Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Commercialisation of agriculture refers to the fundamental shift where agricultural production is undertaken primarily for sale in the market rather than for self-consumption or local barter. Under British rule, this process was largely induced by colonial economic policies to serve the needs of British industry.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct. The development of transport infrastructure, particularly the railways and the opening of the Suez Canal (1869), directly linked the Indian agricultural hinterland to ports and subsequently to the international market. Consequently, Indian agricultural prices and production decisions became influenced by global demand and supply fluctuations.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect. The shift in cropping patterns was the reverse of what is stated. Farmers shifted from food crops (like rice and wheat) to cash crops (like cotton, jute, indigo, opium, and sugarcane). This was driven by the high demand for these crops in Britain and the necessity for farmers to earn cash to pay high land revenue assessments. This shift often reduced the availability of food grains, exacerbating famine conditions.
- Statement 3 is Correct. The commercialisation process was driven by the requirements of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. British factories needed a cheap and steady supply of raw materials (e.g., cotton for Manchester textile mills, jute for Dundee, indigo for dyeing). Indian agriculture was thus structured to function as a raw material feeder for British industries.
Key Takeaway
Commercialisation of agriculture under the British Raj integrated India into the global economy as a supplier of raw materials, characterized by a forced shift from food crops to commercial crops, which often compromised domestic food security.