The United Nations (UN) annually observes World Cotton Day (WCD) on 7 October to emphasize cotton’s key role in economic growth, global trade, and poverty reduction.
- 7th October 2025 marks the observance of the 5th WCD.
Exam Hints:
- Event: World Cotton Day (WCD) 2025
- When? October 7
- Origin : Proposed by Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali in 2019
- UN Recognition : In 2021, UNGA adopted resolution A/RES/75/318
- First Observed: 7 October 2021
- Top Producers: China, India, Pakistan, USA, Uzbekistan (>70% global production).
India: 40% of world cotton area; productivity ~450 kg/ha. - Global Event: Rome, Italy; Theme: “The Fabric of our Lives”; Organized by Chad, FAO, ITC.
- Events in India: New Delhi; Theme : “Cotton 2040: Technology, Climate & Competitiveness”; Organised by Ministry of Textiles & CITI.
- Government Commitment: Build USD 350 billion textile sector by 2030, including USD 100 billion in exports.
Background:
Origin : The idea of World Cotton Day was proposed in 2019 by four sub-Saharan African cotton producers: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, collectively called the Cotton Four, who suggested to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that 7 October be celebrated as World Cotton Day.
UN Recognition: In August 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/75/318, officially declaring 7 October of every year as World Cotton Day.
First Observance: The first-ever World Cotton Day was celebrated on 7 October 2021.
About Cotton:
Importance: Cotton is a natural fabric that supports 24 million growers (half women) and benefits 100 million families across 80 countries worldwide.
Top Cotton Producers: China, India, Pakistan, the USA, and Uzbekistan together contribute to more than 70% of global cotton production.
- Over the past decade, China and India have consistently led global cotton production.
India’s Cotton Production: India cultivates 40% of the world’s cotton area, with an average productivity of approximately 450 kilogram(kg) per hectare.
2025 Events:
Global Event: On October 7, 2025, the WCD 2025 event, held with the theme “ The Fabric of our Lives” at Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN(FAO)headquarters in Rome, Italy, focused on cotton sector challenges and opportunities, including productivity improvement, value addition, and trade’s role in sustainability.
- The event was jointly organized by the Republic of Chad, the FAO and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Events in India: On 7 October 2025, the Ministry of Textiles(MoT) celebrated WCD in New Delhi(Delhi), focusing on the theme “Cotton 2040: Technology, Climate & Competitiveness”. The event was jointly organized with the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).
- Union Minister Giriraj Singh, MoT and Union Minister of State(MoS) Pabitra Margherita, MoT, attended the WCD 2025 celebration.
- Government Commitment: The government aims to build a USD 350 billion textile sector by 2030, with USD 100 billion expected from exports.
- MoUs: The event concluded with the signing of Commercial, Community, and Council Memorandum of understandings(MoUs) under the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative with prominent organizations including Nitin Spinners, Arvind Ltd, RSR International, All India Cotton FPO Association (AIFCA), Beetle Regen, Hohenstein, ICAR-CIRCOT, and Noida Apparel Export Cluster (NAEC).
