48 THE COCONUT BELT 



in profusion. Labour is plentiful and cheap, and 

 the climate is favourable to the white man. Hitherto 

 coconuts have not been cultivated on the island 

 with any particular energy, but greater attention 

 is now being paid to this profitable branch of 

 tropical agriculture. 



As far back as 1893 Zanzibar was exporting some 

 90,000 worth of copra per annum, while the native 

 consumption accounted for a further quantity of 

 coconuts. To-day the population, Arabs, natives, 

 etc., aggregates over 200,000, and the exports of 

 copra and palm oil nuts amount to about 12,000 tons 

 per annum, valued at approximately 205,000. 

 The greater portion of the copra produced is shipped 

 direct to Marseilles, only small shipments being 

 made to the United Kingdom, Germany, and India. 

 The area under coconuts in Zanzibar, as throughout 

 East Africa generally, is reported to be on the 

 increase, and there is every probability that this 

 expansion will continue, as the demand for coconut- 

 growing lands in favourable regions is certain to be 

 maintained for some time to come. 



OTHER COCONUT- GROWING CENTRES 



In the Philippines the American Government 

 agricultural experts are devoting special attention 

 to this industry, about which a vast amount of 

 information has been collected and disseminated, 

 not only by the Government authorities, but also 



