British Destruction of Sylvan and Cash Crop Industries in Southern Kaduna-Nigeria, 1900-1960

Abstract

From the onset, British colonialists divided the Northern Nigeria protectorate into a number of economic spheres. These include the export crops producing areas, such as Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, and northern parts of Zaria province. Mineral producing areas were Plateau, Bauchi, etc. Livestock producing areas for hides and skins were such provinces like Borno, Sokoto and Kano. While food and labour reserves stretched to encompass areas such as Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Niger. These were to serve the colonial infrastructure in building roads, bridges, railway, and towns (like Kaduna). They were also food supplying areas for urban centres, minefields, colonial armies, etc. As the British emphasised food production and labour supply, they did same to the detriment of both sylvan crops and booming indigenous industries in Southern Kaduna. In this development, the worst hit sectors of the economy were the sylvan and cash crops industries.