§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the actual tonnage of fertilisers demanded in each of the five East and Central African territories; and what was the minimum tonnage estimated to be required to maintain soil fertility, exclusive of any groundnut scheme.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsOnly nitrogenous fertilisers are subject to allocation, and requests are forwarded to me only in respect of fertilisers of this type. The following tonnages for 1947–48 have been asked for:
Kenya—825 tons of sulphate of ammonia and 25 tons of nitrate of ammonia.
Tanganyika—585 tons of sulphate of ammonia.
Uganda—960 tons of nitrogen.
Zanzibar—None.
Nyasaland—2,500 tons of sulphate of ammonia and 60 tons of nitrate of soda.
Northern Rhodesia—No separate record, since requirements are included in Southern Rhodesian returns.
With regard to the second part of the Question, I am advised that it is not at present possible to estimate minimum requirements for the maintenance of soil fertility in conditions such as those which 184W obtain in Colonial territories. A research team has been established under the aegis of the East African Agricultural and Forestry Research Organisation to examine the problem of maintenance of soil fertility under African conditions and to examine the manurial requirements of different soils and different crops.