§ Mr. MORELasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what area of coffee plantation is under the direct control of native producers in Kenya Colony; and what steps the Government of that colony is taking, or proposes to take, in order to encourage native production of the berry?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREPractically no coffee has been or is grown by natives in Kenya Colony and there is no indication of a desire to grow it. Production of native crops on a large scale is now being strongly encouraged, notably maize and oil seeds and arrangements for the transport, marketing and improvement of such crops in the native interest are being made by the Government. The distribution of the native population and the natural conditions in the bulk of the native reserves make it very probable that the production of annual crops, such as maize, is more likely at present to be of economic benefit to the native population than a permanent crop such as coffee, which needs highly expert cultivation and preparation.