Annual report on Nyasaland / Colonial Office.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1950]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on Nyasaland / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/110 page 3
    PART I Review of 1950 The food shortage resulting from the failure of the 1949 crops through drought became progressively more acute at the beginning of 1950 and reached a peak at the end of February ; thereafter new crops gradually started to become available. Early in January there was a sudden deterioration in the physical condition of certain sections of the population in some areas and it was necessary to take measures to arrange for the feeding of these debilitated persons in special camps. These camps were organised by Government staff with the very valuable assistance of the Red Cross and many volunteers from the European community ; they undoubtedly saved many hundreds of lives. It was eventually possible to close the camps in April when the new harvest became generally available. During the food shortage about 25,000 tons of maize and other foodstuffs were distributed. In the great majority of cases the food was sold but free issues were made to the infirm and destitute. It was significant that distress was largely confined to women, children and old people, and in the great majority of such cases the able-bodied head of the family was away from home Experience early in the year shows that even in years of normal harvests the dependants of migrant workers suffer from distress and food shortage, and that the tradition of charity among African villagers, so much a characteristic in the past, seems to have died. The actual amount which was written off to expenditure in 1950 was £161,000 but there were other heavy expenses from the distribution of planting material, relief works and the like. The total cost, leaving aside loss of revenue, is estimated to be about £232,000. At the outset of the past season the full effort of the Agricultural Department was devoted to securing maximum food production to make up the deficiencies caused by the drought of the previous year ; timely planting and thorough weeding enabled the majority of food crops to succeed despite somewhat adverse conditions, and a generally adequate harvest was reaped. As far as can be judged at present, the country has to a very great extent recovered its normal food position. This was illustrated by the quantity of maize purchased from African Trust Eand. The total from the Central and Southern Provinces amounted to approximately 9,800 tons, which exceeded that of 1948 by 29 per cent. It was possible for the first time to set aside a reserve of 3,000 tons part of which is stored in prefabricated sheds, eighteen of which have been placed at various points in the Protectorate to provide temporary storage for foodstuffs. These sheds will be replaced by
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