Cotton Cultivation in India: Important Things You
Should Know
Cotton Cultivation in India
India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant.
India lost a large proportion of cotton growing area to Pakistan during partition. However, its
acreage has increased considerably during the last 50 years.
Now, Cotton occupies about 4.7 per cent of the total cropped area in the country.
Conditions required for Cotton cultivation
Cotton is a tropical or sub-tropical crop grown in semi-arid areas of the country (mainly in the
Deccan Plateau).
Hard-frost is injurious to cotton cultivation and it requires at least 210 frost-free days.
Only light-rainfall (50 to 100 centimetres) is preferred. Cotton can also be cultivated under
irrigated conditions.
It requires high temperature and bright sunshine for its growth.
Cotton requires a clear sky during the flowering stage.
A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the
crop. Black cotton soil is prefered.
It is a Kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
Largest cotton-producing country
Now, India is the leading cotton production country of cotton. (Reference – FAO).
Earlier, India was the second-largest producer of cotton after China.
Major cotton-producing states in India
Should Know
Cotton Cultivation in India
India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant.
India lost a large proportion of cotton growing area to Pakistan during partition. However, its
acreage has increased considerably during the last 50 years.
Now, Cotton occupies about 4.7 per cent of the total cropped area in the country.
Conditions required for Cotton cultivation
Cotton is a tropical or sub-tropical crop grown in semi-arid areas of the country (mainly in the
Deccan Plateau).
Hard-frost is injurious to cotton cultivation and it requires at least 210 frost-free days.
Only light-rainfall (50 to 100 centimetres) is preferred. Cotton can also be cultivated under
irrigated conditions.
It requires high temperature and bright sunshine for its growth.
Cotton requires a clear sky during the flowering stage.
A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the
crop. Black cotton soil is prefered.
It is a Kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
Largest cotton-producing country
Now, India is the leading cotton production country of cotton. (Reference – FAO).
Earlier, India was the second-largest producer of cotton after China.
Major cotton-producing states in India
