New Delhi: Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan today addressed the centenary celebrations at the ICAR- Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology.
While congratulating stakeholders affiliated with the institute on completing 100 years, Chouhan said that when this laboratory was established 100 years ago in 1924, perhaps the only purpose would have been to find out how to earn maximum profit from cotton, at that time, they would have had their own goals and objectives.
Union Minister added that “a glorious, prosperous, rich India cannot be built without farmers. Even today, agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy and farmers are its soul”.
Chouhan said that what is required in this institute right now is the mechanization of cotton picking, this is very important for increasing the sustainability of cotton farming in India. “CIRCOT is the only institute which is working for processing of mechanically picked cotton. There is a need to adapt the plant and machinery for processing of mechanically harvested cotton. For this, pilot plant facility will be arranged here when the institute completes 100 years. Necessary arrangements will also be made for how it can become an international center for cotton genome.”
Chouhan emphasized that cotton seed is very expensive. “Private companies sell seeds to farmers at a very high price. ICAR should try to ensure that farmers get quality seeds at low prices. Pay attention to the farmer as well so that farmers get benefit from cotton farming and they can earn their livelihood from farming.”
Chouhan added: “We should also make a roadmap for Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) till 2047. We should work fast on it so that we can do the work related to cotton production, dealing, processing, plaiting etc.”