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India seeks WTO consultations with Indonesia on proposed duties on cotton fabricIndia on Monday sought consultations with Indonesia under the World Trade Organization (WTO) safeguards agreement on Jakarta's proposal to impose import duties on cotton fabric.New Delhi informed the WTO that it has substantial trade interest in the export of this fabric.India told the multilateral trade regulatory body, "India wishes to propose that the above consultations be held virtually from September 23to September 26, 2025, or at a mutually convenient date and time."The Safeguards Committee has forwarded to WTO members a notification dated September 16, 2025, by Indonesia, informing them of serious injury or threat thereof to domestic industries producing cotton fabric and including a notification of a proposed safeguard measure in the form of specific duties on imports of these goods.India exported cotton fabric worth $8.73 million in 2024, compared to $6.73 million in 2023.In June, India sought consultations with Indonesia under World Trade Organization rules on extending its safeguard measures on cotton yarn.read more :- Cotton farmers protest against mills in Sirsa, auction halted

Cotton farmers in Sirsa protested against price cuts at mills and halted the auction.Tensions escalated in Sirsa on Monday when cotton farmers halted procurement and raised slogans against ginning mill owners and the government. They accused the mill owners of underpaying them for their crop. The protest began at the new cotton market on the first day of Navratri when more than 150 tractor-trolleys arrived with fresh cotton (narma) and mill owners began initial purchases.The farmers halted the auction as soon as it began. They alleged that mill owners quoted a purchase price of ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 per quintal at the market, but later reduced the price by ₹500 to ₹1,000 per quintal during weighing and processing at the mills. The farmers insisted that payment be made at market rates only. They warned that they would not accept reductions at the mill level.Farmer leader Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh and Arhtiya Sangh President Prem Bajaj arrived at the scene and attempted to mediate. The auction was suspended for about three hours and then resumed after the SDM's assurance.The protest also highlighted another long-standing issue between commission agents and mill owners regarding payment delays due to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Commission agents say they pay farmers promptly, but mill owners delay payments by up to 45 days, citing GST procedures. They argue that this puts significant financial pressure on commission agents.A meeting held at the Market Committee office decided to hold a joint discussion on Wednesday under the SDM's mediation. The meeting is expected to discuss both the pricing dispute and GST-related delays, with the hope of finding a permanent solution.Several farmers, including Vinod Kumar Pachar of Mattuwala village and Rishi Kalra of Dhingtania, expressed their anger over the discrepancy between auction prices and final payments by mills. Commission agents also reiterated that without prompt payment by mill owners, the current system is unsustainable.Sirsa Market Committee Secretary Virendra Mehta admitted that the procurement process was briefly interrupted during the auction. However, after negotiations, the procurement process resumed.read more :- Cotton production rises in Telangana, but rain and prices remain a concern

 Rupee hits all time low of 88.41 in early trade on weak Asian cuesThe domestic currency opened at 88.41against the US dollar, as compared to 88.31 against the greenback at previous close.read more :- Cotton production rises in Telangana, but rain and prices remain a concern

