Zulfiqar Khan encouraged ijarah or revenuefarming. Why was it disliked...
Dislike of Peasants for Ijarah or Revenue Farming
Revenue farming, also known as ijarah, was a system of revenue collection that was encouraged by Zulfiqar Khan during his governance in Bengal. However, this system was disliked by the peasants for various reasons.
Collection by Middlemen
One of the main reasons for the dislike of the peasants for ijarah was the involvement of farmers and middlemen who would collect whatever they could from them. The middlemen were often corrupt and would extract as much revenue as possible from the peasants. This led to an increase in the burden of taxes on the peasants, making it difficult for them to sustain their livelihood.
Fixed Rate of Revenue Collection
Another reason for the dislike of the peasants for ijarah was the fixed rate of revenue collection. The peasants were often unable to pay the fixed rate because of poor harvests or natural calamities. This led to the accumulation of arrears, which increased the burden on the peasants.
Semi-Annual Feature
Ijarah was a semi-annual feature, which meant that the peasants had to pay taxes twice a year. This led to a continuous burden on the peasants, who were often unable to pay the taxes. The semi-annual feature also meant that the peasants had to make arrangements for the payment of taxes twice a year, which was a difficult task.
Fragmentation of Land
Ijarah often led to the fragmentation of land, as the revenue collectors would divide the land into smaller plots to increase revenue collection. This led to a decrease in agricultural productivity, as the smaller plots were often not suitable for cultivation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ijarah or revenue farming was disliked by the peasants because of the involvement of corrupt middlemen, the fixed rate of revenue collection, the semi-annual feature, and the fragmentation of land. These factors led to an increase in the burden of taxes on the peasants, making it difficult for them to sustain their livelihood.
Zulfiqar Khan encouraged ijarah or revenuefarming. Why was it disliked...
It involved farmers and middleman who could collect whatever they could from them.