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The Indian rupee on friday lower 11 paise to close at 88.78 per dollar, while it opened at 88.67 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 223.86 points or 0.28 percent at 81,207.17, and the Nifty was up 57.95 points or 0.23 percent at 24,894.25. About 2592 shares advanced, 1411 shares declined, and 132 shares unchanged.read more :- Ahmedabad traders get GST relief, demand for cotton clothes increases

GST cut benefits Ahmedabad traders, cotton fabric demand up 10%Cotton fabric traders in the city are seeing increased demand during the festive season. They attribute this to the reduction in GST on garments up to ₹2,500. Demand has increased by 10% since the central government announced the GST reduction, and orders are pouring in from across the country.Gaurang Bhagat, president of Maskati Cloth Market Mahajan, said, "Ahmedabad is considered one of the largest cotton fabric suppliers in the country. The period from Navratri to Diwali sees huge demand, contributing to at least 30% of the country's total annual textile demand. This year, the GST reduction has led to an increase of about 10% in production."Bhagat said that before GST 2.0, garments priced above ₹1,000 were subject to 12% GST. Now, garments up to ₹2,500 are subject to only 5% GST."We've also seen an increase in demand for clothing for the wedding season, which begins right after Diwali. The 18% GST on clothing priced above ₹2,500 will certainly have some impact, but we believe buyers will continue to purchase items they like during the wedding season." Mahajan officials also said that a decrease in imports from China has boosted local demand.Mahajan Secretary Naresh Sharma said, "Ahmedabad is one of the largest centers for cotton processing. Cotton prices have remained stable, and import duties on cotton have been removed, creating better prospects for manufacturers. Although US tariffs have impacted exports, domestic demand will provide significant relief." read more :- 

Government Sets Up Record 550 Cotton Procurement Centers Ahead of 2025–26 SeasonNew Delhi: The government has established 550 cotton procurement centers across the country, the highest ever, to ensure better farmer access and improved logistics efficiency during peak arrival periods. These centers will operate across all 11 cotton-producing regions.Phased Procurement Schedule AnnouncedTo align procurement with regional harvest timelines, operations will begin in phases:Northern region (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan): October 1Central region (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha): October 15Southern region (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu): October 21High-Level Review of MSP OperationsA comprehensive review of Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations for the 2025–26 Kharif cotton season was conducted by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles. Senior officials from cotton-producing states, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), and the Ministry participated in the meeting.The Ministry said the initiative reflects its commitment to a transparent, efficient, and farmer-centric procurement system.Digital Push Through Kapas-Kisan AppThe government is promoting full digital integration in cotton procurement through the “Kapas-Kisan” app, which enables:Farmer self-registration7-day rolling slot bookingReal-time payment trackingFarmers have been advised to complete registration by October 31. Users from existing state systems in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana are also required to verify their details on the app.Direct Payments and Monitoring SystemPayments under MSP will be directly credited to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via the NACH system, with SMS alerts at every stage from billing to payment confirmation.Local Monitoring Committees (LMCs) have been set up at all procurement centers to ensure transparency. The CCI has also launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline to address farmer grievances promptly.The government has urged farmers to register early and use digital tools to avoid distress sales.read more :- INR Opens Stronger by 02 Paise at 88.67

 Rupee opens 02 paise up at 88.67 on easing dollar indexIndian rupee opened at 88.67 per dollar on Friday versus Wednesday's close of 88.69.read more :- Rupee higher 08 Paise Against USD, Closes at 88.69

The Indian rupee ended 08 paisa higher on wednesday at 88.69 to the dollar, while it opened at 88.77 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 715.69 points or 0.89 percent at 80,983.31, and the Nifty was up 225.20 points or 0.92 percent at 24,836.30. About 2672 shares advanced, 1284 shares declined, and 132 shares unchanged.read more :- Declining cotton sowing: Policies reduce farmers' interest

