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The Indian rupee on monday lower 27 paise to close at 85.75 per dollar, while it opened at 85.48 in the morning. The BSE Sensex shed 452.44 points or 0.54 per cent to settle at 83,606.46 levels, after trading in the range of 84,099.53 - 83,482.13.read more :- "Indian Cotton Crisis Demands Policy Action"

Plagued By Challenges, Indian Cotton Cries For Policy AttentionPolicymakers and industry representatives must be equally concerned over the lack of growthin the country’s cotton economy. In recent years, our domestic cotton crop has been grappling with several challenges, including land constraints, water shortage and climate change.Acreage for cotton crops has stagnated at around 125-130 lakh hectares, and yields have actually declined from the peak of 500 kilograms per hectare to the present, around 425 kg/ha.Cotton output has turned uncertain in terms of quantity and quality. Production has steadily fallen from 360 lakh bales in 2019-20 to 294 lakh bales in 2024-25. Our raw cotton export has been on a declining trend for the last three years. In 2024-25, India has moved from being a net exporter to a net importer of cotton.At the same time, the demand for the natural fibre has been rising, boosted by the addition of a new processing capacity (spindles).The view that the supply and demand fundamentals of cotton are tightening steadily is unmistakable. Import volumes are gathering pace. This raises a serious question. Can India produce enough cotton in the future to remain self-reliant?The answer is not easy, but surely not out of reach. We must abandon the ‘business-as-usual’ approach and adopt a holistic policy for the cotton sector. The cotton economy is a composite economy. It is labour-intensive and export-intensive.Cotton is not just fibre but much more—including the seed and its by-products like oil and meal. Indeed, cotton represents 5Fs—fibre, food, feed, fuel and fertiliser.Its composite nature warrants an ecosystem approach. It involves designing an optimal pathway that balances the economic interests of all stakeholders and, at the same time, advances sustainability principles and practices.As the planted area is stagnating and possibly nearing a saturation point, the only way to boost cotton production is through vertical growth, that is, by raising yields. To achieve this, intervention at multiple levels is necessary.As someone closely tracking agriculture for decades, this author proposes the following four big-ticket ideas: technological intervention, boosting genetic research, replicating high-yield area experience in other areas, and promoting contract farming by large user units.The emphasis should be on research. It is important to remember, “Yesterday’s research is today’s science, and today’s science is tomorrow’s technology.”Technology: Bt cottonseed is facing a technology fatigue. Pink bollworm has probably acquired resistance, as evidenced by the incidence of pest attacks. We need a conducive policy environment to support tech seeds. Sucking pests are taking a toll. New generation seeds (with stacked genes) are available. Indian seed companies should be encouraged to adopt new tech seeds. Tech seeds by themselves will not raise yields, but they will surely help prevent or reduce yield losses. The crop saved is the crop produced. In cotton promotion, ‘stewardship’ is missing. Industry bodies should work with agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to educate growers about farming practices like high-density planting.Genetic research: Cotton needs to fight climate change. The answer is climate-smart agriculture, including climate-resilient inputs and scientific agronomy. For the purpose, a conducive long-term policy to encourage firms to spend on R&D is the only alternative. Currently, many private seed firms have reduced their research expenditure because of non-supportive policy or an uncertain policy environment. Seed research is a long-term play. Reduction in the R&D spend is not good for the country and must be reversed.Replication: While the all-India cotton yield averages around 450 kg/ha, several districts enjoy yields twice the national average. There is something for stakeholders to learn from the experience of high-yield areas—input management, agronomy and so on. Replicating the experience and practices of high-yield areas in low-yield areas will pay dividends.Contract farming: To reduce dependence on cotton imports and generate a genuine export surplus, large user industries have a moral duty to produce the raw material they need. Contract farming is the way forward. Farmer Producer Organisations, or FPOs, can be good partners for contract farming. It will be a win-win for growers and industrial users. Scientific, well-tested and transparent methodologies to price the output in advance are available.Strengthening the cotton ecosystem demands ‘political will’ and active participation of the user industry in its own self-interest.read more :- Cost Push Drives Illegal HTBt Cotton in Maharashtra

