Draft animal power: Agricultural Development trends in Ethiopia

Animal traction has been used for land preparation and seed covering since third millennium B.C. in Ethiopia and has continued to the present day without significant changes. The traditional implement, the maresha' pulled mainly by a pair of oxen under a ridged neck yoke is unique to Ethiopian and has not spread to neighboring countries. Research to replace the maresha' and multi purpose use of animal power have been tried out at different places in the country, but had little success in its adoption. To feed the increasing population of the country and curtail the alarming land degradation, the traditional agricultural system has to change to a more productive system. The role of animal traction in this intensification process could be enormous.