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On Wednesday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.16 against the US dollar and closed at 95.55, marking a lower of 39 paise by the end of the trading session.At close, the Sensex was down 1,677.12 points or 2.15 percent at 76,503.60, and the Nifty was down 516.65 points or 2.12 percent at 23,882.05. About 1023 shares advanced, 3070 shares declined, and 159 shares unchanged.read more :- Vice President Reviews Progress of Cotton Productivity Mission ‘Kapas Kranti’

Vice President Apprised of Progress on ‘Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kranti)The Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, was briefed today at the Vice President’s House by the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with senior officials from the Ministries of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Textiles, regarding the ‘Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kranti)’. (SIS)The presentation highlighted three key dimensions of the mission: increasing cotton productivity through research, modern technology, and advanced farming practices; ensuring the consistent availability of high-quality cotton through initiatives such as ‘Kasturi Cotton’ certification and the ‘Kisan Cotton App’; and promoting new-age natural fibers to foster innovation and sustainability in the textile sector.Appreciating the mission's overall strategy to strengthen India's cotton ecosystem, the Vice President emphasized the need for a swift and effective approval mechanism to accelerate innovation and ensure the timely adoption of new technologies. Identifying the increase in cotton yield per acre as a priority for the mission, he urged the setting of clear, measurable, and time-bound targets for productivity improvement so that India could bridge the existing gap with leading cotton-producing nations. (SIS)The Vice President stated that, given the rising domestic and global demand for quality cotton, India must further strengthen its competitive edge. He also emphasized the need to raise public awareness about the mission, adopt market-oriented strategies, and widely publicize its successful initiatives through television documentaries and other effective media channels. (SIS)READ MORE :- Indian Rupee Opens 20 Paise Lower at 95.16 Against US Dollar

The rupee opened lower at 95.16 per dollar.On Wednesday, the Indian rupee opened 20 paise lower at 95.16 against the dollar, whereas it had closed at 94.96 on Tuesday.The Sensex was down 420.78 points or 0.54 percent at 77,759.94, and the Nifty was down 134.10 points or 0.55 percent at 24,264.60. About 848 shares advanced, 1415 shares declined, and 145 shares unchanged.READ MORE :- The rupee closed 37 paise higher against the US dollar at 94.96.

On Tuesday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.33 against the US dollar and closed at 94.96, marking a gain of 37 paise by the end of the trading session.In the stock market, the Sensex closed at 78,180.72, down 104.35 points or 0.13 percent, while the Nifty slipped 31.65 points or 0.13 percent to close at 24,398.70. Market breadth showed gains in 1,492 stocks and declines in 2,554 stocks, while 155 stocks remained unchanged.read more :- Maharashtra: Rain Deficit Forces Cotton Farmers in Rajura to Re-sow Crops

Maharashtra: Cotton Crop Threatened by Lack of Rain in Rajura; Farmers Face Challenge of Re-sowingCotton crops in the Rajura taluka of Maharashtra's Chandrapur district have been adversely affected by a lack of timely and adequate rainfall. Farmers had sown cotton on a large scale following light showers at the onset of the Mrig Nakshatra; however, the subsequent cessation of rain caused seeds to dry up within the soil in many areas. Farmers now face the crisis of re-sowing, raising concerns right at the start of the Kharif season.Encouraged by sporadic rainfall over the initial two or three days, farmers had hoped for an early onset of the monsoon. Relying on this expectation, they sowed cotton seeds in the dry soil. However, the absence of rain over the past four to five days prevented the soil from retaining sufficient moisture, causing sprouts to perish in many locations before they could even emerge from the ground.The situation remains critical in several villages across Rajura taluka, including Govari, Sasti, Povni, Sakhri, Chincholi, Kadholi, Manauli, Babapur, Charli, Nirli, Ghidshi, Mathra, Goyegaon, and Antargaon. Farmers state that despite incurring significant expenses on expensive seeds, fertilizers, and land preparation, the lack of rain has dashed their hopes.The erratic weather pattern has further complicated farming plans. Farmers who had cultivated their land using loans or credit must now arrange additional funds for re-sowing, a situation likely to exacerbate their financial hardships.Taluka Agriculture Officer Vinayak Payghan has advised farmers against taking the risk of sowing based solely on sporadic rainfall. According to him, sowing should only be undertaken once there has been at least 100 mm of rainfall and the soil holds adequate moisture.Farmers explain that they had sown cotton anticipating good rainfall during the Mrig Nakshatra, but the absence of rain at this crucial juncture caused the sprouts to wither underground. This has resulted in severe crop damage, leaving many farmers with no choice but to re-sow.READ MORE :- Weekly Monsoon Tracker: Weak Rainfall Slows Cotton and Soybean Sowing

