Cotton is an important principal commercial fiber crop. It is one of the most leading and important cash crops in Indian economy. In the present study an attempt has been made using secondary data for forty six years (from 1970 to 2016) to understand the growth rates in area, production and productivity of cotton crop in Dharwad, Ballari and Raichur districts of Karnataka. The results revealed that area, production and productivity of cotton crop marked a significant increase in growth rate during the study period. In case of Dharwad district, increasing growth rate in area (4.37%), production (3.82%) and productivity (3.01%) was observed. For Ballari district, increasing growth rate in area (2.78%), production (3.26%) and productivity (2.99%) was observed. Whereas, in case of Raichur district, a decreasing growth under area (-5.59%) and an increasing growth rate in production (3.72%) and productivity (3.26%) was seen.

not only for attaining high overall growth but also for accelerating the poverty reduction in a developing country like India (Pavitra, et al., 2018).India cultivates the highest acreage under cotton in the world. It provides the