The ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Trust ARS Rubber Private Limited, Chengalpattu, on October 22, 2026, to transfer technology for protective gloves designed for cotton-picking workers.

The agreement aims to facilitate the commercialisation and wider distribution of the gloves, helping improve occupational safety for cotton farmers and agricultural labourers. The gloves are specially designed to protect workers’ hands from injuries caused by sharp cotton bracts while ensuring flexibility and comfort during harvesting.

Made for repeated use in demanding field conditions, the gloves feature a durable and reusable design. Their wider adoption is expected to promote safer harvesting practices, reduce hand injuries and improve working conditions for agricultural workers.

The partnership also seeks to strengthen collaboration between research institutions and industry by translating ICAR-CIRCOT’s innovations into practical agricultural solutions, supporting worker welfare and livelihoods across the cotton value chain.