RAPID GROWTH OF CROPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 3

RAPID GROWTH OF CROPS

MODERN METHODS IN TROPICS (Special) NEW CALEDONIA, July 12 In the best agricultural areas of certain South Pacific islands, of which New Caledonia is one, crops at certain times of the year can be harvested within 90 days from the time the ground is broken. With the arrival of modern machinery these areas can be brought into useful war-time production, and that is why the United States has had representatives in this wide field making preliminary examinations since last year. One of the firs,, to announce that an agreement had been arrived at on the matter is the New Caledonian Government, which states that the supply of fresh vegetables, etc., to the civilian population will in no way suffer from the scheme, and that an adequate percentage of production will in fact be reserved for the civilian inhabitants, the rest going to the Allied forces Neiw Zealand troops should therefore benefit equally with American forces from the modernisation of local agriculture.

The Americans have promised to furnish colonists with more seed, material and technical advice. The Americans will draw up contracts with farmers, and any disputes will be referred to a mixed Franco-American committee. The American organisers are shortly to visit bush centres to make contact with municipal councils and settlers. The latter will be authorised by special decree to sell their product to the Americans, with the proviso that a certain proportion will be made available for sale through ordinary commercial channels to the civilian popuThe scheme seems worth while, not only because of its contribution to the South Pacific war effort, but because by educating agriculturally backward islands it may cause a revolution in tropical methods of production that may well outlast the war.