In which country was cotton first cultivated?

Cotton is the seed fiber of plants in the mallow family, native to the subtropics. The countries with the highest cotton production include China, the United States, and India. So, which country was the first to cultivate cotton?

1. The first country to cultivate cotton

The first country in the world to cultivate cotton was India. The ancient Indians were the world's earliest cotton growers, and because they were the first to cultivate cotton, ancient India also became the birthplace of cotton textiles. China's main cotton-producing areas are distributed across the Jianghuai Plain, the Jianghan Plain, the Southern Xinjiang cotton region, the North China Plain, northwestern Shandong, the northern Henan Plain, and the coastal and riverside plains of the lower Yangtze River.

2. The economic value of cotton

Cotton is one of the world's most important crops. Its high yield and low production cost make cotton products relatively inexpensive. Cotton fiber can be made into fabrics of many specifications, from light and transparent voile to thick canvas and thick velveteen, suitable for making all kinds of clothing, furnishing fabrics, and industrial fabrics. Cotton fabric is strong and wear-resistant, can be washed and ironed at high temperatures, and cotton cloth is comfortable to wear because it absorbs and releases moisture quickly. If good warmth retention is required, the fabric surface can be napped through brushing. Through other finishing processes, cotton fabric can also be made stain-resistant, waterproof, and mildew-resistant; its wrinkle resistance can be improved so that cotton fabric needs little or no ironing; and shrinkage during washing can be reduced so that the shrinkage rate does not exceed 1%.

Cotton can be made into fabrics of various specifications. Cotton fabric is strong and wear-resistant, can be washed and ironed at high temperatures. Cotton cloth absorbs and releases moisture quickly, making it comfortable to wear. Both the main and by-products of cotton have high utilization value, and as predecessors said, “the whole cotton plant is a treasure.” It is not only the most important fiber crop, but also an important oil crop, a food crop high in protein, and a raw material for textiles and fine chemicals as well as an important strategic material. Therefore, efforts must be made to increase cotton production, carry out comprehensive utilization well, and increase output and value, so as to raise the income of cotton farmers and meet the many needs of national economic development.

Another distinctive use is in skin-care and anti-wrinkle beauty products.