§ 24. Mr. Turtonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any encouragement has been given to the West African colonies to expand their production of wheat, rice and millet, in order to ensure the adequacy of their food supplies in the prevailing world shortage.
Mr. Creech JonesEver since the war started the West African Colonial Governments, in common with other Colonial Governments, have been urged to do all in their power to increase production of foodstuffs both for local consumption and export, and to keep me informed of progress made and assistance required. The question has again received special emphasis and attention in recent months. As far as cereals are concerned, the West African Colonies are expected this year to be virtually self-sufficient in rice, maize, millet, and native seed crops. Wheat can be grown only in small quantities in Northern Nigeria and flour therefore has to be imported, but the quantities required are very small.