CBSE Class 9 Answered

In colonial period the areas of cultivation expanded rapidly. The British directly encouraged the production of commercial crops such as wheat, cotton, jute and sugarcane. The demand for these crops increased in 19^th century. In Europe, the demand for food grains increased because of the growing urban population and raw materials for industrial production. The colonial government felt that the forests were unproductive. So they brought those areas under cultivation to yield agricultural products to earn revenue and increase the total income of the British state in India. Total area for cultivation increased by 6.7 million hectares between 1880 and 1920. Therefore, cultivation in India a sign of progress.