PEASANT STRATEGIES FOR ANIMAL TRACTION FARMING IN FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN THE KORHOGO DEPARTMENT, COTE D’IVOIRE

To reduce the strain of work and address labour shortages, animal traction is an alternative to motorisation for small-scale farmers. This study aims to analyse farmers’ strategies relating to the use of animal traction food crop production in the Korhogo department. Data collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations, before being processed using Excel software. The survey conducted on a sample of 346 farmers from twelve agricultural cooperatives practising animal traction in food crop production. The results revealed that farmers surveyed farms between one hectare and sixteen hectares. Their farming strategy is based on crop diversification, with a predominance of maize, rice and market garden crops. The draught oxen used are the local ‘Peulh zebu’ breed, acquired through purchase or hire using the farmer’s own funds. Farmers put the animals to work for an average of 6 hours a day, feeding them fresh grass, rice bran, or maize bran. Most used implements for agricultural work are the plough, the "Canadian" and the seed drill, which either purchased or hired. However, although animal traction represents a solution suited to the economic realities of small-scale farmers, its effectiveness and widespread adoption depend on technical support, access to agricultural finance and local capacity building.