question_answer

Why were Indian farmers reluctant to grow opium? Or Why were Indian cultivators unwilling to produce opium? Or Why were Indian farmers reluctant to grow opium?

Answer:

(a) The Indian farmers were reluctant to grow opium because the opium had to be grown on the best lands on which the peasants usually produced pulses. Pulses would then have to be grown on inferior land where harvests were poor and uncertain. (b) Moreover, many cultivators owned no land. To cultivate, they had to pay rent and lease land from landlords. And the rent of such lands was very high. (c) The cultivation of opium was a difficult process as the plant was delicate and needed nurturing.  Thus, the peasants did not have enough time to care for other crops. (d) Moreover, the money, the government paid to the cultivators to produce opium was very low, thus, making opium cultivation unprofitable.