GM cotton resistant to pink bollworm is developed by NBRI.Lucknow: In a ground-breaking advancement for agriculture, scientists at the CSIR-NBRI in Lucknow claim to have developed the world's first genetically modified (GM) cotton that is totally resistant to the Pink Bollworm (PBW), a devastating pest affecting cotton crop in India, Africa and Asia."Since the implementation of GM cotton in India in 2002, varieties such as Bollgard 1 and Bollgard 2, developed jointly with Monsanto of St. Louis, US, have effectively controlled certain bollworm species. However, these varieties have not maintained robust defence against the PBW, known locally in India as Gulabi Sundi," said NBRI director Ajit Kumar Shasany.He explained that the PBW developed resistance to the proteins utilised in these technologies, intensifying the threat. Consequently, cotton yields diminished substantially in India.Addressing this crucial challenge, CSIR-NBRI's researchers, led by chief scientist Dr PK Singh, whose expertise spans nearly 30 years in crop protection, engineered a novel insecticidal gene. This indigenous gene, distinctively effective against PBW, demonstrated superior resistance compared to Bollgard 2 cotton."Comprehensive laboratory trials at NBRI have demonstrated that the new GM cotton exhibits exceptional tolerance to PBW while providing protection against other pests like the cotton leafworm and the fall armyworm," he said.He said recognising the potential of this pioneering technology, Nagpur-based agri-biotech company M/s Ankur Seeds Pvt. Ltd has proposed a partnership with NBRI.Ankur Seeds will collaborate on safety studies following regulatory guidelines and generate extensive multi-location data from field trials with NBRI technology.Upon confirmation of the technology's safety, the seeds will be licensed to seed companies for further variety and hybrid development, facilitating widespread commercialisation."By safeguarding cotton from the threat of Pink Bollworm, CSIR-NBRI's innovation protects the livelihoods of millions of farmers while establishing a new benchmark for pest resistance globally," he added.read more :-Rupee opens 16 paise up at 87.34 against US dollar
In relation to the US dollar, the rupee opens 16 paise higher at 87.34.The Indian rupee on Monday opened 16 paise higher at 87.34 against the US dollar, as against the close at 87.50 on Friday.read more :- India can be the world leader in textiles. Here’s how
India might lead the world in textile production. Here's howIf India is to become a developed country by 2047, it must prioritise job creation. The textile and apparel industry is the second-largest employer in India after agriculture, providing direct employment to 45 million people. The sector is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 10 per cent and become a USD 250 billion market by 2030, adding millions more jobs. If our exports grow from the current USD 45 billion to the targeted USD 100 billion, and if the economy grows at 6-7 per cent annually, the textile industry can add one million jobs every year from now to 2030 - 10 per cent of the country's need.The government is thinking ahead in supporting the industry. It has approved various schemes with an outlay of several thousand crores that stimulate the sector – such as the Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the Remission of State and Central Taxes and Duties (RoSCTL) scheme.The USD 100 billion Indian textile market presents a huge domestic opportunity. An emerging middle class is driving demand and this trend is further amplified by Gen Z. The mainstreaming of e-commerce and the emergence of instant commerce have made apparel and fashion easier for people to access. While there is a lull during a crisis like Covid or a recession, Indians continue to have a healthy consumption appetite.With so much work to do, how can we ensure labour efficiency and thus create more jobs and increase market share? India suffers a 15-20 per cent cost loss compared to competing countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam. A major reason for this is low efficiency in the labour-intensive apparel manufacturing process. How can we address this?read more :-Indian Rupee lower 19 Paisa, Ends at 87.50 per Dollar
Indian Rupee lower 19 Paisa, Ends at 87.50 per DollarThe Indian rupee on friday fell 19 paise to close at 87.50 per dollar, while it had opened at 87.31 in the morning.Indian equity indices closed sharply lower, with all sectoral indices trading in the red throughout the session. The Sensex ended the day down 1.90% at 73,198.10, while the Nifty also slipped 1.86% to close at 22,124.70, marking a weak finish for the last trading session of February.read more :-Cotton declined on substantial increase in supplies and limited mill buying .
