DEVELOPMENT OF SETTLER AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA

The immediate reason for the British South Africa Company (BSAC) to expand further into the interior
and eventually gain control over the area today known as Zimbabwe was the search for minerals,
especially gold.

However, by 1893, the directors of the BSAC had already become painfully aware that expected gold
seams did not exist in the amount initially expected and that the future of the colony could not be based
on mineral wealth.

The BSAC therefore began to encourage European settlers to start farms in the colony with the aim of
transforming Southern Rhodesia into an agriculture-based settler colony.

After two decades of trial and error, the European farming sector began to expand quite rapidly in terms
of output and acreage under cultivation in the 1920s. By the end of the 1950s, Southern Rhodesia was
the main producer of tobacco in Africa.

Meanwhile, the use of new technologies, most notably chemical fertilizers and tractors, increased after
the Second World War, with significant effects on both land and labour productivity.

The Wise report of 1906

 C.D. Wise, an experienced British agriculturalist and the company’s land settlement expert, left
the UK for Southern Rhodesia in October 1905, with instructions from the Board to report
generally upon the current and future prospects of the agricultural industry, the opportunities
for new settlers, and the methods by which cultivating owners could be best established upon
the soil.
 Wise produced a report which identified Southern Rhodesia as having vast agricultural potential,
with fertile soil, favorable climate, and abundant water resources.
 He recommended large-scale European settlement, suggesting that the region could support a
significant number of settlers.
 Wise proposed allocating land to European settlers, displacing indigenous people from their
ancestral lands. He recommended developing infrastructure, including roads, railways, and
irrigation systems, to support European agriculture.
 Wise suggested using indigenous people as laborers on European-owned farms, often under
coercive conditions. The report's recommendations led to the displacement of indigenous
people from their land, making way for European settlers. The report facilitated the
establishment of large-scale European agriculture in Southern Rhodesia, shaping the country's
agricultural sector.

The Rhodesia Agricultural Journal

 The Rhodesia Agricultural Journal was a publication established in 1908 by the Department of
Agriculture in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
 Its primary objective was to disseminate knowledge and best practices among European
farmers, promoting agricultural development and productivity.
  The journal featured articles on various aspects of agriculture, including crop production, animal
husbandry, soil science, and agricultural economics.
 It published research findings from experimental farms and stations, showcasing new
technologies and techniques.
 The journal provided information on market trends, prices, and demand for agricultural
products.
 It offered advice and guidance on agricultural practices, extension services, and training
programs.
 It contributed to the growth and development of European agriculture in Southern Rhodesia.
but its impact was limited to the European farming community, excluding indigenous people
from the benefits of agricultural development.

Development of transport and infrastructure

 The development of transport and infrastructure in Southern Rhodesia during the colonial era
was crucial for the growth of European agriculture and the economy.
 The construction of railways connected Southern Rhodesia to South Africa and the port of Beira
in Mozambique, facilitating the transportation of goods and people.
 A network of roads was built to connect farms, towns, and cities, enabling the movement of
agricultural products and inputs.
 Bridges were constructed over rivers and streams, improving access to remote areas and
facilitating trade.
 Irrigation systems were developed to support European agriculture, particularly in areas with
low rainfall.
 Warehouses and silos were built to store agricultural products, reducing post-harvest losses and
enabling more efficient marketing.
 Improved transport and infrastructure facilitated trade, enabling European farmers to access
markets and inputs more efficiently.

Experimental farms

 Experimental farms were research stations established by the colonial government in Southern
Rhodesia to test and develop new agricultural technologies, crops, and techniques. These farms
played a crucial role in promoting European agriculture and improving productivity.
 Experimental farms tested new crops and varieties to identify suitable ones for the region.
 They evaluated new farming technologies, such as tractors and plows, to improve efficiency and
productivity.
 Research focused on understanding soil types, fertility, and conservation to optimize land use.
 Experimental farms investigated new breeds, feeding methods, and disease control measures to
enhance livestock productivity.
 Experimental farms were funded by the colonial government, ensuring consistent support and
resources.
 Trained scientists and researchers managed the farms, conducting experiments and analyzing
data.
 Experimental farms showcased best practices and new technologies to European farmers
through demonstration plots.
  Researchers provided training and advice to European farmers, helping them adopt new
methods and technologies.
 Experimental farms contributed to increased agricultural productivity and efficiency among
European farmers.
 Examples of experimental farms in Southern Rhodesia include: Gatooma Experimental Farm
_Salisbury Experimental Farm__Matopos Research Station_

The Land Bank of 1912

 The Land Bank of 1912 was a financial institution established in Southern Rhodesia (now
Zimbabwe) to provide loans and credit to European farmers, enabling them to purchase land,
equipment, and inputs. The Land Bank played a crucial role in supporting European agriculture
and facilitating land acquisition.