Tamil Nadu's Open-End Spinning Mills Grapple with Rising Raw Material PricesOpen-end spinning mills in Tamil Nadu are currently under pressure due to the rising cost of raw materials. The industry states that the modernization of mills has driven up the demand for cotton waste (specifically comber noil), keeping prices high and squeezing profit margins.The Open-End Spinning Mills Association and the Recycle Textile Federation have urged the central government to regulate the export of cotton waste. They note that while the price of cotton waste has dropped by ₹20 per kilogram recently, a further reduction of ₹10 per kilogram is needed to provide relief to industries that utilize yarn made from cotton waste.According to the industry, most open-end spinning mills in North India have already adopted modern technology, whereas approximately 40 percent of mills in Tamil Nadu still require modernization. While the adoption of new technology has nearly doubled yarn production, it has also led to a sharp rise in the demand for cotton waste.During May, the price of cotton waste (comber noil) reached ₹140 per kilogram. G. Arulmozhi, President of the Open-End Spinning Mills Association, stated that if mills raise yarn prices to offset these rising costs, it would place an additional financial burden on home textile units and powerloom weavers in Karur, as they are not in a position to absorb higher prices.Cotton waste is a by-product of textile mills, typically priced at around 65 percent of the cost of raw cotton. However, prices have seen an unusual surge due to rising exports of comber noil and a spike in domestic demand.READ MORE :- Weekly Monsoon Tracker: Weak Rainfall Slows Cotton and Soybean Sowing

Weekly Monsoon Tracker: Cotton and Soybean Sowing Hit by Weak RainfallThe slow progress of the monsoon and below-normal rainfall across several parts of the country are impacting the sowing of key Kharif crops, particularly cotton and soybean. According to Ministry of Agriculture data, the acreage for both crops as of July 5 was significantly lower compared to the previous year, raising concerns among both farmers and the market.Cotton sowing stood at 63.18 lakh hectares as of July 5, approximately 23 percent lower than the 82 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year. This figure is also below the normal acreage of 76.12 lakh hectares. A weak start to the monsoon and uneven rainfall distribution in major cotton-producing states have hampered the pace of sowing. Farmers in many regions have delayed sowing while waiting for adequate soil moisture, and there are also apprehensions regarding the need for re-sowing in some areas.The situation for soybean also remains under pressure. Sluggish soybean sowing has been a primary factor in the overall decline in oilseed acreage. A lack of soil moisture—caused by weak rainfall in June across central India's major soybean-producing regions—prevented sowing operations from gaining normal momentum. Industry and trade circles are now closely watching rainfall patterns for the second week of July, as this period is considered crucial for soybean sowing.The impact of the rainfall deficit extends beyond the fields. As of July 5, the country had received 24 percent less rainfall than normal, and according to the Central Water Commission, water storage levels in major reservoirs remain below normal. This has heightened anxiety among farmers in regions dependent on irrigation.However, the Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rainfall across several parts of the country between July 6 and July 12. If this forecast holds true, the pace of cotton and soybean sowing could accelerate, potentially making up for some of the shortfall experienced so far.READ MORE :- Rupee opened strong at 95.33/USD.

The rupee opened higher at 95.33/$.On Tuesday, the Indian rupee opened at 95.33 against the dollar, up by 6 paise, whereas it had closed at 95.39 on Monday.Sensex gained 67.17 pts or 0.09% to 78,352.24 at  after positive opening at 78,461.16 from the previous close of 78,285.07; Nifty 50 was up 18.95 pts or 0.08% to 24,449.30READ MORE :- The rupee fell by 16 paise against the US dollar to close at 95.39.

