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On Tuesday the Indian Rupee lower by 09 paise to close at 94.66 against the US dollar, after opening at 94.57 in morning trade.At close, the Sensex was down 249.70 points or 0.33 percent at 76,478.67, and the Nifty was down 80.50 points or 0.34 percent at 23,865.75. About 2250 shares advanced, 1805 shares declined, and 173 shares unchanged.read more :- Punjab Cotton Subsidy Sees Low Response

Limited Impact of 33% Subsidy on Cotton Seeds in Punjab; Farmers' Interest Continues to DeclineChandigarh: Despite the Punjab government's scheme offering a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds, farmers in the state remain disillusioned with cotton cultivation. According to the latest data from the Agriculture Department, only 19,000 farmers registered under the subsidy scheme this year, compared to 52,000 last year—marking a decline of approximately 63 percent in registrations.The government launched the 33% subsidy in 2023 for certified Bt cotton hybrids and indigenous cotton varieties recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). This assistance is capped at a maximum of five acres per farmer. Despite this, even in the fourth year of the scheme, farmers in the southern Malwa region—once considered the state's primary cotton-producing area—continue to shy away from the crop.Charanjit Singh, Deputy Director (Cotton) of the Agriculture Department, stated that cotton was sown across approximately 80,000 hectares in the state this year, down from 1.19 lakh hectares last year. He explained that unseasonal rains following the April sowing created a hard soil crust on the fields, hindering seed germination and destroying many plants. Due to the high cost involved in re-sowing, most farmers chose not to replant.He further noted that the unavailability of timely irrigation water from canals compounded the farmers' difficulties. Water supply was delayed due to maintenance work, while damage to minor canals in the Bathinda, Mansa, and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts disrupted the irrigation system.State Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated that the department could not achieve the expected success in promoting the indigenous cotton variety PBD-88. According to him, this variety is relatively more tolerant to several major pests, can be cultivated at a lower cost, and has the potential for higher yields. Experts believe that next-generation Bollgard-III GM cotton varieties, which are resistant to the pink bollworm, will be required to revitalize cotton cultivation in Punjab. Currently, several institutions, including PAU, are conducting trials, and a final decision will be taken by the central government after evaluating the trial results.read more :- Rupee Opens 3 Paise Lower Against Dollar at 94.57

The rupee opened 3 paise lower at 94.57 against the USD.On Tuesday, the Indian rupee opened 3 paise lower against the dollar at 94.57, whereas it had closed at 94.54 on Monday.RAED MORE :- Rain Boosts Cotton Sowing in Ahmadpur

Cotton Sowing Picks Up Pace in Ahmadpur After Two Days of Rain; Cultivation Planned for 10,000 HectaresAhmadpur: After a long wait, good rainfall over the past two days has brought relief to farmers in Ahmadpur Taluka. Farmers had been anxious due to the lack of rain during the first half of the monsoon's 'Mrig Nakshatra' period; however, with adequate soil moisture now available, cotton sowing operations have accelerated. Cotton is the taluka's second most important Kharif crop after soybean, and the target for this year is to cultivate it across approximately 10,000 hectares.With the Meteorological Department forecasting further rainfall, farmers have ramped up sowing activities. Moderate rainfall was recorded in several parts of the taluka on Saturday. Following this, farmers in villages such as Shirur Tajband, Ahmadpur, Nandura, Dhalegaon, Hadolti, and Thodga have headed to their fields.For this Kharif season, the total cultivable land in Ahmadpur Taluka is 71,482 hectares, with a total sowing area of 66,587 hectares. Soybean cultivation will cover the largest area at 44,622 hectares. This is followed by a planned 10,000 hectares for cotton and 9,797 hectares for Arhar (Tur/pigeon pea).Rainfall data indicates that 23 mm of rain was recorded in the Ahmadpur circle by June 27, bringing the cumulative total to 112 mm. The Shirur Tajband circle also received 23 mm of rain, reaching a total of 94 mm. Meanwhile, only 9 mm (total 49 mm) was recorded in the Khandli area, and 7 mm (total 23 mm) in the Andhori area. No rainfall occurred in the Kinggaon and Hadolti circles on that day. Kinggaon has received only 28 mm of rain so far, so farmers there are still awaiting significant rainfall.Sowing remains stalled in areas where soil moisture levels are insufficient. Following two consecutive days of rainfall in the Hadolti region, farmers have commenced sowing both cotton and soybean crops. They are hopeful that further good rainfall in the coming days will ensure the successful completion of sowing operations.Vishwanath Hengne, a farmer from Hadolti, stated, "We received good rainfall last June, and a rainy spell has begun this time as well. If there is substantial rainfall over the next day or two, the cotton sowing process will be fully successful."Taluka Agriculture Officer Sachin Bavge advised farmers against hasty sowing. According to him, it is advisable to sow only after receiving at least 100 mm of rainfall and ensuring adequate soil moisture. He emphasized the importance of checking seed germination capacity and performing seed treatment prior to sowing. He also noted that adopting the Broad Bed Furrow (BBF) or dibbling method saves seeds and fertilizer while enabling the crop to better withstand erratic rainfall. Additionally, he urged farmers to utilize the 'Mahavistar AI' app for weather forecasts, pest management, and modern agricultural advice.read more :-  Dry Spell Hits Chotila Cotton