Cotton production in Telangana will increase, but farmers are worried about rain damage and low prices.Telangana is preparing for the cotton harvesting season, which begins in October. Farmers expect higher yields this year, but are concerned about quality after heavy rains.Officials estimate that cotton production could increase by approximately 5 to 10 percent. Production could reach 5.3-5.5 million bales compared to last year's 5-5.1 million bales. This would make Telangana India's third-largest cotton producer. Each bale weighs approximately 170 rupees per kilogram.However, rain and attacks of sowing rot have damaged the crop. Prices are also a concern. In markets like Warangal, arrivals have just begun. Farmers are selling cotton at 900 to 1,000 rupees less than the minimum support price (MSP) of 8,110 rupees per quintal.In Kumarambheem-Asifabad district, cotton arrivals will only begin in early November."In our district, arrivals will be delayed. Last year, we received around 1.8 million quintals of cotton. We expect a similar number or slightly more, although some losses cannot be ruled out," District Marketing Officer Ashwak Ahmed told South First.At Enumamula Market Yard in Warangal, prices are around Rs. 7,440 per quintal. Since the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has not yet begun procurement, farmers are selling cotton at market prices. Many are afraid to hold on to cotton due to the risk of losses.Cotton is widely grown in Telangana. Major districts include Nalgonda, Adilabad, Sangareddy, Nagarkurnool, Warangal, Nirmal, Asifabad, Mahabubabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Kamareddy.August rains proved costlyThe season started well. Good early monsoon rains helped farmers sow about 99 percent of the normal area by mid-August. But rains in late August led to the outbreak of ball rot, a fungal disease. Farmers fear it could lead to a 20-30 percent yield reduction in affected areas.In Telangana, medium-staple Bt hybrids are mostly grown, with a fiber length of 20-25 mm. Under good conditions, these yield 10-12 quintals per acre. However, in some areas, such as Adilabad and Warangal, yields have dropped to 6-9 quintals per acre. Pest attacks and stunted growth have exacerbated the losses."The rains came at the worst possible time," said A. Padma Reddy, a farmer from Adilabad.He added, "We were expecting a bumper crop with the increase in MSP, but ball rot has severely affected us."This year, the MSP for medium-staple cotton has been increased to Rs. 8,110 per quintal, up from Rs. 7,121 last season. But prices remain low in markets like Warangal (Rs. 7,500 per quintal) and Jammikunta (Rs. 5,500 per quintal). Traders cite global oversupply and poor quality due to rains.Telangana Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao has asked the CCI to strictly ensure MSP procurement. He announced direct bank payments through Aadhaar verification. He stressed that Telangana's cotton is of unparalleled quality and deserves a fair price.Confusion about MSPMany farmers remain skeptical. A farmer from Adilabad said, "MSP is a lifeline. But if procurement is delayed and prices remain low, small farmers will suffer."On September 19, 2025, Rao met with CCI officials to plan the season. They agreed to set up a command control room to monitor daily operations. CCTV cameras will be installed at procurement centers and ginning mills. Local monitoring committees will check weighing and quality.A toll-free number (1800 599 5779) and a WhatsApp helpline (88972 81111) have been launched for farmers' complaints .The Central Council of Agricultural (CCI) is also promoting digital registration. Its "Cotton Farmer" app allows farmers to book procurement slots. Agriculture officials will train farmers, including lessees, who can register via OTP with the landowner's approval. The minister also warned transport associations against charging excessive fees for transporting cotton to mills.Nationally, cotton production is estimated to be 325-340 lakh bales in 2025-26, up from 294 lakh bales last year. Cotton acreage has declined to 113.13 lakh hectares, but improved yields are expected. Telangana accounts for 15-16 percent, behind Gujarat and Maharashtra.The state hopes that new hybrids, better procurement, and more centers—122 this year—will help farmers. But challenges remain. Seed rot, low prices, and transportation bottlenecks can reduce profits.read more :- Cotton MSP Hike: India's Trade and Exports

Cotton Trade Shifts After MSP Hike: A Closer Look at India’s Imports & Exports From 1 October 2024 to 31 August 2025, India recorded the following cotton trade figures:Exports: 18,63,084 balesImports: 49,03,422 balesOn 28 May 2025, the Government of India announced a new Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton. Following this development, trade activity showed notable changes in the subsequent three months (June–August 2025):Cotton Imports: 9,63,500 bales were imported during this period, accounting for 19.65% of India’s total imports in the stated timeframe.Cotton Exports : 3,15,500 bales were exported during the same three-month period.read more :- INR drop 12 Paise, Closes at 88.31 per Dollar

The Indian rupee on monday lower 12 paise to close at 88.31 per dollar, while it opened at 88.19 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was down 466.26 points or 0.56 percent at 82,159.97, and the Nifty was down 124.70 points or 0.49 percent at 25,202.35. About 1715 shares advanced, 2467 shares declined, and 149 shares unchanged.read more :- CCI Registration Camp for Cotton Sale in Amravati

Online Registration Process for Cotton Sales: CCI Registration Guidance Camp Held for Farmers in AmravatiThe Agricultural Produce Market Committee organized a guidance camp for farmers in Amravati on the CCI registration process. Farmers are required to register with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) every year to sell cotton.The camp was chaired by Market Committee Chairman Harish More. Market Committee Secretary Deepak Vijaykar and members of the Board of Directors were present. CCI experts guided the farmers.To sell cotton at the guaranteed price, the 'Cotton Kisan App' must be used. Secretary Deepak Vijaykar provided detailed information on the app's use. The camp was organized to simplify the online registration process for farmers.A large number of farmers, including former Vice Chairman Nanabhau Nagmote, Directors Pramod Ingole, Ashutosh Deshmukh, Rambhau Kharbade, Cotton Department Head Pawan Deshmukh, and CCI Officer Amit Dharmale, were present at the event.read more :- "Prices lower than MSP, cotton farmers ready to crowd the market"

