Cotton Output Likely to Rise on Higher Yields
16-Aug-2025 01:29 PM
New Delhi. Although there are indications of reduction in cotton sowing area once again, a leading trade organization says that its average yield rate may improve because the weather and monsoon conditions in major producing areas remain favorable to a large extent. As a result, the gross domestic production of cotton is expected to improve. The crop is growing normally.
According to the top trade organization - Cotton Association of India (CAI), although there has been a decline in the cotton sowing area in both the leading producing states of the country - Gujarat and Maharashtra, but the condition of the crop is very good.
BT cotton is cultivated in 10 states of the country, while in some other states including Orissa, only traditional varieties of cotton are produced.
All the major producing states have received good or satisfactory rainfall this time. However, at the national level, the cotton sowing area has decreased by 3 percent and it has fallen from 110 lakh hectares last year to 107 lakh hectares this time.
But the average yield rate of cotton is expected to increase by 10 percent during the current Kharif season as compared to last year, in which the overall production may improve.
The association has estimated the production of cotton at the national level to improve to 325-330 lakh bales during the 2025-26 marketing season (October-September).
This time the sowing of cotton has been 15 days earlier than last year and normal progress of its plants is being seen. In the season 2024-25, the association had estimated the production of 311 lakh bales of cotton.
The condition of the crop is better in South India. The area of cotton in Karnataka has increased by 18-20 percent and in view of this, the association has estimated the production there to increase from 24 lakh bales in 2024-25 to 30 lakh bales (each bale of 170 kg) in the season 2025-26.
Similarly, production in Telangana is also expected to improve from 41 lakh bales to 44 lakh bales. Area in Andhra Pradesh has increased by 25 percent.
Total cotton production in South India is expected to increase to around 1 crore bales. Better production is also expected in Tamil Nadu and Orissa.