Question

What impact did British economic policies have on Indian agriculture ?

Hint:

Summarize the impact of British policies on Indian agriculture with three key points: 1. Commercialization (cash crops over food crops), 2. High Taxes (new land revenue systems), and 3. Indebtedness (farmers losing land to moneylenders).

Answer 1

British economic policies had a profoundly negative impact on Indian agriculture, transforming it from a subsistence-based system to a colonial one geared towards serving British interests. The key impacts were:
\begin{enumerate} \item Commercialization of Agriculture: The British forced farmers to shift from growing food crops (like rice and wheat) for local consumption to growing cash crops (like cotton, indigo, jute, and opium) which were needed as raw materials for British industries. This often led to food shortages and famines.
\item High Land Revenue Demand: The British introduced new land revenue systems like the Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari System, and Mahalwari System. These systems fixed extremely high rates of land revenue, which had to be paid in cash, regardless of crop failure. This pushed farmers into deep debt.
\item Impoverishment of Peasantry: Unable to pay the high revenue, farmers were forced to borrow from moneylenders at exorbitant interest rates. This led to widespread indebtedness and the eventual loss of their land to the moneylenders, landlords, or the government, turning them into landless labourers.
\item Stagnation and Decline in Productivity: The British government invested very little in improving Indian agriculture, such as in irrigation facilities or modern farming techniques. The focus was solely on extracting revenue, which led to the stagnation and deterioration of agricultural productivity.
\end{enumerate}