Egypt: Egypt is celebrating the start of the cotton harvest season and World Cotton Day, observed on October 7, with renewed hope that the strategic crop, historically dubbed "white gold" for its high quality and global demand, will regain its leading international position.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the celebration is marked by the unprecedented successful cultivation of cotton for the first time in desert lands in governorates like South Sinai and the New Valley. This expansion is critical to compensate for recent declines in traditional Nile Delta cultivation areas.
Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture's Cotton Research Institute official Dr. Mustafa Amara reported that the harvest from mid-September to the end of October indicates abundant production due to an increased cultivated area and new varieties. These new desert-grown varieties boast high quality, early maturity, and require 30% less irrigation water. The focus is now on developing ginning and weaving factories to increase added value instead of exporting raw cotton.
Nabil El Santaricy of the Alexandria Cotton Exporters Association affirmed that the long-staple cotton's softness and long fibers maintain its competitive edge as the top choice for fine international clothing and furnishings. The successful shift to desert farming opens vast new horizons for agricultural expansion.