Animal based transport is very common in rural and peri-urban areas where draught animals are used for farming. A significant proportion of agricultural tasks involve moving equipment and materials from one place to another. Implements and tools, inputs such as fertilizers and seeds and farm produce must all be moved between fields, stores, homesteads and markets, which results in a wide variety of types and sizes of loads to be moved over different distances and types of terrain. A range of different methods of transport, equipment and material handling exists to carry out these tasks in different ways to suit different circumstances.

Loads may be carried out by hand, on the head or back, using pack animals, carts or mechanised such as self loading trucks. The focus, however, is limited to the use of draught animals either as pack or in pulling sledges, carts and wagons for transporting people and goods, including harnessing. In general, transport requirements fall into two categories:

1. On-farm - movement of goods between field, store and household. This includes transport of farm produce and inputs as well as collection of firewood and water for domestic purposes. Loads are usually small and distances short and usually carried out by women in most societies. However, men will always come in whenever there is a better means of transport such as animal carts. Routes are mainly narrow paths and earth tracks.
2. Off farm - movement of goods between farm and markets. Loads are generally greater and distances longer.

Recent research findings by KENDAT show rural transport as a basic NEED rather than just movement of people and goods. This configuration of transport and travel patterns looks at the three broad areas that are all interrelated.

1. Transport infrastructure: paths, roads, bridges, communication, etc – determines access to services and needs.
2. Transport mode: non-motorised means of transport (NMT's), intermediate means of transport (IMT's) and motorised means of transport (MMT's), determines reach and efficiency.
3. Non-transport solutions and interventions/ transport avoidance measures: communication, location of services such as markets, hospitals, water, etc. that necessitates or avoids movements.

Some of our research projects associated with rural transport services include:

• Boda Boda Case Studies in Busia and Mwea

Download document on Rural Transport Services project for Kenya (PDF, 682KB)