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IMD Rain Alert: Rainfall across 20 states; very heavy rain forecast for UP and MPThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a forecast on Thursday predicting widespread rainfall across several parts of the country. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in many areas of North, Central, East, and Northeast India. Particular caution is advised for Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.Very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in East Madhya Pradesh between Thursday and August 22. A wet spell is expected to continue in parts of the state until August 25. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is likely at several places in West Madhya Pradesh between August 20 and 23.Widespread rainfall is expected in the western parts of Uttar Pradesh, while heavy rain is forecast for the eastern region until August 22; isolated places may experience very heavy rainfall.Widespread rainfall is likely in Uttarakhand until August 25. During this period, some areas may witness heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Heavy rainfall is also expected in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday.Widespread rainfall is forecast for Chhattisgarh on Thursday and Friday, with the possibility of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in some areas. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds, thunderstorms, and lightning is also likely in Jharkhand and Bihar.Rainfall will continue in the northeastern states as well. Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya until August 25.Widespread rainfall is also forecast for Konkan-Goa and coastal Karnataka. Heavy rain may occur in parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.The IMD has advised fishermen to exercise caution in the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the adjoining coastal areas.read more :- Rupee weakens by 05 paise against the dollar to close at 95.76

On Wednesday, the Indian rupee weakened by 05 paise against the US dollar to close at 95.76 per dollar.The rupee opened at 95.71 per dollar, showing a decline compared to the previous trading session. The domestic currency witnessed fluctuations during the trading day. Ultimately, the rupee settled at the 95.76 level, marking a drop of 05 paise from its previous closing price.At close, the Sensex was down 325.78 points or 0.42 percent at 76,909.68, and the Nifty was down 76.60 points or 0.32 percent at 24,078.30. About 1725 shares advanced, 2386 shares declined, and 179 shares unchanged.read more :- Telangana Seeks Easier CCI Cotton Procurement

Telangana Asks CCI to Simplify Cotton Procurement ProcessThe Telangana government has urged the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to make the cotton procurement process in the state easier and smoother for farmers. The CCI is currently making preparations ahead of the arrival of cotton at designated procurement centers.Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao stated that while there were apprehensions of a decline in cotton cultivation acreage due to the impact of El Niño, the state has actually seen an increase of approximately 3 lakh acres (1.21 lakh hectares) in cotton acreage. He asked the CCI to streamline the procurement process and ensure farmers face no difficulties, assuring them of all possible cooperation from the state government.The Minister urged mill owners to commence operations within the next 2–3 weeks to handle the anticipated rise in cotton arrivals in a timely manner.Despite concerns regarding potential reductions in acreage and production due to delayed and erratic rainfall, farmers in Telangana have sown crops across a total of 47.71 lakh acres (19.31 lakh hectares) this Kharif season. This figure is close to the state's normal Kharif acreage.The government has directed officials to constitute district-level monitoring committees, which will also include farmers.However, farmers have complained about difficulties encountered while booking slots on the app designated for cotton procurement. Rambabu, a farmer from Khammam district, explained that while slots were previously available for *mandal*-wise procurement centers, they are now being allocated on a district-wise basis, causing inconvenience to farmers.Farmers note that the problem of weed infestation has been reduced due to scanty rainfall. Following these complaints, the Minister asked the CCI to make the ‘Kisan Cotton’ app simpler and more user-friendly, incorporating suggestions from the farmers.read more :- The rupee opened 3 paise weaker against the dollar at 95.71.

