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Close-up of two hands picking cotton.
Picking cotton in a farmer field school in Mali where FAO developed a programme of pesticide risk reduction and sustainable production.
Photo:?FAO/Swiatoslaw Wojtkowiak

Weaving a better future for cotton

Cotton is one of the most common fabrics in our wardrobes. It is comfortable, hypoallergenic, breathable and durable.

But cotton represents so much more than just a commodity. This natural fabric is a life-changing product worldwide that.

This means that, behind any cotton clothing, following back its trade chain, there is a personal story.

It is true that cotton is really important to developed economies, but for least-developed and developing countries, it is a safety-net.

Cotton is a major source of livelihoods and incomes for many rural smallholders and laborers, including women, providing employment and income to some of the poorest rural areas in the world.

On the fourth official  the United Nations wants to raise visibility of the cotton sector and awareness of the critical role that it plays in economic development, international trade and poverty alleviation. The observance also aims to highlight the importance of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

UN celebration – Cotton for Good
7 October 2024, 09:00 am, Benin Time (GMT+1)

UN World Cotton Day 2024 will be celebrated for the first time in the African continent. Over 400 attendees will share ideas on enhancing the benefits and impact of cotton, the world’s most important natural fiber. The celebration will also highlight the importance of sustained economic growth, inclusive and sustainable industrial development, fair trade practices, and decent work for all. Learn more about the sector and the on the official website.

Plant of Cotton

World Cotton Day, an idea that started thanks to the “Cotton Four”

The , when four cotton producers in sub-Saharan Africa– Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, known as the Cotton Four -proposed the a World Cotton Day celebration on October 7.

During 2 consecutive years, the date offered an opportunity to share knowledge and showcase cotton-related activities.

Now that the United Nations has officially recognized this World Cotton Day, this great opportunity creates awareness of the need of market access for cotton and cotton-related products from least developed countries, fosters sustainable trade policies and enables developing countries to benefit more from every step of the cotton value chain.

A rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, predictable and transparent international cotton trading system is key to provide a livelihood to hundreds of millions of vulnerable people around the globe.

Besides, greater investments are needed to expand the sector beyond raw cotton production and create new income opportunities, especially for farmers, by adding more value to cotton fibre and developing by-products from other parts of the cotton plant.

UN agencies have worked years towards this mission. For instance, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) have helped to optimize production and improve local processing capacity, as well as to discuss the trade reforms needed to address high trade barriers and inequalities for cotton producers in developing countries. These efforts date back to 2003 through the .

Another UN agency, FAO, has long offered developing countries technical and policy support for boosting productivity and creating more opportunities in the cotton value chain. As an example, the , a cooperation initiative with Brazil (another leader in the industry) that helps Latin American producers to introduce innovative farming methods.

Let's keep working on offering the assistance to the cotton sector in developing countries to keep increasing productivity, investment and bring innovation and sustainable standards to increase the benefits of the cotton sector worldwide.

Did you know?

  • A single tonne of cotton provides year-round employment for 5 people on average, often in some of the most impoverished regions.
  • Cotton-based filaments are appealing to 3D printers because they conduct heat well; become stronger when wet; and are more scalable than materials like wood.
  • In addition to its fibre used in textiles and apparel, food products can be derived from cotton, such as edible oil and animal feed from the seed.

Ending child labour in cotton growing in Mali

 

Many families involved in cotton production experience extreme poverty and have to rely on their children as a workforce to survive.

Related links

  • FAO: project in and
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Related publications

This website provides a single entry point for all the cotton-specific information on market access, trade statistics, country-specific business contacts and development-assistance related information, as well as links to relevant documents and webpages. It also provides links to other organisations active on cotton.

South American countries that rely heavily on cotton have suffered a decrease in production, affecting the income of thousands of farming families. The +Cotton led by FAO, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency and other local partners hopes to counter this by working with farmers across seven countries in South America. The initiative encourages collaboration and the sharing of innovative farming methods. 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.