Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Commercialisation of agriculture in pre-Independence India refers to the forced shift from subsistence farming, where crops were grown primarily for local consumption, to market-oriented production of cash crops like indigo, cotton, jute, and opium, driven by British colonial policies. This transformation, largely initiated post-1813 with the acceleration of the Industrial Revolution in England, fundamentally restructured India's agrarian economy. While ostensibly aimed at integrating India into the global economy, its primary purpose was to supply raw materials for British industries and generate revenue for the colonial administration, profoundly impacting the lives of Indian farmers.
Major Impacts of Commercialisation of Agriculture on Indian Farmers
The commercialisation of agriculture under British rule had far-reaching and largely detrimental impacts on Indian farmers, transforming their traditional way of life and leading to widespread distress.
- Increased Indebtedness: Farmers were often compelled to take loans from moneylenders at exorbitant interest rates to cultivate cash crops, purchase seeds, and meet land revenue demands. When harvests failed or market prices crashed (due to global fluctuations), they fell into a vicious cycle of debt, often losing their land to moneylenders and becoming landless labourers.
- Food Insecurity and Famines: The shift from food grains to cash crops significantly reduced the area under cultivation for staple foods. This led to frequent food shortages and devastating famines, as the local population had limited access to food grains, which were often exported even during crises. For instance, between 1893-94 and 1945-46, while commercial crop production increased by 85%, food crop production fell by 7%.
- Exposure to Market Volatility: Farmers, whose livelihoods were previously insulated by self-sufficiency, became vulnerable to unpredictable international market price fluctuations for cash crops. They had no control over pricing, which was often dictated by British traders and planters, leading to low returns despite increased production.
- Loss of Self-Sufficiency and Village Economy: Traditional self-sufficient village economies were disrupted as farmers became dependent on markets for both selling their produce and buying food. This undermined the intricate balance of local agriculture and associated rural industries.
- Exploitation by Intermediaries: The system fostered a new class of intermediaries, including European planters, traders, and Indian moneylenders and landlords, who exploited farmers through oppressive contracts, unfair prices, and high rents or interest. The notorious Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 is a prime example of such exploitation.
- Widening Rural Inequality: While a small section of rich farmers, traders, and moneylenders benefited, the majority of small and marginal farmers were pushed into deeper poverty and landlessness. This accentuated income disparities within rural society.
In essence, the commercialisation of agriculture was an externally imposed process that primarily served imperial economic interests, leaving the Indian peasantry impoverished and vulnerable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the commercialisation of agriculture during pre-Independence India was a foundational element of colonial economic exploitation. While it integrated Indian agriculture into the global market, it did so at the heavy cost of peasant welfare. Farmers endured rampant indebtedness, devastating famines due to reduced food crop cultivation, and extreme vulnerability to market fluctuations. This transformation dismantled traditional agrarian structures, exacerbated inequalities, and created a legacy of rural distress that continued to challenge independent India.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.