this article outlines technical and economic factors affecting the viability and production of a simple agricultural tractor for use in developing countries. the name tinkabi is derived from the siswati word for work-oxen. the tinkabi tractor offers a unique low-cost combination of simple design and easy handling features suited to the unsophisticated requirements of the small-scale farmer in developing countries. it has the added advantage that it can be manufactured locally in developing countries. the design features a four-wheel machine having a wheelbase of 2. 10 m, a fixed wheel track of 1. 85 m and a ground clearance of 0. 65 m. this allows a front load pan to be mounted with a capacity of 1000 kg and provides exceptionally good stability in the steep mountainous terrain common in swaziland. the engine, transmission, hydraulic fluid reservoir and driver are at the rear, so that more than 70 of the total unballasted weight of 1050 kg is distributed over the rear wheels implements currently used with oxen are fitted with simple clamps and mounted on the rear drawbar which is hand raised by means of a spring-assisted lever. other attachments, including an irrigation pump, hammer mill, cotton sprayer and circular saw, can be mounted on the drawbar and are belt-driven from a pulley attached to the engine flywheel. 5 refs