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*Cotton farmers in Maharashtra received ₹3,653 crore in PMFBY claims*Over the past five years, cotton farmers in Maharashtra have received ₹3,653 crore in insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), protecting them from crop losses due to erratic rainfall and weather challenges.Cotton farmers in Maharashtra have received a total of ₹3,653 crore in insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) over the past five years. This scheme provides complete coverage against crop losses—from pre-sowing to post-harvest—for crops and areas notified by the state government.Designed to protect farmers from losses due to natural disasters and adverse weather, the PMFBY has proven particularly beneficial for cotton farmers in Vidarbha, helping them overcome recurring crop losses due to erratic rainfall and weather challenges.*Year-over-year claims data shows increasing support.*According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, cotton farmers in Maharashtra received claims worth ₹55.26 crore in 2020, ₹441.10 crore in 2021, ₹456.84 crore in 2022, ₹1,941.09 crore in 2023, and ₹758.95 crore in 2024.Record Cotton Production in 2024–25During 2024–25, Maharashtra produced 92.32 lakh bales of cotton, an increase from last year's 80.45 lakh bales (each bale weighing 170 kg).*CCI procures 144.55 lakh quintals of cotton, helping farmers*To support cotton growers in key producing districts like Jalgaon and Yavatmal, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has opened 128 procurement centers across 19 districts under its Aurangabad and Akola branches, including 11 in Jalgaon and 15 in Yavatmal. CCI has procured 144.55 lakh quintals of cotton worth ₹10,714 crore through 6.27 lakh transactions with farmers. This includes 21.39 lakh quintals from Yavatmal and 4.79 lakh quintals from Jalgaon districts.read more:-   Heavy rain damages cotton in Shevgaon

*Maharashtra: Cotton Blight Loss: Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc on Cotton; Shevgaon Farmers Face Double Trouble**Bodhegaon:* Farmers in Shevgaon taluka are facing a natural disaster. Continuous heavy rains have caused significant damage to Kharif crops, and now the cotton crop is facing a severe blight outbreak, causing significant financial losses. There are complaints that traders are fleecing farmers due to the non-functioning of government cotton procurement centers.After the Kharif crops were destroyed by heavy rains, the cotton crop has become increasingly vulnerable to blight. Due to this, cotton production for many farmers in the taluka has halved, leaving no hope of recovering costs. Farmers are frustrated by the failure to control the disease even after spraying pesticides.*Low Prices; Farmers' Anger*The market price of cotton has exhausted farmers' patience. Despite the government's minimum support price of ₹8,200 per quintal, private traders are buying cotton at only ₹5,000 to ₹6,500 per quintal due to the government procurement centers not being operational.Farmers are truly frustrated as they have no other option but to sell their cotton to private traders. Farmers are extremely angry because they are forced to sell their hard-earned produce at low prices. Farmers are demanding that the government immediately establish procurement centers through the CCI and purchase at the minimum support price.Given the increased costs of fertilizers, seeds, labor, and irrigation, the farmers' financial situation has deteriorated significantly, and Baliraja is now facing a double crisis. The question now is who will help them out of this predicament. Farmers are looking to the government for help.*Relief from Compensation*Last month, heavy rains and floods caused huge losses to farmers in Shevgaon taluka. The state government has provided relief to 78,669 farmers in the taluka by approving ₹107 crore 25 lakh for compensation in the first phase. The District Collector had ordered the Revenue Department to deposit the funds into their accounts before Diwali. However, the department's delays caused a slight delay in the process. Currently, the compensation amount has begun to be deposited into farmers' accounts, and crowds of farmers are being seen at various banks. Farmers have expressed their reaction that this assistance is too little, and they hope to receive more from the central government in the next phase.*Double Crisis in Baliraja*Farmers in Shevgaon taluka are facing financial hardship due to excessive rainfall, pest infestation, low prices, and delayed relief. The government is demanded to immediately reopen government procurement centers and announce special assistance for farmers affected by the red leaf disease.read more:-  CCI to procure cotton in Manawar from November

CCI to purchase cotton in Manawar from November: Farmers say market rates are 5,000 to 6,000 rupees, while the government rate is 8,000 rupees.In Manawar, Dhar district, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has not yet begun purchasing cotton, even after the month of October has ended. This has forced farmers to store thousands of quintals of their produce at home. The government has set the support price for cotton this year at 8,110 rupees per quintal, giving farmers hope for better prices.The cotton crop has received some relief due to bright sunshine over the past two days. Farmers believe the sunshine will increase cotton production and bring dryness. Previously, heavy rains and waterlogging caused significant damage to the crop.Farmers say market rate of cotton is 5,500 rupees.Farmers Dinesh Devda, Kailash Patidar, Raju Mukati, Dinesh Sharma, and Mohan Gehlot said they had planted cotton on several acres, costing them lakhs of rupees. Heavy rain and storms three days ago caused significant damage to the crop. Currently, the price of cotton in the open market is between 5500 and 6000 rupees per quintal, which is significantly lower than the support price.The CCI has invited tenders from ginning mills and may begin procurement in Manawar in November. Farmers say that cotton procurement has already begun in other markets, while they are facing difficulties storing their produce. Farmers have demanded that the CCI begin cotton procurement as soon as possible.CCI Cotton Selector Mangesh Chitkule informed that the procurement process will begin soon at the Manawar center.read more :- INR Drops 06 Paise, Closes at 87.85 per Dollar

