Text 4In 1960—1961, Chad (乍得) harvested 98,000 tons of cotton for the first time in its

Text 4

In 1960—1961, Chad (乍得) harvested 98,000 tons of cotton for the first time in its history, and put out the flag a little too soon. The efforts of the authorities to get the peasants ' back' to work, as they had slacked off a great deal the previous year during independence celebrations, largely contributed to it. Also, rains were well spaced, and continued through the whole month of October. If the 1961—1962 total is back to the region of 45,000 tons, it is mostly because efforts slackened again and sowing was started too late.

The average date of sowing is about July 1st. ff this date is simply moved up fifteen or twenty days, 30,000 to 60,000 tons of cotton are gained, depending on the year. The peasant in Chad sows his millet first, and it is hard to criticize this instinctive priority given to his ' daily bread'.

An essential reason for his lateness with sowing cotton is that at the time when he should leave to prepare the fields he has just barely sold the cotton of the previous season. The work required to sow, in great heat, is psychologically far more difficult if one's pockets are full of money. The date of cotton sales should therefore be moved forward as much as possible, and purchases of equipment and draught animals encouraged.

Peasants should also be encouraged to save money, to help them through the difficult pealed between harvests. If necessary they should be forced to do so, by having the payments for cotton given to them in installments. The last payment would be made after proof that the peasant has planted before the deadline, the date being advanced to the end of June. Those who have done so would receive extra money whereas the last planters would not receive their last payment until later.

Only the first steps are hard, because once work has started the peasants continue willingly on their way. Educational campaigns among the peasants will play an essential role in this basic advance, early sowing, on which all the others depend. It is not a matter of controlling the peasants.

Each peasant will remain master of his fields. One could, however, suggest the need for the time being of kind but firm rule, which, as long as it cannot be realized 'by the people' , should at least be 'for the people. '

36. In 1960—1961, Chad had a good harvest of cotton because______.

A) the government greatly encouraged peasants

B) rains favored the growth of cotton

C) Chad gained independence in the previous year

D) both A and B