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The Indian rupee on Friday lower 09  paise to close at 91.74 per dollar, while it opened at 91.65 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was down 1,097 points or 1.37 percent at 78,918.90, and the Nifty was down 315.45 points or 1.27 percent at 24,450.45. About 1813 shares advanced, 2217 shares declined, and 169 shares unchanged.read more :- Cotton procurement period extended, relief to farmers

Big Turn in Cotton Prices: Extension of Procurement Period Brings Relief to FarmersThere is positive news for cotton farmers as the Central Government has extended the procurement period for cotton at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Maharashtra. This extension has provided farmers additional time to sell their produce, and market activity is expected to improve in the coming days.Until about a month ago, cotton was fetching good prices in agricultural markets across the district. Due to active buying by private traders and local demand, prices had reached around ₹8,500 per quintal.However, with a decline in demand, prices started to fall. At present, cotton is being sold in mandis at around ₹7,000 to ₹7,200 per quintal.Due to the price drop, many farmers have chosen to store their cotton instead of selling it, hoping for better rates in the future as market demand improves.Earlier, the last date for procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) at guaranteed MSP was fixed as February 27. With the deadline approaching, farmers expressed concern and demanded an extension of the procurement period.Responding to these demands, the Central Government has extended the MSP procurement period till March 15. This decision has brought significant relief to cotton growers.With current market prices remaining low, many farmers are now expected to sell their produce at CCI procurement centers to secure guaranteed MSP rates. As a result, cotton arrivals at these centers are likely to increase in the coming days.At present, CCI is procuring cotton at nine centers in the district, including Chikhalgaon, Borgaonmanju, Akot-1, Akot-2, Chohotta Bazaar, Telhara, Paras, Barshitakli, and Murtijapur.Overall, this extension has provided timely relief to farmers. Meanwhile, market committees and private traders believe that cotton prices may improve in the near future, and farmers continue to closely monitor market trends.read more :- CCI stops purchase, cotton farmers worry increased

Cotton Farmers in Adilabad Hit Hard as CCI Halts ProcurementAdilabad: Cotton farmers in Adilabad and nearby districts are facing severe financial stress following the halt of procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) on February 27. With no further extension granted, many farmers have been forced to sell their produce to private traders at prices significantly below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).According to official data, cotton was cultivated over approximately 12.60 lakh acres across Adilabad, Mancherial, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, and Nirmal districts during the 2025 season. Initial estimates projected a production of nearly 70 lakh quintals, but adverse weather conditions led to a notable decline in overall output.CCI had commenced procurement on October 27, offering ₹8,110 per quintal for cotton with 8–12% moisture content. However, the price was later reduced by ₹100 per quintal due to higher moisture levels and smaller seed size, further impacting farmers’ income.Although procurement was officially stopped on February 20, protests by farmer groups and political parties, particularly the BRS, led to a short extension until February 27. Demonstrations, including road blockades, were held, and memorandums were submitted to district authorities demanding an extension.Despite continued appeals from farmer organizations and political leaders to extend procurement until March 25, the decision remained unchanged.With procurement centres now closed, farmers are compelled to sell cotton at around ₹6,500 per quintal—nearly ₹1,500 below MSP—resulting in substantial losses.Borranna, district convener of Rythu Swarajya Vedika, highlighted that farmers are facing multiple challenges from sowing to harvesting. He stated that cotton farming, once profitable, has become increasingly unsustainable due to weak market support and unseasonal rainfall.Procurement figures also reflect the downturn. The erstwhile Adilabad district has recorded around 45 lakh quintals of procurement so far, compared to 56.94 lakh quintals last year. At the Adilabad Agriculture Market Yard, procurement stood at 18.93 lakh quintals, down from 25.38 lakh quintals in the previous season. Similar declines have been reported in market yards across Asifabad, Nirmal, and Mancherial districts.Overall, the situation underscores growing distress among cotton farmers, with falling prices, reduced procurement, and adverse weather compounding their challenges.read more :- The rupee fell 05 paise to open at 91.65 against the dollar.

