Explain six ways in which the colonial government promoted settler farming in Kenya

Explain six ways in which the colonial government promoted settler farming
in Kenya

Answers

1. Provision of land

The colonial masters in Kenya provided land to the settlers. This was done through using force to alienate the land that belonged to Africans and Africans were pushed to reserves. Through the signing of treaties for example, the Maasai and the Nandi. Use of laws for example the Kenyan highlands were declared crown lands.

2. Provision of labour

Africans provided labour on the European farms. Several ways were used in providing labour on the European farms for example, Africans were not allowed to grow cash crops but instead were to provide labour, through payment of hut tax and poll tax, low wages for the African labourers, the creation of squatters on their own land and use of laws that restricted the movements of the Africans for example, the kipande system.

3. Giving technical assistance to the settlers

The colonial administrators technical support to the settler farmers. They also gave the farmers guidance on crops and animal breeds.

4. Credit facilities

Settler farmers were given credit facilities for example loans to help them invest.

5. Provision of transport and communication means;

The colonial government provided means of transport. Initially, they constructed the Kenya-Uganda railway. Later, roads were constructed. This facilitated transportation of raw materials from the farms to the factories and the finished products from the factories to the markets.

6. Provision of security

The colonial government gave maximum security to the farmers. They suppressed and crushed communities that resisted for example the Nandi.

OR

- The colonial government snatched large tracts of land from Africans and gave them to the
settlers.
- The colonial government encouraged use of farm machinery o overcome the labour problem
- Colonial government banned Africans from growing cash crops in order to eliminate competition
for labour, land
and markets.
- Colonial government built and maintained various forms of transport e.g. railway, bridges and
roads as an
incentive to settlers agriculture.
- They reduced freight charges in the importation and exportation of agricultural product to the
settlers.
- The government encouraged the formation of cooperatives to help in processing and marketing
produce.
- The establishment of financial institutions such as Agricultural finance corporation and banks
provided settlers
with credit facilities.
- The government set up veterinary services to control ticks and diseases.
- Colonial government imposed taxes on Africans to make them work on European farms.
- The colonial government carried out research on pest and drought resistant crops to be sued by
settlers.
- It introduced variety of crops to minimize risks in the white settler farms.

gideon1 answered the question on October 5, 2017 at 04:18

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Explain six ways in which the colonial government promoted settler farming in Kenya

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