Q. Regarding the Agriculture and agricultural practices in the Mughal Empire, consider the following statements:
1.Indian agriculture was highly diversified, with farmers commonly practicing crop rotation and utilizing a sophisticated understanding of soil and seasons.
2.Tobacco and Maize were two major new cash crops introduced to India during this period, significantly altering the cropping pattern in certain regions.
3.The state actively maintained and expanded irrigation works, such as the Shahnahr canal in Punjab, to boost production and secure revenue.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. Contemporary sources and foreign accounts confirm the high level of diversification, dual cropping (two harvests a year), and specialized knowledge of the peasantry.
- Statement 2: Correct. Tobacco and Maize (along with Potato, Chilli, and Pineapple) were introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 17th century, rapidly spreading and becoming important new crops.
- Statement 3: Correct. The Mughals, especially Shah Jahan, were keen builders of irrigation systems. The Shahnahr (or Nahr-i-Faiz), an extension of an older canal system, was repaired and extended by Ali Mardan Khan to irrigate parts of the Punjab.