Cotton fell as a result of limited mill purchases and a significant increase in supplies.Cotton candy prices fell 0.41% to 53,510 on increased supplies and weak mill buying. Mills have adequate stocks, reducing their immediate buying needs. Brazil's cotton production for 2024-25 is expected to increase by 1.6% to 3.7616 million tonnes, with a 4.8% expansion in planted area, indicating adequate global supply. Additionally, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is expected to procure over 100 lakh bales at minimum support price (MSP) this season. The Cotton Association of India (CAI) estimates India's cotton production for 2024-25 to be 301.75 lakh bales, lower than 327.45 lakh bales in the previous season, mainly due to lower yields in Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.Total cotton supply till January 2025 was 234.26 lakh bales, which includes 188.07 lakh bales of fresh pressing, 16 lakh bales of imports and opening stock of 30.19 lakh bales. Estimated cotton consumption till January 2025 is 114 lakh bales, including exports of 8 lakh bales, while ending stock is 112.26 lakh bales. CAI maintained its domestic consumption forecast at 315 lakh bales, while export forecast for 2024-25 is 17 lakh bales, lower than last season's 28.36 lakh bales.Technically, the market is witnessing long term liquidation, and open interest remains unchanged at 253. The prices have support at 53,200 and can likely test 52800 levels, while resistance is also at 53,860 and a move above this can take the prices towards 54200 levels.read more :-NBRI’s innovative chip to boost cotton cultivation
NBRI's cutting-edge chip to improve cotton farmingLucknow : CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has developed a special chip that will assist scientists and farmers in cultivating superior cotton plants.Upon insertion of this ‘90K SNP Cotton Chip' in special equipment, it will provide data about various cotton varieties and their characteristics. The chip facilitates the development of high-quality cotton plants through marker-assisted breeding (MAB), a DNA-based approach. This utilises molecular markers to identify and choose plants with specific traits, creating new varieties."The chip contains data of around 90,000 cotton SNP markers, which can be used to crossbreed and create a new variety according to climatic, production or pest control needs. This is the first such chip in India, and its license was given to a Delhi-based company in the presence of CSIR director general N Kalaiselvi," said NBRI director Ajit Kumar Shasany.Explaining MAB or chip technology, Shasany said: "In agricultural production, we often aim to combine good traits from different plants to breed a new variety. Suppose we have a cotton plant with many seeds but fewer branches and is not drought or pest-resistant while another variety has fewer seeds but is drought and pest-resistant and has more branches. We can combine these two to breed a desirable variety."This may sound easy, but it's a herculean task as suitable varieties must be identified from thousands before crossbreeding. It may take months and even years. It's tough to determine which one is the best. The agricultural performance of plants is usually linked to traits that are encoded by DNA," he said.Shasany added that this chip was prepared by sequencing 320 cotton genotypes found in India, which resulted in 40 lakh single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), a variation in the DNA sequence at a single base position. Out of these, 90K SNPs were shortlisted as the best markers.This may sound easy, but it's a herculean task as suitable varieties must be identified from thousands before crossbreeding. It may take months and even years. It's tough to determine which one is the best. The agricultural performance of plants is usually linked to traits that are encoded by DNA," he said.Lucknow: CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has developed a special chip that will assist scientists and farmers in cultivating superior cotton plants.Upon insertion of this ‘90K SNP Cotton Chip' in special equipment, it will provide data about various cotton varieties and their characteristics. The chip facilitates the development of high-quality cotton plants through marker-assisted breeding (MAB), a DNA-based approach. This utilises molecular markers to identify and choose plants with specific traits, creating new varieties."The chip contains data of around 