Externally Funded Project

UNDER CORE AREA I: PRE-GINNING AND GINNING
Code and Title of the Project : CRG/2023/003974(DST) : Development of High Production Double Roller Gin for Enhancing Viability of Cotton Ginning Industry
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. V. G. Arude, Principal Scientist
Objectives :
• Design and development of high production double roller gin with emphasis on enlarged ginning roller diameter, beater size and cottonseed metering device.
• Performance assessment of developed high production double roller gin.
• Evaluation of techno-economic of developed gin to ascertain viability in ginning industry
Project period:
Date of Start : 2024
Likely date of Completion : 2027
UNDER CORE AREA I: PRE-GINNING AND GINNING
Code and Title of the Project : RGSTC 2025/295 : Design and Development of Seed Cotton Baling Machine for Effective Handling and Storage
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. M. K. Mahawar, Senior Scientist
Objectives:
• Design and development of seed cotton baling machine.
• Performance evaluation and optimization of the proposed prototype .
• Large-scale field trials and demonstrations of the developed machine.
Project period:
Date of Start : 2025
Likely date of Completion : 2028
UNDER CORE AREA II: MECHANICAL PROCESSING, TECHNICAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES
Code and Title of the Project : 1014584 (NASF) : Development of smart foods, bio-composites, green packaging and bio-energy from agro-biomass
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. A. Arputharaj, Senior Scientist
Objectives:
• Development of lignocellulose foam material
• Development of laminates from Banana Fibre
• Application of banana fibres in non-woven composites
• Development and Evaluation of Fire- and Water-Resistant Banana Fibre Board
• Optimization of Process Parameters for Production of Cotton Blended Banana Fibre Yarn

Project period:
Date of Start : 2023
Likely date of Completion : 2027
UNDER CORE AREA II: MECHANICAL PROCESSING, TECHNICAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES
Code and Title of the Project : 1015052 (NTTM) : Development of High Performance Woven Protective Gloves and seamless knitted gloves for industrial uses
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. G. Krishna Prasad, Senior Scientist
Objectives:
• To design and develop high-performance cut-stitch gloves.
• To Engineer Shear Thickening Fluid coated seamless gloves.
• To develop RFL free coating for gloves
Project period:
Date of Start : 2024
Likely date of Completion : 2026
UNDER CORE AREA III: CHARACTERISATION OF COTTON AND OTHER NATURAL FIBRES, YARNS AND TEXTILES
Code and Title of the Project : TXD 0272 : Study to develop standard test method for determination of lint and trash content of cotton
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. P. Jagajanantha, Sr. Scientist
Objectives:
• Evaluate current ASTM, IS, and other international standards for lint and trash content analysis to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
• Design a new testing protocol that reduces the quantity of cotton required and shortens testing time while ensuring the accuracy of the results.
• Compare the performance of the new protocol against existing standards to confirm its efficacy and reliability.
• Propose the new method for adoption by relevant standards organizations and stakeholders in the cotton industry.
Project period:
Date of Start : 2025
Likely date of Completion : 2026
UNDER CORE AREA III: CHARACTERISATION OF COTTON AND OTHER NATURAL FIBRES, YARNS AND TEXTILES
QE.115 : Development of portable instrument to measure cotton quality at farm gate and textile industries
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. P. Jagajanantha
Objectives :
• To develop an algorithm and software to analyze the cotton color value, micronaire and moisture content.
• To design and develop a portable instrument to measure above cotton quality parameters.
• To optimize the instrument for accurate measurement similar to existing instrument.
Project period:
Date of Start: 2023
Likely date of Completion: 2025
UNDER CORE AREA IV: CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSING AND BIOMASS & BY-PRODUCT UTILISATION
ICAR - Genomic Research : Engineering Microbial factories for enhanced xylitol production from cotton lignocellulosic biomass using CRISPR/Cas9 technology
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. Manoj Kumar Puniya
Objectives :
• Optimization of pre-treatment and saccharification of cotton lignocellulosic biomass for efficient xylose release.
• CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for enhanced xylitol production.
• Optimization of conditions (pH, temp., substrate, etc.) for maximum xylitol production using the engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• Skill development and capacity building in the field of CRISPR/Cas9 and bioprocess.
