The group did not linger over their reflections for long. They all knew they had come here to solve problems. As they toured the village, Clark was the first to speak.
"When they went out to farm, I didn't see any large machinery. Of course, I know Mexico's large-scale mechanized agriculture is concentrated in the northwest, and agricultural conditions elsewhere are relatively underdeveloped. But even without large-scale mechanized equipment, there should at least be machines to help with farming, right? Not even a tractor?"
Oliver folded his arms and sighed. "There were originally some, but only two, and they were very old tractors. The village cooperative bought them and rented them out for personal use. But ever since the drug cartels took control of the land and started planting poppies, no one maintained the tractors. They've completely broken down."
"So everyone cultivates the land using the most primitive methods now?" Diana asked.
"Not entirely. There are some larger tools." With that, Oliver led them to a warehouse on one side of the village. It was the village's only relatively imposing building, and it stored seeds and fodder.
The moment he entered, Clark spotted a familiar machine. It was a small cultivator. Though it looked somewhat rusty, it was at least still intact and usable.
Clark stepped forward to inspect it, but as soon as he got closer, he noticed something was wrong. Several ropes were tied to the cultivator's coupling, with a few straps attached to the very front.
Clark's eyes slowly widened. Pointing at the cultivator, he said, "Don't tell me you pull this thing with oxen?"
"How could we?" Oliver shrugged. Just as Clark was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Oliver added, "Sometimes we use horses."
Clark did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Even