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 Indian rupee opens 2 paise higher at 87.58/USD on lingering worries over Trump tariffThe local currency opened at 87.58 against the US dollar as compared to 87.60 against the greenback at previous close.read more :- Trump tariffs to hit India's textile exporters in a big way, say experts

Trump's 25% tariff will cause huge losses to Indian textile exportersNew Delhi: US President Donald Trump's announcement regarding the imposition of 25 per cent additional import duty plus penalty on goods imported from India will hit the country's textile exporters in a big way, as competitors, including Vietnam and Indonesia now have a pricing edge by virtue of lower tariffs, experts said on Thursday.The duty will come into effect from August 1. The unspecified penalty was imposed on India for purchasing crude oil and military equipment from Russia.The US is India's largest market for textile and apparel exports.According to trade intelligence firm Cybex Exim Solutions, many Indian exporters may face order cancellations and the pressure to reduce prices, with costs going up and competitive disadvantage from Vietnam and Indonesia."The 25 per cent tariff announced by the US is a big hit for India's textile and garment exporters. Out of the USD 17 billion we export in ready-made garments, USD 5.6 billion goes just to the US. That's a big chunk. With costs going up overnight, many exporters might face order cancellations or pressure to reduce prices. Countries like Vietnam and Indonesia now have a pricing edge because their tariffs are lower," Cybex Exim Solutions stated."While India is still ahead of Bangladesh and Cambodia in terms of quality, this move puts real pressure on our manufacturers, especially smaller ones. It is time we look beyond just the US and start tapping into other markets more aggressively," it added.Speaking to PTI, Secretary General of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) Chandrima Chatterjee said it was "extremely concerned" about the unspecified penalty, as it has caused a lack of clarity for those placing an export order which needs to be serviced in the next couple of months."We will be seriously impacted. While most of us have taken the 25 per cent tariff with a pinch of salt but the penalty is where we are extremely concerned because we still are in a very speculative space there," Chatterjee said.According to her, Vietnam has a lower tariff than India at 20 per cent, whereas Indonesia faces a 19 per cent import tariff from the United States.Indian exporters could look at tapping alternative markets like the UK, EU, UAE, Japan and Korea more aggressively, Chatterjee added.Rajeev Gupta, Joint Managing Director, RSWM Ltd, said a "more pressing concern is the undefined penalty clause linked to India's ties with Russia, which adds a layer of uncertainty"."Indian entrepreneurs and manufacturers are resilient, and we are confident that business momentum will be consistently rising with planned strategies. What remains crucial is clarity on the tariff position against China," Gupta stated.read more :- Rupee strengthened by 11 paise against dollar and closed at 87.60

The Indian rupee on thursday higher 11 paise to close at 87.60 per dollar, while it opened at 87.71 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was down 296.28 points or 0.36 percent at 81,185.58, and the Nifty was down 86.70 points or 0.35 percent at 24,768.35. About 1490 shares advanced, 2365 shares declined, and 135 shares unchanged.read more :- Neither season, nor profit… how did ‘cotton’ wither from Punjab?

