ICAR-CIRCOT celebrates its 99th Foundation Day on December 3, 2022.

The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai celebrated its 99th Foundation Day on December 3, 2022 in combination with the Agricultural Education Day.

Delivering his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Dr. S. N. Jha, DDG (Engg), ICAR, New Delhi applauded the Institute’s achievements since its inception during 1924. Dr. Jha urged the Institute’s Scientists and Staff Members to work more focused on the stakeholders’ requirements so that the existing technical knowledge can be used to meet the needs of the farmers, industries and other stakeholders. Also, he insisted to work on the latest technologies and generate more revenue to become self-sufficient in the long run.

The Guests of Honour, Dr. C. D. Mayee, Former Chairman, ASRB; Dr. P. G. Patil, Vice Chancellor, MPKV, Rahuri; Dr. R. P. Kachru, Former ADG(PE), ICAR, New Delhi; Shri. Suresh Kotak, Director, M/s. Kotak Commodities and Dr. Narsaih Kairam, ADG (PE), ICAR New Delhi delivered the felicitation addresses. Former Directors of the Institute, Dr. S. Sreenivasan and Dr. A.J. Shaikh graced the occasion.

Three MoUs were signed on this occasion with the industry partners.

Three publications, (i) Handbook on Nanotechnology and its Applications (ii) कपास प्रौद्योगिकी शब्दावली ‘Glossary on Cotton Technology’ and (iii) E-Newsletter of CIRCOT-R-ABI were released during this occasion.

On this occasion, ‘Best employee Award for the year 2022’ was conferred to the staff of the Institute by the dignitaries.

The “CIRCOT-R-ABI Agri-Startups Demo Day” was inaugurated on this occasion and the budding entrepreneurs participated in this exhibition were felicitated on this occasion.

To commemorate this occasion, a one day National Seminar on “Processing and Value Addition of Cotton, Other Natural Fibres and Agro-Residues” was organized in collaboration with the Indian Society for Cotton Improvement and Indian Fibre Society; with participation from Scientists & technical staff of the Institute, Agri-startups and other stakeholders. In this seminar, the technical session – I was on “Value Addition to Cotton and its Biomass” and the technical session –II was on “Recent Advancements & Issues in Natural Fibres”.

Earlier, Dr. S. K. Shukla, Director, ICAR-CIRCOT delivered the welcome address and presented the achievements of the Institute.

Dr. N. Vigneshwaran, Principal Scientist & Chairman, Organizing Committee proposed the vote of thanks.

The Foundation Day Programme organized in a hybrid mode, registered participation by both the retired and serving staff members of the Institute, budding entrepreneurs, industrialists, scientists from Engineering SMD institutes of ICAR, faculties & students from local engineering and textile institutes, researchers and students from the various parts of the country.