Gujarat BoardEnglish MediumSTD 11 CommerceEconomicsEconomic Thoughts5 Marks
Question
Explain Kautilya's thoughts on Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
✓
Answer
Introduction :
According to Kautilya, the progress of any country's economic prosperity depends on the development of animal husbandry and industry.
Animal husbandry and agriculture is the main source of income of a large community.
Its development give them income and livelihood both.
In the same manner state should focus more on development of industry for increasing prosperity.
Kautilya expresses his views about agriculture, animal husbandry and industry as under.
Kautilya's thoughts about Agriculture-Animal Husbandry :
Kautilya named agriculture as the primary means of livelihood. He classified land in two types :
land under state ownership and,
Land under ownership of private individuals.
He further suggested that the state owned land should be tilled by people who were otherwise made slaves by the society, prisoners and the other agriculture labourers.
And total income derived from such land was kept by state.
While the land under private ownership, was given to farmers or landlords.
Out of this land's produce, certain portion was to be given to state.
Normally, half or $1/3rd$ portion was to be given to the state.
In ancient times only merchants (Vaisyat) farmer and servants (Shudras) were allowed to do farming and Brahmans (Hindu Priests) were not allowed to do farming.
It was Kautilya who gave them (Brahmans) the consent to do farming.
But at the same time he suggested that the Brahman himself would not use plough.
Kautilya believed that to increase prosperity the whole land should be used for agriculture.
He believed that land should be used mainly for agricultural purpose and hence the uncultivable land should be converted into cultivable.
Because by farming, farmers get their livelihood and state gets revenue, so on one hand welfare of the state happens and on the other hand the becomes prosperous.
He suggested of constructing reservoirs for agriculture.
He also suggest, various methods which can be used for higher productivity.
Animal husbandry is also related to agriculture; therefore Kautilya has also included it as a means of livelihood and has suggested means for its development.
In this regard he mentioned three categories of animals as $(1)$ trained/pet animals $(2)$ dairy animals $(3)$ wild animals.
Kautilya has $40$ suggested rules and penalties related to animal husbandry.
Kautilya's thoughts about Industries :
Kautilya believed that only a resourceful state, proper and develop and hence he gave directors for setting up industries.
According to him, a king should expand the possibilities of new mines and thus order excavation, develop art and craft industry to use skills and promote skill formation, promote transport and communication as also create infrastructure for industrial development.
He further suggested setting up of proper markets in towns/cities to facilitate the sale of the produces wares.
He emphasized on developing warehouse: and dharmshalas (Indian religious rest houses) and cities so that the finished product of industries get a market.
Kautilya also suggested that the government itself should produce some products and make arrangements for sales through government department.
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