90,000 cotton SNP markers, which can be used to crossbreed and create a new variety according to climatic, production or pest control needs. This is the first such chip in India, and its license was given to a Delhi-based company in the presence of CSIR director general N Kalaiselvi," said NBRI director Ajit Kumar Shasany.Explaining MAB or chip technology, Shasany said: "In agricultural production, we often aim to combine good traits from different plants to breed a new variety. Suppose we have a cotton plant with many seeds but fewer branches and is not drought or pest-resistant while another variety has fewer seeds but is drought and pest-resistant and has more branches. We can combine these two to breed a desirable variety.""This may sound easy, but it's a herculean task as suitable varieties must be identified from thousands before crossbreeding. It may take months and even years. It's tough to determine which one is the best. The agricultural performance of plants is usually linked to traits that are encoded by DNA," he said.Shasany added that this chip was prepared by sequencing 320 cotton genotypes found in India, which resulted in 40 lakh single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), a variation in the DNA sequence at a single base position. Out of these, 90K SNPs were shortlisted as the best markers.read more :-Rupee falls 16 paise at open to 87.31 against US dollar
Rupee opens at 87.31 versus the US dollar, down 16 paise.The Indian rupee on Friday opened 16 paise fell at 87.31 per dollar, as against 87.19 on closed Thursday. read more:- The Indian rupee on thursday higher 20 paise to close at 87.19 per dollar, while it opened at 87.39 in the morning.
The Indian rupee opened at 87.39 in the morning and gained 20 paise to close at 87.19 against the dollar on Thursday.At close, the Sensex was up 10.31 points or 0.01 percent at 74,612.43, and the Nifty was down 2.50 points or 0.01 percent at 22,545.05. About 892 shares advanced, 2925 shares declined, and 97 shares unchanged.read more :-Lower cotton prices bring hope for spinning mills
A decrease in cotton prices gives spinning mills hope.Cotton prices in India have been on a downward trend in recent months. In fact, this is a matter of concern for cotton growers, but spinners are feeling good after struggling for several quarters.There are several reasons that support the forecast that cotton prices are likely to remain low for some time. The most important reason is that cotton production is expected to increase by 9% to 37.7 million bales during the current cotton year. A bale weighs 170 kg. Some northern states are expected to have bumper crops, while production in southern states has been affected due to pest attacks and unseasonal winter rains.At the same time, global cotton production is picking up. After a partial recovery in calendar year 2017 from a 13-year low in 2016, global production is forecast to pick up, showing a good growth of 11-13% in 2018. Therefore, both domestic and global conditions are supporting a decline in cotton prices.Meanwhile, a reduction in Chinese cotton imports following a policy change designed to support the domestic industry has upset the price cycle in international markets. China is one of the major consumers of cotton and cotton yarn.Any improved momentum in imports by China could support a recovery in global cotton prices. For the time being, this seems unlikely. Domestically too, hybrid-6 grade cotton is selling at Rs 107 per kg, much lower than the highs of Rs 130-140 per kg in August.With news of higher production after harvest in October, cotton prices are trending downwards. The question is whether any policy intervention will push prices higher, given the importance of farmers' vote in the upcoming general elections.Certainly, lower cotton prices bring relief to the spinning industry, which has recorded weak sales growth and profit margins in the last four quarters. Credit rating agency ICRA Ltd has explored the reasons for the pressure in spinning mills in a report: “In the quarter ended September 2016, volumes were impacted due to a sharp fall in exports to China, but the impact of demonetisation in the following quarter impacted volumes.ICRA’s sample of 13 spinning mills showed a weak trend in volumes in recent times and pressure on contribution margins, partly driven by volatile cotton prices. Overall operating profit of ICRA’s sample remained 6-12% lower than the healthy levels seen in FY13 and FY14, although 3% higher than FY16. No wonder yarn mills would be happy with the fall in cotton prices. However, ultimately currency movements and demand will remain the key determinants of profitability of yarn mills, especially exporters.read more :-Rupee falls 19 paise against the dollar to 87.39
