By the turn of the 20th century, the profitability of indigo cultivation was severely impacted by the development of synthetic dyes. German chemists, in particular, pioneered the creation of artificial indigo, which was cheaper to produce and could be manufactured in large quantities. This rendered natural indigo grown in India economically uncompetitive in the global market, leading to a significant decline in its cultivation. While peasant resistance and opposition from national leaders were significant historical factors during the period of indigo cultivation, they were not the primary reasons for its decline by 1900.