ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai Organizes Special Training Programme on “Cotton Fibre Quality” for Resource Persons of BCI

The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, successfully organized a three-day training programme on “Cotton Fibre Quality” from September 23–25, 2026, sponsored by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). The programme was specially organized for Resource Persons associated with BCI and its programme partners. A total of 31 participants, including 7 women and 24 men, attended the training programme. The participants represented various organizations associated with BCI, including Ambuja Foundation, MARI, SEST-Arvind, Basil Commodities Pvt. Ltd., Agri. Expert, Development Support Centre, AKRSP-I, Centre for People’s Forestry, Cotton Connect South Asia Pvt. Ltd., WWF-India (Prajwal FPCL), AFPRO (Action for Food Production), Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation, Welspun Foundation for Health & Knowledge, and Vardhman Textiles Ltd.

The training programme provided comprehensive knowledge on commercially important cotton fibre quality parameters, basics of cotton grading, classing and marketing, techniques for trash and contamination reduction at different levels and the influence of fibre quality on ginning, spinning and other textile processes. A dedicated session was also conducted on Kasturi Cotton Bharat, covering its premium branding, traceability and promotional benefits under the Mission on Cotton Productivity (MCP)  of Government of India  for enhancing cotton productivity and quality. The programme combined theory lectures with hands-on practical sessions to provide participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge. Practical sessions included manual and instrumental cotton grading, measurement of trash content, ginning percentage, and moisture content, etc. The participants also visited various laboratories and facilities at ICAR-CIRCOT, including the Cotton Spinning Pilot Plant, Yarn Testing Laboratory, Fibre Maturity Testing Laboratory, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) facility, to gain practical exposure to cotton processing, fibre and yarn testing, and advanced fibre characterization techniques.

The training programme concluded with a valedictory session held on September 25, 2026, marking the successful completion of the three-day technical training programme. The programme provided the participants with enhanced knowledge and practical skills in cotton fibre quality assessment, which are expected to support effective dissemination of technical information among cotton stakeholders associated with BCI programmes