Introduction
During the British rule in India, the agriculture sector continued to experience stagnation, and agricultural productivity became low. In this response, we will discuss whether we agree with the statement or not and provide valid reasons to support our answer.

Agree
We agree with the statement that during the British rule, despite being the occupation of about 85% of India’s population, the agriculture sector continued to experience stagnation, and agricultural productivity became low. The following are valid reasons to support our answer:

British Policies
The British policies towards agriculture were not favorable for the farmers. The British introduced the Zamindari system, which gave all the land to the Zamindars or landlords. These landlords had the power to extract high rents from the farmers, which made it difficult for farmers to make a living. Moreover, the farmers had to pay taxes to the British government, which further reduced their income.

Exploitation of Farmers
The British exploited the farmers in many ways. They forced the farmers to grow cash crops like cotton, indigo, and jute instead of food crops. The farmers were not allowed to grow food crops, which led to a shortage of food in many parts of India. The British also introduced the Railways to transport the cash crops to the ports, which meant that the farmers had to pay high transportation costs.

Lack of Irrigation Facilities
The British did not invest in irrigation facilities, which affected the productivity of the agriculture sector. The farmers were dependent on the monsoon for irrigation, which was not reliable. The lack of irrigation facilities led to low yields, and the farmers could not grow crops throughout the year.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we agree with the statement that during the British rule, despite being the occupation of about 85% of India’s population, the agriculture sector continued to experience stagnation, and agricultural productivity became low. The British policies towards agriculture, exploitation of farmers, and lack of irrigation facilities were the main reasons for the low productivity of the agriculture sector.

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