Explain nij cultivation.

Nij system or Nij cultivation was one of the main systems of indigo cultivation. In this cultivation, the planter produced indigo on the land controlled by him or on the land acquired or taken on rent from the Zamindars. The planter hired labourers but it was difficult to hire a large number of labourers for indigo plantation, and this proved to be the expensive process of cultivation too. Also, the arrangement of equipment for cultivation became difficult as it required bullocks and ploughs. For example – for one Bigha or one unit of measurement of land two ploughs were required. The main problem was the availability of labour and ploughs as at the same time rice cultivation was on the process too. Under Nij cultivation, they were allowed to produce less than 25% of the indigo production.