A History Of Cotton Production And Export In Zaria Province, 1902-1960

📄 Project Abstract

This study is on the history of cotton production and export in Zaria province from 1902 to 1960. It generally examines the establishment of British colonial domination and the creation of the colonial economy in the area whose pre-colonial economic production and distribution was independent, self-sustaining and had attained some relevance at the regional and international market levels. The study focuses on the imposition of colonial production system which was essentially targeted towards the development of an export-oriented agriculture to serve the interest of British capitalist industries. It highlights the role of the colonial state in collaboration with European trading companies, the British Cotton Growing Association and other agents in the imposition and entrenchment of cotton production and export in the Zaria province. The colonial policies on the production of cotton and other export crops, the expropriation of food crops, taxation, labour mobilisation for construction an...