In response to growing concerns over declining cotton productivity in India, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has announced a high-level national meeting to be held in Coimbatore on July 11, 2025.
As per the figures released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, between 2020–21 and 2024–25, India’s cotton cultivation area declined from 132.86 lakh hectares to 112.30 lakh hectares, indicating a steady contraction in acreage with a CAGR of -4.12%. Cotton production followed a similar downward trend, falling from 352.48 lakh bales to 306.92 lakh bales over the same period, with a CAGR of -3.40%.
While both area and production have decreased, the yield per hectare has shown a marginal improvement—from 451 kg/ha to 465 kg/ha—registering a modest CAGR of 0.77%. This suggests that although per-hectare productivity has slightly increased, it has not been sufficient to offset the overall decline in production caused by shrinking cultivation area and challenges such as the TSV virus affecting Bt cotton.
Addressing cotton farmers across the country, the Minister acknowledged the significant drop in cotton yields, attributing the decline in part to the emergence of the TSV virus affecting Bt cotton. He underlined the urgent need for intervention, noting that the fall in production is placing a severe burden on farming communities dependent on cotton cultivation. “The productivity of cotton in our country is currently quite low. In recent times, it has declined further due to the TSV virus. This is a matter of serious concern,” Chouhan said. “Our goal is to boost production while reducing input costs, and to develop climate-resilient, high-quality seeds that can resist such viral attacks.”
The upcoming consultation in Coimbatore will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders including cotton farmers and their organisations, scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural university experts, agriculture ministers from major cotton-producing states, state government officials, and representatives from the cotton industry. “This is a collective effort,” the Minister added. “We are deeply engaged in identifying solutions to improve both the productivity and quality of cotton.” The consultation is expected to shape policy direction and research priorities to support India’s cotton growers in overcoming current challenges and restoring sustainability in the sector.
News Courtesy : Global-agriculture.