Rome: On World Cotton Day 2025, held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Africa's cotton producers and partners showcased how the sector is driving green growth, local value addition, and sustainable trade. This is powering inclusive industrialization and climate-smart growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to African Press Organization, the progress seen in Africa's cotton industry is largely due to the resilience of farmers and artisans who navigate climate shocks, volatile prices, and shifting global markets. However, when prices fall or yields drop, the effects ripple through economies and households alike. This highlights the importance of sustainable cotton farming, fair trade, and local transformation for inclusive development, which are central to Africa's industrialization goals under the AfCFTA.
At World Cotton Day 2025, the International Trade Centre (ITC) joined the FAO, WTO, UNIDO, ICAC, and African governments, including the Cotton Four (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali) alongside Niger and Côte d'Ivoire, to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the cotton-to-clothing value chain from field to fashion.
Through initiatives such as the EU/OACPS Cotton Project, GTEX/MENATEX, and the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI), ITC is assisting farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs in climbing the value chain and building climate resilience. In Tanzania and Zambia, thousands of smallholder farmers are transforming their cotton-growing practices by using crop residues to make biochar, a natural fertilizer that improves soil health, boosts yields, and reduces emissions.
In just one year, more than 10,000 farmers in Tanzania adopted these climate-smart practices, increasing yields by up to 20%. In Zambia, 130,000 smallholders have doubled production while earning the world's first carbon credit payments in the cotton sector. At the other end of the value chain, women artisans and young designers are turning African cotton into high-value creations. In Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mali, EFI connects local weavers and small fashion businesses to global brands, showcasing sustainable African design at international fairs.
These initiatives not only raise incomes but also inspire a new generation of African entrepreneurs linking agriculture, creativity, and climate action. Through its Global Textiles and Clothing (GTEX) programme, ITC strengthens the competitiveness of manufacturers in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, while its UK Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme supports firms in Ethiopia and Tanzania to expand intra- and extra-African trade. Together, these efforts support Africa's ambition to industrialize and create tens of thousands of jobs.
Developing the cotton-to-apparel value chain within Africa is critical. Under the AfCFTA, cotton and textiles have the potential to become one of the continent's most dynamic industries. By investing in value addition, regional trade, and sustainability, African countries can retain more value at home, create jobs, and compete in global markets. Experts from supply, demand, investment, and finance stress the need to reinforce extra-continental exports to build the skills and know-how that can, in turn, serve Africa's internal market.
This is the vision that ITC and its partners are advancing — one where African cotton tells a story of empowerment, innovation, and pride, and weaves trade together with sustainable development. As FAO celebrates its 80th anniversary, World Cotton Day 2025 reminds us that cotton is not just a crop — it is the fabric of Africa's greener, fairer future.