10 Largest Cotton Producing States in India

Cotton is often called India's "white gold". It touches millions of livelihoods, powers the textile industry, and keeps India firmly among the top cotton producers in the world. But which states actually grow the most of it? Here's a clear look at where India's cotton really comes from.

Importance of Cotton for Indian agriculture

Cotton is one of India's most valuable cash crops, grown mainly as a Kharif crop across nine major states. It provides direct livelihoods to around 6 million farmers and indirect employment to 40-50 million people through ginning, spinning, weaving, and trade. 

India is the world's second-largest cotton producer after China, contributing close to a quarter of global output, and it's the only country cultivating all four commercial cotton species, Asian, American, and Egyptian varieties. Beyond farm income, cotton fuels the textile and garment export sector, making it a crop of both agricultural and industrial importance.

Top 10 Cotton Producing States in India

According to APEDA's data for FY 2024-25, India's total cotton production stood at 29,724.17 thousand tonnes, with the top three states alone contributing 67% of the total. Here's a quick look at the top 10 cotton producing states in India.

• Maharashtra: The largest cotton producer in the country with its huge Vidarbha and Marathwada belts. Its main producing districts are Yavatmal, Jalgaon & Nagpur.
• Gujarat: Very close second with good soil, good climate. Cotton production here is mainly driven by districts like Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Amreli.
• Telangana: Previously not in the top five, Telangana has risen rapidly on the back of irrigation projects and adoption of Bt cotton. Adilabad and Warangal are the major cotton producers.
• Rajasthan: A dry state where canals are used to grow cotton in the districts of Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh.
• Karnataka: Slow growing cotton farming is located in the northern parts of the state, which are favoured by rainfed and irrigated farming.
• Madhya Pradesh: Regularly featured in the middle of the top 10 list, with Khandwa and Khargone being some of the major cotton belts.
• Andhra Pradesh: Cotton is grown mainly in the Rayalaseema and coastal areas of the state with the help of state farming schemes.
• Haryana: A smaller but efficient producer, with high yields per hectare in districts like Sirsa and Hisar.
• Punjab: Punjab was once the cotton powerhouse of India. Over the years its output has been on the decline, but Bathinda and Mansa still contribute meaningfully.
• Odisha: The smallest in the top 10 but growing cotton acreage slowly with government support for climate resilient seeds.

These states together make India one of the largest cotton producers in the world to feed domestic textile mills and export markets.

Which State Produces the Most Cotton in India? 

Based on the latest APEDA figures, Maharashtra is the largest cotton-producing state in India, contributing nearly 25% of the country's total output, closely followed by Gujarat. Together, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Telangana form the backbone of India's cotton economy, accounting for two-thirds of national production. Maharashtra's edge comes from its vast cultivated area and long-established cotton belt in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, where the crop has been grown for generations.

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