ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF COTTON CULTIVATION IN MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

The study examines the cost sustainability of cotton production in the Maharashtra state of India, which accounts for nearly one-third of the area under cotton cultivation. India has around 120.69 Lakh hectares of area under cotton cultivation. With a 25% contribution to global cotton production India is the leading producer of Cotton globally, providing livelihood to 58 lakh farmers and additionally, 4 to 5 crore persons are engaged in the occupation of cotton garments manufacturing and trade activities (Prakash, 2021). The study examines the secondary data from 2010-11 to 2021-22 and the limited literature review which showcases how over the years the cotton cultivation practices have not changed, resulting in stagnation and low yield in production and an increase in cultivation cost on account of high inflation. The study with the help of Situation – Actors – Process and Learning -Action – Performance (SAP-LAP) analysis assesses the cost and yield associated with cotton cultivation in Maharashtra and thereby attempts to analyze its economic sustainability. The basic analysis shows that cotton cultivation in Maharashtra is not sustainable and requires a high level of intervention to make it an economically viable crop for farmers.