The Indian rupee on friday lower 06 paise to close at 87.85 per dollar, while it opened at 87.79 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was down 344.52 points or 0.41 percent at 84,211.88, and the Nifty was down 96.25 points or 0.37 percent at 25,795.15. About 1785 shares advanced, 2205 shares declined, and 154 shares unchanged.read more :- Heavy damage to crops due to weather

*Heavy rains have caused significant damage to cotton and soybean crops in the district: Weather impacts income; government support inadequate*This year, heavy and uncontrolled rainfall across Yavatmal district, including Babhulgaon, has damaged thousands of hectares of cotton and soybean crops. Approximately nine lakh hectares of land are cultivated in Yavatmal district alone. However, heavy rains have caused significant damage in several revenue divisions. Millions of hectares of crops have been submerged. The weather has had a severe adverse impact on income. Currently, farmers have not even received their inputs. Crops like cotton, soybean, pigeon pea, and chickpea are not fetching expected market prices, leading to a significant decline in income.Irregular rainfall has led to increased disease and reduced crop quality, while heavy rains have affected the fertility of agricultural land. This has deepened the crisis in agriculture. The burden of economic losses is increasing. Farmers are also facing the crisis of crop loans. Restrictions imposed on millions of farmers' accounts due to overdue loans have made obtaining new loans difficult. This has forced farmers to turn to moneylenders, significantly increasing their financial stress. Some farmers are even resorting to suicide during Diwali. Recently, there have been reports of three farmers committing suicide in the district.The government has announced a relief amount of ₹8.5,000 per hectare. The relief amount is distributed according to the percentage of damage. However, according to farmers, this amount is insufficient even to cover the cost of tillage. Compared to the cost and damage, this relief amount is far too low. They expect assistance from the administration, but are unhappy with the lack of adequate support. The natural disaster has left farmers stressed and unstable. They expect help from the government. The lack of government assistance and the restrictive credit system have fueled a sense of dissatisfaction. This has led to a decline in farmers' trust in the government for the upcoming district council elections. The possibility of considering a change in local power is increasing. Dissatisfaction with the system and expectations for greater assistance will be clearly felt in this election. The farmers' crisis is currently at a critical juncture. Experts believe that only if the administration provides immediate and adequate assistance can the situation in rural areas change.read more:-   Rupee rises 7 paise, dollar index weakens

Rupee opens 07 paise up at 87.79 on easing dollar indexIndian rupee opened higher at 87.79 per dollar on Friday versus previous close of 87.86read more:-  "2024-25: State-wise CCI Cotton Sales Detail

State-wise CCI Cotton Sales Details – 2024-25 SeasonThe Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) reduced its prices by a total of ₹200-₹400 per bale this week. Following the price revision, CCI sold approximately 9,800 bales during the week, bringing the total cotton bales sales for the 2024-25 season to approximately 88,99,700 bales. This represents around 88.99% 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 85.32% 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.

