Cotton, a plant species originating from India, grows as an annual plant. The cotton plant is planted in the spring and harvested by hand or machines between August and October.

Cotton is processed in the textile industry to use the fibers and usually the seeds are separated. The cotton grown in Turkey is generally medium-fiber cotton and there are many different varieties.

Cotton production in Turkey is concentrated in regions such as the Aegean, Çukurova, Southeastern Anatolia and Antalya. Within the Southeastern Anatolia Region, Şanlıurfa stands out as a leading city in cotton production. In the Mediterranean region, cotton is produced in cities such as Adana, Mersin, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay.

Cotton has a wide range of uses, not only in the textile industry, but also for medical and industrial purposes.