Better Cotton in China
China is the world’s largest cotton producer and a major consumer of cotton.
These figures are from the 2022/23 cotton season. To find out more, read our latest annual report.
China is the largest cotton-producing country in the world. However, cotton farming can be challenging in the regions where Better Cotton is grown. Uncertain cotton prices, extreme weather and natural disasters all pose distinct challenges to creating healthy, profitable yields.
The first Better Cotton harvest took place in China in 2012. Better Cotton works in two areas: the Yangtze River and Yellow River Basins, and supports farmers in three provinces (Hebei, Hubei and Shandong).
Better Cotton Partners in China
Better Cotton works with four Programme Partners in China:
- CottonConnect China
- Huangmei County Huinong Scientific and Technology Planting and Breeding Cooperative
- Shandong Binzhou Nongxi Cotton Professional Cooperative
- Songzi Nanwuchang Grain Cotton Oil Specialised Cooperative
China is a Better Cotton Standard Country
Find out what this means
Which regions grow Better Cotton in China?
Cotton is grown in Hubei and Shandong.
When is Better Cotton grown in China?
Cotton is sown throughout the month of April and harvested from September to November.
Sustainability challenges
Climate change is becoming a growing risk in the key cotton-producing areas of the Yangtze River and Yellow River Basins, where cotton farmers face extreme heat, droughts and flooding. Growing cotton in these conditions is challenging. Increasingly, pests and disease are also occurring more frequently, which can affect fibre quality and crop yield. Working with our Programme Partners, we help cotton farmers in China to build resilience to climate change, adopt affordable and sustainable techniques to save water, protect their crops and guard against pests.
Find out more about the outcomes farmers are experiencing by participating in the Better Cotton programme in our latestAnnual Report.
Get in touch
Contact our team via the contact form if you’d like to learn more, become a partner or you’re a farmer interested in farming Better Cotton.
