Question

why were the Indian peasents unwilling to grow opium on their land

Answer 1

(i) Opium cropping had to be done on the best fields, fields which otherwise were used for growing pulses. The farmers were unwilling to sacrifice the quality and cultivation of pulses for the sake of opium.

(ii) Cultivation of opium was labour intensive. The plant was delicate and needed lot of nurturing.

(iii) Many cultivators owned no land. To cultivate they had to lease lands at high rents from landowners.

(iv) The price which the government paid was low therefore it was an unprofitable proposition for the farmers