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Early Pink Bollworm Activity in Haryana; Cotton Farmers Advised to Adopt Scientific MonitoringFollowing signs of early pink bollworm activity in Haryana's cotton-growing regions, the Agriculture Department has advised farmers to remain vigilant and adopt scientific monitoring systems. Experts state that the cotton crop can be saved from significant damage by timely adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques.A joint survey team—comprising members from the Faridabad-based Regional Integrated Pest Management Centre (RIPMC) and the Office of the Joint Director of Agriculture (Cotton) in Sirsa—inspected cotton fields in Sirsa district. During the inspection, signs of an early pink bollworm outbreak were detected in some fields. The team briefed farmers on scientific pest control measures and IPM techniques.Officials advised farmers to install four to five pheromone traps per acre, equipped with cotton-specific pheromone lures, to continuously monitor pink bollworm activity and implement control measures at an early stage. Additionally, the installation of 20 yellow or blue sticky traps per hectare has been recommended to monitor and control sucking pests.Pheromone trap-based demonstration plots have been established in major cotton-producing districts, including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Hansi, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, and Jind. According to the Agriculture Department, farmers utilizing these techniques have achieved better results in monitoring and managing the pink bollworm.Agricultural officials have urged farmers to use only those pesticides that are registered and approved by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC). Furthermore, they advised spraying pesticides only when pest populations exceed the Economic Threshold Level.The survey team also informed farmers about the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) mobile app. This app assists in identifying pests and diseases, providing crop protection advice, and enabling real-time monitoring, thereby facilitating timely, informed decisions and preventing the unnecessary use of pesticides.It is worth noting that the cotton crop in Sirsa district suffered significant damage due to pink bollworm infestations during 2023, 2024, and 2025. This year, farmers are facing a serious challenge from excessive rainfall alongside the pink bollworm threat, which has impacted the cotton crop in several areas.READ MORE :- Rain Brings Relief to Kharif Crops in Telangana’s Adilabad, Farmers Await More Showers

Recent rainfall brings a lifeline to Kharif crops in Telangana's Adilabad; farmers now await substantial rainsAdilabad (Telangana): Moderate rainfall over the past two days has brought significant relief to farmers in Telangana's Adilabad district. Farmers, who had been grappling with a prolonged dry spell, state that this rain has saved Kharif crops—such as cotton, soybean, and red gram (arhar)—from withering. However, they believe that adequate and consistent rainfall over the next 15 days is crucial for a good harvest.Cotton is the primary cash crop in Adilabad district, cultivated across approximately 4.30 lakh acres. Additionally, soybean has been sown on about 56,000 acres and red gram on 42,000 acres. While crops belonging to farmers who sowed on time have benefited from the recent rain, those who sowed late are still facing issues such as stunted plant growth and poor seed germination.Rainfall data indicates that most parts of the erstwhile Adilabad district have still received below-normal rainfall. Between June 1 and July 22, Komaram Bheem Asifabad district recorded 353 mm of rainfall against a normal of 432 mm—a deficit of 18 percent. Mancherial recorded 305.7 mm against 380.4 mm (-20%), Adilabad recorded 279.2 mm against 432.2 mm (-36%), and Nirmal recorded 280.2 mm against 380.8 mm (-26%). These figures clearly show that a rainfall deficit persists across most areas of the district.Sedmaki Prabhu, a farmer from Chintaguda village in Adilabad Rural Mandal, stated that the rainfall over the last two days has proven to be a lifeline for the crops. He stated that while the cotton and soybean plants have survived, good rainfall in the coming days is essential for their optimal growth. If sufficient rain does not occur soon, production could be adversely affected.The impact of scanty rainfall is not limited to agriculture alone. Drought-like conditions have led to a shortage of green fodder in the villages, increasing the difficulties faced by livestock rearers. Villagers are compelled to take their goats, sheep, and cows to the fringes of forests for grazing. According to Prabhu, there are around 500 head of cattle in the neighboring village of Kothur, where the crisis regarding drinking water and green fodder is becoming increasingly severe.Farmers say that while recent rains have certainly raised hopes, the success of the Kharif season will now depend on the rainfall received in the coming days. If there is adequate rainfall, crop growth will improve, bringing relief to both farmers and livestock rearers.READ MORE :- Cotton Crop Wilting in Gujarat’s Aravalli District, Farmers Concerned Over Yield

