India accounts for one quarter of global cotton production, but farmers in the country are moving away from this major cash crop to rice and maize. This shift is due to the fact that alternative crops provide more stable yields and better returns。
According to the most recent government data, cotton productivity has fluctuated as a result of challenges such as unpredictable weather and pest attacks, and the area under cotton cultivation in india has declined from 13. 4 million hectares in 2019/20 to nearly 1/5 to 11. 2 million hectares in 2025/26. The cotton industry supports the livelihoods of about 6 million farmers in india。
Meanwhile, rice and maize cultivation in parts of northern, central and southern india increased by 18. 7 per cent, 64. 7 per cent, respectively, to 51. 82 million hectares and 1. 76 million hectares in 2025/26. This shift is particularly important given that the decline in cotton cultivation and production in india threatens the textile industry, farmers ' incomes, rural livelihoods and export competitiveness. This also reflects deeper structural problems in the agricultural sector, which accounts for about 16 per cent of india's gross domestic product (GDP) and which is dependent on agriculture for nearly 46 per cent of the country's labour force。
Ajairana, president of the seed industry federation of india (fsil), stated: “in recent years, indian cotton production has been largely stagnant, hampered by technology stagnation, pest resistance and structural bottlenecks, which erode farm profitability and inhibit the expansion of cultivation”
To address the challenge of stagnant cotton productivity, the 2025/26 budget announced a five-year cotton mission and allocated rs. 5 billion to improve cotton productivity, particularly in the case of cotton velvet varieties. Under this mission, farmers will receive technical support. The mission is aimed at raising farmers ' incomes and ensuring a stable supply of quality cotton。
According to rakesh arrawatia, professor at the anand rural management institute (irma): “the indian cotton sector is entering a phase in which future cropland decisions will increasingly be determined by relative profitability rather than mere agronomy”
According to the united states department of agriculture's overseas agriculture administration (usda-fas), the indian cotton association (cai) and the government of india forecast that cotton cultivation could remain at 11. 2-11. 8 million hectares in 2025, yielding 30-32 million bags (equivalent to 170 kg each)。
In addition, india's average single production is only 430-450 kg per hectare, significantly behind the leading cotton producers. In australia and china, single production of 1,800-2200 kg and 1,800-2000 kg per hectare, respectively, is almost four times the production per unit area of india。
The performance of other major producers is also much higher than that of india. Brazil produces 1700-1900 kg per hectare and turkey 1,500-1700 kg. Even the united states, which is relatively low in advanced producer countries, can reach 900 - 1,000 kg per hectare, more than double india's level. Pakistan often compares with india because of similar agro-climatic conditions, with a single production of 700-800 kg/ha, still well above the indian average。
Arrawatia warns that if productivity gaps are not addressed through timely technological upgrading, improved pest management and access to better seed systems, cotton may continue to give way to more stable and policy-supported crops with more returns such as maize and rice
The global average of single production of cotton is about 750-800 kg per hectare, which is well below the international benchmark, although india is one of the largest cotton-growing countries。
As a result, the area under cotton cultivation is decreasing and farmers are shifting to other high-yielding crops. The most notable shift was to maize, thanks to the ethanol mix and strong demand in the livestock feed sector. Similarly, in the northern states there has been a marked shift towards rice cultivation。
Bhagwan bansal, president of the punjab flour association (punjab ginners association), said: “india remains largely dependent on bolgard-ll cotton, while countries like brazil have advanced to bolgard-vi. This technological gap directly undermines farmers' productivity and profitability, and farmers are therefore inclined to grow crops such as rice and maize that are income-securing.”
Bollgard-ll, bollgard-vi refers to intergenerational technology for genetically modified cotton, which is more advanced。
Soybean cultivation has also expanded, particularly in madhya pradesh and maharashtra. Vegetable crops such as beans and green beans are also growing, thanks to government-supported minimum support prices (msp) and significantly lower input costs。
Rana adds: “the heart of the slowdown lies in the “technology freeze” of bt cotton. The technology was introduced almost 20 years ago and has hardly been upgraded since 2006, resulting in farmers relying on obsolete hybrid varieties, while global competitors adopt more advanced seed varieties.”
Balpreet singh, a farmer in batinda district, punjab, said that “the problem is exacerbated by the growing resistance of pink cotton bellworms, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of bt cotton in the main growing areas. Repeated pest attacks have resulted in the loss of yields, weakening farmers' confidence in the crop.”
R & d investment has also been weak, according to seed industry executives. Raghavan sampathkumar, executive director of the seed industry federation of india, stated that intellectual property-related challenges and difficulties in accessing quality seed resources were key barriers to innovation in seed development。
According to farmers, cotton remains a labour-intensive crop with low mechanization levels, especially in key producing states. Harish sangwan, a farmer in fatehabad district, haryana, said that “the rising cost of labour squeezes profit space, making cotton less attractive than crops such as rice and maize”
Industry experts noted that in the face of stagnant yields and declining farmers ' interest, the cotton sector in india needed urgent and coordinated policy action covering research, technology deployment, farm practices and market reforms。
A stronger and innovative ecosystem is essential to sustain long-term growth. Industry participants recommended increasing the annual r & d investment to about rs. 2 billion, restoring research tax incentives and strengthening intellectual property enforcement under the plant varieties and farmers rights protection act. “these measures are expected to encourage the involvement of the private sector and to ensure the continuity of improved seed varieties”
