HC Deb 31 October 1957 vol 575 c76W
67. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what loan facilities are available for experienced African farmers in Northern Rhodesia who are lessees of Crown land and who wish to apply for freehold titles but lack the required amount of capital to develop the land.

Mr. Profumo

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member in his pursuant Reply on 2nd August, there are at present no African farmers who are lessees of Crown land. But, as he also stated in the House on 20th May, African farmers are entitled to benefit from the facilities afforded by the Agricultural Lands Board under the Agricultural Lands Ordinance. The Board can guarantee Land Bank settlement loans and can partially develop land prior to leasing, to the extent of £2 of assistance to £1 of capital on the part of the intending farmer. The Board has not yet received any applications from African farmers.