ICAR-CIRCOT Inks MoU with TEXPROCIL to Strengthen Kasturi Cotton Bharat Initiative during World Cotton Day

7 October 2025, New Delhi

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Textiles Export Promotion Council, Mumbai during the World Cotton Day 2025 celebrations coinciding with the 4th Global Cotton Conference held today in New Delhi.

The MoU was signed by Dr. S. K. Shukla, Director, ICAR-CIRCOT, and Mr. Ravi Sam, Vice-Chairman, TEXPROCIL, in the presence of Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh and senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles, industry representatives, and global delegates.

This collaboration aims to strengthen the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative through the development of cost-effective and locally adaptable tracer technologies to enhance the physical traceability of Indian cotton, complementing ongoing digital initiatives. The partnership underscores ICAR-CIRCOT’s commitment to advancing cotton quality, sustainability, and transparency across the cotton value chain.

Through this MoU, ICAR-CIRCOT and TEXPROCIL will work together to promote research-driven solutions for traceability, quality analysis, branding, and value addition of Indian cotton, thereby enhancing its global competitiveness and ensuring fair value realization for Indian cotton farmers. Institute will also impart training to stakeholders of Kasturi Cotton Bharat programme in the area of ginning, quality and production of trash and contamination-controlled cotton bales.

During the “Evolving Trends in Cotton Farming” panel discussion at the event, Dr. S. K. Shukla emphasized that adoption of mechanical harvesting and the development of cotton varieties or hybrids with high Ginning Outturn (GoT) are crucial drivers for enhancing cotton productivity in India. Moreover, he also stressed upon promotion of mechanised harvesting of cotton through the proposed Cotton Productivity Mission (CPM) by way of providing financial grant/subsidy for upgradation of ginneries and establishment of custom hiring centres for mechanical harvesters. Shri Rajendran Ramasami, Managing Director, Rasi Seeds, has also requested for establishment of custom hiring centres for promotion of mechanical harvesting of cotton through the CTM.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai)