Cotton plays a key role in the national economy in terms of direct and indirect employment and income generation in the agricultural and industrial sectors. Textiles and related exports of which cotton constitutes nearly 65% account for nearly 33% of the total foreign exchange earnings of our country which at present is around 12 billion dollars with a potential for a significant increase in the coming year.

Keeping in view the importance of this crop in our national agricultural and economic scenario, it received special attention of the Government earlier through Indian Central Cotton Committee and now through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Further the research efforts under All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project. (AICCIP) were initiated by the Council in the year 1967. The establishment of AICCIP gave new fillip and direction in terms of multi- disciplinary and multi-centre approaches with the active involvement of State Agriculture Universities.

With a view to develop a Centre of excellence for carrying out long term research on fundamental problems limiting cotton production and also to provide basic support to location specific applied research work being carried out in a network of cotton research centres in the country through the AICCIP system, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has established the Central Institute for Cotton Research at Nagpur in April, 1976.

The erstwhile Regional Station of lARl at Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) became a part of CICR simultaneously to cater to the needs of southern cotton zone. In the year 1985, the IARI Regional Station at Sirsa (Haryana) was transferred to CICR as a regional centre for the northern irrigated cotton zone.

Regional Station Coimbatore000000000000000000000000000000 Regional Station, Sirsa

Vision

Improving production and quality of Indian Cotton (including the development of transgenics resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses) with reduced cost to make cotton production cost effective and competitive in the national and global market.

Mission

To develop economically viable and eco-friendly production and protection technologies for enhancing quality cotton production by 2-3% every year on a sustainable basis for the next fifteen years (till 2020).

The organisation

The Institute has three Divisions at Nagpur to undertake basic, strategic and futuristic (including some frontier areas) research and transfer of technology programmes specifically for the rainfed central cotton zone.

Divisions: Crop Improvement (Genetics, Cytogenetics, Plant Breeding, PGR, Biotechnology and Seed Technology), Crop Production (Agronomy, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Statistics, Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, Agricultural Economics, Extension), Crop Protection (Agricultural Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology)

At the regional station Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) the basic, fundamental and applied research programme with specific reference to the location specific requirements of the southern cotton zone are being carried out in the following disciplines:

Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy, Soil Science, Agricultural Chemistry, Plant Physiology, Bio-chemistry, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Seed Technology, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Statistics and Computer Applications. A fibre-testing unit is also functioning at the regional station Coimbatore .

The regional station at Sirsa (Haryana) situated in the northern cotton belt is primarily concerned with the R & D requirement for the irrigated northern zone. The basic, fundamental and applied research work is being undertaken in the following disciplines: Plant Breeding, Entomology, Plant Pathology and Seed Technology.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

Since, 1994, a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) for the Nagpur district came into being under the aegis of this Institute and is located in the Institute premises.

Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC)

Access to information, dissemination and adoption or application are important dimensions of a development system. It is a fact that several useful technologies evolved are confined within research organizations. In this context, the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) of CICR was established in the year 2000. ATIC plays a major role in dissemination of information regarding various agricultural sciences, anima~ husbandry, sericulture, apiculture and training pertaining to different topics of agricultural sciences, to farmers, farm women, horticulturists and dairy men through its publication and information system.

Other service sections such as RCM Unit, Farm Section, Library, Art & Photography, Administration and Accounts support the research activities of the Institute.

Infrastructure

Laboratories

Nagpur : The main laboratory and administrative building was completed in the year 1986 and all the laboratories and the administrative wings were shifted to the new premises at Panjri Farm. Gradually over the years, good laboratories came into being in different disciplines with ample working space, sophisticated instruments, centrally air-conditioned laboratories, good computer facilities etc. Renovation and modernization work undertaken recently provided a face lift and elegance to the existing work sites and laboratories. The Institute at present is having reasonably good laboratories, even though considerable scope exists for rendering them state of art, keeping in view the emergence of some of the frontier areas of research such as genetic engineering, biotechnology etc. Separate buildings for germplasm and seed storage have come up to house the cold storage modules and Seed processing infrastructure. Insectary / Bio-control lab is ready for mass production of bio- agents. Pot house facilities in terms of glass house and three net houses were also constructed during the past.

