Cotton Acreage in Maharashtra Drops 10% Due to Delayed Monsoon
By anand lodhi 2026-09-12 11:39:05
Cotton acreage in Maharashtra drops by 10% due to delayed monsoon
Maharashtra: The delay in the monsoon and a lack of early rainfall have impacted cotton sowing in Maharashtra. In the country's largest cotton-producing state, the cotton acreage for this Kharif season has declined by approximately 10% to 38.4 lakh hectares. The state's average cotton sowing area over the past five years has been 42.5 lakh hectares; consequently, there has been a reduction of about 4 lakh hectares.
Maharashtra accounts for approximately 38% of India's total cotton area. Cotton is a major Kharif crop for the state, representing about 30% of the total 1.4 crore hectares of Kharif cultivation area. The reduction in sowing area has raised concerns regarding overall production and yield.
The delayed monsoon has had the most significant impact on the Nashik division. In this division—comprising the districts of Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, and Nashik—cotton sowing has dropped to 7.48 lakh hectares from an average of 9.30 lakh hectares. This represents a decline of approximately 1.82 lakh hectares, or more than 24%. In Jalgaon specifically, cotton acreage has fallen from an average of 5.5 lakh hectares to 4.3 lakh hectares.
A decline of approximately 22% in cotton sowing has also been recorded in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division. In this division—comprising the districts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, and Beed—cotton has been sown on about 8 lakh hectares, compared to an average of 10.3 lakh hectares.
In contrast, cotton sowing remained normal in the Amravati division. In the districts of Buldhana, Akola, Washim, Amravati, and Yavatmal, cotton was sown on an area comparable to the average of 10.9 lakh hectares. According to agricultural officials, rainfall distribution during the sowing period was better in these areas.
However, farmers in several cotton-growing regions are now concerned about crop growth due to the absence of rainfall over the past two weeks. Laxman Patil, a farmer from Dhule, said that the cotton crop needs good rainfall in the coming days. A lack of rain could affect the crop and lead to a decline in yield.
