Estimated 7% Increase in Cotton Sowing Area

27-May-2026 01:34 PM

Mumbai. A leading trade body—the Cotton Association of India—has projected a potential increase of approximately 7 percent in the national cotton cultivation area during the 2026-27 season, compared to the 2025-26 season. A significant rise in cotton prices in recent weeks has ensured profitable returns for farmers, a factor expected to boost their enthusiasm for and interest in cotton cultivation. The Association's President and the Chairman of the Crop Committee stated that reports received regarding farmer sentiment in key producing states are largely encouraging.

According to official statistics, the total cotton cultivation area in the country during the 2025-26 Kharif season was recorded at 114.82 lakh hectares—a figure that is expected to rise in the 2026-27 season. The Central Government has hiked the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton this time by ₹557, fixing it at ₹8,267 per quintal for the medium-staple variety and ₹8,667 per quintal for the long-staple varieties. The new MSP will come into effect from October 2026.

The Central Government is currently considering a temporary suspension—for a few months—of the 11 percent import duty currently applicable to cotton. Given that these months constitute the off-season for cotton arrivals and the peak season for sowing, allowing duty-free imports during this period is unlikely to cause any significant detriment to farmers; conversely, it would provide some relief to the textile industry.

For the 2025-26 season, the Association has issued a revised production estimate of 334 lakh bales (each weighing 170 kg) for the country. Furthermore, it has projected that imports are likely to rise by 15 percent—from 41 lakh bales in the 2024-25 season—to reach 47 lakh bales during the current 2025-26 marketing season (October–September). On the other hand, the estimate for cotton exports has been maintained at the previous level of 1.8 million bales.