ICAR-CIRCOT and The CCI Ltd Sign MoU for Skill Development of Gin Personnel

Major emphasis has been given to improving the quality of Indian cotton through the promotion of bales meeting Kasturi Cotton Bharat norms in the recently launched, ambitious Mission of Cotton Productivity (MCP) – Mini Mission-II (i.e., Kapas Kranti). The skill of manpower engaged in ginning factories plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality of cotton processed in ginneries. In the MCP, there are provisions for the skill development of 10,000 ginning personnel, including gin managers, supervisors, graders, and fitters from 2,000 ginneries across India. The implementing agency of MCP-MMII, The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) Ltd., Mumbai, has decided to conduct skill development programmes for ginning personnel under MCP at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, which is the only institution in India that conducts specialised training programmes for gin personnel.

In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai and The CCI Ltd., Mumbai for the organisation of skill development programmes for gin personnel under MCP-MM-II. Dr. S. K. Shukla, Director, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai and Shri L. K. Gupta, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, The CCI Ltd., Mumbai signed the MoU at Sambhaji Nagar on Aug 01, 2026, during the 56th Foundation Day celebrations of The CCI Ltd in the presence of Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, Govt. of India, and three Senior Ministers of the Govt. of Maharashtra. On this occasion, Smt. Padmini Singla (IAS), Joint Secretary (Fibre), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Smt. Vrunda Desai, Textile Commissioner, Govt. of India, Dr. V. N. Waghamare, Director, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur, along with senior representatives from Textile Industries, the Ginners’ Association, and Cotton Trading, were also present.

Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister, congratulated both organisations for signing the MoU and mentioned that the technical skill enhancement of gin personnel under MCP would improve the bale quality of Indian cotton to meet international standards.