Recent News

SKM will intensify its agitation against the central government's policies, demanding a new MSP for paddy, sugarcane, and cotton.The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced an intensification of local protests across the country against the central government's agricultural policies and the neglect of farmers. The organization has demanded government procurement of paddy, sugarcane, and cotton crops at the rate of ₹3,012, ₹500, and ₹10,121 per quintal, respectively. SKM stated that, in addition to the farmers' pressing local demands, policy demands such as MSP@C2+50%, loan waivers, the repeal of the Electricity Bill 2025, and the implementation of the Land Acquisition Act 2013 (LARR) will also be included in the movement. The organization has threatened to submit a memorandum to the District Magistrate and launch a "protracted struggle" if its demands are not met.Government's Failure on MSPThe Morcha accused the central government of forcing farmers to sell their produce at throwaway prices despite the announced MSP of ₹2,369 per quintal for paddy for 2024-25. According to the organization, farmers in Uttar Pradesh are forced to sell paddy at ₹1,500-₹1,600 per quintal, which is about ₹800 less than the official rate. Meanwhile, in Bihar and Jharkhand, prices have fallen to ₹1,200-₹1,400. The SKM stated that according to the Swaminathan formula, the MSP for paddy should be ₹3,012 per quintal, resulting in a loss of about ₹1,600 per quintal at current rates.Major Demands for Sugarcane and Cotton FarmersThe organization also expressed concern over the plight of sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh. According to the statement, the price of sugarcane has increased by only ₹55 in the last nine years, while the cost has increased manifold. The price of sugarcane in the current season is ₹370 per quintal, while farmers have demanded an increase of ₹500 per quintal and immediate payment of ₹3,500 crore owed to sugar mills. SKM said that cotton farmers are forced to sell their produce at ₹5,500-₹6,000 per quintal, while the declared MSP is ₹7,710. Mung bean farmers are forced to sell for less than ₹4,000 per quintal, instead of the declared rate of ₹8,768 per quintal. The organization demanded an MSP of ₹5,000 per quintal for basmati rice and the establishment of a government procurement mechanism.Fertilizer, electricity, and MNREGA also targetedThe Morcha alleged that fertilizer black marketing and arbitrary pricing are rampant across the country. Farmers are paying up to ₹700 for a bag of urea worth ₹270. The organization demanded a crackdown on black marketing and strict action against counterfeit fertilizers. On the issue of electricity, the SKM stated that farmers are being forcibly installed with prepaid smart meters and that the Electricity Bill 2025 is against farmers' interests. The organization demanded the withdrawal of this bill and the provision of 300 units of free electricity. Regarding MNREGA, the SKM stated that despite the law's guarantee of 100 days of work, workers receive only 47 days of work on average, and the average daily wage of ₹284 is less than the state minimum wage. The organization demanded the inclusion of agriculture and dairy in MNREGA, a daily wage of ₹700, and a guarantee of 200 days of employment.Action against Microfinance InstitutionsThe Samyukta Kisan Morcha stated that under the NDA regime, microfinance institutions are charging exorbitant interest rates from poor families and, in many cases, engaging in illegal activities in the name of debt recovery. The SKM demanded that the government enact laws regulating microfinance institutions and providing interest-free loans to the poor. In its statement, the SKM appealed to all state coordination committees to organize farmers and agricultural laborers at the local level. The organization said that if the government does not take concrete action on the demands of the farmers, then a massive and long-term movement will be started across the country.read more :- Demand to increase cotton-soybean purchase limit

Up the procurement limits of cotton, soybean.Nirmal: MLA Pawar Ramarao Patel and Adilabad MLA Payal Shankar met Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao in Hyderabad and submitted a petition requesting an increase in the procurement limits for cotton and soybean at government purchase centers to prevent inconvenience to farmers. They pointed out that only six quintals of soybean per acre are currently being procured, and urged the government to purchase up to 7.60 quintals or more per acre if farmers have higher yields.Similarly, they requested that the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) increase the cotton procurement limit from seven quintals to twelve quintals per acre.They highlighted that heavy rains in the Mudhole constituency have damaged the soybean crop by about 20%, and requested that procurement be carried out despite the damage.read more :- Rupee open Falls 01 Paise to 88.70 /USD

