Cotton Production to Depend on Weather and Monsoon Conditions

26-Aug-2026 07:39 PM

New Delhi. The sowing area for cotton—known as 'white gold'—has reached 108.45 lakh hectares this season, just 28,000 hectares less than last year's 108.73 lakh hectares. While Bt cotton is cultivated in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu, only traditional varieties are sown in Odisha.

The cotton sowing drive has reached its final stage, and significant further expansion of the acreage is unlikely. Compared to last year, the area under cotton cultivation has increased in states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh during the current Kharif season, whereas it has declined in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana, and Punjab.

Normal rainfall in July and August significantly improved the cotton sowing situation, but attention has now shifted to September. Cotton production will largely depend on weather and monsoon conditions during September. If the weather remains favorable and key producing regions receive good rainfall, the average yield rate and total production could improve. Although the Meteorological Department had previously forecast below-normal rainfall for September, an updated forecast is due in the coming days, which will clarify the outlook.

Compared to the previous year, the cotton cultivation area during the current Kharif season rose from 20.72 lakh hectares to 21.41 lakh hectares in Gujarat, improved from 3.76 lakh hectares to 3.84 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh, and increased from 44.92 lakh acres to 48.19 lakh acres in Telangana; however, it fell from 38.44 lakh hectares to 38.31 lakh hectares in Maharashtra and dropped from 6.44 lakh hectares to 5.39 lakh hectares in Rajasthan.

In Telangana, the acreage has increased by 7.28 percent from 28.19 lakh hectares to 19.50 lakh hectares, while in Karnataka, it has risen by 1.84 percent from 7.62 lakh hectares to 7.76 lakh hectares. In Madhya Pradesh, the cotton acreage has increased from 5.71 lakh hectares to 5.84 lakh hectares. Currently, the condition of the crop remains promising, but the next 30 days will prove crucial.