Raj KumarAvaldeep Singh2022-11-142022-11-142022Avaldeep Singh (2022). Comparative study of economics and resource use efficiency of cotton in north India (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810189863Cotton is one of the most important crops grown in India, and it plays an important role in the country's economy. The present study was conducted to investigate the comparative economic analysis and resource use efficiency of cotton among different states in India's north cotton zone. This analysis is based on secondary data (1980-81 to 2019-20) and primary data for the 2019-20. During the last four decades, the growth in area under cotton depicted adeclining trend in Punjab with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.9 per cent, while it increased significantly in Haryana (CAGR 1.4%) and Rajasthan (CAGR 0.7%). The primary information was gathered from 120 farmers in major cottongrowing districts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Among these states, land rent was found to be highest in Punjab and lowest in Rajasthan. The total cultivation costsof cotton were found to be Rs.24721, 26644, and 22772 per acre in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab, respectively. The per acre returnsover variable costs in Punjab were highest (Rs.18282), followed by Haryana (Rs.18168) and Rajasthan (Rs.15284). There wasunderutilization of human labour and quality pesticidesin Punjab, human labour in Haryana, and; seed and human labour in Rajasthan. Therefore, increasing the use of these resources would result in higher gross returns. The over utilization of irrigation, potash and nitrogen was found in Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, respectively which have a negative impact on gross returns from cotton cultivation. The most severe production constraints were faced by cotton growers were insect/pest damage, lack of quality seed, and lack of quality inputs in all these states. Inadequate prices of cotton and its fluctuations are the major marketing constraints reported by farmers.EnglishThesis