History of cotton-growing in East and Central Africa : British demand, African supply
Abstract
Based on extensive UK and African archival research and a
wide survey of secondary sources, this thesis examines
various aspects of African cotton production from
prehistoric to modern times. Its main emphasis is on the
interaction of British demand and African supply during
the twentieth century colonial period. The British
Cotton Growing Association (BCGA), Empire Cotton Growing
Corporation (ECGC), Malawi and Tanzania are studied in
detail to observe the means by which the BCGA and ECGC
articulated British needs and nurtured the African cotton
industry and the extent to which East and Central African
cotton-growing was directed by external wants, supported
by outside input and met local desires. Also examined are
the dynamics of competition, control and occasional
cooperation between European planters, African
smallholders, metropolitan government, various levels of
local government administration, large-scale merchants,
small traders, Departments of Agriculture and the Colonial
Office (CO). Background data is provided in technical
appendices and over fifty statistical tables, graphs and
maps. Starting with a discussion on the origins of cultivated
cottons, the first chapter describes the rise of the
Lancashire cotton industry and its search for a regular,
secure supply of raw cotton. The second chapter narrates
the history of the BCGA, inaugurated in 1902 to meet
British cotton requirements, and assesses its success, its
inherent dichotomy as "semi-philanthropic, semicommercial"
and its relationships with the CO, overseas
governments and trading firms. It also introduces the
ECGC, chartered in 1921, the main subject of the third
chapter which spotlights the varied areas of ECGC activity
and its role in agricultural research. Chapter 4 bridges
the metropolitan-colonial divide with an examination of
economics, agriculture and cotton in British territories
in Africa, with specific sections on Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Kenya and Uganda. Chapters 5 and 6 present overviews of
cotton-growing in Malawi and Tanzania, touching on
regional variations, constraints on expansion, means of
encouragement, ecological effect and economic and
production results.
The final, summarising chapter assesses common technical,
ecological and political themes in East and Central
African cotton-growing and briefly appraises the vital
roles and rationale of past and present African producers,
BCGA and ECGC in ensuring cotton demand was met.