§ 19. Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage 176W of cocoa plantations in Nigeria and the Gold Coast is affected by destructive diseases; what steps are being taken to destroy the trees affected and to replace them by fresh plantings; and if he is satisfied that the large profits now being made by the industry owing to inflated scarcity prices are being used to extirpate plantation diseases and to secure efficient cultivation.
Mr. Creech JonesPrecise figures for the percentage of cocoa in the Gold Coast and Nigeria infected with cocoa virus disease will not be available until the intensive cocoa surveys which are now being conducted in both territories have been completed. The area affected by the disease in the Gold Coast is estimated at about 10 per cent. of the total area under cocoa. In Nigeria, infected cocoa is estimated to amount to only 1 per cent. of the total cocoa area. The need for energetic steps to deal with the situation is fully realised by Government. The measures taken in the Gold Coast include an intensive survey to ascertain the exact distribution of the disease; the removal of all trees showing symptoms of the disease; and the maintenance of an inspection service to carry out reinspection and removal of fresh cases in treated outbreaks. In Nigeria, where the disease is less serious, an intensive cocoa survey is also in progress together with a cutting-out campaign. A substantial sum (£1¼ million) has already been allocated from cocoa profits for research into cocoa diseases by the West African Cocoa Research Institute and the Government of the Gold Coast is now considering financial measures to encourage the rehabilitation of diseased areas and the planting up of new areas to cocoa. As a preliminary step, the Gold Coast Cocoa Marketing Board has set aside a sum of £150,000 towards the cost of soil surveys.