North India Cotton Acreage Falls as Farmers Shift to Paddy This Kharif Season

Assured procurement, better returns and weather concerns drive lower cotton sowing across key northern states

Cotton acreage in North India has declined by around 22 per cent during the current kharif season as farmers increasingly shift to paddy cultivation, attracted by assured procurement and better returns.

According to Agriculture Ministry data, cotton has been sown on around 9 lakh hectares (lh) this year in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, compared with 11.56 lh during the corresponding period last year. Across the country, cotton acreage reached 9.53 lh as of June 12, down 28 per cent from 13.19 lh a year earlier, although sowing activities are continuing in parts of Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

This season, cotton area in Punjab has fallen below one lakh hectares, declining to 0.80 lh from 1.19 lh recorded as of June 11 last year. In Haryana, acreage has reduced to 2.92 lh compared with 3.94 lh a year ago. Rajasthan has also reported a decline, with cotton planted on 5.28 lh against 6.43 lh last year.

Atul Ganatra, Chairman, Crop Committee of Cotton Association of India (CAI), said that although acreage has declined in Punjab and Haryana, sowing activity is continuing in Rajasthan.

High-Risk Crop

Bhagirath Chaudhary, Founder-Director, South Asia Biotechnology Centre in Jodhpur, said:

“Farmers across North cotton zone are increasingly shifting to paddy because it offers greater income security through assured procurement and better returns, particularly after last year’s favourable rice harvest. In contrast, cotton is now perceived as a high-risk crop due to severe pink bollworm infestation, weather-related uncertainties and prolonged market prices below the MSP.”

He further said:

“Additionally, delayed paddy transplantation has provided an additional advantage by creating a window for short-duration zaid (summer) crops, such as maize and moong, enabling farmers to generate supplementary income before rice planting. Cotton faces heat stress during April and May, with many late-sown fields experiencing wilting, root rot and poor crop establishment.”

Weather Variability Adds to Challenges

Dilip Monga, former head of the Central Institute of Cotton Research’s regional research station in Sirsa, said that apart from the problem of pink bollworm, growers have also faced erratic weather conditions, including excess rainfall and high temperatures during the planting season.

These factors have contributed to lower cotton sowing in the northern region, while farmers continue to reassess crop choices based on returns, procurement support and seasonal conditions.