Bathinda, Feb. 24 -- As the cotton sowing season approaches in April, Punjab faces a challenge in diversifying its kharif crop, with no dedicated plan yet in place.

Cotton acreage in Punjab has been on a steady decline since 2021-22, hitting the lowest of 95,000 hectares in 2024. Punjab agriculture director Jaswant Singh said efforts are being made to encourage farmers to return to cotton cultivation, with the government standing in support.

"The last four kharif seasons have been extremely challenging for cotton farmers, with acreage shrinking significantly. Pest attacks have escalated input costs, making farmers hesitant due to economic concerns. However, we aim to increase cotton acreage to 1.5 lakh hectares in the 2025-26 season," s...