The Indian rupee weakened by 16 paise to settle at 95.39 against the US dollar on Monday after opening the session at 95.23.Indian equity benchmarks ended higher, with the Sensex gaining 521.16 points, or 0.67%, to close at 78,285.07, while the Nifty advanced 159.50 points, or 0.66%, to settle at 24,430.35. Market breadth remained mixed, with 1,924 stocks advancing, 2,226 declining, and 185 remaining unchanged.read more :- Bt Cotton Acreage Falls by 15,000 Hectares in Hanumangarh Amid Pink Bollworm Threat

Bt Cotton Acreage Drops by 15,000 Hectares in Hanumangarh; Fear of Pink Bollworm a Key FactorBt cotton sowing in Hanumangarh district has decreased by approximately 15,000 hectares this Kharif season compared to the previous year. According to the Agriculture Department, Bt cotton was sown across 132,582 hectares in the district by June 29, whereas the figure stood at 147,585 hectares during the same period last year.Farmers have reduced the cotton acreage this time due to the escalating infestation of pink bollworm over the past three years and the losses incurred last year. Conversely, the area under crops such as moong (green gram), paddy, guar (cluster bean), and other Kharif crops is likely to increase. Sowing for these crops is currently underway, and final figures will be released soon.Typically, Bt cotton is cultivated on approximately 150,000 hectares in Hanumangarh annually. Despite the reduction in acreage this season, the Agriculture Department is continuously raising awareness among farmers regarding better crop management and protection against the pink bollworm. Through workshops and advisories, the department had advised farmers against early sowing. Farmers were urged to begin sowing in May so that flowering across most fields would occur simultaneously, thereby disrupting the pink bollworm's life cycle by July. However, some farmers proceeded with sowing before May using tubewell irrigation, creating a risk of pest infestation in those fields.Agriculture Department's Advice*   Regularly inspect fields and keep a watch for early signs of pink bollworm infestation.*   Limit the use of urea (nitrogen) alongside irrigation to prevent excessive vegetative growth of the plants.*   Monitor the pest population by installing five pheromone traps per hectare.*   Regularly inspect flowers and squares (buds); immediately destroy any 'rosette flowers' (deformed flowers) found.*   During the boll formation stage, examine 20 green bolls per acre. If white or pink larvae are found in two or more bolls out of twenty, or if 10 percent rosette flowers are observed, immediate control measures should be adopted.Dr. Sanjeev Bhadu, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension), stated that the acreage under Bt cotton is lower this year compared to the previous year, whereas the area under other Kharif crops is likely to increase. He urged farmers to undertake regular monitoring, use pheromone traps, and follow the department's scientific advice to minimize damage caused by the pink bollworm and achieve better yields.READ MORE :- Kharif Sowing Slow in Karnataka as Cotton Acreage Surges Despite Rainfall Deficit

Kharif Sowing Sluggish in Karnataka, but Cotton Sowing Picks Up PaceKharif season sowing in Karnataka has remained slower than expected this year. According to Agriculture Department data up to July 3, sowing has been completed on 36.5 lakh hectares against a target of 84.1 lakh hectares—approximately 43% of the total target. While this is about 28% lower than the corresponding period last year, it stands at roughly 94% of the five-year average.The primary reasons for the delay in sowing are the late arrival of the monsoon and below-normal rainfall in several parts of the state. This has most significantly impacted cereal and pulse crops, whereas sowing of cotton and other cash crops has accelerated in irrigated areas.District-wise data reveals that Chikkaballapur has covered only 9% of its normal sowing area. Sowing also lags significantly in districts like Bengaluru Rural (24%) and Kolar. Conversely, the situation is better in the irrigated regions of North Karnataka. Raichur leads the pack at 157% of its normal area, while Yadgir, Haveri, Dharwad, and Gadag have also recorded sowing levels above normal.In terms of crop-specific status, cereal sowing has reached only 27% of the target, and pulse sowing stands at 44%. Maize sowing has fared relatively better, reaching 86% of normal levels. Among oilseeds, sunflower sowing is at 130% of the five-year average, whereas groundnut continues to lag behind normal levels.Commercial crops have shown the best performance; sowing has reached 121% of normal levels, with cotton sowing recorded at 141% of the five-year average. This indicates that amidst rainfall uncertainty, farmers are prioritizing cash crops where irrigation facilities are available. Weather experts believe that if rainfall remains below normal in July as well, pressure on Kharif crops in the state could increase, and there is a risk of drought-like conditions developing in several areas.READ MORE :- Rupee Opens Lower at 95.23 Against Dollar