compare the rural set up prior to and after the coming of the British in India
Answers
Rural development before independence can be analysed under two broad heads: (i) development efforts made by British Government, and (ii) efforts made by voluntary organisations.
The traditional barter system received a severe set-back during the British period. Introduction of cash economy by the Britishers enabled the peasants to adopt commercial crops. In this way agricultural subsistence economy gave rise to commercial crops.
During the British period, the famines took place at regular intervals. The colonial rulers felt that the challenge of famine could be successfully met only through irrigation. Subsequently, the government appointed the Royal Commission on Agriculture in India in 1926. The Commission submitted its report in 1928.
Some of the major recommendations of the Committee were putting a ban on fragmentation and sub-division of land, establishment of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research etc.