Cotton Sowing in India Lags Behind; Hopes Rise from Gujarat and Central India
The start of the 2026-27 cotton season in India has been sluggish. Government data indicates that cotton sowing across the country is trailing behind last year's figures; however, positive signals from Gujarat and Central India have boosted industry optimism.
Data available up to June 8 shows that cotton sowing has covered 7.51 lakh hectares, compared to 9.72 lakh hectares during the same period last year—a deficit of 2.21 lakh hectares. Despite early monsoon rains in key cotton-producing regions, the pace of sowing remains relatively slow.
A decline in cotton acreage is anticipated in North India. Market experts estimate that the total area under cultivation in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan could drop by nearly 20 percent this year. Due to pest infestations and crop losses in recent years, many farmers are shifting away from cotton toward alternative crops like pearl millet (bajra), maize, and paddy. In Punjab, sowing covered only 70,000 hectares by early June, against a target of 1.25 lakh hectares. While sowing in Haryana has reached 3.07 lakh hectares, it is likely to remain below normal levels.
In contrast, Gujarat has recorded a significant increase in cotton sowing. According to the state agriculture department, the area under cotton reached 93,499 hectares by June 8, a substantial rise from the 34,011 hectares recorded during the same period last year. Better prices and growing farmer interest are cited as the primary reasons for this trend.
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) estimates that cotton acreage in Central India could rise by approximately 15 percent this season, potentially pushing the country's total cultivation area beyond 130 lakh hectares. An increase of ₹557 per quintal in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) may also encourage farmers to expand cotton cultivation. Now, the progress of sowing in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Central India over the coming weeks will determine how close the country gets to this estimate.
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