Cotton area in Antalya has exhibited some large fluctuations during the period of 1981-1989. After 1989, cotton area in the region has fallen substantially. The main purpose of this study was to determine the economic reasons for the declining cotton area in the region. The results in this study revealed that the correlation between net returns per hectare and following planted area was positive but statistically non significant for over the study period (1981-1994). However the correlation coefficient (r=0,896) was found significant in the period of after 1989 (1989-1994). In other words cropping decisions are mainly based on net returns of cotton production. The findings of this study imply that farmers in the past were influenced by a wide variety of factors in choosing farm enterprises. However, in recent years because of growing financial pressure's profitability was the leading factor in agricultural decision making.