Some of the earliest iron objects made in South Asia are agricultural implements such as sickles for reaping crops, axes for clearing forests, and ploughshares for deeper ploughing. Bronze Age examples of these are rare, which suggests that the development of iron tools had a major impact upon agricultural practices.

The tools enabled more productive farming, increasing potential crop yields and so enabling the accumulation of surpluses. This creation of surpluses was aided by the spread of rice cultivation. Present from at least the mid-4th millennium BC in northeast India (where it may have been domesticated), rice cultivation spread into peninsular India during the 1st millennium BC, replacing millet as the staple food crop.

The development of iron tools also influenced many other areas. The availability of iron tools had an impact on the quality of glass-making, bead-making, ivory-working and woodworking, amongst other crafts. Associated developments in the techniques needed to manufacture iron also had an effect. For example, Northern Black Polished Ware – a ceramic style which appeared around 500 BC – was fired at high temperatures made possible by developments in furnace design.