A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW 



OF THE 



IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. 



Vol. XVI. No. 384. 



BARBADOS, JANUAEV 13, 1917. 



Price Id. 



Local Production of Food Supplies. 



'X the depressed conditions prevailing in the 

 West Indies about the years 1900 to 1903, 



I a considerable amount of attention was given 

 by officers of the Agricultural Departments and by 

 planters, to questions pertaining to the production of 

 increased quantities of food within the West Indies 

 themselves, partly with a view to finding remunerative 

 occupation for the labouring class, and partly in the 

 hope of profitably raising crops in substitution for 

 imported materials. Departmental publications have 

 frequent reference to the matter, and many efforts were 



made to increase the amount of food produced on 

 plantations, and by the peasantry.* 



With the improvement in the agricultural condi- 

 tions of the West Indies which took place soon after 

 this period, notably by the revival of the sugar industry 

 and the introduction of cotton cultivation, attention 

 was largely directed to the production of staples for 

 export, and the production of home-grown food again 

 passed into a condition of comparative neglect. 



The possible restriction of the importations of food 

 supplies on account of the disturbed conditions arising 

 from the war has caused thoughtful people once more to 

 turn attention to this subject, and to urge the necessity 

 for action in order to preserve the comfort and safety 

 of the general population of these islands, including all 

 classes. The problem now wears a different aspect, and 

 requires to be looked at from a different point of view. 



At the present moment practically all West Indian 

 staple products are bringing high prices and there is no 

 superabundance of labour to produce them, consequently 

 planters are rather impelled to give all the attention 

 they can to the production of these profitable staples, 

 and find some difficulty in getting as much done in this 

 direction as they could wish. In these circumstances 

 there is a tendency to shirk the question of producing 

 food crops, and to suggest that this matter is one which 

 should have the consideration mainly of the peasant 

 cultivator. The peasant, on the other hand, won- 

 ders why he should be urged to do what the planter 

 avoids. Progress is, therefore, far from rapid, and there 

 remains an undue dependence upon imported foods 



♦See West Indian Bulhtiu, Vols. I, p. 270; II, p. 293; in, 

 pp. 9 and 20tj. 



The general outlook on this subject is well indicated in 

 the article in the AgricKltural Netcs, Vol, I, p. 225 