Stark difference in labour costs pushes Maharashtra farmers to grow illegal HTBt cotton varietyOver the past few years, Laxmint Kauthankar has eschewed using genetically modified cotton variety, commonly known as Bt cotton, and started using completely unauthorised herbicide tolerant Bt (HTBT) cotton. This farmer from Adgaon Budruk village in Akola’s Akot taluka knows that such cultivation is illegal, but claims that simple economics forces him to do so.“Weed control alone in Bt cotton would cost me over Rs 20,000 per acre. In case of HTBT, the same expense would be Rs 2,000. So why shouldn’t I adopt it?” Kauthankar says that Bt cotton is hardly sold in his village’s input shop – most farmers have moved to HTBT for the same reasons. Like him, other cotton growers in Maharashtra have adopted the cultivation of unauthorised transgenic cotton, fully aware of the illegality of their act.Central government rules call for fines and jail terms for cultivating unauthorised GM crops. India has so far allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton. Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis – the name of the bacterium whose gene has been inserted into cotton seeds. HtBT is the next generation of GM cotton and allows plants to resist spraying of glyphosate, a herbicide commonly used for weed control. But the sale, production and storage of this variety is illegal in the country.But for farmers like Kauthankar, the ground conditions matter. “Consider this: For one acre of land, I will need about four cycles of weeding during the entire 6-7 month cycle of the cotton crop. For one weeding, I will need about 15 labourers and thus the total labour requirement will be around 60. At a daily wage of Rs 300 per day, the total labour expenditure for weeding comes to Rs 18,000. Even if I arrange the money, where are the labourers?,” said the farmer who cultivates cotton and soybean in over 40 acres of his holding. On the other hand, HTBT cotton requires herbicide spraying, and the total cost of this operation comes to Rs 2,000 per acre in the entire cotton crop cycle.read more :- Rupee open Strength 01 Paise to 85.48 per Dollar

INR higher 01 Paise, Opens at 85.48per USDIndian rupee opened higher by 01 paise at 85.48 per dollar on Monday versus Friday's close of 85.49.read more :- CCI Cotton Sales report Update for Season 2024-25  

CCI Cotton Sales Report 2024-25The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has sold approx. 47,44,600 bales of cotton so far in the current season 2024-25. This accounts for 47.44% (approx.) of the total cotton procured this year.The state-wise breakdown of bales sold by CCI mentioned in the above postThis data reflects significant movement in cotton sales, particularly from Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat, which together account for over 85.54% of total sales so far.This data showcases CCI’s active role in stabilizing the cotton market across major producing states.read more :- CCI Weekly Report on Cotton Bales Sales

India bans import of jute, other items via land routes amid strained Bangladesh ties: India on Friday tightened trade restrictions on Bangladesh, announcing a ban on imports of certain jute products and woven fabrics through all land routes, citing strained relations between the two countries.These measures were announced in the context of the controversial statements made by Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, in China.Land route ban on Bangladeshi productsUnder the new directive from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), imports will be allowed only through the Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra, PTI reported.The goods under these curbs include jute products, flax tow and waste, jute and other bast fibres, jute, single flax yarn, single yarn of jute, multiple folded, woven fabrics or flex, and unbleached woven fabrics of jute.This effectively closes all land border crossings for these specific goods, a significant disruption for cross-border trade.Such port restrictions will not apply to Bangladeshi goods transiting through India to Nepal and Bhutan, it added.Re-exports not allowedThe DGFT further said re-exports of these products from Bangladesh to India through Nepal and Bhutan will not be allowed."Import from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port on the India-Bangladesh border. However, it is allowed only through the Nhava Sheva seaport," the DGFT said, adding that "imports of certain goods from Bangladesh to India are regulated with immediate effect". On May 17, India imposed port restrictions on the import of certain goods like readymade garments and processed food items, from the neighbouring country.On April 9, India withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting various items to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan, the news agency reported.Strained cross-border relationsThe new measures were announced after Yunus' comments that irked New Delhi. They also drew sharp reactions from political leaders across party lines in India.India-Bangladesh relations have deteriorated after Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially HindusEconomic impactBangladesh is a big competitor of India in the textile sector. The India-Bangladesh trade stood at $12.9 billion in 2023-24.In 2024-25, India's exports stood at $11.46 billion, while imports were $2 billion.Bangladesh's perceived growing closeness with Pakistan and China and the implications of India's strained ties with its eastern neighbour were also discussed at a parliamentary committee meeting on Friday, according to the news agency.read more :- CCI Weekly Report on Cotton Bales Sales

