Cotton acreage in MP decreased by 3.7% due to shift towards maize
2025-07-31 11:16:26
Madhya pradesh: Cotton acreage 3.7% less than last year as farmers shift to maize
Indore : The area under cotton, a key kharif crop, is expected to remain around 5 lakh hectare in Indore division, around 3.7 percent less than the previous year due to a shift towards maize in ongoing kharif season.
The agriculture department has set a target of 5.17 lakh hectare in cotton, compared to 5.37 lakh hectare recorded the previous year, official data showed.
"Cotton and other kharif crops are doing well and there is no damage from rain. Cotton acreage is seen above 5 lakh hectare in Indore division," said agriculture department Indore joint director Alok Meena.
Farmers and agriculture experts expect cotton yield to remain around 10-12 quintal per acre this season.
"There is no harm from rain so far and the growth looks good. There is some decline in the acreage due to maize but overall crop health looks good which would help in better yields," said Raghuram Patil, a cotton farmer.
Key cotton-growing districts within the Indore division include Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani, Manawar, Dhar, Ratlam, and Dewas. In the division, the primary kharif crops include soybean, cotton, maize, and pulses.
Cotton sowing in irrigated areas typically begins by mid-May, while non-irrigated regions start planting in June.
"Cotton crop is growing well and is in a good state. Maize has taken up some area in cotton and soyabean this year due to better price realisation," said Kailash Agrawal, a farmer and owner of ginning units in Khargone.
Farmers said that the cost of cultivating maize is approximately 10 percent of that for cotton, which is prompting many to reconsider their planting choices.
In the division, where soyabean traditionally dominates the kharif season, the state agriculture department projects kharif crops to cover about 22.5 lakh hectare this season.
