Animal drawn multipurpose wheeled tool carriers: A review

Abstract

Animal-drawn multipurpose wheeled tool carriers (MPTCs) are multipurpose machines designed to perform various agricultural operations, as well as provide transportation. Developed to reduce machinery costs for small and medium-sized farmers, these carriers serve as a versatile alternative to traditional single-purpose systems. Initially, MPTCs did not achieve widespread adoption due to their limited time-saving advantages compared to traditional methods, which discouraged significant investments. However, recent advancements and successful implementations, such as those at ICRISAT in India and CPATSA in Brazil, have demonstrated their potential to enhance crop production and efficiency in smallholder farming. Despite their growing utility, adoption has been uneven. Studies show that many farmers, particularly in dryland areas, remain skeptical of MPTCs, often relying on subsidies to afford them. Market penetration has been more successful in irrigated regions, though the full potential for MPTCs in such environments is yet to be fully realized. Overall, these carriers offer a promising alternative for small landholders, enabling them to bypass the high costs of tractors and year-round maintenance of draught animals, provided that economic and perception barriers are addressed. The present review article discusses about the modifications and advances in multipurpose tool frames or multipurpose wheeled tool carriers form 90s to present.