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Agricultural Production.

The introduction of an approved system of agriculture, based upon the

systematic control of environment and crop, has, as^ultimate object, reduced

costs of production, enhanced yields and a larger margin of profit to capital and

current expenditure. The costs of agricultural production in any country will be

determined by the collective capacity of the cultivators and by the facilities at

their disposal. Under the former heading must be included personal experience

and knowledge of local agricultural practice, coupled with the degree to which

the agriculturist can avail himself of advice based on departmental research and

education. His facihties will include the terms on which he' can obtain the use

of land, the cost and character of hired labour, the nature of the seed supply, the

implements with which he may be able to stock his farm, his draught cattle and

livestock and his capital fund or access to credit.

It has been urged that research without education is barren, but education

without a corresponding improvement in the instruments of production can only

spell both wasted effort and active discontent. To advocate the substitution

of the plough for the " seluka " to a man who can obtain neither cash nor credit

for the purchase of the implement and animals to draw it, is to convict oneself

of futility, and it should be clearly recognised that progress in any direction will

be necessarily limited by the provision of capital and facilities for borrowing at

reasonable rates. As the borrowing powers of the agricultural community must

ultimately depend upon the value of the land and the nature of tenure, these

factors will largely determine development and costs of production. Peacock

remarks* that " it is claimed on behalf of a Land Settlement that it brings many

benefits to a district. Perhaps not the least of these benefits to the Gezira will

be the strengthening of credit which must follow registration of titles. The

borrowing powers of the people of the Gezira have been affected by uncertainty

of title and security, and also by the custom of the mortgagee entering into

possession."

Rain and Irrigation Farming.—The current report has no direct bearing on

the problems of rain-farming, but the latter system^fEords a very useful basis

for comparison with irrigation farming, and a means of determining at least

approximately the relative advantages of the two systems. In both cases

peasant proprietorship resulting from the Mohammedan law of inheritance has

been confirmed by the Government in the pohcy of land settlement, and its

maintenance has been ensured by strict limitations on the permanent alienation

of agricultural lands. In present circumstances, while population is scarce and

the recent manumission of slaves has severely limited the supply of casual labour

available for field work, it will not be denied that the small owner working his

land with the assistance of his family has an enormous advantage over the large

proprietor.

* Of. oil.