Cotton crop sown across 13,857 hectares in Gujarat's Aravalli district hit by drying up; farmers concernedAravalli (Gujarat): Farmers in Aravalli district have sown cotton over an area approximately 3,000 to 4,000 hectares larger than last year. In the district's irrigated zones, farmers purchased expensive seeds and sowed the crop in May, ahead of the monsoon. Despite good initial growth, symptoms of the cotton plants suddenly drying up and wilting have appeared over the past week, raising concerns among the farmers.This year, cotton has been cultivated across a total area of 13,857 hectares in the district. The highest sowing coverage was recorded in Sathamba taluka (4,493 hectares) and Bayad taluka (4,335 hectares). Conversely, the lowest cultivation was recorded in Malpur taluka (just 37 hectares) and Bhiloda taluka (179 hectares).Farmers had prepared their fields during the summer, completed early sowing, and provided regular care to the crop. However, in the last week, cotton plants in many fields have begun to wilt suddenly. According to the farmers, the plants are drying up rapidly during the flowering stage, raising fears of an adverse impact on yield. Farmers are seeking a solution to this problem and are calling for immediate guidance from the Agriculture Department.READ MORE :- Rupee Gains 8 Paise, Opens at 96.49 Against Dollar.

The rupee opened higher at 96.49/$.On Thursday, the Indian rupee opened 8 paise higher against the dollar at 96.49, whereas it had closed at 96.57 on Wednesday.Sensex opened at 76,515.10, down 239.95 points or 0.31 per cent, while Nifty started the session at 23,904.80, slipping 91.45 points or 0.38 per cent.READ MORE :- Indian Rupee Falls 20 Paise to Close at 96.56 Against US Dollar

The Indian rupee weakened by 20 paise against the US dollar on Wednesday, closing at 96.56.The rupee opened at 96.36 against the US dollar and depreciated by 20 paise to settle at 96.56 at the close of trade.Meanwhile, Indian equity benchmarks ended lower. The Sensex fell 715.06 points, or 0.92 percent, to close at 76,755.05, while the Nifty declined 191.45 points, or 0.79 percent, to settle at 23,996.25.Market breadth remained negative, with 1,443 shares advancing, 2,616 declining, and 170 remaining unchanged on the NSE.read more :- Cotton Entrepreneurs Seek Removal of RCM and Minimum Electricity Charges in Madhya Pradesh

Entrepreneurs Raise Issue of Abolishing RCM and Minimum Charges on CottonA meeting of local entrepreneurs was organized during the visit of the State President and Malwa Regional President of Laghu Udyog Bharati to the city. The discussion primarily focused on issues related to the Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) applicable to cotton and the minimum charges being levied by the MPEB (Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board).Office bearers and members of the local unit of Laghu Udyog Bharati welcomed State President Rajesh Mishra and Malwa Regional President Rajendra Dubey upon their arrival. During the subsequent meeting, entrepreneurs inquired about the organization's functioning and its initiatives for the benefit of the industry, while also presenting their key concerns to the State President.The issue concerning the cotton industry took center stage. Entrepreneurs explained that the RCM system applicable to cotton was causing a significant portion of their working capital to get tied up in GST, thereby adversely affecting industrial operations.In response, State President Rajesh Mishra stated that this matter would soon be placed before the GST Council, and necessary efforts would be made to find a solution. Regarding the minimum charges levied by the electricity company, he mentioned that the organization was already actively pursuing the matter and promised to raise it again forcefully with the concerned senior officials.The State President elaborated on the functioning of Laghu Udyog Bharati, the importance of the organization, and the work undertaken for the welfare of the industrial sector.During the meeting, the Sendhwa unit of Laghu Udyog Bharati was also reconstituted. Ankit Agrawal was unanimously appointed as the President of the Sendhwa unit, and Nilesh Agrawal was appointed as the Secretary.At the conclusion of the meeting, members of the Sendhwa unit expressed their gratitude to the State President for the organization's efforts to resolve tax-related issues concerning cotton.Prominent attendees included Media In-charge Durgesh Sharma, former President Suresh Bagrecha, Joint Secretary Sharad Goyal, Girdharilal Goyal, Narendra Mittal, Mukesh Shekhawat, Shivam Joshi, Rajkumar Mangal, Harpalsingh Chhabra, Hemant Sharma, Nilesh Tayal, and Gopal Goyal, along with other entrepreneurs.READ MORE :- India Strengthens Global Cotton Position, Ranks Second in Production and Consumption

