Cotton Crop: Delayed Arrivals and Quality Concerns
The 2025–26 cotton season is grappling with significant
climatic disruptions across key growing regions. Extended rainfall in southern
states—Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka—has adversely affected standing
cotton crops and complicated harvest timelines. In Karnataka, districts such as
Yadgir, Shahpur, and Jewargi have experienced heavy rainfall over the past 4–5
days, resulting in waterlogging and crop stress. While the full extent of
damage remains under assessment, cotton arrivals expected to be delayed.
In Maharashtra, the situation is particularly alarming, with
relentless rainfall since May leading to the submergence of over 5,100 hectares
of cotton fields across talukas such as Malegaon, Nandgaon, Surgana, and
Igatpuri. The impact extends beyond cotton, with maize and onion crops also
suffering extensive damage. Farmers in these regions are urgently seeking
government intervention as damage assessments continue.
Northern India’s cotton belt—comprising Punjab, Haryana, and
Rajasthan—has been hit by erratic weather patterns, including untimely rains,
waterlogging, and pink bollworm infestations. These factors have led to a sharp
decline in sowing, with the total area under cotton cultivation dropping by
2.35 lakh hectares compared to last year, and nearly 7.9 lakh hectares from the
2023–24 season. Although Punjab has recorded a 15% increase in sowing this
year, the overall acreage remains well below historical levels.
Prolonged rains have delayed picking operations and
compromised fiber quality. In mandis across the region, the price of unginned
cotton (narma) is trailing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) by ₹500 to ₹2,200
per quintal, with rates fluctuating between ₹5,500 and ₹7,200. Farmers in
Fazilka and Hisar are facing setbacks due to high moisture content and poor fiber
quality, while ginners are struggling with reduced arrivals and operational
bottlenecks. Experts anticipate lower lint production this season.
Despite these challenges, the Cotton Association of India
maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook. According to their assessment, only
about 10% of the early-sown area may be adversely affected, while 90% of
cotton-growing regions are expected to benefit from improved soil moisture and
favorable climatic conditions.
Soybean Crop Suffers Under Excess Rainfall
Soybean cultivation has also been severely impacted by
continuous and heavy rainfall across major producing states. In Madhya Pradesh,
which leads national soybean production, a recent survey by the Soybean
Processors Association of India (SOPA) indicates that approximately 6% of the
sown area has suffered crop damage, with poor growth observed in nearly 15% of
fields. Nonetheless, around 70% of the acreage remains in normal condition,
offering partial relief to farmers and stakeholders.
Persistent rains have led to waterlogging in low-lying
areas, significantly affecting crop health and development. Short-duration
soybean varieties such as JS-9560 have shown increased vulnerability to yellow
mosaic virus, resulting in smaller grain sizes and empty pods—factors likely to
reduce overall yield. With about 30% of the crop in Madhya Pradesh now at the
maturity stage, stable weather conditions are critical for the remainder of the
season.
SOPA estimates the total soybean acreage in Madhya Pradesh
at 48.6 lakh hectares, marking a 6.5% decline from the previous year.
Nationally, soybean cultivation stands at 115.6 lakh hectares, down from 118
lakh hectares last season, indicating a broader contraction in acreage.
In Maharashtra, districts including Beed, Hingoli, Osmanabad,
Solapur, Ahmednagar, Latur, and Nanded have been severely affected by excessive
rainfall and waterlogging. These conditions have not only damaged standing
crops but also facilitated the spread of yellow mosaic virus in several
pockets, further threatening yield potential.
Rajasthan is facing similar challenges, with poor crop conditions reported due to heavy rains in low-lying areas and widespread pest infestations. These developments across major soybean-producing states underscore the urgent need for close monitoring, timely advisories, and targeted support measures to mitigate losses and safeguard farmer livelihoods.
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