ABSTRACT
The North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) has a high population of draught animals. A number of activities were undertaken which have not been properly documented for possible improvements of the entire NEAZDP programme. This studywas to provide detailed information on the technical performance of the traction programme. A baseline survey was carried out to determine the initial status of animal traction in the State. This was followed by acquisition of various types of animal-drawn equipment which were tested, modified and re-tested. For sustainability, artisans were trained on the newly introduced equipment. The modified equipment were field tested and any faults corrected. Large quantities of the modified and artisans fabricated/constructed equipment were procured and distributed. Final evaluation was carried out after three years of project operation. Baseline survey showed that, there were 2,3 58 workbulls, 3 02 donkeys, 400 camels, 1,573 horses, 2,358 ridgers, 2,358 ox-carts, 1 ARARA cultivator and 4-5-tine blacksmith make cultivators owned by farmers. There were 34 carpenters and 44 blacksmiths with poor skills initially and were trained in appropriate fabrication/construction methods using modern tools. About 39,513 pairs of workbulls, 44,402 pairs of donkeys, 19,756 single camels and 9,87 8 single horses were estimated to cover the cultivable land area of NEAZDP. The study showed that on the basis of estimated body weights of draught animals evaluated, their tractive efforts ranged between 9 8N and 1247N. The working speeds ranged between 1.3km/h and 3.8km/h, implements draft requirements ranged between 647N and 2481N, field coverage ranged between 4 to 18h/ha for different field operations and soil types. On average, draught animals evaluated pulled between 502 to 825kg of load over a distance of 1 to 45km at a speed between 3 - 5km/h. The average efficiency ranged between 79 to 99%, depth of work between 12 to 2 3cm, ridge height between 12 to 2 0cm and effective width of work between 42 to 186cm for different implements and field operations. Of the technologies introduced the ridging and ox-carting, were the most adopted, while ox-ploughing and ox-harrowing were least adopted field operations. Study revealed that incorporation of artisans and animal handles to sustain the NEAZDP animal traction programme is a necessity.