Editorial
World Cotton Day is a global celebration of the cotton sector and its contribution to economic development, international trade and poverty alleviation. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, following the proposal of four cotton-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali. The objective of this observance is to raise the visibility of the cotton sector and awareness of its critical role in the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Pakistan is one of the world’s major cotton producers and consumers, with cotton being its principal industrial crop and a key source of livelihood for about 1.5 million smallholder farmers. Cotton also supports Pakistan’s largest industrial sector, which includes textile mills, knitwear units, garment units, dyeing and finishing units, ginneries and oil expellers. The cotton-textile sectors account for 11% of Pakistan’s GDP and 60% of its export receipts.
World Cotton Day is, therefore, very significant for Pakistan, as it provides an opportunity to showcase its achievements and challenges in the cotton sector, as well as to promote its products and services to the global market. World Cotton Day also enables Pakistan to engage with other stakeholders in the cotton value chain, such as producers, traders, processors, manufacturers, retailers and consumers, and to exchange best practices and innovations for enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector. Moreover, World Cotton Day helps Pakistan highlight cotton’s importance for its rural development, food security, social inclusion and environmental protection.
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By celebrating World Cotton Day, Pakistan may demonstrate its commitment to making cotton fair and sustainable for all, from farm to fashion. Therefore, the provincial agriculture departments need to raise their capacity and commitment to ensure the growth of cotton crops in the provinces. For this to happen, the farmers should be provided with more technical and farming support. By revamping the cotton crops, Pakistan can enhance the productivity of the textile sector with allied raw and finished products.
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