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Cotton Sowing Picks Up Pace; Target Likely to be Met by July 30 – Atulbhai GanatraMr. Atulbhai Ganatra, CMD of Radha Laxmi Group and former CAI President, shared key insights on the "Impact of Monsoon on Cotton Sowing & Farmers' Mood for Crop Switch" during an interview with CNBC Awaaz on July 9, 2026.He noted that while there had been earlier discussions regarding a 20–30% deficit in Kharif crop sowing, the situation has improved significantly following good and widespread rainfall across various regions of the country in recent days.According to data available as of July 9, 2026, cotton sowing had covered approximately 7.2 million hectares (72 lakh hectares) by the same period last year; in the current season, the figure has reached approximately 6.6 million hectares (66 lakh hectares). This means the sown area is now lagging behind last year's figures by only about 9%.He further mentioned that good rainfall has been recorded in the Central and South Zones over the past few days. According to the Meteorological Department, a "pause period" in rainfall is expected over the next 8–10 days, providing farmers with ample opportunity to accelerate sowing operations. Consequently, the total cotton sowing acreage could rise well beyond initial estimates.He highlighted that record sales of cotton seeds have taken place this year, indicating that farmers possess adequate seed stocks. Farmers are simply waiting for the rain to subside and for field conditions to become favorable so they can rapidly complete the sowing process. He estimates that the national target for cotton sowing could be achieved by July 30.The Government of India has set a cotton sowing target of 12.5–13.0 million hectares (125–130 lakh hectares) for the current year. Given the prevailing conditions, it is expected that cotton sowing across approximately 10 million hectares (100 lakh hectares) will be completed by July 20–25. Mr. Ganatra stated that it is well known that when the monsoon is delayed or rainfall is deficient, farmers prioritize cotton over other Kharif crops; this is because cotton can be successfully cultivated with relatively less water compared to crops like soybean, sugarcane, maize, and groundnut.He also noted that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton has been raised by approximately 7% this year, whereas the MSP for other crops like groundnut has seen an increase of only about 3%. Furthermore, in the previous season, farmers fetched market prices of up to ₹10,000 per quintal for cotton. Reports indicate that farmers have purchased record quantities of cotton seeds for sowing this year, clearly signaling a natural shift towards cotton cultivation this season.He also mentioned that cotton sowing in South India (South Zone) has so far been about 20% higher than in the same period last year, reflecting a positive trend among farmers and favorable conditions.He specifically highlighted that the cotton sowing window in Gujarat remains open until August 15. Therefore, considering current conditions, farmer interest, and record seed sales, it is estimated that the total area under cotton cultivation this season could be 10–15% higher than last year.

On Friday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.32 against the US dollar and closed at 95.26,lower by 06 paise by the end of the trading session.At close, the Sensex was up 827.57 points or 1.08 percent at 77,569.39, and the Nifty was up 244.10 points or 1.02 percent at 24,206.90. About 2756 shares advanced, 1316 shares declined, and 171 shares unchanged.

Giriraj Singh reviewed major schemes of textile sector, laid emphasis on the role of ITADCsNew Delhi, July 9 (PTI): Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday assessed the progress of key initiatives aimed at technology upgradation, institutional reforms and better support to the industry at a high-level review meeting. The objective of the meeting was to make India's textile ecosystem more robust and competitive.The meeting reviewed the progress in converting old Powerloom Service Centers into Integrated Textile and Apparel Development Centers (ITADCs). These centers are being developed as one-stop facilitation centers for the textile industry, where services like skill development, product testing, design assistance, technical support, credit facilities, export promotion and market linkages will be provided to entrepreneurs, MSMEs and other stakeholders.During the first quarter of FY 2026-27, ITADCs trained more than 1,170 people and reached out to about 1,770 textile units through outreach programmes. Apart from this, institutional credit, e-commerce linkages, product-based entrepreneurship and commercialization of new fibers like bamboo, hemp, flax, banana and pineapple were also promoted.Giriraj Singh said that ITADCs are no longer just service centres, but are evolving into innovation and enterprise development centres. He expressed confidence that these centers will play an important role in empowering MSMEs, increasing exports, creating sustainable employment and making India's textile sector more competitive globally.The Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) was also reviewed in the meeting. According to the ministry, subsidy worth Rs 2,776 crore was provided to 10,061 units under the scheme, attracting investment of over Rs 53,121 crore. Through the scheme, about 6.7 lakh modern textile machines were installed and about 3.6 lakh direct employment was created. The study also found that every Rs 1 crore of subsidy resulted in private investment of about Rs 19 crore, indicating the effectiveness of the scheme.READ MORE :- Cotton, Soybean Sowing Gains Pace

