Slow Sowing Pace in Key Cotton-Producing States; Acreage Lower Than Last Year
Cotton sowing in India's three largest cotton-producing states—Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana—has remained below last year's levels, indicating a sluggish start to the 2026-27 Kharif season. According to the latest data released by the respective state agriculture departments, sowing across all three states has lagged compared to the same period last year, with Maharashtra witnessing the sharpest decline.
In Maharashtra, direct cotton sowing has dropped to 7.27 lakh hectares from 25.57 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year. The state has registered the most significant reduction in sowing among the three major cotton-producing states, reflecting a substantial delay in planting activity.
Gujarat has also recorded a significant decline in cotton acreage (cultivation area). Sowing has fallen from 13.99 lakh hectares last year to 6.84 lakh hectares this season, primarily due to slow planting in the Saurashtra region. However, comparatively better progress has been observed in certain districts of North and Central Gujarat.
Among the three states, Telangana has recorded the smallest year-on-year decline. Cotton sowing stands at 26.83 lakh acres, compared to 30.69 lakh acres during the same period last year. Increased sowing in districts such as Nalgonda, Sangareddy, and Rangareddy has partially offset the decline seen in other cotton-growing areas.
Market experts attribute the current sluggishness in sowing primarily to delayed and uneven monsoon rainfall across key cotton-producing regions. The progress of the southwest monsoon during July will be crucial, as timely rainfall could accelerate sowing operations and influence the final cotton acreage for the 2026-27 season.
