Fyfe Robertson investigates the scandal that rocked the Attlee government in the late 40s and 50s. After the war Britain was desperately short of food. The Labour government decided to clear 5,000 square miles of East African bush and grow
600,000 tons of groundnuts a year, from which margarine could be made. A vast mechanical invasion took place in Tanganyika. Soon there was chaos. Hundreds of bulldozers were wrecked, ploughs broken by bushes they were meant to uproot, unexpected drought and rain brought havoc and roads were impassable. The Great Groundnut Scandal investigates why the scheme failed, who was to blame, finds out what's happening in East Africa today and reports on other agricultural disasters that still occur. Taking part are: Lord Shinwcll,
Sir George Bishop , Major-General Desmond Harrison.
Professor Hugh Bunting and Dr Eric Clayton. Producer ROGER CLARK