India’s cotton sowing has accelerated as the monsoon gathers momentum, pushing total acreage past 100 lakh hectares (lh). According to a report in The Hindu BusinessLine dated July 28, 2026, farmers in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have expanded plantings, offsetting the delayed onset of rains that pushed the sowing window back by a couple of weeks.
Sowing Pace and Government Target
Atul Ganatra, Chairman of the Crop Committee at the Cotton Association of India (CAI), told the BusinessLine that sowing has been completed on over 100 lh against 103 lh a year ago. “Though rains were late by about 20-30 days, cotton sowing has picked up fast and we have almost reached near to last year's figures,” he said. He noted that rains over the previous six days would now enable farmers to sow in states that had received less rainfall.
Ganatra added that the sowing window for cotton has been extended until August 25 due to the delayed rains. He expressed confidence that the government’s target of more than 120 lh of cotton sowing is achievable by August 20. Daily sowing is proceeding at a rate of about 50,000 hectares, he said.
State-Wise Acreage Comparison
The state-level data reveals a mixed picture, with gains in some regions and declines in others. The following table summarizes the acreage figures as of July 27, 2026, compared to the corresponding date last year:
| State | Area (lh) Current | Area (lh) Previous Year | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | 20.00 | 20.16 | -0.8% |
| Maharashtra | 35.76 | 37.89 | -5.6% |
| Telangana | 17.64 | 17.00 | +3.8% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 5.79 | 5.52 | +4.9% |
| Andhra Pradesh | N/A | N/A | +31%* |
*For Andhra Pradesh, Ganatra reported a 31% increase in area, but absolute current-year figure for the state was not provided in the source.
In Gujarat, Ganatra expects acreage to increase by 7-10% this season due to recent rains and a state government subsidy of Rs 14,000 per acre. However, as of July 27, Gujarat’s area (20 lh) was slightly below the 20.16 lh recorded a year ago.
Crop Condition and Regional Reports
Stakeholders across key growing regions report healthy crop development. Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur, told the newspaper that sowing is complete in Telangana with good rain, and the crop condition is good. In Raichur (Karnataka) and Adoni (Andhra), crops are looking better following recent rains. He cautioned, however:
“Overall, the crop condition looks satisfactory, but there’s a need for further big showers to improve the growth of the plant. Due to delay rains the height of the plant may have little effect for the dryland area. However, the acreage sown is more than last year around 10 per cent. This may compensate at the later stage.”
In the Khandesh region of Maharashtra, the crop condition is also favorable. Pradeep Jain, Chairman of the Khandesh Gin Press Association in Jalgaon, stated: “Though there is deficit rain, the crop condition looks healthy as of now. In the irrigated areas, the crop is good.” Jain noted that area in the region may be 5-10% lower this year as some farmers have switched to maize.
Arrivals and Outlook
Ganatra further said the crop condition is excellent as of date. Market arrivals of early-planted cotton from an estimated 15 lh, mainly in North India and some southern states, may begin from the first week of September. The extended sowing window and steady daily planting pace suggest that India’s cotton area could ultimately exceed last year’s level, supporting production and potentially easing supply concerns for domestic mills. Traders and analysts will watch for further monsoon progress and the impact on crop growth in the coming weeks.
Sources:
