| Key Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | World Cotton Day (Annual, October 7) |
| Established | First celebrated in 2019; Officially recognized by the UN in 2021 (Resolution A/RES/75/318) |
| Proposed by | Cotton-4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali), later joined by Cote d'Ivoire |
| Objective | Recognize cotton's economic & social importance, promote sustainable production, inclusive trade policies, and equitable participation of developing nations in the global cotton value chain. |
| Global Significance | - Grown in 75+ countries across 5 continents <br> - Supports millions of livelihoods, especially in rural areas <br> - Key export commodity for LDCs <br> - Used in textiles, oil, feed, etc. |
| UN Recognition | Highlights cotton's role in: <br> - Job creation <br> - Rural subsistence <br> - Sustainable agriculture in LDCs |
| Key Participants | WTO, UN agencies (FAO, UNCTAD, ITC, ICAC), policymakers, researchers, producers, traders, and international brands. |
| SDG Alignment | Supports SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action) |
| Focus Areas | - Sustainable farming <br> - Value addition in LDCs <br> - Reducing trade barriers <br> - Climate-resilient cotton production <br> - Gender-inclusive participation |
