Sowing has begun on a sluggish note, water from canals in North India released late
India’s cotton area, which saw a decline of 10 per cent during the kharif 2024 season, is likely to shrink further this year as farmers are seen moving to other alternatives like maize and groundnut. Industry stakeholders are having a mixed opinion on the upcoming 2025-26 season, for which the planting has already begun in north India and parts of south India, where the monsoon has made an early onset.
“Cotton area will be down in central India, which accounts for about 66 per cent of the area and crop in the country. However, in north and south India, it may increase. The overall cotton area in the country may come down by 7-8 per cent,” Atul S Ganatra, President, Cotton Association of India (CAI) told businessline. In Gujarat, farmers will likely shift from cotton to groundnut, while in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, they are shifting to maize, Ganatra said.
“Farmers are not interested in growing cotton because of the low yields and higher expenses and cost of labour. Also, farmers have other options that can fetch them better returns,” Ganatra said.
Source : thehindubusinessline
