The three main cotton‑growing states of North India have seen a 23% drop in cultivated area this year, with Punjab’s cotton acreage plunging 37.5% to just 80,000 hectares. Farmers are rapidly switching to paddy, drawn by assured MSP and expanded irrigation.

  • North India's cotton area fell 23% in 2026 across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
  • Punjab recorded the steepest decline – 37.5% drop to only 80,000 hectares.
  • Reliable MSP, abundant tube‑well irrigation and higher income security are pushing farmers toward rice.

Sharp Contraction of the Cotton Belt

The traditional belt covering Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Faridkot, Ferozepur and parts of Sangrur‑Barnala has steadily shifted to paddy and other crops. Last year the three states together held about 11.83 lakh hectares of cotton; this year the figure is down to 9.09 lakh hectares.

Punjab Bears the Brunt

Punjab’s cotton area fell from roughly 1.28 lakh hectares last season to an all‑time low of 80,000 hectares – a 37.5% plunge. The state once cultivated over 7 lakh hectares in the late 1980s, but whitefly attacks in 2015 and recurring pink bollworm infestations since 2021 have decimated yields.

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Haryana and Rajasthan Follow Suit

Haryana’s cotton area dropped from over 6 lakh hectares to about 2.95 lakh hectares, while Rajasthan’s fell from 6.55 lakh to 5.34 lakh hectares – an 18.5% reduction, with the upper belt (Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh) most affected.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the rapid contraction of cotton acreage threatens the traditional kharif economy of North India, pushes farmers toward water‑intensive paddy, and raises concerns about soil health and regional food security.

"The cotton decline is not merely a crop issue; it signals deeper systemic risks in farmer income and water management," says agricultural economist Dr. Anjali Patel.
Did You Know?: Over the past decade, Punjab added more than 100,000 new tube‑well connections, dramatically improving irrigation and accelerating the shift to rice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are the main reasons behind the cotton drop?
A: Pest attacks, falling yields, rising input costs, and the relative security offered by paddy’s assured procurement have driven farmers away from cotton.

Q2: Is the government taking steps to revive cotton cultivation?
A: Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has called for greater central support, but concrete policy measures remain limited.