03.12.2024: Vice President of India presides over the Centenary Foundation day of ICAR – Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT)

Vice President of India presides over the Centenary Foundation day of ICAR – Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT)
VPI inaugurates Centenary Pillar of CIRCOT

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.