Majority of farmers in the West Nile region of Uganda are smallholder farmers who produce for subsistence use and only sell the surplus yet they have vast and productive land for farming. Use of rudimentary tools like the hand hoe that are labour-intensive is predominant. The use of animal traction is increasingly becoming a pro-farmer labour-saving intervention for scaling up agricultural production as it enables land opening in large acreage within a short time, leads to increased yields and quality of produce which in turn results into high income. Animal traction has also proved to be an attractive source of employment and income to the youths and youth groups. This operation guideline, therefore, provides broad criteria on how a group can own, use, expand its business and keep the animal traction technology well. A youth group participating in the Animal Traction scheme must meet the following criteria:

• The group should be formally registered with the District or Sub County.

• The group should have a constitution with a component on the management of Animal Traction.

• The group should have a devoted member to keep the animals.

• Each group member should have contributed a one-time non-refundable fee of UGX 10,000; totalling to UGX 300,000 per group for the treatment of the animals in addition to buying a torch, a pair of gumboots, raincoat, and bow and arrow for use by the one who keeps the animals.

• The group should have at least 5 members with basic knowledge in animal management to constitute the Animal Traction Committee of the group.

• The group should provide at least one acre of land for AT training and demonstration as well as planting nappier grass for use in dry season.

• The group should make a kraal for keeping the animals.