ICAR-CIRCOT centenary celebration

ICAR-CIRCOT, established in 1924, proudly marked 100 years of exceptional service to the nation on December 3, 2024. To commemorate this milestone, a grand concluding ceremony was organized, graced by Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice President of India, as the Chief Guest. In his address, Shri Dhankhar highlighted the challenges faced by farmers and underscored the critical role of institutional support from ICAR in alleviating these stresses. He affirmed that the Prime Minister's vision of transforming India into a developed nation is not merely a dream but a tangible goal. Achieving this goal, he noted, requires providing farmers with technical and economic support, which would yield returns manifold for the nation. He urged ICAR and Agricultural Universities to collaborate closely to empower farmers by enabling them to add value to their produce and secure fair prices. Shri Dhankhar commended the staff of ICAR-CIRCOT for their dedication and achievements during its centenary year and encouraged the scientific community to introspect, strategize, and focus on resolving farmers’ issues. He emphasized that empowering farmers is key to driving India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation. 

The event was further honoured by the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra; Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare & Rural Development; Shri Ramnath Thakur, Hon’ble Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR), New Delhi; and Dr. S.N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Engineering), ICAR, New Delhi.

In celebration of 100 years of outstanding research and development, ICAR-CIRCOT has erected a Centenary Pillar, which was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice President of India in the esteemed presence of distinguished dignitaries. 

During the event, the Hon’ble Chief Guest unveiled three significant publications by ICAR-CIRCOT: Contribution of ICAR-CIRCOT in Nation Building; Cotton: Grading, Ginning, Marketing, and By-product Utilization; and, Cotton in Indian Circular Economy: A Journey from Field to Fashion. The Hon’ble Vice President of India, along with Madam Dr. (Smt.) Sudesh Dhankhar, planted saplings as part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative.

In the morning session, a panel discussion on ‘Post-harvest Processing of Cotton in Amrit Kaal’ took place under the chairmanship of Dr. S.N. Jha, DDG (Agricultural Engineering), ICAR, New Delhi. Dr. C. D. Mayee, Ex-Chaiman, ASRB, New Delhi and Dr. P.G. Patil, VC, MPKV, Rahuri delivered the opening remarks. Dr. Y. G. Prasad, Director, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur; Dr. R. Kachru, former ADG (PE), ICAR; Dr. Kartikeya Dhanda, Secretary, Textiles Committee, Mumbai; Dr. Ashok Athalye, Professor, ICT, Mumbai; Dr. M. K. Sharma, Whole-time Director & CEO, M/s. BSI Ltd., Nagpur; Dr. K. Narsaiah, ADG (Process Engineering), ICAR; and Shri Ram Bohra from AICOSCA, Mumbai, shared their valuable insights and ideas on post-harvest processing of cotton, highlighting key areas for the Institute to prioritize during the Amrit Kaal, as part of the panel discussion. Additionally, Dr. K. R. K. Iyer, former Director of ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai, presented highlights of the Institute's century-long journey in research excellence. During the award ceremony, the dignitaries unveiled three publications and a Cotton Dashboard. Best employees of the Institute, high-achieving startups, the team behind the construction of the Centenary Pillar, and the Presidents of the ISCI and IFS societies were recognized and honoured for their invaluable contributions.

At the same time, the Pilot Plant Facility for Protein Extraction and the Genome Editing Laboratory were inaugurated at the hands of Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR), New Delhi, designed to advance cutting-edge research into practical market applications through translational initiatives.

As part of ICAR-CIRCOT's Centenary Celebration, the ICAR-CIRCOT RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator hosted the Agri Startup Conclave 2024 during December 3–4, 2024, under the theme "Fuelling Agri-Innovation: Empowering Entrepreneurial Passion for a Sustainable Future." The event showcased 30 pioneering startups, each presenting advancements in agricultural innovation. 

Around 400 delegates from across the country, including researchers, students, Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities, Directors of ICAR Institutes, and representatives from ginning industries, seed industries, textile sectors, agro-startups, and entrepreneurs, participated in the grand concluding ceremony of ICAR-CIRCOT's centenary celebration