Rupee falls 01 paisa to open at 88.70 per dollarIndian rupee opened 01 paise lower at 88.70 per dollar on Tuesday versus previous close of 88.69.read more :- US shutdown relief boosts stock market

Market Review: Stocks Rise, Bonds Fall as US Shutdown Nears End.Expectations of a deal to end the longest US government shutdown have boosted risk appetite, leading to a rise in the stock market, while bonds and the yen fell.S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 contracts rose 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 100 index gained 0.6%. Senate Republican leader John Thune said an agreement is "coming" and planned a test vote on Sunday on a limited spending package that would end the 40-day government shutdown. A group of Senate Democrats is leaning toward voting to advance the package, provided final details are finalized.Asian stock markets rose, with South Korea gaining. As sentiment improved, bonds fell, and the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond rose more than two basis points to 4.12%. The yen, a traditional safe-haven currency, fell 0.2% against the dollar.While hopes for a deal may provide some relief, markets remain jittery after last week's sharp decline in technology stocks rekindled concerns about elevated valuations. Asian technology stocks, which have outperformed their US counterparts this year on optimism about AI progress in China, were particularly weak. The lack of new data to guide investors about the health of the US economy has also increased caution."The coming week will depend on whether the US government can arrange an end to the shutdown," Kyle Rodda, senior analyst at , wrote in a note to clients. Although Wall Street's rally late Friday night mitigated some of the negativity in the markets, "the move ultimately amounted to nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig, as the proverbial saying goes."People familiar with the discussions said the record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing its end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a compromise to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for next year.The House is scheduled to hold a procedural test vote on Sunday. If successful, the Senate will need the consent of all members to end the shutdown quickly. Any single senator can force a delay and a vote of several days. The House will then have to pass a bill to reopen the government, and Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will give lawmakers two days' notice.Chinese assets will be in focus on Monday, after consumer prices unexpectedly rose 0.2% in October compared to a year earlier, as holidays boosted demand for travel, food, and transportation during the month. Factory-gate deflation also eased.After US consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level in more than three years, the S&P 500 rose 0.1% on Friday, recovering from an earlier test of its 50-day moving average. A dollar indicator rose 0.1% in early trading on Monday.Strategists at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, led by Joseph Capurso, said in a note to clients that the dollar is likely to trade in a tight range for the time being. "Even if the shutdown ends this week, it will take some time for data to be released again. Several FOMC members have indicated they are reluctant to cut interest rates further until key economic data is released."read more :- Narma registration date extended, now opportunity till 31 December

Cotton procurement registration date extended: Farmers can register until December 31st, payment will be made within seven days of purchase.The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has extended the deadline for farmers to register for cotton procurement. Originally scheduled for October 31st, this date has now been extended to December 31st. Registration is mandatory for farmers wishing to sell cotton at the government rate.The center in-charge stated that cotton with a moisture content of less than 8 percent will be purchased at a rate of ₹7,860 per quintal. If the moisture content is between 8 and 12 percent, a deduction of ₹7.86 per quintal will be made for every 0.1 percent of moisture.Farmers can register through the 'Cotton Farmer App' until December 31st. According to CCI employees, payment will be sent directly to their Aadhaar-linked bank account within seven days of purchase.The center in-charge has appealed to farmers to bring only dry cotton to the procurement center. Under no circumstances should the moisture content of cotton exceed 12 percent. A maximum of 4 quintals of cotton is being purchased per bigha at the procurement center.read more :- Rupee fell 03 paise to close at 88.69 per dollar

