What was the state of investment in India’s agriculture under colonial rule?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Negligible investment in terracing, flood-control, and drainage
Colonial agriculture was starved of investment in terracing, flood-control, drainage and desalinisation of soil. There was some progress in irrigation, so “no investment in irrigation” goes too far.
Most tenants, small farmers and sharecroppers had neither resources nor incentive to invest in new technology.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.3 Agricultural Sector … Despite some progress made in irrigation, India’s agriculture was starved of investment in terracing, flood-control, drainage and desalinisation of soil. While a small section of farmers changed their cropping pattern from food crops to commercial crops, a large section of tenants, small farmers and sharecroppers neither had resources and technology nor had incentive to invest in agriculure.” |