Animal traction in Congo thanks to Trias Guinea
In the light of a gradual change in tools to improve the agricultural production, Trias Congo worked together with Trias Guinea. Both Trias regions organized a training on animal traction in the Congolese region of Mai Ndombe.
© Trias
The training period lasted almost a whole month. Next to the training on animal traction, the trainers also focussed on the production of agricultural equipment (plow, harrow).
Two Guinean trainers - an agricultural engineer and a blacksmith - and a Guinean farmer facilitated the training for Congolese herdsmen, blacksmiths and farmers using animal traction. This is a great communication experience between farmers: the Guinean blacksmith, who only speaks Malinké, was able to pass on his knowledge to the Congolese in the Maï Ndombe region who only speak Lingala. At the end, the Guinean farmer went home with knowledge of a little bit of French and Lingala, while the Congolese have learned to make the plow, harrow and carriage.
Currently, the local blacksmiths make plows and harrows and the herdsmen train the animals and have begun working on the fields in their respective sites. All the trainers and observers appreciate the replacement of human power by animal power.
The reactions on letting the work done by animals are enthusiastic, a woman exclaimed and said: “Since our ancestors, the cattle are only meant for food, while they can obey and work for us.” Another man added: “This is incredible, these animals that are devastating our fields can actually contribute to the fields!”