On Wednesday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.71 against the dollar, down 3 paise from its previous close of 95.68 on Tuesday.The BSE Sensex opened 17.41 points lower at 77,218.05, while the Nifty opened at 24,152.05, down 2.85 points. In the previous trading session, the Sensex had closed at 77,235.46 and the Nifty 50 at 24,154.90.Read More :-  Rupee weakens by 01 paise against dollar, closes at 95.68

The Indian rupee weakened by 01 paise against the US dollar on Tuesday, closing at 95.68 per dollar.The rupee opened at 95.67 per dollar and witnessed fluctuations during the trading session. The domestic currency eventually settled at 95.68 per dollar, marking a decline of 01 paise from the previous close.At close, the Sensex was down 492.70 points or 0.63 percent at 77,235.46, and the Nifty was down 132.75 points or 0.55 percent at 24,154.90. About 1860 shares advanced, 2258 shares declined, and 172 shares unchanged.read more :-  Cotton, Soybean Lead Amravati Kharif Sowing

Cotton and Soybean Dominate Maharashtra's Amravati DivisionAmravati (Maharashtra): Cotton and soybean continue to dominate the agricultural landscape in Maharashtra's Amravati division during this Kharif season. Soybean acreage has remained robust, while cotton sowing has also reached levels close to the average.Soybean sowing in the division has covered 13.42 lakh hectares, representing 92% of the average acreage of 14.63 lakh hectares. In Buldhana district, soybean sowing reached 4.44 lakh hectares, which is 112% of the district's average acreage.Cotton sowing has also remained strong. Cotton was sown across 10.80 lakh hectares against an average acreage of 10.92 lakh hectares in the division, marking a 99% achievement. Cotton acreage stood at 4.87 lakh hectares (103%) in Yavatmal and 2.67 lakh hectares (100%) in Amravati district.The data indicates that farmers in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region continue to favor market-oriented crops. Soybean is the region's primary oilseed crop, while cotton maintains its strong position as a key cash crop. The fact that the acreage for both crops remains close to average levels reflects the farmers' continued reliance on them during the Kharif season.read more :- New Cotton Arrivals Begin, Prices Reach ₹9,700

Arrival of New Cotton Begins in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh; High-Quality Cotton Fetches Up to ₹9,700 Arrivals of new cotton in the markets (mandis) of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh began in the second week of August. Prices remain firm for cotton with low moisture content and high quality. High-quality cotton with a moisture content of around 12% or less is selling at rates ranging from ₹8,500 to ₹9,700 per quintal. Prices for cotton with higher moisture content are comparatively lower.Gujarat: In the Amreli, Rajkot, and Jasdan markets, standard-quality cotton is selling between ₹8,300 and ₹9,200 per quintal, while high-quality cotton is fetching up to ₹9,800 per quintal.Haryana: In the Sirsa and Ellenabad markets, standard cotton is priced between ₹7,900 and ₹8,500 per quintal, with high-quality cotton at around ₹8,700 per quintal.Punjab: In the Abohar and Bathinda markets, standard cotton is priced between ₹7,300 and ₹8,000 per quintal, and high-quality cotton is at ₹8,400 per quintal.Rajasthan: In the Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh markets, standard cotton is priced between ₹7,400 and ₹8,100 per quintal, with high-quality cotton at around ₹8,500 per quintal.Madhya Pradesh: In the Nimar and Malwa regions, high-quality cotton is selling at ₹9,000 per quintal or higher. In Khargone, some traders have purchased cotton at rates up to ₹9,721 per quintal.Currently, private traders are purchasing the new crop. Despite the good prices, the pace of arrivals remains slow, with daily sales across various markets ranging from approximately 2,000 to 5,000 quintals.The Central Government has fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at ₹8,267 per quintal for medium-staple cotton and ₹8,667 per quintal for long-staple cotton. Rising prices of cotton lint and cottonseed are also providing support to the cotton market. Meanwhile, the total area under cotton cultivation this year has declined by 0.52% compared to the previous year. However, there has been a marginal increase in acreage in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.read more :- The rupee opened 7 paise weaker against the dollar at 95.67.

