Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without the use of insecticides or pesticides. The agriculture of organic cotton uses ecological, economical, and socially sustainable methods of farming and production. It is free of agrochemicals and artificial fertilizers. It also employs crop rotation, another method of sustainable farming. With organic cotton, the use of insecticides is totally prohibited. Organic cotton, though, is more expensive than traditional cotton.

But there is a bright side to organic cotton. The report entitled Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report 2008, by Texas-based Organic Exchange, states that “organic cotton production increased to 145,872 metric tons (MT) (668,581 bales) grown on 161,000 hectares in 22 countries around the world. This is because the demand for organic cotton has risen in the world today. India, Syria, Turkey, China, Tanzania, USA, Uganda, Peru, Egypt and Burkina Faso were the top ten organic cotton producing countries in order by rank, with India taking over Turkey’s long-time standing as the number one producer. The majority of the increased organic cotton production took place in India. Organic cotton production has grown to an estimated 0.55 percent of global cotton production” (Organic Exchange, 2008).

Cotton has become a natural, renewable and biodegradable resource. Today, it is also the largest natural fiber in the global fiber, textile and apparel economy. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2009 as International Year of Natural Fibres (IYNF). This move is meant to raise global consciousness on the use and benefit of natural fibers to both users and producers (COTTON USA, 2008).

In the 20th and 21st centuries, cotton has been a major market mover among world markets. It has remained a much-sought after crop that countries and economies have resorted to political means just to get their production rolling in world trade. Countries have sought urgent solutions to solve the various production and environmental problems that cotton agriculture has produced. The crop has been sustaining millions of farmers around the globe. Cotton remains a revolutionary fiber in global economy today, and a dynamic and controversial player in world trade.

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