The Centre has launched a ₹600 crore "Cotton Revolution Mission" to promote high-yield, long-staple cotton cultivation.The Centre has launched a ₹600 crore "Cotton Revolution Mission" to promote high-yield, long-staple cotton cultivation through scientific research, technological innovation, and extension services. Farmers in Maharashtra, especially the Akola region, have adopted high-density plantation (HDP) methods, leading to significant yield increases.The plan is to replicate these methods in suitable areas of Telangana by bringing farmers to Maharashtra to observe these methods firsthand, providing them with suitable seeds, and encouraging them to adopt HDP techniques. Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Friday that a post-harvest visit to Akola is also being planned for farmers to observe successful HDP practices.Regarding the current cotton procurement, Mr. Reddy informed a press conference that approximately 2.4 million farmers in Telangana are currently engaged in cotton cultivation, making the state the top cotton producer in India. From October 21st to 24th, agriculture and marketing officials will conduct a five-day awareness campaign in villages to promote the app and the procurement process.Approximately 122 procurement centers are scheduled to open after Diwali. He explained that committees headed by district collectors, comprising officials, police, revenue officials, and farmer representatives, have been established at each procurement center to address complaints and prevent exploitation.A dedicated mobile application, the "Cotton Farmers App," will also be launched to facilitate slot booking and streamline the selling process for farmers. The Minister urged farmers to use this app, which will go live after Diwali, to book slots to sell their produce, schedule their sales, and avoid middlemen, ensuring fair prices and transparency.Awareness campaigns are being conducted through pamphlets, social media, WhatsApp groups, and videos in nine languages. Newspaper advertisements also provide information on acceptable moisture levels and related prices. He explained that agricultural officials are also visiting villages to assist farmers with app registration and distribute informational materials. Tech-savvy rural youth are also helping fellow farmers use the digital platform to ensure smooth implementation.A total of 345 ginning centers have been notified in Telangana, and agreements have been finalized with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). Agricultural officials, Panchayat officials, and progressive farmers are promoting slot booking awareness at the village level.He explained that a review meeting was held with CCI officials from Adilabad, Warangal, and Mahabubnagar and officials from the Telangana Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, and that issues raised during the meeting will be escalated to the Ministry of Textiles and CCI headquarters for resolution.The Center procured 17.3 million bales of cotton worth ₹24,825 crore through the Central Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (CCI) between 2004 and 2014. In contrast, from 2014 to 2024, procurement increased to 47.3 million bales, costing ₹1.37 lakh crore—a testament to the Center's increased support under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.Over the past decade, the Center has doubled the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh alone, the Center has spent ₹65,000 crore on cotton procurement over the past decade—₹58,000 crore in Telangana and ₹8,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Reddy said.The Minister claimed that strict action is being taken against ginning mills and middlemen involved in malpractices. The government is also cracking down on counterfeit seeds, and several companies and dealerships have already been penalized. Violators are being booked under the PD Act and licenses are being revoked, he said.read more :- CCI sold 89% of its cotton through e-auction.

The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) reduced its prices by a total of ₹200 - ₹400 per bale in this week and sold 88.99% of its 2024-25 cotton procurement through e-auctions.Throughout the week from 13 October to 17 October 2025, CCI conducted online auctions across its Mills and Traders sessions, with total sales reaching approximately 9,800 bales. Importantly, CCI reduced its prices by a total of ₹200 - ₹400 per bale.Weekly Sales Performance13 October 2025: The week opened strong with sales at 7,300 bales, including 5,900 bales in the Mills session and 1,400 bales in the Traders session.14 October 2025:  CCI sold 1,600 bales, with Mills buying 600 bales and Traders securing 1,000 bales.15 October 2025: Sales surged to 400 bales, with Mills purchasing 300 bales and Traders accounting for 100 bales.16 October 2025: CCI sold 200 bales, including 100 bales in the Mills session and 100 bales in the Traders session.17 October 2025 : The week ended with a total sale of 300 bales in the Mills session, while no sales were recorded in the Traders session.CCI achieved total sales of approximately 9,800 bales for the week and for the season CCI’s cumulative sales have reached 88,99,700 bales, representing 88.89% of its total procurement for 2024–25.read more:-  Telangana tops in cotton production

*Telangana Tops the Country in Cotton Production*Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy has clarified that the central government will procure all cotton. Speaking to the media on Friday, he stated that cotton is the most widely grown crop in Telangana, along with rice. Cotton is cultivated on 4.5 million acres in the state. He stated that over 2.2 million farmers are cultivating cotton. He stated that, like last year, the Cotton Corporation of India will procure cotton this year as well. He stated that the state government is also providing full support. He advised cotton farmers not to fall prey to middlemen and avoid being defrauded. He announced that the central government will procure cotton down to the last quintal.He stated that cotton will be purchased through the CCI at a rate of ₹8,110 per quintal. Cotton production is increasing in Telangana. Telangana leads in cotton production in the country. The Union Minister stated that the number of procurement centers has been increased by 12, bringing the total to 122. He added that improvements are being made in cotton production. A farmer app has been launched in nine regional languages for cotton cultivation. If farmers register on the app, they can sell cotton at procurement centers through a slot. He said that ginning mills have been selected for cleaning and transporting the cotton. He said that high-density planting will double crop yields. He said that people in the Akola region of Maharashtra are practicing high-density planting. He said that if necessary, farmers will be taken to Maharashtra to create awareness about high-density planting.read more:-  Rupee fell 20 paise to close at 87.97 per dollar

The Indian rupee on friday lower 20 paise to close at 87.97 per dollar, while it opened at 87.77 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 484.53 points or 0.58 percent at 83,952.19, and the Nifty was up 124.55 points or 0.49 percent at 25,709.85. About 1658 shares advanced, 2318 shares declined, and 158 shares unchanged.read more :- Despite the shortage, cotton production is likely to be 312-335 lakh bales.