The rupee declines 19 paise to 87.39 against the dollar.The Indian rupee on thursday fell 19 paise to open at 87.39 per dollar, while it closed at 87.20 in the tuesday.The rupee has taken a hit as Donald Trump goes ahead with his tariff plans. read more :-Textile, Tourism, Technology: PM Modi's 'mantra' for India's development
PM Modi's'mantra' for the development of India is textiles, tourism, and technology.Addressing the Madhya Pradesh Global Investor Summit in Bhopal, the Prime Minister said these sectors will create "crores" of new jobs."Three sectors will play a crucial role in India's development--textiles, tourism, and technology. These sectors will create crores of new jobs. If we look at textiles, India is the second-largest producer of cotton. India has a whole tradition related to textile, it has skill as well as entrepreneurship," PM Modi said.Terming the state as the "cotton capital" of India, the Prime Minister stated that about "25 per cent of India's organic cotton supply comes from Madhya Pradesh."India is the sixth largest textile and apparel exporter in the world.Notably, the Central government aims to target the export of USD 10 billion worth of technical textiles under its National Technical Textiles Mission. To position India as a global leader in technical textiles, the Mission was launched in 2020-21 and has been extended till 2025-26, with a financial outlay of Rs 1,480 crore.Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical performance in various high-end industries. At present, technical textile exports are reportedly between USD 2 billion to USD 3 billion.In his inaugural address at the Global Investor Summit, PM Modi also emphasised on the need to ensure water security for industrial development. He said that the government is constantly pushing for water conservation and promoting river interlinking mission."For industrial development, water security is important. To achieve this, on one side, we are pushing water conservation, and on the other, we are promoting the river interlinking mission. Agriculture is one of the biggest beneficiaries in this process," PM Modi said."Recently, the Rs 45,000 crore Ken-Betwa River Linking Project has been started. This will increase the productivity of 10 lakh hectares of agricultural land," he added.read more :-Indian Rupee lower 35 Paisa, Ends at 87.20 per Dollar
The Indian Rupee ends at 87.20 per dollar, down 35 rupees.Indian rupee ended 35 paise lower at 87.20 per dollar on morning opening of 86.85.At close, the Sensex was up 147.71 points or 0.20 percent at 74,602.12, and the Nifty was down 5.80 points or 0.03 percent at 22,547.55. About 1612 shares advanced, 2166 shares declined, and 127 shares unchanged.read more :-China, India, Bangladesh or Vietnam - who may benefit the most from tariffs imposed by Trump on textiles
Who might gain the most from Trump's textile tariffs—China, India, Bangladesh, or Vietnam?Indian textile exporters see the current tariff war as an opportunity to gain more market share from China, the world's largest textile and apparel exporter. If the reciprocal tariffs imposed by Trump are implemented, it may help India bridge some gap with China."There is a demand for Indian apparels. We will be able to gain share in China's trade, as it is facing severe tariff pressure from the US," Sudhir Sekhri, chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) under India's textiles ministry, said on February 18. You can watch the full conversation here:Not just India, Vietnam and Bangladesh are also trying to make more and more space in the US market at the expense of China. "The textile and apparel sector has a complex supply chain. No country can meet the demand of another country," said Prerna Jhunjhunwala of Elara Capital, indicating that imposing reciprocal tariffs would be easier said than done.Vietnam is the world's third-largest textile exporter after China and Bangladesh .Vietnam is set to overtake China to become the largest textile exporter to the US in the first five months of 2024. On the other hand, the US is the third-largest customer of Bangladesh, the world's second-largest apparel exporter. Based on tariff