Ideal sowing window closed, Punjab achieves just 32% of cotton target

Bathinda: Punjab has managed to sow cotton in only 32% of its targeted area for the 2026–27 season. As of May 15— considered the end of the ideal sowing window—the crop has covered just 40,402 hectares against the state's target of 1.25 lakh hectares.While sowing traditionally continues until May 31 and can stretch into the first week of June, agricultural experts warn that late-sown cotton is vulnerable to pest infestations. Going by the current trends, experts believe the state is unlikely to meet its target this year. Punjab agriculture department director Gurjit Singh Brar told TOI that the delay was due to the late harvesting of wheat. "The department remains hopeful of nearing the targeted area by the end of May. We are also optimistic about sowing desi cotton across nearly 10,000 hectares," Brar said. Cotton sowing dropped below the 1-lakh-hectare mark for the first time during the 2024–25 season, plummeting to 99,700 hectares, before recovering slightly to 1.19 lakh hectares the following season. The decline of cotton began in 2015 when a massive whitefly attack destroyed nearly half of the crop. Successive onslaughts of both whitefly and pink bollworm since then have increasingly discouraged farmers, prompting a steady shift back to paddy cultivation. To revive interest, the Punjab govt has retained its policy of providing a 33% subsidy on certified BT cotton hybrids and desi cotton seed varieties recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. First launched in 2025, the scheme covers one-third of the seed cost for growers opting for any of the 87 approved BT cotton hybrids or four specific desi varieties: LD1019, LD949, FDK124, and PBD88. The subsidy is credited directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts post-verification. Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian recently directed chief agriculture officers to launch an intensive awareness campaign regarding the subsidised seeds. Khudian had urged officials to ensure seamless access to the online portal so no farmer was left out due to a lack of information. FAZILKA LEADS PACK Dist | Sown | Target Mansa | 10,266 | 28,100 Fazilka | 21,232 | 63,350 Bathinda | 5,259 | 18,200 Faridkot | 94 | 350 Muktsar | 3,427 | 14,200 Barnala| 76 | 450 Sangrur| 38 | 265 Moga| 10 | 105 (Area in hectares) MSID:: 131119167 413 |