§ 32. Sir R. HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government approves of the policy of the agricultural department in Kenya to forbid the growing by natives of any species of coffee, including robusta?
§ Mr. AMERYI am not aware of any absolute prohibition. But where native agriculture is in a somewhat rudimentary stage, and there is consequently serious danger of the dissemination of disease, it is thought advisable to discourage rather than encourage the growth of coffee by natives, and I see no reason to dissent from that view. In certain districts of Uganda and Tanganyika, where the agricultural education of the natives is more advanced, the cultivation of coffee by natives, of course under careful supervision, is encouraged.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONAre we to take it that that applies to the robusta variety as well as to the Arabiea?
§ Mr. AMERYIn some cases it applies to the robusta, but the robusta is, of course, less subject to disease than the Arabica.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre we to understand that in Tanganyika the natives may grow the robusta variety, but that in Kenya they may not?