Chapter 3: Crops for Europe| Class 8 History Notes

Chapter 3 of Class 8 History “Crops for Europe” discusses how the British East India Company forced Indian cultivators to grow cash crops for export to Europe. The Company was particularly interested in indigo, which was used to dye cloth. India became the world’s largest supplier of indigo, and the Company invested heavily in its production. The chapter also discusses the other crops that the Company forced cultivators to grow, such as opium, tea, sugarcane, jute, wheat, cotton, and rice.

In this article, we will look into the topic of Crops for Europe in detail. It is an important topic of Class 8 History NCERT. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on the topic of Crops for Europe.

Crops for Europe

The British recognized the potential of the countryside to generate revenue and produce crops needed by Europe. By the late 18th century, they expanded the cultivation of opium and indigo, but also persuaded Indian farmers to produce other crops like jute, tea, sugarcane, wheat, cotton, and rice. They used various methods to expand crop cultivation, including a specific method of production for rice in Madras.

Does Colour have a History?

Figs. 5 and 6 in the NCERT textbook show two cotton prints, one from Andhra Pradesh, India, and the other from 19th-century Britain, featuring a rich blue color called indigo. The blue dye used in the Morris prints likely came from indigo plants cultivated in India, as India was the largest supplier of indigo at the time. Both prints share a common feature of using indigo.

Why the Demand for Indian Indigo?

Indian indigo, a plant mainly found in the tropics, was used by cloth manufacturers in Italy, France, and Britain to dye cloth in the 13th century. However, due to high prices and competition from woad, European cloth manufacturers had to rely on another plant, woad, for violet and blue dyes. Woad producers in Europe pushed governments to ban indigo imports, but cloth dyers preferred indigo due to its rich blue color. By the 17th century, European cloth producers relaxed the ban, allowing indigo to be grown in various locations, including St Domingue, Brazil, Jamaica, and Venezuela. The demand for indigo increased as Britain industrialized and expanded its cotton production, creating a new demand for cloth dyes. However, existing supplies from the West Indies and America collapsed, leading to a half-fold decrease in indigo production between 1783 and 1789.

Britain Turns to India

The Company in India aimed to expand the area under indigo cultivation due to rising demand in Europe. Bengal indigo became the world market’s dominant crop, with Bengal indigo dominating the market by 1810. As the indigo trade grew, commercial agents and the Company began investing in production. Many Company officials left their jobs to manage the business, and Scotsmen and Englishmen came to India to plant. Those without funds could obtain loans from the Company and emerging banks.

How was Indigo Cultivated?

Indigo was cultivated in India through two main systems: nij and ryoti.

• In the nij system, the planter produced indigo on land they directly controlled. They either purchased the land or leased it from other zamindars. They used hired laborers to produce indigo.
• In the ryoti system, the planters forced the ryots to sign a contract or agreement. The ryots received low-interest cash advances from the planters to produce indigo. The cycle was restarted when the crop was delivered to the planter after harvest and a new loan was given to the ryot.
• The nij system was labor intensive and required a large area of land. The ryoti system was more efficient and less labor intensive, but it was also more exploitative of the ryots.
• The British established many indigo plantations at the beginning of the 19th century. The demand for indigo increased, and its existing supplies from the West Indies and America collapsed for a variety of reasons. Between 1783 and 1789 the production of indigo in the world fell by half. Cloth dyers in Britain now desperately looked for new sources of indigo supply.
• The indigo plantations were very profitable for the British, but they were also very exploitative of the Indian farmers. The farmers were forced to grow indigo on a large portion of their land, and they were paid very low prices for their crops. The farmers were also often forced to take out loans from the planters, which kept them in debt.
• The indigo cultivation system led to a number of revolts by the Indian farmers. The most famous of these revolts was the Indigo Revolt of 1859. The revolt was successful in forcing the British to make some changes to the indigo cultivation system, but it did not end the exploitation of the Indian farmers.

The Problem with Nij Cultivation

The problem with nij cultivation is that it is a very inefficient and unsustainable system of agriculture. It requires a lot of land, labor, and resources, and it can lead to soil degradation and nutrient depletion. In addition, nij cultivation is often associated with exploitative labor practices.

• One of the main problems with nij cultivation is that it requires a lot of land. Indigo can only be cultivated on fertile land, and in many areas, this land is already densely populated. This makes it difficult for planters to expand the area under nij cultivation.
• Another problem with nij cultivation is that it requires a lot of labor. A large indigo plantation requires a vast number of hands to operate, and labor is needed precisely at a time when peasants are usually busy with their rice cultivation. In addition, nij cultivation requires many ploughs and bullocks. Investing in the purchase and maintenance of ploughs is a big problem for planters.
• Nij cultivation can also lead to soil degradation and nutrient depletion. Indigo is a very demanding crop, and it quickly depletes the soil of nutrients. This can lead to a cycle of land degradation and limited crop productivity. In addition, the use of pesticides and herbicides in nij cultivation can have a negative impact on the environment.
• Finally, nij cultivation is often associated with exploitative labor practices. Planters often force peasants to work on their indigo plantations, and they pay them very low wages. In addition, peasants are often forced to work long hours in difficult conditions.

Indigo on the Land of Ryots

The ryoti system was a system where planters forced ryots to sign contracts, often pressurizing village headsmen to sign on their behalf. The contract provided cash advances at low interest rates to produce indigo, with the planter providing the seed and drill, and the cultivators preparing the soil and caring for the crop. The cycle of loans continued, with low prices for the indigo produced and no end to the loans. The planters also required indigo to be cultivated on preferred rice soils, and the deep roots of indigo quickly exhausted the soil, making it unsuitable for rice cultivation.

Conclusion – Chapter 3 of Class 8 History ‘Crops for Europe’

In conclusion, chapter 3 of Class 8 History, “Crops for Europe”, discusses how the East India Company forced cultivators to produce crops such as opium, indigo, jute, tea, sugarcane, wheat, cotton, and rice. The Company invested in indigo production, and there were two main systems of indigo cultivation: Nij and Ryoti. The chapter also discusses how the Company redefined people’s rights.

People Also View:

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FAQs on Chapter 3 of Class 8 History ‘Crops for Europe’

What is the focus of Chapter 3 of Class 8 History?

The chapter focuses on the impact of colonialism on agriculture in India, particularly the cultivation of cash crops for European markets.

Which crops were grown extensively during this period?

Cash crops such as cotton, indigo, and opium were grown extensively to meet the demands of European markets.

How did the cultivation of cash crops affect Indian farmers?

The cultivation of cash crops led to the displacement of food crops, causing famines and impoverishment among Indian farmers.

What were the consequences of the shift to cash crop cultivation?

The shift to cash crops contributed to the decline of traditional agricultural practices and the exploitation of Indian peasants by colonial authorities and European traders.

How did the cultivation of cash crops contribute to India’s economic dependence on Britain?

India’s focus on cash crops for export to Europe led to an imbalance in the economy, making India reliant on Britain for manufactured goods and vulnerable to economic exploitation.