Cotton sowing continues to decline, government policies have reduced farmers' interest.While cotton farmers across the country are in an uproar over falling prices, this is directly impacting the area under cotton cultivation. According to data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, cotton, India's primary Kharif crop, has been experiencing a steady decline for the past two years. According to government data, cotton was sown on 12.95 million hectares annually during the Kharif season from 2019-20 to 2023-24, which declined to 11.295 million hectares in 2024-25.According to the latest data on estimated sowing for this year's Kharif season, the acreage has declined by 2.97 million hectares (approximately 300,000 hectares) to 10.998 million hectares. If government policies remain unchanged, a significant decline in sowing and production is expected in the coming years.Farmers hit by the removal of import dutyThe central government has removed the 11 percent import duty currently imposed on cotton imports, making imports of foreign cotton cheaper, and importers/traders are showing interest in purchasing foreign cotton. Meanwhile, farmers are forced to sell their produce at significantly lower prices than the MSP for the traders and mills that are purchasing domestic cotton.Farmers are reluctant to grow cotton due to the central government's attitudeThis central government's attitude is taking a toll on cotton farmers, and they are gradually withdrawing from cotton cultivation. Farmers are choosing crops that offer reasonable profits instead of cotton. Cotton prices are not the only factor that is dissuading farmers from growing cotton. In recent years, pink bollworms, whiteflies, and weather conditions have also caused concern for farmers. These factors are driving farmers to shift to other crops.Punjab Farmers Not Getting Fair PricesRecent media reports revealed that nearly 80 percent of cotton sold in Punjab's mandis in the past few weeks was sold at prices ₹1,000 or more below the MSP, resulting in significant losses for farmers. Furthermore, the lack of government procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has contributed to this decline in prices in Punjab, as the entire market is controlled by private traders.Cotton Production in These StatesGujarat, Maharashtra (especially the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions), and Telangana are the major cotton producers in India. Cotton is also produced in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh holds a special place in organic cotton production, producing 40 percent of the country's total organic cotton.read more :- 60 lakh hectares of crops destroyed, decision on aid will be taken: Shinde

Floods in Maharashtra have affected crops on nearly 6 million hectares, Shinde said on Tuesday.Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Tuesday that crops on more than 6 million hectares in the state are estimated to have been damaged due to heavy rains and subsequent floods, and a decision on providing financial assistance to farmers will be taken in the next few days.Last week's torrential rains and floods in Maharashtra damaged crops on millions of acres, including eight districts in the Marathwada region and Solapur, Satara, and Sangli in western Maharashtra.Addressing a press conference here, Shinde said, "We will not hesitate to help farmers. We believe that rules and norms should be set aside when helping farmers and we should stand behind them. Whenever such losses occur, it is the government's responsibility to help people in such a disaster."He said, "Not only have the rains damaged crops, but the floods have also washed away fertile soil from the fields." Farms and homes have also been affected."The Deputy Chief Minister said that panchnama reports have started coming in, and it is estimated that crops on more than 6 million hectares in the state have been damaged.He said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and he himself will discuss the matter and decide on providing assistance to farmers within two to three days.Shinde said, "The central and state governments stand with the farmers. Now is the time to wipe away their tears."The Shiv Sena leader said he has instructed Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar to ensure that infectious diseases do not spread in the flood-affected districts.read more:-  CCI to procure cotton at MSP at 14 centres from October 1

