The planter produced indigo on lands that he directly controlled or rented.
Explanation
During the British colonial period, indigo cultivation in Bengal was primarily organized under two distinct systems: Nij (cultivation on the planter's own land) and Ryoti (cultivation on the peasant's land).Detailed Analysis:
- The planter signed a contract with the village headman to produce indigo. is Incorrect: While village headmen were sometimes pressured to sign contracts on behalf of ryots, this practice was associated with the Ryoti system, not the Nij system.
- The planter produced indigo on lands that he directly controlled or rented. is Correct: Under the Nij system, the planter produced indigo on lands that he directly controlled. The planter either bought the land or rented it from other zamindars and cultivated indigo by directly employing hired labourers.
- The planter provided loans to ryots to cultivate indigo on their own land. is Incorrect: This statement describes the Ryoti system. Under this system, planters provided loans (cash advances) to ryots to cultivate indigo on their own land, typically requiring them to dedicate at least 25% of their holding to the crop.
- The planter bought finished indigo from independent tribal cultivators. is Incorrect: Indigo cultivation was a highly organized, planter-led commercial enterprise involving specific contracts and land settlements, rather than a trade of finished goods from independent tribal cultivators.
Key Takeaway:
The critical distinction is that Nij cultivation was done on land directly controlled by the planter using hired labor, whereas Ryoti cultivation was done by peasants on their own land under contract.