differences alone, Vietnam may be the least impacted compared to India and Bangladesh.This means that when the US imposes its proposed tariffs on reciprocal tariffs, the price of Indian and Bangladeshi textile products exported to the United States will increase due to the tariff hike.As per Indian government data, at least 28% of India's textile and apparel exports go to the US. However, there are considerable variations in tariff rates. According to AEPC, cotton fabric, which accounts for 65% of total exports to the US, attracts a lower duty, while man-made fabrics such as polyester, nylon, acrylic and rayon attract a 33% tariff.The tariff differential in fabric is around 15.6%. But when you cover only apparel, the tariff differential is around 7%. "Import duties on Indian textiles range from 2.6% to 33%," Sekhri pointed out.According to a new report by Prabhudas Lilladher, India's textile exports operate within a low tariff differential even if tariffs rise to 15% to 20%. "India's exports are supported by a highly diversified export base," the report said. Meanwhile, 70% of textile and apparel exports to Vietnam and Bangladesh comprise readymade garments, which are likely to face higher tariffs in the coming months. However, there is still no clarity from the Trump administration on whether the reciprocal tariffs will be on particular categories of products or on the entire sector. However, tariffs have always been one of the many determinants of trade. These three countries continue to have other strengths such as low cost of production, price competitiveness and cheap labour cost. Based on their long-established strengths, these countries are trying to get a share of the larger share of trade in the US market. Divya Srinivasan, research associate at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, said India needs to reduce its tariffs to encourage textile manufacturers, project itself as an alternative supply chain hub and mitigate the impact of reciprocal tariffs and grab China's export share to the US.Trump's tariffs will have an impact on India, but it may be less than on Vietnam and Bangladesh. This is because textiles and apparel form a large part of the latter two economies, and the US is a major buyer.The textile industry accounts for about 11% of Bangladesh's economy and about 15% of Vietnam's economy. In contrast, India's textile sector contributes 2.3% to GDP, reflecting diversity within the fifth-largest economy.read more :-Rupee opens 15 paise lower at 86.85 against US dollar
The rupee starts the day 15 paise down against the US dollar at 86.85.The Indian rupee opened 15 paise lower at 86.85 against the US dollar on tuesday, while it closed at 86.70 on mondayread more :-The Indian rupee on Monday fell 12 paise to close at 86.70 per dollar, while it opened at 86.58 in the morning.
On Monday, the Indian rupee began at 86.58 per dollar and dropped 12 paise to settle at 86.70.At close, the Sensex was down 856.65 points or 1.14 percent at 74,454.41, and the Nifty was down 242.55 points or 1.06 percent at 22,553.35. About 1126 shares advanced, 2526 shares declined, and 140 shares unchanged.read more :-Leader in fibre production, but growth, exports lagging: What’s ails India’s textile industry
India is a leader in the manufacturing of fiber, but its textile sector is struggling with growth and exports.India’s textile industry is among the largest in the world, spanning a vast value chain from cotton cultivation to high-end apparel manufacturing. However, despite its scale, India lags behind countries like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh in textile exports, which benefit from vertically integrated supply chains, lower production costs, and simpler regulations.Despite being a global leader in cotton and synthetic fibre production, India’s textile and apparel industry has recorded sluggish growth in recent years. Now, with rising sustainability and compliance requirements, costs are expected to rise further, especially for smaller firms.Fibre to fabric in India — an overviewAfter China, India is the second largest producer of cotton, accounting for 24% of global production. Cotton cultivation engages around 60 lakh farmers, mostly across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana. The entire cotton textile value chain—from processing raw fibre and spinning yarn to weaving fabric, dyeing, and stitching—employs over 4.5 crore people.While fibre consumption in India tilts