Cotton farmers brace for a rush at procurement centers as market prices remain below the MSP.As Telangana's cotton marketing season approaches, farmers are bracing for a surge at procurement centers as market prices are falling well below the MSP. With over 600,000 farmers affected, the state has expanded procurement facilities and introduced digital tools like the Cotton Farmer App to manage these crowds. However, concerns remain about payment delays, quality-related rejections, and private traders taking advantage of long queues.Hyderabad: With the 2025-26 cotton marketing season set to begin in mid-October, Telangana farmers are bracing for a rush at government procurement centers as market prices remain well below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). This price gap has raised concerns about bottlenecks and delayed payments for nearly 600,000 farmers in districts like Warangal, Adilabad, and Nalgonda.Currently, market prices in markets like Jammikunta and Bhainsa are ranging between ₹6,333 and ₹6,805 per quintal, and reaching up to ₹10,000 per quintal. The MSP for medium-staple cotton is ₹1,435 to ₹7,710, lower than the 8.27 percent increase from last year. The situation is even worse for long-staple varieties; the MSP is fixed at ₹8,110, but market prices are significantly lower.In a recent meeting, state officials and representatives of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) cited the ₹1,099 MSP-market gap as a major concern and urged aggressive procurement to protect farmers from distress sales. Telangana expects 5.3-5.5 million bales from 1.851 million hectares of cotton cultivated this season, with the potential to reach 7 million bales under favorable conditions.To manage the expected surge, the number of procurement centers has been increased from 110 to 122, with a new facility added at Konaraopet in Rajanna Sircilla. Last season, Telangana had the highest procurement nationally, procuring 4 million bales of cotton at 508 centers, but this year's anticipated high arrivals could put significant pressure on the system.CCI President Lalit Kumar Gupta said the agency aims to procure 5-7 million bales of cotton nationally, but warned that, like last year, peak arrivals could exceed capacity. There are fears that private traders could take advantage of long queues at centers to purchase cotton at cheaper prices.In response, the state has launched the Cotton Farmers App for slot booking, Aadhaar-linked payments, and monitoring committees at local centers to ensure fair quality checks and accurate weighing. A toll-free helpline (1800-599-5779), WhatsApp support (88972-81111), and a new command control room at the Directorate will provide real-time grievance redressal.Globally, cotton production declined by 1.3 percent to 117.2 million bales, and international prices remained below production costs due to higher supplies from Brazilian exports, further depressing Telangana's market rates.Officials have warned that 80-90 percent of Telangana's production could end up at CCI centers, risking payment delays and quality-related rejections. A trader from Nalgonda warned, "Lower prices will mean procurement disruptions. Small farmers could lose thousands per acre if CCI doesn't take immediate action."

 Rupee opens 9 paise down at 88.19 against dollarThe currency opened at 88.19 against the dollar after ending the previous session at 88.10.read more :- CCI Cotton Sales by State – 2024-25

State-wise CCI Cotton Sales Details – 2024-25 SeasonThe Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) made no changes in per candy price this week. Following the price revision, CCI sold approximately 2,95,500 bales during the week, bringing the total cotton bales sales for the 2024-25 season to approximately 88,18,100 bales. This represents around 88.18% 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 85.31% 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.

Lack of irrigation water in the canals in April-May delayed cotton and cotton sowing.Upper Rajasthan: Due to a shortage of irrigation water in the Sri Ganganagar canals, farmers were unable to sow cotton and cotton as targeted in April-May this year.Despite the monsoon season, the state's share of water in the Ganga Canal from Punjab is not being fully supplied. The monsoon has retreated, and there is little chance of rain in the region. These days, the maximum temperature is hovering above 38 degrees Celsius. Due to the lack of adequate irrigation water in the canals in April-May, cotton and cotton sowing has been affected and failed to meet targets.The district's target for sowing indigenous cotton was 1,400 hectares, American cotton 5,000 hectares, and Bt cotton 170,000 hectares.Conversely, due to the lack of irrigation water, only 783 hectares of indigenous cotton, 1,013 hectares of American cotton, and 147,000 hectares of Bt cotton were sown. This month, the state's share of water in Ganga Canal till September 20 is 2500 cusecs, but only around 1500 cusecs of water is available in Ganga Canal at Khakhan Head on the Rajasthan border.read more :- Cotton prices remained stable despite market equilibrium.