Coimbatore : The laboratories in the initial stages were located in different buildings. After the construction of another laboratory building adjacent to the Silver Jubilee Building, most of the laboratories are presently functioning in these two buildings. The infrastructures viz., insectary building, Seminar Hall, Polyhouse, Farm store house (New area farm) and rooms for instruments, Plant tissue culture lab, Growth Chamber have been created recently. Advanced equipment like Image analyser, gel documentation system, inverted fluorescent microscope, porometer, digital spectrophotometer, high volume instrument etc. have been added to the laboratories. Good computer facilities with V-SAT connectivity are also available. A separate administrative block is being added on the first floor of main building. An advanced DUS Testing laboratory is being created in the existing seed storage building.

Sirsa : The laboratories inherited from the erst-while IARI Regional Station were strengthened with the provision of some sophisticated equipment and facilities including computer facility.

Library

Nagpur From a modest beginning in 1976, the Institute has built up a reasonably good library facilities in terms of research journals (Indian & foreign), annual reviews, books, reports, reprints, proceedings etc. The library has a collection of about 3200 books, 4000 periodicals, 3000 reports & bulletins and 60 journals (20 foreign and 40 Indian) pertaining to various disciplines with special reference to cotton are being subscribed. Seven hundred reprints on cotton from the journals which are not being subscribed by the library have been collected.

Library has developed and designed 'Computerized Bibliographic Data-base on Cotton' to provide comprehensive and exhaustive information on cotton literature. Documentation services, such as Current awareness services, Retrospective search services, SDI service are being provided by using the data-base.

A quarterly abstracting bulletin entitled 'Cotton Research Abstracts' i$ being brought out on a regular basis and circulated to all the cotton research centres in the country. At Coimbatore and Sirsa centres moderate library facilities are also available and which are being strengthened.

Library provides CD-ROM database search & retrieval service by using following databases.

1) CAB Abstracts 2) CROPCD 3) AGRICOLA 4) AGRIS 5) BIOTLCH ABSTRACTST

At Coimbatore , moderate library facilities are available in terms of few foreign and Indian journals and books.

At Sirsa, limited library facilities are available in terms of few journals and books.

ARIS Cell

An Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) was established in the Institute in 1996, under which Local Area Network has been developed with capacity for more than 70 nodes through structural cabling within the building and fibre optics between buildings. E-mail and internet facilities have been created and a V-SAT has been installed for effective communication considering the locational disadvantages of the Institute. ARIS completed updating permisnet information bank and CICR Website. ARIS procured digital videography, software, antivirus and external storage devices.

Research Farm

Nagpur : In the initial stages the Institute had two farms for field research one of 41. 77 hectares at Panjri and another of20 ha. at Phutala onNational High Way No.6. After shifting to the main building in 1986, the farm at Phutala was handed over to Dr. PDKV. Simultaneously the Institute has acquired additional land of 134.32 ha. adjacent to Panjri Farm. Now a comprehensive block of 176.09 ha. is available for the institute needs at Panjri Farm. Concerted efforts were made within the allocated funds to ,develop the entire farm into a good research farm in terms of creation of blocks, levelling and digging of tubewells for providing irrigation to some specific areas etc. Labour sheds and farm buildings were constructed in each of the three blocks. Pucca roads are being laid to cover part of the farm area. Seven farm ponds of varying capacities for harvesting runoff water and enabling its reuse were created.

Coimbatore : The regional station has two farms, one farm of 18 ha. near TNAU where the regional station buildings are located. This is a well developed farm with good irrigation facilities for conducting research on irrigated cotton. Farm office building was constructed recently to accommodate the farm infrastructure. The other farm of 20 ha. is situated near the Sugarcane Breeding Institute and is nearly 6 km away from the main research farm.

Sirsa : The regional station has well developed farm with 20 ha. of land with irrigation facilities for research purpose.

All the three research farms are well equipped with tractors and other farm implements and efforts are underway to initiate further developmental work in all the farms.

