Cotton Output Seen Rising Despite Lower Sowing, Surplus Rainfall

18-Sep-2025 11:59 AM

New Delhi. Although the national cotton sown area during the current Kharif season has declined by approximately 2.85 lakh hectares compared to last year, and some states have reported crop damage due to excess rainfall and floods, leading to concerns about a generally lower cotton production this year, some analysts expect production to be better than last year.

It is noteworthy that the two major cotton-producing states, Gujarat and Maharashtra, have seen the largest decline in cotton sown area. Furthermore, heavy rains in August have also caused crop damage in some states.

An analyst says that this year, significant rainfall occurred across major growing regions, and pest and disease infestations on the crop were minimal. While natural disasters have caused some crop damage, the remaining crops are in good condition, and there is strong hope for improved yields and quality.

This year, farmers focused on peanut cultivation in Gujarat and maize in Maharashtra, instead of cotton. Consequently, the national gross cotton sown area declined by 2.53 percent from last year's 112.48 lakh hectares to 109.64 lakh hectares this time. Cotton sowing has ended.

Cotton acreage declined by 12 percent from 23.66 lakh hectares to 20.82 lakh hectares in Gujarat, and from 40.81 lakh hectares to 38.44 lakh hectares in Maharashtra. However, the acreage increased in the southern states.

Compared to last year, the cotton production area increased from 18.11 lakh hectares to 18.51 lakh hectares in Telangana, and from 7.79 lakh hectares to 8.08 lakh hectares in Karnataka, but declined from 4.13 lakh hectares to 3.77 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh.

The condition of the crop there is encouraging and on this basis, critics believe that South India can compensate for the shortfall in cotton production in the northern states.