India’s cotton acreage loses ground to rice, maize amid low productivity

farmer incomes, rural livelihoods and export competitiveness. It also mirrors deeper structural issues in the agriculture sector that accounts for around 16% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP), with nearly 46% of the country’s workforce dependent on agriculture."India’s cotton production has remained largely stagnant in recent years, weighed down by technological stagnation, pest resistance, and structural bottlenecks that have eroded farm profitability and discouraged acreage expansion," said Ajai Rana, chairman, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), an association of research-driven seed companies in India.To address the challenges of stagnant cotton productivity, Union budget 2025-26 announced a five-year Cotton Mission and allocated ₹500 crore to increase cotton productivity, especially extra-long staple varieties.

Under this mission, farmers will receive technology support. The mission aims to boost farmers’ incomes and ensure a steady supply of quality cotton.

An email query sent to the agriculture ministry remained unanswered till press time.“India’s cotton sector is entering a phase where future acreage decisions will be shaped increasingly by relative profitability rather than just agronomic suitability,” said Rakesh Arrawatia, professor at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA).According to projections from agencies such as USDA-FAS, the Cotton Association of India (CAI), and the government, area under cotton is likely to remain at 11.2-11.8 million hectares and production at 30-32 million bales in 2025-26. One bale equals 170 kg.Also, with average yields of just 430–450 kg per hectare, India lags significantly behind leading cotton-producing nations.