505
Government testimony.—The Government of In-
dia, in the Orders of 29th April 1875, noted as
follows:—"If the use of the drug (ganja) could
be altogether suppressed without the fear of
leading to its contraband use, such a course would
be justified by its deleterious effects." The Secre-
tary of State for India in Council in his Despatch
of 17th June 1875, confirmed the policy. The
Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (Sir Ashley
Eden) in a Resolution dated 7th August 1877,
noted that "the Lieutenant-Governor has himself
no doubt that the use of ganja, in any form, is
injurious to the consumer." Mr. H. J. S. Cotton,
Secretary to the Government of Bengal, in a
Resolution dated 3rd October 1890, p. 7, notes
on behalf of the Government as follows: "The
decrease in consumption is satisfactory." Mr.
C. T. Buckland, late a Member of the Board of
Revenue, Bengal, L. P., in an article in the
National Review (January 1884, p. 627) writes
"it remains to be considered whether Government
would not do well and honorably to clear itself
from all connection with the cultivation and sale
of such a noxious and abominable article (ganja)."
Mr. E. V. Westmacott, late Commissioner of
Excise, Bengal, in his Report on the Financial
Result of the Excise Administration in the Lower
Provinces (1890-91, p. 36) writes thus: "I think
it must be held satisfactory that with decreased
consumption of this most pernicious article
"
The cultivator.—The position of the cultivator
of ganja is the first point to be carefully consi-
dered. Nearly three thousand families, mostly
Musalmans, are occupied in the cultivation of
ganja (E. A. R. 1892-93, p. 36). Some of these
use their own capital, others raise the requisite
money by borrowing at rates of interest varying
from one-half to one anna per rupee per month
(Kerr's Report p. 29).
The hemp-cultivators
have almost formed a separate class. The majo-
rity of them cannot read or write and not a
single man among them keeps an account of the
sums expended by him in growing the crop
(Ibid.).
Cost in Cultivation.—In respect of the cultiva-
tion, it has been ascertained that the raiyat is out
of pocket by the following sums per each bigha
of cultivation (Kerr's Rep. p. 29):—
R a. p.
Putting fresh earth on the ganja field
4 0 0
Oil cake
5 0 0
Fee of the Ganja-Doctor including his
feed
3 6 0
Irrigating charges
6 0 0
Rent
3 8 0
Total
21 14 0
To these have to be added the wages of the
servants of the house, the value of the labour
of the members of the family themselves, the hire
of the ploughs, the price of the cow-dung, the
value of green plants, seed, etc.
"The true
cost of cultivation may therefore be stated in
round numbers to vary from Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 per
bigha." (Kerr's Rep., p. 29.)
The cultivator
has again to spend a further sum for the prepara-
tion of ganja. (Kerr's Rep. p. 30.) To all this is
to be added the item of exorbitant interest that
is to be paid to the money lender. (Kerr's Rep.
p. 29.)
N. B.—It is to. be noticed here that the above
figures represent the costs which the ryots had to
incur in or before 1876. Since then the value of
labor, the price of articles, the rent of land have
greatly increased.
Produce.—Now, what is the average produce
per bigha? In the Excise Administration Report
1892-93, p. 36, we find it is stated as 3 mds., 7
seers and 11 chittaks for the past 5 years. (Vide
App. III A.)
Cost in Manufacture.—The cost of manufacture
of flat ganja is Rs. 4 per maund and that of round
Rs. 13 per maund (Kerr's Rep. p. 30.)
N. B.—It is to be noted here that the value of
labour since Mr. Kerr noted it has considerably
increased and the cost of manufacture must now
be greater.
Total cost.—-Well, then, the cost of cultivation
and manufacture of flat ganja is Rs. 23-6-0 per
maund, being Rs. 19-6-0 for cultivation per maund
plus Rs. 4 for manufacture, and that of round
ganja Rs. 32-6-9 per maund (being Rs. 19-6-0
for cultivation + Rs. 13 for manufacture per
maund).
N. B.—The interest on money borrowed by the
cultivator is excluded from the above calculation.
Wholesale prices.—And what are the prices
these commodities fetch to the cultivators ? The
average of 1892-93 (E. A. R. p. 37) of flat was
Rs. 16 per maund and of round Rs. 20-4-0 per
maund. But as the Report aforesaid speaks of
a fall in the wholesale prices as the result of the
promising nature of the season's crop, and as the
ruling prices during 1891-92 and 1890-91 are
spoken of in the respective Reports as abnormally
high, we shall take the wholesale prices of 1889-
90 (E. A. R. p. 20) although they are spoken of
as "enhanced" wholesale prices. They are Rs.
22-8 for flat and Rs. 30 for round on an average.
Loss.—In comparing the above with the cost
of cultivation and manufacture, we find that the
cultivators are losers in the case of flat ganja by
14 as. per maund (Rs. 23-6—Rs. 22-8-0) and in
the case of round ganja by Rs. 2-6-0 per maund
(Rs. 32-6-0—Rs. 30.)
Further loss.—It must be here added that more
than 15 per cent. of ganja produced are left un-
sold on an average every year (vide App. III B.),
and this factor must be taken into consideration.
There is another important fact. The cultivators
do not unfrequently fall a victim to the cunning
of brokers and wholesale dealers. The sale of
ganja is not always made for ready cash. "In-
deed, in the majority of sales only part payments
are made and the balance promised to be paid on
a subsequent date; but in many cases the debt
thus left behind by the dealers is not entirely
discharged." (Kerr's Rep., p. 34.) Sales are
generally made through brokers. "Oftentimes a
wholesale dealer finds another way of cheating
the raiyats and that is by making the payment in
kind. They give to the cultivators in lieu of
cash, clothes, brass and belt-metal utensils, mats,
fans, etc., for prices much greater than their
ordinary value." (Ibid.)
Further Proof.—So, the ganja cultivation is
altogether a losing concern. We are confirmed
in this opinion from the fact that ganja cultivation
was formerly carried on in Jessore, in which dis-
trict it has now ceased to be carried on. It can
be safely inferred that the cultivation could not
die out if any profit could be made out of it, as
no profitable cultivation can die out.
Why cultivate still?—It
is positive that the
raiyats are always all losers. But a question might
be asked why do they then grow hemp at all?
First, because the practice is hereditary and they
do not care to reckon up their gain or loss by the
cultivation. Secondly, because their wants are
simple and the whole family strive to eke out a
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