why did the british insisted on farmers growing opium in india
Answers
The British insisted on farmers growing opium in India to balance their trade with China. The British could buy tea from China only by paying in bullion. This resulted in outflow of treasure. Opium was one commodity which the British could sell and persuade the Chinese to buy.
Its addictive properties ensured a steady market. Returns from opium sale were used to finance tea purchases in China. Therefore, the Indian farmers were forced to cultivate opium and sell at a cheap price. This was then illegally smuggled into China and sold at a high price.
Opium grown in India helped the British to reverse the unfavourable balance of payment with China.
Opium trade resulted in two Opium Wars.
These wars forced China to open her territories to foreign trade.
➡In the late 18th century,the English East India company was buying tea and Silk from China for sale in England .
➡As tea was gaining popularity in England, its demand rose from 15 million pounds to 30 million pounds.
➡England at that time produced nothing that could be easily sold in China .
➡This means an outflow of treasure from England to China .
➡Merchants wanted to balance their trade.
➡So they searched for a commodity they could sell in China .
➡Opium was such a commodity which had a demand in China ,as it was used in medicines .
➡So to balance their trade ,and to earn huge profits , they persuaded Indian farmers to grow opium so that the British traders could sell it in China .
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