The rupee fell 05 paise to open at 91.65/USDOn Friday, the Indian rupee fell 05 paise to open at 91.65 per dollar, compared to the previous close of 91.60.READ MORE :- India-Canada CEPA expected to increase trade: Rubix Data Sciences

Proposed India-Canada CEPA can boost goods trade: Rubix Data SciencesA proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada could significantly strengthen bilateral trade by reducing tariffs and improving market access, according to Rubix Data Sciences.The agreement is expected to benefit sectors such as pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, textiles, and agricultural products, while also ensuring more reliable imports of key resources like pulses and fertilisers.Rubix Data Sciences noted that beyond lowering tariffs, CEPA could deepen supply chain integration, encourage services and investment flows, and create a more stable and diversified trade framework. These improvements could help transform the currently cyclical nature of India–Canada trade into sustained long-term growth.Bilateral trade between the two countries increased from $6.9 billion in FY22 to $8.7 billion in FY25, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 8%, largely driven by stronger import growth.However, the sharp fall in imports during the first nine months of FY26 led to a 13% contraction in total trade, highlighting India’s sensitivity to commodity import cycles.Despite these fluctuations, the overall trade balance between India and Canada has remained broadly neutral, shifting between surplus and deficit over the years. India recorded a surplus in FY22, deficits from FY23 to FY25, and a surplus again in FY26 so far.This pattern reflects the complementary nature of bilateral trade, where India exports value-added manufactured goods while importing primary commodities, resulting in cyclical movements rather than a persistent structural imbalance.read more :- Rupee fell 03 paise to close at 91.60 per dollar

The Indian rupee on Thursday lower 03 paise to close at 91.60 per dollar, while it opened at 91.57 in the morning.Benchmark indices ended sharply higher on Thursday, with the Sensex rising 900 points, or 1.14 percent, to close at 80,015, while the Nifty gained 285 points, or 1.17 percent, to settle at 24,765. read more :- Mega Textile Park proposal sent to Division

Proposal for establishment of Mega Textile Park sent to the concerned divisionOn the occasion of Holi festival, a big positive news related to the industrial sector has come out for Bhilwara. Under the Mega Textile Park Scheme of the Central Government, the process for setting up a park in Bhilwara has been taken forward.After the announcement of Mega Textile Park in the Union Budget (February 1), MP Damodar Aggarwal wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, Union Textiles Minister and Chief Minister on February 3, again strongly demanding the establishment of a park in Bhilwara. In this matter, on February 11, Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh informed that the proposal for setting up a mega textile park in Bhilwara has been sent to the concerned department for further action.It is expected that soon Bhilwara will receive positive information in this regard. According to Prem Garg, General Secretary of Bhilwara Textile Trade Federation, MP and Federation President Damodar Aggarwal has been engaged in this effort for a long time. Due to the decision of the previous state government, the Bhilwara proposal could not be sent to the Center on time. The Ashok Gehlot-led government at that time sent Jodhpur's proposal, which was rejected by the central government, while textile parks were allotted to other states.It was told that Union Minister Giriraj Singh was invited to Bhilwara on 15 April 2025 and informed about the textile industrial potential of this place. Urged to give Bhilwara its rights. The minister had also given positive assurance in this direction. It is known that Bhilwara is recognized as a major textile industry center in the country. If a mega textile park is established here, it can give a new impetus to the industrial development, employment generation and export growth of the area.read more :- 7000 farmers of Sirsa benefited from cotton sowing scheme

Sirsa: 7,000 Farmers to Benefit from Enhanced Cotton Sowing SchemeSirsa: In a move to promote indigenous cotton cultivation, the Haryana government has increased the financial assistance under its cotton sowing scheme. Farmers will now receive ₹4,000 per acre, up from the earlier ₹3,000, aiming to revive interest in desi cotton across the state.Around 7,000 registered farmers in Sirsa district are expected to directly benefit from this scheme. Known as a major hub for indigenous cotton, Sirsa has historically led cotton production in Haryana. However, in recent years, farmers shifted away from cotton due to declining yields caused by pink bollworm infestations and other crop diseases.As a result, many farmers moved towards paddy cultivation, leading to a sharp drop in cotton acreage. Through this enhanced incentive, the government aims to encourage farmers to return to cotton farming and increase the cultivation area.The issue of declining cotton cultivation was raised in the Haryana Assembly by Congress MLA Gokul Setia, who demanded expansion of the scheme and better support for farmers. Responding to the concerns, Agriculture and Panchayat Minister Shyam Singh Rana acknowledged the need for higher incentives and improved seed quality.Agriculture Department officials stated that around 17,000 acres in Sirsa are currently under indigenous cotton cultivation. They have also recommended including cotton under the Bhavantar Yojana to ensure farmers are compensated when market prices fall below expected levels.Officials believe that increasing financial support and ensuring price protection will help restore farmers’ confidence in cotton cultivation.Key Highlights of the Scheme:Incentive increased to ₹4,000 per acre for desi cotton cultivationAdditional bonus of ₹2,000 per acre for growing cotton, pulses, and oilseeds instead of paddyExpansion of organic farming in 10 marketsHigher compensation under CM Horticulture Insurance Scheme for fruits, vegetables, and spices₹5,000 per acre incentive for sugarcane cultivation using single bud technologyBeekeeping to be included under horticulture insurance scheme7 veterinary dispensaries and 4 government veterinary hospitals to be establishedThis initiative is expected to boost cotton cultivation, support farmers’ income, and strengthen the agricultural economy in the region.

