price of trained water buffalos has skyrocketed due to gas prices

[ensho]

http://forum.atimes.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13179


Just saw a TV news iten that is a sign of the times. In villages across Thailand farmers are reviving the use of the water buffalo to till their rice fields. In recent decades the use of the traditional draft animal has lost ground to tractors. But in one village covered by the news article, the cost of renting a tractor for the day has doubled in one year; from $4 last year to $8 this year. The rise has been entirely due to increases in the cost of fuel, which has become so valuable that ion this village it is kept under lock and key. The price of trained water buffalos has skyrocketed and a breeder-trainer interviewed claims to have a two year waiting list of buyers.

Jim the Moron
Member



2827 Posts
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 09:45:35
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Yep. Over the last 10-15 years water buffalo were being gradually sold off for their meat. It was too bad, as they were ieally suited for owners of small plots:
1. They can work paddies too wet for tractors.
2. They can browse vegetation inaccessible to cattle.
3. Their dung, constantly being produced, enriches the soil.
4. As pPossum points out, no fuel other than vegetation is required
5. Noise and air polution is abated.
6. When near retirement, the meat is tasty if properly prepared (as Thais can do better than anyone).
7. Last but not least, kwai (water buffalo) are nice, interesting critters.

-snip-
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that old time fertilizer is the best

it is interesting to see how the price of gas changes things

[Warpy]

1. The Amish like to point out

that their oxen and draft horses do all of the above while being self sustaining and fertilizing the fields as they work.

Mechanized farming only increased the scale and made dry land factory farming west of the Mississippi profitable.

[Forkboy]

2. Alas, my biggest fear is realized.

[knitter4democracy]

3. Everybody has a water buffalo.

Mine is fast but yours is slow. Where'd we get them, I don't know, but everyone's got a water buffalo-o!

Sorry, I had to get that out of my system.