Cotton sowing continues to decline, government policies have reduced farmers' interest.
While cotton farmers across the country are in an uproar over falling prices, this is directly impacting the area under cotton cultivation. According to data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, cotton, India's primary Kharif crop, has been experiencing a steady decline for the past two years. According to government data, cotton was sown on 12.95 million hectares annually during the Kharif season from 2019-20 to 2023-24, which declined to 11.295 million hectares in 2024-25.
According to the latest data on estimated sowing for this year's Kharif season, the acreage has declined by 2.97 million hectares (approximately 300,000 hectares) to 10.998 million hectares. If government policies remain unchanged, a significant decline in sowing and production is expected in the coming years.
Farmers hit by the removal of import duty
The central government has removed the 11 percent import duty currently imposed on cotton imports, making imports of foreign cotton cheaper, and importers/traders are showing interest in purchasing foreign cotton. Meanwhile, farmers are forced to sell their produce at significantly lower prices than the MSP for the traders and mills that are purchasing domestic cotton.
Farmers are reluctant to grow cotton due to the central government's attitude
This central government's attitude is taking a toll on cotton farmers, and they are gradually withdrawing from cotton cultivation. Farmers are choosing crops that offer reasonable profits instead of cotton. Cotton prices are not the only factor that is dissuading farmers from growing cotton. In recent years, pink bollworms, whiteflies, and weather conditions have also caused concern for farmers. These factors are driving farmers to shift to other crops.
Punjab Farmers Not Getting Fair Prices Recent media reports revealed that nearly 80 percent of cotton sold in Punjab's mandis in the past few weeks was sold at prices ₹1,000 or more below the MSP, resulting in significant losses for farmers. Furthermore, the lack of government procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has contributed to this decline in prices in Punjab, as the entire market is controlled by private traders.
Cotton Production in These States
Gujarat, Maharashtra (especially the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions), and Telangana are the major cotton producers in India. Cotton is also produced in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh holds a special place in organic cotton production, producing 40 percent of the country's total organic cotton.
