Maharashtra Farmer Achieves Record Cotton Yield of 24 Quintals per Acre with HDPS

Maharashtra Farmer Sets Record Cotton Yield Using HDPS Technology

Nagpur: A farmer from Hinganghat in Wardha district, Dilip Pohane, has achieved a record cotton yield of 24 quintals of raw cotton per acre using the High Density Planting System (HDPS).

The central government is actively promoting HDPS to boost cotton productivity and align output with global standards. The system involves close spacing of plants, allowing higher plant density per unit area and improved productivity.

At present, countries like the United States produce over 2,000 kg of lint cotton per hectare, while India’s average remains below 400 kg per hectare. HDPS is being introduced as a solution to bridge this productivity gap.

The method has already been adopted by around 1,500 farmers in Akola, while farmers in Wardha and Nagpur are increasingly shifting to this system. Over 550 cotton growers from Nagpur and Wardha districts participated in the pilot project during 2023–24, recording up to a threefold increase in yields.

Following strong farmer participation, the central government is planning to expand HDPS cultivation to 50,000 hectares in Akola alone. The initiative is being implemented by CITI-CIDRA in collaboration with ICAR–Central Cotton Research Institute.

Under the pilot project, the textiles ministry provided support including a subsidy of ₹16,000 per hectare on seeds, along with assistance for machine sowing in 3x1 row patterns.

Experts noted that while traditional cotton farming typically yields 6–7 quintals per acre, HDPS has already raised average yields to 12–15 quintals, with this new record of 24 quintals marking a significant breakthrough.

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