Agro-Tech Book - Agriculture Support Programme

than one “pass´may be required to achieve an acceptable depth. The furrows are made only
at the chosen crop row spacing (usually from 70-90cm) and the interrow is NOT ploughed.
Cultivators and ridgers are then used to control weeds and build up ridges around the crop.
Where farmers use the Magoye Ripper they can “dry plant” before the rains or make a
planting furrow in even heavy soil immediately after the �rst rains. A strong pair of well
trained oxen in one day can “rip” suf�cient furrows to plant a hectare. The yield losses due
to the customary delays in planting have been well documented as costing the farmer the
equivalent of 50kg of maize/ha for each day late after the �rst planting rain!!
Wing Extension attachments for the Magoye Ripper can serve as ef�cient weeding and
ridging accessories
Ridging Bodies can be attached to most ploughs. Check what attachments are available for
the plough you choose. There are also b attachments available though the technology has
not yet been fully proven in the �eld.
ZEEOA RIPPER
Planters that can be pulled by oxen are also available. These allow for faster planting and
fertilser application so long as they are operating properly. Check that they can plant the
seed that you want to use. Sometimes different planter plates have to be bought to allow
certain seeds to be planted.
ZEEOA SEED PLANTER
E.E.O.A.
AGRO-TECHNOLOGY: Farming and Processing Equipment
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