British colonial government in India forced farmers to cultivate opium poppies to sustain a massive, highly profitable, and drug trade with China(Qing dynasty) during the 18th and 19th centuries. The East India Company monopolized production in Bengal, using coercive methods—such as miltary threats , advances of money, intimidation, and destruction of food crops to compel farmers to grow poppies instead of food.
Peasants were pressured into signing contracts to grow poppy, with threats of kidnapping, imprisonment, and destruction of their homes if they refused. The British government bought the opium at artificially low prices, which often did not cover the cost of production, leading to impoverishment.
The East India Company maintained a strict monopoly, ensuring all opium produced was processed and sold to private traders who smuggled it into China.
While it brought revenue to the colonial state, it caused significant misery and directly contributed to shortages of agricultural land for food, which has been linked to the hardships of farmers.
British colonial government in India forced farmers to cultivate opium poppies to sustain a massive, highly profitable, and drug trade with China(Qing dynasty) during the 18th and 19th centuries. The East India Company monopolized production in Bengal, using coercive methods—such as miltary threats , advances of money, intimidation, and destruction of food crops to compel farmers to grow poppies instead of food.
Peasants were pressured into signing contracts to grow poppy, with threats of kidnapping, imprisonment, and destruction of their homes if they refused. The British government bought the opium at artificially low prices, which often did not cover the cost of production, leading to impoverishment.
The East India Company maintained a strict monopoly, ensuring all opium produced was processed and sold to private traders who smuggled it into China.
While it brought revenue to the colonial state, it caused significant misery and directly contributed to shortages of agricultural land for food, which has been linked to the hardships of farmers.
Maybe call it “The EIC Drug Cartel”.