Proceedings of the South & East African combined agricultural, cotton, entomological and mycological conference held at Nairobi, August, 1926

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1738588467

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-115043

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Proceedings of the South & East African combined agricultural, cotton, entomological and mycological conference held at Nairobi, August, 1926

Place of publication:: Nairobi

Publisher:: East African Standard

Year of publication:: 1926

Scope:: VI, 337 Seiten; Ill.

Digitisation:: 2020

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Part V. General

Collection:: Economics Books

- PART .V. 7.6 million acres, mostly in the ‘‘ Highlands *’ (that is, country lying from 5,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level) which has been aside for alienation, and about 1.4 million acres included in the Coastal belt. In addition 1.9 million acres are held by the State as * Forest Reserves.” Both in the Native Reserves and the alienated area extensive areas of land of great fertility are to be found; land which, on account of its physical condition, is easily cultivated and made highly productive at comparatively little expense. A drought attended with serious consequences is seldom experienced—the adequacy of the rainfall coupled with abundance of sunshine for plant growth and crop harvesting creates a feeling of security in agricultural pursuits. It may be mentioned that it is wholly incorrect to say that the best land has been attached for European occupation. In the Kavirondo and Kikuyu Reserves and in other parts there are extensive areas of rich and highly productive land as fertile or more fertile than any held by Europeans. COMMUNICATIONS. Hxcept for a short bramch line from Nairobi to Thika the country has, until recently, been served by one railway line only, running from the Port of Mombasa to Kisumu on Lake Victoria and traversing practically the centre of the settled areas. During the last year the new line to Uganda, which serves the Uasin Gishu Plateau, and branch lines to Trans-Nzoia, Solai, and Nyeri have been opened for traffic. The construction of several other branch lines is now under consideration. Substantial progress has therefore been made in recent years to facilitate the marketing of crops and disabilities which previously existed are fast being removed. The roads of the Colony leave much to be desired and owing to the character of the soil and the rock formation heavy expenditure would be involved in constructing ‘‘ all weather *’ roads for heavy traffic. The larger rivers and swamps have been bridged and banked, and although iuconveniences may be suffered occasionally in the transport of produce and in locomotion generally it is not sufficient to hold up the business of the farm, and dry periods can be chosen for the movement of produce. The extensive use of motor cars and motor vehicles throughout the country is evidence that the roads, mostly ‘‘ earth »’ in character, may be negotiated during the greater part of the year. SETTLEMENT. Of the 72 million acres available, about 42 millions have been alienated to Europeans, and of this acreage about 4} million acres are already occupied, of which about 425,000 acres are under cultivation. The number of European owners and occupiers is about 1,800. The average area cultivated by each occupier is about 250 acres, but including the area developed for stock raising the acreage beneficially occupied is 1,400 acres per occupier on an average. Another figure of interest is the average amount realised per occupier for export products. It stands at £900. In addition there is the value of products sold locally. ~The figures quoted above disclose a satisfactory position, one which will compare most favourably with the returns appertaining to 9248

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