The Ministry of Agriculture was a cabinet ministry of the government of Rhodesia. It was responsible for overseeing the nation's agricultural development.
The Ministry of Agriculture was established during the colonial period of Southern Rhodesia. It retained the same structure when Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965. The Ministry of Agriculture employed more black Africans than any other branches of the Rhodesian civil service. Many black Africans served as Ministry of Agriculture extension officers and conservation officials. The ministry also published the Rhodesian Agricultural Journal.
The ministry was led by the minister of agriculture, who was appointed by prime minister. The first minister of agriculture following the UDI was the Duke of Montrose, and the last was Mark Partridge. In 1979, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe Rhodesia as part of the Internal Settlement. In 1980 Zimbabwe gained its independence and the ministry was succeeded by the Ministry of Agriculture of Zimbabwe.
List of ministers
Agriculture Name Took office Left office Political party Prime Minister Title 1 William Muter Leggate 1 October 1923 2 February 1925Rhodesia PartySir Charles CoghlanMinister of Agriculture and Lands 2John Wallace Downie 2 February 1925 2 September 1927 2 September 1927 17 October 1927Howard Moffat 3 Osmond Charteris du Port 17 October 1927 29 September 1928 4 Robert Alexander Fletcher 29 September 1928 19 May 1932 5George Mitchell 19 May 1932 5 July 1933Minister of Mines and Agriculture 5 July 1933 12 September 1933 George Mitchell 6 Charles Spearman Jobling 12 September 1933 14 November 1934Reform PartySir Godfrey HugginsMinister of Agriculture 7Frank Ernest Harris 24 August 1934 14 November 1934 – 14 November 1934 7 May 1946United Rhodesia PartyMinister of Agriculture and Lands 8 Patrick Bissett Fletcher 7 May 1946 8 March 1951 9John Moore Caldicott 8 March 1951 7 September 1953 7 September 1953 5 February 1954United Federal PartyGarfield Todd –Patrick Bissett Fletcher 24 December 1953 5 February 1954 5 February 1954 5 February 1954 Minister of Agriculture European agriculture responsibility of the Federation, 1954–1962 (see list) 10 Herbert Jack Quinton 24 September 1962 17 December 1962 United Federal Party Edgar WhiteheadMinister of Agriculture 11The Duke of Montrose 17 December 1962 14 April 1964Rhodesian Front Winston Field 14 April 1964 22 May 1964Ian Smith Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources 22 May 1964 31 December 1966Minister of Agriculture 12 George Rudland 31 December 1966 1968 13 David Colville Smith 1968 1976 14 Rollo Hayman 1976 1977 15Mark Partridge 1977 1 June 1979 − Joel Mandaza 27 December 1978 1 June 1979 Zimbabwe African National Union
Irrigation/water development Name Took office Left office Political party Prime Minister Title 1Geoffrey Ellman-Brown 5 February 1954 6 August 1954United Federal PartyGarfield Todd Minister of Roads and Irrigation 6 August 1954 4 October 1954Minister of Irrigation 2 Patrick Bissett Fletcher 4 October 1954 17 January 1958 3 Eric Drew Palmer 17 January 1958 17 February 1958 – Geoffrey Ellman-Brown 17 February 1958 11 June 1958Edgar Whitehead 4 Rubidge Stumbles 11 June 1958 24 September 1962 Minister of Roads, Irrigation and Lands – Geoffrey Ellman-Brown 24 September 1962 17 December 1962 Minister of Irrigation 5William Harper 17 December 1962 15 February 1963Rhodesian FrontWinston Field 15 February 1963 14 April 1964Minister of Water Development 5 Arthur Philip van Heerden 14 April 1964 1973Ian Smith 6 Jack Mussett 1973 1977 7 Mark Partridge 1977 1 June 1979 − Aaron Mgutshini 27 December 1978 1 June 1979 Zimbabwe United People's Organisation
Native agriculture/marketing Name Took office Left office Political party Prime Minister Title 1 Ralph Drew Palmer 17 January 1958 17 February 1958 United Federal Party Garfield Todd Minister of Native Agriculture and Marketing
References