The Problem with Nij Cultivation
Nij cultivation, a system where indigo planters produced dye on their owned or leased land, faced significant obstacles that hindered its growth in Bengal. The primary issue was the scarcity of fertile land, which was already densely populated. As planters sought to expand their operations, they struggled to acquire large, contiguous plots required for effective production.
Moreover, mobilizing labor for nij cultivation proved difficult. This was compounded by the fact that the peasants were usually engaged in their rice cultivation at the same time the planters needed laborers for indigo production. The labor-intensive nature of large plantations required more hands than could be gathered at peak times.
Another major challenge involved the resources necessary for nij cultivation. With one bigha of indigo requiring two ploughs, a planter with extensive land would need thousands of ploughs, which necessitated significant initial investment and a reliable maintenance scheme. Given that local cultivators were often fully occupied with their own crops, the planters faced hurdles in obtaining the necessary equipment and labor.
This resulted in plantings remaining limited, with less than 25% of indigo produced from the nij system. Consequently, planters increasingly relied on an alternative model—ryoti cultivation—where ryots grew indigo under contract terms dictated by planters, leading to further tension and exploitation in the countryside.