On Tuesday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.67 against the dollar, down 7 paise from its previous close of 95.60 on Monday.At the start of trading, the BSE Sensex opened at 77,418.97, down 309.19 points or 0.39 percent from its previous close of 77,728.16. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty 50 opened at 24,223.85, falling 0.26 percent from its previous close of 24,287.65.Read More :-  Rupee weakens by 12 paise against the dollar, closes at 95.60

The Indian rupee weakened by 12 paise against the US dollar on Monday, closing at 95.60 per dollar.The rupee opened at the 95.48 level. Amidst fluctuations during trading, the domestic currency closed at 95.60 per dollar, marking a decline of 12 paise.At close, the Sensex was down 281.09 points or 0.36 percent at 77,728.16, and the Nifty was down 78.35 points or 0.32 percent at 24,287.65. About 2025 shares advanced, 2213 shares declined, and 181 shares unchanged.read more :- Weak Monsoon Threatens Kharif Crops

Shifting Monsoon Patterns Threaten Kharif CropsConcerns regarding this year's Kharif crop yields have mounted due to weakening Southwest monsoon activity and uneven rainfall distribution. Although the situation improved slightly after a rainfall deficit of nearly 40% in late June, the country's rainfall remained 12% below the Long Period Average (LPA) as of August 13.Crops such as soybean, maize, and paddy are currently at critical growth stages that directly influence final yields. Experts believe the next two weeks will be crucial for the crops.Data from the Ministry of Agriculture indicates that total Kharif sowing covered an area approximately 2% smaller than last year's. The acreage for paddy was down by 3.7%, arhar (pigeon pea) and maize by 4% each, cotton by 1%, and sugarcane by 0.5%. Final production will now largely depend on adequate moisture availability during August and September.The IMD has forecast below-normal rainfall for August and September. While rainfall may remain near normal between August 13 and 19, monsoon activity is likely to weaken during the August 20–26 period. A northward shift of the monsoon trough is considered a primary reason for this trend.As of August 13, the rainfall deficit in Central India was only 1%, whereas deficits of 11% in Northwest India, 20% in the Southern Peninsula, and 27% in East and Northeast India were recorded. Bihar faced a 39% deficit, while Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Punjab each recorded a 31% shortfall.Experts emphasize that for agriculture, factors beyond total rainfall—such as timing, distribution, and soil moisture—are equally critical. Yields can be adversely affected by moisture stress during key phases: flowering and pod formation in soybeans, panicle emergence in paddy, and flowering and grain filling in maize. Cotton crops are vulnerable to damage from both drought and waterlogging. Therefore, rainfall conditions in August and September will play a crucial role in determining the final yield of Kharif crops.read more :- Daund Cotton Acreage Reaches 2,412 Acres

Maharashtra: Cotton acreage rises in Daund; sowing covers 2,412 acresIn the Daund taluka of Maharashtra's Pune district, the area under cotton cultivation is expanding alongside traditional crops. Known for the cultivation of sugarcane, onions, wheat, and pomegranates, this region is seeing cotton emerge as a significant Kharif season crop. According to available data, cotton has been sown across 2,412 acres in Daund taluka this year.In the 2021-22 season, cotton was cultivated on only 255 acres in Daund taluka. Since then, the acreage has seen a steady increase. This growth is attributed to both the farmers' growing interest and the guidance provided by the Agriculture Department.In the Daund region, a spacing of 4.5×2 feet is typically maintained for cotton sowing. Subsequent cultivation practices involve weeding and the application of fertilizers and pesticides as required. The average cotton yield in the area is reported to be between 18 and 20 quintals per acre.Current data indicates that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for high-quality cotton is ₹8,667 per quintal, an increase of ₹557 compared to the previous year. With a good harvest, farmers can earn between ₹1.50 lakh and ₹1.75 lakh per acre over a five-month period.It is claimed that planting sugarcane after a cotton crop leads to an average yield increase of 15 to 20 tonnes per acre for the sugarcane. This practice aids in optimal land utilization and helps maintain the crop rotation cycle.However, despite the increase in cotton acreage in Daund taluka, there is currently no authorized cotton procurement center. Farmers are demanding the establishment of a procurement center at the Daund APMC so that they do not have to travel to other regions to sell their produce.This year, the cotton crop is facing a significant weed infestation problem. In this context, farmers are being advised to focus on timely weeding and proper crop management. The region's fertile black soil and appropriate crop rotation can help boost cotton productivity.read more :- The rupee opened 5 paise weaker against the dollar at 95.48.