Coll 54/2 'Middle East (Official) Committee: Working Party' [‎86r] (171/642)

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crop failure in 1947 and a considerable failure in 1948* the
deficit in 1947/48 was approximately £1,100,000 and in 1948/49
approximately £800,000. In the same way, while the average
deficit on Trade Account has been approximately £330,000 per year,
the deficit for 1947 was £1,218,000 and in 1948 £417,000, as a
result of the necessity to import grain to feed the population.
Exports,have, however, been gradually increased. The value
of these in 1944 was £653,000. The corresponding figure for
1948 is £1,533,000 and, as a result of a good harvest this year,
from which some 15,000 tons of barley may be available for
export, together with the development of the export of esparto
grass to the United Kingdom, the value of exports this year,
1949 , is likely to show a further increase.
(HI.) THE POSSIBILITIES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
5 . Although some minor developments have been achieved
in both the economic and the social field, it has not been
practicable with a 1 caretaker* Administration and in the absence
of any decision as to the future of the Territory to initiate
or even to plan schemes for major development. Recently,
however, a Working Party appointed by His Majesty s Government
for the purpose has visited Tripolitania with a view to making
recommendations for immediate improvements and for longer term
plans for economic and social development. It is clear that
any major development in the early stages would be in the aricultural
and pastoral fields. An essential condition of any development is
provision of adequate primary services, i.e. communications,
water, sewage in urban areas and power as a basis on which to
build. Initial development would be in these directions. Other
activities would certainly be concerned with irrigation, the
restoration and improvement of wells and cisterns and agricultural
and animal husbandry research. The possibility of developing
any mineral resources would be investigated. Development in the
agricultural and pastoral fields would, in turn, give rise to
increased commercial activity and the development of industrial
activities already existing. Other industries_to which early
attention would be turned would be sponge fishing and refrigeration.
The erection of a refrigeration station may well be desirable
to facilitate the exportation of perishable foodstuffs - including
meat.
A summary of Expenditure proposed by the Working
Party on immediate slow-term development is shown in an
appendix.
CONCLUSION
It seems clear that agriculture and pastoralism must
continue to be the'mainstay of the economy of Tripolitania.
This should be encouraged and developed by replacing as rapidly
as possible the shifting native cultivation by static agriculture
on a rotational crop basis and by the introduction of higher
yielding strains, and the improvement of the sheep and cattle
stock. For these purposes, the uncertainty of the rainfall
would point to an exhaustive survey of underground water resrouces
with a view to irrigation.
There is scope for further development of industry
concerned with processing of domestic products, such as the
canning of animal products, fish, vegetables and fruit. It is
unlikely that the exports of beef and mutton from this Territory
would justify a separate refrigerator plant, though it might be
/economically