 Rupee opens 57 paise up at 91.57/USD Indian rupee opened 57 paise higher at 91.57 per dollar on Thursday versus previous close of 92.14.read more :- Land to 23 textile investors in PM Mitra Park

PM MITRA Park Tamil Nadu Allocates 190 Acres of Land to 23 Textile InvestorsThe Board of Directors of PM MITRA Park Tamil Nadu has allocated 190.44 acres of industrial land to 23 investors, unlocking committed investments of approximately ₹2,192.21 crore (~$264 million) and creating the potential for approximately 15,000 jobs. Approved proposals include integrated plants, yarn manufacturing, fabric production, processing and finishing, apparel manufacturing, and technical textiles.The allocations indicate the industry's strong confidence in the park's governance structure and long-term competitiveness. According to a press release issued by the Indian Ministry of Textiles, the PM MITRA Park in Virudhunagar is expected to accelerate the development of an integrated yarn-to-garment value chain in a region already known for textile and apparel manufacturing and exports.The park, one of seven mega textile parks under the PM MITRA scheme, is being developed at a cost of ₹1,894 crore ($228 million). It will include a 15 MLD CETP with ZLD, a 20 MLD ZLD facility, a 20 MW solar power plant, a centralized steam boiler, and approximately 1.3 million square feet of plug-and-play units. Located on NH 44 and 106 km from Tuticorin Port, it offers strong logistics connectivity. Infrastructure work worth approximately ₹550 crore ($60 million) is underway, targeted for completion by December 2027.The 9th Board meeting, held on February 27, 2026, was chaired by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles. Among those present were Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles; Arun Roy Vijayakrishnan, Secretary, Department of Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu; Senthil Raj Krishnan, MD, SIPCOT; With representatives from NICDC, Ministry of Textiles and SIPCOT.

India introduces deferred customs duty payments for some importersThe Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) of India has recently introduced a new facility for credible manufacturers by enabling the facility of deferred payment of customs duty for a new category of importers called 'Eligible Manufacturer Importers' (EMIs).This facility will be available from April 1 and will be applicable till March 31, 2028.The decision was taken after the announcement by Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget for the financial year 2026-27.The reforms are expected to improve ease of doing business, strengthen compliance, promote wider participation in the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program and boost domestic manufacturing, a Finance Ministry release said.CBIC has issued detailed eligibility conditions, application process and operational guidelines in this regard.Under the initiative, EMI can be paid for imported goods without paying customs duty at the time of clearance. Instead, the applicable duty can be paid on a monthly basis, as prescribed under the Deferred Payment of Import Duty Rules, 2016, thereby helping manufacturers better manage cash flow and working capital.The deferred payment facility will be available for EMIs meeting the prescribed criteria related to Customs and Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliance, turnover, financial position and past track record. Existing entities including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises under AEO Tier 1 (T1), who satisfy the eligibility conditions, are also eligible to participate.The release said the EMI scheme has been designed as a confidence-based convenience measure to encourage compliant manufacturers to benefit from the simplified processes and motivate them towards higher levels of compliance.During the validity period of the scheme, approved EMIs are expected to progressively attain AEO-T2 or AEO-T3 status, thereby enabling access to enhanced convenience, faster approvals and priority treatment under the AEO programme.read more :- Iran-Israel war: The price may prove costly for India