Cotton, Soybean Crops Soaked by Monsoon Fury

 

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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