal husbandry
			E. Aspects of implement use
			F. Case studies: West Africa:
			G. Case study: Brazil
			H. Summary and conclusions

Short Introduction

This book portrays the conditions of draft-animal use, the selection of animals and the utilization of the implements with regard to the variables of agricultural mechanization, including agroclimatic regions, soil types and farm systems, and subsequently to compile generalized experience with the implements. Case studies on West Africa and Brazil clarify the variations and difficulties that have resulted from the adaptation to differing given conditions. Important key aspects which promote or limit the utilization of draft-animal mechanization are elucidated on the basis of a comparison of various locations.

Aside from the authors' experiences obtained from stays overseas and an assessment of the literature, experience with animal traction in practice in rainfed cropping has been drawn upon on the basis of a survey which was directed to persons and projects working with agriculture in regions having draft animals.

The authors were guided by the point of view that there is a rationale behind the actions of the farmers - male or female. These reasons are difficult for outsiders to understand and can only be discovered with a good perception of the entire system. Often one finds himself revealing the illogical behavior of the farmers in order to show them the way. For the authors the working approach, to first observe, appeared to be the more promising path.