RCM Unit

RCM unit assists the Director in coordinating the research and technical activities of the Institute including the Institute publications, research project files, technical correspondence, compilation of technical and allied reports, organization of scientific meetings, workshops, seminars, regional committee meetings etc.,

Rajbhasha Section

To give an impetus to the use of Hindi in Administrative and technical matters, the Rajbhasha Section has been established in the Institute. This section provides assistance in bringing out publications in Hindi (technical and general) and also look after the implementation of Hindi in the day to day work of the lnstitute. One such Rajbhasha Section is also functioning at CICR reginal station Coimbatore.

Museum

At Nagpur a good museum depicting the activities and achievements of the Institute has been constructed. At regional station Coimbatore a small museum depicting the salient findings and improved technologies is available.

Guest House

At Nagpur , common Guest House facility is available in the city within the premises of ICAR residential complex shared with NBSS & LUP. Besides, a new well furnished Training Hostel is also available at the Institute premises. At regional station Sirsa, small guest house is available.

Transport

At Nagpur , to cater to the commuting needs of the staff to the Institute, located 14 kms. away from the city transport facility assumes considerable importance. The Institute at present has one 52 seater bus, 2 mini buses, 3 jeeps and one staff car. At Coimbatore : Two jeeps are available for meeting the transport needs. At Sirsa regional station has one jeep catering to the requirements.

The main mission of CICR is to improve the production, productivity and profitability of cotton cultivation in all the distinctly different agro-ecological cotton growing zones of the country through the development of relevant, feasible and economically viable and ecologically friendly production and protection technologies including the development of improved varieties and hybrids and fundamental research pursuits in all the disciplines to further our understanding of the crop vis-à-vis the ambient biotic and abiotic environment.
The past achievements of the Institute are summarized below:

The Institute has released nine varieties of G.hirsutum, four intra-hirsutum hybrids and two hirsutum x barbadense (inter-specific) hybrids. The details are given below.

G. hirsutum

• MCU5-VT - Verticillium wilt tolerant-60s counts
• LRA 5166 -Drought tolerant and adaptable to different agro-climatic conditions-30s- 40s counts
• Supriya -Whitefly tolerant-40s-50s counts
• Kanchana -Whitefly tolerant-40s counts
• Anjali (LRK 516) –Early maturing, compact and semi dwarf, suited for closer spacing.
• CNH 36 - Dwarf early maturing-40s counts
• Arogya -Bacterial blight immune-12s counts
• Surabhi -Verticillium tolerant, extra long staple, high yielding than MCU 5VT-55s counts
• Sumangala -Medium staple quality with a ginning outturn of 38 per cent
• CNH 120 MB -High yielding, medium staple, early maturing

Intra-specific hybrid (intra-hirsutum)

• Savita-hybrid of MCU 5 quality-60s counts
• CICR HHI-Early maturing hybrid-40s counts
• TM 1312 (Surya)-Presence of genetic marker character-50s-60s counts
• Om-Shankar-Early maturing, high yielding hybrid-30s-402 counts

Interspecific hybrid (G. hirsutum x G. barbadense)

• HB 224-Extra long staple hybrid -80s counts
• Shruthi-Compact, short duration hybrid

  
  • A rich repository of cotton germplasm with more than 9700 accessions of all the four cultivated species of cotton has been established. It contains G. hirsutum 5900, G. barbadense 750, G. arboreum 1750, G. herbaceum 450,300 accessions including 24 wild species, 14 races, perennials, inter-specific hybrids, synthetic polyploids.

  • Three germplasm lines of G. arboretum, G. 135-49 of race bengalense and 30805 and 30838 of race cernuum were registered with NBPGR, New Delhi. These lines are immune to grey mildew disease (Ramularia areola Atk.) of cotton.

  • The ideal crossing period was identified for hybrid seed production with respect to higher yield and superior seed quality under different agro climatic conditions.

  • Agrobacterium mediated transformation was successful in LRK 516 with Cry 1A (b) gene. Two regeneration protocols from shoot tip and cotyledon for G. hirustum and G. arboretum cotton cultivars were standardized.

  • The regeneration protocols for multiple shoot induction from meristematic tissues were standardized in cotton.

