Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the major fibre crops of India. The geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton, the most important fibre crop of India are as follows : Cotton is a kharif crop and requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost free days and bright sunshine for its growth. Rainfall at the time of bursting of the cotton balls is harmful as it spoils the cotton balls. Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black soil area of the Deccan plateau. Black soil is also known as black cotton soil due to the fact that it is ideal for growth of cotton. The major cotton-producing states of India are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Jute is the second most important fibre crop of India. West Bengal, especially the Hooghly basin of the state, is the leading jute-producing area of the country on account of the well- drained fertile soil of the floodplain which are renewed every year. Also the climatic condition with high temperature during time of growth and sufficient availibility of water have favoured jute cultivation in the Hooghly basin of West Bengal. Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya are the other jute-producing states.