With the cotton sowing season officially ending on May 31, the Agriculture Department has granted farmers a 15-day extension to register on its portal for availing 33 per cent subsidy on cotton seeds. The move comes amid a sharp decline in the area under cotton crop this year.According to the department, cotton has been sown on nearly 77,500 hectares against the target of 1.25 lakh hectares.Officials said the extension was necessary as many farmers could not complete the registration process in time. They also pointed out that field staff remained largely occupied with duties related to the recently concluded civic body elections, affecting outreach and registration efforts.The area under cotton cultivation has been witnessing a steady decline over the years. Cotton was sown on 2.48 lakh hectares in 2022; 2.14 lakh hectares in 2023; 1 lakh hectares in 2024; and 1.19 lakh hectares in 2025.The experts attribute the declining interest among farmers to recurring whitefly and pink bollworm attacks, failure to realise the minimum support price (MSP), labour shortage and losses caused by untimely rain.As per the department’s latest report, cotton has been sown on 40,610 hectares in Fazilka district, followed by 15,535 hectares in Mansa, 10,800 hectares in Muktsar and 10,352 hectares in Bathinda. Smaller areas have been reported from Faridkot (116 hectares), Barnala (80 hectares), Sangrur (65 hectares) and Moga (22 hectares).Under the subsidy scheme, farmers are eligible for a 33 per cent subsidy on Bt and desi cotton seeds for up to two hectares. To avail themselves of the benefit, they are required to register on the department’s web portal and submit the necessary details.Gurjit Singh Brar, Director, Agriculture Department, Punjab, said the newly released desi cotton variety PBD-88, developed by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, had generated considerable interest among farmers with 1,388 hectares brought under it this season.