Commercialization of Agriculture in British India - Causes & Impact for UPSC

Commercialization of Agriculture

It is a process where in agriculture production is governed by the marked forces rather than the need for substances . In British India, this meant growing of the cash crops such as indigo, cotton, jute, opium, etc. The peasants were no longer producing for this own consumption but to fulfill the demands driven by colonial trade policies.

Causes of Commercialization of Agriculture

The company and crown aim to integrate Indian economy into global capitalist system to serve the British economic interest. India was seen as the source of raw material for British industries and the market for the British manufactured goods.
The British land revenue policies aimed in maximizing the land revenue collection which led to land tenure system that incentives cash crop cultivation.
The British supported establishment of plantation particularly tea, coffee and rubber which led to large scale commercial farming.
The expansion of railway network and construction of roads facilitated the movement of agriculture produce from the rural area to the ports and urban markets, enabling the farmers to sell their produce more easily. Similarly, the British investment in the irrigation projects such as canals supported the cultivation of water intensive cash crops.
The commercialization process is also supported by the availability of credit from money lenders who provided the loan to the farmers for purchasing seed, fertilizers and other input required for the cash crop cultivation.

Consequences of Commercialization of Agriculture

Farmer dependence on cash crops expose them to the marked flocculation and price volatility. Many times the poor peasants were force to sell their produce just after the harvest at whatever price they could get as they had to be on time the demands of government, the landlords and money lenders.
The emphasis on cash crops produce under the area of food crop cultivation leading to food shortages and increased vulnerability to famines.
Commercialization of agriculture led to exploitation of labor particularly on plantation where workers faced harsh condition, low wages and poor living conditions.
Commercialization of agriculture facilitated the economic drain from India to Britain as the profits from the exports of the cash crops dedicated the British traders and industrialist more than the Indian parts.

Commercialization of Agriculture

Causes of Commercialization of Agriculture

The company and crown aim to integrate Indian economy into global capitalist system to serve the British economic interest. India was seen as the source of raw material for British industries and the market for the British manufactured goods.
The British land revenue policies aimed in maximizing the land revenue collection which led to land tenure system that incentives cash crop cultivation.
The British supported establishment of plantation particularly tea, coffee and rubber which led to large scale commercial farming.
The expansion of railway network and construction of roads facilitated the movement of agriculture produce from the rural area to the ports and urban markets, enabling the farmers to sell their produce more easily. Similarly, the British investment in the irrigation projects such as canals supported the cultivation of water intensive cash crops.
The commercialization process is also supported by the availability of credit from money lenders who provided the loan to the farmers for purchasing seed, fertilizers and other input required for the cash crop cultivation.

Consequences of Commercialization of Agriculture

Farmer dependence on cash crops expose them to the marked flocculation and price volatility. Many times the poor peasants were force to sell their produce just after the harvest at whatever price they could get as they had to be on time the demands of government, the landlords and money lenders.
The emphasis on cash crops produce under the area of food crop cultivation leading to food shortages and increased vulnerability to famines.
Commercialization of agriculture led to exploitation of labor particularly on plantation where workers faced harsh condition, low wages and poor living conditions.
Commercialization of agriculture facilitated the economic drain from India to Britain as the profits from the exports of the cash crops dedicated the British traders and industrialist more than the Indian parts.