Telangana, the third-largest cotton-producing State in the nation, increased its cotton production by 33% from 18.85 lakh tonnes (lt) in 2015. This is right despite the crop’s area not significantly expanding. 19 lakh hectares (lh) of cotton were planted over the time period, a 12 percent increase from 17 lh.
The state’s ability to export more cotton during the period was aided by the higher yield; during that time, cotton exports were worth $3,000 crore or roughly five times as much as the $600 crore exported in 2014–15. Gross sown area (GSA) in the State increased by 51% from 53 lh in 2014. According to a senior government official, “The State could do this due to the anticipated investments in new irrigation projects and revitalization of current irrigation systems.”
The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for cotton production at that time was 8.8%. Telangana now follows Rajasthan, which recorded a CAGR of 16%, on the ranking. The Telangana Socio-Economic Outlook 2023 estimates a 0.25 percent CAGR for the entire nation.
Telangana contributed 40% of the cotton that the Cotton Corporation of India purchased, playing a significant part in the process (CCI). According to Prof. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJT- SAU), farmers have been able to harvest more recently due to favorable weather conditions, a decrease in pink bollworm attacks, and a rise in plant population.
