Shillong, Oct 26: Comilla cotton, a unique variety from the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, is being revitalized through innovative initiatives aimed at producing eco-friendly products.

Known scientifically as Gossypium arboreum, Comilla cotton was once a celebrated textile of the pre-independence Comilla district in present-day Bangladesh. Today, its absorbent, short-staple fibers are attracting renewed attention in the medical and sustainable products sectors, especially in the production of earbuds and sanitary napkins free of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP).

Eco-Friendly Solutions for a Healthier Tomorrow

The renewed interest in Comilla cotton stems largely from its natural absorbency, making it a prime candidate for surgical cotton and other medical uses. In particular, it’s now being used to develop eco-friendly sanitary napkins, free of SAP—a compound associated with environmental hazards and an increased risk of cervical cancer. By leveraging Comilla cotton’s properties, manufacturers are producing products that not only benefit consumers but also address critical environmental and health concerns.

A Collaborative Push for Sustainable Cultivation and Innovation

The revival efforts for Comilla cotton are led by a partnership between the ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) in Nagpur and the Central Agricultural University in Imphal. The collaborative project aims to modernize cultivation techniques and create high-yield, resilient varieties of Comilla cotton that can meet industry standards. The initiative focuses on developing cotton strains that retain unique traits, such as large boll size and high ginning efficiency, with a view to expanding its utility in medical textiles.

“Comilla Cotton is a valuable indigenous resource that has the potential to uplift the livelihoods of farmers in the Northeast,” says Jyoti V. Vastrad, Dean of the College of Community Sciences, Central Agricultural University, Tura. “Its absorbency makes it an excellent candidate for medical textiles. By promoting eco-friendly, bio-based products, we are creating sustainable solutions that support local communities.”

Local Communities Lead the Way in Product Development

A community-based approach has become central to Comilla cotton’s resurgence. In Darechigre village, a self-help group is already producing eco-friendly earbuds using locally grown Comilla cotton, meeting BIS standards for quality. Plans are underway to sterilize, package, and distribute these products locally and online, opening up new economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs.

Indigenous scouring and bleaching technologies, tailored for Comilla cotton, have been introduced to ensure that the fiber meets medical-grade standards. This locally adapted technology is now being transferred to farmers and villagers, allowing them to produce cotton suitable for surgical use right at the source.

Empowering Communities Through Training and Market Access

Training programs on Comilla cotton product development and crop improvement have been introduced to expand cultivation and support local businesses. With enhanced access to markets, smallholder farmers in Meghalaya are being connected directly to the surgical cotton industry, increasing income opportunities and promoting indigenous knowledge.

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