heavily towards cotton, the textile industry also consumes other natural fibres like wool and jute. India is also the world’s second largest producer of man-made fibres (MMF), with Reliance Industries Ltd leading in polyester fibre and Aditya Birla Group’s Grasim Industries Ltd as the only domestic producer of viscose fibre.Despite being a global leader in production, MMF consumption in India is just 3.1 kg per capita, compared to 12 kg in China and 22.5 kg in North America, according to a Ministry of Textiles note. Overall fibre consumption, including natural fibres and MMF, is also low at 5.5 kg per capita, compared to the global average of 11.2 kg.Roughly 80% of India’s textile value chain is concentrated in MSME clusters, each with its own specialisation. For instance, Bhiwandi in Maharashtra is a key hub for fabric production, Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu leads in t-shirts and undergarments, Surat in Gujarat specialises in polyester and nylon fabric, and Ludhiana in Punjab is known for woolen garments.Growth, exports in the redThe size of India’s textile and apparel industry cannot be understated—it contributes 13% to industrial production, 12% to exports, and roughly 2% to GDP. However, manufacturing in the textile and apparel industry has slightly contracted over the past 10 years, according to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).The labour-intensive garment and apparel sector exported goods worth $14.5 billion in FY24, down from $15.5 billion in FY20. Companies like Shahi Exports Pvt Ltd, Gokaldas Exports Ltd, and PDS Ltd are leading players in this sector.Low export competitivenessIndia lags behind China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh in textile exports, largely due to higher production costs. For instance, Vietnam exported apparel worth $40 billion in 2023. These countries benefit from vertically integrated supply chains, allowing them to manufacture garments at far more competitive prices.One key challenge for India is its fragmented cotton supply chain, spread across multiple states, driving up logistical costs and hindering large-scale production.The sustainability angle“Today, the world is increasingly recognising the importance of a sustainable lifestyle, and the fashion industry is no exception… I firmly believe that the textile industry must embrace the principles of maximising resource efficiency and minimising waste,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the textile trade fair Bharat Tex last week.“In general, the costs for the textile industry are likely to rise over the coming years. A global structural shift towards sustainable sourcing would drive this. Often, such a shift is necessitated by regulatory changes. The EU, for instance, has as many as 16 pieces of legislation spanning the entire fashion value chain, which came into force between 2021 and 2024. As the EU accounts for nearly 20 per cent of our exports, such a shift poses a challenge for small enterprises who need to shift to environmentally sustainable production methods,” the Survey said.In his speech, Modi highlighted that India’s textile recycling market is projected to reach $400 million, while the global recycled textile market is expected to touch $7.5 billion.“Today, crores of garments become obsolete every month worldwide, with a significant portion falling into the category of ‘fast fashion waste’. This refers to clothing discarded simply due to changing fashion trends. These garments are dumped in various parts of the world, posing a severe threat to the environment and ecosystems.read more :-Great relief for cotton farmers! CCI will resume cotton procurement again... Nai Dar Kya Hai?
Cotton farmers are relieved! CCI is going to start buying cotton again. Nai Dar Kya Hai?Cotton procurement:- Cotton procurement by CCI (Cotton Corporation of India - CCI) is about to resume, which is likely to provide financial relief to many cotton farmers. Cotton procurement by CCI started from November 9 in Limbala (Makta) area near Hingoli town. However, the procurement process was halted from February 11 due to space issues at the procurement centre.Farmers have been facing major difficulties in selling cotton for the past few weeks. Cotton prices in the open market did not meet expectations as many farmers depended on CCI's procurement centre. However, they were facing a major problem as the procurement process was stalled due to lack of space. Now the market