1.9.3. Cash Crops

1.9.3.1. Cotton

Cotton is a tropical crop grown in Kharif season in semi-arid areas of the country. India grows both short staple (Indian) cotton as well as long staple (American) cotton called ‘narma’ in north-western parts of the country. Cotton requires clear sky during flowering stage. Ideal temperature range is 21°C – 30°C and rainfall in the range of 50 – 100cm. There are three cotton growing areas, i.e. parts of Punjab, Haryana and northern Rajasthan in north-west, Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west and plateaus of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in south. Leading producers of this crop are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.