The MAMATA - Modern Draft Animal Agriculture Tools (Matériel Agricole Moderne A Traction Animale in French)

One of PROMMATA’s missions is to develop and produce Modern Draft Animal Agriculture Tools. Following what Jean Nolle did during his whole life, PROMMATA wants to make available for farmers all around the world agricultural machinery that is modern, simple, modular and robust, in order to favor a sustainable, human scale, and environmental friendly agriculture.

 The MAMATA has three pillars : simplicity, modularity and robustness :

Simplicity. The complex tool alienates the human being while the simple tool frees him, this is the appropriate technology philosophy to which PROMMATA agree with. PROMMATA’s technology is on a human scale and the tools are within everybody’s reach, accessible as DIY or in any workshop everywhere in the world, users can easily adapt them to their own needs. Fabrication costs are reduced, putting the MAMATA at most of the world farmers reach. In spite of its simplicity these tools are particularly efficient and user friendly, thanks to many years of development achieved hand in hand with farmers.

Modularity. The tool-carriers can adapt to any crop (vine, vegetable, fruits, grain, wood…), to any technique (raised beds, flat, slope, with or without tilling…), and be pulled by any draft animal (horses, donkeys, oxen, mules, but also camels, zebu, elephants…). Thanks to its standardized attachment systems and metal parts, the user only need one tool carrier on which he can fix a whole array of tools, positioned and fixed according to his needs.

Robustness. The tools are built to last a lifetime, they are not designed for obsolescence. Before being offered for sale, tools and tool holders are tested for several years to make sure they are strong. That’s why the Kassine continues to work all around the world, year after year, for more than 20 years.
PROMMATA’s tools are considered modern because they have been adapted to the farmer’s needs of today. It allows him to implement modern techniques or tools, such as the chain harrow or the fingerweeder. They are also particularly adapted to environmental friendly agriculture techniques, such as no till or raised bed systems.

 Tools for farmers and by farmers

The MAMATA has always been questioned, assessed, designed, tested, finalized, modified, improved (and it’s not over !) by the users themselves. The ones who participate gather in the research group, where farmers and craftsmen work together to improve the equipment. The farmer comes with his needs, such as “I want to save time on manual weeding” or “I need a tool to decompress my soil”, the group discusses it and looks for a solution, then the craftsman build in the workshop the first prototype, that is tested on the research group farmer’s farms, in different soils and ways of working. Then we identify the good points and the things that need improvement : “it’s too heavy”, “this part is too weak”… So we go back to talking, and when we agree the prototype go back to the workshop to make the improvements. Several seasons and test places are necessary to validate a new tool, but in this way the result really comes from the fields and not from an individual brain or an office with no link to reality.

 The MAMATA different tool carriers

The Kassine : the lightest, most modular, versatile, and affordable. Very adaptable to small scale agriculture

The MATA :, avec ses deux versions Matavigne et Matamaraichage. Porte-outils plus grand, destiné à des surfaces agricoles de plus d’un hectare

The Ariana : Jean NOLLE’s tool carrier, medium size, today it would need redevelopment

Le Polynol : Jean NOLLE’s tool carrier, for fields crops on big areas, today it would need redevelopment

PROMMATA is a non-profit making association, all our tools are available for our members only. If you’re interested, please contact us for more information.

Click here to download the MAMATA’s presentation brochure (in French).