The United Nations Food and Agriculture Year Book of 1975 ranks Rhodesia second in the world in terms of yields of maize, wheat, soya beans and ground nuts, and third for cotton. In the combined ranking for all these crops, Rhodesia ranked first in the world.
Agriculture in Southern Africa
by Clifford Deale
Dr. Mick Gammon wrote the following in the magazine The Rhosarian (October 2009): “The first white hunters, traders and missionaries who in the 19th century came to the region which was to become Rhodesia and subsequently Zimbabwe, found a land devoid of infrastructure. The wheel was not yet in use. Early travellers recorded travelling often for days without seeing any human habitation. Commercial farming started in the 1890’s on what was for the most part virgin land. There were no roads or railways, there was no electricity or telephone, there were no fences, boreholes, pumps, windmills, dams, or irrigation schemes; there were no cattle dips, barns or other farm buildings.
These first commercial farmers had to discover how to contend with predators that killed their livestock plus other animals that consumed their crops and how to control diseases, pests and parasites of livestock and crops that were foreign to them. From this starting point, agriculture developed faster than it had anywhere else in the world.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Year Book of 1975 ranked the then Rhodesia second in the world in terms of yields of maize, wheat, soya beans and ground nuts, and third for cotton. In the combined ranking for all these crops, Rhodesia ranked first in the world.
Rhodesia’s Virginia tobacco was rated the best in the world in yield and quality, while maize entries in world championships were consistently placed in the first three slots. The world’s largest single citrus producer was developed early in the country’s history.
Rhodesia was the world’s second largest exporter of flue-cured tobacco. This together with exports of maize, soya beans, cotton, sugar, coffee, tea, fruit, vegetables, flowers and beef made agriculture the major source of foreign currency. Agriculture contributed more to the gross domestic product than any other industry. It was the largest employer of labor, providing employment for about a third of the total labor force.”
The story of the effect these farmers had on the social welfare of their labor and beyond is nothing less than inspiring. But the cultural deficiencies of those who wanted power at all costs, so clearly outlined in the Forum for Food Security mentioned above, destroyed the breadbasket of Africa. These same “cultural deficiencies” are evident in South Africa’s ruling elite, and if food security in South Africa is to be preserved, agricultural production must remain in the hands of SA’s commercial farmers. There is no other way to preserve food security. No other way!
I NEVER said the old regime was better. Tell me this…….Africa as a continent has 54 countries. As a collective continent the entire African economy is less than the SINGLE country of France. What does that tell you ? The AU needs to flex it’s muscles and restore law and order and force (if necessary ) clean and respectable economies/countries .
The suggestion that colonialism improved the lives of the natives is inherently false and quite mischievous. The writer of the article neglected to mention that they pushed the blacks from the fertile lands and placed them in reserves and on barren land. How could that improve the welfare of the natives.
There are many differences Necklace!!! Self determination for all!!! Back in the day blacks were confined in certain areas and had limited access to education because of their skin colour etc. Now it is up to you to develop yourself and your family. There are no race based limitations and restrictions.
Politically yes the current regime is acting in many ways like the old regime but we can never say that the life under these two regimes is the same. I myself am yearning for change but will never support backward thinking that says the old regime was better!! That is seriously shallow and myopic thinking!!!
Nope. I am black as can be, born in Malawi, raised in SA. My parents left Malawi because they were smart enough to recognize that it was falling apart just like how Zim felt apart.
It’s time Africans start taking responsibility for our own actions instead of blaming others for everything. Use what’s there to improve our lives instead of tearing it down just to get one over the white man. It’s ridiculous.
The only time Zimbabwe and all of Africa developed was during the colonial era. Development stopped with independence. Look at what that Malawian has done to Zimbabwe. Smith was for better than the dictator.
I am sure you are a White person..
????
Poor Zimbabweans, they are still blaming the white man for their problems when they are currently in charge.
You had the economic framework for success. All you had to do was repurpose it to work for everyone, but instead you cut your nose to spite your face and called it a victory. So sad.
So how’s that going for you right now? The whole taking your land back thing.
Have you progressed?
Has your standard of living improved?
Are you better of now than you were in 1979?
Be honest now. No colonialism BS or blame game.
that is rubbish this UN THING IS CALLING Zim as the bread basket for Africa but why cant they tell the truth of how many black Zimbabweans benefited from that nonsense, they mentioned many people were employed by the white farmers why not mentioning how terrible were their wages? i tell you the best thing ever happened in ZIM was Zimbabweans taking back their land.
Stupid piece to justify colonisation and oppression of Africans. Obviously in most parts of the world there were no railways or telephone lines in 1890 Europe included.
Mugabe may be the ugly face of independence but such journalism merely serves to whitewash him.
This is what hellen zille was talking about
Msoon yours
Transfer skills to the natives ??? The ruling Zanu-pf doesn’t look like it has transferred anything to zimbabweans either. Tell me,what’s different between the old regime and the new one.
Haha. Typical African response to the facts. Look at your crap CUNTRY now !
Truth hurts ,doesn’t it my useless little Zimbo’s ?
Utter rubbish.
Nonsense article. Agriculture ’employed’ a 3rd of the labour force yet farm workers are the most exploited group. Only white folk can farm commercially because the intention was never to transfer skills to the natives. In present times you can still find land with no habitants but that don’t mean it has no rightful owners. Thing is, if the white man engaged in fair trade from day one, the world would be a better place.