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Kharif Sowing Under Threat as Diesel Crunch and Water Shortage Hit Farmers in Maharashtra, GujaratAs the Kharif sowing season approaches, farmers in Maharashtra and Gujarat are grappling with diesel supply disruptions and water shortages, raising fears of a severe impact on agricultural production this year. Despite repeated assurances from governments and oil companies that fuel stocks are adequate, growers across rural regions continue to face long queues, supply caps, and delays in accessing diesel essential for tractors, irrigation pumps, and transport vehicles.In Maharashtra, particularly in Marathwada and parts of Pune district, farmers’ organisations have warned that continued disruption in diesel availability during the next 10–15 days could badly affect sowing operations. Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana founder Raju Shetti said the period before monsoon arrival is crucial for land preparation and sowing, and any interruption in fuel supply may lead to major crop losses. Farmer groups have threatened statewide protests if the situation is not resolved quickly.The crisis has deepened with water scarcity in Pune’s Indapur tehsil, where farmers staged protests against inadequate release of water from the Khadakwasla canal system. Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne acknowledged mismanagement by the irrigation department and assured increased water release after meeting protesting farmers.Meanwhile, in Gujarat, panic buying has led to long lines of tractors at diesel pumps in rural districts such as Porbandar. The state government has imposed a 200-litre cap per farmer to prevent hoarding, requiring proof of land ownership before fuel purchase. Petroleum dealers say there is no actual shortage, but regulated supply and increased seasonal demand have triggered temporary dry-outs at remote outlets.Farmer leaders warn that rising fuel stress, combined with erratic rainfall concerns, could hurt the upcoming Kharif cycle and agricultural growth across western India.read more :- Maharashtra Expects 12% Lower Rainfall During Kharif Season Due to El Niño

Lower Rainfall Forecast for Maharashtra Due to El NiñoDue to the influence of El Niño, it is anticipated that rainfall in Maharashtra during the upcoming Kharif season will be approximately 12% lower than normal. During a state-level pre-Kharif review meeting held on Thursday (May 21, 2026), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the state is projected to receive an average of 88% of its normal rainfall this year. While some regions may experience higher rainfall, areas such as Western Vidarbha and Marathwada are likely to face challenging conditions due to a deficit in precipitation.The Chief Minister informed that the state government is implementing technology-based solutions to address the challenges posed by the low rainfall. Farmers will be provided with region-specific information regarding rainfall and weather conditions through mobile applications and AI-based systems. To this end, the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.The state government also announced that the process of waiving farmers' loans will be completed before June 30. This initiative is being implemented under the "Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana" (Farmers' Loan Waiver Scheme), which was announced during the State Budget presentation in March 2026. Under this scheme, crop loans of up to ₹2 lakh will be waived for farmers, while farmers who have been regular in repaying their loans will receive an incentive of ₹50,000.During the meeting, banks were also directed to increase credit disbursement within the agricultural sector. The Chief Minister urged nationalized banks to extend more crop loans to farmers and to waive the mandatory requirement of a CIBIL score for loan approval. Furthermore, Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to integrate the Bharat Forecast System (BharatFS) into its disaster management framework.read more :- Agricultural Science: Measures to Protect the Cotton Crop from Severe Heatwaves and High Temperatures

Agricultural Science: Advisory on Protecting Cotton Crops from HeatwavesAmidst the continuously escalating severe heat and intense heatwaves in Hanumangarh, the Department of Agriculture has issued a special advisory to farmers regarding the protection of their cotton crops. This season, cotton sowing in the district has proceeded at a rapid pace, with sowing operations already completed across an area of approximately one lakh hectares. However, due to rising temperatures and hot winds, reports have begun to emerge from several regions regarding the wilting and weakening of sprouted seedlings. Officials from the Department of Agriculture have visited various villages to inspect the impact of the heatwave on the new crop.Dr. Pramod Kumar, Joint Director of Agriculture (Extension), has appealed to farmers to align their farming activities with the prevailing weather conditions and to adopt scientific methods. He emphasized that light irrigation is crucial in the fields to mitigate the adverse effects of the intense heat. Farmers equipped with sprinkler irrigation systems are advised to irrigate using the sprinkler method at three-day intervals; this ensures that soil moisture is maintained and provides relief to the plants from the heat stress.The Department of Agriculture has advised against the use of any type of fertilizer for the time being. According to officials, sowing should ideally be undertaken only after deep plowing of the field and pre-sowing irrigation (known as paleva) using canal water. Farmers engaging in late sowing can minimize the impact of hot winds by planting two rows of fodder crops along the perimeter of their fields.Furthermore, the advisory recommends lightly spraying water using tractor-mounted sprayers during the afternoon hours, as well as scheduling plowing and sowing operations for the evening. The department has identified the adoption of the furrow or bed method as being particularly beneficial for the cultivation of BT cotton.read more :- India Targets $100 Billion Textile Exports by 2030 at TEXPROCIL Awards

