Cotton Cultivation in Nanded: Godavari Basin Agriculture

Nanded district's fertile black cotton soil (regur) along the Godavari river basin is highly suited for cotton cultivation. Farmers grow Bt cotton varieties (NHH-44, RCH-2) that have replaced traditional long-staple desi cotton since 2002. Nanded's cotton belt, particularly in Bhokar, Biloli, and Deglur talukas, contributes significantly to Maharashtra's total cotton output. Cotton harvesting is predominantly done by women workers from scheduled caste and tribal communities who earn daily wages during the October-December picking season. Traditional cotton ginning workshops in Nanded town process raw cotton into lint and seed. Cottonseed oil extracted from seeds is a cheap cooking oil widely used in Marathwada's food economy. The historical Nanded cotton trade linked to Hyderabad's textile markets during the Nizam period has left architectural traces in the form of cotton merchant havelis in the old city.