§ 11. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the advisory committee for the development of native agriculture and production in Uganda that the production of native coffee should not be restricted but should be encouraged; and whether any steps are being taken to this end?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have not yet received from the Governor the recommendation of the committee to which the hon. Member refers. It is, however, already the policy of the Uganda Government to encourage in suitable areas the growing by natives of coffee and in other areas economic crops subsidiary to cotton. Technical assistance is freely provided by the Agricultural Department, and legislation has been passed in order to safeguard the quality of the coffee exported and to assist the producer to obtain a fair price for his crops.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say why, while steps are being taken to encourage and extend 1635 native coffee growing in Uganda, it should be limited to two or three areas in Kenya?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is an entirely different proposition. In Uganda native coffee growing is well established and it has been possible to give it the careful supervision which is absolutely essential, in order to maintain the quality of this very valuable crop on the world market. It is essential that in developing native coffee growing in Kenya the same care should be exercised in order to secure that the product may be of a high standard.