committee administration has resolved the issue and said that the shopping will start smoothly from February 24.Cotton prices have seen a lot of fluctuation this year. Till December, the CCI had quoted a price of Rs 7,521 per quintal, while the price of cotton in the open market could not even cross Rs 7,000. As a result the farmers suffered huge losses. By the end of January, cotton inflows slowed down, resulting in only 50 to 70 quintals of cotton being procured per day.Had to stop shopping due to location issues.Cotton procured at the center was stored in large quantities. Due to lack of space, no space was left for storing new cotton. Due to this, the purchase was temporarily suspended from February 11. Meanwhile, the location issue has now been resolved as bales of cotton, sorghum and other stocks have been shifted elsewhere, and hence procurement will resume from February 24.Only good quality cotton is worth buying.At present, prices are being determined according to the quality of cotton in the open market. Common cotton is being sold at Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000 per quintal, while the CCI procurement center is fetching Rs 7,421 per quintal. However, farmers have been urged to bring good quality cotton to the procurement centre.Big life for farmersMany farmers will benefit from CCI's procurement process. Currently, market prices are relatively low, so the government's procurement process will ensure that farmers are fairly compensated for their produce. Every year farmers depend more and more on cotton prices. If the market prices are not satisfactory, the government procurement centers can be of great help to the farmers.Shopping will resume from February 24The procurement will start smoothly from February 24 onwards after the location issues are resolved. This will give cotton farmers a good opportunity to sell their produce. Government intervention will give some relief to the farmers and they are likely to get fair value for their produce.Cotton growers should take advantage of this opportunity to sell good quality cotton and take advantage of CCI's procurement centre.read more :-Punjab faces cotton diversification challenge ahead of sowing season
Punjab must diversify its cotton supply before the planting season.As the cotton sowing season approaches in April, Punjab faces a challenge in diversifying its kharif crop, with no dedicated plan yet in place.Cotton acreage in Punjab has been on a steady decline since 2021-22, hitting the lowest of 95,000 hectares in 2024. Punjab agriculture director Jaswant Singh said efforts are being made to encourage farmers to return to cotton cultivation, with the government standing in support.“The last four kharif seasons have been extremely challenging for cotton farmers, with acreage shrinking significantly. Pest attacks have escalated input costs, making farmers hesitant due to economic concerns. However, we aim to increase cotton acreage to 1.5 lakh hectares in the 2025-26 season,” said Singh.Despite the declining trend, the state has not yet introduced a concrete plan to incentivise farmers in the semi-arid districts of the south Malwa region, many of whom have shifted to water-intensive rice farming over the past four years.“We will ensure timely canal water supply for irrigation during summer. The subsidy on cotton seeds is also expected to continue. Additionally, we have started the annual exercise of mass weed removal and safe disposal of cotton straws in the cotton-growing districts,” Singh added.Cotton sowing will begin soon after the rabi crop harvest of wheat and mustard in April, and experts at Punjab Agricultural University recommend completing sowing by May 15.Data shows a steady decline in Punjab’s cotton acreage. in 2021, it was 2.52 lakh hectares, 2.48 lakh hectares in 2022, 1.73 lakh hectares in 2023 and it plunged to 95,000 hectares in 2004, the lowest ever.In 2020, Punjab recorded a bumper cotton production of about 50 lakh quintals, but multiple challenges over the following years drove farmers away from the crop, particularly in the southwest belt of the state.Progressive cotton grower Baldev Singh from Bajak village in Bathinda expressed optimism about a shift back to cotton, especially after difficulties in paddy procurement in 2024.“If the chief minister ensures timely seed availability and canal water supply, we still have two months to prepare, and cotton acreage can be regained,” he said.Bathinda chief agriculture officer Jagsir Singh attributed the sharp decline in cotton cultivation to pest infestations, unfavourable climatic conditions, and irrigation challenges.“Irrigation issues over the last four seasons led to economic losses for cotton farmers, prompting them to switch to paddy cultivation where tubewell irrigation was available. Now, we are working to bring them back to cotton farming,” he added.read more :-Rupee opens 13 paise up at 86.58 against US dollar