CCI to start cotton procurement at MSP from Oct 1 at 14 centres₹7,710 per quintal for medium-staple cotton and ₹8,110 per quintal for high-quality cotton.The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), a central agency, will begin cotton procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 14 locations in five districts of the semi-arid region from Wednesday. Bathinda and Muktsar will have a maximum of four centers each, followed by three in Mansa and one in Fazilka. The CCI will open a market in Barnala.(SIS)The CCI enters the market only when private buyers offer prices below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). According to Punjab Mandi Board data, about 30,000 quintals of cotton had arrived in the South Malwa districts as of Tuesday.Stakeholders said the CCI's arrival could stabilize cotton prices, as farmers are being paid ₹6,800-7,000 per quintal, which is ₹1,000-1,200 less than this season's MSP.For the current Rabi marketing season, the central government has fixed the price at ₹7,710 per quintal for medium-staple cotton and ₹8,110 per quintal for better-quality cotton.(SIS)State and CCI officials attributed this to the low prices and high moisture content of unginned cotton (raw crop that still contains seeds) brought to the market by farmers.Experts say the decline in demand from the textile sector in the Indian and global markets has destabilized the market, and the CCI's arrival is expected to improve prices.New App for Seamless ProcurementOfficial sources said that a new mobile application, the "Cotton Farmer" app, developed by the Central Council of Trade Unions (CCI), has been launched to ensure transparent and seamless procurement of the cash crop. The CCI has extended the registration period until October 31.The new mobile app allows farmers to self-register, book slots, and track payments. Officials stated, "This app facilitates payment tracking by farmers, bringing greater transparency, convenience, and speed to the cotton procurement process."Mandi Board data shows that 46%, or 13,000 quintals, of the total cotton crop was procured below the MSP.(SIS)CCI officials stated that cotton was sown on 1.19 lakh hectares this year, and the state agriculture department estimates production at 2.80 lakh bales, or 12.45 lakh quintals.However, Mukul Tayal, President of the Indian Cotton Association Limited (ICAL), said that unseasonal rains have severely affected the cotton crop."According to our estimates, Punjab will produce 1.50 lakh bales or 6.67 quintals of cotton as rains have hampered the prospects of a good harvest. Cotton is being sold at a lower price in the initial stages as the crop brought to the market has high moisture content due to unseasonal rains. We hope that the CCI will play a key role in stabilizing the downward trend in prices by private traders," Tayal said.Cotton arrivals (till September 29): 30,000 quintals(SIS)Purchased by private players: 28,000 quintalsBelow MSP: 13,000 quintalsDistrict-wise arrivalsFazilka 16,000 quintalsBathinda 6,000 quintalsMansa 5,000 quintalsMuktsar 3,000 quintalsCCI centersBathinda 4  Muktsar 4   Mansa 3Fazilka 2    Barnala 1read more :- INR Opens Stronger by 04 Paise at 88.77

 Rupee opens 04 paise up at 88.77 on easing dollar indexThe currency opened at 88.77 against the dollar. The rupee had ended the previous session at 88.81.

Rupee Falls to 88.81/$At market close, the Sensex was down 1.75 points or 0.00 percent at 80,363.19, and the Nifty was down 7.40 points or 0.03 percent at 24,627.50. About 1813 shares advanced, 1895 shares declined, and 138 shares remained unchanged.Read More:-  CCI-ginning mill dispute leaves cotton farmers confused

CCI–Ginning Mills Deadlock Leaves Cotton Farmers in Limbo in GunturGuntur: Cotton farmers in Guntur are facing uncertainty as the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has failed to reach an agreement with ginning mills to operationalize procurement centres for the upcoming season.Despite extending the tender deadline twice, CCI has not been able to finalize bids, as ginning mill operators have boycotted the process, demanding changes in tender conditions. This ongoing deadlock has created confusion and anxiety among farmers.Falling Prices Add to Farmer ConcernsWith fears of further price decline during the peak arrival season, many farmers are rushing to sell their existing stocks. Cotton prices have already dropped to around ₹6,500–₹7,000 per quintal, even in the off-season, intensifying concerns.The situation has been further impacted by the government’s temporary removal of import duty, which has weakened domestic market sentiment.MSP Announced, But Procurement StalledAlthough the government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ₹8,110 per quintal and directed CCI to begin procurement, the process remains stalled due to the ongoing disagreement with ginning mills.CCI had initially planned to finalize tenders by September 1, later extending the deadline to September 25 following protests. However, no mills have participated so far.Key Demands by Ginning MillsGinning mill operators have placed several demands, including:Region-wise tender allocationRemoval of minimum bid requirementsEqual participation opportunity for all millsNo fixed deadline for farmers to bring cotton stocksWhile mills prefer flexible procurement timing for farmers, CCI insists on a structured schedule to ensure proper monitoring and transparency in procurement.Awaiting Government InterventionAccording to sources, CCI has forwarded these demands to the Union Ministry of Commerce and is awaiting further direction. A CCI official stated that allowing unrestricted stock arrivals without a schedule could make monitoring difficult and affect accurate farmer identification.read more :- Telangana: Minister urges CCI to procure cotton