Cotton cultivation in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan fell by 31%, yield expected to fall by 38%
By DHEERAJ GUPTA 2025-01-10 11:16:25
Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan had a 31% decline in cotton cultivation, with a 38% decline in yield anticipated.
Bathinda : Cotton trade organization, Indian Cotton Association Limited (ICAL) reported that the arrival of raw cotton in the grain markets of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in the first four months of the 2024-25 cotton marketing season has almost halved compared to last year. From September 1 to December 31, 2024, the total arrival of cotton in these three states was 16,92,796 bales, which is less than 32,61,891 bales (one bale is equal to 170 kg) during the same period of 2023-24.
The total production in the three states in the current season is estimated to be 30,79,600 bales, while the entire 2023-24 marketing season will produce 49,96,438 bales. This shows an expected reduction in yield by about 38%. The reason behind this decline is the reduction of about 31% in the crop acreage in these states as compared to last year. The reduction in acreage is due to continuous pest attacks on the crop. The biggest reduction has been recorded in Punjab, as the area under cultivation has come down to below 1 lakh hectare. Out of the total 16,92,796 lakh bales in the three states, 78,843 bales arrived in Punjab from September to the end of December, as against 2,34,765 bales in the four months during the previous season. Haryana received 4,24,803 bales during this period, as against 9,62,660 bales last year. Rajasthan received 11,89,150 bales during this period, as against 20,64,466 bales during the same period last year.
Production in Punjab is estimated at around 50% of last year, with 1,96,500 bales expected as against 3,93,514 bales recorded in the previous season. Haryana is expected to produce 9,26,600 bales as against 15,38,129 bales during the previous season. Rajasthan is expected to produce 19,56,500 bales in the current season as against 30,64,795 bales in the previous season 2023-24. Cotton crop acreage in Punjab dropped below 1 lakh hectare to 99,700 hectares as against around 2 lakh hectares in 2023-24. According to data received from the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), the crop area in Haryana has come down from 5.78 lakh hectares to 4.76 lakh hectares in 2024-25, while in Rajasthan, the crop area has come down from 10.04 lakh hectares in 2023-24 to 6.62 lakh hectares in 2024-25. The cotton crop area in these three states has come down from 17.96 lakh hectares in 2023-24 to 12.38 lakh hectares in the current season.
An ICAL official said that the acreage in the three states has come down by 31 per cent compared to last year, while the production is estimated to fall by 38 per cent.
