A major transformation is unfolding across India’s agricultural landscape as thousands of farmers in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan are gradually moving away from cotton cultivation and shifting towards millets, especially bajra. The change is being driven by a deadly pest attack, soaring input costs, labour shortages, water stress, uncertain profits and rising fears over global fertiliser supply disruptions.
The shift is particularly visible in the cotton-growing belt of North-West India, once known as the country’s “white gold” region because of its large-scale cotton production. Farmers who previously depended heavily on cotton are now increasingly viewing millet cultivation as safer, cheaper and more profitable.
Haryana Farmer’s Story Reflects a Wider Crisis
The changing agricultural reality can be seen in the experience of 40-year-old farmer Ramesh Chandra from Kushanbi village in Haryana’s Sirsa district. Just two years ago, cotton was his primary crop. In 2024, he cultivated cotton on 23 acres of land. By 2025, the area reduced to 12 acres. In 2026, he has brought cotton cultivation down to only one acre.
Instead, Ramesh has shifted major portions of his farmland towards bajra cultivation. Earlier, he used to grow bajra on only two acres, but now millet farming has become his biggest agricultural bet.
His story is no longer an isolated case. Across Haryana’s Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Bhiwani districts, along with Punjab’s Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib regions, and Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar areas, farmers are rapidly reducing cotton acreage.
Pink Bollworm Becomes Cotton’s Biggest Enemy
Agriculture experts identify the pink bollworm infestation as the primary reason behind the cotton crisis. The pest has severely damaged cotton productivity across North India’s cotton belt.
The larvae of the pink bollworm enter cotton bolls by creating holes and begin feeding internally on seeds and cotton fibre. This not only destroys production but also damages fibre quality, reducing market value.
Farmers who earlier harvested between 10 to 12 quintals of cotton per acre are now struggling with sharply reduced yields. Ramesh himself reportedly harvested only 31 quintals from 12 acres last season, resulting in significant financial losses.
Experts say the infestation has become so severe that farmers feel helpless despite repeated pesticide applications.
Cotton Harvesting Costs Rising Due to Labour Shortage
Another major challenge affecting cotton cultivation is the shortage of agricultural labour. Cotton harvesting requires extensive manual picking of cotton fibre from plants, a labour-intensive process that has become increasingly expensive.
Due to migration and declining rural workforce availability, labourers are harder to find. Workers involved in cotton picking are reportedly charging between ₹12 and ₹25 per kilogram for harvesting.
Although cotton prices in mandis have improved, rising labour costs and falling productivity are offsetting gains. Cotton that sold for nearly ₹7,500 per quintal last year is reportedly trading around ₹8,500 per quintal this season. However, farmers say higher prices are meaningless when overall production has collapsed because of pest attacks.
Cotton Farming Becoming Increasingly Expensive
Cotton cultivation has also become heavily dependent on costly fertilisers and pesticides. Farmers are spending large amounts on fertilisers such as Single Super Phosphate (SSP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), sulphur bentonite, DAP and urea.
Apart from fertilisers, farmers are also spraying expensive pesticides multiple times during the crop cycle to protect cotton from American bollworm, spotted bollworm, tobacco caterpillar, thrips and aphids.
Cotton’s crop cycle extends nearly 180 to 185 days, during which farmers often spray pesticides five to ten times. Despite these heavy expenses, several farmers say pesticides are failing to effectively control pink bollworm attacks.
As a result, many growers now see cotton cultivation as a loss-making proposition.
Why Farmers Are Turning to Bajra
Compared to cotton, bajra cultivation requires significantly lower investment and lower water usage. Farmers say bajra needs fewer fertilisers, fewer pesticide sprays and much less irrigation.
While cotton may require five to seven irrigation cycles, bajra can often grow with just one or two irrigations. Additionally, hybrid bajra varieties mature in nearly 90 to 95 days compared to cotton’s six-month cycle.
Farmers are reportedly achieving yields of 18 to 20 quintals per acre with certain hybrid bajra varieties, making the crop financially attractive.
