Bathinda, India’s 'Cotton Capital', sees cotton acreage crash to 14,500 hectares in 2024

Once known as Punjab’s ‘Cotton Capital,’ Bathinda is witnessing a major shift as cotton cultivation fell to just 14,500 hectares in 2024, down from 1.5 lakh hectares in 2019. The steep decline, due to pest infestations, heat stress during sowing, and poor seed quality, has forced farmers to abandon cotton in favour of paddy, which now spans 2.32 lakh hectares in the region.

The transition has devastated the cotton-linked ginning industry. Of the 422 factories operating in 2019, only 40 remain active. Many units have shut down or diversified into rice milling and cold storage due to a lack of raw cotton. Thousands of labourers dependent on cotton processing have lost livelihoods, while younger generations seek work in urban areas.

Industry voices blame recurring whitefly and pink bollworm attacks, outdated seed varieties, and inconsistent government procurement despite MSP announcements of Rs 7,121 and Rs 7,521 per quintal for the 2024-25 season. The absence of reliable MSP support, in previous years, further discouraged cultivation. With Bathinda’s iconic white cotton fields fading into memory, the region’s agrarian identity is being reshaped as farmers prioritise more secure and profitable alternatives. The cotton economy, once central, now teeters on collapse.