Question

Why were Indian farmers reluctant to grow opium ? Explain.
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Answer 1

Question Why were Indian farmers were reluctant to grow opium due to:

The crop had to be grown on the best land, on fields that lay near the villages and were well manured. This land was usually used for growing pulses. If opium was grown on fertile and well manured land then pulses would have to be grown on less fertile land and yield would not be good in quality as well as quantity.  The cultivation of opium was difficult and time-consuming as the plants required looking after. As a consequence, the cultivators would not have time to look after their other produce.  The farmers had to pay the rent for their land to the landlords. This rent was very high. The cultivators owned no land. Finally, the price the government paid for the opium produce was very low and would provide the farmers with no profits.

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