Cotton cultivation in Haryana has plummeted to its lowest level in seven years, with acreage dropping by 65% from over 8 lakh hectares in 2019-20 to just 2.82 lakh hectares in the 2025-26 kharif season, according to the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department. A study by agricultural economists and extension specialists at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar, reveals that farmers incurred an average net loss of Rs 15,143 per acre during the 2025 kharif season, with gross returns of Rs 24,882 per acre falling far short of the total cultivation cost of Rs 40,024 per acre.
Sharp Decline in Acreage and Yield
The study, conducted by HAU experts Dr Vinay Mehla, Dr Ashok Kumar, Dr Gulab Singh, Dr Sanjay Kumar, Dr Parveen Kumar, and Dr Sumit, attributes the decline to successive losses faced by cotton growers. Cotton, a major irrigated cash crop in Haryana, is primarily cultivated in Hisar, Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri, and Sirsa districts. The average yield dropped to 4 quintals per acre from 5.70 quintals per acre the previous year, while the average market price fell to Rs 6,020 per quintal from Rs 7,071 per quintal.
Detailed Cost Analysis Reveals Heavy Losses
Farmers spent an average of Rs 22,821 per acre on variable costs, including land preparation, sowing, seed, fertilisers, irrigation, weeding, plant protection, picking, and threshing. Additional costs included land rental value (Rs 12,191 per acre), management charges (Rs 2,282), risk factor charges (Rs 2,165), and transportation expenses (Rs 564 per acre). Although farmers earned a return of Rs 2,060 per acre over variable costs, the study notes that this does not reflect the true financial position once all fixed costs are included.
District-wise Losses Vary
Cotton cultivation was loss-making across all surveyed districts. Hisar recorded the highest average loss of Rs 17,515 per acre, followed by Fatehabad (Rs 17,315), Charkhi Dadri (Rs 15,276), Bhiwani (Rs 14,852), Mahendragarh (Rs 14,114), Sirsa (Rs 11,250), and Rewari (Rs 9,548). Input costs were substantial, with farmers spending an average of Rs 1,622 per acre on seed and Rs 2,773 per acre on fertilisers.
Pest Attacks and Lack of Solutions
The report does not specifically examine the impact of recurring pest attacks, including pink bollworm and whitefly, or unseasonal rainfall, which farmers have repeatedly cited as major reasons for poor yields and successive crop failures over the past seven years. Farmers allege that despite repeated outbreaks, agriculture authorities have not provided an effective, affordable, and sustainable solution to control these pests.
