Pulling together: comprehensive volumes on animal power

Three volumes by the same author on animal draft power have recently been published in English by GATE (Deutsches Zentrum fur Entwicklungtechnologien) and GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit). Paul Starkey is an authority on the subject. In 'Animal-Drawn Wheeled Toolcarriers - Perfected yet Rejected' he tells the story of the animal-drawn wheeled toolcarriers, whose simple solution to the problems of carriage somehow remains unacceptable to farmers. Starkey draws hits information from more than 30 countries, and synthesizes it into a detailed history of three decades of research, development and promotion. The toolcarriers enjoyed considerable success on research stations, but were rejected by the farmers in the field. However, organizations continue to sponsor them as the problems have rarely been opernly admitted by institutions and aid agencies. Starkey concludes and urges that a greater involvement of farmers at research stage and more open discussion would permit the valuable lessons of past failure to become future success. The second volume, edited by Paul Starkey and Fadel Ndiame, 'Animal Power in Farming Systems', includes the proceedings of the Second West Africa Animal Traction Workshop, held in September 1986 in Sierra Leone. This workshop brought together people from 20 countries and a broad range of ecological zones. Despite these differences, the editors tell us, the 80 participants worked 'intensely' together to try and find technical and organizational solutions to their common problems. The editors present with clarity the experiences shared and lessons learned through reports of local field visits, group discussions on soil conservation and tillage, selection and development of equipment, animal management and health, research and evaluation methodologies for animal traction programmes, social and economic aspects, farmer needs for extension and training, and evaluation. The third volume 'Animal Traction Directory: Africa' by Paul Starkey gives a brief overview of animal traction in 48 African countries, giving numbers of draft animals and equipment used, main uses of animal traction, and the difficulties encountered, and addresses, telex numbers and descriptions of key institutions and their acronyms: ministries, development projects, research organisations, NGOs, training institutions, aid agencies, and manufacturers. It has a detailed index, bibliographical references, and information request forms in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. It is clearly laid out and easy to follow, and obviously an excellent reference work. 'Animal-Drawn Wheeled Toolcarriers: Perfected yet Rejected. A cautionary tale of developmenr', Paul Starkey 1988, 161pp, ISBN 3 528 01034 2 'Animal power in farming systems', ed Paul Starkey and Fadel Ndiame, 1988, 363pp, ISBN 3 528 02047 4 'Animal traction directory: Africa', Paul Starkey, 1988, 155pp, ISBN 3 528 02038 5, available from: GATE/GTZ- Postbox 5180 - D6238 Eschbom 1- GERMANY'Animal-Drawn Wheeled Toolcarriers: Perfected yet Rejected. A cautionary tale of developmenr', Paul Starkey 1988, 161pp, ISBN 3 528 01034 2 'Animal power in farming systems', ed Paul Starkey and Fadel Ndiame, 1988, 363pp, ISBN 3 528 02047 4 '