Cotton Sowing Report Reveals Significant Decline
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare recently released its weekly crop sowing report, highlighting a concerning trend in cotton planting. As of July, cotton had been sown across a mere lakh hectares, which shows a decrease of per cent compared to the previous year when it reached lakh hectares. Additionally, this figure is per cent below the five-year average and falls short of last year’s final acreage of lakh hectares.
This decline represents one of the weakest sowing performances seen in recent years, largely attributed to delayed rainfall and insufficient soil moisture, which are critical during the planting period.
The reduced area for cotton planting raises alarm over India’s cotton output for the season. Last year, production hit an eight-year low, and the Ministry’s Third Advance Estimates projected that cotton production would drop to lakh bales, each weighing kg, compared to lakh bales in the previous year. This forecast marks the lowest estimate since year, when production was only lakh bales.
Farmers and industry experts have pointed out that the delayed onset of the monsoon and below-average rainfall in many cotton-growing areas have discouraged timely sowing. As a result, some farmers have opted for alternative crops that offer better planting conditions. They warn that without timely rainfall to support delayed sowing and crop growth, the reduced acreage may lead to yet another year of lower cotton production.
