appeared that a very fine balance has existed between total supplies of copra and demand
by processors, although it might well be considered that the limitation on supplies has in-
hibited growth of processing.

 Processing firms exist in all territories except Montserrat and St. Kitts, but in the
smaller islands they make a limited range of products. Larger plants for making edible
oil, fats and soaps exist in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and British Guiana.
The main coconut growing territories are Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana
and the Windward Islands: the latter export copra to Barbados for processing. Jamaica
has been to some extent a separate limb of the agreement in that she has been self sup-
porting and has not, owing mainly to distance and transport problems, imported raw ma-
terial from the Eastern Caribbean. Of recent years Jamaica has had an export surplus,
and has found a market for raw coconuts in the United States.

 There is little doubt that the agreement has done much to build up the coconut industry
in the West Indies, to encourage better methods, and to create a strong consumer demand
for cooking oils, locally produced edible fats, and soaps. Toilet soap is made in Jamaica
and Trinidad and Tobago.


Other institutional arrangements
 Some organizations exist for the protection of the interests of farmers as such; for ex-
ample, the Cane Farmers Associations in various islands, the Banana Producers Asso-
ciations. and the Rice Producers Association in British Guiana and various other associa-
tions. In addition, various organizations, such as the Sugar Producers Associations, the
West Indies Sea Island Cotton Association, the coconut industries, Cocoa Boards and Ba-
nana Boards, and the Rice Marketing Board in British Guiana may be concerned to a large
extent with marketing problems. Some of these, particularly in Jamaica, are public
boards. Others, such as the Sugar Producers Associations, are associations of the firms
or individuals concerned in production.

 It would not be relevant here for us to discuss these various organizations and their
functions in detail, but it should be noted that such organizations have had a very impor-
:ant influence on improving agricultural methods, and certain of them take an active part
in research and in distributing fertilizers, running machinery pools, and distributing seed
material.

 Those industries which are organised partly or wholly on an estate basis are also
 se:(a- b\ -trong trade unions. Although strikes have at times dislocated production, the
 ..orst ones have frequently been unofficial. On the whole it must be agreed that the unions
 have contributed much not only to improving wages and conditions, but indirectly to bring-
 ing Lbout m:iore e!tirient and labour saying methods. It is largely due to their activities
 that's..-eated labour" forms of agricultural work are declining in the area and although this
 !'ads to some adjustment problems it should also assist a trend towards high income
 forrr of agricultural activity.