CHIEFS AND FARMING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 28, 12 November 1936, Page 3

CHIEFS AND FARMING.

EXPERIMENT IN RHODESIA. A very interesting experiment was begun recently at Dombosliaw a in (Southern Rhodesia. A school has been opened where native chiefs arc to he taught important aspects of their duties and responsibilities, particularly toward the soil. , The Rhodesian native is before all things a farmer, hut his traditional methods of agriculture are exceedingly wasteful. He cuts down the tiecs, leaves the stumps in the ground, scratches the surface, plants his seeds, and, when the ground is exhausted, moves on, leaving erosion to complete the ruin of the soil. W ith his cattle lie is equally thriftless, thinking only of numbers and making no provision foi food in the lean seasons. ’i’he Government has trained native agriculturists, community demonstrators, and. supervisors, and has placed them in the various native reserves. It is felt, however, that the chiefs should understand the how. why, aim wherefore of modem husbandry, io this end a course for chicks has been introduced, and eight of them, each attended l>v a counsellor, have assembled at the'Native College at Domboshawa. For the present the number is limited by lack of accommodation.