§ 33 and 34. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the acreage in Gambia under cultivation for rice and the yield per acre in 1950 and 1955, respectively;
(2) what percentage of village rice-land in Gambia was tractor ploughed under the mechanical ploughing subsidy scheme in 1955; and what was the subsidy cost per acre.
§ Mr. HareThe total area of the many small plots on which most of the Gambia's rice is grown is not precisely known, though a very tentative estimate made in 1953 put it at 50,000 acres. Since 1950 both the acreage and yields have increased significantly, the yield now averaging 500 lb. of clean rice per acre. 1,500 acres were ploughed mechanically in 1955 and the subsidy was about £1 5s. per acre.
§ Mr. HallIs it a fact that it has been possible to get a second crop of rice by improved methods of farming and by tractor ploughing, and if that means that the "hungry season" is now a thing of the past, will my right hon. Friend convey to those concerned the congratulations of the House on that remarkable achievement?
§ Mr. HareI am sure that all those concerned will greatly appreciate what my hon. Friend has said. It is quite true that, for the first time, what is known as the "hungry season" did not take place in this territory, and that that has been largely due to the very great improvements which there have been in the methods of rice production.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonIs the Minister of State aware that an important sociological change has also taken place, and that, for the first time in these schemes, the men are now working alongside their women in the fields?