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

Main causes of India's agricultural stagnation:

1. Land tenure systems : The stagnation in the agricultural sector was caused mainly because of the various systems of land-settlement that were introduced by the colonial government. Particularly under the Zamindari system, the profit accruing out of the agriculture sector went to Zamindars instead of the cultivators. The Zamindars did nothing to improve the condition of agriculture. Their main interest was only of collect rent regardless of the economic conditions of the cultivators. This caused immense misery and social tension among the latter. Under Zamindari system, intermediaries (Zamindari) benefitted at the cost of both actual cultivator and the state.

2. Low level of technology etc. : Low level of technology, lack of irrigation facilities and negligible use of fertilizers etc. lowered down the productivity of land.

3. Commercialisation of agriculture : Commercialisation of agriculture means producing crops for sale in the market rather than for self consumption. Farmers were forced to cultivate commercial crops like indigo which was required by the textile industry in Britain for dyeing of the textile. It led to fall in the production of food-crops leading to frequence occurrence of famine. Indian agriculture was transferred into a raw material exporting sector for England.

4. Partition of country : Partition of the country in 1947 adversely affected India's agricultural production. The rich food production areas of west Punjab and Sindh went to Pakistan. It created scarcity of food in India. The jute production area went to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The just industry was most adversely affected due to partition of the country.