In India, cotton is cultivated in three distinct agro-climatic zones; North zone, Central zone and South zone. Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan are the three North Indian cotton growing states. Of the four cultivated species of cotton, only Upland cotton {Gossypium hirsutum) and one of the two Asiatic cottons (G. arboreum) can be cultivated in this region. Presently, Upland cotton is grown predominantly in this zone as is the case in rest of the cotton growing states of the country. Most of the cottoncultivated in this region is irrigated. Based on the average of last 10 years, cotton in this part of the country was cultivated on approximately 1.5 million hectares (ha) which constitutes about 12.3 per cent of the national cotton area; with an average contribution of nearly 14 per cent to the total cotton production of the country. This zone recorded higher average cotton productivity (572 kg lint ha1) than the national average of 506 kg lint ha 1 during this period.
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