The impact of railway rates and customs agreements on settler farming in Northern Rhodesia/Zambia, 1910-1939 : The case of maize and cattle farming

In this dissertation, I argue that the rating system of the Rhodesia Railways and the customs agreements concluded by
Northern Rhodesia contributed to the failure of settler maize and cattle farming along the line of rail in Northern Rhodesia.
Settler agriculture in Northern Rhodesia developed between 1910 and 1918 largely by supplying the local and Katanga markets
with maize and beef cattle. The prices for these commodities were high and competition from Southern Rhodesia was weak. However,
the high demand for these commodities created by the development of mining in Northern Rhodesia and Katanga between 1918 and 1931 did not sustain settler agricultural development because of cheap
imports from Southern Rhodesia which depressed prices and had first call on Northern Rhodesian main markets. Northern Rhodesia could neither protect its producers nor alter the rating system of the Rhodesia Railways as both matters were dominated by
Southern Rhodesia. Settler agriculture remained severely dislocated in the 1930s despite attempts by the Northern Rhodesia
Government to restore the development that had been experienced before 1918.