The Need to Improve Agriculture
After the catastrophic famine in Bengal in 1770, which resulted in the loss of nearly ten million lives, officials of the East India Company recognized a pressing need to stabilize the agricultural economy to assure their revenue income. Many debates ensued, culminating in the introduction of the Permanent Settlement of 1793. This settlement designated zamindars as the primary tax collectors and aimed to secure fixed revenue. While this approach sought to encourage agricultural improvements, it paradoxically increased the burden on zamindars, many of whom failed to invest in land improvements. The revenue demands became excessive, leading to significant complaints from both zamindars and peasants alike. Meanwhile, in regions like the North Western Provinces, new strategies such as the Mahalwari System emerged, focusing on village-centric revenue assessments, and later the Ryotwari System emphasized direct dealings with individual cultivators. However, even these reforms faced challenges as they often perpetuated high demands and led to peasant distress, showcasing the complex dynamics of agricultural governance under colonial rule.