  • SDS PAGE analyses of protein and isozyme studies were done for characterization of hybrids and varieties and also as markers studies.

  • DNA finger printing of germplasm and wild species provide valuable information on cotton traits.

  • Comprehensive production technologies were developed to improve the resource use efficiency under different cotton based cropping systems viz., mono-cropping, organic cotton, cotton-wheat double cropping and inter-cropping with green gram, black gram, soybean, onion, chillies etc.,

  • Integrated nutrient management techniques were standardized for sustainable cotton production in rainfed and irrigated vertisols using a combination of inorganic and organic sources, to minimize nutrient losses.

  • Water management techniques including in-situ moisture conservation, water harvesting and recycling using micro irrigation techniques like drip and sprinklers were perfected.

  • Minimum tillage plot were significantly better than conventional tillage plot in terms of lower weed density, higher dry matter, greater soil microbial biomass and micro fauna.

  • A two row bullock drawn planter was developed for sowing cotton in vertisols at 60 x 60 x 30 and 60 90 and 60 120 cm.

  • Physiological shedding of fruiting parts had positive association with flower production and negative relationship with stomatal resistance under rainfed condition.

  • Delay in planting dates enhanced physiological shedding of fruiting parts. Shedding of buds and bolls under cloudy conditions was considerably reduced by alternate application of 10 ppm NAA and 1% DAP.

  • Desi cottons are found more tolerant to salinity.

  • Elaborate IOM strategies have been evolved to reduce insecticides application and make cotton production more environmental friendly.

  • Subject Matter Specialists of nine cotton growing states were imparted practical training on IPM throughout cotton seasons.

  • Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been identified and found effective against H. armigera.

  • New pesticide molecules including botanicals and insect pathogens (Bt and NPV) were tested for efficacy and bio-safety in the cotton ecosystem. IPM practices were developed and popularized and notable achievements have been the success of IPM in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

  • The utility of sex pheromone traps in pest monitoring was demonstrated. Role of bio-agents in cotton pest management was established. Mass production protocols for Chrysoperla carnea. (Predator), Trichogramma chilonis (pathogen) against bollworms were developed and populatized.

  • Resistance to insecticides in H. armigera was monitored throughout the country. The nature of resistance was worked out. IRM technology was developed and implemented in farmers field with their participation.

  • Resistant sources against insect-pests and diseases were identified and inducted into resistance breeding programme.

• The seed dressing insecticide imidacloprid and its sprayable formulation were effective against early season sucking pests like aphid, thrips and jassids. RH 2485 and spinosad were effective in reducing the larval infestation and reducing the boll damage.

• The bio-agents-Trichoderma harzianum, T.Viride and P.Seudomonas fluorescens (CHAO strain) have been found as effective as the fungicides in the management of grey mildew and Alternaria leaf spot diseases.

• Seed treatment with Carbendazim along with combined application of T.harzianum, G.virens and T.viride showed lowest root rot in cotton caused by Rhizoctonia spp.

• Three cultures viz.,CNH 911,CHN 2713 and CNH 4736, resistant to bacterial blight, Myrothecium and Alternaria leaf spots and cotton leaf curl virus have been developed.

• Yield gap models showed that plant density gap hybrid and soil dummy in variety were the major significant variables responsible for the yield gap while nutrient gaps is common to both.

• Micro and macro constraints, types and extent of risks in cotton cultivation were identified and quantified.

• Commodity diversion model results indicated that delay in cash payment and improper grading were the inducing factors for cotton diversion from the monopoly procurement that price difference and avoidance of credit recovery.

• Priority of the organization set by various mechanism has emerged as the most important criteria followed by foreign collaborations, feedback from clients, current hot topics, contribution to scientific theory and publication probability in research problem selection among cotton scientists in India.

• Pattern of diffusion of selected cotton technologies was studied in market and infrastructure perspective. Adoption was higher in villages close to the propagator.

• The percentage of woman folk and their proportion of time spent in farm has increased over years because of unfavourable terms of trade towards agriculture.
• Information system on cotton was developed

Basic and Fundamental Research

In addition to the applied research aspects considerable amount of work on the following basic aspects was carried out to further strengthen the applied approaches.