 The bank provided loans and credit to European farmers at favorable interest rates, enabling
them to invest in their farms.
 The bank's loans and credit supported European farmers' adoption of new technologies, crops,
and techniques, driving agricultural development.
 The Land Bank's focus on supporting European farmers perpetuated inequality and
marginalization of indigenous people in the agricultural sector.

The Agricultural Bank of 1924

 The Agricultural Bank of 1924 was a financial institution established in Southern Rhodesia (now
Zimbabwe) to provide loans and credit to European farmers, with a focus on long-term financing
for agricultural development. The bank built upon the Land Bank of 1912, expanding financial
support for European agriculture.
 The Agricultural Bank provided long-term loans to European farmers, enabling them to invest in
infrastructure, equipment, and land.
 The bank offered low interest rates to European farmers, making credit more accessible and
affordable.
 The government guaranteed the bank's loans, reducing risk and increasing confidence among
lenders and borrowers.
 The Agricultural Bank's long-term financing enabled European farmers to expand their
operations, invest in new technologies, and increase productivity.
 The bank's loans supported European farmers' acquisition of more land,
 The bank's financing enabled European farmers to invest in irrigation, fencing, and other
infrastructure, enhancing agricultural productivity.

Forced Labor:
  Forced labor was a system where Africans were compelled to work for European farmers, often
under coercive conditions. Africans were required to work for a certain number of days per year,
usually without pay or for minimal wages.
 Forced labor benefited white settlers by providing them with a cheap and controlled labor force,
increasing their agricultural productivity and profits.

Taxation:

 Taxation was used to extract revenue from indigenous people

 Taxes were imposed on indigenous people's crops, livestock, and other possessions.
 Taxation benefited white settlers by financing colonial administration, infrastructure
development, and European settlement, which facilitated their economic and social dominance.

Confiscation of Cattle:

 Confiscation of cattle was a practice where European authorities seized indigenous people's
cattle, often under the pretext of disease control or other reasons.
 Confiscated cattle were often sold or distributed to European farmers, further enriching them.
 This practice benefited white settlers by increasing their livestock holdings, improving their
agricultural productivity, and enhancing their economic status.

Land Pegs:

 Land pegs were markers used to demarcate European-owned land, often without regard for
indigenous people's existing land use or ownership.
 Land pegs were used to formalize European land ownership, displacing indigenous people from
their ancestral lands.
 This practice benefited white settlers by securing their land ownership, allowing them to expand
their agricultural operations, and increasing their wealth and influence.

Rents to Landlords:

 Indigenous people were forced to pay rents to European landlords for land they had traditionally
occupied.
 Rents were often exorbitant and unaffordable, leading to further poverty and dispossession.
 This practice benefited white settlers by generating additional income, reinforcing their land
ownership, and maintaining their economic and social dominance.

The Land Apportionment Act of 1930

 The Land Apportionment Act of 1930 was a law passed in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
that formalized the division of land between European settlers and indigenous people.
 The act provided European settlers with secure land ownership, encouraging them to invest in
agriculture and infrastructure.
 European settlers gained access to the most fertile and productive land, suitable for intensive
agriculture.
 Indigenous people were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, making way for European
settlers to establish farms.
The Maize Control Act of 1934

 The Maize Control Act of 1934 was a law passed in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) that
regulated the production, marketing, and sale of maize, the country's staple crop. The act:
 Established the Maize Control Board to oversee the maize industry
 Set minimum prices for maize to ensure profitability for European farmers
 Restricted indigenous farmers from growing maize for commercial purposes
 Imposed quotas on indigenous farmers' maize production
 Provided subsidies and support to European farmers

 The Maize Control Act promoted settler agriculture in several ways:

 Protected European farmers' interests
 Restricted indigenous competition
 The act's support for European farmers encouraged more settlers to establish farms, increasing
European land ownership.

The Cattle Levy Act of 1935

 The Cattle Levy Act of 1935 was a law passed in Southern Rhodesia that imposed a levy (tax) on
all cattle owners, regardless of race.
 The levy was collected from all cattle owners, but European settlers were allowed to deduct the
levy from the wages of their indigenous laborers.
 European settlers were exempt from paying the levy on their first 100 head of cattle, while
indigenous people were not.
 The revenue generated from the levy was used to fund services and infrastructure that primarily
benefited European settlers, such as veterinary services, dipping tanks, and cattle markets.
 The act restricted indigenous people's ability to own large numbers of cattle, limiting their
economic potential.

The Native Land Husbandry Act of 1951

 The Native Land Husbandry Act of 1951 was a law passed in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
that aimed to: Force indigenous people to consolidate their landholdings into larger, more
"efficient" units. Improve agricultural practices_: Encourage indigenous people to adopt
European-style agricultural practices. Increase agricultural productivity_: Increase agricultural
productivity among indigenous people to meet growing labor demands on European-owned
farms.
 However, the act's provisions had the opposite effect, promoting settler agriculture at the
expense of indigenous people:
 Indigenous people lost their land rights and were forced to work on European-owned farms.
 Indigenous people were restricted from growing certain crops or raising livestock, limiting their
economic potential.