Cotton acreage lags slightly despite improvements in sowing

07-Sep-2026 01:20 PM

New Delhi. In recent weeks, the area under cotton cultivation has seen a significant improvement in several states, including Gujarat, thereby narrowing the gap in acreage compared to last year. According to official data, the cotton cultivation area stood at 10.987 million hectares by September 4 last year; this year, it has declined by 70,000 hectares to 10.917 million hectares. While sporadic sowing continues in some places, preparations for picking the early-sown crop have already begun in northern and southern India.

New cotton arrivals have commenced in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, though volumes are currently reported to be low. The USDA Post has projected India's cotton production at 24.5 million bales (of 480 pounds each) for the 2026-27 season. In India, a standard cotton bale is considered to weigh 170 kg, while a 'running bale' is reckoned at 160 kg.

Major producing states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana have seen a reduction in the area sown with cotton this season. Conversely, acreage has increased in some other regions. Heavy rainfall in Madhya Pradesh has led to waterlogging in certain areas, potentially causing some damage to the cotton crop.