Re-Designing Africa's Ox-Powered Farm Tools
SUMMARY
Buying tractors or the fuel required to power them is far beyond the reach of most African small farmers. At the same time, they are tired from the energy draining attempt to raise their families bey
Got a suggestion on how to make this idea even better?
REMIX IT!
roosenberg said 2 years ago
Your offer is great! Tillers International would appreciate your participation in our re-design projects. Please feel free to contact us directly through our website. An online discuss could also be helpful right here at the ARC site.
1) As to your first question, the projects that we undertake will be dependant on funding. At the moment, we are working on weeder/cultivator designs for Mozambique. We have some upgrading to do on a manual hay baler for Tanzania. We are continuing to improve some of the fodder choppers for Uganda and Mozambique. While we like to focus on designs for a particular environment and economy, many designs can be transfered through a region.
2) The general reasons for redesign is cost. Next, is the need to scale down tools to the power potential of smaller animals than US draft animals. For example, most draft animals in Africa weigh about 300 to 400 kg. Our US-bred Milking Shorthorns weigh in at about 1,100 kg. All day available power is from 10 to 12 percent of weight. Another frequent reason for re-design is manufacturing processes. Many old draft animal tools are built with cast iron parts. Now, weld fabrication is much more practical and occasionally even molded plastics may have potential. Figuring out these reasons is the exciting challenge of designing for the poor farmer.
3) Despite some of the comments on the ARC site, we find little need to differentiate. The difference in hitching does not limit the tools and the African donkey is not much smaller than the African ox.
4) Materials are always a cost challenge and sometimes a cultural challenge. We find wood beams adequate in strength for draft animal plows, yet people really want steel. The most readily available steel in re-inforcement bar for concrete. But several flat and round bar sizes are available in most cities of 100,000 or more populations. Most of these are mild steel. Special order steel like higher carbon or alloys are much more expensive. Frequently we re-forge leaf spring stock. Complete use of "found" materials would be great but it limits the ability to take design production up to scale.
I hope this starts your thought process. Essentially, your questions have to be asked of each innovation sought. It would be great if you could visit our site in Michigan for one of our design sessions. We call them "Threshing Floors" for all the ideas that get winnowed out in the process.
Thanks and keep in touch!