AHMEDABAD, 3 July 2025: Gujarat, once the undisputed cotton powerhouse of India, is seeing its cotton acreage shrink as farmers flee to other crops in response to depressed prices, according to the state’s agriculture minister.
Raghavjibhai Patel, Gujarat’s Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Cow-Breeding, Fisheries, Rural Housing, and Rural Development, told The New Indian Express that falling cotton returns have compelled cultivators to switch to more profitable crops such as groundnuts and soybeans.
“Cotton farmers in Gujarat are marred by both lower production and lower prices. They do not get the required price for their produce, which discourages them from growing more,” Patel said on the sidelines of an industry event in Ahmedabad.
According to government estimates, Gujarat’s cotton acreage has fallen from 26.79 lakh hectares last year to 23.62 lakh hectares in the 2024–25 Kharif season. That decline has allowed Maharashtra to overtake Gujarat as India’s top cotton-growing state, with Telangana now in third place.
Latest data from the Cotton Association of India highlights that Gujarat’s cotton pressing touched 76 lakh bales this season, while Maharashtra surged ahead to 85 lakh bales and Telangana reached 48 lakh bales as of May 31.
India’s overall cotton output, meanwhile, has been on a downward trajectory for five straight years. From a global peak of 39.8 million bales in 2013–14, production is projected to shrink to just 29.5 million bales by 2024–25, with average yields sliding below 450 kilograms per hectare — far below China’s 1,993 kilograms per hectare.
Experts attribute this sustained slump to pest challenges, particularly the pink bollworm, which has developed resistance against Bt cotton varieties over time. Farmers report that bollworm attacks now occur within just two months of flowering, destroying cotton bolls and causing huge losses.
Erratic weather conditions, including unpredictable rainfall patterns and rising temperatures, have added to growers’ woes. Cotton farmers have traditionally been highly dependent on consistent monsoon rains, but changing climate trends have made this far less reliable.
Patel acknowledged the damage from salinity intrusion in Gujarat’s coastal districts, which is adding yet another threat to farming systems in the region. “We are building salinity prevention structures to stop seawater intrusion into groundwater and soil,” he noted.
The continued struggle of cotton producers has raised concerns for India’s broader textile sector, which depends heavily on reliable raw cotton supplies for domestic use and exports. Industry bodies have warned that a prolonged decline in production could undermine India’s competitiveness in global textile markets.
Farmers in Gujarat, meanwhile, are actively weighing their options. Many are shifting to groundnut and soybean cultivation because these crops fetch higher prices and are perceived to be less vulnerable to pests. Experts say unless structural reforms, improved pest management, and fair pricing support come into play, the downward spiral in cotton cultivation may deepen.
Patel suggested that support from the central government will be vital in addressing both market price volatility and the evolving pest threats. “Our Prime Minister has invested a lot in the cotton value chain, but we need coordinated action now to help farmers cope with the current crisis,” he said.
In response to pest resistance, agricultural scientists are recommending integrated pest management systems that go beyond genetically modified cotton. These include crop rotation, pheromone traps, and use of bio-pesticides to restore some balance against pink bollworm infestations.
As global demand for high-quality cotton remains strong, India’s faltering yields could leave the sector exposed to rising imports and put pressure on local prices, potentially further squeezing farmer margins.
With the Kharif sowing window now open, many growers face hard choices as they decide between sticking with cotton, a crop long associated with Gujarat’s rural economy, or pivoting to alternatives that offer greater profitability and lower risk.
For now, Gujarat’s cotton story is a sobering example of how pest pressure, climate change, and market failures can combine to weaken even the strongest agricultural systems. Unless concerted measures restore grower confidence and shore up earnings, the white gold that once fuelled Gujarat’s rural prosperity may continue to lose its shine.