Seed Demand for Bajra Hybrids Surging
Agriculture industry executives say demand for hybrid bajra seeds has risen sharply in North India. Officials from agrochemical and seed companies indicated that varieties such as Pro Agro 901, 9190 and 9180 are witnessing strong demand across Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
According to industry estimates mentioned in the discussion, the Pro Agro 901 hybrid variety alone was cultivated across nearly 16 lakh acres during the 2025 Kharif season, and the figure could rise further in 2026.
Bajra Offers Triple Cropping Opportunities
Experts say one of bajra’s biggest advantages is crop flexibility. Cotton occupies farmland for nearly six months, limiting farmers mostly to wheat cultivation afterwards. In contrast, bajra’s shorter duration allows farmers to grow multiple crops annually.
Farmers sowing bajra in June can harvest it by September and then cultivate mustard during the Rabi season. After mustard harvesting in March, farmers can further grow summer moong crops.
This creates opportunities for three crop cycles in a year, increasing annual farm income and reducing dependency on a single crop.
Farmers Demand Guaranteed MSP Procurement
Despite the growing interest in millet cultivation, farmers remain worried about price realisation. Many growers say that although the government announces Minimum Support Prices (MSP), actual mandi prices remain much lower.
Last year, while the official MSP for bajra stood at ₹2,775 per quintal, several farmers reportedly sold produce at nearly ₹2,100 per quintal.
For 2026, the government has increased bajra MSP to ₹2,900 per quintal. However, farmers argue that MSP declarations alone are insufficient unless accompanied by direct procurement or compensation for the difference between market price and MSP.
Global Fertiliser Crisis Adds New Uncertainty
The agricultural concerns are also being intensified by global geopolitical tensions. Farmers and experts fear that disruptions in fertiliser imports could create shortages ahead of the Kharif sowing season.
India depends heavily on imports and imported raw materials for fertilisers. The report highlighted concerns regarding disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz due to tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Fertiliser demand in India has increased substantially over the past decade. Urea consumption alone has reportedly risen from below 300 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to nearly 400 lakh tonnes in 2025-26. Consumption of DAP, SSP and NPK fertilisers has also increased sharply.
Experts warn that fertiliser shortages or price spikes could push farmers further away from fertiliser-intensive crops such as paddy and maize.
Paddy and Maize May Lose Acreage
Farmers say crops like paddy and maize require heavy fertiliser use, making them risky during periods of fertiliser uncertainty.
Ramesh Chandra himself has been increasing paddy acreage over the years, but experts believe many farmers may rethink expansion plans if fertiliser availability remains uncertain.
As a result, low-input crops such as bajra, moong and pulses are likely to gain more cultivation area in the coming seasons.
Experts See 2026 as Potential “Year of Millets”
Agriculture experts believe 2026 could become a breakthrough year for millets in India due to economic and environmental pressures.
The government has already promoted millets extensively in recent years, especially after the United Nations declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets following India’s proposal.
India currently remains the world’s largest millet producer, contributing nearly 38 percent of global millet production.
Experts also believe millet cultivation could eventually support India’s ethanol ambitions if higher starch-content varieties are developed.
Sugar Export Restrictions Reflect Government Concerns
The discussion also referenced the government’s recent decision to restrict sugar exports until September 30, 2026.
Experts suggest the move reflects concerns about future sugarcane production amid fertiliser shortages and rising domestic demand during the festive season. Since sugarcane cultivation requires heavy fertiliser use, policymakers appear cautious about export commitments under uncertain supply conditions.
India’s Agriculture Cycle Entering a New Phase
The combined impact of pest attacks, rising cultivation costs, labour shortages, climate uncertainty, water stress and fertiliser concerns is reshaping cropping patterns across India.
Farmers who once depended heavily on cotton are increasingly moving towards crops that require less water, less fertiliser and lower investment. Experts believe this transition could significantly strengthen millet production in India while redefining the country’s agricultural priorities over the coming years.
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