That's still pretty much how agriculture works today. You borrow from the landlord, the rich or the bank, to pay for seeds, fertilizer, machinery, energy, labo

That's still pretty much how agriculture works today. You borrow from the landlord, the rich or the bank, to pay for seeds, fertilizer, machinery, energy, labor etc and pray you don't get hit by weather, pests, disease, market price fluctuations. If all goes well you pay it back. If it doesn't govt steps in, to the keep you(ie the banks and rich people) afloat. See the size Farming Subsidies and Protections world wide. When they don't step in farms shutdown.