§ 13. Mr. Joplingasked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans he has, and what discussions he has had with overseas bodies to create training facilities in Africa for agricultural experts, who are beginning periods of duty in Africa, to familiarise them with the agricultural problems and conditions of the continent.
§ Mr. JoplingIs the Minister aware that experts in temperate agriculture are of limited use in the first few months of their service? As the length of their service is likely to be short, much of this period is likely to be wasted because they do not understand the conditions. Would he not look at the problem again in view of the urgency of the need to avoid wasted time?
§ Mr. OramI have explained to the hon. Member on an earlier occasion that there are training facilities in Trinidad. I know that this does not satisfy him, but familiarisation with local conditions is effectively achieved by posting to a specific job experts in tropical agriculture who have received their general training at such establishments as the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of The West Indies.