Kharif: Cotton and soybean sowing gains momentum with the arrival of the monsoon; total acreage may surpass last year's levelsSowing of Kharif crops has accelerated as the Southwest monsoon has covered the entire country. Cultivation of cotton and soybean has picked up pace. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and SOPA, good rainfall has boosted farmer interest and strengthened production prospects.The Southwest monsoon has now reached the entire country. On July 9, it advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, as well as the northern Arabian Sea, completing its nationwide coverage. This has raised expectations for an acceleration in Kharif crop sowing.Driven by good rainfall, cotton sowing—which was lagging 23 percent behind last year's figures—has gained momentum. As of July 5, the total cotton acreage stood at 63.18 lakh hectares, compared to 82 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year. After lagging in previous weeks, cotton sowing has now picked up in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. In some areas, farmers are shifting from paddy to cotton and pulses, as these crops offer better prospects. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, cotton production for the year 2025-26 stood at 290.91 lakh bales (each bale weighing 170 kg), which is lower than the 297.24 lakh bales produced in 2024-25.90 percent of soybean area coveredAccording to the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), the soybean acreage for the current Kharif season is estimated at 1.003 crore hectares. Sowing has covered approximately 80 to 90 percent of the total target area across key states.Government estimates indicate that soybean sowing has been completed on 57 lakh hectares so far.In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, soybean sowing has been completed on approximately 90 percent of the area. In Maharashtra, it has reached approximately 80–90 percent of the target area. SOPA believes that the total soybean acreage during the 2026 Kharif season is likely to surpass last year's levels.read more :- Telangana Cotton Sowing Rises by 4.85 Lakh Acres During Kharif 2026

Surge in Cotton Sowing in Telangana; Acreage Up by 4.85 Lakh Acres Compared to Last YearHyderabad, July 8: A significant increase in cotton sowing has been recorded in Telangana during the Kharif 2026 season. As of July 8, 2026, cotton has been sown across 3,944,271 acres in the state, whereas the figure stood at 3,458,849 acres during the same period last year. This represents an increase of 485,422 acres in the area sown with cotton so far this year.According to district-wise data, Nalgonda recorded the highest increase at 197,352 acres. This was followed by notable increases in Nagarkurnool (+49,481 acres), Jangaon (+44,904 acres), Suryapet (+40,726 acres), Sangareddy (+40,020 acres), and Khammam (+19,079 acres).Meanwhile, the cotton sowing area also expanded compared to the previous year in several other districts, including Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Rangareddy, Jogulamba Gadwal, Mahabubabad, Narayanpet, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri.On the other hand, a decline in cotton sowing was recorded in some districts. Key among these are Hanamkonda (-15,793 acres), Mancherial (-13,795 acres), Vikarabad (-12,655 acres), Siddipet (-12,382 acres), Warangal (-9,610 acres), and Bhadradri Kothagudem (-7,993 acres).The normal cotton acreage for the state is 4,741,541 acres, while sowing has been completed on 3,944,271 acres as of July 8, 2026.READ MORE :- Improved Rainfall to Accelerate Kharif Sowing: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Improved Rainfall to Accelerate Kharif Sowing: Shivraj Singh ChouhanNew Delhi, July 8, 2026: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the monsoon situation in the country is improving, which is expected to accelerate the sowing of Kharif crops. Speaking after a high-level meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday to review the El Niño situation, he noted that the rainfall deficit, which stood at 33 percent in June, has narrowed to 24 percent in July. Thanks to good rainfall in several parts of the country recently, the number of districts facing a rainfall deficit has also dropped from 262 to 178.In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture said that the government is tackling the situation with full preparedness, a clear strategy, and effective action on the ground. According to the Ministry, while challenges persist, the entire machinery is already active to mitigate their impact.The Minister stated that the Central Government is continuously monitoring the rainfall and Kharif sowing situation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, and Odisha. He expressed confidence that rainfall would improve further in July, thereby boosting the pace of Kharif sowing.Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed that Kharif crops have been sown across 350.85 lakh hectares so far, which is approximately 91.95 lakh hectares less than the area covered during the same period last year. He noted that the delayed arrival of the monsoon has most significantly impacted the sowing of soybean and cotton. Farmers have been advised to cultivate short-duration and low-water-consuming crops—such as maize, pearl millet (bajra), and moong (green gram)—in light of the delayed rainfall, so that potential losses can be minimized.The Minister added that the government had initiated preparations to tackle this challenge as early as April. Emergency action plans for potentially affected districts were prepared in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and shared with state governments in a timely manner. Additionally, under the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' (Save the Farm Campaign) launched in June, over 1.24 lakh programs were organized across the country, directly reaching more than 80 lakh farmers.READ MORE :- Rupee Opens Higher at 95.26 Against US Dollar.

