India’s cotton cultivation declines by 10-12% amid low yields

India's cotton cultivation is expected to drop by 10-12 per cent this season compared to the last, says Atul S Ganatra, President, Cotton Association of India (CAI). The decline is primarily due to low crop yields, which in India average around 480 kg per hectare, significantly lower than the global average of 800 kg per hectare. Indian farmers earn about Rs 90,000 per hectare, far less than their Australian counterparts who earn Rs 5 lakhs per hectare.

The area under cotton cultivation, which was 127 lakh hectares last year, has decreased to 108 lakh hectares this year. Sowing is nearly complete and may reach 113 lakh hectares.

Northern regions, including Punjab and Rajasthan, have seen a 35 per cent reduction in cotton crop size due to pink bollworm infestations. In Telangana and Gujarat, cotton areas have shrunk by 7 per cent and 13-15 per cent respectively, with farmers shifting to other crops. Irregular rainfall in Gujarat has further affected yields. The government’s increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) by Rs 500 per quintal for 2024-25 could drive up cotton prices next season.