Emphasis on India's $100 Billion Textile Export Target at TEXPROCIL Awards CeremonyExporters demonstrating outstanding performance in India's cotton textile export sector were honored at the TEXPROCIL Export Awards 2023–24 ceremony, organized by TEXPROCIL in Mumbai. The event was presided over by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman. During the ceremony, TEXPROCIL awards were presented to exporters who made exceptional contributions in the areas of export performance, job creation, innovation, ESG initiatives, and e-commerce.On this occasion, the Finance Minister also launched the "Advanced Certificate Program in International Trade" (ACPIT). This initiative by TEXPROCIL has been introduced with the objective of strengthening India's export ecosystem and enhancing its competitiveness in global trade. The program has been designed to align with various government schemes and policy initiatives.In her address, Mrs. Sitharaman emphasized the need to empower the entire textile value chain—spanning "from farm to fiber, from factory to fashion, and to foreign markets." Citing India's ancient weaving and textile traditions, she noted that this heritage continues to reinforce the country's global identity to this day. She reiterated the target of boosting India's textile exports to US$ 100 billion and total textile production to US$ 250 billion by the year 2030.The Finance Minister highlighted that India currently stands as the world's sixth-largest textile exporter. This sector directly and indirectly employs approximately 60 million people, contributes about 2.3 percent to the GDP, and accounts for a share of roughly 12 percent in the country's total export earnings.Vijay Agarwal, Chairman of TEXPROCIL, stated that the 2,000 exporters affiliated with the Council contribute approximately US$ 11 billion to exports and serve as the source of livelihood for nearly 35 million people. He also underscored the necessity of strengthening India's sustainable textile identity on the global stage through the "Kasturi Cotton" brand.read more :- CCI Cotton Sales Cross 70.33 Lakh Bales; Maharashtra, Telangana Lead 2025–26 Season

State-wise CCI Cotton Sales Details – 2025-26 SeasonThe Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) reduced its cotton candy prices by upto ₹700 per candy during this week . CCI has sold approximately 70,33,300 cotton bales for the 2025-26 season. Sales are highly concentrated in a few major cotton-producing states, Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat emerging as the leading contributors.read more:- Indian Rupee Opens 16 Paise Lower Against US Dollar at 95.39

The rupee fell 16 paise to open at 95.39 USD.On Tuesday, the Indian rupee opened 16 paise lower at 95.39 against the dollar, while it had closed at 95.23 on Monday.Read more :- Rupee Gains 12 Paise Against Dollar, Closes at 95.23

On Monday, the Indian Rupee opened at 95.35 against the US Dollar and strengthened by 12 paise by the end of trading, closing at 95.23.At market close, the Sensex rose by 1,073.61 points, or 1.42 percent, to reach 76,488.96, while the Nifty climbed 312.40 points, or 1.32 percent, to reach 24,031.70.Read More :-  Government in Advanced Talks on Removing Cotton Import Duty

