By Obiabin Onukwugha & Abdullahi Lukman
Cotton plays a key role in the economic wellbeing of countries that grow it. The major growers of cotton, globally are Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, also known as the C-4 nations.
Cotton is recognized as a poverty-alleviating crop in some of the least developed countries in the world, providing sustainable and decent employment to people across the globe.
The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), estimates that each tonne of cotton lint provides full-time, year-round income to about five people.
A whopping 43 percent of cotton farmers worldwide are women, providing them with a much-needed source of income to support their families.
It is in recognition of this key role that the World Cotton Day is being celebrated on October 7 every year. The day was an initiative born from the collective push of the Cotton-4 (C-4) nations; Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, after they first proposed the idea to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2019.
The global community today marks the annual observance of World Cotton Day (WCD), as it is a United Nations-recognized international day dedicated to shining a spotlight on one of the world’s most critical natural fibres.
Though the United Nations is yet to publish the theme for this year’s World Cotton Day as at the time of filing this report, the World Cotton Day Organisation, has tagged it “Cotton for Good”.
In emphasising the importance of the day, the body has called on communities, individuals and organisation to participate in the celebration in order to highlight the crop’s profound impact, from its ancient cultural roots to its vital role in modern sustainable development and international trade.
During the formal proclamation by the UN General Assembly in 2021, the body recognized cotton as a unique force for economic growth, especially in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
It is reported that cotton significantly contributes to the economies of the Cotton-4 Nationd, serving as a major export commodity and a primary source of income and livelihoods for rural populations.
Global cotton production is projected to reach about 117 million bales in 2025/26, growing at approximately 1.5% annually, primarily driven by economic and population growth in developing countries like India and China.
Cotton is used for various purposes. In addition to clothing, its seeds yield edible oil and animal feed, making almost every part of the plant valuable.
By celebrating World Cotton Day, the international community renews its commitment to fostering a cotton sector that is not only robust and inclusive but also environmentally resilient, ultimately securing a better future for the millions of people whose lives are woven together by this indispensable crop, especially the C-4 Nations.