At 86.58, the rupee is up 13 paise against the US dollar.The Indian rupee on Monday opened 13 paise higher at 86.58 against the US dollar, as against the close at 86.71 on Friday. read more :-Cotton Faces Outside Pressure on Friday
On Friday, Cotton Will Face External Pressure Cotton futures posted losses on Friday, with front months down 11 to 16 points at the close. March was down 103 points this week. The outside markets were pressure factors to close out the week. Crude oil futures were down $2.18/barrel, with the US dollar index $0.276 higher. CFTC data via the weekly Commitment of Traders report showed a total of 3,095 contracts trimmed by the spec traders from their net short in cotton futures and options as of 2/18 to 57,386 contracts. The Friday morning Export Sales report showed upland cotton bookings totaling 312,452 RB in the week of 2/13, a 4-week high. Vietnam was the buyer of 109,400 RB, with Pakistan at 64,800 RB. Export Shipments totaled 298,278 RB, a MY high. Vietnam was also the largest destination of 85,100 RB, with 49,700 RB to Pakistan. Combined shipped and unshipped sales have totaled 9.443 million RB, which is down 10% from last year. That is also 92% of USDA’s forecast, matching the average sales pace for this time of year. USDA will release their initial arm chair estimates for the 2025 cotton crop in their Outlook Forum next week. A survey of analysts by Bloomberg shows an average of 10 million planted acres for cotton this year, with a range of 8.8 to 10.8 million acres and down from 11.2 million last year. ICE cotton stocks were unchanged on 2/20 at 1,732 bales of certified stocks. The Seam tallied 4,747 bales in February 20 online sales, with an average price of 59.07 cents/lb. The Cotlook A Index was back down 110 points on Thursday at 78.30 cents/lb. The USDA raised their Adjusted World Price (AWP) again on Thursday by 68 points to 54.67 cents/lb.read more :-Indian Rupee lower 16 Paisa, Ends at 86.71 per Dollar
| title | Created At | Action |
|---|---|---|
| NBRI develops GM cotton resistant to pink bollworm | 03-03-2025 11:06:36 | view |
| Rupee opens 16 paise up at 87.34 against US dollar | 03-03-2025 10:23:14 | view |
| India can be the world leader in textiles. Here’s how | 01-03-2025 12:24:10 | view |
| Indian Rupee lower 19 Paisa, Ends at 87.50 per Dollar | 28-02-2025 15:59:33 | view |
| Cotton declined on substantial increase in supplies and limited mill buying . | 28-02-2025 12:05:16 | view |
| NBRI’s innovative chip to boost cotton cultivation | 28-02-2025 10:48:56 | view |
| Rupee falls 16 paise at open to 87.31 against US dollar | 28-02-2025 10:24:38 | view |
| The Indian rupee on thursday higher 20 paise to close at 87.19 per dollar, while it opened at 87.39 in the morning. | 27-02-2025 15:42:06 | view |
| Lower cotton prices bring hope for spinning mills | 27-02-2025 13:15:59 | view |
| Rupee falls 19 paise against the dollar to 87.39 | 27-02-2025 10:27:43 | view |
| Textile, Tourism, Technology: PM Modi's 'mantra' for India's development | 26-02-2025 11:23:15 | view |
| Indian Rupee lower 35 Paisa, Ends at 87.20 per Dollar | 25-02-2025 15:55:02 | view |
| China, India, Bangladesh or Vietnam - who may benefit the most from tariffs imposed by Trump on textiles | 25-02-2025 14:44:43 | view |
| Rupee opens 15 paise lower at 86.85 against US dollar | 25-02-2025 10:28:43 | view |
| The Indian rupee on Monday fell 12 paise to close at 86.70 per dollar, while it opened at 86.58 in the morning. | 24-02-2025 15:41:36 | view |
| Leader in fibre production, but growth, exports lagging: What’s ails India’s textile industry | 24-02-2025 13:44:54 | view |
| Great relief for cotton farmers! CCI will resume cotton procurement again... Nai Dar Kya Hai? | 24-02-2025 12:57:08 | view |
| Punjab faces cotton diversification challenge ahead of sowing season | 24-02-2025 10:59:30 | view |
| Rupee opens 13 paise up at 86.58 against US dollar | 24-02-2025 10:40:01 | view |
| Cotton Faces Outside Pressure on Friday | 22-02-2025 11:13:09 | view |
