33% Subsidy on Cotton Seeds in Punjab: Relief for Farmers
By yash chouhan 2026-04-28 11:22:00
33% subsidy issued on BT and desi cotton seeds in Punjab, big support to farmers
BATHINDA: The Punjab government has decided to continue 33% subsidy on certified Bt cotton hybrids and indigenous cotton seed varieties recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. The scheme was launched in 2025 and focuses on encouraging farmers to adopt better quality seeds.
The government will bear about one-third of the seed cost for farmers choosing any one of the 87 approved Bt cotton hybrids and four indigenous varieties—LD1019, LD949, FDK124 and PBD88. After eligibility verification, this subsidy will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of the farmers.
A significant increase was recorded in the area of cotton in the last Kharif season. While this area was 1 lakh hectare in 2024, it increased by 19% to 1.19 lakh hectare in 2025. For the upcoming season, the government has set a target of cotton cultivation in 1.25 lakh hectares.
The online application portal to avail subsidy has started from April 20. The time till May 15 is considered suitable for sowing cotton.
State agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the combination of PAU-approved BT hybrids and indigenous cotton varieties would help the state revive its traditional cotton belt. He has directed the officials to run a massive awareness campaign and ensure easy access to the digital platform to every eligible farmer, so that no farmer is left out of the scheme due to information or technical barriers.
He has also appealed to the farmers to apply on the portal in time and take maximum benefit of this scheme.
