The Kenya Highlands: Land Use And Agricultural Development

Abstract

The main purpose of this survey was to map, study and attempt to explain the distribution and the main characteristics associated with the major crops in the Kenya Highlands during the period of European farming, basing most of the work on 1960. An evolutionary approach has been developed as far as possible, since the Highlands were an area of relatively recent settlement and agricultural systems developed were likely to vary considerably even over short periods. The core of the work has concentrated on areas outside the plantations, because here (in the mixed farming areas) was the bulk of European settlers as opposed to tea planters and similar plantation owners. The study is brought up to date by examining the consequences to the 1960 British Order-in-Council which opened up European areas for farming by all races, and of the decision to settle or " re-settle " large portions of the Highlands with peasant farmers. M. B.