Rainfall Deficit Threatens Cotton Sowing in Gujarat's Chotila; Re-sowing LikelySurendranagar (Gujarat): A prolonged dry spell in the Chotila region of Gujarat's Surendranagar district has raised concerns among farmers. After initial monsoon showers, farmers had hopefully sown Kharif crops, including cotton; however, the lack of subsequent adequate rainfall has begun to adversely affect the cotton crop in many areas. Farmers fear that if it does not rain soon, they may be forced to undertake re-sowing.Farmers state that they had invested thousands of rupees in expensive seeds, fertilizers, and labor to sow cotton, encouraged by the sufficient soil moisture resulting from the early rains. However, the prolonged dry spell caused the soil moisture to deplete rapidly. Consequently, in many fields, cotton seeds have either perished or dried up before even germinating.Crop failure has increased the financial burden on farmers. Many are already farming on borrowed money and are now anxious about the prospect of purchasing seeds and sowing again, further exacerbating their economic woes.Ambabhai Olakiya, a farmer leader and former president of the Chotila Taluka Panchayat, explained that due to the region's geographical conditions, rainwater does not retain in the soil for long. Limited water storage facilities mean that any delay in rainfall leads to a severe irrigation crisis.He noted that even farmers with borewells or wells are grappling with issues such as declining groundwater levels and inadequate electricity supply for agriculture. If there is no rainfall in the coming days, the impact could extend beyond crops to affect the availability of fodder for livestock and drinking water.Ambabhai Olakiya has urged the government to conduct an immediate survey of crop damage in the affected areas, provide compensation or free seeds and fertilizers to farmers, accelerate the construction of check dams and water conservation projects, and ensure a regular electricity supply for farming operations.For now, farmers in the Chotila region are waiting for good rainfall. They state that only timely and adequate rainfall can save the withering crops and spare farmers from potentially massive financial losses.read more :- The rupee lower by 19 paise against the dollar to close at 94.54

On Monday the Indian Rupee lower by 19 paise to close at 94.54 against the US dollar, after opening at 94.35 in morning trade.At close, the Sensex was down 372.10 points or 0.48 percent at 76,728.37, and the Nifty was down 109.75 points or 0.46 percent at 23,946.25. About 1681 shares advanced, 2471 shares declined, and 202 shares unchanged.read more :- Tamil Nadu Urged to Use PLI Scheme

Tamil Nadu Textile Industry Urged to Invest Under PLI Scheme; Goal to Triple ExportsTiruppur: Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh has urged Tamil Nadu’s textile and apparel industry to leverage the Central Government's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the technical textiles and man-made fiber (MMF) sectors. He noted that an outlay of ₹11,000 crore has been allocated under this scheme and encouraged the industry to utilize it to boost investment.Speaking at an event organized by the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), the Minister stated that the government has relaxed the norms of the PLI scheme to encourage investment in the technical textiles and MMF sectors. He explained that the Ministry's new schemes have been formulated with the industry's needs in mind, placing special emphasis on aspects such as machinery, employment generation, and increasing production capacity. He expressed hope that the state and central governments would work together to accelerate the sector's growth.Giriraj Singh urged the industry to invest in states where an adequate workforce is available. He highlighted that the country's annual silk production has risen from 26,000 tonnes in 2014 to 43,000 tonnes, with the government aiming to reach 60,000 tonnes by 2030. He also emphasized the need to boost exports of garments made from blends of silk and other fibers.At the event, A. Sakthivel, Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), noted that the Ministry of Textiles is continuously implementing new schemes and that all seven PM MITRA parks are now operational. Meanwhile, TEA President K.M. Subramanian called for the early implementation of the Textile Expansion and Employment Mission (TEEM) and requested a three-year extension on tax and levy-related relief measures. Later, the Union Minister inaugurated a GM testing laboratory for cotton and cotton-based products at the South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) in Coimbatore. This laboratory, which recently received NABL accreditation, will strengthen quality testing, traceability, and compliance with international standards in the global cotton trade. He also called upon Tamil Nadu's textile industry to triple the state's textile exports and increase investment in the manufacturing of indigenous machinery for the knitting, weaving, and processing sectors.read  more :- Cotton Sowing Starts in Ahilyanagar

