July 18, 2024, New Delhi

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) celebrated its 96th Foundation Day on 16th July 2024, in NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi in the august presence of Shri. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, honourable Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare & Rural Development and President of ICAR Society, as a Chief Guest. The foundation cum technology exhibition day was also graced with the presence of Shri. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, honourable Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri. Bhagirath Choudhary & Shri. Ram Nath Thakur, honourable Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel & Shri. George Kurian, honourable Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

In this auspicious day, the four ICAR-NINFET’s emerging technologies were released by the Union Ministers in the presence of Dr. Himanshu Pathak, honourable Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR).

The technologies include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of things (IoT) enabled jute fibre grading system for accurate, faster and reliable quality parameters measurement of raw jute, which will support farmer to get actual price of jute; Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin from natural fibre, developed using natural fibre as absorbent layer, bio-fabric as acquisition layer, bioplastic as a barrier layer and hydrogel as an alternative of non-biodegradable super-absorbent-polymer; Jute/cotton blended apparel products, developed by aptly modifying the jute fibre and developing the jute-cotton blended fine yarn. Another important technology is Wool keratin based cosmetic products, hair serum, hair oil and face cream from coarser wool fibre.

These technologies/ products were highly appreciated by the different dignitaries, entrepreneurs, stake-holders, students and people belongs to farming community.

(Source: ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology, Kolkata)