Final answer:
Local farmers in colonized regions were often forced to grow cash crops for the benefit of the colonizing nation, leading to food insecurity and economic displacement. They were also moved to infertile lands and had to work under oppressive conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the period of colonialism, local farmers were forced to alter their agricultural practices to meet the demands of the colonizing nations. This often resulted in the following issue:
A.) They were forced to grow crops that benefited the colonizing nations instead of feeding their own people.
Indeed, the mercantilist system required colonies as sources of raw materials to fuel the industrial growth of the European empires. Thus, colonized farmers were coerced into producing cash crops such as tobacco, tea, and cotton, which were exported back to the colonizers' home countries. This system displaced local food production and led to disruptions in food security and local economies. Moreover, these policies often made these regions reliant on imported foods, which were usually processed and lacked essential nutrients.
Additionally, entire communities of farmers were frequently dislocated because they were relocated to less fertile areas. They then had to work on plantations or in mines, often receiving little to no wages, with the alternative being harsh penalties. The colonial tax system was also structured to compel these populations into the export-oriented labor market to meet their tax obligations.