BRITISH COLONIES (RICE CULTIVATION). (Hansard, 2 August 1939)

Mr. M. MacDonald

The importance of encouraging the production locally of food supplies in the West Indies is recognised. Conditions for the production of rice are very favourable in British Guiana, and to a lesser degree in limited areas in Trinidad, Jamaica and British Honduras.

In British Honduras steps have been taken to develop rice growing in the southern part of the colony, and in Trinidad measures have also been taken, including irrigation schemes, to provide for the more satisfactory production of rice. In Jamaica a small acreage is under cultivation and I understand experiments are being made by private enterprise for its extended cultivation.

In British Guiana rice is subsidiary only to sugar as an export crop, and the exports are sent mainly to the British and French West Indies and neighbouring countries.

The industry has in recent years been under examination on several occasions, and measures have been taken to improve its economic condition. The agricultural aspects of the industry are good, although drainage is capable of improvement in some areas. The whole question of land drainage in British Guiana has recently been the subject of investigation by a local committee, and the recommendations of this committee are now under consideration.

The milling of rice in the colony is not satisfactory, and this matter has been the subject of a special inquiry by a qualified rice milling expert secured on loan from Malaya. His report has received consideration by the local authorities and in the Colonial Office, and his recommendation that a Government mill should be established in the Essequibo district of the colony with a view to providing better quality rice for export is likely to be acted upon when some questions of detail, at present outstanding, have been settled.

With regard to the latter part of the question, individual cases will be considered on their merits.