Question

Select the most appropriate reason for the below question.

Despite having a fulfilling amount of agricultural land in India during the 19th century, why was there a continuous shortage of food in different parts of the country?

• A. The British took more crop output for their use.
• B. Indian farmers were forced to grow cash crops.
• C. The cost of the vegetables grown was too high for Indians.
• D. Most of the vegetables grown were exported by the British.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Indian farmers were forced to grow cash crops.

The European planters forced the Indian farmers to grow cash crops like indigo. This policy resulted in acute food shortages and widespread famines in some regions despite suitable conditions for farming, which further led to lakhs of deaths and further increased the agitation among the farmers.