Punjab: Increase in Cotton Initial Sowing

10-Jun-2025 03:26 PM

Chandigarh. The declining trend in cotton cultivation area in Punjab over the last three years has reversed this year. According to the Punjab Agriculture Minister, the area under cotton sowing has increased by about 20 percent or 49 thousand acres—from 2.49 lakh acres last year to 2.98 lakh acres this season.

Fazilka district led in cotton cultivation, where the sowing area reached 60,121 hectares. It was followed by Mansa district with 27,621 hectares, Bathinda with 17,080 hectares, and Sri Muktsar Sahib with 13,240 hectares.

To support cotton growers, the Punjab government has announced a 33 percent subsidy on the purchase of cotton seeds. Over 49,000 farmers have already registered for this benefit. The Agriculture Minister has directed all Chief Agriculture Officers to ensure that the online registration of all cotton farmers is completed by 15 June 2025.

In recent years, the spread of pest infestations like pink bollworm and white fly had caused severe crop losses, reducing farmers’ interest in cotton cultivation. Additionally, inadequate returns further discouraged them. However, the Central Government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of cotton by Rs 589 for the 2025–26 season. For the medium staple variety, the MSP has risen from Rs 7,121 to Rs 7,710 per quintal, and for the long staple variety, from Rs 7,521 to Rs 8,110 per quintal. This increase has provided much-needed encouragement.

The State Agriculture Department has also assured farmers that efforts will be made to protect the crop from pest attacks. Cotton is sown early in Punjab, with the ideal window being between 20 April and 20 May. The sowing has now been completed, and the crop is currently in the growth phase.