Pune: The total area under cotton cultivation in the district has seen a significant rise this year, expanding by 74% compared to the average. According to data from the district agriculture office, cotton was planted on 1,945 hectares this year, up from 1,122 hectares last year.Daund taluka reported the highest area under cotton cultivation at 750 hectares, followed by Baramati (457 ha), Shirur (343 ha), Indapur (145 ha), Purandar (15 ha), and Junnar (10 ha). In Bhor and Maval talukas, no cotton was planted this season.Officials attributed the surge to favourable climatic conditions, availability of market facilities, govt support for pest control, and improved awareness among farmers. Sanjay Kachole, the district agriculture officer, told TOI, “It is a positive sign for the district as farmers are finding ways by conducting this kind of experiment to earn handsome returns.”“Cotton is mainly grown in villages where adequate water is available. Also, it is cultivated mainly in farms with top quality black soil and situated close to rivers or water bodies,” he added. Farmers cited assured returns from cotton, reduced pest infestation, and better market rates as reasons for preferring the crop this year.“We get harvest within five months. Usually, two to three plucking is done. After the harvesting, we can take a second crop of the Rabi season. The average income we get is in the range of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000, depending on the rates in the market,” said Vijay Gardare, a farmer from Daund tehsil.Over the last few years, cotton acreage in the district remained relatively stagnant. However, this season’s significant jump has been described as an encouraging trend. Agriculture experts believe that changing rainfall patterns, improved irrigation facilities, and higher demand in the textile sector are influencing farmers’ choices.Farmers from Daund said that favourable weather, timely rainfall, and better pest management created ideal conditions for sowing. “Cotton offers good returns compared to other crops. This year, the climate was supportive, so we shifted to cotton on a large scale,” they added.With the area under cotton cultivation growing, agriculture officials have advised farmers to remain cautious about possible pest attacks in the later stages and to adopt timely protective measures to safeguard their yields. “Our officials at tehsil level help the growers in terms of pesticide spraying and other scientific methods to increase their harvest,” said Kachole.Only Junnar tehsil reported a reverse trend in cotton cultivation because of excess rainfall, said the officials.**Graphic:****Taluka-wise cotton cultivation (2025 Season)**| Taluka | Average Area (ha) | Current Area ||———-|——————-|————–|| Daund | 370 | 750 || Baramati | 445 | 457 || Shirur | 185 | 343 || Indapur | 95 | 145 || Purandar | 0 | 15 || Junnar | 61 | 10 |**Total**: 1,122 ha to 1,945 ha
