The state has failed to achieve the target of bringing 3 lakh hectares under the cotton crop due to inclement weather and farmers earning less profit than paddy. The cotton crop is mainly sown in Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts.

By May 31 (sowing season ended), the crop was sown on around 1.75 lakh hectares (58 per cent of the target). Last year, the crop was sown on 2.48 lakh hectares against the target of 4 lakh hectares.

A senior official in the Agriculture Department said, “Initially, May 20 was decided as the last date for sowing cotton. Later, it was extended to May 31. Around 1.75 lakh hectares are under the cotton cultivation this year. Fazilka is the only district which has performed better.”

Fazilka Chief Agriculture Officer Jangir Singh said, “More than half of the area brought under the cotton crop is in Fazilka district. The cotton crop has been sown on 90,850 hectares against the target of 1.5 lakh hectares in the district. The canal water was made available to farmers on time.”