INDIAN ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENTSTATE OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR 1947-90
STATE OF AGRICULTURAL
SECTOR…
1) Low Production and
Productivity :-
- Production and productivity
both were very low. - This was due to lack of
permanent means of irrigation. - Heavy dependence on rainfall.
2) Exploitative Land
Settlement System :-
- British government set-up a
triangular relationship among the government, the owners of the soil and the
tillers of the soil. - This was known as Zamindari system.
- Zamindars were declared as
owners of the soil. - They were to pay a fixed sum
to the government by the way of land revenue, and were free to extract as much
as they could from the tillers of the soil. - The tillers of the soil were
not left with much surplus for investment in agriculture. - It led to unlimited
exploitation of the tillers of the soil. - The zamindars spent their revenue income on the luxuries of life.
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INDIAN ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT… STATE OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
3) Forced Commercialization of Agriculture :-
- It means shift from self-consumption to cultivation for the market.
- Farmers were forced to shift to commercial crops like indigo because indigo was required by textile industry in Britain.
- Because of this farmers had to face uncertainties of the market.
- Commercialisation of agriculture increased credit needs of the farmers.
4) Lack of Investment in Agriculture :-
- Zamindars took on interest in promoting investment in agriculture.
- No permanent means of irrigation were developed.
- No efforts were made for flood-control, drainage and de-salination of soil.
5) Gulf between Owners of the Soil and Tillers of the Soil :-
- The Zamindars were only interested in maximizing their rental income in terms of share of output. They never shared the cost of production.
- The tillers of the soil were left with only enough for subsistence.
- Tillers of the soil had to take loan to pay land revenue. They were facing poverty and indebtedness.
6) Small and Fragmented Holdings :-
- Holdings of farmers were very small and fragmented. A piece of land was here and a piece there.
- Farmers were not able to make use of machines on small pieces.
7) Subsistence Outlook :- (Marginalized)
- It is a form of farming in which crops are produced to provide for the basis needs of the family.
- There is little surplus left for sale in the market.
- INDIAN ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT… STATE OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
