History & Background

Historical Background: From Technological Research Laboratory (TRL) to ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology (NINFET)

ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology is a premier institute under Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi and dedicated to the cause of natural fibres leading to the diversified use and industrial growth.

ICAR-NINFET was initially set up as Indian Central Jute Committee, Government of India on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture in 1936 at Calcutta. Then it was officially established as a research institute as Technological Research Laboratory (TRL) on January 3, 1939 by Lord Linlithgow, the then Viceroy and Governor-General of India at Tollygunge, Kolkata.

In 1965, the institute became a constituent unit under the centralized administrative control of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi and named as Jute Technological Research Laboratory (JTRL). JTRL had prospered with multifarious dimensions and developed many indigenous technologies for jute as well as for allied fibres. In reorganization of R&D activities, ICAR had renamed the institute as National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology (NIRJAFT)” in 1998.

Being a lead research institute associated with knowledge transfer and economic development activities for all natural fibres, the council promoted the institute to work continuously in the area of various natural fibres and accordingly institute renamed as ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology (ICAR-NINFET) in 2019.

The institute is located on the southern fringe of Kolkata, known as Tollygunge, with a total plot area around 17,628 square meters. During last eight decades, the institute was flourished with multifarious disciplines and carved a niche as a centre of excellence for research on natural fibres catering to the entrepreneurs and industry.

The institute is adequately equipped with the state-of-the-art laboratories having sophisticated tools, instruments and processing machinery. Institute is also recently certified for ISO 9001:2015 QMS for a period up to January 5, 2023. The institute is pursuing hard to get NABL Accreditation in near future.

The overall administration is managed by the Director of the institute with support of Senior Administrative Officer and Finance & Account Officer. The R&D works are being managed by Research Advisory Committee and Institute Research Council. The R&D programs of the institute are implemented through the four divisions and one section.

Journey of NINFET: From Laboratory to National Institute

ICAR-NINFET is carrying basic and applied researches related to post harvest processes of natural fibres such as Jute/Mesta, linseed/flax, sisal, ramie, sunnhemp, hemp, nettle, banana, pineapple leaf, yak hair, Angora rabbit hair and other lesser-known plant fibres. Institute is carrying out multidisciplinary research programs since 2020 in the following thematic areas:

• Automation and Sensor Technology
• Product Development and Quality Assurance in Value Chain
• Bio-Processing Technology
• Bye-Product Utilisation
• Application of Nano Technology
• Capacity Building and Entrepreneurship Development