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An increase in the area under cultivation does not necessarily indicate an increased production of opium, and a decrease in area usually represents a more than proportionate decrease in production. The reason for this is that poppy cultivation tends to desert the more fertile lands, with the result that the quantity of juice obtained from each acre falls. In former days an acre of poppy usually produced 18 lbs. of opium, but at the present time the figure is only 12 lbs. The diminution and final cessation of the trade to China led the Government of India to decrease the area very rapidly, and eventually it was found that the supply was beginning to fall short of the demand. The seriousness of the position was increased by the British Government's requirements of opium for medical purposes in connection with the This immediate demand was met partly by a diversion of the allotment reserved for the ordinary trade and partly by depleting the reserve stocks kept in view of possible badl seasons; while the main shortage was partly met by the purchase of some of the 60,000 chests of manufactured opium left on the hands of the Feudatory States after the China markets were finally closed, and by taking a certain supply of the raw article from those States in accordance with arrangements entered into with them, in order to compensate thein in part for their loss of the China trade. But this did not fill the gap, and the Government therefore decided to enlarge the area under cultivation. This phase came to an end in 1918, and since that year the area cultivated under Government control has considerably liminished, the deficiency being made up by purchases from the States.
war.
The principal States which produce opium (known in this connection as the Malwa States) are the States of the Central India and the Rajputana Agencies, and Baroda. These States. in addition to producing opium for their own internal con- sumption, exported large quantities to China until the Government of India prohibited export to that country in 1913. It has been stated that the highest area ever cultivated was 562,000 acres, and in the latter years of the 19th century the yearly average was about 400,000 acres, producing some 54,000 chests of opium. From that time the area steadily decreased, owing to the competition in China of enormous quantities of Chinese grown opium, and this made it possible to stop the trade with China with less dislocation and hardship than would otherwise have been the case. But the States have never been completely reconciled to a policy which has meant serious financial lose to them, although the. Government of India have assisted by purchasing from them certain quantities of opium upon their agreeing to bring into fresh cultivation only the area required for that purpose.
The following table shows the area cultivated under Govern- ment control since 1905-06, and the quantities of provision
opium manufactured at the Ghazipur factory. It will be remembered that a chiest of provision or export opium contains 140 lbs., and a chest of excise opium, for consumption in British India, 1234 lbs. :—
Chests of Provision
Year,
Acreage.
Opium made.
1905-06
613,990
48,750
1906-07
564,585
38,126
1907-08
188,548
40,001
1908-09
361,832
28,125
1909-10
354,577
29,000
1910-11
362,868
15,000
1911-12
200,672
14,000
1912-13
178,263
7,000
1913-14
144,561
12,000
1914-15
164,911
10,000
1915-16
167,155
12,000
1916-17
204,186
12,000
1917-18
207,010
14,499
1918-19
177,124
12,500
1919-20
163,125
1920-21 (estimated) 143,750
Opium purchased from the Malwa States is used only for the manufacture of excise opium, and is not exported. 60,000 chests of opium were left on the hands of the States when the China trade came to an end, and in order to
ease the position the Government of India have bought the following quantities
Excise Chests of
Excise Chests of
Year.
1234 lbs.
1912-13
4,163
Year.
1916--17
123 lbs.
5,257
1913-14
7,001
1917-18
1,916
1914-15
9,034
1918-19
5,314
1915-10
13,990
There also has to be taken into account the produce of the
area specially cultivated in order to supply the deficiency in the United Provinces output. The acreage cultivated under these arrangements has been as follows:-
Year.
1916-17
1917-18
1918-19
1919-20
1920-21
ACTOR.
Production in Excise Chests of 1237 lbe,
14,695
2,223
26,479
2,315
10,350
1,200
30,813
1,803
84,000 (about)
2,835
All these sources have contributed to maintain the supply
of excise opium at the necessary level during recent years.
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