India's Cotton Acreage Falls Nearly 15% as Sowing Slows in Gujarat, Maharashtra
By jayesh chouhan 2026-07-18 12:56:08
India's cotton acreage drops by nearly 15% due to slow sowing in Gujarat and Maharashtra
Cotton sowing in India during the initial phase of the 2026 Kharif season is lagging significantly behind last year's figures. The pace of sowing in major cotton-producing states has been affected by a delayed monsoon and regional weather conditions. As of July 10, 2026, cotton sowing was recorded across 79.55 lakh hectares nationwide, compared to 93.95 lakh hectares during the same period last year. Consequently, the cotton acreage has declined by 14.41 lakh hectares, or approximately 15.3%.
The sharpest declines in sowing have been observed in key cotton-producing states like Gujarat and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, cotton has been sown across 30.07 lakh hectares so far this season, a decrease of 5.39 lakh hectares from the previous year's 35.46 lakh hectares. Sowing activities by farmers in major cotton-growing regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada have been hampered by delayed rainfall.
The decline was even more pronounced in Gujarat. The state's cotton acreage fell from 17.11 lakh hectares last year to 9.32 lakh hectares, marking a reduction of 7.79 lakh hectares. Together, Gujarat and Maharashtra account for a reduction of approximately 13.2 lakh hectares in the country's total cotton acreage.
In contrast, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have witnessed an improvement in cotton sowing. Telangana's cotton acreage has risen by 1.96 lakh hectares to reach 15.96 lakh hectares compared to last year. Good rainfall and the timely commencement of agricultural operations have accelerated sowing in the state. Andhra Pradesh has also seen its cotton acreage increase by 0.78 lakh hectares, reaching 2.40 lakh hectares.
Sowing in other major cotton-producing states remains below last year's levels. A decline in acreage has been recorded: 1.28 lakh hectares in Rajasthan, 0.90 lakh hectares in Haryana, 0.66 lakh hectares in Odisha, 0.59 lakh hectares in Karnataka, and 0.43 lakh hectares in Punjab. Cotton acreage remained largely stable in Madhya Pradesh, while Tamil Nadu also saw no significant change compared to the previous year.
The national target for cotton acreage for the 2026 Kharif season has been set at 116.12 lakh hectares; however, sowing had covered only 79.55 lakh hectares by July 10. Since cotton sowing continues through July and into early August, there remains a possibility of an increase in acreage in the coming weeks, aided by a favorable monsoon.
If the shortfall in sowing persists, the availability of raw cotton in the upcoming marketing season could be affected. This could impact the domestic textile industry, cotton exports, and fiber prices. As global cotton markets remain sensitive to weather-related supply risks, the market will closely monitor India's production situation.
