By Editor By this point, many of you may already know how big a textile exporter India really is, and that’s only because India actually is the 2nd largest cotton producer in the entire world. We produce somewhere around 20% of the total cotton produced in the world every single year, so no wonder that the textile market is so big, not just in India, but we export so much of textile products to other nations as well. And this is just thanks to how the government has promoted cotton production over the years, and that’s why so many states in India are up for it. So, let’s just talk about the Top 10 Highest Cotton Producing States in India 2025. Let’s get going then.
1. Gujarat
There is no surprise that Gujarat tops our list for 2025 once again. The greatness of cotton from Gujarat is not only its size (90 to 95 lakh bales annually, more or less) but also the fact that it has been maintained over time. The fertile black soil of Saurashtra and Kutch, combined with a well-established irrigation system in a semi-arid region, makes for ideal cotton-growing conditions. The districts of Rajkot, Amreli, and Bhavnagar, among others, are the main sources of this production.
2. Maharashtra
Maharashtra maintains its position as the second largest producer of cotton with almost 80 to 85 lakh bales of cotton. While Gujarat is less reliant on agriculture, this state uses rain-fed agriculture, which is mostly used in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Due to the unpredictability of the monsoons, the yield of cotton in Maharashtra fluctuates; however, its large cultivation area keeps it at the top level. The cotton production in the districts of Yavatmal, Jalgaon, and Nagpur contributes to the state’s output.
3. Telangana
It is true that Telangana was not ranked within the top five for a long time. Nevertheless, it has taken a steady grip on the third position in 2025 with an annual production of about 65 to 70 lakh bales. The changes are majorly attributable to the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, the widespread usage of Bt cotton, and the implementation of the state schemes like Rythu Bandhu. The areas of Warangal, Adilabad, and Karimnagar have turned into significant cotton producers.
4. Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is still in the 4th position with a yearly output of around 55 to 60 lakh bales. The leading cotton-growing regions of the state are Guntur, Anantapur, and Kurnool, which are the main areas of the Rayalaseema belt. The most distinguishing feature of the state of Andhra is its dependence on contemporary agricultural methods such as drip irrigation and crop diversification.
5. Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh is still the fifth state that produces cotton bales ranging from 45 to 50 lakh annually. One may ask, what is the reason that this state maintains such a position? The answer lies in the mix of rich black soil, being at the center of India, and the spreading irrigation system coming from rivers like the Narmada. Leading districts like Khargone, Barwani, and Khandwa are the first to witness the boom of cotton cultivation. Gradually, farmers are changing their ways of working to modern and eco-friendly ones, and cotton is still the most lucrative crop in the area.
6. Rajasthan
Rajasthan probably is not the first place that comes to your mind when you think of cotton, but Hanumangarh and Ganganagar have flipped that story. This state is now sixth overall in the country for cotton output of over 10 to 12 lakh bales annually. The Indira Gandhi Canal is largely credited for this. Agriculturists have mostly chosen Bt cotton to secure higher outputs, and the currently introduced drip irrigation and climate-resilient agriculture practices are not only allowing them to fight water scarcity but also enabling them to continue their business.
7. Haryana
Haryana undoubtedly is small in size, yet it manages to hold the seventh position in the country with an annual production ranging from 8 to 10 lakh bales of cotton. Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar are the regions where cotton cultivation is flourishing, supported by a strong government hand in the form of MSP procurement, crop insurance, and seed subsidy schemes. The farmers of this area are quite technologically advanced; they are very receptive to the new methods, and they concentrate extensively on the cultivation of high-yield Bt cotton varieties.
8. Karnataka
Karnataka is ranked eighth and roughly contributes 5 to 6 lakh bales of cotton annually. The cotton belt comprises districts such as Raichur, Ballari, and Dharwad, where the growth is encouraged by moderate rainfall and warm temperatures. The thing that is unique in this area is that small and marginal farmers are highly dependent on cotton.
9. Tamil Nadu
Even though Tamil Nadu is placed 9th with 4 to 5 lakh bales of cotton produced annually, the significance of this state in the cotton economy of India is much higher than what the numbers indicate. The areas such as Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Salem produce cotton only for their local textile mills so that the cotton-to-cloth process becomes easy and quick. Although Tamil Nadu is not a major cotton-producing state, it still adds a lot of value to that cotton through its vibrant textile and garment industry.
10. Punjab
Punjab is at number 10 on the list, producing about 4 lakh bales of cotton each year. The giant of the cotton industry is the Malwa region, which also includes Bathinda, Fazilka, and Mansa districts. Over time, the state has undergone a lot of trouble because of pests and overuse of pesticides, but the crop diversification programs and more efficient pest management practices in the last period seem to have changed the situation.
Conclusion
That’s all there is for now. By far, these are the ten highest cotton-producing states in India, and as you can already tell, these states alone contribute to almost all the cotton produced in the country. So, whenever there is a decline in production, it impacts the textile industry a lot.