The Indian rupee lower 03 paise to close at 88.69 per dollar on Monday, compared to its opening price of 88.66 in the morning.At the close, the Sensex rose 319.07 points or 0.38 percent to 83,535.35 and the Nifty advanced 82.00 points or 0.32 percent to 25,574.30. Around 1787 shares advanced, 2183 shares declined and 132 shares remained unchanged.read more:-  Maharashtra: Cotton farmers in trouble, not getting the right price in the market

Maharashtra: The future of cotton farmers is in jeopardy! They are not getting the right price in the market, and government procurement centers are also empty.Nagpur: The cotton sector plays a significant role in boosting Vidarbha's economy. Millions of farmers depend on it, but this time, prolonged rains have darkened the cotton farmers' Diwali, leaving them uncertain about their future. Prices are not being received in the open market. The government is offering higher rates, but there are numerous conditions that have prevented farmers from reaching the centers.Similarly, the government has asked for registration on the "Cotton Farmer" app. So far, 3.9 lakh farmers from Vidarbha have registered, but none have been able to reach the centers. It is true that the rains have prevented farmers from receiving funds. This has exacerbated their distress, leaving them with no option but to wait.Rates low, crops wetPeople associated with the cotton sector say that the cotton is wet due to the rain. This is why cotton farmers were unable to reach the market by Diwali. The situation remains the same. Cotton has up to 20% moisture, while government agencies are purchasing cotton with 8 to 10% moisture.In this situation, farmers are left with no option to sell their cotton, as private players are offering ₹7,200-₹7,300 per quintal for cotton, while the government's MSP is ₹8,110. Bhavesh Shah of the Vidarbha Cotton Association says that the price of cotton in the international market is ₹7,100-₹7,200 per quintal. Consequently, traders are unwilling to buy such expensive cotton.Government procurement is the only optionTraders say that given the current price dynamics, government procurement centers are the only option for farmers. Private players will only be able to purchase rejected produce, while farmers will have to rely on MSP for quality produce. However, government procurement is being delayed and access to key areas is negligible. This has created problems.337 submitted tenders for procurement centersShah stated that CCI had invited tenders to set up procurement centers. Approximately 377 ginning mills in Vidarbha submitted tenders. Of these, 40-42 were rejected. 337 were approved, but the conditions are such that setting up procurement centers is difficult. He stated that for the convenience of cotton farmers, more centers need to be established so that they can sell their cotton in their vicinity.This will save them time and transportation costs. CCI is only selecting L-1 bidders, while it is important for farmers' interests that L-1, L-2, and L-3 bidders also have a chance. The simpler the CCI process, the easier it will be for farmers to sell their produce.CCI Opens 89 CentersBrajesh Kasana, Deputy General Manager of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Vidarbha, stated that 89 CCI centers have been established in Vidarbha. Due to rain, farmers are unable to reach the centers. Only 4-5 centers have sporadically started procurement. He said that CCI is ready to open centers.All procedures for this have been completed. He said that the government has launched the 'Kisan Kapas' app for procurement. Nearly 3.9 lakh farmers from Vidarbha have registered on it. It has the option to select the center and time. Farmers can reach the nearest center at their convenience and sell their cotton.read more :- State asks CCI to lift cotton purchase ban

