Punjab’s cotton production surges despite dip in area

The other two are Haryana and Rajasthan.

According to data sourced from the Cotton Association of India (CAI) and the Office of the Textile Commissioner under the Union Ministry of Textiles, Punjab’s cotton production stands at 59,500 tonnes (equivalent to 3.50 lakh pressed cotton bales) as of March 31, 2024.

This marks a considerable increase from last year’s production of 46,740 tonnes (2.75 lakh bales) by the same date. Notably, one bale equals 170 kg.

The latest report from the CAI suggests that Punjab’s cotton production is poised to rise further. Given Punjab’s cotton season spanning from October to September, cotton arrivals in the mandis continue throughout the year. The Office of the Textile Commissioner estimates Punjab’s total production to reach 4.89 lakh bales by the end of this season, compared to around 4.44 lakh bales last year.
Yield and area trends

Punjab’s cotton cultivation area this year stood at approximately 1.69 lakh hectares, marking an all-time low in over six decades. Despite this, the yield per hectare in Punjab reached around 491.89 kilograms, equivalent to approximately 4.92 quintals per hectare.

Last year, Punjab cultivated cotton on 2.49 lakh hectares, an 80,000-hectare difference from this season. However, due to one of the lowest yields recorded in the past decade, the state’s cotton production was significantly lower, with only 314.06 kg of cotton per hectare.

Regional comparisons

In comparison, Haryana and Rajasthan, the other two North Zone states cultivating cotton, have also witnessed increases in yield per hectare this year compared to the previous year.

Haryana: Recorded 13.50 lakh bales against 11 lakh bales last year by March 31. The cultivation area increased from 5.75 lakh hectares last year to 6.83 lakh hectares this year, with yield per hectare rising from 295.95 kg to 360.91 kg.

Rajasthan: Recorded 29 lakh bales against 29.25 lakh bales last year by March 31. The cultivation area decreased from 8.15 lakh hectares to 7.91 lakh hectares, with yield per hectare increasing from 578.63 kg to 589.52 kg.
The increase in yield per hectare in these states has contributed to the overall growth in cotton production despite variations in cultivation area.