Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

Cotton cultivation plays a crucial role in Maharashtra’s agricultural economy, especially for smallholder farmers. Despite its significance, the sector faces persistent production and marketing challenges that hinder productivity and profitability. This study assesses these challenges based on farmer perceptions in the Aurangabad and Jalna districts, employing a multi-stage purposive sampling technique to survey 240 cotton farmers across diverse landholding categories. The Garrett Ranking Method was used to identify and prioritize key constraints. The most severe production-related challenges included high labour costs, limited access to credit, expensive farm inputs, and constraints posed by small and fragmented landholdings. On the marketing side, farmers reported heavy reliance on intermediaries, poor bargaining power, volatile cotton prices, and high transportation costs as critical issues. These constraints collectively erode farm profitability and diminish the resilience of cotton farming systems. To address these concerns, the study recommends expanding irrigation infrastructure, improving access to institutional credit, promoting farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and enhancing rural connectivity. Strengthening digital market access and storage facilities can also improve price realization and reduce dependency on middlemen. A comprehensive, farmer-oriented policy framework is essential for revitalizing cotton cultivation and ensuring its long-term sustainability in Maharashtra.