Project period:
Date of Start: 2023
Likely date of Completion: 2026
UNDER CORE AREA IV: CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSING AND BIOMASS & BY-PRODUCT UTILISATION
Code and Title of the Project : 1013645 Characterization and utilization of paddy straw and other agro residues for conversion into pellets for co-firing in thermal power plants (TPP)
PI of the Project and Designation:
Dr. Arputharaj A, Sr. Scientist
Co-PIs / Project Associates and Designation :
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Date of Start : 2021
Likely date of Completion : 2026
UNDER CORE AREA IV: CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSING AND BIOMASS & BY-PRODUCT UTILISATION
Code and Title of the Project : IGSTC/SING-2024/01654 Safety of Cottonseed protein isolate for human consumption: Validation through in-vitro toxicological studies
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. Manoj Kumar Puniya, Scientist
Objectives :
• Evaluation of the safety of Cottonseed Protein Isolate (CSPI) using in-vitro toxicological assays (cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, allergenicity, immunotoxicity) to ensure its suitability for human consumption.
• The functional properties of CSPI, such as protein digestibility and bioavailability, will be explored to understand its quality.
Date of Start : 2025
Likely date of Completion : 2026
UNDER CORE AREA IV: CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSING AND BIOMASS & BY-PRODUCT UTILISATION
Code and Title of the Project : CPC0009 Pharmaceutical Development of textile-based novel medicated dressings (AYUSH J, AYUSH JM, AYUSH JTM) for wound healing from classical ayurvedic formulations
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. N. Vigneshwaran, Principal Scientist
Objectives :
• Preparation of Jatyadi oil as per the given Standard in API and QC analysis of Jatyadi oil, honey, and tulsi hydroalcoholic extract as per API parameters.
• Development of herbal-based nano-formulation and evaluation of its stability, along with its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.
• Application of the developed nano-formulation onto cotton textiles, followed by evaluation of the enhanced properties.
• Assessment of the effectiveness of nano-finished cotton textiles in wound healing management through in vitro and in vivo models.
Date of Start : 2026
Likely date of Completion : 2028
UNDER CORE AREA IV: CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSING AND BIOMASS & BY-PRODUCT UTILISATION
Code and Title of the Project : NMB 23 Development and techno commercial analysis of agro biomass based torrefied pellets with desirable volatile matter for power plant applications
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. Seshrao Kautkar, Scientist
Objectives :
• Chemical and thermal characterization of paddy straw and other selected biomass materials.
• Optimization of process of preparation of pellets of paddy straw with other biomass materials in different proportions and to develop a method for determining the paddy content in the pellet.
• Optimization of torrefaction of biomass and biomass compressed products and characterization.
• Value addition to biomass ash for application as fertilizer.
• Creating awareness among farmer groups about biomass utilization.
Date of Start : 2026
Likely date of Completion : 2028
UNDER CORE AREA V: ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Code and Title of the Project : 1007815 Agri-Business Incubation Centre at ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. Dr. A. K. Bharimalla, Principal Scientist
Objectives :
• Incubation and business development in cotton and its by-products.
• Techno-entrepreneurial activities in cotton value chain for building prospective clientele.
• Skill development in selected stakeholders related to cotton sector.
UNDER CORE AREA V: ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Code and Title of the Project : 1011105 Remunerative approaches for agriculture and allied sectors rejuvenation (RAFTAAR) agri business incubator (R-ABI)
PI of the Project and Designation: Dr. A. K. Bharimalla, Principal Scientist
Objectives :
• To promote innovation and Agri entrepreneurship by providing technical and financial support and nurturing an incubation ecosystem in the country.
• To nurture potential agripreneurs by providing training cum internship within the incubator and/or with other start-ups to provide them practical, technical, and business insights.
• To make agri entrepreneurship as an attractive career option among other available career choices.
• To provide an opportunity for budding agripreneurs/students for venturing into the agribusiness arena as well as for minimizing risks involved in businesses based on innovation: To attract and retain a large number of enthusiasts and skilled youth in agriculture; To create a value chain of agri startups for incubators.