§ Mr. LEACHasked the Under-Secretary of State for India how much money the Government is annually spending in India on experts in cotton growing, seed farms, and other experimental work in cotton growing?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe information is not available from the returns of the expenditure of Indian Agricultural Departments. Expenditure on cotton growing is not 2687W classed separately from expenditure on other descriptions of crops in which India is equally concerned.
§ Mr. LEACHasked the Under-Secretary for India if he can state in general terms how many millions of acres of land there are in India suitable for cotton growing beside the 20½ millions under cotton in 1911–12?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThere are no materials from which even a conjectural estimate can be framed. Of the total cropped area of 250,000,000 acres in British India, a considerable portion at present under crops other than cotton is no doubt suitable for cotton, but what that portion is it is not possible to say. The total cultivated area in native States is not returned.
§ Mr. LEACHalso asked if the Government is promoting the establishment of co-operative cotton-selling societies in India, so as to secure the best price for the cotton grown by the natives?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State is not aware that co-operative societies for the special purpose of dealing in cotton are being promoted in India. Efforts are being made to promote co-operative societies for dealing generally in agricultural produce.