India's Cotton Sector Strengthening Its Position in the Global MarketNew Delhi: India is continuously strengthening its position in the global cotton industry. India ranks first in the world in terms of cotton cultivation area, while it is the second-largest country in terms of both cotton production and consumption.India's cotton production for the year 2025-26 is estimated at 290.91 lakh bales, while domestic consumption is projected to reach 328 lakh bales. India contributes approximately 19% to global fiber production. Meanwhile, in 2024-25, India's share in global cotton exports stood at approximately 3.37% by value, amounting to around US$ 11.49 billion.India is the only country in the world where all four recognized species of cotton are cultivated. These include *Gossypium arboreum* and *Gossypium herbaceum* (Asian cotton), *Gossypium barbadense* (Egyptian, Sea Island, and Peruvian cotton), and *Gossypium hirsutum* (American or Upland cotton).Cultivation Spanning Three Agro-Ecological ZonesCotton is a *Kharif* and semi-xerophytic crop, primarily cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. Optimal growth requires temperatures between 21–27°C, at least 210 frost-free days, and rainfall ranging from 50–100 cm.Well-drained black (Regur) soil and alluvial soil are considered the most suitable for cotton cultivation. Cotton cultivation in India spans three agro-ecological zones across nine major states:Northern Zone: Punjab, Haryana, and RajasthanCentral Zone: Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya PradeshSouthern Zone: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and KarnatakaMajor Challenges Facing the Cotton SectorLow productivity is a key challenge for India's cotton sector. Factors such as erratic rainfall, drought conditions, and the fact that approximately 67% of the cotton area relies on rain-fed farming impact production capacity.Additionally, infestations of the pink bollworm and other pests lead to crop losses and increase costs for farmers.Price volatility in the cotton market, limited market infrastructure, and income-related risks affect farmers. Meanwhile, the limited production of Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton and inconsistencies in fiber quality pose challenges to India's export competitiveness.By enhancing productivity, producing higher-quality cotton, and adopting modern agricultural techniques, India can further strengthen its role in the global cotton supply chain.READ MORE :- El Niño May Boost Cotton Cultivation in India, Offering Temporary Relief to Textile Industry

Haryana: Canal breach in Dabwali affects 15 acres of cotton crop; farmers plug the breach themselvesHisar (Haryana): Negligence by the Irrigation Department came to light on Tuesday near Sakta Khera village in the Dabwali subdivision of Sirsa district, Haryana, when a link canal of the Lohgarh Minor—originating from the Maujgarh Head—breached. Water flooding the surrounding fields affected approximately 15 acres of cotton crops, causing heavy losses for the farmers.Reports indicate that the canal breached near the land of farmer Hazoor Singh Mann, causing water to spread rapidly into the fields. Farmers allege that despite being informed, senior officials from the Irrigation Department failed to reach the site on time. With only one department employee present, the farmers had to take it upon themselves to manage the situation.Local villagers and farmers rushed to the site and began plugging the breach using soil and debris. Working tirelessly until late at night, they managed to control the water flow, thereby preventing further damage.Local farmer leader Mitthu Kamboj stated that had the farmers not taken immediate action, the crop loss would have been far greater. He noted that the canal in question has long been in a dilapidated state; while demands for its repair and reconstruction with concrete have been raised repeatedly, no concrete action has been taken so far.Farmers' organizations state that several old canals in the Dabwali region are frequently breaching due to poor maintenance, constantly putting crops and agricultural land at risk. These organizations have demanded that the Haryana government conduct a comprehensive survey of the region's irrigation infrastructure and reconstruct the dilapidated canals to prevent such incidents in the future.READ MORE :- El Niño May Boost Cotton Cultivation in India, Offering Temporary Relief to Textile Industry

