Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Master Farmers' Scheme in Nyasaland, 1950-1962
Author:Kalinga, Owen J.M.ISNI
Year:1993
Periodical:African Affairs: The Journal of the Royal African Society
Volume:92
Issue:368
Period:July
Pages:367-387
Language:English
Geographic terms:Malawi
Great Britain
Subjects:class formation
colonialism
agricultural policy
Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment
Politics and Government
Development and Technology
History and Exploration
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/723288
Abstract:In almost all British colonies in East and Central Africa, the nurturing of 'progressive' farmers became official policy during the 1940s and 1950s. Although the agricultural schemes set up were undoubtedly directed at improving agriculture, they were also aimed at political stability since it was hoped that the new type of farmers could be relied upon to support the colonial governments, especially in the light of the rising tide of African nationalism. But this economic solution to a political problem achieved varied results which generally depended on local circumstances. This paper discusses the evolution in Nyasaland (Malawi) of such an agricultural project, the Master Farmers' Scheme, and assesses its effectiveness in food production and in the creation of an elite class of farmers. The scheme commenced in 1950 and came to an end in 1962 when the nationalist government replaced it with the Integrated Rural Development Programme. The paper examines the scheme at four contextual levels, namely, agriculture and development ideas in postwar Africa, transformation of production, growth of rural differentiation and, finally, rural protest and resistance. It shows that the government's expectation of nursing the emergence of a rural 'yeoman' class was only partially realized in that, although some of the Master Farmers became its strong supporters, there were also many Master Farmers who rebelled against the government. Notes, ref.
Views
Cover