Question

What problem did shifting cultivators face under british rule?

Answer 1

British governors had made some laws, prohibiting tribals or farmers from entering areas, which they called Protected or Reserved areas. Many forests, where farmers often sowed seeds, came under these Reserved areas. And farmers were asked not to leave their places, until they get a permission form from the police officers, which they usually didn’t get or had to face harassment in order to get it. They were watched by police officers and were beaten up, if they tried to defy the laws.

So, the farmers had no other option than staying put and cultivating on the same piece of land, continuously. This, in itself, was a problem because natural replenishment of the soil could not happen due to continuous cultivation as a result of which, the subsequent crops didn’t get enough fertility. So, the growth and production of crops dropped down. And the farmers didn’t earn much because of the poor quality of crops and couldn’t sustain their families.

Answer 2

Answer:

The shifting cultivators were forced to take up settled cultivation. But type of land and shortage of water meant they could not produce enough. Many of them had to move on to other areas in search of work when access to the forest was restricted.