Cotton is special. Grown in more than 75 countries across five continents, it is a crop that thrives in arid climates where no other crop can survive. It provides sustainable and decent employment for people in all corners of the globe. It helps families and communities in rural communities maintain economic stability.

So, it is only right that cotton is celebrated each year on World Cotton Day on 7 October.

Stakeholders from cotton communities come together to share their experiences and insights of the many advantages of cotton – from its qualities as a natural fibre and how it can help to foster women’s empowerment to its ability to deliver a range of benefits for brands and retailers.

Those involved in our programmes and partnerships marked World Cotton Day across the world by engaging in a series of workshops, field meetings, farm visits and classroom training sessions.

In India, more than 1,000 participants from 44 villages across the districts of Amravati and Yavatmal shared their experiences, success stories and best practices exploring everything from cotton-picking methods, and safe storage and transportation, to organic practices and effective pest management.

“World Cotton Day is a great opportunity to bring our farming communities together. They find great benefit in learning from each other,” says Hardeep Desai - Head of Farm Operations. “They are increasingly under pressure from climate change and need to better prepare their fields. So, learning about the best use of biological pesticides and validating the sustainable practices that are best for each farmer is really valuable.”

Farmers received training on pest identification and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE), and topics of discussion included minimum wages, no forced labour and gender equality. They also played a unique game of ‘snakes and ladders’ to learn more about sustainable cotton production.

One farmer used the event to explain to his fellow farmers how using biodynamic compost is enriching his soils. Previously, he was casually spraying chemical fertilisers across his fields. He had green crops and good growth, but plenty of pests. Now, the compost has created plants that are less attractive to insects and has had fantastic harvests for the last two years, boosting his yield and income.

Another farmer told the story of how the use of PPE kits is reducing deaths in his local community by protecting labourers while they are applying chemicals. Now, other farmers in the region have followed suit, making sure they cover their bodies while spraying and using the appropriate PPE.

In the districts of Gotaki and Nawabshah in Sindh and Rajanpur in the Punjab, Pakistan, more than 700 farmers celebrated World Cotton Day. Here, cotton is 100% irrigated and irrigation water is provided through world largest canal system. While highlighting the importance of cotton to the local economy, the focus was on how farmers can use different crop varieties, shifting to new varieties based on current climatic conditions. Elsewhere, presentations were given on the forest management to protect and enhance biodiversity, livestock management, and the importance of clean – where no leaves are present – cotton picking.

Manzoor Ahmad and Mai Subhana shared their experiences of rearing poultry, growing their own vegetables and planting fruit plants to supplement the family diet and improve their livelihoods on the farm.

In Bangladesh, representatives from the Bangladesh Cotton Association and Cotton Council International gathered with government officials and ambassadors to celebrate the cotton sector in the country, including. Golam Dastagir Gazi (Birpatik), the country’s Minister for Textiles and Jute. A separate rally and seminar, organised by the Cotton Development Board (CDB) was also held, bringing together ginners, seed companies, spinners and textile mills.

In China, Zhaozhen Wang, a 64-year-old cotton farmer from Qianwangjia Village of Dagaocun Town, Nangong County, Hebei Province, used World Cotton Day to share his story. “I’ve planted crops for 44 years. To me and my neighbors, it is easier and more profitable to grow cotton than any other crops,” he said. “Cotton crops are more resilient to drought and flood, resisting to some pests and diseases.”

He explained to his fellow farmers that, since joining one of our on-the-ground projects, and receiving technical guidance and assistance, he gradually grew cotton with less and less agricultural inputs, pesticides and chemical fertilizer. “This year, it rained a lot and the land was very muddy and soft. It was therefore impossible for harvesters to operate in the field. That means not all crops can be harvested in time, causing losses.

“The only exception is cotton: as soon as the rain stops, we can pick cotton. This is why farmers of my generation like to say: ‘one should grow cotton if he or she wants to make more money.’”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: