EAST AFRICA (GROUNDNUT SCHEME) (Hansard, 23 January 1953)

§ Mr. Lyttelton

Yes. There has been no change in the conception or timing of plan described in Cmd. 8125 to which I referred on 29th October last. Although the scale has been reduced, the scheme is still an extensive experiment to establish the economics of clearing and mechanising or partially mechanising agriculture under tropical conditions, to be carried out over a period of seven years ending in 1957.

In Urambo the farming areas will be cut from 65,000 acres to 12,000 comprising 12 farms. In the Southern Province organised land clearing has been discontinued and farms will be limited to approximately 20,000 acres compared with the 60,000 originally planned. There will be 17 farms. Farmers will use their own labour and plant during the offseason to carry out the limited additional clearing required. There will be no change at Kongwa where both crops and animal husbandry have given encouraging results over the past two seasons; but, as stated in the White Paper, the position there is to be reviewed in 1954.

The reason for these changes is that certain fundamental agricultural problems in Urambo and the Southern Province must be solved before the crop results assumed in Cmd. 8125 can be counted upon. The need to proceed cautiously is shown by last season's experiences in both areas. Natural causes which gravely injured the crops and a marked fall in prices drastically reduced the Corporation's revenues. The Board considered it prudent, and I agree, that they should not expose themselves to the same risk again.

Short of a major natural calamity, the Board of the Corporation expect to be able to execute this modified plan without any further substantial revision and within the provision indicated in Cmd. 8125. They are satisfied that the changes made will not adversely affect the amount 62W or value of the information to be obtained from the experiment, which now includes some important, though still small-scale, trials in African tenant farming.