The country’s area under cotton has witnessed an uptick despite setbacks in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where a dry spell threatens to hit the first sowing. The cotton acreage is expected to increase by 7 per cent over 113.60. lakh hectares (lh) last year. As of June 20, the area under cotton was 31.25 lh.
Though the area is trailing in States such as Telangana, the trade expects the acreage to improve in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh following an increase in minimum support price (MSP) for the fibre crop. In Karnataka, the area was up by about 40 per cent till June 20 at 3.35 lh compared with 2.40 lh a year ago. The area in Gujarat, however, could decline by 5 per cent as farmers in Saurashtra are shifting from cotton to groundnut.
A long dry spell after early rains in the last week of May has dampened the hopes of cotton farmers in Telangana. Two-thirds of 33 districts in the State reported deficit rainfall. According to the India Meteorological Department, the State has received 23 per cent deficient rain during the current monsoon. With the prospects of losing the first sowing looming large, the State government is taking measures to make seeds available.
Lukewarm enthusiasm
“There is likely to be an increase of 8-10 per cent in the coverage of cotton in the country this season,” said Ramanuj Das Boob, Vice-President of the All-India Cotton Brokers Association and a sourcing agent in Raichur. In Karnataka, the acreage will be more by around 10 per cent, while Telangana and Andhra may also see an improvement, he said.
Also, in northern States such as Rajasthan and Punjab, the acreage is seen improving, he said.
Bhagirath Chaudhary, Director of Jodhpur-based South Asia Biotechnology Centre, said across North India, the 2025 cotton season has been marked by lukewarm enthusiasm driven by persistent concerns over profitability, recurring pink bollworm infestations and increasing disease concerns.
Despite the Punjab government’s subsidy on Bt cotton hybrid seeds, farmer response this season has remained largely indifferent. The support, though well-intentioned, has failed to translate into any significant expansion of the cotton-growing area on the ground, Chaudhary said.
Major setback
“A major setback has been the unavailability of canal water during the crucial May sowing window, which has further discouraged farmers from planting cotton. This critical lapse has turned the tide in favour of paddy, a crop perceived by farmers as more stable, remunerative, and less risky,” Chaudhary said
“To arrest the continuing decline, North Indian states must collaborate with the Central government on a comprehensive revival strategy to implement TMC 2.0 by incentivising drip irrigation system ensuring timely sowing of cotton and fast tracking approval and adoption of pink bollworm-resistant Bt cotton varieties with herbicide-tolerant traits,” he said.
According to Anand Popat, Rajkot-based cotton, yarn and cotton waste trader, it will take another fortnight for the actual picture on cotton sowing to emerge across the country.
However, the area in Gujarat could decline by 5 per cent as farmers in Saurashtra are shifting from cotton to groundnut. On the other hand, soyabean farmers are switching over to cotton.
“In Maharashtra, the acreage could be plus or minus 2 per cent compared with last year. In the North, there could be a 10 per cent increase, and in the South, the area could rise by 15-25 per cent,” said Popat.
Telangana farmers in distress
The early monsoon brought cheers to farmers in Telangana last month and they went for early sowings of cotton and paddy. Their hopes, however, are short-lived as the south-west monsoon played spoilsport. A long dry spell after the initial showers in the last week of May is causing concern among cotton farmers.
“We are on the verge of losing the investments that we made in sowings. After initial rains in the last week, there have been no rains. If it doesn’t rain in the next few days, we may have to go for second sowing,” Ram Reddy (name changed), a cotton farmer in Narayanpet, told businessline.
With inputs from Subramani Ra Mancombu, Chennai
Published on June 26, 2025