Not AvailableCotton is one of the major fibre crops of global significance. It is cultivated in tropical and subtropical
regions of more than eighty countries of world occupying nearly 33 m ha with an annual
production of 19 to 20 million tones of bales. China, U.S.A., India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan,
Australia, Brazil, Greece, Argentina and Egypt are major cotton producing countries. These
countries contribute nearly 85% of the global cotton production. In India, cotton is being cultivated
in 9.0 m ha and stands first in acreage. The crop is grown in varied agro-climatic situation across
nine major states viz. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The crop is also grown on small area in Orissia,
Assam, U.P and West Bengal. Nearly 60 million people are engaged in cotton production,
marketing and processing. The textile industry which utilizes the cotton provides employment to
about 16% of the total workforce. Cotton in its various forms also serves as raw material for more
than 25 industries
