World Cotton Day 2024: Date, history, significance and all you need to know

In addition to being a staple in the textile industry, cotton plays a vital role in animal feed, medical supplies, and the production of edible oil.

October 7 is celebrated globally as World Cotton Day. It’s a day dedicated to showcasing the incredible versatility of cotton. While cotton is a staple in the textile industry, it also plays a crucial role in animal feed, medical supplies and even the production of edible oil.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of this international event, which honours one of the most widely used plants — cottonseed and cotton fibre being its most notable products.

WORLD COTTON DAY 2024:

Every year, October 7 is celebrated as World Cotton Day, reaffirming global commitments to enhancing the sustainability of the cotton sector and highlighting its role on the world stage.

WORLD COTTON DAY 2024: HISTORY

Cotton plays a crucial role in achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in supporting global development.

The importance of cotton gained momentum during the Industrial Revolution in Britain when textiles became the nation’s top export.

To advance these goals, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), and the International Trade Centre (ITC) collaborated on a joint initiative focusing on cotton by-products.

WORLD COTTON DAY 2024: ORIGIN

The idea for World Cotton Day originated from the Cotton Four nations—Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, and Mali—and other cotton-producing countries in Africa, aiming to promote cotton by-products and their markets.

The first World Cotton Day (WCD) event was initiated in Geneva and observed on October 7, 2019.

Currently, India holds the title of the largest cotton producer in the world, with most cotton production occurring in developing and least developed nations.

WORLD COTTON DAY 2024: SIGNIFICANCE

World Cotton Day is celebrated globally through various events that disseminate knowledge and provide assistance to cotton farmers, researchers, processors, and all other stakeholders involved in cotton production and marketing.

The event offers an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities within the sector, particularly for low-income countries, while underscoring the sector’s relevance.

WCD also serves as a valuable opportunity to renew the commitment to fostering a sustainable cotton sector for better production, improved environmental practices, enhanced nutrition, and an overall better quality of life, leaving no one behind.