Why did Punjab's cotton wither?There are three important belts in Punjab – Malwa, Majha, Doaba. Majha belt is known for cotton belt i.e. cotton cultivation. The reason is that cotton requires less water. Cotton cultivation was also done in large quantity in Malwa belt, but fake seeds, duplicate pesticides in the market have broken the back of the farmers.While the Punjab government is constantly making farmers aware for crop diversification, the farmers of Punjab are getting disillusioned with the cotton crop. Farmers no longer want to cultivate cotton. The result of this is that this year cotton cultivation is decreasing in the state. On the other hand, if we talk about the last 10 years, cotton production has fallen by 25.66 percent. Farmer leader Jangveer Singh says that 10 years ago, farmers of Malwa belt used to grow a lot of cotton, but now the situation has become such that instead of cotton, farmers want to grow crops which require less pesticide and also get the price of the crop at a reasonable price of MSP.There are three important belts in Punjab, Malwa, Majha, Doaba. Majha belt is known as cotton belt i.e. for cotton cultivation. The reason is that cotton requires less water. At the same time, cotton was cultivated in large quantities in Malwa belt, but fake seeds and duplicate pesticides in the market broke the back of the farmers. As a result, years passed and cotton cultivation decreased. The situation has become such that farmers are now cultivating only paddy and wheat.Farmer leader Jangveer Singh said that one problem is that the farmer does not cultivate any other crop other than the crop he goes for. As a result, that crop becomes so much that its price goes down. At present, only white eucalyptus crop is being grown in Majha and Malwa belts of Punjab. Dr. Harsh, an agricultural scientist of Punjab University, said that farmers want cotton crop, but the outbreak of pink caterpillar and white fly has turned farmers away from this farming.How much should be the price of cotton?The second biggest reason has been the uncertainty over the minimum support price (MSP). The crop is available at a low price. According to agricultural scientist Dr. Harsh, the price of cotton should be seven to eight thousand per quintal, but it is not. On the other hand, Malwa belt is now becoming a cancer belt. The biggest reason for this is that the pesticides used for the crops there, go and mix with the ground water. Due to this, the water has become so contaminated that people are getting afflicted with this disease.On the other hand, when Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian was questioned about farmers getting disillusioned with cotton farming, he said that we are encouraging the farmers, explaining to the farmers that they should cultivate cotton. Farmers will also get a fair price for cotton.118 blocks of Punjab have gone into the red zoneAccording to a report, the groundwater level of Punjab is already falling, which Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann himself keeps mentioning. To improve the water situation, people are being encouraged to grow low-water crops. 118 blocks have gone into the red zone. This report has now increased the concern of the government even more. According to the report, cotton production has come down from 6.09 lakh bales in 2023-24 to 2.52 lakh bales in 2024-25. Similarly, the area has also come down from 2.14 lakh to one lakh hectares.Cotton Corporation of India reportThere has been a decline in the purchase of cotton at MSP in Punjab. According to a report of the Cotton Corporation of India in March, only two thousand bales were purchased at MSP in Punjab in the year 2024-25, whereas 3.56 lakh bales were purchased at MSP in the year 2019-20, 5.36 lakh bales were purchased at MSP in 2020-21, during 2021-22 and 2022-23 the market price of cotton was above MSP. Therefore, there was no purchase at MSP during these two years, but in the year 2023-24 only 38 thousand bales were purchased at MSP. Farmers and experts say that we want the government to give the right price on crops, end the problem of fake seeds, only then the condition of crops in Punjab will be right.read more :- US tariffs put pressure on Indian textile exports

Despite gains on Bangladesh and Cambodia, new US tariffs put pressure on Indian textile exportersThis is a mixed bag for Indian textile and apparel exporters, as these exports to the US will be at an advantage compared to production hubs like Bangladesh and Cambodia, where tariffs are high. At the same time, countries like Indonesia and Vietnam could emerge as new competitors for India in this sector.The US has announced a 25% tariff and additional punitive duty on India from August, while it has already imposed 35% and 36% tariffs on Bangladesh and Cambodia, respectively. However, the US tariff on Indonesia and Vietnam is lower at 19% and 20%, respectively. Till now, the tariff from India to the US was 10%.Rakesh Mehra, president, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), said, "The new tariff rate will put the resolve and resilience of India's textile and apparel exporters to a severe test as we will not get any significant benefit of duty differential compared to many other countries, except Bangladesh, with whom we compete for a large share in the US market."The US is India's largest market for textile and apparel exports. During January-May 2025, textile and apparel imports by the US from India were worth $4.59 billion, a growth of over 13% compared to the same period last year. China is the largest exporter to the US, followed by Vietnam, India and Bangladesh.The industry is now hopeful that the tariff issue will be resolved after a bilateral trade deal between India and the US. Sanjay Jain, managing director, TT Industries, said India had targeted a 10-15% growth in its textile exports to the US, which will be impacted due to the new tariffs.read more :- Increase in cotton imports from Brazil, India imports more, exports less

