| SANAT and its partners have published several books, proceedings and reports relating to animal traction in South Africa. | ||
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| Managing and hitching donkeys, horses and mules for work | Developing agriculture with animal traction | Management and feeding of animals for work |
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Empowering farmers with animal tractionedited by Pascal Kaumbutho, Anne Pearson and Timothy Simalenga Proceedings of the workshop of the Animal
Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa
(ATNESA) held 20-24 September 1999, Mpumalanga, South
Africa |
Animal traction in South Africa: today and tomorrowProceedings of a workshop held 26th to 28th March 1996 |
Animal traction in South Africa: empowering rural communitiesCompiled and edited by Paul Starkey Animal power has a long history in South Africa. Its present importance is often unrecognised. Today the majority of farmers in remote rural areas benefit from using oxen, donkeys or horses for transport or cultivation. Animals contribute to food production, marketing and drudgery reduction, particularly for women. This book derives from a remarkable survey in which a multi-racial, multi-disciplinary team travelled nation-wide and listened to the experiences and concerns of over 500 farmers and officials.
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Paul Starkey - The donkey in South Africa: myths and misconceptions (1995)Abstract: Donkeys currently play an important role in rural South Africa, for plowing, weeding and transport, partcularly in smallholder fproduction systems. The donkey needs recognition for its important role. Authorities need to take a positive position and assist in finding ways of using donkeys more efficiently. There are many myths about donkeys that need to be dispelled, and due recognition needs to be given to an animal that has helped greatly in the past, and will continue to assist the people of the new South Africa. |
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Bruce Joubert - A Bumper Crop for the Animal Traction Centre at Fort Hare University- 2009/2010 SeasonAbstract: The Traction Centre at Fort Hare University, which is sponsored by the East Cape Department of Agriculture, produces vegetable crops commercially using draught animal power and a small irrigation system. The farm is powered completely by draught animals and aims to prove that it is possible for a small emerging farmer to produce vegetables commercially in this way and to compete on the open market with large scale commercial farmers who use tractor power. The Traction Centre provides training and research programs for farmers, extension officers and NGO’s. |
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Bruce Joubert - Education, training and extension in animal tractionAbstract: During the last forty years Education, Training, Research and Extension in the use of draught animals has declined to such an extent that until very recently, with the institution of the South African Network of Animal Traction (SANAT), it was virtually non-existent. This paper discusses the question of Education, Training and Extension in the use of draught animal power in South Africa and offers suggestions as to how this can be adequately provided for in the future. |
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Final Report - Regional Workshop on Animal Traction
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Bruce Joubert - An historical perspective on animal power use in South AfricaAbstract: The first known reports of animal traction in South Africa come from the early European explorers and date back to as early as 1488, when Bartholomeu Dias first sighted the Cape and named the bay where he made his land fall Angra dos Vaqueiros, which means `Bay of Cowherds' (Burman, 1988). However, the history of animal power in South Africa actually goes back to long before the first settlement by European peoples at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 . |
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Animal Traction - Report to the National Department of AgricultureAbstract: Since 1994 SANAT and the ATC, where SANAT is currently based, have worked together to network through out the country and to provide training and research in animal traction. SANAT has up until the present time encouraged the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) to become interested in draught animal power as a power option for small farmers. There are indications that the NDA is becoming interested while a number of regional departments of agriculture are supporting animal traction initiatives in their provinces. |
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South African Network of Animal Traction (SANAT) Newsletter, Volume 11, No’s 1 & 2 (2003)Abstract: The way forward for SANAT lies in the continued networking endeavours of the past ten years, with the emphasis now on obtaining real farmer support in the form of membership of large numbers of small-scale farmers. This will empower SANAT to lobby on their behalf in the corridors of government and to ensure that farmer needs are met. It will be necessary for SANAT and all those involved in Animal Traction, to work together to convince the National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture of the importance of Animal Traction and to obtain the funding necessary to set up training and research centres wherever they are needed and to fund the training and research that are urgently required. |
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Proposed SANAT Policy on Animal TractionAbstract: The document sets out SANAT's recommendations regarding a Policy on Animal Traction. The current legislation concerning animal traction will have to be examined. In some instances there is restrictive legislation on the use and keeping of animals as well as taxes on draught animals. Aspects, which should be included, are animal care, veld management, and targeted incentives. Furthermore, a need has been identified for an improvement of the image of animal traction and increased awareness of the opportunity animal traction could offer to small-holder farmers in respect of viability of sustainability. The Department could offer a platform for a promotion/awareness campaign. Download a copy of this publication (PDF format) |
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Paul Starkey et. al. - Animal traction in South Africa: The present situationAbstract: The paper summarises some of the most interesting information gathered during a survey of the different geographical areas of South Africa, with emphasis on the areas where smallholder farming is important. The information is presented province by province, starting in the very north of the country (Northern Transvaal) and passing generally southward (Eastern Transvaal, Gauteng, North- West, Orange Free State, KwaZulu-Natal) to the Cape Provinces (Eastern, Western and Northern). |
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Paul Starkey et. al. - Animal traction in South Africa: Overview of the key issuesAbstract: At the beginning of this century, animal power was extremely important to all sections of South African society. As the twentieth century progressed, mechanical power became increasingly important for transport, mining and large-scale agriculture. During the middle years of the century (1935–60), the large-scale (generally 'white') farming sector moved from almost total dependence on animal power to its present dependence on tractors. However, throughout the century, animal power has remained crucial to smallholder farming and rural transport. Millions of people in the country continue to benefit from draft animals. |
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Paul Starkey & Johan Koorts - Animal traction in South Africa: The way forward (2004)Abstract: The results of the nation-wide rapid rural appraisal survey as highlighted in the preceding overview paper were presented to a workshop held 19–21 October 1994 at Halfway House, Gauteng. The 70 participants, from many parts of the country, included heads of agricultural departments, academics, representatives of development agencies, animal welfare officials, extensionists and farmers. This paper contains a summary of the key issues discussed and the main workshop conclusions. |
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Paul Starkey - Animal traction in development: Changes and challenges (2004)Abstract: Many of the challenges facing SANAT and ATNESA in the coming decade, are similar to those of recent years. Topics to be addressed include: diversifying animal power, ensuring a critical mass of users and service providers and ensuring efficient and safe transport systems with complementary animal power and motorised transport. Other key issues include animal feeding and welfare, increasing access to affordable technologies and addressing environmental concerns. Further networking and collaboration will be essential, and SANAT and ATNESA must review their progress, adapt to changing situations and involve more people. |