During British rule, which region of India was famous for the production of opium?

Key Fact(s)

During the British colonial period, Bihar emerged as the principal centre of opium cultivation and processing in India. The British established government-controlled opium factories at Patna and Ghazipur (near Benares) to regulate production. Opium grown in this region was exported mainly to China, forming a crucial part of Britain’s China trade and contributing to the Opium Wars.

The system operated through coercive contracts with Indian peasants, ensuring cheap and steady supply. Revenue from opium became a major source of income for the colonial state. Thus, Bihar played a central role in the colonial opium economy of British India.