Cotton acreage in Indore division dips slightly as farmers shift to maize

Indore, Madhya Pradesh: The area under cotton cultivation in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore division is expected to remain above 5 lakh hectares this kharif season, although slightly lower than last year due to a shift towards maize, according to official figures from the agriculture department, reports The Times of India.

The department had set a target of 5.17 lakh hectares for cotton cultivation this season, compared to 5.37 lakh hectares recorded last year—a drop of around 3.7 percent. Officials attribute the decline to farmers opting for maize, which is gaining popularity due to better returns and lower cultivation costs.

“Cotton and other kharif crops are doing well, and there’s been no damage from rain so far,” said Alok Meena, Joint Director of Agriculture, Indore. “Cotton acreage is expected to stay above 5 lakh hectares in the division.”

Farmers and agricultural experts are optimistic about the cotton crop’s prospects this year, expecting yields of 10–12 quintals per acre. “There’s no weather-related damage, and crop health looks good,” said Raghuram Patil, a cotton farmer. “Though acreage has dipped slightly due to maize, the condition of the crop is encouraging.”

Major cotton-growing districts in the Indore division include Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani, Manawar, Dhar, Ratlam, and Dewas. Alongside cotton, the division also grows soybean, maize, and pulses during the kharif season.

Cotton sowing in irrigated regions usually begins in mid-May, while non-irrigated areas start in June. “The crop is looking healthy,” said Kailash Agrawal, a farmer and ginning unit owner in Khargone. “But maize has taken some area from cotton and soybean this year because of better prices.”

Farmers noted that maize is significantly cheaper to cultivate—costing nearly 10 percent of what it takes to grow cotton—making it an increasingly attractive option.

Despite the slight shift in crop choices, the state agriculture department expects total kharif crop coverage in the division to reach about 22.5 lakh hectares this season, with soybean continuing to be the dominant crop.