Rupee opened higher at 95.26/$.The Indian rupee opened 12 paise higher at 95.26 against the dollar on Friday, while it closed at 95.38 on Thursday. Indian equity benchmarks opened in green on Friday. At the open, Sensex gained over 660 points. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty50 opened at 24,124.70, up 162 points or 0.62 per cent.READ MORE :- The rupee closed 17 paise higher against the US dollar at 95.38.

On Thursday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.55 against the US dollar and closed at 95.38, higher by 17 paise by the end of the trading session.At close, the Sensex was up 238.22 points or 0.31 percent at 76,741.82, and the Nifty was up 80.75 points or 0.34 percent at 23,962.80. About 2793 shares advanced, 1263 shares declined, and 167 shares unchanged.read more :- Gujarat Cotton Sowing Reaches 9.32 Lakh Hectares; Saurashtra Tops Kharif 2026

Cotton Sowing in Gujarat Crosses 9.32 Lakh Hectares; Saurashtra Leads; Oilseed Acreage at 6.66 Lakh HectaresAhmedabad, July 6. Cotton sowing is progressing rapidly in Gujarat during the Kharif 2026 season. So far, cotton has been sown across 9,31,926 hectares in the state, representing 39.1 percent of the normal area. However, during the same period last year, the acreage stood at 1,710,610 hectares.Region-wise data indicates that Saurashtra leads in cotton sowing, with 6,27,100 hectares covered. This is followed by Kutch (48,200 hectares), North Gujarat (1,17,100 hectares), Central Gujarat (1,09,800 hectares), and South Gujarat (29,800 hectares).In terms of districts, Surendranagar ranks first with 1,92,000 hectares. Other major cotton-producing districts include Botad (1,11,800 hectares), Morbi (1,06,400 hectares), Bhavnagar (89,700 hectares), and Amreli (69,900 hectares).Meanwhile, total sowing of oilseed crops in the state has reached 6,66,029 hectares, accounting for 22.72 percent of the normal area. This includes groundnut sowing across 6,28,888 hectares (32.83%), soybean across 35,200 hectares (12.51%), sesame across 901 hectares (1.82%), and castor across 1,041 hectares (0.15%). Total Kharif sowing in the state has reached 1,854,564 hectares as of July 6, 2026, representing 21.74 percent of the normal area. With the favorable progress of the monsoon, sowing of cotton and oilseed crops is expected to gain further momentum in the coming days.READ MORE :- Rupee Opens Unchanged at 95.55 Against US Dollar.

Rupee opened steady at 95.55/$.The Indian rupee opened at 95.55 per dollar on Thursday, while it closed at 95.55 on Wednesday.The BSE Sensex is trading higher  rebounding 467 points (0.61%) to 76,971.34, while the Nifty climbed to 24,018.40. This follows a steep crash on July 8, where the Sensex plunged 1,677 points (2.15%) to 76,503.60 due to renewed US-Iran tensions and rising crude prices.READ MORE :- Rainfall Deficit Threatens Nandurbar Cotton

Rainfall Deficit Threatens Cotton Crop in Nandurbar; Farmers ConcernedA weak start to the monsoon in Nandurbar district this year has heightened concerns among cotton-growing farmers. Despite the commencement of the Kharif season, the lack of adequate rainfall has led to a severe moisture deficit in the fields. This is directly impacting the cotton crop; plant growth has stalled in many areas, while the crop has begun to wither in others. Farmers fear that without substantial rainfall soon, there could be a drastic drop in production this year.Farmers have invested thousands of rupees in seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural activities for cotton sowing. However, the absence of expected rainfall has put this investment at risk. The continuously depleting soil moisture is hindering plant development, raising the likelihood of a negative impact on both crop quality and yield.The lack of rain is forcing farmers to make extra efforts to save their crops. They are incurring additional expenses on weeding, pest control, and other farm management tasks, which has further compounded their financial woes. Meanwhile, the low moisture levels are increasing the risk of pest infestations and diseases in the cotton crop, deepening fears of potential losses.Cotton is cultivated on a large scale in Nandurbar district during the Kharif season, and the livelihoods of thousands of families depend on this crop. Farmers who have already sown their crops are making every possible effort to save them, while those who have not yet sown are waiting for rain before deciding on their next course of action.Currently, the hopes of the district's farmers rest on the prospect of good rainfall in the coming days. Timely and adequate rain could provide relief to the crop and improve yield prospects. However, any further delay in rainfall could result in significant financial losses for the farmers. Thus, the future of this year's cotton crop appears to hinge entirely on the monsoon's performance.read more :- The rupee closed 39 paise lower against the US dollar at 95.55.