The story of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (nCO-VID-19) that it causes, is one that resembled a developing whirlwind. COVID-19 gathered momentum and lethal power across the globewith each new day. More than 8.5 million were infected and over 457 thousand people were killed during the six-month period from January to 20 June 2020. A pandemic of this magnitude is unprecedented. Extraordinary containment measures were instituted bygovernments across the globe; these measures have affected every pillar of human existence including religion, commerce, science, tourism, and agriculture. In agriculture, the cotton industry would not be an exception. Cotton is a world-wide commercialcrop that is highly traded and is vulnerable to world socio-economic instability. In recent years competing cash crops, alternative synthetic fibres, high production costs, and climate issues contributed to increased vulnerability of cotton. COVID-19 caused global socio-economic instability and would shake the cotton sector considerably. A reflection on the potential effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cotton sector is compelling.
展开▼