CCI Weekly Cotton Bale Sales ReportCotton Corporation of India (CCI) conducted online bidding for cotton bales throughout the week, with the summary of daily sales being as follows:23 JUNE 2025 : Daily sales were recorded at 1,00,400 bales (2024-25) and 1,800 bales (2023-24), comprising 21,300 bales (2024-25) in the Mills session and 79,100 bales (2024-25) and 1,800 bales (2023-24) in the Traders session.24 JUNE 2025 : Total 2,24,400 bales recorded, including 2,24,200 bales (2024-25) and 200 bales (2023-24), comprising 98,000 bales (2024-25) and 200 bales (2023-24) in Mills session and 1,26,200 bales (2024-25) in Traders session.25 JUNE 2025 : Highest sales of the week were 4,34,500 bales (2024-25) , including 1,88,000 bales (2024-25) in Mills session and 2,46,500 bales (2024-25) in Traders session.26 JUNE 2025 : Total 4,14,400 bales (2024-25) were recorded, including 1,53,800 bales (2024-25) in Mills session and 2,60,600 bales (2023-24) in Traders session.27 JUNE 2025: Week closed at 3,19,700 bales (2024-25 season), including 77,900 bales sold during Mills session, and 2,41,800 bales sold during Traders session.Weekly Total: During the week, CCI sold 47,44,600 (approx.) cotton bales, successfully using its online bidding platform to streamline transactions and support trading.SiS is committed to updating you in real time on all textile related newsread more :- Tamilnadu Plans Fair Pricing for Cotton Yield

Steps being taken to ensure cotton farmers get appropriate price for their produce, says T.N. government.The Tamil Nadu Agriculture Department has called upon cotton farmers to bring their produce to regulated markets. It also appealed to them to dry their produce and categorise them to meet norms on moisture, staple length, and micronaire, among others.An official release from the Secretary of the Agriculture Department said the Tamil Nadu government was taking steps to ensure cotton farmers get an appropriate price for their produce. It has also deputed officials to visit the districts.Cotton was cultivated in about 3.66 lakh acres across Tamil Nadu and the production was about 52,700 MT. As per the third estimates, the cotton production was about 36,000 MT during 2024-25. Of this, the production of cotton from the Cauvery delta districts such as Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur districts, was about 7,700 MT, it said.read more :- Hedging desk started for farmers in Maharashtra

Maharashtra government launches hedging desk for cotton, turmeric and maize to help farmers(PTI) To ensure fair market prices and increased income for farmers, the Maharashtra government has launched a hedging desk in Pune under the first phase of the Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) project.The desk will initially focus on cotton, turmeric and maize crops. Over time, the initiative will be expanded to cover more crops, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.In collaboration with the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) and its research wing NCDEX Institute of Commodity Markets and Research (NICR), the initiative aims to protect farmers from losses due to market price fluctuations.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called it a major step for the development of the agriculture sector.Hedging, like a fence protecting the farm, protects farmers from risks caused by price fluctuations in the market. Its main objective is to mitigate risks arising from potential price declines in the future. Farmers can also benefit from options trading, which allows them to lock in favourable prices, the statement said.Based on World Bank recommendations and the project implementation framework, the hedging desk has been set up to provide training and guidance to farmers and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) to participate in the commodity futures market.Agriculture contributes 12 per cent to Maharashtra's gross state domestic product (GSDP), yet crop production is still heavily dependent on nature.Despite successful crops, farmers often lack price control over their produce. To tackle this uncertainty, the government has supported them through policies, modern agricultural practices and crop insurance schemes.Recognising the limited resources and market knowledge of individual farmers, the government has now set up a dedicated, centralised agricultural hedging desk in Pune, it said.The hedging desk will work with FPOs and cluster-based business organisations (CBBOs) to provide technical information on commodity contracts and risk management strategies.This desk will provide real-time market information on trends, supply-demand changes and global prices. It will also promote setting up of storage centres near farms through FPOs.A risk management cell will analyse various types of risks and prepare mitigation strategies. It will publish annual commodity price risk assessment reports for cotton, maize and turmeric, offering current insights, forecasts and policy recommendations. Awareness and training programmes on commodity derivatives will also be organised.Additionally, at least 50 FPOs involved in the production and marketing of cotton, maize and turmeric will be registered and facilitated to trade in the futures market.A formal agreement was signed between NCDEX and Smart Project on April 8, 2025 for setting up this hedging desk. Special focus will be given to FPOs and farmers in cotton, turmeric and maize growing areas, especially in Hingoli, Washim, Sangli, Yavatmal, Akola, Nanded, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Beed.The project is headquartered in Pune and has started operating across the state.Hedging and options trading in select agricultural commodities are expected to bring huge benefits to farmers in Maharashtra. For example, a farmer unsure about future market prices at the time of sowing can lock in the price using options trading. This guarantees a minimum selling price, protecting them from market volatility, the statement said.Ultimately, this helps farmers get a stable income, plan financially better and feel more confident about investing in agriculture.read more :- Karnataka: 40% of kharif sowing has been completed in Yadgir district.

