The Great Drought Problem or South Africa. 127 



ground; (g) want of agricultural education and training; (h) inability 

 to dispose of farm produce at reasonable rates. 



Many of these causes reach their climax through drought. What- 

 ever may be done to mitigate the above causes would result in a i-educ- 

 tion of the failures at all times, and the Commission considers that 

 increased facilities for marketing would undoubtedly reduce poverty 

 on farms and that factories for treating perishable produce are desir- 

 able. But of fundamental importance is the need for better agricul- 

 tural education and training; a closer touch with the Department of 

 Agriculture and the technical advice it can furnish is necessary, and 

 in the organization of the farmer is to be found the link that will 

 draw the farmer and the Department together. 



The Commission finds : — 



1. That the frequent failure of the farmer in South Africa is due 

 to many causes, which so frequently work simultaneously, that it is 

 difficult to separate them. Periods of sudden strain, such as drought 

 or economic cataclysms, accelerate and magnify losses due, in the first 

 place, to other causes. 



2. That, if the pressure from any of these causes be reduced, 

 losses due to drought will also be diminished. 



3. That organization of the farming community will tend to im- 

 prove the marketing facilities for all sorts of produce, and will irrm 

 a link between the Department and the farmer, which will be particd- 

 larly useful in spreading information. 



4. That this will result in increased production and fewer failurey 

 among the farming community. 



Recommendations . 



Having arrived at the above conclusions, founded on the solid 

 support of practical experience corroborated by scientific analysis, the 

 Commission recommends the Government to do its utmost to abolish 

 the kraaling system and make it as easy as possible for the farmer to 

 put the paddock system into practice. To effect this the jackal must 

 be exterminated, provision must be made for the supply of cheap 

 feucing material, and the water supply for stock mun be developed. 

 In dealing with these matters, organization of the iarnier is the first 

 essential, while the State has to assume certain responsiMIities in the 

 control of soil erosion, and the Department of Agriculture has to 

 investigate certain grazing and fodder problems. 



Organization or the Farming Community. 



It is in the interests of the State and of the individual to have 

 farmers organized. Organized farmers are easier to deal with, as 

 their wants and desires are more readily ascertained ; moreover, the 

 Department of Agriculture is greatly assisted in treating with such 

 organizations, tending to its increased usefulness and at decreased 

 cost than is possible when dealing with individuals. In this manner 

 the knowledge and experience of the expert can be put to more 

 extended use, resulting in a higher standard of agriculture, while the 

 organized farmer becomes more independent and self-reliant. By 

 combining they gain in strength and eliminate the possibility of many 



