Question

Why were Indian farmers reluctant to grow opium?

Answer 1

Hint: Opium is dried latex extracted from the papaver somniferum seed capsules. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made of analgesic alkaloid morphine manufactured chemically for medical use and illicit trafficking of heroin and other synthetic opioids.

Complete Answer:
Opium -
Opium is a narcotic drug derived from the unripe opium poppy seed pods, the Papaveraceae family plant. Opium is achieved after the plant's flower petals are lowered by slightly incising the cotton seed capsules. The slit seedpods exude milky latex coagulating and shifting color. When exposed to air they become like gum-like brown mass.
Production of opium -
The production of opium involved the use of the best land, which meant land diverted from the production of cereals and pulses. Opium cultivation took a little longer for other crops to be cared for. Most farmers didn't own land, and for growing opium, they had to rent land. The British supported the peasants with very low opium prices. This is why Indian farmers are hesitant to plant opium.
The Indian farmers hesitated to grow opium because:
The cultivation was to be cultivated on the best ground, on fields near the villages and well grown. The land is used for growing pulses. Opium cultivation was difficult and time-consuming as the plants were important to care for If opium were cultivated on fertile and well-grown land, it would have to be produced on less fertile fields. The production would be both in quality and in quantity not good.
As a result, farmers will not have time to take care of their other goods. The farmers had to pay the tenants the rent. The rent was exceptionally high. In the end, the cost paid by the government to grow opium was very low and would not yield income for farmers.

Note: This crude opium can be ground into a powder, sale or further processed as lumps, cakes, or bricks for derivatives such as morphine, codeine, and heroin. Opium and its medications are referred to as opiates.