Cotton Import Duty Removal: Government ConsultationNew Delhi, (PTI) A senior official said the government is in an "advanced stage of consultation" regarding the 11 percent customs duty on raw cotton imports and is considering whether the levy can be lifted, and a decision is expected soon.Several ministries, including Finance, Textiles, and Agriculture, are considering the duty, with the textile industry demanding its removal to ease cost pressures on domestic companies due to high prices."We are talking to both Finance and Agriculture (both ministries), and it is in an advanced stage of consultation. We hope the consultation will be finalized soon," the official told PTI.A delegation comprising apparel industry representatives and exporters recently met Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and several Union ministers and demanded the duty be lifted. The delegation said that the textile industry requires approximately 337 lakh bales of cotton this year, while cotton arrivals are estimated to be 292.15 lakh bales in the 2025-26 season, leading to a supply-demand gap of approximately 45 lakh bales.They said this shortage is putting pressure on spinning mills and downstream textile manufacturers due to the low availability of good quality raw materials and rising input costs.READ MORE :- Indian Rupee Opens 33 Paise Higher Against US Dollar at 95.35

The Rupee opened 33 paise higher at 95.35 against the USD.On Monday, the Indian Rupee opened 33 paise higher against the Dollar at 95.35, whereas it had closed at 95.68 on Friday.Read more:- CCI Cuts Cotton Prices by ₹700; Weekly Auction Sales Cross 11,600 Bales

CCI Reduces Cotton Candy Prices by ₹700; Weekly Auction Sales Cross 11,600 BalesThe Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) reduced cotton prices by ₹700 per candy during the week from 18th May to 22nd May 2026. Despite the price correction, CCI auctions witnessed active participation from mills and cotton traders, with total weekly sales crossing 11,600 bales from the 2025–26 cotton season.Day-wise Auction Performance19 May 2026 (Tuesday):The week began with sale of 9,900 bales. Mills purchased 7,200 bales, while traders lifted 2,700 bales.20 May 2026 (Wednesday):CCI reported total sales of 1,500 bales during the day, including 1,000 bales purchased by mills and 500 bales by traders.21 May 2026 (Thursday):Auction activity remained limited on the final trading day of the week, with mills purchasing 200 bales.Cumulative Sales UpdateCCI’s cumulative cotton sales for the 2025–26 season have now reached 70,33,300 bales.

US Cotton Surges 40%! Vinay Kotak Urges: "Remove the 11% Duty, or Exports Face a Major Threat"In an exclusive interview with CNBC Awaaz, Vinay Kotak, President of the Cotton Association of India, stated that US ICE cotton futures have witnessed a surge of approximately 40% over the last month and a half. According to him, the primary catalyst for this rally was the presence of a significant "short position" of nearly 10 million bales in the market. As global geopolitical tensions escalated and crude oil prices surged by roughly 40%, large-scale short covering commenced; this created immense buying pressure in the market, driving cotton futures sharply upward.He noted that prices are currently encountering some resistance at their prevailing levels. Yarn prices, too—which had previously risen from 30 CCH to reach nearly ₹325—have now retreated to around ₹310, marking a decline of approximately 4–5% in recent days. He believes that these elevated prices are leading to "demand destruction," and the market will find it difficult to sustain—or "absorb"—these price levels over the long term.However, he also added that spinning mills remain profitable at current levels, even though their profit margins have narrowed compared to earlier periods. Consequently, he does not anticipate a drastic decline in raw cotton prices.Addressing the issue of import duties, Vinay Kotak explained that India primarily imports cotton across three categories, with a particularly strong demand for Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton and contamination-free cotton. He argued that if the 11% import duty remains in force, it will become increasingly difficult for Indian textile exporters to compete with counterparts in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, China, and Vietnam—a situation that could ultimately jeopardize India's global share of textile exports.He asserted that removing this duty would provide a significant boost to the country's value-added textile exports. With this in mind, the Cotton Association of India has requested the government to waive the 11% import duty for the period spanning from April to October.They clarified that by March, approximately 90% of the farmers' cotton produce has already been sold, with only about 10% of the stock being retained by a few farmers. Consequently, removing the duty would not result in any significant loss for the farmers. Furthermore, farmers benefit from the protection of the government's Minimum Support Price (MSP), which has been hiked by approximately 7% this year.According to Vinay Kotak, neither consumers nor the textile industry are currently receiving any form of protection. Under these circumstances, waiving the 11% duty during the lean period from April to October would be in the best interest of both the industry and the consumers. He further noted that the Ministry of Textiles and the Cotton Corporation of India also concur regarding the necessity of this measure.read more :- Rupee Gains 60 Paise Against Dollar, Closes at 95.68