§ 3. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the area in Kenya planted for the growing of sisal, coffee and pyrethrum, respectively, by European farmers and African farmers, shown separately.
§ Mr. LytteltonIn 1951 Europeans grew 60,000 acres of coffee and 234,137 acres of sisal. Africans grew 1,735 acres of coffee and very many thousands of them grow sisal, though no figure of acreage can be given as it is mostly grown in small and scattered patches. By May, 1952, Europeans had planted 21,347 acres and Africans 800 acres of pyrethrum.
§ Mr. HaleI am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. Would he complete his inquiries, because then he will probably find that the sisal in general is planted in hedgerows only and is not allowed to be grown in large plots, and that of the acreage under coffee quite a 357 substantial amount belongs to the ex-Senior Chief Koinange who won a case in the court of appeal on this issue after his trees had been pulled up?
§ Mr. LytteltonI am not sure what the hon. Member is getting at. I cannot give acreage figures, but the exports of African sisal totalled £344,000 in 1951.