Evolution of agricultural policy in Punjab from 1849-1923: its reaction and response

Abstract

The evolution of British agriculture policy in Punjab began with the annexation of Punjab in 1849. After the annexation of Punjab Governor General Lord Dalhousie taken several important measures to promote agriculture in Punjab from 1849 to 1853 under the Board headed by Henry Lawrence and from 1853 to 1858 under John Lawrence as Chief Commissioner of Punjab. Punjab was primarily an agricultural province having considerable natural resources for agriculture. Punjab had fertile land, rivers for irrigation and strong hardworking people. The development of agriculture policy in Punjab was the result of various factors such as introduction of new techniques, agricultural research and education, increase in the means of irrigation, use of manure to increase the productivity of soil, new varieties of seeds, use of sophisticated implements, better methods of cultivation and the development of means of transport and trade. It was in the 1860?s that the problem of rural indebtedness started becoming serious in Punjab. The main causes of indebtedness of the small holding, vagaries of weather, cattle mortality, extravagance of the peasant proprietor. Land revenue policy of the British Government was one of the important as certained causes of the peasant indebtedness. The grievances and resentments against the agricultural policies of the British assumed the shape of an anti-imperial mass movement with the participation of major political figures and parties. The agrarian unrest awakened the Punjab, and the Punjabis, particularly the peasants, from now onwards, were in the main stream of the freedom movement. The reactions and responses to the agricultural policies introduced under the political dispensation of the British is a research area with far reaching implications connected with the political and social history of the Sikhs in Punjab. The agricultural system prevailing in India was a legacy of the Mughal times and suffered from several problems of chronic nature.