Updated October 14, 2022
World Cotton Day (W.C.D.) is an annual event that takes place on October 7. Every year, it is observed to spread awareness about cotton and to recognize its importance, ranging- from natural fiber to the benefits humans obtain from its final products.
Moreover, World Cotton Day highlights the significant role in producing jobs and maintaining economic stability to the world’s least developed countries (L.D.C.s). At this special event, the global cotton community is invited to celebrate the essential natural fiber of the world.
History of World Cotton Day
The establishment of World Cotton Day was officially proposed to the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) by the Cotton-4 countries of Benin, Chad, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The Bremen Cotton Exchange, one of the most prominent cotton organizations in the world, endorsed the concept as well.
The World Trade Organization (W.T.O.), with the support of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), founded World Cotton Day on October 7, 2019. The inauguration was held in Geneva, the headquarters of W.T.O.
Approximately 800 participants, including Ministers, heads of international organizations, high-level officials, Geneva-based delegates, and the global cotton community, namely national growers’ associations, attended the launching event held at the W.T.O. headquarters.
Significance of World Cotton Day
The United Nations General Assembly has established World Cotton Day to recognize cotton’s role in providing employment, maintaining economic stability in the least developed countries (L.D.C.s) of the world, and generating worldwide awareness about cotton. Because
Cotton has various uses, but it is widely used to make multiple woven fabrics, including canvas, denim, damask, flannel, and more. Additionally, the crop is used to manufacture food products such as edible oil from its seeds.
Primarily, around six million farmers in India are engaged in cotton cultivation. India is the largest consumer and the second-largest manufacturer of fiber. Because of this, cotton is one of the significant crops in India.
India launched “Kasturi Cotton,” its first logo and label, on the second World Cotton Day. The trademark represents excellence, radiance, whiteness, softness, uniqueness, and sparkle.
The Cotton Corporation of India has also created a mobile application called the ‘Cott-Ally’ to provide the newest information to farmers about crop situations, weather conditions, and agricultural methods.
The Theme of World Cotton Day 2022
Every year world cotton day is celebrated with a unique theme. Last year, the theme for World Cotton Day 2021 was “Cotton for Good.”
The theme for Cotton Day 2022 is Weaving a better future for Cotton. The global cotton community found this theme to be most appropriate.
How World Cotton Day is Celebrated?
In the past year, 2021, due to covid-19, the W.T.O. and the International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) organized events virtually. Various countries participated in that event to educate people on the importance of the cotton crop. Further, the event was focused on how to develop a sustainable cotton-to-clothing value chain from Africa to the world.
This year the W.T.O. and the International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) are organizing events, webinars, and workshops on October 7. To celebrate this special occasion, you can join these events, or you can run an online campaign on social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Koo, and Instagram using #worldcottonday #worldcottonday2022.
World Cotton Day Quotes
(I) “In essence, I’m a sophisticated cotton picker.”- Eartha Kitt
(II) “Beautiful fabrics last; synthetics don’t. Certain fabrics, such as linen or cotton, develop their own character over time.”- John Rocha
(III) “Metro was really a star-builder, no doubt about that. You were wrapped in cotton wool.”- Peter Lawford
(IV) “A lot of people these days are very much too wrapped up in cotton wool: people aren’t pushed to their limits, and that’s why we should find out where our limits lie.”- Ant Middleton
(V) “Not a breath of air stirred over the free and open prairie; the clouds were like light piles of cotton; and where the blue sky was visible, it wore a hazy and languid aspect.”- Francis Parkman
(VI) “Cotton was a force of nature. There’s poetry to it, hoeing and growing cotton.”- B. B. King
(VII) “I loved to get all dusty and ride horses and plant potatoes and cotton.”- Dorothy Malone
(VIII) “I started to work with cotton fabrics. I used cotton because it’s easy to work with, wash, take care of, to wear if it’s warm or cold. It’s great. That was the start.”- Issey Miyake
(IX) “I was born in Glasgow. But my family is pretty much from a little town called Paisley, famous for its cotton mills and paisley pattern.”- Gerard Butler
(X) “If you can get a cotton material like a T-shirt, you cut it up, fold it and put elastic bands around it – this is a non-medical facial covering.”- Theresa Tam
Concluding Words
Cotton is a Kharif crop that requires 6 to 8 months and uniformly high temperatures varying between 21°C to 30°C. to mature suitably. It is a worldwide agricultural produce in over 75 countries across five continents with trades across the globe.
As a first raw material for cloths, it assumes significant importance for civilization. For centuries there was no alternative to raw fiber before the synthetics dominated the market. But, very soon the world identified the harms of synthetic fiber to put on body. And, hence cotton, the natural fiber for clothing need regained its glory.
Idea behind observing the Cotton day is to underline the role of this crop that produces huge employment, fulfills clothing needs and provides edible oil. For a country like India crop means white gold.
Frequently Asked Questions the Day
Ans: World Cotton Day is celebrated to spread awareness about cotton and to recognize its importance, ranging- from natural fiber to the benefits humans obtain from its final products.
Ans: Last year, the theme for World Cotton Day 2021 was “Cotton for Good.” But the theme for Cotton Day 2022 is not decided yet. The global cotton community is working on it, and soon, they will launch.
Ans: 7 October is celebrated as world cotton day; The World Trade Organization (WTO), with the support of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), founded World Cotton Day on 7 October 2019.
Ans: India is the world’s leading cotton producer with 6423 thousand metric tons. Followed by China and USA respectively.
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