HYDERABAD: State urges CCI to lift curbs on cotton procurement to help ryots.With the cotton-growing farmers across the State growing restive over the restrictions, such as maximum moisture content of 12% and procurement of only 7 quintals of cotton per acre imposed by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) on disposal of their produce at the minimum support price, the State government has appealed CCI for lifting the curbs.Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao along with Director of Agriculture B. Gopi spoke to Chairman and Managing Director of the CCI Lalit Kumar Gupta over phone on Saturday and brought several issues being faced by cotton farmers, including the restrictions on procurement, to his notice.Even the access to Kapas Kisan App is being allowed only at 10 p.m. every day, the minister pointed out and requested the CCI CMD to make it accessible to the farming community round-the-clock to register their details for sale of their produce. Further, the Minister asked the CCI chief to instruct all ginning mills in the L1, L2 and L3 categories and revise the fair average quality norms to allow the moisture content up to 20%, keeping in view the prolonged rainy season this year.Mr. Nageswara Rao further requested the CCI chief to procure 12 quintals of cotton per acre, instead of just 7 quintals, as the average yield in Telangana is 11.74 quintals per acre, assessed and declared after the cotton picking experiments conducted district-wise. He brought to the CCI chief’s notice that the State government had already taken the matter to the notice of the Centre and said Secretary (Agriculture) K. Surendra Mohan would take up the matter with the Central authorities, if need be.According to the Agriculture Department authorities, cotton was raised in 47.84 lakh acres during the kharif season and the production was estimated to be about 30 lakh tonnes.On the urea buffer stock in the State, the Minister stated that about 1.5 lakh tonnes was available, and another 2 lakh tonnes of the fertilizer is expected to arrive into the State this month.read more :- Rupee opens steady at 88.66 /USD

Rupee opens steady at 88.66 against dollarIndian rupee opened flat at 88.66 per dollar on Monday against Friday's close of 88.66.read more :- CCI Cotton Sales Report (State Wise) 2024-25

State-wise CCI Cotton Sales Details – 2024-25 SeasonThe Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) reduced its prices by a total of ₹500 per candy this week. The total cotton bales sales for the 2024-25 season to approximately 90,41,600 bales. This represents around 90.41% of the total cotton procured so far this season.A state-wise breakdown of sales indicates strong activity from Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat, which together account for over 85.28% of the total sales to date.This data underscores CCI’s proactive efforts in stabilizing the cotton market and ensuring steady supply across key cotton-producing states.

Cotton Prices Dip Below MSP in Telangana Amid CCI CurbsAdilabad: The Cotton Corporation of India's (CCI) restriction on purchasing only 7 quintals of cotton per acre and the problem of high moisture content have severely affected farmers in northern Telangana districts. This decision, based on recent yield surveys conducted during this Kharif season, has forced many farmers to sell their produce at lower prices.Due to CCI's procurement limits and strict moisture content (8-12 percent) criteria, approximately 80 percent of farmers are selling their cotton to private traders at an average rate of ₹6,500 per quintal, significantly below the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹8,110. Farmers producing more than 7 quintals per acre are unable to sell their entire produce to CCI.Previously, CCI used to purchase up to 13 quintals per acre, but the new restrictions have caused significant hardship. Farmers say that natural moisture levels remain high due to fog and continuous rain, and even after drying the cotton for several days, the moisture content often remains above 20 percent.In Adilabad district, 136,752 farmers cultivated cotton on 425,932 acres, with an estimated yield of 3.3 million quintals. However, there is a huge difference between the purchases made by the CCI and private traders, with the CCI purchasing only 7,961 quintals of cotton, while private traders purchased approximately 15,000 quintals. In Nirmal district, the CCI purchased 4,500 quintals and private traders purchased 3,000 quintals.Farmers like Madhukar of Anokoli village allege that the CCI's strict rules are forcing farmers to sell their produce to private traders, as their produce is rejected due to moisture exceeding the limit. They demanded that the CCI increase the procurement limit to 12 quintals per acre as before and reduce the moisture limit to 22 percent, given the current climatic conditions.It is concerning that despite announcing 27 procurement centers in Adilabad, the CCI is only operating five.Former Minister Jogu Ramanna met with CCI Adilabad Branch Manager Puneet Rathi and urged him to reduce the moisture criteria to 20 percent and remove the 7 quintal procurement limit. Meanwhile, BRS leaders protested outside the residence of Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh, demanding that he raise the issue with the central government to ensure justice for cotton farmers.read more :- Telangana: Farmers protest cotton procurement Farmers protest pass procurement