Rise in Cotton Cultivation Expected Amidst El Niño; Textile Industry Gets Temporary ReliefNew Delhi: The prospect of below-normal rainfall due to El Niño is being viewed as a positive sign for the Indian cotton sector. Experts believe that in conditions of scanty rainfall, farmers may prioritize cotton cultivation over water-intensive crops, potentially offsetting the initial shortfall in sowing.According to the Ministry of Agriculture, cotton sowing covered 92.53 lakh hectares across the country by July 17, marking a 5.96% decline compared to the 98.39 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year. While sowing has decreased in Maharashtra and Gujarat, increases have been noted in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.L.K. Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), stated that if rainfall remains limited, farmers will be more inclined towards cotton cultivation, as the crop can yield well even with relatively less water. He expressed confidence that the availability of raw cotton for the domestic textile industry would remain adequate. He added that the CCI is working to supply cotton directly to mills to keep prices in check and ensure farmers receive better returns.The government has waived the approximately 11% import duty on raw cotton until October 2026. This move is expected to ensure the availability of raw material until the arrival of the new domestic crop and alleviate price pressure on textile products.However, industry experts have advised caution regarding global risks. According to Raja M. Shanmugham, former President of the Tirupur Exporters Association, the impact of El Niño is not limited to India alone. If production declines in major cotton-producing nations, global supplies could be disrupted, leading to a rise in raw material prices. In such a scenario, the CCI’s buffer stock and timely supply would prove crucial for the industry. According to data from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), India's raw cotton imports rose by 54.9% to reach $1.89 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year (FY26), while exports declined by 33.9% to $436.37 million. Although the situation in the domestic market remains stable, the impact of El Niño on global cotton supplies will continue to be a key factor to watch.READ MORE :- India’s White Gold: Cotton Powering Farm-to-Fabric Growth

India's White Gold: Weaving Prosperity from Farm to FabricFrom the cotton fields of India to wardrobes across the world, cotton weaves together agriculture, industry, trade, and livelihoods. Often called "White Gold," cotton is among India's most important commercial crops, supporting nearly 6 million farmers and providing employment to 40–50 million people across processing, textiles, and trade. India contributes about 23% of global cotton fibre production, making cotton a cornerstone of the country's rural economy and export sector.India's association with cotton dates back thousands of years, when its textiles were prized across Asia and Europe. During the Swadeshi movement, cotton became a symbol of self-reliance, and today it continues that legacy under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. India is the only country cultivating all four recognised cotton species and ranks first globally in cotton cultivation area and second in production and consumption, producing nearly 291 lakh bales in 2025–26.Cotton cultivation is concentrated across eleven states, with nearly 62% grown under rain-fed conditions. Beyond fibre, cottonseed provides edible oil, livestock feed, biomass fuel, and surgical cotton, making the crop valuable far beyond the textile industry.The Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen the sector. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) ensures remunerative returns, while the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procures cotton whenever market prices fall below MSP. During the 2025–26 season, CCI procured over 105 lakh bales worth ₹41,530 crore, benefiting millions of farmers.To raise productivity, the Mission for Cotton Productivity aims to develop climate-resilient, pest-resistant, and high-yielding varieties, with special emphasis on Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton. Complementing this, demonstrations under the National Food Security Mission have recorded significant yield gains through improved planting technologies.Digital initiatives such as the Kapas Kisan App have made MSP procurement transparent and farmer-friendly by enabling online registration, slot booking, and Aadhaar-linked payments. Meanwhile, Kasturi Cotton Bharat is positioning Indian cotton as a premium global brand through certification, blockchain-enabled traceability, and quality assurance.India also remains an important player in global cotton trade, exporting fibre, yarn, fabrics, and garments to major markets, including the United States, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.Rooted in history yet driven by innovation, India's cotton sector continues to evolve through better technology, stronger policy support, and improved market access. From farm to fabric, cotton remains a vital thread connecting millions of livelihoods while strengthening India's agricultural economy and global textile leadership.read more :- Rupee Opens 13 Paise Lower at 96.36 Against Dollar.

The rupee opened lower at 96.36/$.On Wednesday, the Indian rupee opened 13 paise lower against the dollar at 96.36, whereas it had closed at 96.23 on Tuesday.The Sensex was up 92.47 points or 0.12 percent at 77,562.58, and the Nifty was down 144.75 points or 0.60 percent at 24,042.95.READ MORE :- Rupee Gains 18 Paise to Close at 96.23 Against US Dollar