§ Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will provide the figures of rice and other cereals grown in Nigeria and the West African Colonies, respectively, during the 24 months ended in August last; and what steps are being taken to increase production.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsProduction figures for the period in question are estimated as follows:
46WNigeria:
- Rice—140,000 tons.
- Other cereals—5,500,000 tons.
Little reliance can be placed on these figures because of the lack of statistical information. Cereal crops are grown principally for subsistence and local consumption on a very large number of scattered smallholdings.
Gold Coast:
- Rice—17,000–20,000 tons.
- Other cereals—630,000–680,000 tons.
The last figure is a tentative estimate based on population figures.
Sierra Leone:
- Rice—360,000 tons.
- Other cereals—80,000 tons.
The Gambia:
- Rice—61,000 tons.
- Other cereals—249,000 tons.
These figures are estimated comparisons of average individual production with the total population.
The recommendations of the West African Rice Mission suggesting new areas for rice production have been received by each Colony and are being studied by them. In Nigeria, the Agricultural Department is developing high-yielding strains of rice and is encouraging mixed farming methods; provision for mechanised experiments has been made. Similar work is being done in the Gold Coast and processing machinery is being introduced to save labour. Increased production in Sierra Leone is dependent on the results of experiments now being carried out in the coastal and inland swamps; but it is unlikely that the supply of rice will improve in the near future, as it has been necessary to reduce upland farming in order to conserve the soil. In the Gambia, the Nutrition Field Working Party and the Government are co-operating in experiments with mechanised cultivation of cereals by villagers.