3. What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?

Indian agriculture was primitive and stagnant. The main causes of stagnation of agriculture were as follows:

Land Tennure System- There were three main types of land tenure system introduced in India: Zamindari, Mahalwari and Ryotwari system.

The zamindars were the owner of the land and used to collect much more revenue from the tenants than they used to pay to the government. There was exploitation of the farmers. Under this system many intermediaries developed and they earned much more and the cultivators and the State both suffered.

Commercialisation of agriculture: Farmers were forced to cultivate commercial crops like indigo. As a result there was a fall in the production of food crops. The farmers had to suffer from famines.

Partition of the country: Partition of the country also affected India’s agriculture as the rich and fertile food producing areas of land went to Pakistan. It created food crisis in the country. The jute producing area went to East Pakistan. Thus India’s agriculture became backward and stagnant, and non- vibrant in the British rule.