Abstract
IN the spring of 1938 the Trustees of the Leverhulme Trust invited four members of Parliament to visit West Africa and, report upon conditions in the West African Colonies generally. The terms of reference included a study of the standard of life of the native population, the production of food and other materials and in particular certain problems in respect of the development of agriculture, pastoral work and forestry. The investigations considered the problem of the improvement of farming methods and the introduction of new crops; the study of export crops, forestry and animal husbandry and, the general problem of soil conditions, including erosion and improvement by better methods of cultivation. Lastly, the existing systems of land tenure were examined with the view of ascertaining whether modifications would be likely to be advantageous in the fullest development of the land. These objects were distinct from the more political aspects of the work of the Commission, and for the purpose of the inquiry certain technical experts were attached. The Technical Reports of the Commission have now been published; that on crop production and soil fertility is a valuable and informative document*. The Commissioners in their foreword to the Report lay down a principle—with which all who have acquaintance with these territories will agree—that any. future economic development must be based on the fundamental importance of farming as the major interest of the African people. In view of this the Leverhulme Trust was fortunate in securing the services of such eminent men of science as Mr. H. C. Sampson, with his unrivalled knowledge of agricultural problems in India and East Africa; and Dr. E. M. Crowther, head of the Chemistry Department of Rothamsted, who is an acknowledged authority on tropical soil problems.
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EVANS, G. West African Agriculture. Nature 154, 72–74 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1038/154072a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/154072a0