The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) in Mumbai has signed a memorandum of understanding with Trust ARS Rubber Private Limited of Chengalpattu to transfer its technology for protective gloves for cotton-picking workers, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research said on 23 October.
The gloves were developed to protect pickers' hands from injuries caused by the sharp bracts around cotton bolls during harvest, while remaining flexible and comfortable to work in. They are reusable and built to last under repeated use in field conditions, according to the institute.
The licence is meant to bring the gloves into commercial production so that they become widely available to cotton farmers and farm workers. ICAR says wider use of suitable protective equipment should reduce hand injuries, improve working conditions and make harvesting safer for agricultural labourers.
ICAR-CIRCOT described the agreement as a step in turning its research into practical products through partnerships with industry, and in addressing field-level problems such as occupational safety across the cotton value chain. The announcement was issued through the Press Information Bureau, New Delhi.
Source: ICAR
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