Cotton Import Surge: Brazil Leads as India Imports Rise, Exports Hit Multi-Year LowCotton imports in India are witnessing a sharp rise this season, driven by lower domestic production and cheaper prices in the international market. In the first eight months of the 2024–25 season, the country has imported around 27 lakh bales of cotton—the highest level in the past six years.Interestingly, Brazil has emerged as the top supplier this year, overtaking traditional exporters like the United States and Australia. The continued softness in global cotton prices has encouraged Indian importers to increase purchases, and industry experts believe imports may rise further in the coming months.India, traditionally a major cotton exporter, is now facing a shift in trade dynamics. A decline in domestic production—now at its lowest in several years—combined with steady consumption has forced the country to rely more on imports to meet demand. While domestic demand has supported prices to some extent, global price weakness continues to exert pressure on the market.Between October 2024 and May 2025, India recorded its highest cotton imports in six years. In comparison, imports stood at 15 lakh bales in 2023–24 and 14 lakh bales in 2022–23. The last time imports were significantly higher was in 2018–19, when they reached 35 lakh bales.At the same time, cotton exports have dropped sharply, touching their lowest level in 18 years. So far this season, only 13 lakh bales have been exported, compared to the previous lowest of 23 lakh bales in 2008–09. Exporters remain pessimistic about any major recovery in shipments this year.Country-wise import data shows that Brazil accounted for the highest share, with around 6.5 lakh bales imported so far. This is followed by the United States (5.5 lakh bales), Australia (5 lakh bales), Mali (1.79 lakh bales), and Egypt (83,000 bales). Lower prices in these countries compared to India have been the key factor driving imports.Cotton Imports Trend (in lakh bales):2024–25* — 272023–24 — 152022–23 — 142021–22 — 212020–21 — 112019–20 — 15.5read more :- Maharashtra: 7000 hectares of cotton crop affected by blight due to rain

Maharashtra: Impact of rain: 7000 hectares of cotton crop affected by blight disease, agriculture and...Cotton fields in many parts of Paithan taluka have been affected by blight disease. Cotton is cultivated in 55,600 hectares in the taluka and today 7,000 hectares of cotton crop is at risk of being affected by this disease. This situation arose after heavy rains in Marathwada.Farmers had grown cotton crop using expensive seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. But due to lack of water for a long time, the temperature of the soil increased. If it rains at such a time, the trees get shocked. This causes the trees to dry up. The leaves fall. Later the trees die. These symptoms have started appearing within 36 to 48 hours of rain. Therefore, there is a possibility of huge loss in production.Farmers should drain out excess water from cotton fields as soon as possible. As soon as the water returns, they should do weeding and harvesting. 200 grams of urea, 100 grams of white potash (00:00:50 fertilizer), 25 grams of copper oxychloride should be mixed in 10 liters of water and the prepared solution should be given to each tree in the amount of 100 ml. Or, one kg of 13:00:45 fertilizer, 2 grams of cobalt chloride, 250 grams of copper oxychloride should be given to the trees in the amount of 100 ml in 200 liters of water. Then the soil near the tree should be pressed with the foot. As soon as it is noticed that the trees have started drying, this measure should be taken within 24 to 48 hours.This will prevent further damage. Also, the measures taken by the Agriculture Department should be adopted. Cotton in more than one and a half lakh hectares of area in Marathwada including Paithan has been affected by blight disease. In view of this, farmer leader Jayaji Suryavanshi has demanded a panchnama of cotton damaged by the outbreak of this disease in Marathwada including Paithan. A team of the agriculture department has been formed to meet the farmers in view of the blight disease. This team is visiting the dam and guiding the farmers and agricultural research experts are also included in it, said Taluka Agriculture Officer Vikas Patil.read more :- Cotton acreage in MP decreased by 3.7% due to shift towards maize

Madhya pradesh:  Cotton acreage 3.7% less than last year as farmers shift to maizeIndore : The area under cotton, a key kharif crop, is expected to remain around 5 lakh hectare in Indore division, around 3.7 percent less than the previous year due to a shift towards maize in ongoing kharif season.The agriculture department has set a target of 5.17 lakh hectare in cotton, compared to 5.37 lakh hectare recorded the previous year, official data showed."Cotton and other kharif crops are doing well and there is no damage from rain. Cotton acreage is seen above 5 lakh hectare in Indore division," said agriculture department Indore joint director Alok Meena.Farmers and agriculture experts expect cotton yield to remain around 10-12 quintal per acre this season."There is no harm from rain so far and the growth looks good. There is some decline in the acreage due to maize but overall crop health looks good which would help in better yields," said Raghuram Patil, a cotton farmer.Key cotton-growing districts within the Indore division include Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani, Manawar, Dhar, Ratlam, and Dewas. In the division, the primary kharif crops include soybean, cotton, maize, and pulses.Cotton sowing in irrigated areas typically begins by mid-May, while non-irrigated regions start planting in June."Cotton crop is growing well and is in a good state. Maize has taken up some area in cotton and soyabean this year due to better price realisation," said Kailash Agrawal, a farmer and owner of ginning units in Khargone.Farmers said that the cost of cultivating maize is approximately 10 percent of that for cotton, which is prompting many to reconsider their planting choices.In the division, where soyabean traditionally dominates the kharif season, the state agriculture department projects kharif crops to cover about 22.5 lakh hectare this season.read more :- Rupee open Declines 29 Paise to 87.71 per Dollar