Yadgir Farmers Complete 40% Kharif SowingAfter three weeks of southwest monsoon and good rains before that, farmers who had already prepared the land in the district have started sowing. And, 40% sowing has been recorded till the beginning of this week.According to data provided by the agriculture department, 40.77% sowing has been recorded in Yadgir district. The department has set a target of 4,16,474 hectares for 2025-26 and out of this, 1,69,181 hectares, i.e. 40.77%, has been brought under cultivation so far.Farmers prefer moong, red moong, cotton and paddy for the kharif season, which is widely covered in the area irrigated under the Upper Krishna Project network, especially in Hunsgi and parts of Shahapur and Shorapur taluks.Meanwhile, paddy sowing is to be done in 1,07,856 hectares, while sowing is yet to begin.The taluk-wise sowing target and actual sowing is as follows: Shahapur 75,627 hectares (23,610 hectares), Wadagera 57,284 hectares (20,075 hectares), Shorapur 94,952 hectares (28,569 hectares), Hunsagi 66,134 hectares (19,682 hectares), Yadgir 69,505 hectares (42,979 hectares) and Gurmitkal 52,968 hectares (34,795 hectares).The highest sowing of 65.54% was recorded in Gurmitkal taluk, while the lowest sowing of 30.03% was recorded in Hunsagi taluk, where the area is largely irrigated and farmers sow paddy."Farmers can sow all crops except green gram by the end of July. We hope to cover more than 90% of the targeted area in the remaining period," said Rathendranath Sugur, joint director of the agriculture department. The district has received sporadic rainfall since sowing began this season. And, the weather has been dry despite cloudy weather across the district. Currently, mainly the green gram crop, considered a short-term cash crop, is about 10-15 days old. So, farmers have started ploughing to remove weeds between the crop rows to help them grow beautifully."The crops will need rain water in the next few days if not immediately as the soil is drying up slowly after ploughing," said Mahadevappa, a farmer ploughing his green gram field. Many farmers have said that the district has received good rainfall even before the onset of monsoon, which is even above the normal figures. "More importantly, if the crops get the required rainfall and fertilisers, they will give a good yield now," said Basavaraj Patil, another farmer.read more :- Maharashtra Cotton Sowing Hits 47% Mark

Maharashtra: So far only 47 percent sowing has been done in the district; this year cotton cultivation has been half .Jalgaon: Despite the month of Ashadh starting, sowing of Kharif is getting delayed in the district. Till 25th June only 47.6 percent sowing has been done. There has been rain at some places in the district. Due to this, the rate of sowing is more or less low everywhere in the taluka. Due to good initial rains this year, the maximum sowing has been done in Bodwad taluka in 90 percent area. Whereas Dharangaon taluka has the lowest sowing of 8 percent and Jalgaon taluka has only 10 percent sowing. Cotton cultivation starts from the first week of June, but this year cotton cultivation has been done in only 49 percent area. Still 51 percent cotton sowing is yet to be done.So far only 47 percent sowing has been done in the district; This year cotton cultivation was only half: 49 percent cotton cultivation, 64 percent maize sowingDespite the beginning of the month of Ashadh, sowing of Kharipa is still delayed in the district. Only 47.6 percent sowing has been completed till June 25. There has been rain at some places in the district. Due to this, the sowing rate is also more or less low everywhere in the taluka. Due to good initial rains this year, the highest sowing has been done in Bodwad taluka in 90 percent area. Whereas the lowest sowing has been done in Dharangaon taluka at only 8 percent and the lowest sowing has been done in Jalgaon taluka at only 10 percent. Cotton cultivation starts from the first week of June, but this year cotton cultivation has been completed in only 49 percent area. Still 51 percent cotton sowing is yet to be done.Kharif cultivation is done in 7 lakh 40 thousand 536 hectares in Jalgaon district. Out of this, the largest area of 5 lakh 46 thousand 933 hectares is of cotton alone. Although this year it rained in May, but the rain was delayed in June, due to which Kharif sowing could be completed in only 3 lakh 48 thousand hectares. Cotton has been cultivated in 2 lakh 68 thousand hectares. It is estimated that this year the area of cotton will decrease and the area of maize and soybean will increase. Despite less rain, the maximum 64 percent of maize sowing has been completed in the district. Maize sowing has been done in 59 thousand hectares.88 mm rainfall in the district Jalgaon district has recorded 88.7 mm rainfall till Wednesday. An average of 107.2 mm rainfall is expected in the district till June 26. In fact, 82.7 mm rainfall has been recorded. The highest rainfall of more than 100 mm was recorded in Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Erandol, Parola and Pachora talukas. The lowest rainfall was recorded in Raver, Muktainagar and Amalner talukas.read more :- Indian cotton acreage likely to increase despite setbacks in some pockets