History

• Cotton is an important commercial crop which can be grown in all parts of Karnataka.
• It is mainly grown in Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Belgaum, Bellary, Bijapur, Shimoga, Chamarajnagar, Mysore, Davanagere districts.
• In Karnataka, traditional cotton growing areas included Dharwod, Bijapur, Chitradurg, Bellary, Raichur districts.
• However, there is a spectacular shift in cotton growing areas in Karnataka. From traditional areas, it has spread to many non-traditional districts like Mysore, Shimoga, Chamarajnagar, Davanagere
• But, total area under cotton cultivation has drastically reduced from 10.4 lakh ha during 1977-78 to 6.24 lakh ha during 1990.
• As per Cotton Advisory Board Estimates in 2005-06 the area under cotton in Karnataka is 4.5. lakh ha with a productivity of 246 kg/ha, which accounts to 6.50 lakh bales (1 bale = 170 kg.).