INR Drops 29 Paise, Opens at 87.71 per USDIndian rupee opened 29 paise lower at 87.71 per dollar on Thursday versus previous close of 87.42.read more :- Trump said: No immediate ban on tariffs, August 1 deadline will continue 

Trump tariffs live updates: No immediate tariff pause after US-China talks; Trump says Aug. 1 deadline will stayPresident Trump said Tuesday that India may be hit with a tariff rate of 20% to 25%. The country is one of the largest US trade partners seeking an agreement ahead of Trump's Aug. 1 deadline, when nations who have not yet reached a deal will face higher tariffs.“India has been a good friend, but India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country," Trump said via a post on Truth Social.Trump also accused India of buying a "vast amount" of its military equipment from Russia."ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST," Trump posted.Trump on Wednesday again said he would not extend Friday's deadline for tariffs to kick in to levels outlined by deals or letters Trump has sent to country leaders."THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE — IT STANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED. A BIG DAY FOR AMERICA!!!" Trump said.Trump confirmed this week that 15% represents the new tariff "floor" for countries, whose rates he has been dictating to leaders in the absence of trade deals.Meanwhile, the US and China concluded their latest round of tariff and trade talks in Sweden on Tuesday, with both sides touting progress but without an immediate announcement of a further tariff delay. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Trump would make the final call on extending the trade truce between the world's two largest economies.This week's talks were the third round for the countries, which have slowly deescalated trade tensions since Trump imposed gargantuan tariffs in April, and China reciprocated. The countries suspended those tariffs for 90 days — a suspension that is set to end on Aug. 12. Bessent said another 90-day extension is possible.Also, the US and EU are racing to lock in the final details of their major new trade deal before Friday.Top EU critics say it's a rushed fix. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the outcome unsatisfying and France’s Bayrou dubbed the EU’s "submission" a "dark day." The agreement includes a baseline tariff rate of 15% on most EU goods imported into the US. Trump called the deal “the biggest of them all." read more :- Prevention of pink bollworm in cotton: Main advice of Agriculture Department

Farmers should protect their cotton crop from pink bollworm, special advice from Agriculture DepartmentCorrespondent, Narnaul (Mahendragarh). Due to continuous rainfall, there is a possibility of pink bollworm attack in cotton crop. Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA) Devendra Singh of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has urged farmers to be extremely cautious to save the crop from the possible attack of pink bollworm.He warned that this time is sensitive for pink bollworm attack, which can seriously affect the production of cotton. He has advised farmers to regularly and closely inspect their cotton crop so that the early symptoms of pink bollworm can be identified in time.Chemical spraying: Use only recommended pesticidesHe emphasized that if the pest infestation increases, farmers should spray only the pesticides recommended by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department. Arbitrary use of pesticides can not only be ineffective, but can also be harmful to the crop and the environment.Awareness of farmers and taking appropriate steps in time is the key to protect the cotton crop from pink bollworm and secure their income. This will ensure that the cotton crop remains healthy and farmers get the full fruits of their hard work.Farmers should pay attention to these signs* Red or pink caterpillars inside the buds: This is a clear sign of the presence of pink bollworm.* Bursted buds: Buds may burst prematurely due to caterpillar attack.* Small holes in young cotton bolls: These holes indicate the damage done by the caterpillar.* Wilted twigs and leaves: Parts of the plant may wilt due to caterpillars.* Black sticky drops (honeydew) on the plant: This can also be an indication of pest attack.Use of pheromone traps and monitoring of pestsFor the management of pink bollworm, DDA has suggested an effective measure:* Pheromone traps: Install two pheromone traps per acre.* Regular checking: Check the number of pests trapped in these traps every three days.* Immediate action: If the number of pests in each trap remains >100 for three consecutive days, it is an indication of severe infestation and immediate action is imperative.read more :- Rupee fell 30 paise to close at 87.42 per dollar