Maharashtra: Cotton sowing begins amidst scanty rainfall; acreage likely to shrink in AhilyanagarIt has been nearly a month since the onset of the monsoon in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district, yet the lack of widespread, normal rainfall is affecting Kharif season sowing. However, following light showers over the past two days, some farmers have commenced cotton sowing, relying on irrigation facilities. The Agriculture Department anticipates that if there is no significant rainfall in the coming days, the total area under cotton cultivation in the district could decrease this year.Cotton sowing has begun on a limited scale in talukas such as Shevgaon, Pathardi, Rahuri, and Nevasa. However, the majority of farmers are still waiting for adequate rainfall. Farmers point out that sowing in soil with low moisture levels carries the risk of seed failure, potentially necessitating re-sowing. Given the high cost of cotton seeds, re-sowing would impose an additional financial burden on farmers.Cotton cultivation acreage in Ahilyanagar district has steadily increased over the past few years. While cotton was previously grown in a limited area, farmers in sugarcane-growing regions have also recently turned towards cotton cultivation. Currently, cotton is being cultivated in several areas, including Ahilyanagar, Shevgaon, Pathardi, Nevasa, Jamkhed, Karjat, and Kopargaon. The average area under cotton in the district over the last three years has been recorded at 122,086 hectares, whereas last year, cotton was cultivated across approximately 150,000 hectares.So far, the highest cotton sowing has been recorded in Rahuri taluka, covering 5,045 hectares. This is followed by Nevasa (1,551 hectares), Shrigonda (571 hectares), Karjat (318 hectares), Shevgaon (300 hectares), and Shrirampur (238 hectares). Agricultural experts state that cotton sowing usually gains momentum with good rainfall during the Mrig Nakshatra; however, the slow progress of the monsoon this year has heightened farmers' concerns. Over the past two years, farmers suffered significant financial losses due to crop damage caused by excessive rain and the inability to secure fair market prices. Consequently, they are now hoping for both timely, adequate rainfall and better market rates for cotton this year. If sufficient rain does not arrive soon, the area under cotton cultivation in the district could be lower than that of the previous year.read more :- Rupee Opens 5 Paise Higher at 94.35 Against US Dollar

The rupee opened 5 paise higher at 94.35 against the US dollar.On Monday, the rupee opened at 94.35 against the US dollar, registering a gain of 5 paise, whereas it had closed at 94.40 on Thursday.Read More :- Rain Boosts Sowing in Adilabad

Heavy Rains in Adilabad Accelerate Cotton and Soybean SowingAdilabad: Good rainfall over the past two days has brought relief to farmers in the erstwhile Adilabad district. Farmers, who had been waiting for rain for a long time, have now ramped up the sowing of cotton and soybean. They believe that the adequate moisture will improve seed germination and boost the initial growth of the crops.Many farmers had previously postponed sowing due to a lack of rainfall. However, with the recent rains providing sufficient soil moisture, sowing operations for cotton and soybean have gained momentum. Several farmers who sowed crops in the first week of June had suffered losses due to poor germination; these farmers are now re-sowing cotton, while others have turned to alternative crops like red gram (tur) and soybean to mitigate risk.Chaudhary Vinod, a farmer from Ramai village in Sathnala Mandal, stated that regular rainfall over the next few days is crucial for a good harvest. He noted that if the rains stop again, soil moisture levels would deplete rapidly, increasing the risk of the new sprouts withering.Agricultural scientists have advised farmers regarding fields where cotton was sown earlier but germination was delayed due to dry soil. Since these seeds could still germinate once adequate moisture is available, farmers are urged not to hastily re-plough their fields but to assess the crop's condition before making a decision.The recent rains have also revived the flow of water in ponds, streams, and small rivers. This has raised hopes for an improvement in groundwater levels, which will help farmers provide necessary irrigation to their cotton and soybean crops using sprinkler and drip irrigation systems in the future.Although farmers remain watchful of the monsoon's further progress, the recent rainfall has significantly alleviated concerns caused by the delayed onset of the season. Farmers are hopeful that if good rainfall continues in the coming days, crop production is likely to be better this Kharif season.read more :- Cotton Duty Relief, Challenges Remain

Relief on Cotton Duty: A Welcome Move, but the Textile Industry's Real Challenges RemainThe Government of India has decided to grant a temporary exemption on the 11% customs duty on cotton imports from June 1 to October 31, 2026. The government states that this move will ensure an adequate supply of raw material for the textile industry, reduce input costs, provide relief to MSME units, and make Indian textile products more competitive in the global market.According to Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, this decision aims to ensure cotton availability during the off-season and boost exports. Industry bodies believe this exemption could lower cotton prices by approximately 6%, offering relief to companies manufacturing yarn, garments, towels, bedsheets, and home textiles.However, experts point out that this is merely a temporary solution. The real challenges facing the Indian textile industry include low cotton productivity, quality issues, and global competition. According to the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), India imports an average of about 2 million (20 lakh) bales of cotton annually, representing roughly 7% of total domestic production. These imports are primarily undertaken to secure superior quality yarn and fulfill export orders.Industry stakeholders note that countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Pakistan impose no duty on cotton imports. In contrast, the 11% import duty levied on Indian mills increases costs and hampers export competitiveness. India has also witnessed a decline in its share of global cotton yarn exports in recent years.Experts observe that India's average cotton productivity stands at 450–500 kg per hectare, whereas the global average is around 800 kg per hectare. Furthermore, fiber quality and contamination remain significant issues. They argue that providing duty relief alone will not yield a long-term solution. To strengthen the Indian textile industry, equal emphasis must be placed on superior seeds, modern farming practices, high-quality cotton, supply chain improvements, and enhancing productivity. Only then will India be able to maintain its competitive edge in the global textile market.read more :- Rain Boosts Kharif Sowing in Amravati