Muhammad bin Tughlaq created the 'Diwan-i-Amir-i-Kohi', an agricultural department, mainly to:

Muhammad bin Tughlaq created a new department of agriculture, the "Diwan-i-Amir-i-Kohi", to bring more land under cultivation and to improve agriculture, especially in the Doab region.

About the Diwan-i-Amir-i-Kohi:

• It was set up to extend cultivation to uncultivated (waste) land, and to improve the type of crops grown.
• A large tract of land, about 64 square miles, was selected for an experiment in state-managed farming.
• Peasants were given state loans (sondhar or taccavi) to buy seeds, cattle and implements, and to dig wells.
• They were encouraged to grow better crops, for example, wheat instead of barley, and sugarcane instead of wheat, and grapes and dates instead of sugarcane.
• A large amount of money (about 70 lakh tankas) was spent on the scheme.

Why it failed:

• The land chosen was not very fertile.
• The officials appointed were inexperienced and corrupt, and misused the money.
• The peasants used the loans for their personal needs.
• The period of three years given for the experiment was too short.
• The experiment was abandoned, and the money was largely wasted.

Background - problems in the Doab:

• Muhammad bin Tughlaq had earlier increased the land revenue in the Doab sharply.
• This coincided with a severe famine, and many peasants fled to the forests rather than pay the tax.
• The Sultan took harsh measures, but later realised the problems and tried to help the peasants through loans and this new department.

NCERT and historians on his experiments:

• His schemes were well-intended but poorly planned and badly implemented.
• Barani, who was a close companion of the Sultan, gives a detailed but critical account of his schemes.

His other experiments:

• He shifted the capital from Delhi to Devagiri, which he renamed Daulatabad, and later moved it back.
• He planned an expedition to Khurasan, and raised a large army, which was later disbanded.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Arrears of revenue were collected by a department set up by Alauddin Khalji.
• ✗Markets were supervised under Alauddin's regulations.
• ✗Canals were built mainly by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.