The cotton production in the country has touched an all time high during 2004-05 with a record production of 243.0 lakh bales (1 bale = 170 kg). The productivity of cotton has also shown significant growth with 463 kg/ha during 2004-05 compared to 399 kg/ha during 2003-04 when the production was 179 lakh bales.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has identified two hybrids HHH 287 and HD 324 for Haryana and one variety MCU 13 for Tamil Nadu. These varieties have been identified in the Group Meeting of All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project held recently at University of Agricultural Sciences at Dharwad (Karnataka).

Two cotton hybrids namely, HHH 287 and HD 324 are suitable for crop rotation with wheat in Haryana. HHH 287 has recorded a mean seed cotton yield of 2045 kg/ha with a yield potential of 3500 kg/ha. Cotton variety MCU 13 is a suitable for cultivation in winter-irrigated areas of Tamil Nadu. It has recorded a mean seed cotton yield of 1700 kg/ha in various trials and has the potentiality to yield up to 3500 kg/ha.

HHH 287 is a genetic male sterility (GMS) system based intra-hirsutum hybrid developed by the Chowdhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana). The hybrid is suitable for cultivation in the irrigated tracts of Haryana. It has medium height (150-160 cm), medium boll weight (4 g) and early duration of 160-170 days. It has field resistance to cotton leaf curl virus disease. It has a ginning outturn of 34 per cent. With a medium staple of 27.8 mm and fibre strength of 22.4 g/tex, it can spin up to 40s count. It can replace the existing hybrids LHH 144 and HHH 223.

HD 324 is a G.arboreum variety developed by the Chowdhary Charansingh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. HD 324 has recorded a mean seed cotton yield of 1866 kg/ha with a yield potential of 3000 kg/ha. It is suitable for April planting for irrigated areas of Haryana. It has tolerant to bollworm and leaf curl virus disease. It has a high ginning outturn of 40 per cent and can replace HD 123 in Haryana.

MCU 13 is an extra long staple G.hirsutum variety is developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). It is a multiple cross derivative with wide adaptation. It has a short duration of 150 to 155 days. With a 2.5 per cent span length of 30.3 mm and fibre strength of 22.6 g/tex, it is capable of spinning up to 50 s count. It can replace varieties MCU 5 and MCU 12. It has recorded mean seed cotton yield of 17.0 q/ha in various trials and has the potential to yield up to 35 q/ha.

Gujarat (73 lakh bales), Maharashtra (52 lakh bales) and Andhra Pradesh (32.50 lakh bales) are the leading cotton producer states in the country. In terms of productivity Tamil Nadu (658 kg/ha) is the leading state followed by Gujarat (651 kg/ha) and Punjab (551 kg/ha). The meeting reported that, in general, favourable weather conditions and manageable pest situation prevailed throughout the cotton growing states of the country. No epidemic situation due to pests and diseases was reported from any part of the country. With favourable weather, low pest profile and good technology, the production during the current year is also expected to be around 242.5 lakh bales.

Cotton is grown in India in three distinct agroclimatic regions namely, Northern region where cotton is grown under irrigation in alluvial soils; central region where it is predominantly rainfed and grown in Vertisols or black soils and the Southern region where cotton is predominantly reinfed and grown in Vertisols and red soils.