Diwan-i-Kohi

Diwan-i-Kohi was a specialized department of agriculture established by Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq (reigned 1325–1351) of the Tughlaq dynasty. It was created as a strategic intervention to revive the agrarian economy, particularly following the failed taxation policies and subsequent famine in the fertile Doab region. The department functioned as the first dedicated state-level mechanism in the Delhi Sultanate to directly oversee land cultivation and provide state-sponsored agricultural support.

Objectives and Administrative Function

The primary mandate of the Diwan-i-Kohi was to expand the net cultivated area and stabilize food production. The Sultan aimed to move away from indirect revenue collection toward a proactive state-led agricultural model.

• The department was tasked with bringing uncultivated or wasteland (banjar) under the plow.
• It supervised the distribution of state capital to farmers to ensure the continuity of agricultural activities despite previous economic crises.
• The department monitored crop cycles and encouraged the transition from low-value subsistence crops to high-value cash crops.

Agricultural Reforms and Incentives

To achieve its goals, the Diwan-i-Kohi implemented a series of structured financial and technical incentives for the peasantry.

• Distribution of Sondhar: The state provided agricultural loans, known as Sondhar or Saundhar, to farmers. These funds were intended for purchasing seeds, livestock, and necessary agricultural implements.
• Crop Diversification: The department actively promoted the cultivation of high-value crops such as sugarcane, grapes, and wheat, aiming to increase the taxable surplus of the empire.
• Infrastructure Development: The department invested in rural infrastructure, most notably the construction and restoration of wells to provide reliable irrigation independent of seasonal rainfall.
• Supervision of Land: The department maintained direct contact with the village level to audit land use, bypassing intermediate revenue collectors where possible to ensure the effectiveness of the support programs.

Key Features of the Agricultural Policy

Impact and Limitations

Despite the innovative nature of the Diwan-i-Kohi, the project encountered significant operational failures that curtailed its long-term success.

• Administrative Corruption: The funds allocated for Sondhar were frequently misappropriated by middlemen or local officials, and many farmers misused the loans for personal consumption rather than agricultural investment.
• Inadequate Selection of Land: Much of the land brought under cultivation through the department was of poor quality or lacked sustainable irrigation, leading to failed harvests.
• Financial Drain: The massive investment required to fund these agricultural initiatives placed a heavy burden on the royal treasury without yielding the anticipated tax revenue.
• Short Duration: The department was disbanded after about two to three years of operation due to the lack of tangible results and the death of the Sultan’s interest in the project as he shifted focus to suppressing ongoing regional rebellions.

Historical Significance

The establishment of the Diwan-i-Kohi illustrates the sophisticated, albeit often impractical, administrative vision of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. It represents an early medieval attempt at state-managed rural development. While the department failed to resolve the agrarian crisis of the 14th century, it remains a critical point of study for understanding the Sultanate’s administrative maturity and its attempt to integrate the rural economy into the central state machinery. Contemporary records indicate that while the department failed to achieve its revenue targets, it set a precedent for later agrarian reforms attempted by subsequent dynasties, such as those under the Suri and Mughal regimes.