Research Projects

To address the rising demand for linen textiles in India and worldwide, this project proposal seeks to maximise the potential of rice-fallow areas for fibre flax farming. Around 70% of India's raw industrial flax fibre supply comes from countries like China, Egypt, Canada, and Europe as imports. This proposal intends to develop a lucrative and sustainable flax farming strategy that can lessen reliance on imported raw flax fibres, assist domestic growers, and lower the market price of linen textile materials. It might encourage the export of high-quality finished linen textiles and raw flax fibres to international markets. The research will look into stress management strategies and proper moisture conservation measures suitable for growing fibre flax under the challenging conditions of rice-fallow fields in Eastern India. The effective ways of moisture conservation to support the fibre flax growth with residual soil moisture and impacts of stress tolerance imparting managemental aspects will be tested through field experimentations for consecutive seasons. The project's secondary goal is to scientifically develop and evaluate methods for flax retting that conserve water during the post-harvest processing stage. Overall, the project aims to create a sustainable and profitable flax farming system in Eastern India utilising fallow lands while promoting environmentally friendly farming practices and contributing to the growth of the local economy.