• Physiological and biochemical basis for abiotic and biotic stress tolerances.
• Dot-blot assay for rapid detection of insecticide resistance levels in pests.
• Isolation and characterisation of native Bt strains
• Identification of new sources of male sterility.
• Assessment of essential fatty acid profile of seed oil.
• Molecular basis of pathogenicity of cotton pathogens.
• High gossypol gland density on ovary and calyx surface showed comparatively low incidence of bollworms on loculi basis.

Promising Technologies Generated

Mass production of bio-control agents

Technologies to mass multiply predator (Chrysoperla), parasitoid (Trichogramma) and insect pathogen (HNPV) have been standardized and transferred to entrepreneurs. These bio-agents are being supplied for use in farmers’ fields. Formulation of T.Viride which can be used as spray or seed treatment has been prepared. This is useful for the management of cotton diseases.

‘Bt bucket’ for small scale farmer’s use

A simple cost-effective method has been designed and developed to indigenously produce Bt-toxins at small-scale under residential conditions. The Bt-broth can be either sprayed directly on crops for the control of lepidopteron insect pests or harvested through filtration and preserved for further use. The cost of the basic unit would be about Rs 600 and the cost of producing Bt-toxins required for each application on one hectare would be about Rs 160. Farmers can produce the toxins cheaply without having to depend on traders and pesticide dealers.

Bed Planter model fabricated

A model of Bed Planter was fabricated at the Regional Station, Sirsa. The purpose of the machine is to prepare seed beds and also do the sowing at fixed spacing. In addition to that, consumption of water use can also be economized with this machine. The width of the bed formed by this machine comes to spacing at 67.5 cm as practiced under north zone conditions.

Cotton Planter

A two row bullock drawn cotton planter for small farmers, especially for vertisols has been developed at CICR, Nagpur. The implement weight 50 kgs and is pulled by a pair of bullocks. It can cover area of one hectare in two hours. Cup feed type seed mechanism has been used for metering seeds. The row to row spacing is kept at 60 cm. While the seed to seed spacing within the row can be varied form 30 cm to 120 cm. The seed rate was found to be 4.6 kg/ha for 60 x 60 cm and 3.0 kg/ha for 60 90 cm spacing.

Organic cotton technology

Institute has developed a technology for organic cotton production using organic soil amendments and bio-control based pest management. This technology is now being successfully utilized by organic cotton growers in Amravati and Yeotmal districts of Maharashtra in about 1000 ha.

Transfer of Technology

In addition to the research programmes, the Institute is engaged in first line transfer of technology programmes. These include institute Village Linkage Programme (IVLP), Frontline demonstration (FLD), On-Campus/Off- Campus demonstrations, Seed Village Programme and IPM/IRM demonstrations. Rashtriya Kapas Melas (RKM) are held every year to facilitate the interaction among farmers from all major cotton growing states and cotton scientists. Farmers Day is organized periodically for enabling in- depth interaction between farmers and researchers. Institute is also a part of Kisan Call Center network of the country. Considering the importance of electronic media in transfer of technology, the Institute is engaged in production of video films on various aspects of cotton in vernacular languages, agriculture programmes for various TV channels and radio talks for All India Radio. The web based expert system on cotton production, being developed by the Institute will be of immense help to computer savvy extension personnel and farmers. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Agriculture Technology Information Center (ATIC) are major organs of the institute to provide advisory and other services to the farming community. Farm women is a very important client group for all extension progrmame of the institute.

Training

The Institute undertakes a regular on- farm training courses for cotton growers usually of one to two days duration. Very specific aspects of production technology are dealt in these training programmes. The Govt. of India recognizes the institute as the center for conducting National Model Training Courses on Cotton Production Technology. More than 500 senior level extension functionaries belonging to all major cotton growing States of the country have been trained in these medium to long-term programmes. In addition, the institute undertakes short term training progr:ammes for the State governments, NGO's, private companies/corporations and other organizations. Periodic International training programmes are also organized for cotton professionals from other cotton growing countries of south and south-east asia such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh etc. The institute is well equipped in-terms of facilities and faculty for organizing regular national and international training courses in the varied fields of cotton research.